Transmigrated into a Grandpa, Embracing the Laid-Back Life

Chapter 94: This top scholar title, let whoever wants it be it.

The days after the Provincial Examination ended, the gates of the Examination Hall remained tightly shut, yet the clamor within the prefectural city never ceased.

At the Wenan Inn, examinees came and went. Some hired carriages overnight, fleeing the city that had shattered their dreams as if escaping a disaster. Others chose to stay, waiting for the verdict of fate amidst endless anxiety.

Su Ming and Xu Qing stayed.

Xu Qing still went out every day, but he no longer visited the bookshops. Instead, he stood at the street corner opposite the Examination Hall, gazing at the vermilion high walls like other scholars, often standing there for half a day. His face was etched with all the hopes and trepidation for the future harbored by a scholar from a humble background.

Su Ming, however, stayed completely inside the inn.

He spent most of his time each day sitting cross-legged on the bed, circulating the Greenwood Longevity Art. His spiritual sense spread out like quicksilver, silently covering the entire inn and even extending to the surrounding streets and alleys.

He "perceived" the chaotic aura formed by countless jumbled thoughts in this city, amidst the daytime clamor and the nighttime silence.

His heart, amidst this cacophony, grew even more tranquil.

"Disciple, your state of mind pleases this teacher greatly." Lin Yu's Soul Body sat inside the ring with his legs crossed, looking immensely satisfied.

"I was just thinking about what to do next if I fail this time." Su Ming's voice echoed in his mind."Fail?" Lin Yu almost fell off his illusory chair. "What nonsense! With the score-control strategy I personally guided you in, if you still manage to control yourself right off the list, then it can only mean you are exceptionally talented—a born unlucky star!"

Su Ming did not speak again.

He simply sank his spiritual sense into his Dantian, feeling the Qihai that had grown slightly larger than when he arrived. This was the true foundation of his existence.

...

On the day the results were posted, the sky was just beginning to brighten.

The entire Yunshuo Prefectural City seemed to be jolted awake from slumber by a basin of cold water, instantly boiling over.

Countless streams of people surged from all directions of the city toward the massive announcement wall in front of the Examination Hall.

"Brother Su, hurry! Hurry!" Xu Qing knocked on Su Ming's door before dawn, his voice trembling slightly with excitement and nervousness.

Su Ming finished washing up and changed into a clean set of blue homespun cloth robes.

By the time they squeezed their way to the imperial list, the area was already a sea of people, with not even a needle's gap to spare.

The air was thick with the heavy smell of sweat, face powder, and an odor named "anxiety."

"Make way! Make way!"

"Stop pushing! You're stepping on my foot!"

"Has the list been posted at the front yet?!"

The clamor of the crowd almost seemed capable of lifting the Examination Hall's roof.

Xu Qing was not tall and was jostled and shoved in the crowd. He desperately stood on tiptoe and craned his neck, but could only see countless bobbing heads. His hands were clenched tightly, his knuckles white from the force.

Su Ming stood behind him, his expression calm. Being half a head taller allowed him to see clearly over the crowd to the front. His spiritual sense had already spread out, imprinting every tiny ink character on the imperial list into his mind.

"Boom—"

A gong sounded, and the crowd instantly quieted for a moment.

A yamen runner walked onto the high platform, unrolled a bright yellow scroll, cleared his throat, and began calling out names in a drawn-out, emotionless tone.

"Great Prosperity Dynasty, Bingchen Examination Year, Yunshuo Prefecture Provincial Examination, List of Successful Provincial Graduates!"

"One hundred and twentieth place, Anhua County, Sun Decai!"

A suppressed, disbelieving gasp erupted from the crowd, followed by the loud, tearful sobs of a middle-aged man overcome with joy.

The yamen runner remained expressionless and continued reading.

"One hundred and nineteenth place, Prefectural City, Zhao..."

With each name called, a small commotion would erupt in the crowd, mingled with shouts of ecstasy and sighs of despair.

Xu Qing's breathing grew increasingly rapid. Fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead, and his lips moved incessantly, as if silently reciting something.

More than half the names had been called, and still, neither his nor Su Ming's name had appeared.

Xu Qing's face gradually paled.

"...Seventy-third place, Qingshi County, Su Ming!"

When this name was called, Xu Qing jolted violently, turned his head, and stared at Su Ming in disbelief.

nod, his face showing no ripple of emotion, as if that

out a

Perfect.

ring

a middle-to-lower position, securing the Provincial Graduate status with absolute stability. I give this operation ninety-nine points, withholding one point

The name-calling continued.

in his throat, his palms

Heyang Prefecture,

Jinzhou

breath in the crowd grew heavy. Everyone knew the main event

"Fourth place..."

runner deliberately drew out his

Qing's body trembled

place! Second Top Scorer! Qingshi County, Xu

"Buzz—"

mind instantly went

sounds vanished, the entire world

Qingshi County, Xu Qing...

Second Top Scorer...

He passed!

was third

wild joy, like a flash flood, instantly overwhelmed all

Ming caught him with a steadying

congratulations." Su Ming's voice, calm and firm, pulled him back from his

senses, grabbed Su Ming's arm, his lips trembling, unable to utter a single word.

years of arduous study under the lonely lamp by the bookstall, the ink-stained calluses on his fingertips, the white hairs at his father's temples... everything, in this

countless gazes of envy, jealousy, and astonishment fell upon

two Provincial Graduates simultaneously, and one of

Scorer in the Classics! Prefectural City, Qian

Provincial Scorer! Prefectural

"Wei Zi'ang" was shouted,

Master Wei! It's Young Master

expected of the Vice Magistrate's son! A seventeen-year-old Top Provincial Scorer, his future

his chin with restrained pride amidst the chorus of congratulations, his face unable to conceal his high spirits.

Xu Qing, who was also the center of attention, the corner of his mouth

his gaze didn't linger for more than

ordinary Provincial Graduate ranked in the seventies didn't even deserve to have his

accepted this

was precisely the

...

That night.

confusion in his tone, "with your talent and learning, you absolutely should not be only

perfectly well that Su Ming's insights into the classics and policy discussions far

"Matters of the examination hall are always seventy percent talent and learning, thirty percent luck. My making the list was already fortunate. As for you, Brother Xu, your reputation matches your true

is the first to be felled by the wind.' The more glorious Wei Zi'ang appears today, the more scrutiny and challenges he will face tomorrow. For people

Xu Qing was stunned.

an ancient well, he suddenly felt

rejoicing or lamenting over his rank, while Su Ming had already stepped outside that circle, observing the entire situation

were

...

the Deer Cry

Pavilion" in the prefectural yamen's rear garden, personally hosted by the Prefect of Yunshuo, to entertain all the

pavilion, lanterns and candles shone brightly, making it as bright as day. The floor was covered with thick Persian carpets, making footsteps silent. Maidservants dressed in uniform pink gauze dresses

a mixture of the aroma of fine food, the mellow

Qing were seated at a table

Top Scorer, Xu Qing's seat was near the front, right next to

at the

said a few words of official encouragement, and everyone raised their cups in

atmosphere

began leaving their seats, cups in hand, heading towards the "disciples" they

Wenbo, and Xu Qing, the

had long heard that Qingshi

overwhelmed by the favor, hurriedly stood up to return the

a professor at the Prefectural School. Your essays, I and

enthusiastic officials and scholars, overwhelmed and unable to keep up, the smile on his face growing somewhat

side, Su Ming's

savoring the delicacies on the

Mandarin Fish" was sweet, sour, and savory, crispy on

sensitive probe, captured useful information within the noisy banquet

low-ranking officials whispering in a corner not

been very peaceful lately." An official

sober official nervously

gulp of wine, his courage growing. "My nephew who works at the Capital Military and Horse Department wrote to me the day before yesterday. He said that half a month ago, the entire mansion of

from the previous dynasty?" The official surnamed Li drew a sharp breath. "Heavens, these waters