Chapter 92: Half Joy and Half Worries

  The days on the calendar pass more quickly than in previous years.

  In mid-February, the results of the examination were announced. Liang Jiayou was ranked first and became a new young champion, making his name known throughout the country.

  He jumped up.

  Shen Mu Qing thought of Mr. Min, and sent Zhou Bai Mu to inquire, knowing that Mr. Min was also on the list, she let out a sigh of relief, and had Luo Mei send the gifts such as the Hui pen and inkstone that were prepared in advance to Shi Hua Bridge.

  Feng sent someone to Xibei Liangyuan and Shen Baixi in Ming Shi Alley.

  Li also sent someone to watch the list, and when Feng went to report the news, Shen also received the news. Li was delighted and rewarded each of them with ten taels of silver. Meanwhile, Liang Jiemin's fellow students and teachers from the Imperial Academy came to the Liang residence to drink wine and celebrate. Liang Jiemin had to visit his teacher and attend a banquet for his fellow graduates, going back and forth between wine gatherings all day, extremely busy. The Liangs set up a three-day flowing banquet to entertain their relatives and friends who came to congratulate them, creating a lively and extraordinary atmosphere.

  It was as if the Bodhisattva had blessed them, for at this time a swift report came from the northwest that Tong Yong and Liang Yuan, the regional military commissioner of Gansu, had joined forces to drive the Mongols back to the Wuding River and capture three sons of the Mongol khan Toghon Temür, including Huli.

  A stone causes a thousand ripples.

  The temple hall was debating the disposal of Hu Lei, and the scholars who had not yet returned to their hometowns in Kyoto were either generously praising or writing about the emperor's great deeds. The eyes of the Kyoto aristocrats were fixed on the Dingyuan Hou Mansion, secretly calculating their own ranking... At this time, a decree was issued from the palace, one is that the date of the imperial examination was set on March 2nd, and two is that in order to celebrate the 56th birthday of the Empress Dowager, the Wu Enke will be held on June 24th.

  Time, the two parties were in an uproar.

  When Shen Muqing heard this news, she fell silent for a long time.

  That day, Liang Jiemin specially changed into a 70% new sky blue satin cheongsam. She inserted a bamboo hairpin on her head and looked radiant. The whole person seemed elegant and refined, like a jade tree in the wind.

  Shen Mu Qing was leaving the green hall. He had just finished his breakfast and was talking to Liang Shu Xin: "......If I can become a Zhuangyuan, it would be great if I could get three yuan and pass the exam."

  Liang Shu smiled faintly: "You are naturally talented. The emperor is also a young monarch who has personally awarded the title of Zhuangyuan for the first time. Your luck is great."

  Shen Muqing had already seen Liang Shu's sharp wit.

  She also thinks it's very likely that Liang Jimin will be the top scholar.

  The two brothers were talking when they saw someone beside them bowing and only then did they realize that Shen Muqing had arrived.

  Before Shen Muqing could bow to Liang Shu, he stood up, smiled and nodded at Shen Muqing: "You talk, I'll go take a look at the sedan chair." After finishing speaking, he didn't wait for Shen Muqing's reaction and quickly left.

  Since then, Liang Shu had been somewhat unnatural whenever he saw Shen Muqing.

  Liang Jiemin smiled and said: "My second brother is just like that, don't take it to heart."

  Shen Mu Qing busily smiled and nodded: "Second Brother is a straightforward person."

  Liang Jimin saw her speaking up for her brother and a smile appeared in his eyes. He invited Shen Muqing to sit down and have breakfast together.

  Shen Muqing had eaten breakfast before coming, but such face-to-face opportunities were rare, so Shen Muqing still smiled and asked Yingfen to add a bowl of porridge for her.

  Ying Fen smiled and nodded in response, while serving Shen Muqing a bowl of porridge with a small bowl.

  Shen Mu Qing sat down and had just taken two bites when Madame Feng and Wang Wen Xiang arrived.

  After repeated reminders, the women sent Liang Jiming out of the second gate, and it was still Liang Shuxin who led Ding Xiaoren to wait outside the door.

  Unlike the previous trial, this time everyone showed enough confidence in Liang Qiming, including Liang Qiming himself.

  The list was announced on March 4th, and Liang Jimin, a hot favorite for the top three in the previous year, ranked tenth in the first list.

  The news reached the inner courtyard of Xianhe Hall where all the women were waiting to celebrate and they were all stunned.

  "The Emperor doesn't even want the three-yuan and first-place prize money?" The old lady's face turned pale.

  Shen Mu Qing hastily lifted her feet and ran towards the main hall.

  Feng also came to his senses and hastily instructed Qinglian beside him: "Quickly follow Third Young Master's wife over there... whatever you do, don't let Third Young Master say anything improper... the whole city is watching..."

  She met Liang Shixiong halfway through her journey.

  "Second Uncle..."

  Before Shen Muqing finished speaking, Liang Shuixin had already said: “...He heard it and only faintly said a word 'what a pity', I went to reward the person, turned around and didn't see him anymore…”

  Shen Mu Qing hastily nodded at Liang Shu Xin and turned to go to Cong Lv Tang.

  The main house of Cong Lü Tang was closed, and Chun Shu, Bi Yun, Shi Se, and Cheng Xin were all standing at the door, pacing back and forth. When they saw Shen Muqing, they surrounded her as if they had found their backbone: "Third Young Mistress, what do you think we should do about this?"

  "Third Master is inside." Shen Muqing also let out a sigh of relief.

  Several people nodded in succession: "Inside."

  Shen Mu Qing gently knocked on the door, but no one answered for a long time.

  She walked to the east house window where Liang Jiemin often rested, and said in a low voice: "Sir, I know you're not feeling well. But in two days it will be the Qionglin banquet, and all of Kyoto is watching you at this time. The more it is at this time, the more you need to cheer up."

  Still there was no sound, but through the bright moonlight, someone's shadow flickered inside.

  Don't be so desperate as to commit suicide

  Shen Mu Qing thought for a moment, then Qing Lian hurried over.

  She had no choice but to tell the truth, and finally said: "Tell your wife that I'll stay here and guard, and send a few more experienced mothers over to give me some courage."

  Qinglian left at the sound of his voice. Before long, he supported Fengshi, whose face was full of fear, over here.

  "What's wrong? What's wrong?" Her voice was choked with sobs. "Is Ji Min okay?"

  Shen Muqing didn't know how to respond, so he stepped forward and supported Madame Feng, having someone bring over a taishi chair for her to sit in.

  Feng didn't say a word, covering her face and bursting into tears: "Ji Min my son, don't scare your mother, I'm counting on you now, if anything happens to you, I won't live either..."

  Shen Mu Qing saw this and hastily ordered a few little maids beside her to go and fetch water for Madame Feng.

  The little maidservants went off at the sound of her voice; the water had not yet arrived when Lady Wang appeared.

  Her face was frosty, and she said in a low voice: "Ji Min, open the door for me."

  Mrs. Feng looked at Mrs. Tai in surprise, and Shen Qing was also secretly surprised by Mrs. Tai's dignity. But what surprised her even more was that after a moment, the door creaked open and Ji Min walked out with a dejected expression, then "thud" knelt down in front of Mrs. Tai: "Grandmother, grandson has disappointed your expectations..." After finishing speaking, he burst into tears like an infant.

  A hero sheds tears easily.

  Liang Jimin's appearance caused all the women in the courtyard to sob along with her.

  "Qī Miǎn, get up for me," she said sternly, holding back tears. "A man has gold under his knees; you are now a double juren at the age of 18, a double juren at 18... how many people have achieved this since the founding of the Zhou Dynasty?"

  Liang Jimin was taken aback and looked up at Tai Furen's mole on his cheek.

  The old lady's eyes swept over the crowd with a stern gaze.

  "Leave Chun Shu and Bi Yun, the rest of you can go back to your rooms and rest." Her voice was not angry but authoritative. "This matter will end here, whoever dares to gossip will be immediately executed."

  All the servants responded with a "yes". However, Madame Feng slightly raised the corner of her mouth and said something. Shen Muqing, who was observing from all sides, saw that not only did Liu Niang follow the servants in responding, but also took the lead in retreating. She quickly pulled on Madame Feng's sleeve and said: "Madame, you must be tired, let me help you back to rest." Her voice carried a hint of unspoken meaning. Madame Feng couldn't help but turn her head to look at Shen Muqing, who subtly shook her head towards Madame Feng and pointed to Liu Niang's retreating figure.

  Feng understood Shen Muqing's intention and pursed his lips tightly before walking out of the Emerald Pavilion with Shen Muqing's support.

  On the way, Shen Muqing advised Fengshi: "At this time, Gong's heart is not feeling well, and his grandmother is comforting him there. He should think it through soon."

  Feng retorted discontentedly: "If anyone needs comforting, it's me who should be comforting my son..."

  Shen Muqing didn't say anything and soon arrived at Gui Xuan Hall, where he helped Feng Shi into the house. After listening to her complaints for half a day, he served her until she fell asleep before returning to Die Cui Yuan.

  Liáng Yòu Huì was waiting for her, and when she saw her return, she pulled her hand and said: "Fortunately, San Shu is here, I'm so scared that I don't dare to breathe. You say, how did it suddenly change? My third brother became the tenth place in the first rank, but before everyone said he would be the champion?"

  "This champion was personally appointed by the emperor." Shen Muqing smiled and explained, "It's not entirely because of his talent. Sometimes, it's because the name sounds good to the emperor, sometimes it's because the handwriting is pleasing to the emperor..." As she spoke, she suddenly stopped, and a few shades of paleness appeared on her white jade-like face.

  She called Yinfeng to go to the front yard and ask: "Who is this year's champion?"

  Ying Fan quickly turned back and said in a low voice: "It's Mr. Min."

  After Mrs. Jing's persuasion, Liang Jiming indeed calmed down.

  In the following days, he began to entertain his fellow villagers and sometimes even kept people for dinner. Shen Muqing was afraid that Liang Guan's kitchen would be slow, so he specially gave a purse to Liang Jieming: "If it doesn't look good, take people to a better restaurant outside. There are 200 taels of silver in this."

  Liáng Jìmǐn bùyào.

  English Translation: Liang Jimin doesn't want to.

  "Could it be that you're afraid that after accepting my silver now, I'll come to ask for a salary from you in the future?"

  Liáng Jìmǐn's face turned red, and he hastily said: "No, no......"

  Shen Mu Qing took the opportunity to stuff the purse into his hands, and he didn't decline it again, accepting it.

  On March 12th, the emperor set up a banquet in Wenhua Hall.

  Liáng Jìmǐn went to the banquet with great enthusiasm, and wasn't carried back by Shí Cǎi and Bǎi Mù until noon the next day, completely drunk.

  The people inside were worried about him, and Madame Tai called Baomu over for a closer look.

  Bai Mu smiled and said, "Third Master is the youngest scholar, I heard that at the Qinlin banquet, the Emperor even specially spoke to Third Master. After the banquet, they all pulled Third Master to attend... Firstly, because Third Master was happy, secondly, because Third Master was young and had a thin face, it wasn't good to refuse. So..."

  Madam nodded slightly and said, "This is also a common occurrence. Since that's the case, Mu Qing, you'll have to take good care of Ji Min from now on. In the future, this kind of banquet will probably become more and more frequent."

  Shen Mu calmly and respectfully replied.

  Liang Jimin was indeed as Mrs. Tai said, every day drinking here and there, and every day coming back drunk and unconscious.

  Shen Muqing's expression turned serious, and he furrowed his brow. He took a moment to remind Liang Jimin, "The examination for the Imperial Scholars is approaching in mid-April. Whether or not you'll be appointed as an official or enfeoffed as a marquis will depend on this one event. If there are any unimportant social engagements, it's best to decline them."

  Liáng Jìmǐn gazed at her coldly, without a word, turned around and put on his clothes before leaving again.

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  Chapter 92: Half Joy and Half Worries