The Prime Minister’s Darling-Chapter 419 - : 211 Kiss Kiss (1st Update)

Chapter 419: 211 Kiss Kiss (1st Update)

Xiao Liulang passed the imperial examination with first-place honours, bringing joy to his entire family.

The Old Libationer didn’t express it, but the smile in his eyes was undeniable.

Despite his firm belief that with the capabilities of his protégé, obtaining the top rank was never in doubt, he couldn’t help but feel overjoyed.

For dinner, he cooked several dishes causing everyone to eat their fill.

The old lady gave Xiao Liulang a large red envelope filled with money won from playing the leaf card game, she also gives one to Gu Jiao. After the hard effort of sitting the exams, Gu Jiao had taken even greater pains in taking care of their mischievous child.

Xiao Liulang accepted the red envelope and immediately handed it over to Gu Jiao.

“Ehem, household expenses,” he said, deadpan.

“Oh,” Gu Jiao accepted it.

Money earned from the Qingfeng Building can’t compare to the sweet aroma of the money husband provides!

“Are there more exams following?” Gu Jiao asked.

“Yes, there are,” Xiao Liulang replied, “There is a re-examination at the end of March, and the palace examination in April.”

The so-called re-examination is more of a roll-call exam, and is more symbolic than anything else. It doesn’t count towards the final grade. It’s said to be for comparing handwriting to prevent anyone from cheating during the imperial examination.

The palace examination, on the other hand, is the main event.

The emperor personally administers the palace examination, with the nine ministers supervising it. All the candidates must answer questions under their watchful gaze, which can be quite nerve-wracking.

The palace examination in the previous dynasty was only a one-day affair.

However, in the current dynasty, in order to better select talent, it has been changed to a two-day session: one day for the written exam, and another day for an oral examination.

But, not every candidate gets the opportunity for the oral examination.

Only candidates that perform well in the written exam have the opportunity to be summoned by the emperor for a personal question and answer session.

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Of course, if the emperor wishes, he can question any candidate during the first exam, so this tests the candidate’s mental fortitude and on-the-spot performance.

Some candidates are very knowledgeable, but lack the courage, so when it comes to the palace examination, they can’t perform well. Hence, the present scholar rankings don’t necessarily represent their final result in the palace examination.

This was also how Xiao Liulang encouraged Fen Lin and Lin Chengye, allowing them to focus solely on the exams.

“Are there failures in the palace examination?” Gu Jiao asked.

“Not exactly,” Xiao Liulang patiently explained.

The palace examination doesn’t fail anyone; it only ranks the candidates. Therefore, as long as you pass the imperial examination, you have the opportunity to become a successful candidate.

But even successful candidates are ranked into different tiers.

The top three in the palace examination are called Class Alpha graduates. They are awarded honours and titles such as the top scholar, second scholar, and third scholar.

Class Beta grants successful candidate status, and Class Gamma grants a rank similar to that of a successful candidate.

Classes Alpha and Beta are considered true successful candidate rankings, whereas Class Gamma can be regarded as a consolation for those who couldn’t make the cut. This title is a consolation for the candidates who didn’t succeed.

These unsuccessful candidates cannot progress much in the Capital City and can only become low-level county officials in other regions.

Class Alpha successful candidates can directly enter the Hanlin Academy, while Classes Beta and Gamma successful candidates need to take another royal examination. Those who pass are called imperial scholars, they are also eligible to enter the Hanlin Academy after three years of study and passing the final exam.

The Hanlin Academy is the talent reserve of Zhan Country. There’s a saying, ‘No successful candidates cannot enter the Hanlin, no Hanlin cannot enter the cabinet.’ The Hanlin Academy is the dream destination of all exam candidates.

Of course, entering the Hanlin Academy doesn’t guarantee success. The Academy also has its own examinations and rules, but this is a topic for another time.

Gu Jiao pondered in her heart and realized that she had already become the wife of a successful imperial examination candidate and the next step would be to become the wife of a palace examination graduate.

“Who is ranked third?” she asked.

Since Xiao Liulang and Prince An were tied for first, there is no second place, the next position is the third one.

The scholar who took third place was a classmate of Xiao Liulang at Guozijian’s Shuaixin Hall, a man with the surname Cao. He was already 30 years old this year, not a local of the Capital City. Back in his hometown, he was known as a young prodigy. However, after several unsuccessful attempts at the imperial examination, he almost gave up. Finally, this year, he made it into the honor roll at one stroke.

Gu Jiao remembered that his name was not on the betting list at Qingfeng Building. Apparently, he was a dark horse, but few people noticed him under the shadow of Xiao Liulang.

The family had a full dinner, and everyone ate more than usual due to their happy mood, except for the little monk.

Being the only child at home, the little monk was being cautious and vigilant.

Just because IL is tied for first place this time, everyone in the family is all so cheerful. That shows how low everyone’s expectations for him really are, indicating how bad his usual academic performance is.

The little monk decided to give this bad older brother-in-law a wake-up call not to be too arrogant in case he messes up again through carelessness.

At the same time, he also decided to reward him.

“Reward for me?” In the study room, Xiao Liulang looked at the little monk with a strange face.

Has the sun really risen in the west? The little monk is actually going to reward him?

The little monk put his small hands behind his back, gave a slight nod, and then put on a serious face: “Master Jiang once said, we must show care for vulnerable groups.”

The bad older brother-in-law was ranked last, a clear example of a vulnerable group.

Xiao Liulang pointed to the first-place document on the table: “Excuse me, I ranked first in the exam.”

Little Monk pouted and snorted, “We are of equal rank, that’s all.”

Xiao Liulang looked at him, amused and annoyed, “Well then, how about you take the palace examination and show me?”

“Just wait till I grow up!” Little Monk asserted with full confidence!

Xiao Liulang was helpless, “Alright, what is your reward for me after all this talk?”

Little Monk asked, “What do you want?”

What could Xiao Liulang ask of him? Surely, he can’t expect him to waive his rent.

Xiao Liulang considered it for a moment, eventually thinking of something he really desired, “The gift that Jiaojiao gave you on your birthday.”

Little Monk’s fur bristled, “That’s outrageous! You’re planning to steal the gift that Jiaojiao gave me!”

Xiao Liulang shrugs innocently, “You were the one to ask me what I wanted, and I told you.”

Little Monk frowned, he was a good kid who kept his promises and never backs out.

Suppressing the pain, he asked, “You want the checkers game that Jiaojiao gave me?”

Xiao Liulang said, “Why would I want that? I want the other thing.”

Little Monk and Xiao Liulang share the same birthday, Gu Jiao gave gifts to both, and apart from the checkers game, there was another gift for Little Monk.

Xiao Liulang was referring to the origami crane.

Little Monk clenched his little fists, somewhat incredulously and painfully, he looked at Xiao Liulang, “You, you, a grown man, what do you want that for? That’s something for us kids only!”

wow, remembering you’re a kid now huh?

Xiao Liulang chuckled, “I want it, are you giving it or not?”

Typically impudent, just like the Marquis of Xuanping.

Little Monk gave Xiao Liulang a complex look, his expression screaming, How could you do this?

Little Monk took a deep breath, closed his eyes, his face saying it all. Suddenly, as if making up his mind he said, “Alright, if you insist.”

Bracing himself, he took a step forward, and under Xiao Liulang’s bewildered gaze, planted a kiss on his right cheek!

Xiao Liulang: “…”

After the kiss, both were flabbergasted.

What kind of punishment is this, oh Lord?

Little Monk: My sacrifice is too great!

Lightning was rolling in Little Monk’s mind, he stuck his tongue out, rolled his eyes, and ran out of the room in a frenzy!

Xiao Liulang shuddered his way back to reality, indicating that he too was quite shocked.

When Gu Jiao entered the room, Xiao Liulang’s mouth was still twitching.

“Hmm? What happened?” Gu Jiao looked at him, puzzled.

Xiao Liulang cleared his throat, “Nothing.”

Totally embarrassing, not worth mentioning.

Gu Jiao walked in and handed him a small jewelry box.

“What’s this—” Xiao Liulang took the box, opened it, and found a red silk hairband inside.

He was still young and couldn’t wear a crown, and he was not used to wearing hairpins.

The old hairband was worn out, this one was dyed by Gu Jiao herself, it suited him well, pure and beautiful, yet as radiant as peach blossoms.

“Is this… a gift for becoming the best scholar?” Xiao Liulang asked.

“Huh?” Gu Jiao was confused.

Obviously not. Xiao Liulang lowered his gaze, he didn’t say anything, but his demeanor emanated a twinge of petulant disappointment.

Gu Jiao instantly felt like she had let down Little Lord.

Xiao Liulang sighed, “Little Monk just gave me a gift.”

Thought we agreed not to speak of it?

If even Little Monk gave a gift, wouldn’t it be unreasonable if she didn’t?

Gu Jiao quickly asked, “What gift do you want?”

“It doesn’t have to be anything complicated, something simple will do.” Xiao Liulang straightened his expression and said seriously, “Just what Little Monk had on his birthday, and I didn’t.”

The last time Xiao Liulang said something like this, he got a sweet kiss from Gu Jiao.

“Oh.” Understanding instantly, Gu Jiao turned around and left the room. When she came back, she had an origami crane in her hand, “Here!”

As far as Gu Jiao was concerned, the only things that Little Monk had and Xiao Liulang didn’t on their birthday were a kiss and an origami crane. Since she had already given him a kiss, the only thing left was the origami crane.

Xiao Liulang, who didn’t want the origami crane at all: “…”