amaotonovel Chapter 881 Good things happen one after another
Chapter 881 Good things happen one after another
Since Jing Qiurong was about to give birth and was recuperating after childbirth, all the young men in the Jing family participated in the county examinations, prefectural examinations and academy examinations one after another. Good news came in frequently, the family was full of joy, and magpies chirped non-stop on the branches.
Erlang Jing Congguang, who already had the title of Tongsheng, shined even more this time and won the first place in the academy examination, becoming famous in the capital.
Although he was young, he was calm and steady. He studied hard every day, and his writing had already shown great style. His success in the exam was the result of years of hard work and accumulation. When the examiner read his paper, he praised his writing for its "clear logic, fluent words, and extraordinary charm."
Jing Congxin (Jing Yongqiang's son), not yet twelve, was even more exceptionally talented. He topped both the county and prefectural examinations, daring to claim the prestigious title of "Little Three Prizes." Unfortunately, he narrowly missed out on the academy examinations, finishing second to his cousin Jing Congguang. His impressive accomplishments at such a young age amazed countless people, who considered him the incarnation of the God of Literature.
Jing Congxuan, the illegitimate son of the second branch of the General's Mansion, also lived up to his years of hard study. He took the exam calmly, ranked 36th, and was successfully admitted to school.
Jing Qingpu and Jing Congyu from his second uncle Jing Yongjian's family only took part in the county and prefectural examinations, and did not participate in the academy examinations. However, their performance in these two examinations was also remarkable, and their results were among the best.
Silang Jingcong knew that he still lacked knowledge, so he tactfully avoided the academy examination and only worked hard in the county and prefectural examinations. Although he ranked low in the end, barely finishing at the bottom, he still managed to get the title of a student, and at least he did not lose face.
With the news of this series of happy events, the people of the capital city reached a new level of admiration for the Jing family.
This family, a military family with generations of distinguished officials and military achievements, suffered a catastrophe five years ago. All males over the age of ten were exiled, leaving them in dire straits. Who would have thought that none of the young men, whether exiled or those left in the capital, would give up on themselves? Instead, they displayed such unwavering perseverance, studying tirelessly to revive their family.
In one class, there were three students and three new scholars, which is truly respectable and worth celebrating!
Such an outstanding achievement is unheard of even in a noble family with a long history of scholars and a specialty of producing civil servants. It is unheard of for a family to have such brilliant results in the same subject, not to mention that they swept the first and second places in the college examination in one fell swoop!
For a time, those who already admired the mighty and loyal Jing family army regarded the Jing family as a place blessed by the gods. They spontaneously gathered at the door of the Jing family ancestral hall with incense and candles, and bowed their heads in worship devoutly.
Some people even prayed humbly, hoping that other people's ancestors would show their power and bless their own children to be as smart and motivated. This act later spread and became a funny topic in the capital.
On September 17th, the Rongen Marquis's Mansion officially opened. Although the scene was not as grand and impressive as the full moon banquet and enthronement ceremony held at the Jing Prince's Mansion two days earlier, it was still a grand occasion with distinguished guests.
His Royal Highness the Crown Prince came in person to offer congratulations, and important mansions such as Prince Jing's Mansion, General Jing's Mansion, Duke Ning's Mansion, and Minister Feng's Mansion came to express their congratulations. Many noble families also came to show their support.
What is particularly striking is that upon hearing the news, a large number of students from Wenhua Academy flocked to the school to congratulate their classmate's family.
The highly respected Dean Yan was also present in person. He not only watched the ceremony and offered congratulations, but also happily picked up his pen in his study and wrote an inscription for the Bo Mansion as a souvenir. The calligraphy added brilliance and color to the whole room.
After opening a mansion and having a home that truly belonged to him, Jing Chunxi's heart, which had been anxious for many years, finally settled down completely.
The sense of desolation she had felt since her rebirth, the feeling of being homeless and without the protection of her family, finally vanished. She finally felt truly settled and began to enjoy the carefree life she had always dreamed of.
Pu Ge'er Jing Qingpu was very happy, and named his own courtyard "Qingchundu" after his sister's courtyard "Xichungui". The two words "return" and "ferry" respectively, echoing each other from afar, have profound meanings, and show the deep love between the siblings.
September 20th is the day when the results of the provincial examination are announced, and the whole capital is paying close attention.
"Princess, Master," Chuntao came in briskly to report, "The carriages of the four cousins of the Jing family are already waiting outside the mansion, and..." She paused slightly, carefully glancing at Jing Chunxi's expression before continuing, "Cousin Mingrong is here too."
"Then let's get going quickly. Let's go!" Jing Chunxi's face showed no change of expression when she heard that. She immediately lifted her skirt and ran out, with Ling'er following closely behind.
Mingrong came, so she came. They were all sisters from the same clan, so what was so strange about going together to see the list? She thought to herself that perhaps it was because she had been back in the capital for so long that some of her old grudges had slowly been resolved over time, and she had become more sociable.
Pu Ge'er was even more anxious, and he broke into a trot as soon as he left the house. He had already made an appointment with many of his classmates from Wenhua Academy to go and see the list together today.
There are many students from the academy taking part in the provincial examination this year. Among them, the most outstanding and most promising are his talented cousin Jing Congguang and his elder brother Tao, who is always calm, upright and knowledgeable.
The entrance to the Imperial Examination Hall was already crowded with carriages and horses, and there was a huge crowd of people and a lot of noise.
Carriages and sedan chairs of all kinds were packed with people, servants and retainers were running around shouting, and countless students and common people who came to see the list were shoulder to shoulder, surrounding the huge square in three layers.
The dozen or so guards arranged by the Imperial Examination Hall tried their best to maintain order and give guidance loudly, but in the face of such a surging crowd, it was still a drop in the bucket and they seemed overwhelmed.
Yaya was led by her sister. She stood on tiptoe anxiously and stretched her neck to look out of the crowd, but all she could see were a sea of heads. There was no sign of the carriage from the General's Mansion or the Marquis Rong En's Mansion.
"Sister, why haven't they arrived yet?" She tugged at her sister's sleeve, her voice filled with obvious anxiety and disappointment.
"It should be here soon! Maybe they're stuck in traffic?" Feng Jiaojiao comforted her sister while frowning, her eyes searching anxiously among the moving crowds and stagnant traffic.
Jing Mingyue was also looking eagerly in the crowd, but she didn't see her ideal person.
The thought of him made Jing Mingyue's heartbeat quicken, a mixture of anticipation and nervousness. She was even less nervous than when she was giving Erlang the college entrance exam results. She really hoped that person would get in.
Jing Mingyue's future husband Tao Chengrui also passed the imperial examination and became a scholar, but because his performance on the spot was not perfect, he only got third place. Both the Tao brothers got the title of scholar.
Tao Chengzhi did not take part in the provincial examination this time, but instead followed the advice of the teacher in the academy and decided to study hard for another three years to consolidate his knowledge in the hope of passing the imperial examination in the future.
"Sister Jiaojiao!"
"Beautiful!"
Just as the two sisters were looking forward to it, they suddenly heard a familiar greeting. They saw Jing Chunxi, Jing Mingyue and other sisters finally squeezed over with the guards clearing the way.
The two sides were delighted to see each other and quickly gathered together. The four little girls even hugged each other, overjoyed.
At this time, the gate of the Imperial Examination Hall rumbled open, and the officers came out holding a huge yellow list. The crowd instantly exploded like boiling water, with exclamations, sighs, and cheers coming one after another, and everyone rushed forward desperately.
The results lived up to everyone's expectations! Jing Congguang's name was prominently displayed at the top of the list, once again claiming the title of Jieyuan (First Place). Following closely behind, in second place, was none other than Ningguo Duke Tao Chengrui!
Suddenly, huge cheers erupted from the Jing family and the Tao family. Everyone helped to look for them, but the two high school first and second grade students were nowhere to be found, which was very disappointing.
What is even more amazing is that because the essays written by Jing Congguang and Tao Chengrui in this provincial examination were so brilliant, insightful, and elegant, they were both awarded full marks by the provincial education commissioner, and their scores were posted on the list for students all over the world to observe and learn from.
Upon hearing the news, the students rushed to the place where the article was posted, all wanting to see what this beautiful article with two shining stars looked like.
Jing Congguang's policy proposal, combined with his own real experience of exile in the border area for several years, profound observation and personal practice, discussed in an easy-to-understand way the development of water conservancy and the improvement of agricultural tools to consolidate the foundation of farming. He boldly proposed the idea of opening up limited coastal water transport to facilitate trade and exchange of resources.
It also proposed practical strategies on how to appease refugees and select good local officials for effective governance. The words are full of calmness and hard work after going through hardships.
Tao Chengrui's article benefited from his practical experience in assisting his uncle Xiao Deyuan in handling government affairs in Jian'an County in previous years, and he was well versed in local governance.
In particular, he put forward many unique and insightful views on the innovation of private handicrafts such as ceramics and the encouragement and management of private commerce, fully demonstrating his profound understanding and outstanding talent in governing the country and benefiting the people.
The two articles have very different styles but are equally brilliant. They were posted side by side, attracting the admiration of the onlookers, who copied them and regarded them as model essays.
With their names on the imperial examination list and their brilliant essays, the names of Jing Congguang and Tao Chengrui spread throughout the capital overnight, becoming the objects of admiration and envy of countless scholars. The Jing and Tao families were extremely happy and prosperous.
The two handsome young men, who were both in high spirits, did not crowd the Imperial Examination Hall, wait for congratulations, accept no banquets, or spend their days under the moon and flowers. Instead, they closed their doors to visitors, studied diligently, and waited for the next Spring Examination.