Those awaiting results ranged from young to old—teenage scholars taking the exam for the first time, and forty-something Old Students attempting the Prefectural Examination again.
It was difficult for anyone to remain calm when facing such outcomes.
Had they not heard of Fan Jin, who went mad with joy after Passing the Imperial Exam, and only regained his senses after his butcher father-in-law slapped him hard across the face?
He Yunzhao heard the sharp exclamation from the crowd and nearly laughed in exasperation. Crossing her arms, she turned to see who had spoken.
Several people quickly scurried away from the scene, inadvertently revealing the speaker.
In the front row of the first-floor hall, two young men stood by the third table. One wore a grim expression, his brows tightly furrowed, while the other was the one raising his arm and shouting.
"Feng Qing has already achieved Two Top Ranks! If he takes first place this time, it'll be a Xiao Sanyuan! Everyone in our cohort knows his talent—how could some random newcomer snatch the top spot?"
He Yunzhao chuckled softly and lowered her arms, no longer maintaining a defensive posture.
There were hierarchies in voicing grievances: the best strategy was having everyone acknowledge your injustice, the middling strategy was having others speak up for you, and the worst strategy was speaking up for yourself.
With one glance, she could tell the speaker was defending his friend, while Feng Qing himself remained silent—a sign of rationality.
What one should fear wasn't clever opponents causing trouble, but those with neither brains nor connections jumping out to make a scene.
Mu Yan exchanged a glance with her and immediately stepped to the railing, declaring loudly, "What do you mean by 'random newcomer'? Is this gentleman questioning the fairness of the Prefectural Examination?"
Downstairs, Feng Qing was still gathering his wits and failed to stop his friend in time.
His friend Gu Chengling fumed, "Your tone is too aggressive, sir! I was merely raising a question, yet you accuse me of suspecting exam fraud—how malicious!"
Hah!
A cold laugh escaped Mu Yan's lips. The young man looked down with a mocking expression. "Well, I wondered who had such a sharp tongue—turns out it's Young Master Gu. You're allowed to question the Top Candidate, but I can't question you? How impressive."
The crowd erupted in murmurs. No one had expected the Top Candidate to be questioned the moment results were announced, with neither side backing down.
Having regained his composure, Feng Qing listened as someone whispered a few words to him, finally understanding who was speaking from upstairs.
But Gu Chengling couldn't bear such humiliation. He had spoken up passionately for his friend—how could he tolerate being insulted by a mere youngster like Mu Yan!
His chest heaving with rage, he shook off the hands trying to restrain him. "The Top Candidate remains silent, yet you jump around so vigorously. May I know your esteemed name, sir?"
Mu Yan cursed under his breath and immediately turned to go downstairs and confront him, but He Yunzhao pulled him back.
The tall, handsome youth wore black robes with narrow sleeves, golden patterns subtly embroidered at the cuffs and collar.
As the old saying goes: women look prettiest in mourning white, men handsomest in soap black.
Black conveyed steadiness and capability. He Yunzhao, who spent years studying indoors, had skin as pale as snow. Having suppressed her earlier agitation, her slightly narrowed eyes now revealed a trace of disdain. "No need to rush, sir."
Downstairs, everyone forgot about the results announcement momentarily, all looking up to observe this youth in black.
He Yunzhao leaned on the railing with both hands, looking down below. "Today is the day the results are posted. Passing the exam naturally means not wasting over a decade of hard work, while failing may just be a matter of luck—there will always be another chance."
The clamor in the crowd quieted down. She possessed a kind of magic—her voice was light and crisp, like mountain spring water in the icy snow, and her tone was unhurried, making people unconsciously listen on.
"Brother Feng, with your two consecutive top ranks, your talent is truly remarkable. I, lacking such ability, rely on my father's legacy to be a Student of the Imperial Academy. Though I ranked first in this Prefectural Examination, the path of the Imperial Examination is long and arduous. With Brother Feng as an inspiration, I will study day and night without slacking."
He Yunzhao let out a light laugh, her cold demeanor melting away into warmth and composure, her fair face brimming with a smile.
She had no desire to make a scene like some unruly men, arguing noisily. The title of Top Candidate was hers, and she didn’t mind showing a bit of grace, giving Feng Qing a way out.
For a moment, a trace of ferocity flashed across Feng Qing’s face, but he remained silent.
He had even deliberately skipped the previous examination to avoid Qu Zhan, all for the sake of achieving the Xiao Sanyuan title. Now that his plans had shattered, he found it hard to accept.
He quickly composed himself, however, and cupped his hands in a gesture of acknowledgment.
Gu Chengling, on the other hand, couldn’t accept it—or rather, He Yunzhao’s composure felt like a provocation to him.
"You speak so smoothly, ruining someone’s chance at Xiao Sanyuan and still putting on such airs. Your tongue is certainly sharp."
He Yunzhao’s eyes turned cold. "Brother Gu, we are both scholars. If one’s ranking depends on others yielding, then the priority isn’t studying—it’s finding cabbage and sweet potato noodles."
Pork stewed with cabbage and sweet potato noodles was, after all, a famous dish.
"Hahahahaha!"
"Hahahaha!"
The entire tavern, filled with scholars, now buzzed like a boiling copper kettle, roaring with laughter. Mu Yan laughed so hard he crouched on the ground.
The two senior brothers who had rushed over from next door, initially furious, also broke into smiles. Gu Chengling, without any evidence, had publicly questioned He Yunzhao’s title as Top Candidate—clearly a malicious attempt to ruin her future.
Ruining someone’s future was akin to killing their parents. Once doubts were raised, how could one ever be cleared of suspicion?
Gu Chengling’s face flushed red. He immediately raised his voice, "I was merely raising a reasonable doubt as a fellow examinee. Brother He is being rather domineering."
Men in their teens understood everything, and their insults could be far more cutting. Only Mu Yan, like He Yunzhao, still retained a childlike innocence.
Zhao Tongzhou, fiercer in temperament than Zhu Jian, had a sharper tongue. Rolling up his sleeves, he began to berate, "Gu the Third, you’re singing the same tune as him. Who doesn’t know about your ‘close brothers’?"
"One at the head of the bed, one at the foot, kissing the same mouth, touching the same leg—and now you claim to be an outsider?"
"Your face is thick enough to build a city wall!"
He Yunzhao and Mu Yan were still young, having spent most of their time studying and unaware that insults relied most on momentum. Zhao Tongzhou’s words were far more cutting and damaging than the earlier remark about pork stewed with cabbage.
Feng Qing’s expression darkened. He suddenly looked up at He Yunzhao and declared loudly, "My friend spoke out of regret for me, momentarily overcome with emotion. He did not intentionally question your title as Top Candidate. Feng Qing apologizes on his behalf."
This man had remained silent earlier, seemingly still in shock. But judging from what had transpired, he had undoubtedly condoned—if not secretly directed—Gu Chengling’s provocation.
He Yunzhao remained inwardly vigilant, yet wore a gentle smile. "You flatter me, Young Master Feng. We can understand Young Master Gu's feelings."
Gu Chengling rushed forward, about to say more, but was sharply stopped by Feng Qing.
Seeing this, He Yunzhao's mind instantly became active. Smiling at Gu Chengling, he said, "Young Master Gu, since this is our first meeting, I wonder if you'd be willing to answer a question."
Gu Chengling's neck stiffened as he struggled to suppress his anger. "Ask away, Young Master He."
Adopting a curious tone, He Yunzhao inquired, "Young Master Gu, what do you think I resemble?"
Gu Chengling's eyes glinted with irritation. He looked up to see He Yunzhao leaning leisurely against the railing, his smile utterly infuriating.
Taking a sharp breath, Gu Chengling rasped, "You look like a smooth-talking weasel to me."
He had already prepared himself: if He Yunzhao reacted with furious curses, he would immediately laugh and claim it was just a joke.
This fellow had embarrassed him today and even insulted him by calling him a pig. If he didn't retaliate, how could he continue socializing in the future?
Not everyone sided with He Yunzhao. Although they dared not question the chief examiner's fairness, many secretly shared Feng Qing's view: Feng Qing had achieved the Two Top Ranks consecutively, so the title of Top Candidate should rightfully be his.
But since it didn't concern them directly, they remained aloof, watching the drama unfold without taking sides.
As soon as the words "smooth-talking weasel" were uttered, He Yunzhao could hear laughter, even loud guffaws coming from several nearby private rooms.
Unhurriedly straightening up, her eyes clear and bright, she shook her head with a helpless smile. Staring directly into Gu Chengling's eyes, she said with utmost sincerity, "To me, Young Master Gu resembles Confucius."
Instantly, the laughter died down, replaced by widespread confusion.
Having spoken, she leisurely descended the stairs, nodding greetings to a few acquaintances before exiting the tavern's main door.
Xiao Changfeng followed closely behind. Pausing at the doorway, he turned back and fixed his piercing gaze on Gu Chengling. "He Yunzhao carries Confucius in her heart, so she sees everyone as Confucius."
He carries the sage in his heart, thus seeing sages in all. What about you?
The unspoken implication was clear to everyone.
What did Gu Chengling carry in his heart?
"When I observe things, they all take on my colors."
He Yunzhao left Feng Qing with only this final remark.