The Double-Chapter 64 - 62 Top of the List
64: Chapter 62: Top of the List
64 -62: Top of the List
Books, mathematics, and rites were mere trifles to Jiang Li.
Tongxiang’s academy might not have been as splendid as Mingyi Hall, but it was not shabby either.
To the contrary, Jiang Li believed that the pursuit of knowledge had noble methods for the families who could afford grandeur and clashing bells, as well as ordinary methods for the common families.
Although she was not taught by teachers from the palace, Jiang Li thought that under Xue Huaiyuan’s meticulous guidance, she was not lacking at all.
In fact, Xue Huaiyuan never stinted in showing her a broader sky and granting her freedom, which enabled her vision to be even further-reaching than that of men.
Otherwise, when she first arrived at Yanjing City, she would not have been known not only as the number one beauty but also as the number one talented woman.
Thinking, putting brush to paper, and writing seemed to all be done in one go.
Doing it all over again, having shed the shackles of the title “Madam of the Top Scholar”, perhaps because she had died once and her mind had become more open, Jiang Li wrote with even greater ease.
The Chief Examiner who was patrolling the room was taken aback upon seeing her write as if divinely inspired, without the slightest pause.
Time quickly passed, and after three sets of exams were over, the Chief Examiner collected the best exam paper and after giving some important reminders, he left.
What remained was only to wait for the posting of the results in five days to know the outcome.
As Jiang Li stepped outside the courtyard of Mingyi Hall, Jiang Youyao quickly caught up to her and from afar asked, “Second Sister, do you feel alright?”
“Quite alright,” Jiang Li answered with a smile.
“There’s no need to force yourself,” sneered Jiang Yue, seizing the opportunity to mock Jiang Li, “Today’s school examination must have wrung you dry.
You must be exhausted.
Best rest properly at home for the next few days.
On the day the results are announced, your sisters will help you check.”
“I appreciate the concern,” Jiang Li nodded in response.
Seeing that Jiang Li was neither angry nor showing signs of panicked fatigue, Jiang Youyao and Jiang Yue felt a touch of displeasure, but it quickly turned to delight as they assumed Jiang Li was probably just putting on a brave face.
Meng Hongjin stood at the entrance, feeling confident about her own exam performance, and looked at Jiang Li with a challenging smile.
“Miss Jiang the Second, don’t forget our bet.
On the day the results are posted, we should both be at the entrance of Mingyi Hall.
Don’t come up with excuses to avoid it then.
If you do, you’ll be branded a liar and will be the laughingstock of everyone.”
“The feeling is mutual,” Jiang Li remained unruffled.
Meng Hongjin huffed and walked away.
Liu Xu looked at Jiang Li with concern and asked her, “Just now…
did you find it difficult?”
“Even if I say it wasn’t, you wouldn’t believe me,” Jiang Li patted her hand, “Don’t worry, just relax for the next few days, and we’ll see each other again in five days.”
Laughing, she walked away with Tonger and Bai Xue.
As she was about to get into the carriage, Jiang Li even saw Ye Shijie standing at the entrance of the Imperial College from a distance.
Ye Shijie was talking to someone by his side and seemed at ease, indicating he must have done well.
Bai Xue asked, “Miss, do you want to go over and greet Young Master Cousin Ye?”
“No need,” Jiang Li said with a slight smile, “Too many eyes here.
We’ll see each other on the day the results are announced.”
When Jiang Li returned to the Jiang Residence, Jiang Jingrui came to cause a ruckus in Fangfei Garden again, pestering to know how Jiang Li had fared that day.
After finally managing to send him away, Ji Shuran sent some fruits over to relieve Jiang Li’s tiredness.
In the following days, the Jiang Residence was calm.
Madam Jiang the Elder and Jiang Yuanbai did not inquire about Jiang Li’s school exam, possibly intentionally avoiding the topic.
Jiang Jingrui couldn’t wait for Jiang Li to lose face at the entrance of Mingyi Hall, but Jiang Li herself was not in a hurry and leisurely went about her days, seemingly unconcerned about the bet with Meng Hongjin.
One day, two days, three days, four days, five days.
On the fifth morning, the gambling houses in the streets and alleys unexpectedly opened their doors early to welcome patrons.
Gamblers came in an endless stream, crowding the entrance to the point of impenetrability, and even the teahouses and taverns were especially bustling today, full of guests.
Even the usually deserted rundown taverns were packed with diners.
The topic of excited conversation was the announcement of the exam results that day.
“The Imperial College is posting the results today, and it’s not known how many young talents will grace Yanjing this year.”
“Mingyi Hall is also releasing its results at this moment, the young ladies from noble families are often both beautiful and talented, but who will live up to their reputation this year?”
The names that were most talked about were still “Meng Hongjin” and “Jiang Li.”
“If you ask me, the most interesting list to look at today is Mingyi Hall’s, and let’s not forget, before the school exam, the young lady from the Chengxuan Envoy’s Mansion and the legitimate daughter from the Chief Minister’s Family made a bet—whoever loses has to kneel in front of Mingyi Hall and publicly apologize.
What Imperial College scholar, Mingyi Hall talented lady, none has the spirit of this bet, folks, don’t you agree?”
Everyone raised their glasses in agreement, and someone else shook their head, lamenting, “Such a pity for the Chief Minister, a family known for its leading civil official is about to be turned into a laughingstock because of this malicious legitimate daughter.”
“How sad, how sad,” another person sighed in agreement.
“Doesn’t the Chief Minister’s Family still have the Third Miss?
That Miss Jiang the Third is truly a lady from a great family; Lord Jiang won’t be completely disgraced.”
“If you ask me, that’s the difference.
Miss Jiang the Third’s mother is a lady from the Vice Imperial Envoy Ji family, knowledgeable and reasonable, while Miss Jiang the Second’s mother was but a mere merchant.
It just goes to show, marry a virtuous wife, and see how the daughter from a merchant family turns out—incapable of showing her face in public…”
At this very moment, Ye Shijie was sitting among the guests at the foot of Wangxian Tower, the largest tavern in Yanjing City, his ears filled with personal remarks about the matter.
Upon hearing “a mere merchant,” Ye Shijie clenched his fists tightly.
His friend beside him asked, “Looking at the time, it’s about time for the posting of the results, why isn’t there any movement yet?”
No sooner had these words been spoken than the crowd by the window suddenly burst into a commotion, with someone saying, “Here they come, here they come!”
The individual posting the red list had arrived.
The people waiting outside swarmed up in a rush, the guards held the crowd back, and the red name lists were pasted on the prominent stone walls.
Once the posters had left, the eager crowd immediately surrounded them with a “swoosh.”
For those unable to squeeze in, they jumped anxiously on the outside, desperate to catch a glimpse and kept asking the people inside, “Can you see it, who’s at the top of the list?”
Those inside were struggling too, but a short person used their agility to squeeze in rapidly, pushing to the very front and shouted, “The top scholar of the Imperial College is Ye Shijie.”
Outside, there was a surge of surprise.
The name Ye Shijie was too unfamiliar and seemed not to belong to any of the Official Families of the Capital.
“And Mingyi Hall?” In the midst of the chaos, others were more concerned with different results, asking, “Who’s at the top of Mingyi Hall’s list?”
The short person, now turned Herald, dragged out their voice, saying, “The top of Mingyi Hall’s list is—it is—” Their voice suddenly stopped short, replaced by a collective sharp intake of breath
The crowd around grew even more anxious, their curiosity piqued, urging and cursing, “Hurry up, what are you hiding, who is it?”
The small person, jostled a few times, came back to their senses, turned around irritably, and spat out a name.
“Jiang Li!”
Jiang Li?!
The crowd exploded.
