Chapter 2186: All Five Honors Achieved
Chapter 2186: Chapter 2186: All Five Honors Achieved
In fact, everything that needed to be prepared had long been prepared in advance, but as soon as Shuyou heard that someone was coming to announce the good news, she nervously checked everything over again.
This was the Second Scorer, after all. Yunzheng had already taken four first places in a row before; this made it five in a row.
If he took first place again in the palace examination, that would be a solid six in a row.
Actually, Zhao Xi had analyzed it with Shuyou: Meng Yunzheng’s learning was not lacking. As long as nothing went wrong during the palace examination, even if his essay was only so‑so, in all likelihood he would still be the top scorer.
After all, there had never been many people in history who took six firsts in a row. For such a talent to appear during the Emperor’s reign, he would be recorded in the annals; it was an extremely glorious matter. Wouldn’t the Emperor also want to round it up to a six‑time top scorer?
The family already knew Meng Yunzheng’s results in advance. Firecrackers were prepared, and the pouch stuffed into the results announcer’s hands was bulging full.
They hadn’t waited long when the noisy clamor of voices came from outside the gate.
Very soon a child from the neighborhood came running over at full speed, his cheeks flushed red. “Young Master Meng, Young Master Meng, you passed! Come out quick, the announcer is here.”
This child was the first to run to the Meng family’s gate; he had originally wanted to bring them this good news, but unexpectedly, the Meng family was already standing by the door.
Seeing how excited he was, Xia Yan even handed him a handful of candies.
The child was even happier. “Young Master Meng, you’re amazing.”
Soon after, other people also ran over, both adults and children, and in an instant they filled up the area in front of the gate. But they still knew enough to leave a path for the announcer to come through.
“Young Master Meng, you’re an Attributing Scholar now.”
Someone shouted loudly.
But just as he finished speaking, the announcer’s laughter rang out. “Young Master Meng is not just an Attributing Scholar. He’s the top scorer in this metropolitan exam—the Second Scorer.”
With a collective “whoa,” everyone who heard it widened their eyes, stunned.
The announcer had already walked up to the little courtyard gate of the Meng family and struck the brass gong with a smile. “Congratulations, Young Master Meng, on passing the metropolitan exam with flying colors and seizing first place.”
As he spoke, the announcer respectfully presented the written notice of success and then offered a couple more congratulations.
Hearing the result affirmed again, the common folk around them became even more excited, more worked up than the Meng family themselves, as if the one who had taken the Second Scorer was from their own household.
“It’s actually first place. I heard that when Young Master Meng took the provincial exam earlier, he was first place there too.”
“You’re behind on the news. Not just the provincial exam—Young Master Meng has taken first place every time he’s sat for an exam.”
“That’s a genius, right there.”
When everyone looked at Meng Yunzheng again, their eyes were different—like they were looking at someone who wasn’t quite mortal. It almost made Shu Yu think he was about to sprout wings and ascend to immortality.
Meng Yunzheng, on the other hand, was very composed. After receiving the notice, he handed the two pouches he’d prepared beforehand to the announcers.
“Thank you for making the trip.”
The announcer felt the heavy weight in his hand, and his eyes lit up.
Seeing Meng Yunzheng’s reserved expression, the two of them exchanged a glance. As expected of Young Master Meng, who’d just taken five firsts in a row—he could remain this calm even upon learning he was top scorer, with joy and anger hidden beneath the surface. Once he passes the palace exam, he’ll surely have a place on the court in the future.
With that sigh in their hearts, they took the pouches and took their leave.
As soon as they left, everyone else immediately crowded forward to offer their congratulations.
Zhao Xi came out carrying a string of firecrackers and laid it out outside to light it.
Amid the crackling explosions, Shu Yu and Shuyou handed out candies to the children at the gate, and in the end scattered them all out.
After a bustling round of celebration, Meng Yunzheng apologized, then closed the courtyard gate.
So that quite a few people who came running after hearing the news ended up being blocked outside.