inspire-indiana Chapter 864: Last Place, Everyone Disappointed
Chapter 864: Last Place, Everyone Disappointed
Song Ruier couldn't sleep all night, tossing and turning, and woke up with dark circles under her eyes in the morning.
The Song family also stayed up all night, immersed in joy and excitement.
Once Song Ruier got a good position, she arranged for all the men in her family to be placed in it, even an old man like Song Fusheng wanted to become an official.
"I never imagined that I, Song Fusheng, who have spent my whole life farming, working from dawn till dusk like an ox pulling a millstone in the fields, would one day become an official in the capital."
Song Fusheng puffed on his pipe, exhaling large plumes of smoke, his face filled with satisfaction.
He thought to himself, "Luckily, my wife died two years ago. Once I become an official, I can marry a new bride again."
Song Guangtian, Song Guangdi, and their sons—all the men in the Song family—looked at their wives with disdain in their eyes.
If I had known I would have such good fortune today, I wouldn't have rushed to get married so early. If they had become officials, these uneducated country wives would not have looked like the matriarch of the household at all.
Sigh, I guess I'll just have to accept my bad luck and feed them some porridge and vegetables.
Song Dujuan lay in bed, her eyes open until dawn.
She wasn't as optimistic as the other members of the Song family thought.
Because she discovered that Song Ruier seemed to have a hidden worry that had been accompanying him all along.
She decided that if Song Ruier really succeeded, she would use his success as a stepping stone to help her in life.
If he isn't as useful as she imagined, she can read and write anyway, and she'll work hard to create a good future for herself.
Just imagining the Song family surrounding Song Ruier like a bunch of zombies waiting to drink her blood and gnaw on her flesh terrified her, even though she herself had played a part in it.
If that day ever comes, she should still find a way to get rid of the Song family.
The results of the imperial examination were posted on the palace walls.
The list, with its red background and black text, is quite eye-catching.
The list above includes the top three scholars (状元, 榜眼, 探花), the second-ranked scholars (进士), and the third-ranked scholars (同进士).
Within each rank, there is a ranking system that determines the importance of the official position.
The spring examination and the palace examination, held once every three years, are very important for many students and their families. The place was packed with people, so crowded that it was noisy and chaotic.
Qiao Lian'er stood in front of the list, looking at that name, a slight smile playing on her lips.
Song Ruier arrived surrounded by a group of students, and along the way he received much praise and anticipation.
But his heart was filled with fear and unease, as if he were hanging on the edge of a cliff, ready to shatter at any moment.
"Excuse me, everyone, we are test takers and we've come to check the results."
A young man from a prominent family stood on tiptoe, pushing his way through the crowd as he spoke.
Hearing that the examinees had arrived, people jostled and made way for them.
In reality, this group mainly consisted of scholars who had passed the county-level imperial examinations and those who had passed the provincial-level examinations; only two of them actually passed the spring imperial examinations.
They instinctively looked for the name Pang You.
There was no one in the first rank, and no one in the second rank either.
"Strange, how come I can't find it?"
A young nobleman looked at Song Ruier with some disbelief and raised his finger.
"Where is she? Last place in the top three, how could she—" He didn't finish his sentence, but seeing Song Ruier's expression, his eyes once again held judgment and doubt.
Didn't they say that Song Ruier performed very well in the palace examination? This is confirmed news, which is why they are so close to him.
How come they're in last place?
Even the lowest ranking on this list is something many people envy and would want to achieve.
But this should absolutely not be the result of performing well in the palace examination.
Not to mention, being granted a very good official position, at most the eighth rank would be the highest one could hope for.
Song Ruier waited anxiously all night, and his guess proved correct.
He stared intently at his name, his whole body stiff, his face drained of color, as if even his bones were cold.
Just as I expected, just as I expected!
Gradually, his body began to tremble.
Qiao Lian'er, Qiao Lian'er, this name kept appearing in his mind. A dizzying, stinging sensation surged and clashed in his internal organs, then climbed up to his forehead.
He seemed to have really seen Qiao Lian'er; she was in the crowd, turning around and smiling at him.
The morning sunlight was extremely dazzling, as was Qiao Lian'er's smile. Song Rui'er didn't know if it was a hallucination, but his mind was completely blank, leaving no room for further thought.
He yelled and stumbled back a few steps, almost falling over.
The scions of wealthy families frowned and stepped aside, but a bystander caught him.
"Brother Pang, it's common knowledge that you performed well in yesterday's imperial examination, yet you received this ranking. Is there something the Emperor is dissatisfied with about you?"
"That's right. Logically speaking, this shouldn't be the case. The Emperor didn't show any disdain for your right hand in the palace, nor did he ask a single question. Why did this happen? Did you do something to displease the Emperor?"
Concerned about this possibility, these scions of wealthy families distanced themselves even further.
They knew that Pang You might have offended the Princess Zhenguo, and they were afraid.
If you offend even the emperor, then you should definitely not get close to him.
Listening to these people chattering away, Song Ruier's heart trembled.
"No, it's just that I'm the youngest, so I came in last place. Don't overthink it," he murmured.
But everyone's faces clearly showed disbelief.
If a young person is outstanding and has unlimited potential, the emperor may even raise their ranking by several places; at least, this is the case for the current emperor.
Young Master Liu was the one with the highest expectations, because he most wanted to rely on Song Ruier.
The Emperor's attitude clearly indicates that he will not give Song Ruier an important position.
His expression turned cold: "Brother Pang, it's like this, I've decided to leave my house for my relatives. They've just arrived in the capital and are waiting to be settled. Please return the house deed and land deed."
Even though Song Ruier knew the fickleness of human relationships and that these people came with ulterior motives, she never expected that the other party would change their attitude so quickly and so directly and rudely.
He glared at Young Master Liu: "Didn't you say you'd give it to me? You're going back in front of so many people? That's too realistic and heartless."
Young Master Liu sighed, seemingly disappointed in his son.
"Take Brother Pang for example, how can you not understand that this is how realistic the capital is? You are of no use to me, so why should I help you? Instead of reflecting on your own actions, you have offended even the Emperor and now you want to blame me. Sigh, you are the kind of person I am."
The other young masters from wealthy families also shook their heads.
"Forget it, I won't ask Brother Pang for money for the big meal I treated him to yesterday."
"Brother Pang, you can keep these clothes. I don't want to go back."
Seeing that Song Ruier remained unmoved, Young Master Liu directly reached out and touched his body to find the contract.