A large crowd gathered in front of the imperial examination results board, scanning the list for familiar names.

“Did you find it?” Madam Chen asked anxiously.

Chunzhi shook her head. “Madam, it’s not there.”

Madam Chen lifted the carriage curtain and stepped down herself, followed by her family.

After carefully searching the board again, they still couldn’t find the name.

Jiang Yuansheng, however, remained calm as ever.

She paused for a moment before gently comforting him, “Yuansheng, don’t worry. There’s always next year.”

“Yes, exactly! We have plenty of chances.” Jiang Fengyuan chimed in.

Just as Jiang Yuansheng was about to speak, a familiar figure approached.

Despite only half a month passing, Wu Cuirou had already returned to her extravagant ways, adorned with gold and jade jewelry. Her hair was filled with pearl hairpins that jingled as she walked.

[Second Aunt looks so ugly.] Jiang Yuanxi frowned. Red and green—why did they look like a fashion disaster on her?

And all those hairpins…

[So embarrassing. I need to stay away from her.]

After that thought, the Jiang family collectively took a few steps back.

Wu Cuirou walked toward them.

Ever since Madam Chen left the An Guogong Manor, Wu Cuirou felt relieved. Without that pressure, she was radiant again, as if returning to her prime.

But deep down, she envied Madam Chen.

“It’s been a while, Sister-in-law. You’re still as elegant as ever.”

Madam Chen took a step back. “You too… your outfit is, um, very unique.”

Wu Cuirou mistook it for a compliment and smiled.

“No need to keep searching, Sister-in-law. I already checked—Jiang Yuansheng’s name isn’t on the list. It seems the renowned scholar of Shengjing is not as impressive as they say.” She sneered.

Who would have thought that the famous Jiang scholar failed the imperial examination?

Madam Chen frowned slightly. “Congratulations, Jiang Madam. But I fear that such fortune may not be easy to bear.”

Jiang Hui straightened his back, flaunting his success.

“Brother is so talented. He will surely pass next year!”

All of Shengjing only knew Jiang Yuansheng’s name, and Jiang Hui had been compared to him his entire life. He had had enough of it!

Yet Jiang Yuansheng remained composed, effortlessly drawing attention just by standing there.

Jiang Hui hated that about him the most.

Wu Cuirou suddenly remembered something. “Oh, I almost forgot to tell you, Sister-in-law. Our Hui’er made it onto the list.”

Jiang Yuanxi blurted out, “Last place. What’s there to brag about?”

Wu Cuirou was displeased. “What do you know? This is a great honor for the family. Too bad for you—your family lacks the blessings for such achievements. Even your ancestors have abandoned you.” She covered her mouth with a handkerchief, laughing.

Jiang Hui sighed dramatically. “If you kneel and beg me now, when I take charge of the family, I might consider sparing your lives. What do you think?”

“Pfft!”

Jiang Yuancheng clenched his teeth and pointed at Jiang Hui. “Say that again! I dare you!”

“Yuancheng.” Jiang Yuansheng stopped him.

“But, Brother! He’s insulting us!”

Jiang Yuansheng raised his hand, signaling him to drop it.

Then, he calmly said, “The imperial rules state that the top scorer’s name does not appear on the general list.”

“What nonsense! You, the top scorer?” Wu Cuirou scoffed.

She pointed at him mockingly. “If you are the top scorer, then I must be the emperor.”

Madam Chen suddenly recalled that rule. How could she have forgotten?

Jiang Yuansheng smirked. “How about a bet, Second Aunt?”

Wu Cuirou raised a brow. “What kind of bet?”

Jiang Yuansheng replied, “Let’s bet that I am the top scorer.”

“Ha!” Wu Cuirou dismissed it. “If you are the top scorer, I’ll eat dirt while standing on my head!”

Madam Chen was stunned.

She didn’t expect Wu Cuirou to go that far.

Was there anything she wouldn’t say?

Even Jiang Yuansheng was taken aback.

“That won’t be necessary,” he said. “The smell alone would be unbearable.”

“If you lose, you will stand at my family’s doorstep and call my parents ‘ancestors.’ How about that?”

A flicker of unease crossed Wu Cuirou’s face. She turned to Jiang Hui and whispered, “Are you sure Jiang Yuansheng isn’t the top scorer?”

Seeing how confident he was made her nervous.

[She’s hesitating! Someone needs to provoke her into agreeing.]

Madam Chen’s gaze turned cold. “What’s wrong? Are you scared?”

“Scared? Me? Never! It’s a deal!” Wu Cuirou fell for the provocation.

“If you lose, your entire family must kneel outside the An Guogong Manor and beg for forgiveness!” She wanted to not only humiliate them but utterly crush their pride.

“Fine!” Madam Chen agreed readily. “It’s a deal.”

[Wu Cuirou is doomed! Let’s go home and wait for her to come calling us ‘ancestors’!]

[The top scorer could only be my big brother!]

The results for the top scorer wouldn’t be announced until the afternoon. Madam Chen and her family returned home first.

At the end of the street, Eunuch Cao rode a fine steed, leading a second white horse.

Behind him were imperial guards and a crowd of curious onlookers.

“What a magnificent horse!” A horse merchant admired.

“Of course! His Majesty selects a white horse each year to gift the top scorer.”

Imagine how glorious it must feel to ride such a horse!

“I wonder who the top scorer is this year.”

“Judging by the direction, it seems they’re heading to the Jiang family.”

“Quick! Let’s follow them!”

At the Jiang residence—

“By the emperor’s decree, in the Hongxi Year Imperial Examination, Shengjing’s Jiang Yuansheng has achieved first place as the top scorer. This is hereby announced. End of decree!” Eunuch Cao declared.

“Jiang Yuansheng thanks His Majesty!”

Madam Chen immediately instructed Chun Zhi to bring out gold leaves.

“Oh, this…” Eunuch Cao hesitated. “I’m just delivering a message. This isn’t proper protocol.”

Madam Chen smiled. “Rules are dead, but people are alive. My son has achieved first place—please accept this as a token of joy.”

“Well, if you insist, I won’t refuse.” Eunuch Cao happily accepted, feeling the weight of the gold.

The Jiang family knew how to handle things well.

“By the way,” he added, “General, Madam, the top scorer must parade through the city on horseback. Please have your son prepare.”

Jiang Fengyuan nodded. “Thank you, Eunuch Cao.”

Madam Chen, elated, commanded, “Chun Zhi, distribute porridge outside the city under Yuanxi’s name.”

Chun Zhi curtsied. “Rest assured, Madam. I’ll see to it right away.”

Meanwhile, at the An Guogong Manor—

To celebrate Jiang Hui’s success, the Old Madam withdrew a hundred taels of silver from her savings to set off firecrackers in the streets.

The bedridden Duke An made muffled noises, but no one paid him any attention.

“Our Hui’er is a born genius—far superior to that wretched woman’s grandson!” The Old Madam was overjoyed.

It was the happiest day she’d had in a long time.

After everyone left, she approached Duke An’s bedside and tucked in his blanket. “Hui’er passed the exam. You should be pleased.”

Duke An’s bloodshot eyes stared at her, his mouth making unintelligible sounds.

“You always held back the heir’s title for the eldest branch, waiting for them to succeed. Look at them now—Hui’er is the one who passed, while that wretched woman’s grandson failed.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll take care of everything in the household. You can just lie there.”

She lifted a black, murky bowl of medicine.

Duke An’s eyes widened in terror, shaking his head frantically.

“This is the same medicine that wretched woman once drank. Now, you can try it too.”