“The results are posted, the results are posted!”

As soon as the official runners pasted up the examination results, onlookers swarmed forward, packing the area in front of the announcement board so tightly that not even water could seep through.

The wealthy candidates were more composed—the reserved ones would send their servants to check the results, while those who were more anxious or from ordinary backgrounds crowded around the board, vying to find their names on the list.

A candidate approaching thirty was quite anxious, standing on his tiptoes while shouting, “Make way, make way!”

Pushing aside the people blocking his view, he finally managed to use his height advantage to see the red-background, black-character announcement board.

Unlike others, he didn’t look from top to bottom, but from bottom to top, quickly spotting his name in the second-to-last row.

“I passed, I passed, I passed!” The candidate’s eyes blazed with fervor as he broke into a run toward the exit.

His wife had worked so hard to support his studies that her hair had turned white from worry. All these years, she hadn’t been willing to buy even a single silver hairpin. He had finally passed the examination—he needed to hurry and tell his wife this good news, to make her happy too.

“Watch where you’re going!” cursed someone the candidate had bumped into, but the people nearby quickly held the complainer back.

“Let it go, let it go. He’s about to become a high official—getting bumped by him might even bring you some good luck. What’s there to fuss about?”

The candidate heard these words and felt he could finally hold his head high with pride. He ran cheerfully toward the exit, but just as he reached an alley entrance, everything suddenly went dark as a burlap sack was thrown over his head.

“Caught one, caught one!”

“Stop shouting and hurry up, take him away.”

The candidate with the sack over his head struggled desperately: “I can’t do this! Let me go quickly—I’m a married man…”

Unfortunately, no one paid attention to the candidate’s words, and several people quickly carried him away.

From a nearby teahouse, Chi Can patted Zhu Yàn: “Zi Zhe, did you see that? If you went over there, that would be your fate.”

Zhu Yàn shook his head: “That person had already stated he was married, yet those people still took him away. It’s simply unbelievable.”

“What’s so surprising about that?” Chi Can lazily leaned against the white jade railing. “Didn’t you see how he was dressed? A poor scholar who had just had his moment of triumph, exactly the kind of prize those wealthy gentry consider a delicious morsel. If they caught someone like you, they’d still have to obediently send you back.”

“Whether I passed or not is still unknown,” Zhu Yàn smiled, showing little tension.

He had done his best and felt his performance was decent. The rest was up to fate.

“Who knows whether that person will choose the beautiful new bride or stick with his plain wife?” Chi Can said coolly, then quickly turned his attention away, calling inward, “Tingquan, Young Master Qiao, won’t you come out to see the excitement?”

Soon, Shao Mingyuan and Qiao Mo emerged one after the other, both holding teacups.

“Young Master Qiao must be certain this time, right?” Zhu Yàn asked with a smile.

The grandson of Master Qiao Zhuo, a prodigy who passed the provincial examination at thirteen, even after experiencing all those changes, it would be strange if he couldn’t pass the metropolitan examination.

Qiao Mo smiled in return: “I’m not completely confident.”

The top three positions should be fine, but as for the top honor, that was hard to say. After all, the chief examiner’s preferences could influence the rankings.

“Young Master Qiao is being modest. If you’re not confident, then I’ll have to wait for the next examination,” Zhu Yàn said, quite admiring of Qiao Mo’s composure.

He truly was from the Qiao family—even with something he was completely sure about, he could still be so humble, without a trace of the arrogance typical of noble sons. It was indeed admirable.

Qiao Mo knew Zhu Yàn had misunderstood but didn’t correct him, only smiling slightly.

The sound of hurried footsteps approached as Taosheng, having lost one shoe in the crowd, ran up panting: “Young Master, I saw, I saw…”

For the sake of earning some reward money, he had volunteered to check the results and nearly lost his life in the process.

“Is Prince Zhu on the list?” Chi Can asked, naturally favoring his friend.

Taosheng’s face glowed with joy as he nodded repeatedly: “Yes, Prince Zhu is ranked 126th.”

“Zi Zhe, congratulations.” Everyone offered their congratulations to Zhu Yàn.

Even the composed Zhu Yàn now showed a relieved smile.

126th place—this ranking certainly wasn’t at the top, but it wasn’t bad either.

One must know that scholars throughout the realm were as numerous as stars, especially the sons of civil officials and poor students. For them, the imperial examination was the only path to office, and only those who had endured ten years of hard study truly understood how difficult this narrow path was to traverse.

And he, as the heir of a marquis house, entering government service through the imperial examination, was truly rare among the sons of nobles and military officers.

“Wedding night and examination success—Zi Zhe, you’ll soon have double happiness. Congratulations.” Shao Mingyuan was genuinely happy for his friend.

Look at his friend—how smoothly his marriage was proceeding. After next month’s palace examination, when he officially became one of the emperor’s disciples, the bride’s family would surely be delighted to add joy upon joy, taking advantage of this double blessing.

And look at himself—

Thinking about how his wedding was still nine months away, Shao Mingyuan fell into deep self-doubt.

Could it be that in his previous life, he had offended the God of Marriage?

Hearing Shao Mingyuan’s congratulations, Zhu Yàn showed no discomfort and smiled along.

His fiancée had been carefully chosen by the elders and was also his sister’s good friend. As an older bachelor, he was quite looking forward to his upcoming married life.

“What about Young Master Qiao?” Shao Mingyuan asked.

Taosheng immediately broke into a huge smile, his eyes turning into stars: “Young Master Qiao, you’re amazing—your name is first!”

First?

Everyone quickly congratulated Qiao Mo: “Congratulations on achieving first place in the metropolitan examination.”

“Where’s the top scholar? Where’s the top scholar?”

Many people surged up to the teahouse where the group was located, all competing to catch a glimpse of the newly crowned examination champion. Leading them was the teahouse proprietor, clutching writing materials in his arms, hoping to get the top scholar to leave behind some calligraphy.

In that instant, Shao Mingyuan grabbed Qiao Mo with one hand and Zhu Yàn with the other, leaping with both men from the second floor of the teahouse to avoid the frenzied crowd.

Chi Can stood stunned for a moment, then jumped down as well, his face dark: “Shao Mingyuan, you’re playing favorites!”

“You didn’t take the examination,” Shao Mingyuan explained, knowing Chi Can was petty.

Chi Can curled his lips and suddenly shouted: “The top scholar is here!”

Shao Mingyuan, having been pushed forward by his friend, looked somewhat bewildered at the crowd that instantly surrounded him.

“Quick, quick, hurry up and carry the top scholar away—Young Master Qiao isn’t even engaged yet!”

In many people’s eyes, Qiao Mo, who had achieved first place but had no family protection, was simply the choicest morsel. Even before the results were posted, countless households had been making plans, and now, hearing that the top scholar was here, these people began fighting over him without hesitation.

Shao Mingyuan’s face darkened as he watched hands reaching toward him—someone had even grabbed his belt. Finally, he could bear it no longer.

While harming innocents wasn’t good, if he were stripped in public, Zhaozhao would probably break off their engagement out of disgust, wouldn’t she?

“Stop!” Shao Mingyuan roared angrily.

The scene suddenly fell silent.

“Look clearly—I’m not the top scholar, Young Master Qiao.”

The people stood stunned, then rubbed their eyes.

Good heavens, it was Marquis Guanjun!