The situation made Gu Chengyu increasingly restless. The announcents for the second and first place should not be too far apart, yet there was still no good news at this point. Could it be that he had truly failed?
It wasn’t just Gu Chengyu; even Ming Mo and Ming Yan were anxious. How could the young master possibly fail? It was inconceivable! In their minds, the young master was diligent, determined, resilient, and talented. Failing was simply not sothing they had ever considered.
Across the table, Min Feng glanced at Gu Chengyu. Previously, he had been quite apprehensive about Gu Chengyu, but now he was nowhere on the list? He felt he had worried himself unnecessarily before—perhaps Gu Chengyu was only good at poetry and essays?
The most likely first place now seed to be Fu Yanshan.
Liu Haonan was even more taken aback. How could the person who had overshadowed the Three Great Scholars of Jiangnan with his poetry not make the list today? He chuckled, feeling it was a fitting retribution. Perhaps this would help restore his own reputation—there goes the Little San Yuan, only a hollow title!
Sun Xian and Ye Zhiqiu didn’t know how to console Gu Chengyu either; they had never imagined he would fail.
"Chengyu! Don’t worry, maybe sothing unexpected happened on the road and caused the delay! I believe you’ll definitely pass!"
Yet, Ye Zhiqiu didn’t even believe these words himself. With such a delay, how could what he said happen at all? What are the chances of such a coincidence in the world?
"Yes..." Sun Xian said dryly, though he himself felt his words were quite hollow.
"Didn’t you say before that he’d definitely be among the top ranks? Didn’t expect he wouldn’t make the list at all!" The scholars nearby had already begun discussing; at this point, the announcents should have been over long ago.
"I truly didn’t expect it! Alas! He’s still a bit young!" This examinee wasn’t saying anything too harsh, just expressing so regret.
"Isn’t Fu Yanshan also young? He’s only a few years older, maybe he is the first place! Besides, the Three Great Scholars of Jiangnan are also not that old!" So sharp-tongued examinees thought that Gu Chengyu had been in the lilight before, but now having failed, he really lost face.
Even Manager Wan shook his head and sighed; to write such poetry and essays yet not be on the list was truly a pity. It seed his poetry would have to be taken down tomorrow. As a shopkeeper, he needed to prioritize the inn’s reputation, so it wasn’t fitting to hang Gu Chengyu’s calligraphy anymore.
"Waa...I failed!" An examinee could no longer bear the pressure and anguish in his heart, holding his head and crying painfully.
This crying affected many of the other scholars who had also failed; they too had been holding back, and at this mont, everyone wanted a good cry.
So rejoiced, so raged, and so were plunged into silent despair. Amidst such surroundings, Gu Chengyu’s heart miraculously beca calm. So be it if he didn’t pass! At worst, he could co back in three years. Life is full of ups and downs, and he wasn’t one who couldn’t handle setbacks.
He just found it strange; he thought he did quite well! Could it be that he overestimated himself?
Having figured it out, Gu Chengyu didn’t care about what others said. He smiled at Sun Xian and the others, saying, "No need to console . I’m still young; at worst, I can co back in three years! I’m not going to be discouraged by one failure."
Sun Xian and the others couldn’t understand it either; Gu Chengyu’s talent was always better than theirs, even surpassing the Three Great Scholars of Jiangnan. There was no logical reason for him to fail! Even if not first, he should at least have been in the top three, right? Was it a poor performance in the exam room or so kind of exam scandal?
Suddenly, a voice ca through intermittently, "Provincial Examination good news! Congratulations to Young Master Gu Chengyu from Jingyuan Prefecture for achieving the top scorer title in the Capital Provincial Examination."
Originally, the inn was noisy, and since the voice was so fragnted and lacked the sound of hoofbeats, no one heard it clearly. But as the voice ca closer and closer, repeating many tis, it continued until it reached the inn. Everyone was shocked! Why was there still good news coming now?
Wait, top scorer? Who is the top scorer?
The reporter ran all the way there, panting, and seeing no response from anyone, had to raise his voice again: "Provincial Examination good news! Congratulations to Young Master Gu Chengyu from Jingyuan Prefecture for achieving the top scorer title in the Capital Provincial Examination."
Gu Chengyu actually heard it earlier, but he was puzzled as to why the person wasn’t arriving on horseback. Could this be the treatnt for a top scorer, running all the way singing about passing the exam? Such an approach almost seed worthy of a top scholar.
Truly, life is full of surprises, light at the end of the tunnel! Gu Chengyu couldn’t help but admit his heart started to leap with joy; he ultimately couldn’t achieve complete equanimity in the face of glory and disappointnt!
"I almost missed delivering the top scorer’s good news! There was a problem with the horse on the road, who is Mr. Gu Chengyu? Congratulations!"
Gu Chengyu stepped forward to receive the report slip from the man’s hand. Raising his eyes, he realized it was the sa constable who delivered the good news to Sun Xian.
"Thank you for your trouble!" Clearly, he ran all the way, indeed having suffered, and Gu Chengyu fetched five ounces of silver from his bosom and handed it over. The reward for a top scorer couldn’t be short.
"Thank you! Thank you!" The constable was delighted to receive five ounces of silver, feeling his long run was worth it. Having finally caught up, he almost wanted to shed tears of joy at that mont!
Upon seeing, wasn’t this the sa person who previously gave a three-ounce silver reward when delivering good news for soone else? Even though it wasn’t as much as the official families in the Capital, those cases weren’t reachable for him anyway, so he was very happy to receive this amount.
After the reporter left, the inn beca even more lively.
"I told you! See, isn’t he the top scorer?" The person felt proud for his unique insight.
"Who could have imagined such a thing? That the horse could have an accident? This is the first I’ve heard of it, no wonder the good news for the top scorer was delayed for so long!"
"It seems that he truly stands out, and we shouldn’t be jealous—he has real talent!"
No matter what, although people had spoken ill of him before, in the end, congratulations were in order—after all, he was the top scorer!
So scholars were focused on Gu Chengyu’s rank, while most were imrsed in their grief over not making the list!
"I didn’t pass this ti either, and I don’t know how to face my clan after going back. How much silver has the clan supplented from front to back? I really feel ashad!"
So scholars passed and were chatting and laughing with others; those who didn’t pass were wailing, feeling ashad to face their families; yet there were others who remained quite calm, rely shaking their heads and sighing, perhaps having expected it.
In summary, it shows the warmth and coldness of the world, the various states of human life! Gu Chengyu’s greatest gain today wasn’t becoming the top scorer in the Provincial Examination but rather the calm nonchalance with which he faced situations in life.
"I congratulate Mr. Gu for becoming the top scorer in the Provincial Examination!" Manager Wan hurriedly stepped forward to congratulate, after all, he was a top scorer! Fortunately, he hadn’t had ti to take down Gu Chengyu’s poetry, otherwise, he might have offended him?
Having stayed in the inn for over a month, Gu Chengyu was already quite familiar with Manager Wan’s worldly shrewdness, and with such a person, a little courtesy would suffice.
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