manynovel Chapter 456: Luming Banquet, are you married?
Chapter 456: Luming Banquet, are you married?
"Ahem!" Ke Zhenqiu coughed twice. "To be honest, since the last competition with Master Jiang, I realized the gap between us. After returning, I studied hard just to catch up with Master Jiang."
He smiled shyly as he spoke, his pretty face looking white with a rosy glow.
"Although there is still a gap between me and Mr. Jiang, I am ranked third, which is also the result of my best efforts. When the next exam comes, I will definitely go all out."
Ke Zhenqiu seemed to have made up his mind. He clenched his fists, his eyes full of fighting spirit.
Jiang Youzhen: ...Does this count as flapping the wings of a butterfly?
If it weren't for the competition with himself, Ke Zhenqiu would not have worked so hard, and Wen Ruyu would still be third?
Unexpectedly! Unexpectedly, Jiang Youzhen did not expect that Wen Ruyu would change her fate again because of him.
Wen Ruyu glanced at Ke Zhenqiu, and then said with disdain: "Junior brother Jiang has amazing talent, but he has only studied for more than two years, and he has already won the provincial examination. In the face of talent, hard work is worthless."
"Examination?" Wen Ruyu sneered, "You can work hard, so Jiang Junior Brother can't work hard too? After all, you didn't even rank second in the provincial examination."
These words are indeed serious. If they were said by other scholars, it would have been a complete fall-out!
There were already quite a few students watching, and they were all shocked when they heard what was said.
"Junior Brother Ke, congratulations on being ranked third. But Junior Brother Jiang was the champion of the provincial examination, so it's not that easy to surpass him."
Wen Ruyu said as she left with a wave of her sleeves. Why should she compare with Jiang Youzhen? How could Ke Zhenqiu compare with Jiang Youzhen? She had no self-awareness at all.
When Wen Ruyu heard that Ke Zhenqiu was going to surpass Jiang Youzhen, she felt disdainful and a little annoyed.
Ke Zhenqiu's face flushed a little, and he stood there at a loss.
Jiang Youzhen was a little troubled at the moment. Wen Ruyu didn't care about her reputation at all! If this got out, wouldn't it mean that Wen Ruyu was petty and jealous of Ke Zhenqiu for being the third?
"Ahem!" Jiang Youzhen quickly forced a smile, "Don't mind, Master Ke. Senior Brother Wen has been feeling unwell these past two days. It wasn't that he said anything rude. Please forgive me, Master Ke."
Jiang Youzhen apologized repeatedly, then quickly caught up with Wen Ruyu.
As soon as he entered the room, Jiang Youzhen was about to ask Wen Ruyu to be careful with his words. After all, there were many students present and it would be bad for his reputation if the news got out.
Unexpectedly, before she even opened her mouth, Wen Ruyu started to spill the beans, with a look of extreme anger on his face.
"Junior brother, you are the champion in the provincial examination, what is he? Does he want to surpass you?"
Jiang Youzhen quickly tried to comfort him, "Brother, he was just talking. Everyone can say harsh words. If he wants to catch up, then he can catch up! But he has to show his real ability!"
"No! I can't stand it!" In Wen Ruyu's mind, Jiang Youzhen is talented in studying and works hard. Although Ke Zhenqiu is also talented, how can he compare to Jiang Youzhen?
"Ah?" Jiang Youzhen touched the back of his head, was he sure there was no personal grudge involved?
"Brother, calm down! It's a good thing to encourage each other, and let a hundred flowers bloom. This will also give us motivation!"
As soon as Jiang Youzhen finished speaking, Wen Ruyu turned and looked at her.
"You're right! I must not fall behind Ke Zhenqiu in the next exam, or he will show off in front of me. He actually wants to surpass you, what a fool."
...Okay! Anyway, it's just a personal grudge.
Jiang Youzhen took out the list again and analyzed the names on it with Wen Ruyu to see who would be the competitors in the exam.
"Tomorrow is the Lu Ming Banquet, we have to prepare well!" Wen Ruyu finally remembered tomorrow's banquet and quickly reminded.
Jiang Youzhen and his family had already filled in their addresses in the provincial capital. After the Lu Ming Banquet, officials would go to the provincial capital and their ancestral hometown to announce the good news.
Before she came, she had already told Shen and the others that if an official came to announce good news, they would have to give him money.
The next day, Jiang Youzhen and others went to the banquet.
The chief examiner and co-examiner of this provincial examination were all teachers from various places, known as the sitting teacher and the room teacher, while the supervising officials were the Left Governor Jiang Yansong and the Right Governor Zhao He of the Ministry of Civil Affairs.
When Jiang Youzhen and his companions arrived, quite a few scholars had already arrived.
"Jiang Jieyuan, congratulations! Congratulations!" Everyone bowed to Jiang Youzhen.
Jiang Youzhen quickly bowed to everyone, "To all my peers, congratulations! Congratulations!"
All those who came to the banquet were successful candidates in the imperial examinations, and everyone had a smile on his or her face.
It is really not easy to pass the imperial examination. Some of these candidates have taken the exam five or six times and wasted a lot of time.
A student once said that the imperial examination is like thousands of troops crossing a single-plank bridge, and those who can stay on the bridge need both luck and strength.
A change of fortune is just around the corner!
Of course, it is still easy for Jiang Youzhen.
"Xiao Lang!" Tong Huaian saw Jiang Youzhen and hurried forward to congratulate him.
"Congratulations to Brother Huai'an too!" Jiang Youzhen had already sent someone to deliver a gift, and Tong Huai'an also returned the gift.
"That crimson ink of yours must be quite old, right? Why are you willing to give it to me?" Tong Huaian really liked the ink stick that Jiang Youzhen gave him. It was obviously an old item, but he was reluctant to use it.
"It's a ten-year gift. I'm glad that Brother Huai'an likes it!" Jiang Youzhen nodded. She only had two pieces, and she gave one to Tong Huai'an as a way of repaying him for his help to her. Isn't that nice enough?
Tong Huaian was very pleased. Jiang Youzhen thought of him and gave him such a precious thing. How could he not care about him?
What Jiang Youzhen gave to Wen Ruyu was a Duan inkstone with a dragon pattern, which was also a good thing rewarded by the system, but she had never been willing to use it.
"Where did you find it? I've never come across anything as good as this!"
Seeing Tong Huaian and Jiang Youzhen talking happily, Wen Ruyu stood beside Jiang Youzhen unnoticeably.
Although Jiang Youzhen said that Tong Huaian had a childhood sweetheart, I heard that many children from wealthy families spend a lot of money on fun and want everything.
"The adults are here!"
Upon hearing this, everyone took their seats. Jiang Youzhen was the top scorer, so he naturally sat at the first desk on the left.
At this time, the table was already filled with food and wine, and everyone was socializing with each other, creating a lively atmosphere.
The two officials with the highest rank in this provincial examination were from the Ministry of Civil Affairs. Both of them were of the second rank, which made them very powerful.
"Are you Jiang Youzhen, the top scorer in the provincial examination?" The Left Governor Jiang Yansong looked at Jiang Youzhen. He had been curious about this guy for a long time. After all, he was a celebrity in the Northern Province.
"Reporting to the lord, it is indeed the student!" Jiang Youzhen quickly stood up and bowed respectfully.
Jiang Yansong looked Jiang Youzhen up and down, and remembered that he had a concubine's daughter, and his heart couldn't help but move.
This boy has the talent to be the top scholar in the imperial examination. If he can pass the imperial examination in the future, his future will be limitless.
"Are you married?" Jiang Yansong stroked his beard and looked left and right with great satisfaction.
He is handsome, gentle, talented, and elegant. Not bad! Not bad!
Jiang Youzhen's heart tightened. Was he trying to match her up with someone else? She was only fifteen years old!
"Reporting to the Lord! Not yet. But my parents have mentioned that they only care about the exams now, and are not in a hurry to get married. My parents' orders and the matchmaker's words, I will let my parents take care of it."
When Jiang Yansong heard that he was not married, a smile immediately appeared on his face.
"Hey~ As the saying goes, you should start a family first and then build a career!"