Chapter 556 The Palace Examination Results

Chapter 556: The Palace Examination Results

The palace exam results shocked many.

Yu Yongliu took first place, and he was not yet twenty years old.

Court politics were complicated. While they couldn’t influence the sealed results of the provincial examination, everyone had their own angle for the palace exam.

But when it came to Yu Yongliu, after searching hard, all they could find against him was that he was "too young."

These ministers insisted loudly, saying that since Yu Yongliu was so young and also handsome and upright in appearance, he should get third place instead.

Emperor Jiazheng, however, declared, "Yu's just as talented as anyone. To deny him first place simply because of his youth would be utterly ridiculous!"

Prime Minister Pang subtly signaled to one of his faction’s ministers, and a certain Minister Li immediately stepped forward, pretending to hesitate. "But Your Majesty, Yang Youguang and Tan Entong are also top-notch scholars, comparable to Yu Yongliu and deserving of the top three positions... However, both Yang Youguang and Tan Entong are in their forties. Giving them third place would be pretty ridiculous."

Traditionally, third place went to someone who was both smart and good-looking. Being in one’s forties was indeed considered rather old for such a title.

Before Emperor Jiazheng could respond, Crown Prince Wei Shiqing gave a cold chuckle.

Emperor Jiazheng turned to Wei Shiqing. "What does the Crown Prince think?"

Wei Shiqing stepped forward and bowed. "It's simple. Since Minister Li claims that Yang Youguang and Tan Entong are too old for third place, the solution is straightforward—just look further down the list of candidates."

Prime Minister Pang and Minister Li almost lost their cool.

Minister Li stammered, "Th-this... wouldn’t that be... too unfair to them..."

Wei Shiqing raised an eyebrow. "So Minister Li means that despite Yu Yongliu’s first-place talent, he should get stuck with third place simply because of his good looks, and that wouldn’t be unfair to him?"

His gaze turned icy. "Or are you implying that because Yu Yongliu isn’t from your faction, he isn’t as valuable as your people, and thus should bear the injustice?"

Minister Li broke into a cold sweat, bowed deeply, and muttered, "This minister dares not," before retreating in disgrace.

Emperor Jiazheng cast a faint glance at Prime Minister Pang.

Prime Minister Pang kept his head down and refrained from further involvement.

Emperor Jiazheng scanned the candidates one by one before finally selecting a clear-eyed, handsome scholar in his twenties for third place.

The young man was completely stunned as he thanked the emperor, utterly bewildered by how such a lucky break came his way—he was now third place?

First place, naturally, went to Yu Yongliu.

Second place was Tan Entong, while Yang Youguang became the unlucky guy who got bumped out of the top three and had to settle for first in the second tier.

Naturally, Yang Youguang was sort of linked to Prime Minister Pang’s faction.

Prime Minister Pang had begun to realize that this was likely a quiet warning from the imperial father and son.

He stayed out of it.

Without the usual behind-the-scenes tug-of-war among factions, the palace examination rankings were finalized swiftly.

After the palace exam came the grand procession on horseback and the huge celebration at Qionglin Garden.

When the palace’s congratulatory procession arrived at the residence of the General of the Western Garrison with drums and gongs to announce the joyous news, nearly half the capital went wild!

This wasn’t just any top scholar—this was a rare achievement, acing both the early and final exams with six straight wins!

A scholar who achieved six consecutive first-place honors before the age of twenty—if not unprecedented in history, it was certainly the first time in the long annals of Great Xia!

Everyone proclaimed Yu Yongliu was the mortal incarnation of the God of Literature. Crowds swarmed to bask in his scholarly aura, while countless young maidens and married women pelted his procession with fruits, nearly burying Yu Yongliu as he rode his stately steed through the streets.

What a spectacle!

Xingxing had reserved the top-floor private room of a teahouse. Leaning on the railing, she watched her Third Brother, adorned with a large red flower, parade through the streets. Seeing him dodge the barrage of embroidered pouches thrown his way, she couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

Bai Xiaofeng had already returned to the residence to await the celebratory news, glowing with pride when she left.

By the time Xingxing made her way back, the entire Wuyi Alley was packed with layers of onlookers. Squeezing through the crowd, she overheard that two previously unsold vacant residences in the alley had been snapped up the moment news of Yu Yongliu’s sixfold triumph spread.

People feared missing out on the literary blessings of the God of Literature.

In just that short time, many families were already offering exorbitant prices for properties in Wuyi Alley, claiming the lane was blessed with outstanding people and spiritual energy and lay upon the vein of literary fortune—buying here would never be a loss!

Xingxing clicked her tongue in wonder.

Though the residence granted by the Emperor was spacious, Xingxing had considered that once her brothers married and had children, new courtyards would be needed. Despite the ample space now, it might one day run out. Just days ago, she had purchased the vacant three-courtyard residence to the left of their own.

That was close! Almost missed it!

Guarded by servants, Xingxing struggled through the throngs and finally reached her doorstep.

The entrance of the General of the Western Garrison's residence was carpeted thick with red firecracker debris—so many had been set off!

This kind of display—

Xingxing wiped her brow.

—Later, she would learn that had it not been for this grand display, the family of Chancellor Zhou, who had marriage negotiations with her Third Brother, might have shown up that very day.

Wei Pozi and Yu Laotou were already paying respects to their ancestors in the newly opened ancestral hall, tears glistening in their eyes, overwhelmed with emotion. They had never dreamed their family would produce a zhuangyuan (top scholar)!

Bai Xiaofeng alternated between laughter and tears, kneeling behind the elders: "I'm the mother of the zhuangyuan, I'm the mother of the zhuangyuan..."

Yu Erhu knelt there sheepishly, scratching his head and grinning: "My son is the zhuangyuan, haha, my son is the zhuangyuan!"

The entire family was delirious with joy.

But the doorkeeper was swamped with work.

Yu Yongliu was still at the Qionglin Banquet (the imperial feast for scholars), and hadn’t returned home, yet the flood of congratulatory gifts to the General of the Western Garrison's residence nearly overwhelmed the doorkeeper’s area.

The doorkeeper couldn’t handle it alone.

In the end, Yu Yongbai had to dispatch two specialized accountants from the trading firm.

Amid the joy, chaos reigned.

The next morning, within just half a day, the doorkeeper had to turn away a large number of uninvited visitors.

But one guest, though without an invitation, claimed to be the prospective in-laws of the Third Young Master. The doorkeeper dared not refuse and hurriedly sent word inside.

Bai Xiaofeng, who had been too excited to sleep the previous night, was up early managing affairs, still brimming with energy—utterly radiant, full of energy!

Yet when she heard the announcement about the so-called prospective in-laws of the Third Young Master, she nearly jumped out of her skin: "In-laws?! What in-laws are you talking about?!"