flstandardbreds Chapter 104 Release of List
Chapter 104 Release of List
Ten days later.
The day the results of the imperial examination were announced.
The entire capital was immersed in an atmosphere of excitement and tension.
All around were students with lofty ambitions and aspirations, flocking from all directions to the wall displaying the results of the imperial examinations at the Ministry of Rites, their eyes filled with both anticipation and trepidation.
On both sides of the street, vendors hawked all sorts of goods, from writing brushes, ink, paper and inkstones to various snacks. Their calls rose and fell, injecting a touch of worldly life into the solemn atmosphere.
Among the crowd were poor scholars dressed in simple clothes, elderly scholars over seventy years old, women from noble families wearing golden crowns, and family members who accompanied their daughters and sisters to see the results. Their faces all showed anticipation.
After all, passing the provincial examination was equivalent to embarking on an official career. Although there was a palace examination later, it was only for ranking and there was no risk of elimination. Therefore, passing the provincial examination was actually the same as passing the imperial examination.
"The notice has been posted! The notice has been posted!"
Suddenly someone in the crowd shouted, and everyone rushed towards that direction.
Upon seeing the rankings, those at the top of the list couldn't help but exclaim in surprise. The reason was simple: none of the top three in this imperial examination were noble ladies from the capital. Even the beloved daughter of Minister Qi only came in fourth place.
To avoid duplicate names, the imperial court would indicate the place of origin after the name when posting the list of successful candidates.
Two of the top three finishers in this imperial examination came from Mengzhou Prefecture, and everyone was discussing who this top scholar, Lin Shu, really was.
Meanwhile, Lin Shu, who was the subject of much discussion, was at home facing off with an "uninvited guest."
This matter dates back to half an hour ago:
Since leaving the Lin residence last time, Ling Huanan has been wandering around the Lin residence as usual. However, Lin Shu has been staying at home since the end of the imperial examination, and Xue Wen has not gone out either. It has been more than ten days since he has seen her.
In the past, she had been stationed on the border for many years and did not know where Xue Wen was, so she did not feel anything. But now that she could see him but could not, she felt that the days were particularly difficult to endure and her heart was filled with anxiety.
Her personal guards all felt that the prince had been in a bad mood lately and knew the root of the problem, so they encouraged Ling Huanan to climb over the wall and go in to take a look.
Ling Huanan scoffed, but the thought had taken root and wouldn't go away.
Today, while everyone was looking at the list, she coldly dismissed her guards under a pretext, then went to a secluded spot in the back street, gathered her strength, and leaped over the wall, thinking that she would only take a glance and no one would notice.
Unexpectedly, there were hidden guards in the mansion. As soon as she landed, seven or eight people flashed out and surrounded her, attacking without saying a word. Seeing this, Ling Yi also appeared and joined the battle.
As a result, the sounds of fighting naturally alerted Lin Shu and the others. When they arrived, they saw Yin San and his group being repeatedly defeated by Ling Huanan and Ling Yi.
Ling Huanan naturally saw Lin Shu and the others, or more precisely, he saw Xue Wen. A barely perceptible glint flashed in his eyes as he appeared to have been "accidentally" scratched by Yin San from an odd angle.
"Hiss..." Ling Huanan, dressed in black, covered his torn sleeve, staring at Xue Wen, and groaned softly.
Yin San:......
He inwardly groaned: What are you doing? You clearly ran into my knife yourself, and there's no blood on my blade. Are you trying to extort me...?
"Stop!" Xue Wen's previously calm face suddenly showed a hint of anxiety, and he couldn't help but shout loudly.
Yin San and the others first glanced back at Lin Shu, and seeing Lin Shu nod in acknowledgment, they stopped and stepped aside.
Xue Wen took two steps forward, then stopped, thinking of his daughter and son-in-law beside him. He turned to Lin Shuyan and said, "Shuyan, let's get a doctor to take a look at her!"
After saying this, he turned and returned to his own courtyard.
Seeing this, Su Mu knew that Lin Shu had something to say to this person, so he left with Li Huanzhi and Song Yun, leaving the two of them alone.
That's why the scene just now happened.
"Tsk, shall we fetch a doctor for the prince?"
After everyone left, only Lin Shu and Ling Huanan remained. Lin Shu looked at Ling Huanan's 'wound' with a half-smile.
"No need." As soon as Xue Wen left, Ling Huanan returned to his usual cold demeanor. Lin Shu saw through him, so he stopped pretending and removed his hand from his sleeve, showing that he was not injured at all.
Lin Shu raised an eyebrow slightly, nodded lightly, and then looked at the trampled flowers and plants, saying, "I never expected Your Highness to be so...unconventional?"
“You…” Ling Huanan felt somewhat awkward under Lin Shu’s teasing gaze. Who would have thought that his daughter could so quietly train so many secret guards? In the end, he could only coldly remind her again:
"Lin Shu, I am your mother."
This time, Lin Shu did not refute, but after a long time, she slowly said, "My father approves of you, so you are my mother. In other words, whoever my father approves of is my mother, Lin Shu."
"Lin, Shu..."
Just as Ling Huanan was about to get angry, he was interrupted by the sound of a group of reporters banging gongs and drums in the front yard.
"Good news! Lady Lin Shu from Yun County, Mengzhou Prefecture, has achieved the top rank in the imperial examination of the fourteenth year of the Fengming National Day, and has been invited to the Emperor's presence in the Golden Palace!"
Xue Wen and Su Mu were already waiting in the front yard. Perhaps they were used to it, so they weren't as excited as they had been the previous times. Su Mu took out a large amount of silver and gave it to the messenger.
The messenger beamed with joy, bowing repeatedly and uttering auspicious words.
Lin Shu and Ling Huanan did not go out, but since there was no more noise outside, they assumed that the messengers had already left.
"You... are very good!" Ling Hua Nanfang was interrupted by the person who brought the good news. His previous anger had dissipated a little, and he praised her with a straight face.
"Of course," Lin Shu replied without any modesty.
Ling Huanan was taken aback. He glanced at Lin Shu with a complicated expression, then turned and walked towards the wall, clearly intending to climb over it and leave.
However, before that, she said in a cold voice, "Your mother can only be me. Others may not live long enough to enjoy this."
The implication was that Lin Shu should give up the idea of finding him a stepmother, otherwise that person probably wouldn't live long...
After saying that, she leaped onto the wall and was about to jump down when she suddenly heard Lin Shu's voice behind her:
“Uh… the Lin residence has a main gate. Although I don’t know why Your Highness likes to climb over the wall, it’s best not to do so in the future, otherwise you might be seen as a ‘thief,’ which would damage Your Highness’s reputation…”
Ling Huanan was speechless: ... (Why didn't you say so before I came up?)
"Hmph!" Ling Huanan snorted lightly, then disappeared over the wall.
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