Chapter 173
173 Release of Results
In the blink of an eye, it was time for the rankings to be released. After studying hard for ten years, he was hoping to be on the Golden Ranking List.
On the day of the rankings, the students gathered at the entrance of the Gong Academy early in the morning. There was a sea of people at the front of Gong Academy Street. All of them were looking around with expectant and nervous expressions.
Ruyi and Zhao Cai arrived at the entrance of the tribute academy before dawn. They occupied the best seats and waited for the rankings to be released. Zhao Cai shouted, “They’re out, they’re out!”
A cheer sounded behind them. Amid the cheers, guarding officials in dark official robes opened the door to the tribute court. The officials carried the red board and went straight to the stone wall in front of the entrance to the court. They stuck a long red paper on the wall.
Ruyi and Zhao Cai looked for Zhou Jia’s name among the dense names on the red list. The two of them looked at it twice but could not find Zhou Jia’s name on the list. Listening to the cheers and disappointed sighs of the people on the middle list behind them, Zhao Cai muttered to himself, “This is the last hundred places. Our young master might be in the front.”
A servant at the side looked at the two of them and sneered. “Do you think this is an order? It’s even more difficult later.”
Ruyi glared at him. “What business is it of yours if we talk? It’s none of your business!”
Zhao Cai patted him and said, “Don’t be in a hurry to get angry. Let’s talk after reading it.”
As they spoke, the second Red List was pasted on the stone wall. The two of them looked around but still didn’t see it. The servant also didn’t see the name he wanted to see. The three of them became a little nervous and uneasy. The higher they went, the smaller the chance.
Looking at the bailiffs who were posting the last red board on the stone wall, Ruyi and Zhao Cai felt their hearts beat faster. The servant nervously grabbed Zhao Cai’s lapel without realizing it. The three of them looked at the red board with wide eyes and prayed in their hearts. When he saw the name they wanted to see, the servant cheered and grabbed Zhao Cai’s hand and jumped up. “Ah! Haha! Look, my young master also won. He’s ranked eighty-nine.” Zhao Cai froze there. The servant blushed and turned to squeeze out of the crowd.
Immediately after, Ruyi jumped up and pointed at the red rankings. “Ha… Zhao Cai, look, Young Master is there in the ninth place, Young Master came in at the ninth place.” Zhao Cai looked up and saw Zhou Jia’s name. The two of them hugged and tears welled up in their eyes.
The person standing beside them looked at the two of them with red eyes and said angrily, “Get out of the way if you’ve found him.”
The two of them were in a good mood and didn’t argue. They squeezed out of the crowd and ran to the parking lot to rush back to report the good news.
Zhou Jia looked at Li Yu and then at the entrance of the courtyard. He was a little anxious. It was already so late, but Ruyi and Zhao Cai had not returned yet. There were no bailiffs reporting the good news. Had he failed?
Li Yu looked at Zhou Jia’s restless expression and comforted him gently. “Xiao Xi, don’t be anxious. At most, we’ll take the exam next time. If you can’t sit still, let’s go out and take a look together?”
Suddenly, there was a series of footsteps outside. Then, he heard Ruyi shout happily, “Young Master, you came in ninth place on the A Rankings.”
Zhou Jia hugged Li Yu happily. “Yu’er, I got it.”
Li Yu hugged Zhou Jia and replied happily, “Yes, you got the ranking. You’re even ninth on the A list!”
“Tongzhou Phoenix Town, Phoenix Village… Ninth place.” The joyous news at the entrance of the courtyard also spread recently. Zhao Cai and Ruyi hurriedly took the money and went out to reward the announcer. The news that there was a person on the Scholar Ranking in the Ten Families Alley spread in the alley.
After a lively celebration, the palace examination began. Zhou Jia obtained second place and was promoted to become a seventh-grade official. He was given the title of a scholar. When he met the emperor, Chu Yuhao asked Zhou Jia, “Honorary Zhou, have you thought about what you want to do after obtaining your rank?”
Zhou Jia knelt down and replied, “Your Majesty, I’ll go wherever Great Yong needs me.”
“Good, good, good.” Chu Yuhao walked up to Zhou Jia and helped him up. He patted his shoulder and said, “Great Yong needs ministers like you.”
Everyone looked at Zhou Jia with envy and jealousy. They all thought to themselves that this second-ranker was really good at talking. He had left a good impression on the emperor. Was he afraid that he could not stay in the capital as an official?!
Chu Yuhao looked at Zhou Jia and said with a smile, “I know that you came from Qingzhou. The people in Qingzhou are suffering now! I intend to send you back to Qingchuan County, which is under Qingzhou, to be an official. Are you willing to go?”
Zhou Jia knelt down and kowtowed. “Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty. I’m willing.”
The jealous gazes looking at Zhou Jia turned into gloating. He was showing off, but now he had been sent to a remote place!
Zhou Jia had been annoyed about having to socialize with those people for the past few days. He couldn’t wait to leave the capital with Li Yu and go elsewhere to take a look. However, the emperor’s decision to send him back to Qingzhou was beyond Zhou Jia’s expectations.
After coming out of the palace, Zhou Jia said to Li Yu guiltily, “Yu’er, His Majesty is sending me back to Qingchuan County under Qingzhou to be an official. I’ve let you down. You’ll have to work hard with me again.”
When Li Yu heard this, she clapped and smiled. “Let’s go back to Qingzhou. Alright! We can go back to West Mountain Village to take a look.”
Zhou Jia hugged Li Yu and sighed happily. “Yu’er, why are you so delighted?!”
The two of them looked at each other affectionately. Ah Wei shouted at the entrance of the courtyard, “Young Master, Madam, Young Master Lin is here.”
Zhou Jia kissed Li Yu’s temple. “Yu’er, Yuxuan must have heard the news and come looking for me. I’ll go out and take a look.”
Zhou Jia walked to the front yard. Before he could speak, Lin Yuxuan looked at Zhou Jia worriedly and said, “Brother Zhou, are you really willing to return to Qingzhou and become an official in Qingchuan County? That place is close to Great Qi and was run over by bandits before the disaster. I’ve heard people talk about it in the past. They said that several county magistrates went to Qingchuan County one after another and fled. I’m afraid that place is also empty. How can you achieve political achievements after you go there?”
Zhou Jia cupped his hands in thanks. “Thank you for your concern, Brother Lin. I know that it’s definitely difficult in Qingchuan, but no matter how difficult it is, someone has to do it!”
Lin Yuxuan said anxiously, “You don’t know? There are all kinds of rumors saying that you stole the limelight from the top scholar. If you want to show your face in front of the emperor, you’ll be asking for trouble. They were all waiting to see you make a fool of yourself! I’m just worried that if the emperor really sends you there, it’ll be difficult for you to return to the capital.”
Seeing Lin Yuxuan’s anxious expression, Zhou Jia was extremely touched. He comforted him and said, “Thank you, Brother Lin. I just think that someone has to do something!” Zhou Jia stopped Lin Yuxuan and changed the topic. “Let’s not talk about me. Tell me quickly, which family captured you as their son-in-law?”
Lin Yuxuan said shyly, “It’s the daughter of the head of the household. I’ve already sent a letter to my father and invited him to host our wedding. Sigh! However, it looks like you won’t be able to attend my wedding.”
When Zhou Jia heard this, he also sighed. “That’s right! If the emperor really sends me to Qingchuan, I’m afraid I won’t be able to attend your wedding. The two of us can only meet in the future.”