kingnovel Chapter 1179 Release of List
Chapter 1179 Release of List
"They're here! The results are about to be released!" The people were even more excited than the test takers.
Jiang Zhiming's gaze swept over the dense crowd below, and he announced loudly with his hands behind his back: "The Liuyang Prefecture re-examination will be conducted in accordance with fairness. The results will be posted today, and all those who pass are truly talented!"
As soon as he finished speaking, a series of low gasps arose from the crowd.
The rolled-up red notice board was hung on the notice pavilion by the buglers. Jiang Zhiming gripped a corner of the red notice board and shouted, "The auspicious time has arrived, release the notice!"
Many people held their breath, their eyes fixed on the red list that was about to be displayed.
With a flick of his fingers, Jiang Zhiming caused the rolled-up red list to slowly slide down the wall, revealing one name after another.
The test takers were all looking for their own names, while the common people all focused their attention on the first-place winner.
"Three words?"
Most of the common people were illiterate and could only guess based on the number of characters: "I remember... the top scholar's name this year had three characters, could it be him again?"
"You mean Pei, the top scholar?" This question drew many responses: "I think it's possible. After all, he's from Tong'an County! I'm not saying that Lord Shen gave him special treatment, but Tong'an County is no ordinary place. Do you remember this year's prefectural examination? There were only a dozen or so students from Tong'an County School taking the exam, and eight of them passed! That shows how capable their headmaster is. Besides... they also have the Earl of Yongning overseeing things. It's not surprising that he passed twice."
It's not unusual for someone to have a second child, but some people say, "But I've heard that Huai Shaoyong, the young master of the Huai family, is also very good at studying. Huai, Shao, Yong... hey, his name also has three characters."
That's also three characters, and this is also three characters.
The people scratched their heads in disbelief.
They've suffered enough from being illiterate.
Just as they were about to ask the candidates in front of them, a shout exploded from the crowd: "I made the list! I really made the list! Zhaoqi, did you see that? I'm second to last, and I did even better than last time!"
"..."
Everyone around was stunned for a moment.
Second to last... but still did better than last time.
What was this person's ranking in the last prefectural examination?
It's really hard to guess.
Other candidates thought there was nothing to be happy about in being second to last, and even a little embarrassing, but Fang Ziyan didn't think so.
He knows how to be content, which is why he is happier every day than the day before.
The same applies to Pei Zhaoqi.
He was also very happy for Fang Ziyan.
From the moment the red list rolled down, he shifted his gaze to the bottom of the list, searching for the three characters "Fang Ziyan".
This wasn't because he thought Fang Ziyan deserved to be at the bottom of the list, but because on the day the re-examination ended, when Fang Ziyan told him, "After the fever subsided, I feel even better than before," he saw the deep frustration and worry hidden in Fang Ziyan's eyes.
Since then, he has never thought about his ranking, but has always been thinking about what to do if Fang Ziyan fails the exam.
After pondering for several days, he made up his mind—if Fang Ziyan really failed the exam, he would vouch for Fang Ziyan in his capacity as the top scorer in the prefectural exam, and ask the prefectural government and the prefectural education commissioner to give Fang Ziyan another chance. In this way, Sister Shen would not be in a difficult position.
But it's okay.
Pei Zhaoqi looked at the bottom of the list again, where the three large characters "Fang Ziyan" shone brightly in the sunlight.
Therefore, his guarantee is no longer needed.
"The top case!"
Just then, Fang Ziyan grabbed his arm tightly, her exclamation blaring in his ear: "Zhaoqi, you're the top scorer! You're still the top scorer! I knew it! That guy, Huai or Shao or Yong, definitely couldn't beat you! Top scorer! Top scorer! Did you all see that? My best friend is the top scorer! And he's been the top scorer twice!"
The people were shocked to hear this.
The first surprise was that the top official in the case was indeed Pei Zhaoqi from Tongan County.
The second surprise—Pei Zhaoqi and the second-to-last person... were actually good friends.
Although this "good friend" was only second to last, they guessed that if this chubby boy hadn't become friends with Pei Zhaoqi, he might not have even made it to second to last...
In an instant, the people flocked to Pei Zhaoqi, and some even bowed to him on the spot, shouting "May Lord Wenchang bless you!"
Pei Zhaoqi couldn't dodge in time and was bowed to several times by the people. He was shocked and waved his hands, saying, "No, no, no..."
Fang Ziyan held him tightly, preventing him from moving, and shouted to everyone, "Quickly, pray! If you pray, you can be on the list like me!"
The scene was chaotic.
That's how exams are; everyone's attention is always focused on the first-place winner.
As for who came in second place?
No one cares.
Being second doesn't feel good, because whenever others mention you, they'll "incidentally" mention first place and say, "What a pity."
Huai Shaoyong stood in the crowd, his hands clenched into fists. After staring at Pei Zhaoqi for a long time, he turned and left.
Just as he stepped out of the crowd, someone called out to him: "Young Master Huai, my master invites you."
"Your master?" Huai Shaoyong glanced at the crowd, seemingly puzzled, yet also self-deprecating: "Why didn't your master invite the top scholar, but instead invited me, the second-place scholar?"
The man remained expressionless and bowed his head, saying, "Master said that if the young master sees him, he may become number one again."
"To become number one again?" Huai Shaoyong was even more puzzled.
But now, the word "number one" is too tempting for him.
After thinking for only a moment, he followed the man away.
Not long after Huai Shaoyong left, Jiang Zhiming ordered a notice to be posted under the red notice board. The contents of this notice were exactly the issues that everyone was concerned about.
Jiang Zhiming was very thoughtful and specially arranged for a clerk to read the proclamation to everyone.
The clerk said, "In this re-examination, there were 326 candidates. Of these 326, 323 passed and 3 failed."
"hiss--"
The people were shocked: "Does that mean that all three of them bribed Huai Gongwang?"
Three scholars—that doesn't sound like much, it might even seem a bit few.
But you should know that those candidates from previous years who were confirmed to have bribed officials were directly stripped of their academic honors. Those who are able to participate in the re-examination now must be the ones who slipped through the net!
Three big ones and three small ones slipped through the net!
In an instant, the people's anger towards Huai Gongwang reached its peak again.
The clerk gestured for him to finish reading and said loudly, "Let me finish reading!"
The people suppressed their anger and quieted down again.
The clerk continued reading: "Yesterday, after the examiner handed the list to the prefectural government, Lord Shen immediately led people to re-examine the answer sheets of these three people from previous years. After investigation, it was found that these three people were not related to the case of Huai Gongwang."
After he finished speaking, the people looked at each other, then asked in confusion, "Sir, if they didn't bribe anyone, how come they failed the re-examination?"
The clerk quickly scanned the notice. "Upon investigation by the government, two of these three individuals are ill, and one has abandoned his writings. They are not related to the embezzlement case."
The people were scratching their heads.
It has nothing to do with the embezzlement case, but I failed the exam...
It seems a bit unreasonable to strip these three unfortunate men of their titles and honors in this way...