There is a happy inn in the capital.

Chapter 390 The Scholar's Wife

March 1st

It's the day the list of successful candidates is released.

It was also the most scorching and bustling day of spring in the entire capital.

Before dawn, the streets and alleys around the examination hall were already packed with candidates, servants, idlers, and even messengers in various attire, all eagerly awaiting the good news.

Li Shuchen and Li Lingxiao sat in the carriage, waiting for the officials to post the notices.

"Sister, I'm sure I won't pass the exam this time, so there's no need for me to come here so early."

"The purpose isn't to let you decide whether you've been chosen or not; officials from the Ministry of Rites have come out."

As Li Shuchen said, officials from the Ministry of Rites posted the notices under the protection of soldiers.

The crowd surged forward like a tidal wave, then froze in an instant—countless eyes frantically searching through the densely packed names.

Li Shuchen and Li Lingxiao remained motionless in the carriage, only looking out through the curtain.

Those in the front row who knew the answers loudly called out names; each shout of "You've passed!" was like a thunderclap, eliciting either ecstatic cries of joy or despairing sighs.

中者

Some people looked up at the sky and laughed loudly.

Some wept with joy.

Some were so weak they had to be carried out by servants.

Those who failed the exam

Some left silently, their faces ashen.

Some people were unwilling to accept the ranking and questioned it.

Some secretly wiped away tears, their hearts broken.

This is the cruelest and most direct trial ground for three or even decades of hard study.

"Xiao'er, your elder sister doesn't want the imperial examination to become your obsession. Whether you pass or fail, it's just another way of life. No one is inherently more noble than another."

"Xiao'er will remember this: if Xiao'er studies diligently for another three years and still fails the exam, Xiao'er will go into business to earn money and support her family, just like her elder sister."

"So, let's go home."

A figure slipped into the carriage the instant it started moving.

Li Shuchen stared wide-eyed at the disheveled, slightly crooked-haired, and disheveled person in front of him.

"Cheng Zhi'an, don't you have your own carriage? What are you doing on mine?"

"They're going to arrest me! They're going to arrest me!" Cheng Zhi'an's voice trembled slightly, his fingers shook, and he was extremely flustered.

"This is terrifying! They want to lock me up. Shu Chen, only you can save me."

Those longing, expectant eyes revealed his absolute vulnerability and entrustment, making Li Shuchen unable to bear looking at them.

He patted the back of his hand to comfort him.

"Then come home with me."

Upon hearing this, the latter instantly calmed down, catching his breath for a few seconds before regaining his composure.

Did I scare you?

"No, they went too far."

"I saw it too. It's utterly absurd. Even if you want to find a son-in-law through the examination results, you need the person's consent. Forcing someone to marry without their permission is just unreasonable."

Li Lingxiao was furious and wished she could teach them a lesson on behalf of Cheng Zhian.

"It was my mistake; I didn't bring enough servants, and I couldn't stop them."

"Why don't you just have your servant watch it for you? Why do you have to do it yourself?"

Li Shuchen tilted his head slightly and asked, and the latter sighed.

"I can only feel at ease when I see my high school with my own eyes."

"I admire you very much. I heard the announcement just now, and you are the top scorer in the provincial examination again. You have achieved the fifth rank. Will you also be the top scorer in the palace examination and achieve the sixth rank?"

[Congratulations, host, you have triggered a hidden mission: Make Cheng Zhi'an the top scholar in the imperial examination]

?

Who? Who made Cheng Zhian the new top scorer?

[You, host, made Cheng Zhi'an the top scholar]

Xiao Jizi's cheerful voice echoed in Li Shuchen's mind.

Li Shuchen quickly replied, ****

I knew you were up to something. You kept delaying the announcement, and when you finally did, it was something earth-shattering.

I made Cheng Zhian the top scholar?

Why don't you just say I should be the emperor?

If I were the emperor, let alone making Cheng Zhi'an the top scholar, I could even appoint you as the "Auspicious Protector of the Nation."

How could such a daunting task even exist? Who could accomplish it? Who could guarantee its completion?

Even if it's a hidden quest, I wouldn't do it.

If you can do it, then you do it; if you can't, don't come to me.

[This task can only be completed by the host; there's nothing I can do to help.]

If you're going to post a task, at least post one that can be completed. How am I supposed to do a task with no certainty?

Hidden quests are generally difficult to trigger, but since the host was able to trigger one, it means the quest has a chance of success.

Success? With what means will we succeed?

I'll kill the emperor, take the throne, and then appoint him as the top scholar.

[Given your current skill level, you would be killed as soon as you enter the Forbidden City, and your death would be gruesome. This method is not recommended.]

Oh my, you've even given advice! You're so good at giving advice, tell me how to make Cheng Zhian the top scholar?

[System crash...]

If you're pretending to be dead, then I'll pretend to be dead too.

"Sister, sister, what's wrong?"

"Shu Chen, where do you feel unwell?"

Li Shuchen: My computer is frozen... Please call.

"Brother Cheng, let's take my sister to Qingde Medical Clinic together. She seems to have hysteria. Doctor Sun is highly skilled; a few acupuncture treatments should cure her."

"That's exactly what I was thinking. Shu Chen must not be harmed," Cheng Zhi'an said, hurriedly lifting the front curtain of the carriage.

"Wanbai, go to Qingde Medical Clinic."

The carriage instantly changed direction.

The three of them swayed around.

Li Shuchen woke up

"Why go to Qingde Medical Clinic? Let's go back to the inn."

The carriage turned around again, and the three of them swayed around once more.

"Sister, snap out of it! You didn't even realize it, your face looked terrible, like you were possessed by a ghost."

Li Lingxiao was making faces, which annoyed Li Shuchen.

"It's good that you're awake; you scared me too."

After Cheng Zhian finished speaking, Li Shuchen became even more annoyed.

She was the one who was terrified!

Happiness Inn

The three of them got off the carriage and went to the Three Treasures Hall.

Li Shuchen thought it through all the way and finally understood: she would just skip the task, since there was no punishment anyway.

Moreover, given Cheng Zhian's abilities, becoming the top scorer isn't impossible. He might even get a free reward, which would be great.

"Study hard."

Li Shuchen suddenly rushed towards Cheng Zhian.

Cheng Zhian nodded earnestly, "Never stopped."

"Hmm, have some hot tea."

The three of them were drinking tea to warm themselves up.

There was a lot of gonging and drumming downstairs, making it very lively.

"Great news! Congratulations to Master Cheng Zhi'an for achieving first place in the Gengzi imperial examination, the 'Huiyuan'! His name is on the list of successful candidates, and the God of Literature shines upon him! He will soon become a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examination)!"

"Great news! Congratulations to Master Cheng Zhi'an for achieving first place in the Gengzi imperial examination, the 'Huiyuan'! His name is on the list of successful candidates, and the God of Literature shines upon him! He will soon become a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examination)!"

"Great news! Congratulations to Master Cheng Zhi'an for achieving first place in the Gengzi imperial examination, the 'Huiyuan'! His name is on the list of successful candidates, and the God of Literature shines upon him! He will soon become a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examination)!"

The reporters shouted in unison

"Please reward me, Master Cheng!"

"Why aren't they going to the Cheng residence to announce the good news? What are they doing at the inn?" Li Lingxiao asked, bewildered.

"They must have seen me get into Shu Chen's carriage. I'll go check," Cheng Zhi'an said, getting up to leave.

Li Shuchen pressed down

"Alright, for your safety, you should wait here. I'll go."

"Sister, I'll go with you."

The two arrived on the first floor and were surrounded by a group of people congratulating them.

"Miss Li is so fortunate! Master Cheng is exceptionally talented; Miss Li will surely become the wife of a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations) in the future."

"Congratulations, Mr. Cheng! Congratulations, Miss Li!"

Li Shuchen smiled and responded while scattering copper coins wildly.

She spent all the money she had worked so hard to earn these past few days on vegetable dumplings.

Well, all that hard work for nothing.