"Guo Feng is actually the top scorer!"
"That's the same Guo Feng who recently sought justice for his late wife—a man of deep loyalty and righteousness!"
Amid the chatter around him, Song Yu stood frozen in shock. His gaze locked onto the name at the top of the list: Guo Feng.
He was the top scorer!
"Congratulations, Brother Guo, for claiming first place," Zheng Fang was the first to step forward, cupping his hands in salute. Zheng Fang himself had secured second place.
"Congratulations, Brother Guo," added Ling Ming, who ranked third.
Passing the prefectural exam meant earning the title of Tongsheng, the lowest scholarly rank, but still a mark of achievement.
Song Yu was too stunned to react properly, grinning foolishly. "Both of you have also succeeded—congratulations to us all!"
"Ah, isn’t this Young Master Guo?"
"Young Master Guo, my family has a daughter..."
A crowd swarmed toward Song Yu—some hoping to absorb his luck for their own scholarly relatives, others eager to arrange a marriage alliance with the Guo family.
Snapping back to reality, Song Yu glanced at Zheng Fang and Ling Ming and declared firmly:
"Run!"
If he didn’t escape now, he’d be devoured alive.
The three of them sprinted swiftly, covering three li in no time.
Their shared "escape" bonded them instantly, and they quickly grew close. They even made plans to reunite the following April for the next round of exams.
"Father!"
Upon returning home, Song Yu was greeted by Song Shihuan rushing toward him.
Red lanterns adorned the courtyard, and the faces of Liuxi and Baoxia glowed with joy.
"Congratulations, Father, for topping the prefectural exam and earning the Tongsheng title!"
Still dazed, Song Yu beamed at Song Shihuan. "A-Huan, I really came in first."
"Of course! As soon as the results were posted, your exam papers circulated everywhere. I had Liuxi investigate—everyone who read them praised them endlessly."
As if to confirm her words, Liuxi nodded vigorously.
"I’m the top scorer!"
Song Yu threw his head back and laughed, repeating the words three times.
The past struggles no longer mattered; today, his spirit soared boundlessly.
"Bring me paper and ink! I must write to His Majesty with the good news!"
......
Guo Feng’s name spread like wildfire across Ji'an Prefecture overnight.
A man unnoticed in the county exam had now dazzled in the prefectural exam, drawing scholars eager to study his papers from both tests.
One look was enough to elevate Song Yu’s reputation to unprecedented heights.
Such rapid improvement was awe-inspiring.
Meanwhile, Song Yanzheng’s prefectural exam results were also announced.
"You En, go check the rankings," Song Yanzheng urged impatiently from his carriage.
"Last time, Eldest Brother topped the county exam—this time, he’s surely among the best again," Song Xiyan chimed in, pleased at the prospect of having a scholarly brother to elevate her status.
Confident, You En pushed through the crowd—only to find Song Yanzheng’s name missing from the top.
Scanning further down, he still couldn’t find it.
Panic set in.
After a long search, You En returned, his expression strained.
"Well?" Shen Hua'er pressed. Song Yanzheng remained silent, but his eyes brimmed with anticipation.
He envisioned himself basking in glory once more.
Since topping the county exam, visitors to the Ping Prince's Mansion had multiplied. Another triumph would—Song Yanzheng swallowed hard.
"Your Highness passed... but your rank... was middling to low."
"What?" Song Yanzheng recoiled. "You En, you must have misread!"
How could the county exam’s top scorer fall to such a rank in the prefectural exam?
"Your Highness, I checked multiple times. It’s correct."
"Yanzheng, passing alone is an achievement," Shen Hua'er said, though her expression was stiff.
The carriage’s atmosphere turned icy.
......
Shen Residence.
"The results are out, yet you’re so calm. Aren’t you curious about the Eldest Grandson’s rank?"
Shen Mingwen eyed Shen Qingping, who sat composedly, baffled by his son’s indifference.
"The county exam’s examiner gave Song Yanzheng first place, but scholars didn’t praise him—proof his skill didn’t deserve it."
Shen Qingping’s bluntness made Shen Mingwen’s heart skip. Such words were dangerous!
"Unless the prefectural examiner is a fool, he wouldn’t rank Song Yanzheng too high. Now we’ll see his true level."
A mocking glint flashed in Shen Qingping’s eyes. Even the Emperor had ignored Song Yanzheng’s county exam success, sending no rewards.
Only a few dim-witted officials flocked to the Ping Prince's Mansion—the rest kept their distance.
"I wonder how His Highness fared in the prefectural exam," Shen Qingping murmured, worry creasing his brow.
That was his real concern.
Just then, hurried footsteps approached. A breathless servant burst in, elated:
"Master, Third Young Master—news from Ji'an Prefecture! His Highness... topped the prefectural exam!"
"What?!"
Shen Qingping shot to his feet, momentarily stunned.
Shen Mingwen rushed forward. "Were his exam papers sent?"
"Yes! Multiple copies!"
Unlike the county exam, where Song Yu had withheld his papers due to his low rank, this time he had them copied and distributed widely.
Shen Mingwen pored over the papers. After a thorough read, he clapped in admiration:
"This is the work of a true top scorer."
Since their last meeting, he’d had little chance to guide Song Yu’s studies.
Yet, His Highness had improved so dramatically.
Shen Qingping also read the papers, his smile widening. "It seems Ye Shijie’s future is now assured."
"That old man’s luck is unmatched."
To have personally mentored the Emperor’s most favored son to prefectural exam glory—this alone would secure the Ye family’s prosperity for generations.
"Come, let’s deliver the good news to the Emperor!"
......
Purple Heaven Palace.
As Shen Mingwen and Shen Qingping arrived, they crossed paths with Song Yanzheng and Shen Hua'er, both dejected.
Suddenly, Emperor Yuanyou’s booming laughter echoed from within:
"Tell me, how did that boy do in the prefectural exam?"
Song Yanzheng assumed the Emperor meant him.
He wished he could vanish into the ground.
