f easy later. She had suspected that Meng Jin Yao had instructed Gu Xuanyi to make things difficult for her, but now seeing Meng Jin Yao's expressionless face, she knew this matter was definitely not...Two days later, the entrance exam results will be released.

Zhang's family sent someone to look at the list early in the morning to see if Xiuwen had passed the examination for scholar.

Meng Jinyo was no exception. After finishing breakfast, she sent a servant to check the list to see if her second younger brother's name was on it.

When it was nearly noon, the servant sent out came back with good news. Gu Xiuwen had passed the examination to become a scholar. The whole family was overjoyed. Xiuwen was the most intelligent and quick-witted child among several generations, but also the laziest. He couldn't bear the hardships of studying. After spending more than a year at Lingshan Academy, he could be said to have been reborn and made great strides.

> Over the past year or so, I've been studying diligently day and night, making up for lost knowledge. With a sharp mind, I've achieved twice the results with half the effort. In my first attempt at the imperial examination, I passed as a scholar. If I had studied seriously from a young age, it would have been no problem to be among the top three.

Besides Gu Xiuwen, Meng Chengzhang also made the list, and he was even ranked first, which surprised his older sister Meng Jinyang immensely.

However, Meng Chengxing, the son of Yongchang Bo and brother to Meng Chengzhang, was a completely different story. He failed the exam miserably, not even coming close to last place. Compared to his brother, who ranked first in the courtyard examination, the difference between them was vast.

Zhang was still smiling, her eyes narrowed into slits just a moment ago. But the next moment, hearing that her sister-in-law's brother was at the top of the list, her smile faded somewhat. The second son of the Meng family was two years younger than her Xiuwen, but he was already at the top of the list at such a young age. Her son couldn't even make it into the top ten. It really is a comparison that makes one feel increasingly depressed.

However, Gu Xiwen didn't think there was anything wrong. He was already very happy to have passed the exam as a scholar, after all, his teacher hadn't even dared to guarantee it, only saying that if he performed normally, he should be able to pass. Upon learning that his good friend Meng Chengzhang had topped the list, he was even happier and laughed heartily: "Third Aunt, I made a bet with Second Uncle before, I said he would definitely be in the top three, he didn't think it was possible, now that he has topped the list, I won."

He used to call Meng Chengzhang "Uncle Two" following Gu Xiuming's lead. Now that Gu Xiuming has been exiled and disowned by the clan, he still calls Meng Chengzhang "Uncle Two" in public. Only when they are alone does he call him by his name. The reason for this is simple: he feels that after his aunt and uncle adopt another child, that child will be his brother. His brother's uncle would be his elder, so calling him "uncle" along with his brother is perfectly acceptable.

Meng Jin yao smiled and asked, "Xiuwen, what did you bet with Chengzhang"

Gu Xiwen truthfully said, "I made a bet with my second uncle. If I win, he has to wash my clothes for three days. If he wins, I have to wash his clothes for three days."

Meng Jin Yao nodded with a smile: "I see. When you return to the academy, just ask your second uncle to wash your clothes. Have him wash them for three days straight."

Gu Xiuming smiled and said, "With Third Aunt's words, even if Second Uncle is an elder, I'm not afraid."

Seeing her youngest son like this, Zhang suddenly felt that he was a bit naive. He kept calling his second uncle with such familiarity.

But then again, maybe Sanfang will consider having Xiwen adopted in the future After all, Xiwen is a child that Shushu watched grow up, someone he knows well, and there won't be a situation like with Xiuming. This way, Meng Er Gongzi will become Xiwen's legitimate uncle.

Even though Xiuwen may not have received any official promotions, his friendship with the younger brother of Sandie's sister will benefit both him and Sandie's sister in the future. Sandi's brother is bound to help her brother out, and if Sandie's brother succeeds, Xiuwen will also benefit from this connection.

Thinking this way, Zhang felt happy again, thinking her younger son was clever and insightful.

The fact that Zhong Xiucai passed the imperial examination is a happy event. Following custom, the Gu family hosted a banquet at home, opened the ancestral hall to worship their ancestors, and informed them of the good news. This way, the spirits of their ancestors in heaven could rest assured, knowing that the descendants of the Gu family were successful and would not bring shame upon the family name.

-

Lord Yongchang's Mansion.

Madam Meng and Meng Dongyuan anxiously awaited at home, eagerly anticipating the return of their servant who was going to check the examination results. As elders, they both felt a certain amount of nervousness about their two children participating in this academy exam.

Meng Chengzhang and Meng Chengxing, as the parties involved, were also nervous, but their reasons for nervousness were different.

Meng Chengzhang wanted to work hard to become stronger, a pillar of support for his elder sister. He always felt that even though her brother-in-law loved her now, things might change in the future. It would be better to have a strong family to rely on. His father, who only cared about profit, was unreliable; he had to become strong himself.

While Meng Chengxing was thinking about surpassing his second older brother, as long as he passed the exam to become a scholar, his grandmother and father would value him the most. Even if he and his second brother both passed the exam to become scholars, they would still value him more. But if he failed the exam, and his second brother passed, his grandmother and father might favor his second brother instead, then he would fall out of favor.

When the young servant ran back with a beaming face, Madam Meng and Meng Dongyuan knew it was good news. Both mother and son beamed with joy.

Even Dong's face had a smile on it. Regardless of which scholar passed the exam, her husband would be happy. When her husband was happy, he became much more talkative. Otherwise, if he wore a stern face and wasn't pleased, she would have to coax him. Previously, when his adopted daughter and Qin family's young lady had caused a scene in the street, her husband was furious, and even for the past two days, she had to be careful with her words. Fortunately, the engagement between the Xiao family and the Qin family wasn't broken, otherwise, her husband would have been even angrier.

Mrs. Meng asked, "What place did the young master come in"

The maidservant, upon hearing this, hesitated to speak: “This…”

Meng Dongyuan, thinking that his son's ranking was not high, said, "It doesn't matter if the ranking is lower. The prince is only thirteen years old. Being a talented scholar at thirteen is already very good."

The maidservant, after hearing this, looked nervously at the young master and then at the second young master. She stammered, "I have read the list three times, Young Master...he...his name is not on it.

"

Unranked

As soon as these words were spoken, both Madam Meng and Meng Dongyuan were stunned. They hadn't expected this outcome. Even if Chengxing didn't rank among the top, he shouldn't have failed to make the list at all. Before the exam, Chengxing was full of confidence, and after the exam, he said he had performed fairly well.

Soon, the mother and son comforted themselves, saying that Chengxing was still young and would surely succeed next time.

Meng Chenxing felt a pang of disappointment when he heard this, but he wasn't too shaken. He was only thirteen years old; there would be another chance to take the exam next time. As long as his second older brother also failed, his position wouldn't be threatened.

The maidservant, seeing the master and mistress's gloomy faces, stammered, "B-but, Second Master... he, he is on the list."

Upon hearing this, Meng Chengxing suddenly looked at his second brother. The slight disappointment he had just felt instantly magnified, overwhelming him like a tidal wave, as if it were going to consume him.

Madam Meng and Meng Dongyuan's faces immediately improved. Chengzhang is also a child from their family, and Chengzhang becoming a Xiucai is indeed a joyous occasion.

However, Cheng Xing failed the scholar examination. Cheng Zhang, who was a year older than Cheng Xing, had studied for an extra year and was estimated to have a similar ranking. He barely made it onto the list, but at the age of fourteen, being a scholar is still very impressive and brings honor to their Meng family.

Seeing that her husband and mother-in-law both had smiles on their faces, Dong also smiled and asked, "What place did the Second Master come in".Gu Jingxi said, gently putting the person down.Meng Jin Yao was stunned for a moment, then quickly remembered what happened, and stammered, "I just lay there for a while and didn't expect to fall asl...