Chapter 515: Palm and back of hand are both flesh, yet they are different

Son, how are you? Are you cold? Are you hungry? After studying for these few days, aren't you tired?

What do you want to eat? Mother will make it for you.

At this moment, she was just an ordinary mother.

Zhang Cunwen saw this scene; he wished his mother could come over and simply ask, 'Are you tired?'

Just those two simple words, and he would respond without hesitation.

But there was none……

The person who had just been sad now focused all their heart and mind on her son.

Then what does he count as?

Jiang Yun Chu tidied his collar, saying, 'You're all grown up, yet you can't even fold your collar properly.'

Zhang Cunwen came to his senses, looking at the Dean's gentle expression, he gave a faint smile and said, 'Dean, am I unworthy of others' kindness?'

'What nonsense are you talking?' Jiang Yun Chu lightly tapped his forehead, 'It's just that others are blind; my child deserves everyone's kindness.'

Zhang Cunwen lowered his head, hiding all the sorrow in his eyes.

Why doesn't his mother understand him? He asks for so little—just a word of concern.

Yet she is so stingy she won't even say that one sentence.

'Alright, we're here!' Ning Hanmo patted his shoulder, 'Zhang Cunwen, those who once looked down on us will eventually be astonished by us.'

'Why grieve over others?' He used to be a spoiled young master, thinking he could do anything, that he could accomplish everything.

But……

A woman who married into the Wang Fu controlled everything he had, not letting him eat or drink, controlling his spending.

Because of her, he learned the wickedness of the world, learned to discern right from wrong, and realized how heavy the burden of the Wang Fu was and how difficult the road ahead would be.

Step by step, she had always accompanied him and guided him.

He was fortunate.

His father had already told him his background; in fact, he was not a child of the Regent Prince's Manor, nor any Young Master.

But, seeing his mother's concerned gaze and hearing her gentle words, 'What's wrong?'

He shook his head, but he always knew his mother had always loved him.

'My mother has always loved you as well.' Ning Hanmo looked at Zhang Cunwen.

Zhang Cunwen nodded deeply, gave a faint smile, 'Palm and back of hand are both flesh, yet they are still different.'

He was merely the secondary one, and he had already given up.

Let it be; the future road is so broad—why dwell on the past?

'I'm here.'

'Your Yue Yue has finally finished the exam.' Ning Yue Xue hehe-laughed; as she walked out the gate, she seemed like a bird breaking free from its cage, returning to nature, wanting to fly freely.

The children from other mansions greeted their families and then came running over; for a moment, fourteen children gathered around Jiang Yun Chu.

'Good heavens, you guys, look—that's twelve little monsters.'

'Your technique study isn't that good, right? Aren't there fourteen?'

At this moment, a young man lightly smiled, opened his folding fan, and displayed a suave demeanor.

However, he had just come out of the exam hall; his whole person was somewhat disheveled, and the scent on him was also intriguing.

'Brother Zhang, speak quickly, stop beating around the bush.'

'Exactly, Brother Zhang, speak quickly.'

Seeing everyone's curious looks, this student was full of pride.

'Those twelve older ones over there are indeed twelve monsters, and the two younger ones are second-generation students of Chunhua Academy, and there are only two of them.'

'Chunhua Academy has only these fourteen students in total, past and present; I never expected them all to have left the exam hall.' This Brother Zhang sighed.

Originally, they thought this imperial examination would recruit many students, increasing their chances of entering officialdom.

But when these fourteen appeared, he lacked confidence that he could surpass them.

Not to mention the twelve older ones; even those two younger ones had already swept the second-tier list, while he on that list was merely a tail-end existence.

'Let's disperse, go home and review.' Thinking that, his earlier pride and conceit all faded, leaving only a back view and a sigh, and he went straight home.

This time he can't, but next time he surely will.

Jiang Yun Chu looked at the fourteen; unlike others, their spirits were fine, even showing no sign of fatigue.

'Each of you go back to your own homes and rest.'

'When the red list is posted, I've booked a private room; then we'll all view the list together.' Seeing several mansions' carriages waiting, Jiang Yun Chu hurriedly had the children return first.

Their families are still waiting for news; how can we keep dragging this out?

'Yes!'

'Mother, those questions aren't hard; Yue Yue can do them all.'

'Dean, I feel this exam might have been rigged.'

'Dean, does the court's large-scale examination this time require many officials?'

One voice after another, in the carriage, each person's brow showed a hint of excitement.

Especially Jia Chuan, who thought his examination path had been cut off.

But this year, under a general amnesty, even children of criminals can take the examination.

'Alright, seeing you excited puts my mind at ease.' She lightly laughed and shook her head; these children, mature beyond their years, always made her feel she had been too strict.

But now seeing them, it turns out they also have moments when they can't control their emotions.

Three days later, Hanlin Academy.

'This official believes this paper should be ranked first in the top class.' An elderly official, looking at the essay in his hand, read each word and sentence carefully, unwilling to discard any.

"You're mistaken, sir," said one official, "I believe this exam paper in my hand deserves first place." Another official, examining the handwriting and every word of the essay, added, "If this piece isn't first place, then what have all the previous imperial examinations been for?"

"Gentlemen, don't rush," said the official, "I actually think this exam paper in my hand is the true first place."

A young official took the exam paper, went out into the sunlight, looked it over, then picked up brush and ink and carefully copied a piece.

"Fine calligraphy, fine essay." After writing the last character, he couldn't help but exclaim in praise.

Liu Yunfeng watched the Hanlin Academy already fallen into madness, and he remained remarkably calm; ever since he learned that the twelve little monsters would be taking the civil service exam, he had been mentally prepared.

He didn't notice that in the corner, a few officials were clutching the exam papers and weeping.

And there were two people hiding to the side, laughing?

They loved essays; for the essays they liked, they couldn't put them down.

Watching each maddened person, he couldn't help clapping his hands and said, "Let's tally up—how many essays do you all like?"

"Hand over all the papers you consider to be top‑grade first place."

If they cannot decide, then in the end only His Majesty's judgment will do.