The Marquis Mansion’s Elite Class
Chapter 447

At the General’s Manor.

After stepping down from the carriage, Xu Wan didn’t return to her room. Instead, she said, "We originally planned to paint a group portrait once they entered the examination hall. Should we start now in the grand study?"

"Alright," Zong Zhao agreed.

Since it was a sizable project that might take a long time, they had already prepared a long, blank scroll in advance and placed it in the grand study.

The two first sketched a draft on a smaller sheet of paper. Zong Zhao drew two versions of the grand study’s layout to serve as the foundation for filling in the figures.

Meanwhile, Xu Wan began listing the members of the elite class:

Five students: Zong Jincheng, Zong Wenxiu, He Zheng, Shen Yibai, and Wei Xinglu.

Five instructors: Xu Wan, Baili Xi, Yan Suxue, Su Xi, and Zong Zhao.

Five private tutors: Pan Hongzhi, Zhao Yin, Cheng Zhidong, Jiang Yan, and Xu Jin.

Xu Wan gasped slightly. "I didn’t realize how many there were until now—fifteen people in total. Would a single group portrait look too stiff?"

Zong Zhao picked up his two sketches and suggested, "What if we split it into two paintings? One set in the courtyard of the grand study and the other inside the study itself. Both would feature the five children, while the instructors are divided between the two scenes."

"But that would mean the children appear twice..." Xu Wan pondered, then suddenly had an idea. "I’ve got it! In the indoor scene, I’ll paint them as they were when they first joined the class, and in the outdoor scene, I’ll depict them older!"

The boys were always growing.

While their appearances might not have changed drastically from childhood to now, their personalities and behaviors had evolved significantly—perfect for capturing in this way.

Zong Zhao nodded in approval. "Excellent idea."

Xu Wan took the list of fifteen names and began assigning positions. "The five private tutors will be indoors, accompanying the children as they study. The five instructors will be outside, supervising the boys as they dig for water spinach."

"Sounds good."

With the framework and character placements settled, the two got to work.

Zong Zhao, more familiar with Su Xi and the others, took charge of the outdoor scene, while Xu Wan, who remembered the children’s earliest days, painted the indoor version with ease.

Recalling the mischievous antics of the boys when they first joined the class, Xu Wan couldn’t help but chuckle as she painted, her joy evident in her work.

Three ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‍days passed in a flash.

The couple finally completed the portrait. Once the ink dried, they framed it and hung it on the back wall of the grand study, eagerly awaiting the students’ return after the exams.

At the entrance of the examination hall.

True to Zong Jincheng’s prediction, spending only three days and two nights inside left them far less disheveled than before.

"Mother! I’m done! Hahaha, I think I did brilliantly—I’m definitely taking first place!" The little troublemaker was as confident as ever.

Xu Wan, as usual, wiped his face with a handkerchief, a gesture she had repeated countless times. Her eyes had grown increasingly tender over time. Though she had never been a mother biologically, her maternal instincts had flourished through raising the children.

It was all the result of nurturing these bonds.

Xu Wan laughed. "Alright, alright. I’ll wait for you to bring home that first-place title, you little braggart."

Zong Jincheng lifted his chin proudly. "Hmph, this time it’s not just talk. I’m absolutely, positively going to win!"

Xu Wan shook her head in amusement. "Come on, let’s go home and rest. Your father and I have prepared a surprise for you."

"A surprise? What kind? A celebration banquet?" Zong Jincheng’s eyes sparkled with curiosity.

Xu Wan giggled. "The celebration banquet is for after the results are announced. This is just a welcome-back treat—a different kind of surprise."

Zong Jincheng pressed eagerly, "Where is it? In our rooms? Or do we have to go to the main hall?"

Xu Wan smiled warmly. "In the grand study."

"!"

The little troublemaker buzzed with anticipation all the way home. As soon as they arrived, he leaped off the carriage and shouted excitedly, "Brothers, don’t rush off to bathe yet! Come to the grand study—Father and Mother have a huge surprise for us!!!"

"Huh? What surprise?"

"No idea, let’s go see!"

The five boys raced ahead, each faster than the last. The four private tutors, assuming the surprise wasn’t for them, were about to leave when Xu Wan called out with a smile, "Would the instructors like to see as well?"

The four hurried in after them.

From the courtyard, they could already hear the boys’ exclamations inside:

"Wow!!"

"Incredible!!"

"What kind of masterpiece is this?!"

"That’s me! Two versions of me—one at eight years old and another at eleven!"

"And me! Look, there’s two of me too! Hah, why do I look like that?"

"Hahaha, you two look so sneaky! You must’ve been plotting to skip class, and Auntie saw right through you!"

"Don’t laugh at them, He Zheng—what’s that black smudge on your arm? Evidence from when you burned the blankets?"

"!!!"

One by one, the boys’ embarrassing pasts were dredged up. The long, exquisitely detailed portrait captured their growth over the past three years, stirring memories for everyone.

"Uncle and Auntie painted this together. Their skills are amazing."

"It’s so beautiful. I’d love to hang it in my room so I can see it every day."

"Me too! I want one!"

"No luck—there’s only one copy. If you want to see it, just come to the grand study."

"Fair point."

"Hehe, it’s really lovely…"

Standing at the doorway, Xu Wan watched the children’s delighted reactions and felt all the effort of the past few days had been worth it. She even considered painting more. Turning to Zong Zhao, she asked, "What if we made time to paint a few more?"

Zong Zhao never rejected her suggestions. "Sure."

The plan was set.

But for now, they had no time to spare.

While waiting for the exam results, the boys couldn’t afford to slack off—the final stage of the imperial examinations, the palace exam, would follow shortly after the rankings were announced.

At the Ministry of Rites.

This year’s imperial examinations were overseen by Vice Minister Shao Jiming of the Ministry of Rites and Grand Scholar Han from the Hanlin Academy.

After over twenty days of grading, they sifted through thousands of essays, selecting outstanding candidates and ranking them for the Emperor’s reference during the palace exam.

"This one is excellent—meticulous reasoning, comprehensive considerations, outstanding in both literary talent and capability. A potential top-three candidate."

"This one too, a contender for the top three."

"And this one as well."

Shao Jiming quickly picked out three top-tier examinees. When he looked up, he noticed Grand Scholar Han was also selecting candidates, muttering to himself:

"Top three, without a doubt."

"Top three, top three—what fine writing!"

"Top three!"

Shao Jiming: "..."

If we present this many top-three candidates from just one round of exams to the Emperor a month from now… he might just have our heads.

Hesitantly, he ventured, "Grand Scholar Han, can there really be this many top-three scholars?"