Chapter 028: Top Rank in the Autumn Examinations

Chapter 028: Top Rank in the Autumn Examinations

On the first day of the tenth month, early in the morning, birds chirped as Lin Baozhen and Lin Yingxue went together to pay respects to Madam Wang.

Lin Yingxue had originally thought they would just sit for a moment, but unexpectedly, Madam Wang said, "Today is also the day the autumn examination results are announced. You two sisters should go and see."

Lin Yingxue's expression was hesitant. If she could, she would rather stay in the mansion quietly waiting for her marriage, not wanting to stir up trouble.

Lin Baozhen sneered, "Mother originally only wanted me to go because she wanted to see my future stepson pass the exam. Since your fiancé is also taking the exam, I specially brought you along, yet you still hesitate, making Master Fu's efforts in vain."

Lin Baozhen wanted to see Xie Jingzhi succeed while hoping that Fu Jiaze would barely make it onto the list, intending to mock him.

Lin Yingxue replied, "Since that's the case, thank you for your kindness, Sister. I'll go with you."

The announcement of the autumn examination results was a big event. Even if Lin Yingxue overheard her elder sister's words and knew that Fu Jiaze might not have done well, she still wanted to go and see. If anything happened, she would deal with it as it came.

Thinking this, Lin Yingxue agreed immediately.

The two sisters rode in the same carriage after becoming legitimate sisters. Lin Baozhen looked at Lin Yingxue without saying anything, then couldn't help but speak, "Second Sister can really sit still. These days, eating and drinking in the mansion, your cheeks have become rounder."

Lin Yingxue's bright eyes fell on Lin Baozhen, "Likewise, perhaps the kitchen's skills have improved. Elder Sister has also gained some weight; your clothes seem a bit tighter." She even used her fingers to tug at her elder sister's waistband.

In fact, Lin Yingxue hadn't gained weight. Worried about her mother outside, looking forward to leaving, and facing Lin Baozhen's provocations, she felt like a frightened bird in the mansion and had actually lost some weight.

It was Lin Baozhen who had gained weight. She usually liked to be active, always running around, but now that she was about to marry, she couldn't go out as much. Her activity decreased, but her diet remained the same, so she inevitably gained weight.

When Lin Baozhen heard the word "plump," her head buzzed. When Lin Yingxue mentioned her clothes being tight and tugged at her waistband, she couldn't help but swing her arm.

The slap didn't land on Lin Yingxue's face but on Feiyan's face instead.

Feiyan saw Lin Baozhen raise her hand and knew what she intended to do, so she took the slap for Lin Yingxue.

The slap was so hard that Feiyan let out a muffled groan.

Lin Yingxue's face turned cold, "Elder Sister, only the officials are allowed to set fires but not the commoners? You said I was fat, and I said you were plump more tactfully. I didn't even say you were fat, yet you can't bear it? We are sisters. If I go out with a slap mark on my face, everyone will know it was you who hit me. Do you want everyone to continue laughing at our family? It doesn't matter if I get slapped, but it will just add another joke to the capital."

Lin Baozhen was enraged by Lin Yingxue's words. Her hand was already raised high, but she dared not land it on Lin Yingxue's face.

In the past, she could order Lin Yingxue around, but after having a premonition dream, this once submissive younger sister became a legitimate sister and started acting high and mighty.

Unable to vent her anger on Lin Yingxue, she turned to Feiyan, who had taken the slap.

"This dog is loyal to you, but when she was with me, she never protected me. Now, she wags her tail for you. And Second Sister, I named this dog, and you think the name is good? You keep calling her by that name?"

Feiyan, though sold into the mansion at a young age, quickly gained the old lady's favor and became a respected first-class maid. She had never been treated like this before and immediately turned red-eyed.

Lin Yingxue slapped away Lin Baozhen's hand, speaking firmly, "Feiyan is my maid now. If you don't like her, you cannot insult her. Otherwise, I'll make a scene. My birth mother has already been demoted to a concubine, and everyone knows I'm an illegitimate daughter. If you're a jade, I'm a tile. I have nothing to lose."

Lin Baozhen realized this was true. She was about to become the Lady of Wei Wuhou and would be listed in the imperial records with a noble title. She was a precious and noble marquise.

But the person in front of her was about to marry Fu Jiaze and become a small county magistrate's wife. If she argued with Lin Yingxue, she would lose face.

The cunning Lin Yingxue!

Lin Baozhen shut her mouth, not wanting to talk to Lin Yingxue anymore, lest her chest explode from anger.

When the carriage stopped, Lin Baozhen jumped out first, not looking back. Only Chang Yan hurriedly followed.

/

Lin Yingxue didn't rush to get out, telling Feiyan, "Don't take Elder Sister's words to heart. She's always spoiled and speaks without thinking."

Feiyan thought that sometimes misfortune turns into fortune. When she was sent to serve Second Miss, she was anxious, but now she was grateful to be with Second Miss instead of marrying with First Miss.

First Miss's temper was even more unpredictable than before, and she still harbored feelings for Xie Jingzhi. Who knew what trouble she might cause in Wei Wuhou Mansion?

Feiyan said, "Thank you, Second Miss, for protecting me."

Lin Yingxue smiled, "I used to suffer from her, but now I find it refreshing to act like this."

She slightly tasted the joy of Lin Baozhen's reckless behavior.

After their conversation, they slowly got out of the carriage.

Meanwhile, Lin Baozhen, who had rushed ahead, stopped. Perhaps she had really gained weight; her inner garments were tight, and she felt like her chest would explode. She had to stop to catch her breath. After finally calming down, she found Lin Yingxue calmly walking past her with her maid.

Lin Yingxue even smiled at Lin Baozhen, which made her face twist in anger. She cursed Lin Yingxue countless times in her heart, but then remembered that Lin Yingxue would only be a small county magistrate's wife and eventually a widow, and calmed down.

This calmness vanished when she saw the list of examination results. The top rank wasn't Xie Jingzhi but Fu Jiaze, and Xie Jingzhi wasn't even on the list.

Lin Baozhen had initially sent someone to check the results but refused to believe it. She pushed through the crowd to the imperial list.

Lin Baozhen's eyes were drawn to Fu Jiaze's name at the top. She scanned the list but couldn't find Xie Jingzhi's name anywhere.

How could this be? How did things change? Why was Fu Jiaze the top rank?

Lin Baozhen felt like she had fallen into an icy abyss. At that moment, someone grabbed her wrist, "Bao'er."

Lin Baozhen realized it was Wei Wuhou pulling her out.

Wei Wuhou hadn't seen Lin Baozhen for half a month and had intended to say tenderly, "Bao'er, you've lost weight," but swallowed his words upon seeing her visibly plumper figure.