Dream of the Red Chamber

Chapter 180: Beijing Newspaper Published in Yellow

On the afternoon of the Mid-Autumn Festival, the sun was shining brightly in the sky. But in the afternoon, the weather suddenly changed. In an instant, dark clouds rolled in, covering the sky and blocking out the sun.

At first there was a strong wind and drizzle, but in a moment, it suddenly turned into a downpour.

In the small courtyard of Da Gezi Lane, the sweet-scented osmanthus tree planted in late spring hadn't been moved with Qingwen to her new house because a corner of the flowerpot was missing. Now a violent storm struck, and in a blink of an eye, the sweet-scented osmanthus tree was stripped of its petals and leaves.

The wind and rain subsided for a while, but a moment later, hailstones as big as thumbs began to fall.

Amidst the crackling sounds, the branches of the sweet-scented osmanthus tree swayed, its leaves swayed, and its petals fell. When the wind and rain passed, it had withered and drooped beyond recognition.

Dark clouds rolled by and the setting sun shone obliquely.

The sunlight shines through the carved window lattices and quietly falls on the kang in the west room of the main house.

The quilt on the kang was half-drawn when Aunt Xue slowly woke from her deep sleep. Her hair was disheveled and scattered on the pillow, with a few strands sticking to her sweaty cheeks.

The plump fingers slowly rose and rubbed the sleepy eyes, but there was a different kind of charm in the sleepiness.

Her clothes were scattered around her, and the brocade quilt slightly covered her body, revealing a section of her white, smooth and plump calves. Her pair of diamond-shaped feet were coated with impotence juice and were being wrapped and rubbed by a pair of big feet.

Aunt Xue looked lazy, the blush on her face faded a little, and she moved slightly, and the brocade clothes on her body slipped slightly, revealing her skin as soft as snow, half-hidden in spring, full of charm.

A hand reached out mischievously and kneaded her wantonly, but she was too tired to muster the heart to resist. She just half-opened her eyes, rolled her eyes aside in a reproachful manner, and slightly rolled up the quilt. Her movements revealed the charm and composure of a woman.

At this moment, Aunt Xue felt clear-headed and didn't think about her children or family business anymore, and she was too lazy to think about them.

Thinking back on what just happened, I felt that half of my life had been in a blur, and now I just became a woman!
I thought that the person next to me, although young, was very sensitive to my feelings. Sometimes he was extremely gentle, and sometimes he was rude and arrogant. He made me feel so tormented that I was thrown into the air and then suddenly fell to the ground.

The feeling inside is hard to describe.

The blush on her face gradually faded. Aunt Xue raised her eyes and suddenly caught a glimpse of the setting sun shining on the snow-white wall. She was dazed for a moment, then suddenly startled. She suddenly turned around and asked, "What time is it?"

Chen Siyuan said: "The first quarter of the evening."

Aunt Xue blinked, quickly put on her clothes, slapped the mischievous hand away, and glared at him again, still annoyed, "It's already this late, I, I must go back."

Chen Siyuan lay on his side, his hand on his cheek, smiling as he watched. He saw Aunt Xue quickly dress herself, then find a palm-sized mirror from her sleeve, carefully adjust her bun, and insert the intricate gold hairpin.

When she turned her head, Aunt Xue bit her lower lip and couldn't help feeling regretful again.

"you--"

How could Chen Siyuan allow her to regret it? Without waiting for her to say anything else, he said, "I know what you are thinking. It's just that you have only been in this world for a few decades. You spent your early years taking care of your husband and children, and now you have to take on the responsibility of the family business. You have to consider the future of your children. Have you ever lived for yourself?"
I don't expect you to abandon your family and career, I just want to spend a day or half a day with me every now and then... Don't you know my feelings yet?"

When Aunt Xue heard these words, her heart suddenly collapsed, and the slightest regret she had just felt vanished completely. She reached out and stroked Chen Siyuan's cheek, saying in a gentle voice, "I haven't said I regret it... But you, maybe in a few years, you'll be tired of me because I'm old and ugly."

Chen Siyuan stood up and gently held her in his arms. He reached out and took the round mirror from Aunt Xue's hand, reflecting the two of them hugging each other face to face. He whispered in her ear with a smile, "Look at you now. Where do you look old and ugly?"

Aunt Xue looked in the mirror and saw a fair, plump face, a radiant brow, red lips with a hint of anger, and the few wrinkles at the corners of her eyes had actually spread out. "Is this me? She looks so childish, even if I told anyone she was twenty-seven or twenty-eight, they would believe it!"

As the saying goes, women dress to please themselves. And what woman in this world doesn't love beauty? Surprised, Aunt Xue understood the reason and leaned back closer, then tilted her neck back and demanded a kiss. When she came to her senses, she reluctantly pulled away, saying, "It's really too late today. I have to go back."

Chen Siyuan persisted, "When will you be free again?"

Aunt Xue frowned and said, "I just wrote to my brother, but I don't know when he'll reply. The two masters of the Rongguo Mansion are arguing with the Marquis of Baoling again, and I don't know what they'll come up with. I just hope that the Prince of Beijing will come forward to mediate. Otherwise, I'll have to do what you say."

After a pause, he frowned and whispered, "Do you know that my brother is not a worry-free person? He has swallowed up the military power of the Jia family and now has his eyes on the Xue family's property. He has big plans!"

Chen Siyuan said, "Last year, you sent me the case file. After looking through it, I figured out a few things. If Wang Ziteng hadn't been involved, even if the case had been decided according to the law, Wenlong wouldn't be in this situation."

"That's right!" Aunt Xue said angrily. "That's why I brought Pan'er and Baochai to the capital. I'm willing to stay in the Rongguo Mansion even if it means sacrificing my dignity. Otherwise... if I went to the Wang family, who knows if I would be completely taken advantage of?"

Chen Siyuan consoled him, "Wang Ziteng has ill intentions, so just stay away. Regarding the Prince Zhongshun matter, the worst-case scenario is that we can follow my method... Wenlong is so clueless, I'm afraid we can't expect him to revive the family business. Be more tolerant. If I pass the imperial examination one day, I won't hesitate to look after Wenlong, even if it means looking after the Buddha."

Aunt Xue's eyes immediately gleamed with charm, and she murmured a response. Knowing she couldn't delay any longer, she quickly gathered her clothes, put on her shoes, and said a few kind words to Chen Siyuan before leaving. But after only two steps, she uttered an "Ouch," frowned, and turned to glare at Chen Siyuan.

He thought to himself, "Looking at how tall and slender he is, who would have thought he had so much money?" Thinking back, even after the wedding night, he had never felt such pain and swelling.

Chen Siyuan hurried to the ground to help, but Aunt Xue rolled her eyes at him and said, "Don't worry about it... You, you've been tired too, just rest. I, I'm leaving now."

He then took small steps out of the main room, and when he reached the courtyard, he looked at Chen Siyuan through the window, then he pursed his lips and left.

Chen Siyuan watched him close the door and walk away, then lazily lay down again. The sweat on his body gradually disappeared, and he slightly tucked his shirt together. Thinking back on what had just happened, he felt that it was simply wonderful.
This girl has her own advantages, and a woman has her own advantages. Not to mention her beautiful figure and charming demeanor, her body is like dough, and Chen Siyuan feels trapped in it.

The sun was setting outside. Chen Siyuan lazily got up and tidied up his quilt. He had bought this place at great expense, and had originally considered reselling or renting it out, but now he had given up the idea.

After getting dressed and heading out, he reached out and pushed the door, but it didn't budge. Chen Siyuan blinked, feeling both amused and helpless. He'd climbed over the wall to get in, but Aunt Xue had locked the door when she left. Now, he'd have to climb over the wall to get out again!
After struggling for a while, his legs felt weak. Chen Siyuan tried several times before finally climbing up the wall with a run-up and flipping over.

Let's leave that aside for now. Aunt Xue left Da Gezi Lane and, seeing that it was already getting dark, she couldn't help but feel anxious. She hired a carriage and was thinking about how to explain it to Baochai when she suddenly caught sight of a wine sign outside. She ordered the driver to stop, got out, and bought a bottle of Chrysanthemum White.

She tore it open again, broke the mud seal, gulped down half the bottle, and then sprinkled the remaining half all over her dress.

The driver was completely confused and thought to himself that this was quite strange. It was the first time he saw a grandmother gulp down a bottle of Chrysanthemum White by herself.

When the carriage stopped and Aunt Xue got out, her face was flushed and her eyes were blurry with drunkenness.

The maid at the back door caught sight of this and hurried forward, saying, "How could the concubine have drunk so much? Go to the northeast courtyard and call someone over!"

The two maids paid the fare and helped Aunt Xue through the back door. After waiting for a moment in the gatehouse, Baochai hurriedly arrived, accompanied by Tongxi and Ying'er.

Seeing Aunt Xue in such a state, Baochai could not say much in front of outsiders. She thanked the two maids, gave them a dime as a tip in addition to the fare, and then helped Aunt Xue back amid the two maids' flattery.

Walking along the alley, Baochai couldn't help but frown and asked, "Why is mother so drunk?"

Aunt Xue said vaguely, "It's so hard to see the real Buddha. If I don't offer a few more toasts, how can the situation be reversed?"

Baochai felt a pang of sadness in her heart, and could not help feeling sorry for her mother. She left Ying'er and helped Aunt Xue back to the northeast courtyard.

After entering, he ordered Tonggui to serve strong tea, and at the same time sent the servant to prepare a bathtub.

Baochai wanted to inquire about the banquet, but seeing Aunt Xue's drunken eyes, she kept her thoughts to herself for the time being. After a while, the bathtub and hot water were ready, and Tongxi and Tonggui helped Aunt Xue undress.

As she soaked in the warm water, Aunt Xue couldn't help but hum with pleasure. The alcohol gradually faded, and as her body felt clearer, her heart also felt clearer.

Seeing Baochai knitting a lace beside her, Aunt Xue said, "We don't know when your second uncle will reply. We're afraid we can't count on him. We'll just have to wait and see what Prince Beijing says. If Prince Beijing is also embarrassed, we'll follow Yuan'er's advice—we'd rather your brother get dozens of beatings than let others treat him as a soft persimmon!"

Baochai was startled when she heard this, and felt a little strange. Aunt Xue had always been a man of few worries when it came to handling external affairs, so how could she be so decisive?
He frowned and said, "If it were up to me, since I can't keep my job as a royal merchant, why not make a deal with that Huang guy—"

"No!" Aunt Xue said flatly, "Our family is now like the fat meat on the chopping block, and everyone wants to take a cut and a bite. If we don't break Huang's rotten teeth, outsiders will think that the Xue family is weak and can be bullied. Who knows, they will come to bully us even more in the future!"

Baochai thought for a moment and nodded, saying, "Mother, what you say makes sense. Let's do it." After a pause, she couldn't help but say, "Speaking of which... we've troubled Brother Yuan so many times, so we'll have to thank him tomorrow."

Aunt Xue couldn't help but curl up the corners of her mouth and smile when she heard this. She recalled the lingering and crazy moments of the afternoon. She said lazily, "I do want to thank you... Don't worry about it. I have my own ideas."

Sister Bao couldn't help but feel secretly delighted when she heard this, thinking that this was good, if it happened once, there would be a second time, and if this continued, maybe her mother would change her mind... Then, her relationship with him might be settled.

However, she didn't know that although Aunt Xue, who was smiling with her eyes closed, had different thoughts, she was thinking of the same person as Baochai.

Perhaps overworked, Aunt Xue fell into a deep sleep after her bath, and did not wake up until the end of the morning. Baochai assumed Aunt Xue was hungover and was late, so she served her some sobering soup in the morning. Seeing that Aunt Xue was well, she went out to the garden to play with the other sisters.

But after Aunt Xue had finished dressing, she went out of the small courtyard in the northeast, entered from the back door of Lady Wang's courtyard, and then went into the main room.

The two sisters naturally didn't need to be polite. After they sat down and chatted for a while, Mrs. Wang suddenly glanced at Aunt Xue, frowned, and said in surprise, "Sister, why do you look different today?"

Aunt Xue was apprehensive and couldn't help but stroke her face and said in panic, "Sister, what are you talking about? How am I different?"

Mrs. Wang examined it carefully, then shook her head after a moment, saying, "It's strange. I always feel it's a little different, but after a closer look I can't tell the difference—" She paused, then suddenly realized, "Yes, sister, you look much better today."

Aunt Xue couldn't help but become more and more flustered, and hurriedly covered up, "Maybe it was because of the drinking yesterday?" She then said that she asked someone to see the real Buddha, and had no choice but to drink a few more glasses.

Mrs. Wang naturally expressed her concern for Aunt Xue, but she felt even more puzzled. She saw that her face was radiant, her skin was fair and rosy, and even the fine lines around her eyes had faded. How could this be due to drinking?

At this moment, Jin Chuan'er hurried in, bowed and reported: "Madam, concubine, I just heard from Nanny Wang in the east wing that it seems that Fourth Brother is ill, and even the eldest wife has caught a cold."

Mrs. Wang was stunned and said, "It's not even a full month, how could he be sick?"

Jin Chuan'er pursed her lips and said, "I heard from the other maids that Nanny Wang caught a cold. The eldest wife wanted to let her go home to recuperate, but Nanny Wang insisted on coming into the room to serve her. Within two days, Fourth Brother and the eldest wife both caught a cold.

I heard that the eldest lady was so angry that she embarrassed Wang Mama!"

Mrs. Wang said with a stern face, "We can't be careless about this. Go ahead and ask Doctor Wang to go to the east wing. We can't delay any longer."

Jin Chuan'er agreed and turned around to take care of it.

Because of her interruption, Mrs. Wang finally let go of the strange feeling in her heart and started talking about other things with Aunt Xue.

However, Chen Siyuan got the advantage. He went to the new house to accompany the You sisters and Qingwen during the day, and returned to Rongguo Mansion at dusk, hoping to relive the old days with Aunt Xue.

As luck would have it, Wang Ziteng hadn't replied yet when Aunt Wang got the message. She first came to Rongguo Mansion to look for Aunt Xue, but Aunt Xue then went to Wang's house for several days. Forget about reminiscing about the past; for several days, the two of them didn't even see each other.

By the end of September, You Sanjie had finished tidying up the new house, with all kinds of furniture and utensils ready, especially the third floor of the back building, which even had a step-out bed, which naturally made Chen Siyuan distracted.

So You Erjie brought up the old matter again, wanting to take advantage of the announcement of the results to go out for a stroll. Chen Siyuan estimated that Aunt Xue would be busy recently, so he simply agreed.

So he bought a new carriage, hired a driver and groom, and took You Erjie, You Sanjie, and Qingwen with him, traveling light and with a small entourage to tour the capital and see its sights. One day they went to Gaoliang Bridge outside Xizhimen to admire how it rivaled the south of the Yangtze River, another day they climbed the West Hills for a panoramic view, another day they went boating on the Goldfish Pond, and another day they went to the Dongyue Temple fair to experience the everyday life.

Third Sister You privately told Chen Siyuan that the Baicaotang might make a net profit of over 4,000 taels of silver in August, and Chen Siyuan would also get over 1,000 taels of silver from the profits. Because Chen Siyuan was very generous, he would buy anything the girls liked while they were strolling around.

The sisters of the Yu family each received a few rolls of brocade and a set of head ornaments, not to mention the remaining rouge and powder. Even the nameless Qingwen received quite a few items, and although Qingwen looked down on You Erjie, she could not help but smile and talk in the past few days because of Chen Siyuan's company.

In the blink of an eye, it was the third day of September.

Because Third Sister You had her period yesterday, Second Sister You was the only one to attend to her at night. Second Sister You had learned a lot of skills from the book, but because Third Sister You was there, she couldn't use them.

Third Sister You was away at the moment, so Second Sister You was full of tricks, and the two of them tossed and turned until late at night. I had a good sleep, but as soon as the sun rose outside, someone knocked on the door repeatedly.

You Erjie struggled to stand up and asked, "Who is it?"

Qingwen then asked, "Second Aunt, has the master woken up?"

When You Erjie heard that it was Qingwen who came, she immediately frowned and said, "Brother Yuan is still asleep. Let's wait until he wakes up before we talk."

But Qingwen said, "Second Aunt, have you forgotten that the results will be announced today?"

You Erjie blinked, then suddenly realized. Yes, today is the third day of September. According to the rules of the Shuntian Prefecture provincial examination, the results are usually announced between the first and fifth day of September. A few days ago, the government office posted a notice stating that the results of this autumn examination would be announced on the third day.

Before You Erjie could wake Chen Siyuan, Chunxi, a young maid, came in from outside and said, "Sister Qingwen is here too? Our aunt sent me to wake the master, saying that the results will be announced early this morning."

Chen Siyuan yawned and woke up, unable to fall asleep again. He said to the outsider, "I'm awake, I'll be back to Rongguo Mansion soon."

Qingwen and Chunxi received the message and immediately left.

You Erjie was secretly annoyed that she had completely forgotten about the announcement of the results, and immediately hurriedly helped Chen Siyuan get dressed.

Upon hearing the noise, the maidservant Xia Zhu hurried over to bring hot water, and You Erjie helped Chen Siyuan wash up. When everything was ready, Chunxi came to say that breakfast had been prepared in You Sanjie's room.

Chen Siyuan and You Erjie went to You Sanjie's room together.

Third Sister You had just had her period yesterday, so she was naturally uneasy to move. She stood up much more slowly than usual. While urging Chen Siyuan to eat, she angrily said, "We said yesterday that the results would be announced today. Why are you pestering Brother Yuan again? If you miss the announcement, won't it become a laughing stock if it gets out?"

You Erjie looked embarrassed and said, "It's not too late, it's just right to go back now."

Chen Siyuan ate a mouthful of millet porridge and said with a smile, "What difference does it make if it's a little earlier or later? The list has already been written, can it still be changed?"

"Pfft! Brother Yuan, stop saying such unlucky things. I just drew a great fortune at Dongyue Temple a few days ago. This time, Brother Yuan will definitely win."

Chen Siyuan agreed with a smile, and had his breakfast in silence. Then he was urged by the women to leave the new house and ride to Rongguo Mansion on horseback.

By the time they arrived at Rongguo Mansion, it was only past midnight.

It was cold in the mornings and evenings in late autumn. After Chen Siyuan handed over his horse, he went through the gate and the alley to his own courtyard.

At this time, the small courtyard was brightly lit. Hongyu, Xiangling, Liu Wuer, and even the little maid Yunxiang were busy.

This one said that the loose change in the money box was not enough, and that it would be awkward to give only silver melon seeds, so why not go and ask Sister Ping'er to exchange it for copper coins?

He said that two pieces of red silk brought from the warehouse two days ago had faded, and he had to quickly find Zhou Rui to replace them with brighter ones;
Another one and two maids were sweeping everywhere, wanting to even remove the tiles to clean;

The last one kept chattering and causing trouble, so she was driven aside by the despised Hongyu - yes, I am talking about the little maid Yunxiang.

Seeing Chen Siyuan return, Hongyu put down her work and came to greet him with a frown, unable to help nagging, "Master, you are so careless! You knew what day it was today, but you insisted on going to the new house yesterday. Just now, Qingyu came to ask about it, and I gave him a dime to send him off to check the list.

Sister Ping'er also came and said that Second Madam had sent Xing'er and the others to check the list."

Xiangling also came over, took a quick look, and said, "Master, you're still wearing the same clothes you wore yesterday. How can you look like a scholar? Come inside and change into a brocade suit!"

Chen Siyuan was naturally nervous at this moment… Although he had received the question a few days in advance, to be on the safe side, he relied solely on his own intellect and prepared a draft in his mind before answering the exam, without asking for any advice. When it comes to essays, everyone has their own preferences. If the examiner doesn't like your essay, it's not uncommon for you to fail.

Although he was a little worried at this moment, he remained calm on the surface and just smiled and said, "If I get it, I'm lucky. If I lose it, it's my fate. You don't have to worry too much."

Even as he was saying this, he was pushed into the house by Hongyu and Xiangling. He was asked to change into a newly-tailored Confucian robe made of sky-blue brocade with bamboo patterns, a Zhongjing crown, a double-fish jade pendant around his waist, and brand-new boots.

Chen Siyuan had grown taller the following year, and although his figure was a little frail, he was no less tall than Jia Lian. With this outfit on, his appearance was even better than before.

Because of the hustle and bustle yesterday, Chen Siyuan was very sleepy at the moment. However, Xiangling and Hongyu would not let him lie on his side, so he had to sit upright on the chair, leaning on the table and dozing off.

Suddenly, the sun was high in the sky. Hongyu exchanged copper coins, Xiangling changed her red silk, and Liu Wu'er, though calm, remained silent for a long moment. Only the maid Yunxiang lost her patience and immediately ran forward to listen for any movement.

It was almost the end of the morning hour when Yunxiang returned. After a discussion with Hongyu and Xiangling, Hongyu said, "I think you should stop being so busy. Running around makes me dizzy."

Yunxiang agreed and moved a bench to sit in the courtyard. Suddenly, Zhou Ruijia came to the door and said, "Quickly, please invite Master Yuan out. There's a happy event coming!"

Yunxiang blinked, jumped up, turned around and ran to the main room: "Master, I got it, I got it, I got it!"

The noise reached the main room. Chen Siyuan, who was resting his chin on his hand, nodded suddenly, then rubbed his sleepy eyes. He looked up to see Hongyu coming out, and Xiangling was happily pulling Yunxiang aside to ask a question.

Liu Wu'er also dropped her books and ran out. Yunxiang and Chen Siyuan exchanged glances and shouted, "Congratulations, uncle, for getting into high school!"

Got it? Got it!
Chen Siyuan secretly clenched his fists, then smiled in relief, his heart finally at ease. It made sense. He even got the exam papers in advance. If he still failed... he would be too embarrassed to see King Ping of Yan.

She stood up, shook her robes, and, smiling, came out to be escorted by Xiangling and the others. When they reached the courtyard gate, Hongyu looked at them with great joy. Zhou Rui's wife bowed and said joyfully, "Congratulations to Master Yuan. The messenger from Shuntian Prefecture has arrived, saying that Master has passed the imperial examination! Master Zilian is entertaining him right now, and Second Madam sent me to tell him the good news!"

Chen Siyuan waved his hand: "Reward!"

Hongyu quickly took the silver box, fished out a silver coin from inside, and handed it to Zhou Rui's wife. Everyone urged Chen Siyuan to hurry forward.

Now everyone moved together, surrounding Chen Siyuan like stars surrounding the moon as they walked through the garden, walked around along the alleys, and came out of the corner gate to the front yard.

At this time, all the servants, domestic servants, grooms, and doormen in the front yard were watching and discussing the situation. When they saw Chen Siyuan coming, they all congratulated him.

When the ruby ​​and silver box was opened, copper coins were scattered like water, which naturally caused the congratulations to become louder.

In the blink of an eye, Chen Siyuan arrived at the gatehouse and saw Jia Lian talking to three messengers in yamen uniforms. Glancing at Chen Siyuan, Jia Lian smiled and nodded, saying, "This is my cousin."

The three messengers stood up at the same time, bowed and said, "Congratulations, Master Chen!"

Chen Siyuan glanced around and saw a large red vertical plaque in the hall. It read, "Good news! Master Chen Siyuan of Shuntian Prefecture has passed the Shuntian Prefecture provincial examination and placed 27th in the second place. He has also been listed in the imperial journal."

Chen Siyuan was momentarily distracted, thinking to himself that he had now crossed the social ladder and become a master himself! Then he came to his senses and laughed heartily, "Hahahaha... I won, I won! Rewards, huge rewards!"

Hongyu was naturally very emotional, thinking to herself that yesterday was the cause of today's consequences. If she hadn't had a good eye for people back then and agreed to marry the Second Mistress after only one glance at her own master, how could she be so glorious today?
How old is he? Only fifteen or sixteen! Given time, even passing the imperial examination wouldn't be a problem! He'd be an official by then, and since he's on good terms with Miss Lin and Xiangling, he'd definitely have a concubine in the future. Who knows, if he gets along well, he might even become a sidekick!
In her excitement, Hongyu found twenty taels of silver and gave it to him as a reward. The three messengers were overjoyed and immediately bowed and saluted, saying congratulations without repeating themselves.

Suddenly, a gong was heard outside, heralding the arrival of soldiers from the City Patrol. Yu Liu, the doorman, welcomed them and said to the two men, "Second Master, Master Yuan, the City Patrol has also come to announce the good news!"

This time it was three soldiers from the city patrol. When they saw the Shuntian government officials, their faces suddenly turned dark and they didn't know how to curse in their hearts.

At that time, the lucrative job of announcing good news was purchased by yamen runners and soldiers who signed up for the bailiff's office. They copied down the list of successful candidates and reported the good news according to their addresses. If they caught the first wave, they would receive a generous reward. This time, the reward was naturally not as high as the previous one.

But since they were already there, the three soldiers had no choice but to come and congratulate them politely with a smile on their faces.

At this time, Hongyu had not yet calmed down. Fortunately, the greedy Yunxiang saw that the situation was not right and pulled her sleeve, so Hongyu only rewarded her with ten taels of silver.

Even so, the three soldiers were overjoyed. As the saying goes, a poor scholar is a poor scholar. How much money does a scholar have before passing the imperial examination? Reporting good news and getting two taels of silver was already a good reward. Who knew this time, reporting good news would earn him ten taels!
While he was delighted at the moment, he couldn't help but hate the three yamen runners even more. He thought to himself that he had already received ten taels, so those three bastards might get even more!
After sending off the two groups of messengers, Jia Lian smiled and bowed, saying, "Congratulations, Brother Yuan."

"Congratulations!" Although Chen Siyuan was delighted at this moment, his mood had calmed down. He said immediately, "This time, my hard work has finally paid off. Second brother, let me tell everyone about the good news. I must go to the East Cross Courtyard first."

"That's how it should be."

Chen Siyuan had instructed that he only take Xiangling to the east wing. Unexpectedly, upon exiting the room, he saw six messengers from the patrolling city corps surrounding the three yamen runners, beating them violently. They knocked them to the ground with three punches and two kicks, and then kicked the vertical plaque in two. The six soldiers then fled, cursing, leaving the three yamen runners in tears.

Chen Siyuan was stunned and thought to himself, wow, I can get beaten for this job of reporting good news. I've really broadened my horizons today.

Once they entered the black-oil gate, the four others, having received the news, naturally gathered around to greet them with great joy. Xiangling scattered copper coins, and the two of them went to the third-tiered ceremonial gate and spoke to the gatekeeper. After a short wait, Miao'er arrived, beaming with joy. "Madam, you've received the news and are overjoyed. But you haven't recovered from your cold yet, so it's really inconvenient for you to see anyone. Madam has told my brother to go home first, and we'll have a banquet to celebrate when you're out of confinement."

This answer was reasonable, so Chen Siyuan ordered Xiangling to hand over some silver and money and asked Miao'er to distribute it around so that he could share in the good news.

The two of them turned back, and along the way, servants, maids, and old women gathered around to congratulate them. Even though the silver box in Xiangling's hand was heavy, it was much lighter by the time she returned to her own courtyard.

The courtyard was even more lively, with servants coming to congratulate one after another. Hongyu was afraid that it was not enough, so she simply sent Liu Wu'er to take the silver notes to Miss Ping'er to exchange them for copper coins.

Before Chen Siyuan even entered the courtyard, two young girls, Tanchun and Xichun, came to congratulate him. Chen Siyuan was so pleased that he simply grabbed a handful of silver and gave it to the two girls.

Tanchun laughed and said, "Even us?"

"It's just a bit of good luck, everyone has it."

Xichun laughed and said, "My third sister and I were worried that Brother Yuan wouldn't be able to answer correctly, so we brought some help... but we didn't expect it to end up being a bribe."

Ruhua, Caiping, Shishu and Cuimo all received rewards. They were very happy and hurried to help Hongyu and others hang up red silks everywhere. They also hung two big red lanterns in front of the courtyard.

A curious servant found some firecrackers from somewhere, lifted them up on a bamboo pole, and set them off with a crackling sound. In an instant, red fragments flew everywhere and laughter filled the air.

Chen Siyuan was naturally full of confidence, just as he was: "I am happy to see my name on the list of honors, and I think of the banquet in the imperial palace. There must be a way to rise to the top, and my achievements will shine in the palace in the future!"

　I checked the pre-review chapters myself. If there are still typos, there is nothing I can do. I dare not correct the typos because if I do, it will easily get stuck in the review.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)