Ye Shijie was waiting for news at Wangxian Tower with friends. Though he tried his best to restrain himself, a trace of anxiety still showed on his face. Watching the noisy commotion outside, he could only wait for the crowd over there to disperse and for some meddlesome person to announce the results.

Among the crowd looking at the posted rankings outside, someone who had gotten the news ran out first and was telling people something—this should be the results. Those in Wangxian Tower near the windows shouted, urging those who went to see the rankings to hurry back.

From the neighboring table where Ye Shijie sat, one person had gone ahead. They saw him run in from outside, running so urgently he nearly tripped. As soon as he ran into the wine shop, he was surrounded by people. Everyone asked: “Who? Who’s at the top of this examination?”

“The Imperial Academy’s top scholar is Ye Shijie.” The person had just steadied himself and let out a long breath before saying: “Second place is the Right Minister’s eldest son, Li Jing. Third place is Marquis Ningyuan’s heir, Zhou Yanbang!”

The surrounding people burst into excited chatter with a whoosh.

“Who is Ye Shijie? I’ve never heard this name before. Is he a new student at the Imperial Academy?”

“The Right Minister’s eldest son actually didn’t win first place this time—truly unexpected.”

“I thought Marquis Ningyuan’s heir would be second this time. Didn’t expect him to come in third.”

“Speaking of which, who exactly is Ye Shijie? Do you know this person?”

As people around discussed among themselves, Ye Shijie’s friend excitedly pressed down on his shoulder: “Shijie, did you hear? You’re first this time!”

“I heard.” On the surface Ye Shijie maintained his calm, but inside his heart was already wildly excited. As far as the people in this wine shop in the capital were concerned, his name was unfamiliar to the capital, to the entire Imperial Academy. He had come to the Imperial Academy with the intention of bringing glory to the Ye family. His hard work had finally paid off. First place at the Imperial Academy meant he could be directly appointed to office. As long as he had an official position, the Ye family would no longer be commoners, would no longer be bullied without the ability to protect themselves. The Ye family would get better and better.

However, he was still concerned about another matter.

Someone nearby asked: “We know about the Imperial Academy now, but what about Mingyi Hall? Who’s at the top of Mingyi Hall’s rankings this time?”

The person surrounded in the middle froze, then suddenly fell silent.

Being so silent in the lively wine shop was very strange. The crowd gradually quieted down as well. People looked at each other, not knowing what was wrong with this person. Someone couldn’t help but speak: “What exactly is the result? Hurry up and say it!”

That person hesitated for a while before saying: “On Mingyi Hall’s rankings, Fifth Miss Jiang of the Jiang family, Jiang Yue, came in third. The daughter of the Bureau Director’s residence, Meng Hongjin, came in second.”

When he said “Meng Hongjin came in second,” the crowd made sighing sounds. Everyone knew about the wager between Jiang Li and Meng Hongjin. Since Meng Hongjin came in second, it was impossible for Jiang Li’s wager to have Meng Hongjin kneel at the Imperial Academy entrance and apologize with thorns on her back. Now they could only look to Second Miss Jiang. If Second Miss Jiang had come in last this time, she would have lost everything.

Ye Shijie secretly clenched his fists. For some reason, he actually found himself worried about Jiang Li’s fate.

“First place is…” The person announcing paused for a moment, then under everyone’s watchful eyes, finally spoke the last name.

“The Chief Minister’s daughter, Second Miss Jiang, Jiang Li.”

Jiang Li!

Ye Shijie’s friend was so shocked he nearly knocked over his cup. He dug in his ear. “I didn’t hear wrong, did I, Shijie? He said first place is Jiang Li?!”

Ye Shijie also suspected there was something wrong with his ears, or perhaps this was just an unreal dream.

As soon as this person finished speaking, the crowd immediately became agitated, cursing loudly: “Are your eyes blurry or are you blind? Can you not read? What kind of nonsense are you spouting here?”

That person argued his case, his face red and neck thick as he loudly defended himself: “I’m not spouting nonsense—first place really is Second Miss Jiang!”

“Bah!” A middle-aged man spat on the ground and said loudly: “If first place is Second Miss Jiang, I’ll eat that pile of horse manure at the entrance!”

Everyone looked toward the entrance. In the stable, a tall chestnut horse was swishing its tail. Noticing everyone’s gazes, the horse looked questioningly toward the wine shop and kicked its front hooves.

“If you don’t believe me, go see for yourselves!” That person had kindly informed everyone of the rankings, but hadn’t expected to suffer such insult. Greatly angered, he stood on a stool and shouted furiously.

“We will!” Another burly man carrying a blade said: “Look at your illiterate foolish appearance.”

Before he finished speaking, another diner ran in through the entrance—probably also someone from this wine shop who had gone to see the rankings. He was much more straightforward than the previous person. Without building any suspense, he charged in and rattled off as if he’d gotten huge news, shouting loudly: “Incredible! Mingyi Hall’s examination top scholar is out—it’s Second Miss Jiang of the Jiang family, Jiang Li! Miss Meng will have to apologize with thorns on her back this time and her reputation will be swept to the ground!”

With one sentence, the crowd fell silent as cicadas.

That doubted person jumped down from the stool and snorted coldly: “Believe it now?” He straightened his clothes and huffed off, leaving behind a pile of dumbstruck spectators.

Ye Shijie watched the chaotic scene before him. He should have been frowning, but for some reason, he couldn’t help but smile.

…

At the Jiang mansion, today was also very quiet.

In Wanfeng Hall, Ji Shuran was accompanying Old Madam Jiang in conversation. Jiang Bingji sat to one side eating pastries. Jiang Youyao and Jiang Yue sat together, while Jiang Yuyan bent her head embroidering a handkerchief.

“The person who went to see the examination rankings will be back soon.” Ji Shuran pressed her hand to her chest and smiled. “I’m strangely nervous.”

“What does elder sister-in-law have to be nervous about?” Madam Lu laughed along. “Your Youyao has nothing to worry about. Unlike us in the second branch—Jingyou isn’t cut out for studying, and Jingrui… as long as he doesn’t find me a pile of trouble, the world will be at peace.”

Jiang Jingrui and Jiang Jingyou had also participated in the Imperial Academy examination, but year after year in the examinations, the two brothers were always the same. Jiang Jingyou’s grades were mediocre, Jiang Jingrui came in last. Madam Lu had long since given up hope.

Jiang Yue listened to them talking, pursing her lips and only smiling. She had come to Wanfeng Hall together with Jiang Youyao today precisely so that when the person reporting the rankings announced the results, she could receive Old Madam Jiang’s praise. To let everyone in the Jiang family see her talent and intelligence.

“Why didn’t Second Sister come along?” Jiang Yue said. “When I came over earlier, I had someone call for her to come together.”

“I heard Second Sister is brewing tea in her courtyard, saying she has no interest in the rankings.” Jiang Youyao smiled magnanimously. “If Second Sister doesn’t want to come, then we shouldn’t force her.”

Hearing this, everyone naturally thought again of the wager between Jiang Li and Meng Hongjin. Today the results of three of the six arts would be released—half the situation would be decided. Jiang Li would probably come in last. If Jiang Li lost, she would pay an enormous price. For Jiang Li, naturally she wouldn’t want to witness it with her own eyes.

“After the results come out, I’ll just go tell her.” Ji Shuran smiled gently.

Old Madam Jiang said nothing.

As they were talking, Zhenzhu lifted the pearl curtain and said: “Old Madam, the person who went to see the results has returned.”

“Come in.”

The person who went to see the results was a young servant from the Jiang mansion. He first bowed to his masters before saying: “Of the four young ladies who participated in the examination, Third Miss came in fourth, Fourth Miss came in seventeenth, Fifth Miss came in third.”

When Jiang Youyao first heard she had come in fourth, she was quite pleased with herself. But when she heard that Jiang Yue had come in third, surpassing her, she became extremely displeased.

Jiang Yue suppressed the wild joy in her heart, looked toward that servant, and asked: “I wonder what place my Second Sister achieved?”

That servant pulled out a transcribed copy of the rankings from his breast, handed it to Old Madam Jiang, broke into a huge smile, and said:

“Second Miss is first place, the top scholar of this examination. Congratulations to Old Madam!”