Chapter 106.3: Attention

Very soon, Cheng Jun-wangfei brought the still somewhat dizzy Li Ru Yu into the palace. Cheng Jun-wangfei originally was thinking, once Li Ru Yu recovers, to go look for the Luo family in private and have this matter settled privately, but unexpectedly, it was directly brought before his Majesty this soon. She was also glad that Li Ru Yu was still sick at the moment. At least, they can pretend to look pitiful, and if nothing else, at the very least, can’t let her daughter bear all the responsibility, else once she marries into the Chen family, how will she be able to establish herself. However, Cheng Jun-wangfei also regretted. She shouldn’t have killed off those two servant girls that quickly. Wasn’t that clearly showing one’s guilt? Moreover, the Empress, no matter what, was still her full-blooded older sister, and wouldn’t go as far as to not help her in the slightest, right? Before entering Kunyi Palace, Cheng Jun-wangfei calmed her nerves. Afterwards, tears instantly fell.

Cheng Jun-wangfei wasn’t an idiot either, and didn’t start loudly bawling. One has to know, never mind that that kind of crying method would easily incite other’s loathing, in front of his Majesty, if by chance you get pinned a label of being discourteous before the Emperor, then the gains don’t make up for the losses.

She properly and orderly knelt down, performing a bow. Li Ru Yu dizzily followed by Cheng Jun-wangfei’s side, very much quiet.

The Empress raised an eyebrow, “What’s wrong with Ru Yu?”

“Replying to your Highness, yesterday, ever since Ru Yu returned, she’s been having high fevers. Even now, she’s still muddled.”

Luo Pei Shan, a grown old man, naturally won’t dispute with a woman. Moreover, he previously didn’t think Li Ru Yu would get sick either. However, just exactly whether this illness was real, or man-made, was worth thinking over.

“Your Majesty, your Highness, this subject’s granddaughter originally was thinking of waiting until after her older cousin’s metropolitan exam results come out before discussing this matter. And if he’s able to pass the exam, then need to wait another two days, until he finishes taking the court exam. On one hand, it’s because she doesn’t want it to affect his exam performance, and on the other hand, it’s because she doesn’t want his reputation affected either. And now, from the looks of it, Ru Yu Junzhu’s situation isn’t too good either, and won’t be able to have things explained clearly. How about waiting a few days, and when time comes, have everyone called together, and have all the rights and wrongs all asked clearly one by one. Presumably, by that time, Ru Yu Junzhu will have fully recovered.”

Luo Pei Shan had intended on going along with Jing Wan’s idea from the start. The reason why he went to look for Cheng Junwang this soon was just to make a stance——–that towards this matter, he won’t take things lying down. Just, unexpectedly, Cheng Junwang’s temper was even more irritable than rumored.

“Fine. In that case, you all can return first.” Le Cheng Emperor said.

Cheng Jun-wangfei choked inside. She’d just entered, yet was immediately getting kicked back? She couldn’t even use Li Ru Yu’s current state to win sympathy, because if she were to insist, she’ll be considered to not value her daughter’s health. Cheng Jun-wangfei turned towards her own older sister, the most honorable woman under the heavens, but the Empress had her head lowered sipping tea, and simply didn’t even look at her. How could she still not understand. Her daughter was being completely abandoned. Cheng Jun-wangfei wiped her tears and led her daughter in bowing to take their leave.

As for Cheng Junwang, heh, Cheng Jun-wangfei for the most part pretended she didn’t see him.

In the earlier years, Cheng Junwang was also one that feared his wife. It couldn’t be helped, his wife was the powerful Ding Duke Manor’s di daughter, a fragrant steamed bun eyed by don’t know how many people. Even marrying a qinwang was all possible. Yet, she instead married the heir of a previous generation qinwang, the current Cheng Junwang, who had no power nor influence. Everyone all say, this was Le Cheng Emperor’s attempt in weakening the power and influence of the Ding Duke Manor. But the Ding Duke Manor’s prestige was displayed there, and moreover, there was even an Empress older sister. Even if he wanted to do a little something, he would still need to ponder over it. But even so, Cheng Junwang Manor was still well-off for several years. As for from when did it start showing signs of decline, he really was unclear……….

Just like that, this matter was temporarily pushed back. But, people that became aware of this matter, nevertheless, increased more and more, and the main reason was on Jing Wan. The fragrant steamed bun in someone else’s bowl, after the initial regret, naturally couldn’t be stared at anymore, but now, this fragrant steamed bun was placed back onto the table fully intact once more. How could this bunch not eye covetously and secretly scheme to have this fragrant steamed bun pulled into their own bowl.

When Sun Yi Lin learned of this matter, he directly smashed the teacup in hand, so excited that he somewhat lost control of himself. This was the heavens taking pity on him, and once again giving him a chance. If he doesn’t properly seize the opportunity, and let someone steal her again, he might as well not marry for his whole life.

As for those saying, with his younger sister about to marry into the Luo family, he under normal circumstances won’t marry someone from the Luo family, what all are those things? It’s not like the law won’t allow it, so naturally he’s able to marry.

Have to say, among the official families, especially those large and prestigious ones, for the most part, the practice of ‘marriage swap’ simply doesn’t exist. Mainly it was still because each clan all needed a vast relationship network, and marriage played a crucial role in this. And between two families, one tie was more than enough. If they need to make a second tie, normally it was because a long time had passed, and they need to continue maintaining this relationship, thus needing to rely on the next generation’s marriage. Of course, there were also those that had close relationships, and because the other family’s child was someone they’d watched growing up, they feel reassured. This naturally didn’t belong in the scope of marriage connections. And among the same generation, tying a second knot, that was wasting resources.

The more outstanding the child, the more likely this sort of situation won’t appear.

Aside from the Luo and Chen family, as well as Li Ru Yu, no one actually knew that they’d already cancelled the engagement. They were all waiting, waiting for the metropolitan exam to end, and waiting for the results of the metropolitan exam.

Thus, under this kind of strange circumstance, many people were all paying attention to Chen Zheng Min’s metropolitan exam results. When the list was posted, they looked even more eager to see the results than the Chen family.

Three hundred candidate names were picked; a total of three lists of successful examinees. First was the last one hundred names. When one saw or heard one’s name, even if one was unsatisfied with the grade, one would still grin from ear to ear. And for those that didn’t see their name, not one wasn’t anxiously waiting, or perhaps, they knew that at their level, they definitely won’t be able to enter the top two hundred, thus naturally just let out a despairing expression. However, in the bottom of their eyes, they still had a tiny flame of hope.

“Young master, not going to look?”

“Look at what? Someone that Head Minister Luo fancies, would they fall behind the two hundreds?”

“What if they didn’t perform well?”

“En, makes sense, go, go look.”

“Yes, this servant will go right away.”

This sort of situation wasn’t in the minority either. Thus, the people that came to look at the list crowded into a huge pile. Quite a few even recognized each other, and after seeing the other party, they first blanked, thinking, ‘what did they come for, their master didn’t participate in the imperial exam’, and afterwards, they very tactfully turned away. Turns out, everyone’s purpose was all the same.

Very good, on the first list that came out, they didn’t see Chen Zheng Min’s name.

One incense later, the second list was posted. En, still no.

Then, from the looks of it, it was either he completely bombed the exam and fell outside of the top three hundred ranks, or he didn’t and was on the top one hundred list. If that’s the case, they can directly start looking from the top.

Another incense later, the third list came out, and afterwards, “Chen Zheng Min, fifth place.”

The loud voice made the entire site instantly quiet down. Afterwards, these five words continuously echoed through.

This made the candidates of the exam or others who were looking at the list all confused. Who was this Chen Zheng Min, even the first place ‘huiyuan[1]‘ wasn’t paid attention to this much.

“Oh, looks like he performed rather well, then we still need to wait another two days. Let’s go, return to the manor.”

Thus, quite a few noble young masters in the surrounding left, and the ones that encountered those they were familiar with even greeted one another.

This scene further made quite a few people all unable to make any sense of the matter. That said, what exactly happened?

“Eh, isn’t this Chen Zheng Min’s book boy, your family’s young master didn’t come? This is wanting to go look at the list? No need to look, your family’s young master is in fifth place, quickly go back and report this good news.”

That book boy naturally had already heard his own young master’s rank. Just, why were there this many people paying attention to it? Also, after someone had pointed out that he was Chen Zheng Min’s book boy, the attention on him also shot up instantly, as if becoming everyone’s focal point. Someone please tell him, just what exactly is going on? The book boy just felt his scalp going numb, and afterwards, he ran away in a panic.

[1] Huiyuan – the title for the person who ranked first place in the metropolitan exam (the preliminary of the imperial exam). The word is literally just a shortened form of ‘first place in metropolitan exam’. The ‘Hui’ in the term is short for ‘hui shi’ (name of the metropolitan exam), and ‘yuan’ just means first.