Chapter 862 - 863 Hit_1
Ye Zi’an didn’t stand on ceremony with him and ran into the inner room after accepting the item, then came back out after touching it.
It had to be said that Mu Shaoling’s medicine was very effective, a cool sensation spread immediately upon application, and gradually the pain lessened.
The only issue was that the wound didn’t look very pleasant, and even after several days, it didn’t subside. Although the swelling went down after applying the medicine, the bruises and scrapes on the skin wouldn’t heal that quickly.
Because of this, during these days he had not gone out with Mr. Luo to visit the well-known scholars.
Instead, Mr. Luo himself took manuscripts quietly written by Ye Zi’an to exchange thoughts with various individuals.
Although he had not gone with him, he kept informed, evident from Mr. Luo’s increasingly deep smiles upon each return.
Twelve days later came the day the Great Zhou dynasty announced the results of the spring exams.
Li Wen and Li Wu were already waiting eagerly at the entrance early on, jostling with all their might to get a look as soon as the list was posted. These two lads had an extraordinary belief in their young master. When it came time to check the list, they didn’t even glance at the second rank, searching directly in the first rank, especially when they saw the name "Ye Zi’an" at the very top, they shouted excitedly.
"Brother, our young master passed, he passed!"
"I saw it too, quick, we need to go back and tell the young master."
Their voices were a bit loud, attracting sideways glances from many people.
A couple of steward-looking individuals stepped forward to inquire, "Which name on the list belongs to your young master?"
Li Wen gave them a look and suppressed the joy and pride previously visible on his face, speaking indifferently, "The top rank belongs to our young master."
While those who had asked were still in shock, the two brothers excused themselves in unison and were gone before the others could respond.
At the same time, many noble families as well as ministers and officials who were standing by the announcement area also learned that the top rank was attained by someone named Ye Zi’an. But why did the name sound so familiar? Upon careful consideration, they realized, wasn’t that the one whose achievements were wrongly attributed to someone else?
Those who were not clear about the relationship between Ye Zi’an and Old Mu and others began to inquire where he currently resided, hoping to woo him to their side, or perhaps to accept him as a powerful son-in-law, among other things.
However, a few who were privy to the inside story couldn’t help but feel regret, firstly that such a talent was not aligned with their faction, and secondly that they had previously hoped to accuse him of failing the examinations, to attack him by arguing that his title of Recommended Man did not match his abilities, and that the allegations of substitution were yet to be verified, and so on.
But now none of these plans would come to fruition.
Over at Old Mu’s residence, Li Wen and Li Wu rushed in from outside, barely catching their breath as they exclaimed, "He passed, our young master passed!"
"That’s wonderful!" Mr. Luo, who had been waiting there since the morning, eagerly asked, "How many ranks did he achieve?"
Perhaps because Li Wen was too out of breath from the run, he struggled to catch his breath, speaking with difficulty, he could only raise an index finger and pant out, "First, first, first."
It was Li Wu who slapped his hand and laughed loudly, "The young master has secured the top rank again."
"Good, very good!" Old Mu, who had just come from outside, upon hearing such news, praised enthusiastically, "This is truly a joyous occasion! All of you attending him will be rewarded, everyone will be rewarded, five taels of silver each."
"Thanks to General Luo for the reward, thank you, young master!" The servants in the courtyard immediately knelt to express their thanks upon hearing this.
Ye Zi’an then also said, "You all have served diligently these past days, each of you will be rewarded with an additional five taels of silver."
"Oh, thank you, young master!"
Receiving two portions of reward money at once, naturally, everyone was extremely happy.
Just as Baili Yan had been summoned by the Emperor and was leaving the palace, he heard the news that Ye Zi’an had secured the top rank and could hardly contain his joy. He promptly ordered gifts to be picked out and sent to Old Mu’s place.
The Mu brothers, of course, had also received the news and visited with gifts to offer their congratulations.