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Chapter 127 Joyful News

On the eve of the Mid-Autumn Festival, Wen Mingqian visited the Changrong Marquis's residence.

Madam Zhong beamed with joy: "It's done, it's done! You'll come with me to see the princess the day after tomorrow!"

Upon hearing this, Wen Mingqian immediately looked pleasantly surprised and exclaimed, "So fast?!"

“It’s your lucky time,” Madam Zhong said with a smile. “A few days ago, I took Mei’er to the Taoist temple to offer incense and we happened to meet the princess. She saw the sachet that Mei’er was wearing and asked her a question.”

"You made it casually and gave it to her, and she liked it so much that she's always carried it with her. The princess praised the sachet for its exquisite design. I've mentioned you briefly to the princess before, saying that you made this too."

“Sister Wen, I also told the princess that you cured my face.” Zhong Meier said with a grin, “and the princess said she would like to invite you to meet her.”

"It's all thanks to you, my dear sister." Wen Mingqian took Zhong Meier's hand. "How can I thank you enough!"

"Thanking you is too formal," said Madam Zhong. "If you can truly win the princess's favor, we'll need your help in the future!"

"Madam, please don't say that. If it weren't for you, how would the princess know that I exist? But what should I bring when I go to see the princess? Please advise me, Madam." Wen Ming humbly asked for advice.

"I suggest you bring your favorite face creams and perfumes! But remember, the princess dislikes roses the most, so just avoid them," said Madam Zhong.

"Thank you for your guidance, Madam. I will remember it," Wen Mingqian replied.

Just then, they heard a flurry of footsteps outside. Madam Zhong said, "They must be returning from checking the results. I wonder whose son will be the top scholar this year?"

The annual autumn imperial examination results announcement is the most exciting time in the capital, attracting countless people eager to watch.

“I was originally thinking of going there on the way,” Wen Mingqian said, “but my sister-in-law said there was no need to rush, it’s too crowded.”

"Call them in and ask if they've seen your two young masters?" Madam Zhong said with a smile. "Your eldest mistress is really quite composed."

The person who went to check came back and reported, "Both young masters of the Gong family are on the list. The eldest young master ranked twenty-third and the second young master ranked one hundred and ninth. We saw it clearly, there's no mistake."

"Oh my! Congratulations!" Madam Zhong clapped her hands and said, "This is double happiness! These two young men are so young, yet they have already made it onto the list. Their future is limitless."

"Thank you for your kind words, Madam. This is indeed a joyous occasion." Wen Mingqian was also very happy. "Although I know about it, I still want to go and see it for myself. I suppose my sister-in-law and the others have gone as well."

“Go, go! I won’t keep you any longer. Just wait for you to come to my place the day after tomorrow, and we’ll go see the princess together,” said Madam Zhong.

Wen Mingqian arrived at the place where the results were posted after leaving the Zhong family. It was crowded with people and completely blocked the way.

It took quite a while before Wei and the others finally arrived, and they all seemed unhurried.

Only Gong Chang'an, like a little mudfish, got out of the car and disappeared into the crowd.

"Sister-in-law, I heard at the Zhong family's house that Jing'an and Yu'an both passed the exam," Wen Mingqian said, stepping forward. "Have you heard about it?"

“I heard about it on the way, but I can’t believe it without seeing it with my own eyes,” said Mrs. Wei. “If it’s true, then thank God.”

A moment later, Gong Chang'an emerged: "My eldest brother ranked twenty-third, and my second brother ranked one hundred and ninth. I checked it again and again, and there's absolutely no mistake."

Although he said that, the Gong brothers squeezed into the crowd to see for themselves before giving up. "Buddha blesses us! Our ancestors have shown their power!" Upon receiving the definite news, Madam Wei couldn't help but put her hands together in prayer. "Quick! Quick! Go back and tell the old lady, so she can be happy too."

So everyone returned to the Gong family home, where the people were all talking about the matter.

Madam Gong was overjoyed and urged her two grandsons to hurry up and offer incense at the ancestral hall.

They also arranged for people to go to the front to prepare to welcome the messenger who would bring good news.

The entire Gong family was immediately thrown into a flurry of activity, yet the atmosphere remained festive and lively.

Wen Mingqian was quite gratified to see this scene. Before his death, Old Master Gong's greatest wish was for his grandchildren to pass the imperial examinations and bring honor to the family. If he were alive today, he would surely be very pleased.

Gong Xu's foot injury has almost healed, and he plans to go to the yamen after the Mid-Autumn Festival.

Hearing the commotion outside, he knew that his two nephews had passed the imperial examinations. He was very happy and said to Yunying, "Excellent, excellent! Go and fetch two bottles of good wine. When my elder brother comes back, I want to have a good drink with him."

"Master, please don't drink too much. Your foot injury hasn't fully healed yet," Yunying reminded him. "Drink less."

"I know what I'm doing, you don't need to remind me. How can such a joyous occasion be complete without drinking?" Gong Xu didn't know why, but lately he had been craving alcohol.

"Daddy, Daddy!" Gong Baoan ran in, excitedly saying, "Big brother and second brother both passed the exam! Grandma said the kitchen should prepare eighteen dishes for lunch!"

"Where's your fourth brother? Isn't he with you?" Gong Xu thought of Gong Chang'an when he saw Gong Bao'an. "I need to give him a good talking-to and tell him to study hard so that he can also achieve great success in the imperial examinations in the future."

Gong Xu spoke with great confidence, believing that Gong Chang'an was smarter than his two older brothers and would surely surpass them in the future.

What an honor it would be for me, as a father, to do that!

"Father, I will definitely study hard too," Gong Bao'an quickly declared, "to bring honor to you and the Gong family."

"Hmm," Gong Xu replied somewhat perfunctorily, "Even if you can pass the imperial examination and become a scholar, it will be good. You'll always be able to find a way out in the future."

"Bao'er doesn't want to take the exam to become a Juren, Bao'er wants to become a Jinshi!" Although Gong Bao'an was young, he knew the difference between a Juren and a Jinshi, as his mother had told him long ago.

A successful candidate in the imperial examinations can only serve as a candidate for officialdom; such a position is worthless. Even if one eventually becomes an official, no one in the officialdom will respect them.

The Jinshi degree is different; no matter when, its reputation is always prestigious.

"Why are you crying?" Gong Xu didn't expect Gong Bao'an to actually cry, looking very aggrieved.

"Alright, alright, Fifth Young Master, you'll definitely pass the imperial examination, stop crying." Yunying quickly stepped forward to comfort him.

"Master, the Fifth Young Master has such good intentions; you should encourage him more," Yunying said softly to Gong Xu. "The child is still young; who can predict his future?"

“Aunt Yun, I know Father doesn’t love me like he used to,” Gong Bao’an said, sobbing. “They all say that I’m an unwanted wild child now that I don’t have a mother.”

"Who said that? That's utter nonsense! Who's been neglecting you?" Gong Xu was furious. "If you keep being so ungrateful, I'll beat you to death!"