Chapter 1392: Chapter 1392: Top Scorer Again!!
When the carriage left the city, the bustle at the bulletin board grew louder, as officers posted the list.
Examinees scrambled to the front, searching for their names.
Those outside who couldn’t see shouted, “Who is the Top Scorer?”
“Meng Yunzheng!”
“Oh my, it’s him again.”
“I heard he ranked first in the county and prefecture exams. Now he’s the top scorer in the academy exam too; isn’t that a clean sweep of the small three laurels?”
“Where did this Meng Yunzheng e from anyway? I’ve never heard of him before. It seems he hadn’t taken any exams before; this is his first time, right? And he’s won the small three laurels on his first attempt?”
“They say he’s quite handsome too.”
People chatted intensely; some found their names, shouting and laughing, while others, unable to locate theirs, collapsed in tears.
Meanwhile, the prefecture officers began drumming and preparing to deliver the good news.
Meng Yunzheng was the top scorer—such a grand event that officers of the authorities naturally rushed to handle it.
Thus, as the two bailiffs drummed their way to the Meng family’s rented courtyard, a crowd had already gathered behind them.
Aunt He heard the motion outside and felt a thump in her heart, quickly wiping her hands to wele them.
A neighbor at the door immediately shouted, “Sister-in-law He, why are you standing there stunned? Quickly call Young Master Meng out; he passed the exam, ranked first!”
Aunt He’s eyes widened; yet again, he’s the top scorer.
My heavens, Sir Meng is truly remarkable.
“Sister-in-law He, step aside quickly.” Someone impatiently pushed her aside and shouted inside, “Young Master Meng, Young Master Meng.”
Aunt He snapped back to reality and hurriedly said, “Young Master Meng isn’t home; he had urgent business and left the city.”
“What? Out of the city?”
At this time? Such an important moment, and he left the city early?
Other examinees had been up early, washing and dressing to prepare for the results, but that Meng sure has a carefree attitude.
The two officers looked at each other, having hoped to reap more rewards by delivering news to the top scorer, but unexpectedly, he wasn’t there.
Luckily, Aunt He quickly reacted, handing them a pouch left by Meng Yunzheng before he left.
“The two soldiers worked hard; this is what Young Master Meng asked me to prepare, your fee for the trouble. I will inform him when he returns.”
The pouch felt heavy in their hands, clearly filled with a significant amount of money.
The officers were satisfied and said to Aunt He, “Alright, tell Scholar Meng when he es back that we are leaving now.”
“Yes, have a safe journey, esteemed soldiers.”
The officers left, but others stayed, eager to ask Aunt He for details.
Yet Aunt He quick-wittedly closed the courtyard gate.
Meng Yunzheng and the others had no idea their courtyard was surrounded; they had departed the city straight to Zhong Family Village.
Only then did Meng Yunzheng talk to Shu Yu about the Dongqing Temple master’s affairs.
“I met the temple master the day after the academy exam. We sat down and chatted. It turned out she had been traveling nonstop since returning from the southwest, had visited Dongan Province but merely stayed in nearby county towns without returning to the temple.”
Shu Yu’s mouth twitched, so close to home yet not returning.
“Why did she go to Zhong Family Village?”
That question… Meng Yunzheng paused in silence.
Then he laughed, “I led her there. Didn’t I write to you, saying I’d delay her? If I didn’t lead her to Zhong Family Village, she might have already headed north to the capital.”
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