Chapter 96

Xiao Qiu ate some snacks and drank tea at Qingzhi Studio, then left satisfied with her little belly bulging, but she didn't return directly to Jia Mu's courtyard; instead, she went to Tan Chun's residence.

The little maid Xiao Chan in Tan Chun's room was Xiao Qiu's younger sister, so Xiao Qiu knew that the Third Young Lady had always been on the best terms with Cong Sanye Cong.

The Third Young Lady must be happy about the good news that the Cong Sanye had achieved the top rank, and I wonder what she will reward me with once she hears the good news, hee hee.

But either way, it's a happy occasion, and it doesn't matter if there's a reward or not; who told the Cong Sanye to be so handsome and capable? I'm willing to run errands for him.

Xiao Chan was at the age of longing for all things beautiful, and for the sake of this handsome young master Jia Cong, she spent the entire mealtime flitting between the rooms of the young ladies like a colorful butterfly, delivering the good news.

The sisters were overjoyed upon receiving the good news from Xiao Qiu, so Xiao Qiu returned fully loaded.

Tan Chun rewarded her with two silver ingots, and Yingchun gave her a Shu brocade sachet with cloud patterns.

Daiyu's reward was the most to Xiao Qiu's liking: a box of top-quality lotus root starch and osmanthus sugar cakes.

It was just that Xiao Qiu also had a slight regret; she had originally thought that by reporting the good news at Qingzhi Studio, she might catch a glimpse of the exceptionally handsome Third Young Master Cong—the sisters-in-law and matrons in the courtyard all said so—but unfortunately, she didn't see a shadow of him.

It's just that the Old Lady has always been displeased with him, so some things might be hard to say in the future."

Hearing Zi Juan poured a cup of hot tea for Daiyu and smiled lightly: "I am only thinking of the Young Lady's best interests; surely the Young Lady understands."

Although he hasn't returned to the mansion often in the past two years, he has always sent messages and letters to the sisters in the garden, and the Young Lady was never left out; in these two years, the Young Lady's health has actually improved a lot, and she isn't as prone to crying as in previous years.

Daiyu took a sip of tea, then turned around, not letting Hearing Zi Juan see her blushing face, and said: "I'm too lazy to listen to your nonsense; I'm tired and am going to lie down for a while."

Hearing Zi Juan added: "It's truly a rare thing for the mansion to produce someone like Cong Sanye Cong; not to mention his good scholarship, he entered school so early, he is also top-notch in appearance, and he is attentive to you, Young Lady."

……

In Daiyu's room, Hearing Zi Juan, wearing a thin jacket of elastic ink-patterned damask and a lined vest of green satin, was busily tidying up the room, her hands and feet quick, never stopping for a moment.

"Silly girl, is the position of top scholar that easy to get? But someone like Third Brother Cong, as long as he doesn't make any major mistakes, should at least be able to pass the imperial examination like his father."

Daiyu smiled slightly: "My father was a famous talent in Gusu back then, but he was already fifteen when he entered school and became a scholar; Third Brother Cong is actually even earlier than my father."

Seeing Daiyu take out Cong Sanye Cong's letter from her vanity box again to read it, her face full of smiles, with joy blooming at the corners of her eyes and brows, her pretty appearance was truly endearing.

Hearing Zi Juan smiled; Cong Sanye Cong had achieved the top rank, and seeing the Young Lady's expression, she was truly happy, so she couldn't help but tease her: "With Cong Sanye Cong like this, won't he be the top scholar in the future?"

Just look at this letter Cong Sanye Cong wrote about his exam essays; none of the other young ladies received one, which shows he treats the Young Lady differently from the other sisters.

Hearing Zi Juan looked at Daiyu's expression and smiled: "The Young Lady has read this letter so many times, and you don't seem tired of it."

Daiyu's face turned red, and she said: "Did you take the wrong medicine today? Why are you rambling on with all this nonsense?"

Just look at that year when the Young Lady vomited blood; Cong Sanye personally bought the ingredients and sent medicinal meals for over half a month, only feeling relieved after seeing the Young Lady had recovered well.

This Cong Sanye Cong is truly remarkable; at such a young age, not to mention entering school, he even took first place as the top rank; this is the first time I've heard of such a thing."

Daiyu lay on the bed, but her mind had already been unsettled by Hearing Zi Juan's words, thinking of her previous remark: The Old Lady has always been displeased with him, so some things might be hard to say in the future.

Her heart was in turmoil, stirring up a few worries and melancholy.

……

Ever since Yingchun heard the good news that Jia Cong had achieved the top rank, the smile on her face wouldn't fade, but now she couldn't see a shadow of Third Brother Cong and didn't know where he had gone.

She suddenly wanted to find someone to talk to; in her room, Si Qi was burying her head in needlework, so she got up and went to Tan Chun's room.

Just as she reached the door of Tan Chun's room, she heard Tan Chun's crisp and pretty voice: "Shi Shu, go and invite Second Sister and Lin Sister to come over; I have something to discuss with them."

As soon as she finished speaking, seeing Yingchun enter, Tan Chun smiled: "Speak of Cao Cao and he arrives; I was just looking for Second Sister to discuss something.

Third Brother Cong achieved the top rank; what a great happy event. I want us sisters to host a celebration for him in the next day or two, otherwise, he will have to return to the academy to study."

……

Jia Cong returned all the way from the Ministry of Rites, passing by the west corner gate of the Rongguo Prefecture, originally intending to take a detour through the back street to return to Qingzhi Studio.

He heard the sound of firecrackers continuously exploding at the entrance of the Rongguo Prefecture, and many descendants and relatives living on both sides of the street came out to watch the excitement.

The news that the eldest branch of the Rongguo Prefecture had produced a top-ranked scholar in the prefectural examination spread extremely quickly along Ningrong Street during the short time Jia Cong hadn't yet returned to the mansion.

Just as Jia Cong turned the street corner, the gatekeeper at the west corner gate saw him with sharp eyes and hurriedly came up to greet him.

These servants, who hadn't looked at Jia Cong straight in the eye a few years ago, were now all pushing smiles on their faces, showing obsequiousness inside and out, offering congratulations on the Cong Sanye's high achievement with every word.

They also said that the Second Master was waiting in the Rongxi Hall and had told them to inform him to go over early as soon as they saw the Cong Sanye.

Jia Cong entered the Rongxi Hall; Jia Zheng naturally showed a face full of joy upon seeing him and praised him thoroughly, the degree of his enthusiastic and joyful words making Jia Cong feel a bit overwhelmed.

Jia Zheng also sent a servant to the east courtyard to inform Jia She of the good news, but the servant returned saying the Eldest Master was drinking and had no time to come over, which made Jia Zheng shake his head helplessly.

By the time noon passed, the Jia Shun Prince's Mansion heard the news, and Prince Jia Shun ordered Wang Dong to bring gifts to offer congratulations.

Not long after, the presiding Daoist of the Profound Heaven Gate also sent a disciple to offer congratulations; presumably, that Daoist leader far away on Mount Longhu wouldn't have known the news of Jia Cong's high achievement so quickly.

However, the presiding Daoist of the Profound Heaven Gate was clear about the position this young master of the Rongguo Prefecture held in the heart of the Daoist leader, so naturally, he had to offer congratulations on behalf of the leader in advance for such a happy event.

By the time the offices closed, even Jia Zheng's colleagues in the Ministry of Works had heard the news; although these people were all from the imperial examination system and had seen plenty of the examination world, a top rank in the prefectural examination was still a rare honor.

Moreover, there was the face of Jia Zheng, the head of the Duke's mansion, so naturally, they all sent people to bring gifts to celebrate; this was also the common sense of daily social intercourse.

Vice Minister Li Dekang had someone bring a rare, unique copy of the Analects from the Song Dynasty, which counted as a very impressive congratulatory gift.

Several other Ministry of Works directors who had previously visited to offer birthday congratulations also sent some top-quality Four Treasures of the Study to celebrate the honor of the Jia Prefecture's young master being named top rank.

It hadn't even been a day since the results were posted, and there were already so many people coming to offer congratulations; Jia Zheng was grinning from ear to ear. He had been sitting in the office for over ten years, and today was the most respectable day.

Thinking that with Third Brother Cong's talent in the examination field, he would surely pass the autumn and spring examinations in the future, and even the Golden List of the Palace Examination was to be expected.

Jia Zheng was already daydreaming in happiness; when that time came, everyone would know he was raised in the Second Branch, and that would be an even more extraordinary glory.

It was a pity that Baoyu only knew how to fool around in the back quarters; if he were even half as sensible as Third Brother Cong, and could just barely enter school, he would have no regrets in his life.

Although he was extremely satisfied with Jia Cong's actions, Baoyu was his own son after all, and his expectations for his son were naturally higher than for Jia Cong; it was a pity that flowers planted inside the wall bloomed outside, as fate dictated, so what could be done.

(End of chapter)