Although it wasn’t a large place, everywhere was delicately and elegantly arranged.
His wife was a person skilled at managing the household, keeping the ho exceptionally tidy. Both of their children were outstanding, already settled and not needing his concern.
His wife had already prepared breakfast, and upon seeing him return she inquired, "Was there sothing wrong last night?"
"No."
Fu Leisheng sipped porridge and said, "Xiurong, these years following , you’ve worked hard."
The wife sat beside him sideways, watching him eat and smiled, "What hardship? I rely manage our dostic affairs—your hard work is outside the ho."
Fu Leisheng said, "Mingzhi and Zhiyuan are both married now, though they’re nothing remarkable, they can at least support themselves. You haven’t been ho in a long ti either. Why not go back, and burn so paper money for my parents and your parents? Last night, I dread they said they had no money to spend down there."
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The wife hesitated, "Is there trouble?"
"No."
Fu Leisheng took a bite of salted at and said, "The countryside is unsettled, have Mingzhi and Zhiyuan accompany you. Take their wives and children too. Just consider it a trip back to the township for a few days, to relax."
"And you?"
"I’m not going. I have things to deal with in the city."
Tears fell from his wife as she asked, "Sothing has happened, hasn’t it? Must you stay?"
Fu Leisheng was silent for a mont, then said, "I must stay. You all should go. Pack your things, leave today without delay. I’m going to sleep, don’t let Mingzhi and Zhiyuan bother . If I’m alive after tomorrow, I’ll co to find you."
While his wife wiped away tears, she began to pack.
Fu Leisheng ate his fill and fell into a deep sleep.
Wencai Academy had already welcod many students, who were continuously shocked by the coffins placed within, buzzing with speculation, not knowing what had happened.
Hu Feifei asked Chen Shi, but Chen Shi said nothing.
At noon, the governnt office released the results. Students flocked to the county office to see the rankings.
"Brother Chen, you’ve passed! First in Xinxiang County!"
Hu Feifei was inexplicably excited as she said to Chen Shi, "I would never have guessed your scholarly talent was this exceptional, and that you’d rank so high! Hey, that’s weird, why isn’t Shen Yusheng’s na here?"
She scanned the list up and down, failing to find Shen Yusheng’s na. Logically, Shen Yusheng should have been at the top of the list without needing a Divine Descent festival to acquire a Divine Embryo, yet no matter how many tis she looked, his na was missing.
Not only was Shen Yusheng’s na missing, but the news of the death of the chief examiner, Tian Huaiyi, had also not been spread. For a chief examiner’s death to remain so ominously silent...
In his heart, Chen Shi silently thought, "This noble lady truly has far-reaching Divine Skills, overshadowing Xinxiang County single-handedly."
The day after the rankings were released was the Divine Descent festival.
The Divine Descent festival, held every three years, was a bustling event. The townspeople treated this grand ceremony as a holiday, decorating everywhere with colorful lights. Shopkeepers took advantage of the occasion, shouting sales to attract custors.
Chen Shi, Hu Feifei, and a few students from Wencai Academy donned scholars’ robes and red ribbons in their hair, with green sashes around their waists.
Fu Leisheng, with a smile on his face, personally adjusted their collars and pinned a large red silk flower on Chen Shi’s chest before sending them off to the Temple of Literature.
The Temple of Literature had already been prepared. Statues of Confucius and Wenchang were draped in red cloth. Although the scholars had not yet arrived, the Incense Fire Qi rose like blue smoke into the sky.
Others had prepared chickens and ducks and led oxen, sheep, pigs, and other animals for offering—these were living sacrifices, gifts for the True God. There were also various fruits, from lons to peaches, arranged in baskets, one after another.
Along both sides of the road, incense candles had been placed, so as thick as an arm and taller than a person, already lit. Several children puffed their cheeks blowing on the Incense Fire Qi, lighting firecrackers that crackled and popped.
Everywhere there was beating of drums and gongs in jubilation. People constantly congratulated Fu Leisheng, while others reached out to touch the red flower on Chen Shi’s chest to rub off so of the joy.
Chen Shi was the top scholar of the county examination in Xinxiang, naturally given special importance and standing at the forefront of the scholars.
Hu Feifei followed behind him, equally triumphant and whispered with a giggle, "This ti I’ve beco a Scholar and obtained the Divine Embryo. After the next examination to beco a Scholar, I’ll witness a mature scholar. Our long-ti wish as female foxes is about to be fulfilled! Hee hee..."
Chen Shi looked around, then suddenly saw Fu Leisheng turn away and squeeze through the crowd.
A sudden concern filled his heart as he watched the busy people on the ritual stage, then he looked up at the two suns in the sky. Obtaining the True God’s recognition and being bestowed a Divine Embryo again was his obsession over the last two years.
He hesitated, now as the top scholar of Xinxiang County, it was ti to fulfill that obsession.
If missed, who knew when such an opportunity would arise again!
Beco a Scholar, receive a Divine Embryo, return ho to bring honor to his ancestors; even Old Lady Wu Zhu would regard him more highly.
If he ssed up, he might beco an outlaw, feared that even Yu Zhu’s ducks would spit at him as they passed by!
Chen Shi clenched his teeth and abruptly removed the big red flower from his chest, thrusting it into Hu Feifei’s arms, his hands parting the crowd as he headed out.
Hu Feifei was stunned, quickly calling out, "Chen Shi, Chen Shi! Where are you going? You are Xinxiang’s top and you’re about to go on stage! Do you not want this Divine Embryo?"
Chen Shi disappeared into the crowd, his voice ca through, "You stay here, I’m going to kill soone!"
Fierce as a tiger, eyes radiating a ruthless light.
With a posture erect and shadow straight, a heart set on murder and arson!
— End of the Chapter! Thanks to Alliance Hierarch Hua Yan Hulu for the support, very generous boss~
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