Chapter 76

Shen Yuanbai, upon seeing this, not only remained unmoved, but instead felt that Sheng Xiuran looked very dirty, making him feel uncomfortable all over.

“Miss Sheng, your brother harmed our palace first. What makes you think our palace would repay him with kindness and risk going to save him?”

“Just because of his nonsense, our palace is still under house arrest now.”

“Sheng Mingcheng must die. If you want to live, stay quietly in this Chonghua Palace. If you want to die, you can choose to swallow the White Silk poison or swallow gold casually.”

Shen Yuanbai spoke coldly, then stood up eagerly.

He wanted to bathe again. Seeing Sheng Xiuran’s dirty appearance, he felt like he had just washed for nothing.

Sheng Xiuran looked up with despair, just catching a glimpse of the disgust on Shen Yuanbai’s face.

Her heart trembled violently, at this moment, thousands of thoughts mixed together, feeling regretful and resentful.

Her brother once said that it was the Second Prince who harmed their Qingguo Duke’s Mansion. She always held onto a glimmer of hope, unable to believe that the god-like man from that day could be so cruel!

Seeing that the Second Prince was already stepping out, she screamed and asked the last question.

“Six months ago, at the Huguo Temple, were you sincerely trying to save me, or was it intentional?”

The Second Prince didn’t even bother to turn his head, just said indifferently, “You already have the answer in your heart, don’t you?”

Upon hearing this, Sheng Xiuran’s body suddenly sank, and in the next moment, it was as if all the strength in her body had been drained, crashing heavily to the ground.

She whimpered lowly a few times, unable to resist bursting into tears.

It’s fake! It’s all fake!

He deliberately approached her for the power of the Qingguo Duke’s Mansion! Such a heartless man, deceiving her with all her sincere feelings, and causing the Qingguo Duke’s Mansion to be completely destroyed!

Brother… Brother couldn’t be saved! She had no family left!

The more Sheng Xiuran cried, the louder she became. Seeing Shen Yuanbai’s figure about to disappear into the shadows, she suddenly opened her mouth wide, wanting to shout out everything she had heard on the artificial mountain just now in retaliation.

You’re not the Emperor’s son at all!

You’re a bastard!

You’re the bastard offspring of Princess Yuliu and that dog!

Sheng Xiuran reached out, wishing to grab Shen Yuanbai back and throw these words in his face, seeing if he would also reveal a look of unbearable pain like herself.

But, the remaining bit of rationality told her not to act impulsively.

She had nothing left. If she shouted out here, she would undoubtedly die, and the Second Prince would only be mildly inconvenienced, still the highly esteemed Second Prince!

No, she wanted to live. She wanted revenge!

She had to wait for the most opportune moment, to give this heartless and despicable man the most deadly blow!

Sheng Xiuran’s bright face twisted in the candlelight, tears streaming down, taking away her last bit of tenderness and innocence.

Brother…

I can’t save you anymore.

But I will avenge our Qingguo Duke’s Mansion!

—

On the twentieth day of March, all the rankings of the Chunwei examination were verified, including Tan Hanchi, Sheng Qishan, and Xin Ruizhi, who unexpectedly crazily manipulated thirteen rankings!

Among them, except for Tan Hanchi, all twelve candidates suffered misfortunes and none survived.

The Emperor was furious, comforting and compensating the families of the twelve candidates, and then punishing all the buyers of the rankings, including the wealthy Qingzhou Gu Family.

In addition, under the suggestion of the Crown Prince, the Emperor issued the “Letter to the World”, clearly informing the world of the cheating in this Chunwei examination, even unusually admitting the mistakes of the court!

Thanks to the Crown Prince’s actions, he finally managed to quell the anger of the scholars and candidates.

On the twenty-first day of March, the palace examination officially began, presided over by the Emperor himself.

On the twenty-second day of March, news spread that the Emperor of Yong had confirmed Tan Hanchi as the first place winner of the top rank, and immediately issued the golden list, which was posted at the palace gate.

On the twenty-third day of March, the Emperor of Yong held the ceremony of the Imperial Court in the Taihe Hall, conferring the titles of champion, second place, and third place on the top three winners.

Then he issued an edict, appointing the champion Tan Hanchi as a sixth-rank editor of the Hanlin Academy, and appointing the second place and third place winners as seventh-rank editors of the Hanlin Academy.

Although these sixth-rank positions may seem low, they involve the compiling of the emperor’s chronicles, recording his daily activities, and even drafting documents for the emperor.

This position meant that Tan Hanchi became one of the emperor’s close advisors, a huge leap in status!

Next came the highly anticipated scene of the top scholar riding on horseback through the streets!

Qiao Jiaojiao had long been carried by Qiao Diyi and sat in the private room of the largest restaurant on Putian Street, leaning over the window eagerly looking out.

When the imperial procession reached Putian Street, the crowds of people who had been waiting along the road cheered.

The crowd instinctively made way for the middle of the road. At this moment, everyone pushed and shoved, the noise almost piercing the sky.

[“Second brother, let me lean out a bit more!”]

[“Hey hey hey, I see the red flags! They’re almost here!”]

Qiao Jiaojiao screamed loudly, joining in the excitement with the crowd!

This scene was something Qiao Jiaojiao had never seen before in her previous life, and it far surpassed the sparse extras in TV dramas.

The Great Yong Dynasty valued both martial prowess and literary talent. Scholars like Tan Hanchi, the newly crowned top scholar, were objects of admiration for scholars all over the country!

The worshipful cheers of the people on the street almost burst Qiao Jiaojiao’s eardrums!

Amidst the clamor of gongs and drums, firecrackers clearing the way, Qiao Jiaojiao finally saw Tan Hanchi!

He rode on a tall horse, with wings on his head, dressed in brocade, adorned with a red flower, holding a golden whip, exuding extraordinary charm!

“Ah ah ah ah—”

It’s not an exaggeration. Qiao Jiaojiao heard screams from groups of women.

Qiao Jiaojiao smiled and narrowed her eyes, genuinely happy for Tan Hanchi.

Such glory was well deserved for Tan Hanchi.

In the original work, he was manipulated by the Qingguo Duke and used by the Second Prince, causing the Mingzhu to be obscured. Now, he finally got what he wanted!

[“Ah ah ah! Tan Hanchi, you’re amazing!”]

Qiao Jiaojiao yelled excitedly, while Tan Hanchi sat tall on his horse, basking in the adoration of the crowd, feeling deeply moved.

His gaze swept across the crowd and towards the tea houses on both sides, unexpectedly catching sight of two familiar faces.

It was Qiao Erlang and Miss Qiao from the Qiao family!

At this moment, Tan Hanchi finally revealed a hearty smile on his face.

His achievements today were all thanks to the help of the Qiao family, especially Miss Qiao…

If it weren’t for her ingenuity, he would have lost half his life when he heard the thirty slaps at the Dengwen Drum Court. Not to mention persisting to the Jinluan Hall later and pleading before the Emperor.

Tan Hanchi was deeply grateful to the Qiao family. He vowed to repay their kindness in this life!

Thinking of this, Tan Hanchi bowed towards the west, deliberately pausing in the direction of Qiao Diyi and Qiao Jiaojiao.

Qiao Diyi understood and smiled sincerely at Tan Hanchi.

Now that Brother Tan was a close advisor to the Emperor, their Qiao family couldn’t appear too intimate with him.

A person as cheerful and wise as Brother Tan, it was a pity they couldn’t often share a drink and chat with him in the future!

Qiao Jiaojiao, on the other hand, saw this scene and smiled brightly.

She knew Tan Hanchi was definitely not a fickle person; he was deeply loyal and grateful. He would stand by their Qiao family’s side for the rest of his life!

[“Acquiring a great counselor! Adding another fierce general to the team that defies fate!”]

Qiao Jiaojiao was feeling pleased, when suddenly her big round eyes rolled around, and unexpectedly, she saw a familiar figure in the tea house across the street!