"Has Brother Sun also lost confidence? Let’s wait a bit longer, perhaps your joyous news will arrive soon!" At this mont, Gu Chengyu could only offer such comfort to Sun Xian, after all, his own good news hadn’t arrived yet, and he was the first in the inn.
"Indeed! Senior Brother Sun, why are you getting nervous too? We’re certain to pass!" Ye Zhiqiu hurriedly comforted him as well. These words were more to encourage himself than for Sun Xian.
Next, several others in the inn passed in succession, ranking very highly already.
Qunying Building is the largest inn in the Capital, and since it houses scholars who passed the exams, the pass rate is naturally higher than other inns.
"Provincial Examination Good News! Congratulations to Young Master Sun Xian of He Jingyuan Mansion for placing forty-eighth in the Capital’s Provincial Examination..." Another rider arrived with the good news, this ti it was for Sun Xian.
"Brother Sun! Look, isn’t this it? I congratulate Brother Sun on passing!"
Gu Chengyu was certainly happy for Sun Xian. With Sun Xian becoming a scholar, his second sister’s fortune would definitely improve. Not to ntion his second sister, the two of them have been friends for many years, so he was naturally happy for him.
"It really ca!" Sun Xian actually felt uncertain, but he didn’t expect his ranking to be quite decent.
"Congratulations to Mr. Sun!" The reporter handed the report card to Sun Xian, who happily reached into his sleeve for Silver.
Seeing this, Gu Chengyu quickly pulled out three taels of loose silver from his sleeve and gave it to the reporter first. He knew how much wealth Sun Xian had; a few days ago, because he was about to return ho, he used up his silver to buy things and certainly didn’t have much left on him.
This was indeed a joyous occasion, especially with so many people watching; three taels of silver wasn’t too much for Gu Chengyu to give.
The reporter accepted the silver, his face breaking into a big smile, while still uttering words of congratulations. After saying several sentences, he left, making Gu Chengyu sowhat envious. This job was really a good one! On the way back, he surely could take on other tasks, after all, they couldn’t possibly need three to four hundred constables for just three to four hundred people, right?
"Now you don’t need to worry; the ones truly worried should be us." Gu Chengyu said with a smile.
"That must be because your rankings are good, we’ll just wait and see!" Having passed, Sun Xian felt relieved and started joking with Gu Chengyu and the others.
Gu Chengyu just smiled without speaking. Turning his head, he suddenly saw the Three Great Scholars of Jiangnan sitting at a table, chatting leisurely.
Min Feng appeared confident, Huang Junheng also looked very composed, but Liu Haonan seed unable to sit still.
Min Feng looked up to et Gu Chengyu’s gaze and even smiled at him. Gu Chengyu returned the smile, but no one spoke. Gu Chengyu thought to himself, it seed Min Feng wasn’t as calm as he appeared to be.
Soon after, another one ca, this ti it was Liu Haonan, placing thirty-ninth in the Provincial Examination. Ye Zhiqiu followed closely behind, placing thirty-fourth in the Provincial Examination.
At this point, examinees who hadn’t received good news began to get agitated. So knew that with their level of knowledge, it was impossible to rank high, and they were already starting to feel dejected.
"Hey? Do you think that Gu Chengyu from Jingyuan Mansion will pass?" A candidate at the next table chatted with others.
"That’s uncertain. At such a young age, just passing would be good enough. But look? With rankings getting so high, there’s still no news for him!"
"He’s a talented scholar who gained fa young, how could his ranking be low? I wager he must be in the top few! It’s a pity, though, that he’s too young. If he studied for another three years, he could probably aim for the top scorer!" So candidates expressed dissatisfaction but still held a high opinion of Gu Chengyu.
"You have confidence in him, but what about yourself? I see you’re quite relaxed, like you’re not nervous at all?"
"No news by this point probably ans I failed this year. I know my own level of knowledge; if I passed, I wouldn’t be ranked this high!"
"You take it rather well! Luckily, I passed this year, having taken the exam five tis, and finally passed. Later, I’ll treat everyone to drinks!"
Gu Chengyu looked at those pointing at him nearby, feeling sowhat speechless.
anwhile, Liu Haonan was already reveling in himself; he was thrilled that he was the only one among the Three Great Scholars of Jiangnan to receive good news, boasting to Min Feng and the others.
Gu Chengyu rely smiled. He believed Min Feng and the others’ rankings might be higher, and Liu Haonan’s joy ca too early.
Sure enough, Huang Junheng’s good news ca, at the fifteenth place. Liu Haonan, in high spirits, was abruptly struck by reality, turning his face green.
"Chengyu! Don’t worry, your good news is bound to co soon!" Ye Zhiqiu, fearing Gu Chengyu Getting anxious, quickly comforted him.
He had confidence in Gu Chengyu, believing that he would surely pass.
From a distance, Gu Chengyu heard other inns announcing good news, already reaching eighth place. If he were to pass, his ranking would be in the top seven.
Even soone as calm as Gu Chengyu began to find the wait interminably long. Even Min Feng no longer felt like joking, his face wearing a do-not-approach expression as he sat in the corner of the table.
Suddenly, the sound of approaching hooves grew louder, and the rider shouted, "Provincial Examination Good News! Congratulations to Young Master Min Feng of Yingnan Mansion for placing second in the Capital’s Provincial Examination as the Second Place!"
Hearing his na, Min Feng felt a great weight lift from his chest. However, upon hearing he was Second Place, he was a bit stunned. He knew his talent well; on the first day of the inn competition, he had indeed held back, with his sights set on the top scorer.
His opponents in this Provincial Examination were Fu Yanshan and the erging Gu Chengyu! He ended up in second place, so who got first?
Upon this thought, he quickly glanced at Gu Chengyu. Could it be him? But if not him, had Gu Chengyu failed? Was that possible?
"To think Min Feng would be second, it’s almost expected! But what’s going on with Gu Chengyu? Did he fail? Then who is the first? Could it be Fu Yanshan?"
Other candidates found it unlikely that Gu Chengyu got first. No other reason but his age — could such a genius exist?
After waiting quite a while, even Gu Chengyu couldn’t help but doubt himself. He was sowhat confident in being top five, but with second place nad, and still no first-place announcent, could he have failed? The thought seed unbelievable to him.
The chatter in the inn grew even louder, while the first-place good news was still on the way.
"Alas! This horse of yours is causing trouble! Why don’t you run faster!" The reporter looked at the horse beneath him, almost crying.
It had been running well, but midway saw a mare, stubbornly refusing to move, wanting to follow it!
He had exerted great effort to steady the horse, but it beca temperantal and simply refused to move.
He felt utterly hopeless; this significant good news was in his hands. If he delayed, wouldn’t he be dismissed? Staring at the inn now within sight, he wiped his face, dismounted, and tied the horse to a nearby crooked tree, hoping it wouldn’t be taken while he was gone!
Taking one last glance at the horse, he sprinted towards the inn.
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