The wicked mother-in-law doesn't try to whitewash herself; she only abuses her awful children.

Chapter 429 Head of Case
"I'm coming."

"The government officials have arrived."

The shouts outside reached the ancestral hall.

Grandpa Gu became excited and suddenly stood up.

Tong Huaqiong gave Gu Jingzhe a push and said, "Go out quickly, go and receive the good news."

Madam Jia also gave Gu Ruinian a push, saying, "Hurry, hurry."

Gu Jingzhe stood there dumbfounded, while Gu Dahan, Gu Taohua, and Gu Fengnian rushed out first.

Gu Ruinian's desire to escape grew stronger, but Jia held his hand tightly and he couldn't break free.

The commotion outside grew louder and louder, and Tong Huaqiong pulled Gu Jingzhe out of the ancestral hall.

A large group of people poured in from the village entrance, including villagers who came to join the fun, officials who came to announce the good news, and people from the community who came to share the good news.

The people who spread the good news from the common folk were even faster than the officials who announced it, rushing to inform the candidates' families first to bring good luck. The families were happy, and the people who spread the news also received money, which was a win-win situation.

Not only that, but they also put together a whole set of music, including playing musical instruments and singing. It is said that in places with a strong academic atmosphere, scholars are produced every year, and every time the results are announced, lion dancers and stilt walkers come to announce the good news.

Yanguan Town only produces one scholar every few years, so no industrial chain has been formed, and only gongs, drums and trumpets are used to make a fuss.

“Isn’t that Magistrate Liu?” Chen Sufeng said to Tong Huaqiong, pointing to the official who was announcing the good news.

He is Magistrate Liu.

Magistrate Liu originally arrived in a sedan chair, but upon reaching the village entrance, he disembarked and walked at the head of the procession.

Therefore, Chen Sufeng spotted Magistrate Liu at a glance.

What would warrant a county magistrate personally delivering good news? It certainly wouldn't be worth it for a mere scholar, unless he was the top scholar in the examination.

Tong Huaqiong became excited. If this meant her past life had come true, then Gu Jingzhe was now the top scholar in the entire Ningcheng.

"Magistrate Liu has come in person." The clan chief's beard trembled with excitement.

Upon hearing that Magistrate Liu had arrived, Old Master Gu was overjoyed.

It must be because the Gu family produced two scholars that the local official personally came to deliver the good news. Old Master Gu straightened his back and turned to call out to Gu Ruinian.

Although his two grandsons passing the imperial examinations were an honor for him, he still hoped that Gu Ruinian would be the one to steal the limelight in front of Magistrate Liu.

Gu Ruinian took a breath and came to Old Master Gu's side.

He mentally worshipped all the gods and immortals.

Gu Ruinian had never been so superstitious.

Upon hearing that Magistrate Liu had arrived, Gu Ruinian's sense of luck was amplified. Just like his grandfather, he thought that the reason Magistrate Liu could come to Qinghe Bay in person was because both he and Gu Jingzhe had passed the imperial examination.

It seems my strategy of writing something sensational during the exam has worked.

"Greetings, Lord Liu." Tong Huaqiong stepped forward to greet Magistrate Liu.

"Aunt Tong, I've come to bring you good news." Magistrate Liu was overjoyed to see Tong Huaqiong.

Tong Huaqiong was the Lady of Suifeng Township, and he was the local official. To show his affection, he still called Tong Huaqiong "Aunt Tong".

When Tong Huaqiong heard Magistrate Liu say this, she was overjoyed. It was all settled; she was sure of being named the top scholar.

"Greetings, Lord Liu."

"This humble subject greets Lord Liu."

The clan leader led the Gu family members forward to pay their respects to Magistrate Liu, and Old Master Gu happily stepped forward to stand in the center.

Gu Jingzhe and Gu Ruinian stepped forward and bowed to Magistrate Liu.

Magistrate Liu smiled and told everyone not to stand on ceremony.

Their gazes settled on Gu Jingzhe.

This is Gu Jingzhe, who brought honor to the entire Pingchuan County. He beat all the students in Ningcheng to become the top scholar, and the key is that he is young and good-looking.

Before he came, his mother gave him a heads-up, saying that such a promising and handsome young man shouldn't be snatched up by someone else. He should be caught by his family. His Liu family doesn't deserve such a good son-in-law. His cousin Lu Zhaozhao is more suitable. She told him to take this opportunity to find a husband for Lu Zhaozhao.

Gu Jingzhe felt a jolt of excitement when Magistrate Liu looked at him; it seemed his mother's guess was true.

"Jingzhe not only passed the imperial examination but also ranked first in the examination. Congratulations, Aunt Tong!"

A yamen runner behind him presented a large red report of victory to Magistrate Liu with both hands. Magistrate Liu opened it, smiled, and handed it to Tong Huaqiong, who then passed it on to Gu Jingzhe after reading it.

Gu Jingzhe's hands were trembling.

He knew he had done well on the exam, and he had even considered being ranked first, but actually receiving the top score felt like a dream.

"congratulations."

"Congratulations, Aunt Tong! Congratulations on being the top scorer!"

Tong Huaqiong and her litter of babies were overjoyed. Gu Dahan and Gu Taohua happily stuffed silver into the hands of the people who brought the good news, while Liu Yue'e and Tong Pandi distributed fruit and candy to everyone.

The crowd was in an uproar.

Wasn't it said that Gu Ruinian would be the top scholar? How come it was Gu Jingzhe?
The faces of everyone in the old house were especially grim.

Lady Jia even wanted to ask Magistrate Liu if he had misread the name on the victory report.

Gu Ruinian clenched his hands. He could accept that he and others were the top scorers, but he couldn't accept that Gu Jingzhe was the top scorer.

Magistrate Liu came to Gu Jingzhe's side, smiled and praised him a few times, and encouraged him to continue his efforts.

Gu Jingzhe calmly expressed his gratitude.

After their initial disappointment, the old folks in the house thought again that it wasn't bad for Gu Ruinian to get the top score in the imperial examination but to become a Xiucai (a successful candidate in the lowest level of the imperial examinations).

After all, it's normal that his performance was affected by an accident before the exam.

Everyone at the old house was waiting for Magistrate Liu to hand them the good news about Gu Ruinian.

Magistrate Liu, however, delayed in retrieving the second report of victory.

Gu Ruinian knew he had lost his bet, his luck had vanished, and his face turned ashen.

"Grandpa, your grandson becoming the top scholar this time is not only an honor for the Gu family, but also an honor for our Pingchuan County."

When Magistrate Liu saw that Old Master Gu was looking at him with eager eyes, he learned after asking that Old Master Gu was the grandfather of the top scholar. So he took Old Master Gu's hand and continued to praise him.

Grandpa Gu accepted the praise with a smile, and couldn't help but ask, "Lord Liu, where is the good news about my grandson Gu Ruinian?"

Magistrate Liu: "."

A moment of silence fell over the crowd.

Gu Ruinian's face grew paler and paler. It was all over.

Tong Huaqiong looked at the bewildered Magistrate Liu and explained, "This time, in addition to Jingzhe, my nephew Gu Ruinian from our Gu family also participated in the exam. My grandfather only saw the good news about Jingzhe, so he asked if Gu Ruinian's good news had been missed?"

Magistrate Liu looked over at the yamen runner who had brought the good news.

Three scholars passed the imperial examination in Pingchuan County this time. One of them was from Pingchuan County town, and two were from Yanguan Town. One was Gu Jingzhe, who ranked first in the examination, and the other was Meng Yanping, Gu Jingzhe's classmate. He did not remember anyone named Gu Ruinian.

One of the constables said, "Reporting to Your Excellency, there is no news of Gu Ruinian's victory."

The others at the Gu family's old house were stunned, while Jia felt a sudden dizziness.

The crowd erupted in a buzz.

"Ruinian didn't pass the exam?"

"No way, wasn't it said he was destined to be the top scorer?"

"Listen to his boasting. He's been a troublemaker since he was a child. I don't know what kind of luck he had to pass the preliminary examination and become a scholar. Now he dares to dream of becoming a scholar."

"The first day of the month is clearly the Awakening of Insects."

The villagers' murmurs reached Old Master Gu's ears without any attempt to conceal them.

Old Master Gu composed himself and asked in a trembling voice, "You must be mistaken. My Ruinian is even better at studying than Jingzhe. The provincial education commissioner praised his exam paper when he was a candidate for the imperial examination. It's impossible that Jingzhe passed the county-level examination but he didn't."

Magistrate Liu was speechless.

The constable said, "Sir, the name on this report is clearly written; there is definitely no one named Gu Ruinian. Things can change in an instant during the examinations. Some people do well in the preliminary examinations, but that doesn't mean they will become scholars. Otherwise, why would some people still be preliminary scholars even when they are old and gray? Don't be too sad. If you don't pass this time, you can try again next time."

The yamen runner thought that if it weren't for the fact that Suifeng Township Lord was his father-in-law, he would have already confronted him.

What do you mean? Are you saying they concealed information?

Grandpa Gu was unwilling to accept this outcome.