While Shen Wennian was delighting in becoming the top graduate, Xu Huaiqian, who had been on tenterhooks for days fearing he would be the top graduate and have the "Triple First" Zhuangyuan title forced upon him by the Emperor, learned from Meng Fangxun and the others who had gone to see the results that he was not the top graduate, but only ranked second. He was so ecstatic he jumped up and hugged his wife.
"A-Jiu! I'm not the top graduate!" Xu Huaiqian was almost moved to tears. He had no idea how terrified he had been these past few days of becoming the top graduate.
"Now you can relax, right?" Chen Liejiu was also very happy to hear the news. Although he thought his little husband achieving a "Triple First" would be good, if his little husband didn't want it, then so be it.
Xu Huaiqian nodded. His heart could finally settle back into his chest.
Since the Emperor hadn't forced the "Triple First" title on him, it was likely he wouldn't force the Zhuangyuan title on him either, right?!
He remembered the Zhuangyuan could be chosen based on the Emperor's preference. Even the top Metropolitan Graduate might not become Zhuangyuan if he displeased the Emperor. Conversely, even the last-ranked candidate who met the Emperor's favor could potentially be named Zhuangyuan. If the Emperor hadn't even given him the top graduate rank, the Zhuangyuan title was even less likely, right?!
"I really don't understand what you're so happy about," Meng Fangxun and the others couldn't comprehend Xu Huaiqian's elation at not being the top graduate. "If you had been the top graduate, you could have achieved a 'Triple First'! It's an honor many would desire but cannot obtain!"
"You don't understand," Xu Huaiqian said, his joy evident. "Things turn into their opposites when they reach the extreme. For a sickly person like me, it's better to be cautious. 'The protruding nail gets hammered down.'"
But that wasn't the main reason. The primary reason was that he was an academic fraud. The time travel/transmigration god hadn't given him any cheats. If he had a photographic memory or a golden finger for instantly composing poetry, he would slap himself for not fighting for the top graduate.
But his skills in poetry and literature were even worse than Meng Fangxun's. How could he, alone, compete with all the scholars in the world? If some brilliantly talented person, unconvinced by his "Triple First" status, challenged him to a duel of scholarship someday... Oh heavens! He would be the perfect pig-faced character getting humiliated! Too embarrassing!
Wasn't it better to just rely on his looks honestly?
"Don't celebrate too soon," just as Xu Huaiqian was happy, Duan Youyan said something that made him even happier. "The top graduate is Shen Wennian, the direct descendant of the Jiangnan Shen family. He's renowned for both talent and appearance. His cousin is the current Empress. Considering the Shen family's face, the Emperor is very likely to appoint him as the Zhuangyuan."
"That's even better!" Xu Huaiqian was thrilled. With such a handsome and talented person becoming the Zhuangyuan, his own position as the third-place Tanhua would be even more secure!
Duan Youyan felt he might be celebrating too early. "But this time he surpassed you based on poetry. His Majesty stated that current affairs should be the primary focus. The Palace Exams will surely test current affairs."
If they tested only current affairs, Shen Wennian would definitely not be Xu Huaiqian's match. "If he falls behind you, and your positions are reversed, what then? After all, he's not bad-looking either."
Duan Youyan hadn't seen the man, but from the praise he'd heard from many in the Sheng residence, he probably wasn't lacking in looks!
"That won't happen!" Xu Huaiqian waved his hand confidently. If Duan Youyan hadn't mentioned Shen Wennian's connection, he might have worried about his looks being inferior. But now, he was completely reassured. "You said it yourself, his cousin is the Empress, and his scholarship is excellent, even superior to mine! The Emperor will surely consider the Empress's family and give the Zhuangyuan title to him!"
It was just a Zhuangyuan title! Not something irreplaceable. The Emperor could award it to someone else in three years. Wouldn't the Emperor grant the Empress this small favor?
Whereas the Emperor had no relation to him, Xu Huaiqian. At best, he had coincidentally helped the Emperor a little on the path of exam reform. Would the Emperor really consider him a rare talent because of that, grant him the Zhuangyuan title, promote him, and place him before the court officials to confront them?
Impossible! He was just a minor figure with some practical ability! No matter how much the Emperor favored him, he wouldn't surpass the Empress!
Having eliminated the possibility of being Zhuangyuan and feeling confident that his looks would secure the Tanhua rank, Xu Huaiqian was extremely happy.
After his joy subsided, Xu Huaiqian didn't forget to ask about their results. "What about your rankings?"
"I'm right behind you, third," Meng Fangxun pointed at himself. "Duan Youyan did well too, tenth. Little Wen is nineteenth, Little Pei is thirty-first."
"Everyone did excellently!" Xu Huaiqian was happy for them upon hearing their rankings.
The Metropolitan Exams were different from the Provincial Exams. The Provincial Exams faced candidates who were Xiucai, while the Metropolitan Exams faced Juren from across the nation. Firstly, becoming a Juren was much harder than becoming a Xiucai. Moreover, Juren had far wider social circles and their knowledge and experience far surpassed that of Xiucai.
It was expected that their rankings wouldn't be clustered together this time. But surprisingly, none of them had fallen below the top fifty. It was an unexpected delight.
After all, their initial estimate was that all of them making it into the top hundred would be a great result.
One had to remember that the Metropolitan Exams only accepted around three hundred candidates, while the number of Juren taking the exams each year was around five or six thousand. With such a low acceptance rate, making it into the top hundred already placed them among the best of the best.
What more could they ask for?!
"And it's not just us!" Pei Wangshu interjected. "Remember the other Xiucai from Yong'an Prefecture who became a Juren? He's also within the top hundred!"
"And the other four Juren from other parts of Changnan! Their rankings are around the hundred mark, but they all made the list!" Pei Wangshu remembered this clearly. "This is great! All ten Juren from Changnan have become Gongshi! Those who said we only passed the provincial exams by luck have nothing to say now!"
Indeed, once the Changnan results were announced, those who claimed Changnan candidates benefited from the tax topic had nothing left to say.
This time, the exam also tested current affairs, but on a topic completely opposite to taxes—snow disasters.
Changnan was located in the south. Its candidates had never even seen snow. Answering a current affairs question on snow was extremely difficult for them.
Yet, they still passed the Metropolitan Exams. This proved their Juren status was definitely not due to luck.
In reality, understanding current affairs was simple: grasp the fundamentals, and you can handle all variations. Those Juren who had comprehended current affairs while still Xiucai, after becoming Juren and broadening their horizons, would have no trouble with similar topics in the exams.
Only those who were stuck in their ways would think others succeeded purely by chance or luck!
How could there be so much luck in the world?
What they perceived as luck was actually the result of years of accumulated effort and ability.
Once the Metropolitan Exam results were out, not only were the critical Juren silenced, but the mouths of all those who had looked down on Xu Huaiqian and his group were also shut tight.
First among them were the main branch of the Sheng family. When they saw that Duan Youyan, a southerner, not only didn't perform worse on the snow disaster topic but ranked tenth, while their favored Sheng Yuxuan only managed eighteenth place, their hearts sank completely.
A gap of eight places! Could their ranking surpass Duan Youyan's in the Palace Exams?
In stark contrast, the fifth branch of the Sheng family was overjoyed with Duan Youyan's ranking! "I knew it! Someone who ranked in the top three in current affairs last year wouldn't perform poorly this year!"
"After the Palace Exams, regardless of whether the main branch agrees or not, we must wrest a share of resources from them! The main branch has monopolized the Sheng family's resources for too long. It's time for a change!"
Next were Song Weilan's friends who had doubted Meng Fangxun. They were astonished to learn that Meng Fangxun had fought his way to third place among the scions of powerful families and officials' descendants.
"Third in the Metropolitan Exams! He's guaranteed a spot in the First Class , right?!"
"Weilan, your eye for people is too good!"
"First Class! Only three people! He'll definitely become at least a third-rank official in the future!"
"It's not that easy!" Song Weilan was happy but didn't get carried away. "His appearance isn't outstanding enough. Getting into the First Class is too difficult. But he's definitely secure for a top position in the Second Class !"
"Top of the Second Class is also great!" A top Second Class rank also meant he was among the best. With Official Song's support behind him, his official career wouldn't be bad at all!
This was far better than the mediocre officials' sons they had been considering!
The group of young ladies were now completely convinced by Song Weilan. How did she have such good luck, finding someone so excellent in every aspect right away?
While Song Weilan's friends were chatting, Madame Song, upon hearing the news, was also beaming. "Our son-in-law is truly outstanding! Not only is he good at poetry, but he also excels in current affairs! Catching this first wave of reform, his future prospects are limitless!"
Official Song snorted. "Now you know how good your husband's judgement is! Both he and Xu Huaiqian are exceptional talents! Both were people I had my eye on. Xu Huaiqian is already married, so we can't hope for that. For our daughter to form a good match with Meng Fangxun is us marrying up!"
"Yes, yes, yes, your judgement is the best." Madame Song had nothing more to say to Official Song.
Not only her, but the noble-born men who had been jealous of Xu Huaiqian and doubted he could achieve a high rank felt a lump in their throats upon learning Xu Huaiqian ranked second.
How was Chen Liejiu's life so blessed?!
He himself was capable, and the husband he found was also capable! In contrast, they, these men raised in luxury, seemed to only be able to rely on their fathers—even inferior to a country man!
It was infuriating!
Not only them, but Pang Guanyu, living next door to the Xu residence, was also furious. They were both human, living on the same street! It was bad enough that Xu Huaiqian was better looking, but now his results were also this good!
It was only then that he learned Xu Huaiqian was last year's number one Provincial Graduate Jieyuan who shocked the nation, and this year's second-ranked Metropolitan Graduate!
And he, Pang Guanyu, had failed the exams this year!
Failing wasn't terrible. What was terrible was living next door to the second-ranked Metropolitan Graduate, who was far superior to him!
Thinking about that stunningly handsome face—securing the Tanhua rank was almost guaranteed—and then remembering Chen Liejiu's words that only someone like his husband was worthy of marrying into his family, while someone like him wasn't even fit to carry his shoes, made him even angrier!
Had the standard for marrying into a family now been raised to the Tanhua level?! How were those of them who wanted to live off their spouses supposed to survive?!
Regardless of outside opinions, with the "Zhuangyuan crisis" averted, March arrived. The capital, now free of snow, was slightly warmer. Under Official Ying's care, Xu Huaiqian's health had improved somewhat, though he was still a bit pale.
On the day of the Palace Exams, Xu Huaiqian showered his wife with kisses in bed. "A-Jiu, after today, your little husband will be a Tanhua Lang! The most handsome Tanhua in the whole world! Aren't you happy?"
"Happy!" Chen Liejiu, awakened by his little husband's kisses, could he say otherwise? Absolutely not.
Perhaps men just get especially excited about things they are about to achieve. Xu Huaiqian had been so excited last night he took a long time to fall asleep. Waking up early this morning, he couldn't contain his excitement towards his wife.
"No!" Chen Liejiu could tell what Xu Huaiqian was thinking from the gleam in his eyes and quickly shook his head. "You're not fully recovered yet. Don't you want to take the Palace Exams today?"
"I won't do anything major," Xu Huaiqian's fingers trailed downward. "I'll just use my hands, okay?"
He was too happy; not doing something felt like a waste.
"Only hands!"
Seeing his little husband like this, Chen Liejiu couldn't refuse. He pulled the quilt over both of them. After everything settled, he threw back the covers, his face flushed, gasping for breath, feeling utterly annoyed/embarrassed.
He shouldn't have warmed his little husband's fingers that time! Once he figured out the trick, he relentlessly targeted that spot, leaving him now weak all over, unable to get up.
Seeing his wife drenched in sweat, Xu Huaiqian was satisfied. He washed his hands, kissed his red, still-panting face, and said, "Sleep a bit more, no need to rush."
This was the first time Chen Liejiu had been reduced to this state by his little husband. He pulled the quilt over his face. So embarrassing!
"Not embarrassing, very cute!" Xu Huaiqian, seeing his wife like this for the first time, found him utterly adorable. He pulled the quilt down, kissed and coaxed him. Finally, when Meng Fangxun and the others started urging him, he said reluctantly, "I'm leaving!"
"Mm."
After waiting for Chen Liejiu's muffled response from under the covers, Xu Huaiqian smiled at the lump under the quilt, then walked out the door, his face radiant with joy that even his illness couldn't dampen!
When they met the other Gongshi at the palace gate, waiting to be summoned for the Palace Exams, Xu Huaiqian saw Shen Wennian, renowned for his talent and appearance. He was even more satisfied. This upright, refined young master from a powerful family looked exactly like prime Zhuangyuan material!
No one would compete with him for the Tanhua rank!
Shen Wennian was also very satisfied upon seeing Xu Huaiqian. This second-ranked Metropolitan Graduate, with his dazzling handsomeness and elegant bearing tinged with a delicate, frail charm, looked exactly like a candidate for the Tanhua rank!
No one would compete with him for the Zhuangyuan title!