Chapter 62 Part 1: Top of The List
Sometimes I feel all these people insist on their own views. Not considering why others acted the way they did and just delude themselves into thinking what they want to think. This really lead to their own downfall *sigh*
Calligraphy, Mathematics, Etiquette. According to Jiang Li, they were very easy.
The school in Tongxiang wasn’t as wealthy and beautiful as Ming Yi Hall, but it was not at all shallow. On the contrary, Jiang Li believed that in terms of learning, the rich had their own n.o.ble way of learning, while the common people also had their commoner way of learning. Although there wasn’t any teacher from the palace personally instructing them, Jiang Li thought under Xue Huaiyuan’s attentive teaching, she could be considered not too bad. Moreover, Xue Huaiyuan was never stingy and let her see the vast sky and freedom, causing her to be even more far-sighted than most men.
Otherwise, when she was staying in Yanjing, aside from being the first beauty, she wouldn’t have the name of the first talented girl.
Pondered, put the pen to paper, finished writing, as if it was something that could be done in one go. Once more, taking off the chain of being “madam of the top scorer”, perhaps due to being dead once, she was even more open-minded. Jiang Li wrote even more smoothly and easily. The supervisor patrolling inside the room was astonished upon seeing her put her pen to paper as if possessed, with hardly any pause.
Time quickly pa.s.sed by and the three exams were over. The supervisor carefully collected the scrolls of paper away, exhorted a few important matters repeatedly before immediately departed. What’s left was to wait for the announcement five days later to find out the results.
Jiang Li left Ming Yi Hall’s outer garden and Jiang You Yao immediately chased after her. From far away she asked: “Second sister, what do you think?”
“Not bad.” Jiang Li replied with a smile.
“Second sister does not have to force it.” Jiang Yu’e took the opportunity to taunt Jiang Li, “second sister must be racking your brain in today’s exam, extremely tired. Use these few days to have a good rest in the residence. Wait for the day the notice is put up, us younger sisters will together help you to take a look.”
“Then thank you for your trouble.” Jiang Li nodded.
Seeing that Jiang Li wasn’t angry at all and there wasn’t any panic or weariness on her, both Jiang You Yao and Jiang Yu’e were annoyed. But in a flash they thought, perhaps Jiang Li pretended to look happy and they were once again in a cheerful mood.
Meng Hong Jin stood by the gate. After the examination was over, she felt that she had done pretty well. She looked at Jiang Li with a provocative smile and said: “Jiang second miss, don’t forget our wager. The day the notice is put up, all of us will come to Ming Yi Hall’s gate. When the moment comes, don’t make excuses and be unwilling to come. Then it will be considered as going back on your word and will certainly be ridiculed by others.”
“Right back at you.” Jiang Li remained calm.
“Meng Hong Jing snorted coldly and walked away. Liu Lu looked worriedly at Jiang Li and asked: “Just now… did you feel it was difficult?”
“You wouldn’t believe me if I said it wasn’t hard.” Jiang Li patted her hand, “no need to worry, just rest easily in the following few days. I’ll see you again in five days, okay?”
She smiled and walked further away with Tong’er and Baixue.
When they came close to the carriage, Jiang Li saw Ye Shijie standing far away at the Imperial College’s gate talking to the person beside him. Looking at his carefree appearance, he must have done pretty well. Baixue asked: “Does miss want to go and greet elder master Ye?”
“There’s no need.” Jiang Li smiled slightly, “there are many people and many different eyes looking. We’ll meet on the day the notice is put up.”
When Jiang Li returned to the Jiang residence, Jiang Jing Rui again came to Fang Fei Garden to bother and annoyingly asked Jiang Li how today’s battle went. After sending him away with great difficulty, Ji Shuran also dispatched someone to send fruits, saying that they were to relieve tiredness.
The following few days pa.s.sed with tranquility within the Jiang residence. Old madam Jiang and Jiang Yuan Bai didn’t ask Jiang Li anything about the examination, probably deliberately avoiding this subject. All day long, Jiang Jing Rui was anxious that Jiang Li was going to be thoroughly humiliated at the gate of Ming Yi Hall. Yet Jiang Li wasn’t worried and pa.s.sed her days leisurely and carefreely, appearing absolutely not anxious about the bet with Meng Hong Jin.