Chapter 2187: Xun Sheng Fails the Exam
Chapter 2187: Chapter 2187: Xun Sheng Fails the Exam
Meng Yunzheng once again shut his doors to visitors. Ever since the good news arrived, many people have started to come by to visit.
Some previously hesitant dignitaries couldn’t hold back any longer, but each time they sent someone, they were politely refused at the door. The excuse was always the same—Meng Huaiyuan needed to prepare for the palace examination, was studying tirelessly through the nights, and really had no time for visitors.
Some found this understandable, while others laughed in frustration, feeling Meng Yunzheng was putting on airs, too arrogant. He hasn’t even become an official yet, and already doesn’t care about people; his future surely won’t be bright.
Those who experienced a closed-door refusal were eager for a future opportunity. If he really did well in the palace exam and became an official, they would ensure he experienced the harshness of the bureaucracy, preferably assigning him to some godforsaken place to be stuck there for life.
While the court officials felt this way, the common people were even more excited. Many said Meng Yunzheng was the reincarnation of the Scholar God, trying to share in his good fortune, thus the small courtyard in the south of the city was daily surrounded by onlookers, making the neighborhood as crowded as could be.
This was just as the Second Scorer, if he became the top scorer, the commotion would be even greater.
Meng Yunzheng paid no mind to this; he genuinely stayed at home quietly reading—this time, he was serious, wanting to seize the top spot in the palace examination, which would surely excite Yu as well, hmm.
In contrast, while he remained within the small courtyard, Shu Yu was out almost every day.
With Meng Yunzheng as the top scorer, barring any unexpected events, he should rank in the top three in the palace exam; in any case, becoming an Advanced Scholar was certain.
So, the plans Shu Yu and Yun Qide previously discussed could now be put on the agenda, using Meng Yunzheng as a promotional highlight.
The two discussed this matter passionately, so Shu Yu was mostly outside.
Some wanted to gain access to Meng Yunzheng through Shu Yu.
However, Shu Yu was as elusive as a dragon, seen in glimpses. They kept watch over that shop, planning to notify them as soon as Shu Yu arrived. But she never stayed in the shop long, leaving soon after, leaving everyone empty-handed.
Nonetheless, while she was out, she heard quite a few things.
She learned that Xun Sheng had failed the exam, which was something he had anticipated. After all, during the first exam, he was caught in the rain and had a high fever, and even though he was prepared for the next two, he didn’t perform well.
Fortunately, he maintained a good mindset, considering it his first time participating in such an exam, not expecting to succeed immediately, just accumulating experience for the next attempt three years later.
After the results were posted, he originally planned to visit Meng Yunzheng to congratulate him, but upon hearing that he was preparing for the palace exam behind closed doors, he decided not to disturb him. Later, Shu Yu encountered him on the street, and he entrusted her to deliver his congratulatory gift.
Xun Sheng hasn’t left the Capital yet; although he failed, the palace exam was soon approaching, and as a friend of Meng Yunzheng, he wanted to stay to witness his achievements.
Besides Xun Sheng’s failure, Shu Yu also heard about the groom-catching event on the day the results were announced.
A twelfth-ranked scholar in his early twenties, rumored to be unmarried, was reportedly carried off by the servants of some family.
Shu Yu felt particularly relieved when she heard this, grateful that Meng Yunzheng hadn’t gone to the bulletin board, otherwise, this scene would surely have happened to him.
A Second Scorer, unmarried, and exceptionally handsome, standing out as the most striking young man in the crowd, how could he not be snatched away?