Transmigration: The Evil Mother-In-Law Is Actually Innocent!
Chapter 1377: Top Scholar

Chapter 1377: Chapter 1377: Top Scholar

The day for the announcement of the examination results came in a blink of an eye. Having a son-in-law from the Zhou family participating, the Zhou household was deeply concerned and had sent someone to keep watch early on.

At the site where the results were posted, Steward Ding was already acquainted with the chief stewards from all the major households in the capital. The Wong family’s steward approached and asked, "Steward Ding, why have you come in person?"

Indeed, there was no need for Steward Ding to come personally, but he still did. His present status was all thanks to his master, so he had always made it a point to come.

Steward Ding replied with a smile, "Our family has two sons-in-law taking the exam. Our Family Head is very concerned, hence he sent me here."

Upon hearing this, the Wong family’s steward realized the Zhou family put great importance on their eldest grandson to the extent that they sent the chief steward to oversee the posting. He must report this level of importance to the old Clan Leader once he returned.

Gu Liufeng and Wong Wei stood together, with Liufeng saying, "I thought you would be waiting at home."

Wong Wei candidly admitted, "I’m nervous. What about your brother-in-law?"

Liufeng did not lie, "I’m even more nervous. You know how high my father-in-law’s expectations are for me."

Wong Wei thought of his own father-in-law and smiled. His family had given him nothing but pressure, whereas his father-in-law offered reassurance, which was nice as it gave him some peace of mind.

Liufeng pointed ahead, "Wen Rong is here."

Wong Wei tightened his grip on the hand warmer, "A new game begins now. Many people keeping watch today are here for Wen Rong’s ranking."

Liufeng did not envy being the center of attention; he knew he didn’t have the capacity to endure it. Wen Rong could face much scrutiny without changing his demeanor, which garnered Liufeng’s respect.

Wen Rong was nervous. Having received the family’s resources, he needed to let his performance speak for itself. Only becoming the top scholar could silence the increasingly restless other wives of the family.

"The results are here!"

As the shout went up, everyone turned their attention to the government officer posting the results. The crowd made way, waiting for the announcement.

Wong Wei gripped his hand warmer tightly, trying to calm his nerves, but to no avail.

Steward Ding had experience with looking at the results. His coach never stopped at the front line. Instead, it stopped further away, a distance not too close yet convenient for returning to the estate.

Within half an hour, Steward Ding had returned home, alighting from the coach and running in to report the news.

Upon entering the house, Steward Ding gasped for breath and said, "Master Gu ranked forty-fifth, while Master Wong ranked even higher at ninth. Congratulations to the old madam; they are both good rankings."

Mrs. Zhao had been clasping her hands together all this while, and upon hearing the news, she relaxed, still murmuring Amitabha under her breath.

Zhulan was not worried about Wong Wei, the treasured eldest grandson of the Wong family who grew up under careful nurture; as long as there were no major blunders, his ranking would not be too low. She was worried about Gu Liufeng, but now she felt relieved, "Good, good, double happiness graces our door today. Reward everyone with a month’s pay."

Mrs. Zhao quickly said, "Mother, Chang Yi is still waiting for the news. I will send a young servant to deliver the message right away."

Zhulan chuckled, "There’s no need for you to send the message. Every department is watching the results. By the time your servant delivers the message, it will have already spread."

"Mother, you can’t laugh at your daughter-in-law; this is also my first time experiencing this."

Su Xuan took over, "By the time Ming Rui takes the Spring Examinations, you’ll have the experience."

Mrs. Zhao liked what she heard, implying that her son would successfully pass the exam, "If Ming Rui really passes the exam smoothly, I’ll have him pay respects to you with a cup of tea."

Su Xuan beamed with a smile, "Then I’ll be looking forward to it."

This year, members of the Zhou clan also participated in the Spring Examinations but did not stay at the Zhou estate; instead, they stayed outside, in a residence that Zhou Shuren had given to the family. In the future, when clan members come to the capital for exams, they will stay at the courtyard house outside. This would avoid a lot of trouble down the line and also make it easier to select some of the more promising clan members.

Zhulan inquired, "What about the disciples of the Zhou clan?"

Steward Ding slapped his forehead, "Look at my memory, I was only thinking of the two sons-in-law who were taking the exams."

Zhulan decided not to send anyone to check; if someone had passed, they would send a message over.

At the Ministry of Rites, Chang Yi heard the rankings and said to Sir Liu, "My son-in-law did alright and didn’t bring me any shame."

Sir Liu knew Zhou Changyi was boasting, "Congratulations, congratulations."

Changyi was feeling pleased with himself. How should he put it? A scholar from the second wife’s family, four marriages into prominent families for the Zhou household, it was only his second wife’s family that had no one participating in the imperial examination. Yet now, there was a son-in-law, half from their line, truly something to be proud of.

Sir Liu could sense Zhou Changyi’s thoughts and whispered, "My second son is also cut out to be a scholar, truly. My old man says Yuan Bo has a particularly sharp mind."

Zhou Changyi thought here we go again, "You’ve mentioned this to me before."

Sir Liu was impatient, "Why don’t you believe me? I am the example. I was stingy as hell before I met my wife, but I became really generous towards her, extremely generous."

Didn’t even hide his private stash of silver!

Zhou Changyi believed it; he had heard a bit about it, "Are you generous with your father-in-law too?"

Sir Liu affirmed resolutely, "Generous, particularly generous."

Because everything was arranged by his wife. At the time of their union through marriage, everyone knew of his reputation. His wife’s sisters laughed a lot at her but later, when his wife went back home, she used silver in return to sarcastically tease them which was particularly satisfying. Even if his heart ached, he had to smile.

Chang Yi really hadn’t looked into these matters, and thought he might check them out once back home.

Sir Liu continued, "Think about it, how great it would be if my son were like me. My eldest son is not like me at all; he had bedchamber maids even before getting married, while I had none before marriage and no concubines after. I’m sure my second son, being so much like me, won’t have any concubines either."

He wasn’t willing to spend silver on superfluous women; one wife was enough to support!

Zhou Changyi recalled carefully, and it did seem to be true. He started to investigate clearly. In the past, whatever Sir Liu said did not truly engage his interest, but today, feeling unusually good, he was more receptive.

Sir Liu went on, "My wife really likes your daughter, truly, I swear."

His wife just wanted an extra person to manage her son.

If it weren’t for the matter involving Mr. Chang’s wife, Zhou Changyi wouldn’t have taken this to heart either. But now, he noted it down. The importance of a good mother-in-law was most representative of his own mother.

At the place where the examination results were posted, Wong Wei and Liufeng had not left. Both, knowing their places, relaxed and were currently enjoying the bustle.

Wong Wei whispered, "This time, the Wen family must be feeling exceptionally proud."

"Top scholar, ah, any family would feel proud having a top scholar."

"You don’t understand."

The Liu royal consort’s family had produced a top scorer, and the Liu family had long used this to press down on the Wen family’s younger generation. Now, with Wen Rong succeeding as the top scholar, the Wen family could finally exhale a breath of relief.

Wen Rong was surrounded by a throng of people—too many eager to fawn over him. The Empress was pregnant again; if it was a son, he would be the third legitimate heir, making the prospects for other factions even bleaker. If a daughter, she would still be a princess born of the legitimate line.

With the Wen family producing a top scholar, nine out of ten chance he would be the Top scorer, and even more people were eager to make connections with the Wen family.

Liufeng had lost interest in the spectacle, "Shall we not leave?"

Wong Wei spread his hands, "I have to wait a little longer. I’m the principal grandson of the Wong clan, and I need to represent my family in congratulating Wen Rong."

As if he really wanted to stay any longer; he was about to freeze to death.

Liufeng, looking at the crowds inside and out, said, "You’ll have to wait."

Wong Wei sighed, "Big brother-in-law, you go ahead. I’ll wait a little longer."

Liufeng couldn’t bring himself to leave his brother-in-law and go first, "I’ll wait with you and we’ll go together."

Inside the Palace, the Empress was suffering severely from morning sickness and had not been in good spirits; she had seen nobody these past days.

The Empress, utterly drained from vomiting, leaned back to lie down, "Today with the announcement of the results, my father has gotten his wish."