Chapter 863: The Peasant Girl’s Splendid Manor
Chapter 863: The Announcement of the Civil Examination Results (1)
On April 26th, the day the spring civil examination results were to be announced, the scene outside the examination hall was bustling with people even before the gates had opened. People crowded the entrance, jostling and squeezing through to secure a good spot, eager to be among the first to learn the results once the list was posted.
"Father, there are too many people. I think it’s better to park the carriage at the teahouse across the street. You can wait inside, and I’ll stay outside to keep an eye on things," Mo Yan said, looking at the overwhelming crowd.
Mo Qingze, who had been resting his eyes, opened them and lifted the curtain to glance outside. Seeing the crowd so thick that even the gates of the examination hall were barely visible, he rubbed his temples and said softly, "The list won’t run away. You don’t need to watch it so closely. Let’s just go to the teahouse and wait. We can check it later when the crowd has thinned out."
Mo Yan thought for a moment. He was right. The list would be posted for three days, so there was no need to endure the crowds today. She nodded in agreement and instructed the driver to turn the carriage towards the nearest and largest teahouse on the street.
Many others had the same idea. The entire street was filled with people, and every teahouse and restaurant was packed. Nearly ten thousand candidates had taken the exam, making this the largest group in history. The competition was naturally fierce, which caused even the most confident candidates to feel a little unsure after the exam.
The Mo family hadn’t expected such a situation, and they hadn’t reserved a private room in advance. By the time they arrived, there were only two seats left in the teahouse’s open hall. If they had come any later, even those would have been taken.
The Mo family wasn’t concerned about this. Since their other family members, Zhen’er and Yun Zhao, couldn’t make it, Mo Yan had brought her younger sisters, Xin’er and Sheng’er, who hadn’t been into the city for a while. They planned to enjoy the day and maybe visit the Liu family once they knew the results.
Before the results were posted, the atmosphere in the teahouse was lively, with strangers chatting away as they shared a table. But as soon as the Mo family entered, the entire hall went silent. Everyone turned their attention to them.
The Mo family wasn’t the kind of family that would draw attention simply because of their arrival, but their appearances and demeanor were so striking that they stood out. The older man, Mo Qingze, was handsome and elegant, while the young women, no matter their age, were all charming and beautiful. Their luxurious yet understated clothes made them even more captivating.
Among the onlookers, one scholar noticed Mo Qingze walking towards a corner with Sheng’er and immediately recognized him. Upon closer inspection, he confirmed his guess and, feeling excited, whispered to the scholar sitting next to him, "Did you see that? The one walking with Sheng’er is Young Master Ziyu! I can’t believe we’re seeing him here. What a lucky day!"
The name "Young Master Ziyu" was one given to Mo Qingze by the scholars who had witnessed his sharp rebuttal at the Taihe Hall last year. Although Mo Qingze was already married with children, his youthful appearance and the impressive way he had handled the situation made him deserving of the honorific "Young Master."
The scholars admired Mo Qingze’s talent and were greatly influenced by his words at Taihe Hall, so they referred to him as "Young Master Ziyu" to express their respect and admiration.
(End of Chapter)
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