Springtime Affairs in a Noble Family

Before Song Mingxuan released the results, Cui Zeyu went south to buy cloth.

Before he left, he specifically told his sister to write to him immediately after the results were released.

After her younger brother left, Cui Lingrong noticed that Xuan Ge'er was very tense every day, so she took the three children to Fanlou for a banquet one day.

Song Mingjin was particularly happy and, upon arriving at Fanlou, immediately ordered the dishes with practiced ease.

Song Yu then took the initiative to help Xuan Ge order food, saying, "Don't be so nervous. Whether it's good or bad, you've already finished the exam. Your current anxiety won't help you at all."

Song Mingxuan then ordered two dishes. The private room they sat in was on the second floor, with a storyteller right in the center of the room.

Song Yu leaned against the window, listening intently, and unconsciously stuck his head out.

As luck would have it, they ran into the Qian family, who were their sworn enemies. When the Qian family saw Song Yu, they came over with their entourage to greet him.

Because of her family's affairs, Madam Qian was seething with hatred upon seeing Cui Lingrong, but she still smiled and said, "Seeing Yu'er, I know that Lady Song is also here. Rongjia married Lord Song, so we are all family. Since we've met, why don't we go together?"

Cui Lingrong said the private room was too small, "As you can see, it can't fit so many people."

"It's alright, let the children stay here, you and I can go next door to chat. Oh, by the way, my sister-in-law will be here later too." Madam Qian said, taking Cui Lingrong's hand.

Cui Lingrong glanced back at the three children, gave Yu Jie a look, and followed Qian Shi to the next room. She wanted to see what Qian Shi was up to.

She sat down next to Madam Qian, and as soon as she picked up her teacup, Madam Qian said, "Come, let me toast you. What happened before was a mistake on our part. But we are related by marriage, and we will inevitably need to help each other in the future. Why not use tea instead of wine to let bygones be bygones?"

After finishing her tea, Cui Lingrong didn't take Qian's words seriously.

"I heard that Xuan-ge'er also took the county exam. What a coincidence! My Xu-ge'er came back and said they were taking the exam in the next room." Madam Qian looked at Cui Lingrong with a hint of pride. "The teachers at the Imperial Academy all praised Xu-ge'er for being comfortable and good. I have full confidence in him."

Cui Lingrong continued to drink her tea silently, without responding.

Madam Qian's mouth was dry from talking, and seeing that Cui Lingrong remained silent, she finally couldn't help but say, "If you ask me, we're all relatives. If there's anything Xuan-ge'er doesn't understand, he can always ask Xu-ge'er for help. Don't be shy, okay?"

"It's too much trouble. It's just the county exam now. I believe both children can pass smoothly." Cui Lingrong understood that Madam Qian was trying to show off and, by suppressing Xuan-ge'er, regain her face.

But the results of the county examination haven't been released yet, so who can be sure that Xu Ge'er will do better?

Even if Prince Rong were incredibly capable, he couldn't possibly bribe the examiners to give Zhao Xu the top spot.

Cui Lingrong really didn't understand what Qian was showing off.

However, at this moment, Wu arrived with her children. With Wu there, Qian became much more restrained and stopped making disparaging remarks.

Meanwhile, Zhao Xu deliberately sidled up to Song Mingxuan, asking, "Hey, tell me, did you hand in a blank paper?"

"Zhao Xu, are you afraid that my ranking will be higher than yours?" Song Mingxuan thought about it for a few days and figured out Zhao Xu's little trick.

Seeing Zhao Xu's expression change, Song Mingxuan continued, "Zhao Xu, if you truly believe you are a pillar of society, why are you afraid of me?"

"Song Mingxuan, how dare you speak to me like that?"

"It's not that I dare, it's that you don't understand. Instead of threatening me, you should hone your skills and study hard." Song Mingxuan was too lazy to argue with Zhao Xu. There was no point in arguing anymore; it would only be a waste of his breath.

Walking to his sister's side, Song Mingxuan whispered a few words, and Song Yu's gaze towards Zhao Xu was filled with disgust.

Song Yu grabbed Jin Ge'er's arm, and the three siblings walked out together.

Upon reaching the door, Song Mingxuan said, "Elder sister, please don't tell Mother about my affairs. Mother was already worried about me when I took the county exam."

"Hey, I know. That Zhao Xu is a scoundrel, don't pay any attention to him in the future." Song Yu felt disgusted when she thought of Zhao Xu's face, and took her two younger brothers to find their mother.

When Cui Lingrong saw the children arrive, she got up to say goodbye.

On the way back to the mansion, Song Yu made an excuse, "I just don't get along with them and don't want to stay any longer. Especially that Zhao Xu, so arrogant, like he's about to become the top scholar in the imperial examination, he's really annoying."

"Then stay away from them." Cui Lingrong didn't want the three children to get too close to the Rong Prince's Mansion either.

The carriage slowly drove through the street, and this time, the Duke of Dingguo caught up with it.

The carriage suddenly stopped, and the people inside fell backward. Song Yu asked the driver what happened, clearly displeased.

The driver was startled and asked who the newcomer was.

Duke Dingguo couldn't think of a reason for a moment, so he just said it was an accident, "I'm really sorry, I'm old and my eyesight is failing. I thought it was an acquaintance, so I rushed out. I don't know whose carriage it is. I apologize to you."

Upon hearing the voice of the Duke of Dingguo, Cui Lingrong lifted the curtain and said it was alright, "Your Excellency need not worry. Since you have mistaken us for someone else, we will return now."

Upon learning that the carriage contained the family members of the Marquis of Jiangyuan, the Duke of Dingguo immediately understood the situation and retreated to the side of the road.

Once the carriage from the Jiangyuan Marquis's residence had gone far away, he immediately ordered someone to investigate the background of the Jiangyuan Marquis's residence, "find out whether there are any men of similar age in the Jiangyuan Marquis's residence."

In the past few days, he has been thinking about the young man he saw that day from time to time, and he even dreams about him.

Cui Lingrong took it as an accident and didn't think much of it. She took the children back to the Marquis's residence.

A few days later, on the day the results were announced, Cui Lingrong took the children to a nearby teahouse early in the morning and asked Ershun to get a good spot.

Song Mingxuan was extremely nervous. He was confident he would pass the county exam, but he also wanted to rank higher than Zhao Xu. Otherwise, given Zhao Xu's attitude, he would definitely point at him and mock him.

Seeing his restlessness, Cui Lingrong comforted him, "I have confidence in you. The county examination is the easiest, so don't worry too much."

"Yes, son knows." Song Mingxuan said this, but his heart was in his throat.

Today, the results were announced, and the nearby teahouses were packed with dignitaries and nobles, while many students also gathered on the first floor.

Quite by chance, Madam Qian and Zhao Xu were in the teahouse opposite Song Mingxuan's place. The two saw each other and were secretly competing with each other.

A servant from the Rong Prince's residence came ahead to deliver the good news. Across the street, Cui Lingrong and the others heard the servant shout, "Congratulations, Second Mistress and Second Young Master! He passed the exam and ranked third!"

To rank third in the highly competitive Bianjing High School, Zhao Xu certainly has some talent.

Knowing his ranking, Zhao Xu subconsciously puffed out his chest and looked smugly at Song Mingxuan across from him.

Song Mingxuan became even more nervous. There were only two people ahead of him in third place. He believed he could pass the county exam, but he couldn't guarantee that he would be in the top two.

Sweat beaded on his forehead. When Ershun came running up, panting, he stopped breathing. The air around him seemed to freeze, and his chest pounded wildly.