Chapter 62 Part 2: Top of The List
One day, two days, three days, four days, five days. At last it was the morning of the fifth day. Surprisingly, all the gambling dens in the city opened their doors early in the morning to welcome customers. The continuous stream of gamblers crowded the gambling dens’ doors, making them impenetrable. In addition, the tea shops and restaurants were also exceptionally bustling with excitement today and every seat was taken by guests. Even those shabby, tiny taverns that usually had no visitors during the day were jam-packed with diners.
What the people were discussing enthusiastically about was precisely the notice that would be put up today.
“In the Imperial College’s notice of successful examinees today, don’t know how many handsome and talented youngsters will fill Yanjing this year.”
“Ming Yi Hall will also put out their notice today. Many of the n.o.ble misses are talented and good-looking. Who would carry the best reputation this year?”
The most talked about were still “Meng Hong Jin” and “Jiang Li”, these two names.
“In my opinion, the best thing to see today is Ming Yi Hall’s notice. Everyone, let’s not forget, before the examination, the young lady from Chengxuan envoy’s residence and the n.o.ble daughter from the chief a.s.sistant’s house have made a bet. Whoever loses has to kneel at Ming Yi Hall’s gate and apologize. What Imperial College’s gifted scholars and Ming Yi Hall’s talented girls, they both don’t have the excitement of this wager. Don’t you think so?”
Everyone toasted in agreement. Someone shook their head and said: “The chief a.s.sistant is pitiful. This time, the peaceful house of the chief of the court official is implicated by this malicious daughter and reduced to a laughingstock.”
“Sad, sad.” Another person followed with a sigh.
“Isn’t there still a third miss in the chief a.s.sistant’s house? That third miss is worthy of being a daughter of a n.o.ble house. Master Jiang couldn’t be counted as totally embarra.s.sed.”
“Let me state the difference, the birth mother of Jiang third miss is the young lady from Vice Imperial Censor Ji’s family, educated and intelligent. While the birth mother of Jiang second miss was just a merchant. So to speak, marry a virtuous wife from the same status. You see how a daughter from a merchant’s family turned out to be, the daughter she gave birth to is also not proper to be seen…….”
At this moment, Ye Shijie was sitting among the guests downstairs in Yanjing’s biggest restaurant, w.a.n.g Xian Lou. His ears were buzzing with the comments made by the people on this matter. Hearing “a merchant”, Ye Shijie clenched his fists.
A close friend beside him asked: “Looking at the time, the notice should have been put out. Why is there still no movement?”
He just finished speaking and immediately saw the crowd near the window suddenly made some noise. Someone said: “Coming, coming!”
The man who posted the long-awaited list came.
The people waiting outside cheered and surrounded him at once but the imperial bodyguards kept the crowd back. After the red list of names were posted on a prominent wall and the man posting it had left, the impatient crowd immediately moved like the wind and encircled it.
Some people couldn’t squeeze in, their heads could be seen bouncing outside, trying in vain to see. From time to time they asked the people inside: “Have you seen it? Who’s at the top of the list?”
There’s an uproar outside, Ye Shijie, this name was too unfamiliar, apparently not belonging to any of the capital’s official families.
“What about Ming Yi Hall?” In the middle of the chaos, some people were more concerned about other things and asked: “Who occupies Ming Yi Hall’s top position?”
A young man acting just like a microphone lengthened his voice and said: “The top position at Ming Yi Hall is, is ——” His voice abruptly stopped and was replaced the sound of a long, cold breath sucked in.
The surrounding crowd became increasingly anxious and their heart itched. They urged and scolded: “Quickly ah, why the suspense, in the end who is it?”
The young man was shoved a few times before he came out of his daze. He turned around in a bad mood and spat out a name.
“Jiang Li!”
Jiang Li?!
The crowd exploded.