Madam Huang poured the tea and brought it over, setting it down before the few of them. Wang Qingchen and the others quickly offered their thanks.

Seeing that their expressions weren't too dejected or discouraged, Madam Huang couldn't help but ask, "You've already seen the list that quickly?" Hearing her cautious tone, the group exchanged glances and immediately understood—Madam Huang had misunderstood. It was also their fault for not managing to get a good spot near the list, which was why their faces lacked any real joy.

Liu Hao forced a dry laugh. "Auntie, we haven't even glimpsed that list yet. After all, the list hasn't been posted!" "Not posted?" Madam Huang was startled, then perplexed. "If it hasn't been posted, why are you back so soon? Aren't you planning to look at the list?" Hearing Madam Huang's question, Zhao Cheng sighed helplessly. "Mother, it's not that we didn't want to look. The few of us deliberately got up early today, thinking we could get there sooner and squeeze to the front.

Who knew that by the time we arrived, it was already packed shoulder-to-shoulder? Even the teahouses and taverns nearby were overflowing.

We couldn't push through, nor did we have a place to stand, so we came back, planning to go again when the crowd thins out."

"So that's how it is!" Madam Huang immediately breathed a sigh of relief. Seeing the children looking at her with confusion, she quickly explained, "I saw your faces looked down, and I thought you had already seen the results. Thank goodness you haven't seen the list yet."

The group now understood Madam Huang's misunderstanding and felt a bit embarrassed. They realized their expressions must have been quite grim when they returned, leading to her assumption! Seeing the awkwardness in the hall, Liu Hao quickly tried to lighten the mood. "Oh dear, just to go look at that list, I woke up so early I barely slept!

And rushing out just now, I only managed a few sips of breakfast.

Now that I've made a wasted trip, my stomach is growling terribly. Auntie, is there anything more to eat?" Seeing Liu Hao's pitiful look, Madam Huang burst out laughing. "Yes, yes! I cooked quite a lot this morning, but none of you ate much.

I'll go prepare things right away. You all can eat together then. Since you aren't going to check the list now anyway."

With that, Madam Huang cheerfully headed to the kitchen.

Wang Qingchen rubbed his stomach. Hearing Liu Hao say that, he realized he hadn't eaten enough that morning either. Since they weren't checking the list now, he decided he needed a proper breakfast.

Once Madam Huang brought out the few items from the morning's cooking, the group ate, not with their previous hurried gulping, but enjoying a substantial breakfast.

Meanwhile, in the capital city, the Xia and Fu mansions presented a completely different scene.

The families of both households waited anxiously with their sons for the arrival of the pages bearing news.

Master Xia was pacing back and forth, having walked countless laps already.

"My Lord, perhaps you should sit down and wait!" Madam Xia advised him.

Master Xia considered it. "Forget it, I'll stand," he decided. Madam Xia felt a headache coming on; the real reason she urged him to sit was because his pacing was making her dizzy. But since Master Xia insisted on standing, she couldn't press the matter further and just tried to focus on anything but him.

Xia Wentao felt quite pleased by how much attention his father was giving to the results of the provincial examination. He followed his mother’s lead and persuaded him, "Father, you should sit down. If you keep pacing like that, you'll exhaust yourself. Your son wouldn't want you to suffer because of this."

Master Xia listened to his son, thought for a moment, and finally sat down as requested.

Seeing Master Xia seated, Madam Xia felt a surge of annoyance. Why wouldn't he listen to me, but only yield when our son speaks?

After sitting down, Master Xia remarked, "I wonder how that boy from the Fu family fared this time."

Madam Xia's mind raced upon hearing his question; she was also curious. She quickly suggested, "My Lord, that’s simple enough. Just have the page sent to check the list for the Fu family's boy check on Fu Lan's results as well."

Master Xia nodded, called over a page from the mansion, gave him instructions, and sent him off immediately.

Not long after the page departed, a servant came running breathlessly into the residence to report: "Master, Madam! Great news, great news! The bearer of good tidings has arrived; he says Young Master has passed the provincial exam as the Jieyuan..." Master and Madam Xia became extremely excited. "What? Truly the Jieyuan? Haha, this is wonderful! Quickly, where is the bearer of good tidings, where is he?" Not only were Madam and Master Xia overjoyed, but Xia Wentao himself was elated. Did he really pass as the Jieyuan? This was marvelous; his efforts had not been in vain.

Soon, the servant led the messenger in.

"Oh my, congratulations, Young Master Xia! You have passed the provincial examination as the top scorer, the Jieyuan!" Master Xia was ecstatic. "Haha, mutual congratulations..." Master Xia was truly beside himself with joy, barely registering what he was saying. The Xia family now had a future to look forward to! With a little push in the official circles for his son, their family fortune would last for many more years.

Xia Wentao found his father’s words both amusing and gratifying—after all, his father was celebrating for him, wasn't he? Fortunately, Madam Xia hadn't been completely swept away by happiness. Upon hearing her husband, she quickly salvaged the situation. "Thank you both for making the trip; it must have been tiring. Nanny Gu, quickly prepare the rewards."

Nanny Gu understood and presented two premium red envelopes to the two messengers. They weighed the envelopes and realized the contents were substantial, immediately breaking into wide smiles. "Haha, you're too kind, too kind! We just wanted to come share in the Jieyuan Lang's good fortune!" After accepting the money, the two also helped post the official announcement plaque, letting everyone know the Xia residence now boasted a Jieyuan.

Madam Xia stopped worrying about Fu Lan’s rank; after all, he certainly wouldn't surpass Wentao. The mere thought filled her with delight.

Over at the Fu residence, they were also waiting anxiously.

Before the page sent to check the results had even returned, servants rushed in to report that the bearer of good tidings had arrived.

Master and Madam Fu immediately grew happy and rushed to invite the messenger in.

"Oh, congratulations! Congratulations, your esteemed household's Eldest Young Master has passed the provincial examination in eleventh place!" the messenger announced loudly.

Master and Madam Fu were beside themselves with joy, quickly offering the reward money and instructing someone to hang up the announcement plaque.

Fu Lan looked at his own plaque, feeling quite pleased and undeniably smug. Achieving such a high rank suggested that achieving prominence in the future was certainly not impossible! "Oh, my son is so accomplished! Eleventh place in the provincial exam! If he does well in the Imperial Examinations next, his future will be limitless!" Madam Fu cheered.

Master Fu, seated beside her, was also very happy. He was quite satisfied with his son placing eleventh this time. Although his son had disappointed him in some matters previously, he had to admit that his performance in this provincial exam was quite commendable.

A short while later, the page sent to check the list returned and came to report. Master and Madam Fu already knew their son had passed, so they didn't really need the page's news, but Madam Fu still generously rewarded him. The page, thrilled to receive the reward, prepared to leave.

However, Master Fu suddenly asked, "Wait, you went to see the list; did you see the name of the Xia mansion's young master?" Hearing this, the page quickly nodded. "This servant saw it. The Eldest Young Master of the Xia residence passed in first place—he is this term's Jieyuan Lang! Many people were discussing it intensely near the list!"

As soon as the page finished speaking, the atmosphere in the room shifted abruptly. The earlier cheerfulness instantly solidified into tension. Seeing the mood sour, the page started to worry—had he said something wrong? Master Fu managed to restrain himself, waving the page away. Once the servant was gone, he violently slammed a cup onto the floor. Then, glaring at Madam Fu and Fu Lan, he turned and stormed off to his study.

Madam Fu watched Master Fu depart, patting her chest. "Oh, that was frightening! Why get so angry? Even if our son didn't get first place, eleventh isn't bad! Really, I don't know what he's dissatisfied with."

Fu Lan was considerably less pleased. After all, he had boasted to Master Fu that he was certain to surpass Xia Wentao, and now he was left far behind. This left Fu Lan deeply unhappy, so he ignored his mother and also turned toward his own study.

Watching her son leave as well, Madam Fu grumbled, "I say, you two, father and son, who are you putting on these long faces for? Really!"

Meanwhile, the scene at Wang Qingchen and the others' rented residence was also lively. A bearer of good tidings had arrived there too, and the person being congratulated was none other than Zhao Cheng! Since no one had expected their small group to produce a Juren scholar, a crowd had gathered to follow the messenger and watch the excitement.

When the onlookers saw the messenger stop directly in front of the house where Wang Qingchen and the others were lodging, they shouted in unison, "The messenger is here!" Hearing this, those inside, certain the news was for them, quickly rushed to open the door in excitement.

Seeing the crowd, the messenger inquired, "Which one is Master Zhao Cheng?" Hearing her own name, Madam Huang was so excited she couldn't speak. Zhao Cheng remained calmer, stepped forward, and replied, "I am he!"

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