Special Agent Rebirth: The Omnipotent Goddess of Quick Transmigration
Chapter 366: Special Agent 361 has turned into a commoner (7) at the second update

Chapter 366: Special Agent 361 has turned into a commoner (7) at the second update

The elder matriarch also glanced at Ye Shaohua, "Since childhood, you’ve disliked studying. Fooling around was one thing before, but now that you’ve ranked first in the preliminary examinations, you should exert some effort. Otherwise, you won’t be so lucky next time to achieve the top rank. All your bad habits, you should hurry up and change them."

This tone was somewhat heavy.

Clearly, she was very dissatisfied with Ye Shaohua’s attitude of indolence and lack of ambition.

The others from the Ye Family, hearing this, covered their mouths and laughed.

Ye Shaoming, having heard that Ye Shahua had actually ranked first, felt envious; he didn’t expect the latter to have such a character.

He smiled at Ye Shaohua, "Fourth brother indeed has a majestic presence, not an ordinary person indeed."

Although his tone was warm, the slightly drooping corners of his eyes revealed a hint of disdain that, in a place invisible to others, hid an extremely cold mockery.

These days, the Imperial Examination was also a test of luck; regardless of one’s talent and intellect, if what one wrote appealed to the examiners and struck a chord with the emperor, even if less talented than others, one could achieve a higher ranking.

But the subsequent examinations would lead to an even harsher fall because they were not at all about the same topics.

Ye Shaoming previously wary of Ye Shaohua, now relaxed upon seeing Ye Shaohua’s nonchalant demeanor.

He thought this was exactly the kind of person Ye Shaohua was.

It was no wonder that this was what the people of the Ye Family thought.

After all, even Aunt Mei harbored some doubts.

Otherwise, why would they say the Imperial Examination was difficult? Now, what scholar doesn’t study through hardship by a cold window? Ten years may not even be enough to ensure success.

Ye Shaohua, who went out to walk the dog, drink with friends, or amuse birds, having a ranking at all was remarkable enough, let alone having achieved first in the preliminary rankings?

Could people not be suspicious?

Dinner was eaten with the guests wearing varying expressions.

Initially, those from the second and third branches who had already left the Ye Residence were considering curry favor upon hearing of Ye Shaohua’s top ranking.

Now seeing Ye Shaohua’s behavior, their enthusiasm dimmed somewhat; they decided to wait and see for the future.

Whether this was an act for the Ye Family or genuinely his true character.

They could also discern it now.

After all... Ye Shaohua’s way of amusing birds did not seem like that of an outsider...

After dinner, Chunchun followed Ye Jin.

"Third Lady, shall we go to the Pear Garden to see how the Fourth Young Master is treating Aunt Mei?" Chunchun previously served Aunt Mei.

But she understood the way of the world.

After Aunt Mei and Ye Shaohua were sent away to a villa, she didn’t leave with Aunt Mei and the others like Liuliu; instead, she sought out Ye Jin overnight, hoping to remain under her service.

Ye Jin, after all, had some esteem with the elder matriarch.

She didn’t ask the elder matriarch to allow Aunt Mei and others to stay; she simply requested to keep a maid for herself.

The elder matriarch agreed.

Initially, just like Ye Jin, Chunchun thought Aunt Mei was too timid to use her beauty to secure benefits and that her Fourth Young Master was too faint-hearted. Such a mother and son had no prospect, and leaving them was the best choice.

Who knew that Ye Shahua would suddenly rise to fame?

He ranked first in the preliminary examination!

The Young Master, Ye Shaoming, had to take the examination twice, from the age of twelve until eighteen to finally pass.

An eighteen-year-old candidate was already considered promising.

After all, most who passed were either in their twenties or scholars who had been taking the examination for decades, starting in their thirties or forties.

Therefore, the Ye Family was so elated when Ye Shaoming made it to the ninth rank at the age of eighteen.

But how old was the Fourth Young Master?

Fourteen!

A whole four years younger than the Young Master, and not only did he pass, but he also ranked first in the preliminary examination!

"Third Lady, do you think Aunt Mei will be unhappy?" Chunchun, recalling what the Third Lady said to Aunt Mei before the fire, a shadow crossing her brow, "Would she refuse to see you?"

Ye Jin felt as if she were living in a dream ever since her cowardly fourth brother ranked first in the preliminary examination.

Now, hearing Chunchun’s words, she finally snapped back to reality, "Go to the Pear Garden? No, we can’t go now. Now is the time to show my devotion to my legitimate mother. Especially at times like these, I must distance myself from Aunt Mei. If Aunt Mei or the fourth brother come to see me in the future, remember to keep your distance from them. My eldest brother is a study companion for the Third Prince, and not to mention, my mother’s uncle is a renowned merchant in Jiangnan, extremely wealthy."

"But the Fourth Young Master..." Chunchun hesitated, thinking of the fourteen-year-old top scorer.

"Him? Look at how he behaved today," Ye Jin said with disdain, "Didn’t you hear what Aunt Mei said? Every day he’s either walking the dog, playing with birds, or going out to drink with others. How can he compare to my elder brother? Just wait until next year’s Imperial Examination, and you’ll see his true colors."

Despite this sounding somewhat reasonable.

After all, the Fourth Young Master was the Third Lady’s legitimate younger brother, surely more reliable than the lady of the house.

Chunchun wanted to advise Ye Jin, but seeing her attitude, she swallowed back her words before they could leave her mouth.

After returning to the Ye Residence, Ye Shaohua did not restrain himself and continued to do as he pleased, going out whenever he wanted.

"Mother, keep these for yourself," Ye Shaohua handed a stack of banknotes to Aunt Mei, "Now that we are in the Ye Residence, don’t be too frugal with yourself. If there’s anything you want to eat and the kitchen doesn’t have it, send someone to buy it."

"Where are you going?" Aunt Mei was already used to Ye Shaohua’s actions and did not take the banknotes, only squinting her eyes.

Ye Shaohua unfolded his fan with a "swish," "No, father and elder brother said they want to take me out to get acquainted with the world."

"That’s good, just don’t cause trouble." Aunt Mei looked at his deft movements, his appearance androgynous, yet those actions screamed anything but unrefined aristocrat. She admonished him before letting him out.

No sooner had Ye Shaohua left than an attendant from the elder matriarch came to fetch Aunt Mei.

By the time Aunt Mei arrived, she found that several sisters-in-law were present, not just the Ye Family but also from the second and third branches. Among them, she was the only concubine.

"How has Ming’s studies been going recently? I heard from the master that his recent essay won over the heart of Master Top Scholar," the elder matriarch asked the Ye Family.

The Ye Family smiled demurely, "Indeed, Ming studies diligently and practices hard every day," and with that, she turned to Aunt Mei, "Auntie, the Imperial Examination is approaching in February. Speaking of which, I haven’t seen Shahua recently. I wonder how his studies are faring?"