Chapter 67: Becoming the Top Scholar

Shen Shilang took out the down quilt that Su Jinshi had prepared for him from his luggage and spread it on the cold, hard wooden bed. Most of the items Su Jinshi had provided for him were lightweight down products – warm, compact, and easy to pack.

She had even prepared a down comforter for him.

Many of the participants in the imperial examination were sons of noble families, yet Shen Shilang was the most comfortable among them. Those wealthy sons lacked the modern conveniences Su Jinshi had supplied to Shen Shilang. Due to the harsh conditions, they couldn’t even enjoy fresh, hot meals in the examination hall, but Shen Shilang did not face such deprivation.

Su Jinshi had also secretly tucked a hot water bottle into Shen Shilang’s bedding, purchased from the game store. By morning, the power of Su Jinshi’s communication box device had already run out, leaving her unable to speak with Shen Shilang. However, when Shen Shilang felt the warmth and found the hot water bottle, he knew it was Su Jinshi’s doing.

In the darkness, Shen Shilang lowered his voice, which came out slightly hoarse, “Jinshi, is that you?”

Su Jinshi responded by playfully poking his cheeks, and Shen Shilang’s face twitched slightly before breaking into a faint smile. “I’m going to sleep early tonight. You should rest early too,” he said.

“Alright,” Su Jinshi replied with a smile, setting an alarm to wake up with Shen Shilang in the morning.

This routine continued until the end of the examination.

Shen Shilang remained warmly dressed, slept soundly, and had access to hot, satisfying meals. By the time the other examinees emerged from the halls, they appeared drained and weary, as if they had shed a layer of skin.

The scions of noble families were immediately assisted by servants and escorted to carriages to reunite with their families. In contrast, Shen Shilang looked vibrant and unaffected, his smooth, fair skin standing out amidst the pale, exhausted crowd.

After finishing the exams, feeling light and relaxed, Shen Shilang returned to his small courtyard to await the results, continuing to take on portrait painting commissions to earn some extra income.

Su Jinshi had thought he might take the opportunity to visit the now-abandoned Shen family estate, but to her surprise, he never made any move to do so. She, however, secretly went to take a look herself.

The Shen estate’s once-vermilion main gate was now sealed, its paint peeled and faded. The plaque above had long been removed. The residence had remained vacant since the downfall of the Shen family, as high-ranking officials who could afford such a property shunned it, considering the bloody tragedy that had occurred there too inauspicious. For some unknown reason, Emperor Jiacheng had never awarded the estate to anyone, leaving it to stand empty, filled with cobwebs, dust, and fallen leaves. In some corners, dark stains remained, too deeply ingrained to be cleaned away – the remnants of the Shen family’s blood.

Su Jinshi recalled Shen Shilang’s words about how he was the sole survivor of the Shen family, his elderly grandparents and infant nephew among the victims. Overwhelmed with grief, she quickly departed the Shen estate, understanding why Shen Shilang had never returned.

Even she, as an outsider, couldn’t bear such a scene, let alone Shen Shilang.

Time flowed quietly until the day of the examination results announcement.

On the way, Su Jinshi asked him, “Shen Shilang, are you nervous?”

“I thought I wouldn’t be, but I’m a bit nervous after all,” Shen Shilang smiled and said, “It’s not that I’m afraid of failing, but rather about the ranking. It relates to my future plans.”

Su Jinshi didn’t say anything like Shen Shilang would definitely become the top scholar, as it would be embarrassing if he didn’t.

Besides, they would see the results soon enough.

When they arrived, the results had just been posted, but the area in front of the notice board was already crowded with people.

Shen Shilang did not force his way through, but as he moved with the flow of the crowd, he found himself near the front, able to glimpse the names on the list.

Su Jinshi spotted Shen Shilang’s name at the top and exclaimed excitedly, her voice trembling, “Shen Shilang! First place! You did it!”

Shen Shilang looked up and saw his name at the very top. “You’re the top scholar!” Su Jinshi cheered, shaking him with joy.

Shen Shilang allowed Su Jinshi to shake him, his eyes slightly curved, softly responding with an “Mm.”

Becoming the top scholar didn’t surprise him.

Looking at his name on the board, Shen Shilang didn’t feel the joy that other successful candidates around him were experiencing.

Now that he had become the top scholar, his family was no longer here to see it.

Shen Shilang gazed in the direction of the Shen mansion.

Even though he was young when he fled, everything about the Shen mansion was still deeply etched in his bones and blood. Every moment felt like yesterday, never forgotten.

Even though he hadn’t gone to see it since his return, he still remembered what the Shen mansion used to look like. Yet, he had no intention of returning until he had avenged his family.

Suddenly, Shen Shilang felt a soft touch on the back of his hand, instinctively turning his head, only to find no one there.

Of course, he couldn’t see Su Jinshi.

Lately, he had become increasingly accustomed to trying to find Su Jinshi’s figure by the direction of her touch.

Naturally, every time it was in vain.

As the curious crowd buzzed around him about who the top scholar was, Shen Shilang quietly slipped away. Along the way, he encountered familiar faces who recognized him, those he had met at the inn before.

“Congratulations, Brother Shen!”

“Brother Shen, you’re just one palace examination away from achieving the triple first in the imperial examinations!”

“I also saw Brother Yu’s name just now, congratulations to Brother Yu,” Shen Shilang said with a smile.

Yu Huidao exclaimed in surprise, “I didn’t expect Brother Shen to notice my name.”

After all, Shen Shilang’s name was at the top of the list, becoming the top scholar, which was such an honorable achievement.

If it were him, he would have been too excited to notice, probably on the verge of fainting from joy, let alone noticing who else had passed.

Shen Shilang then asked another person, “Brother Zhu must have passed as well?”

Zhu An, who had first greeted Shen Shilang, looked jubilant, obviously having passed.

“Although my ranking isn’t high, I still passed.”

“Congratulations,” Shen Shilang congratulated, “Regardless of ranking, with so many candidates, being able to pass is already outstanding.”

“Brother Shen is right,” Yu Huidao said with a smile, “We need to hurry and send news to our families. Brother Shen, if you have time, let’s arrange a celebration.”

“Why don’t we celebrate after the palace examination?” Shen Shilang suggested, “We still have one last hurdle to overcome.”

…