On the day of the results announcement, a large crowd gathered in front of the notice board. Similarly, there was also a throng in front of the mutton restaurant across the street. On one side were the candidates waiting for the imperial examination results, and on the other were the common people looking to fill their stomachs.
Li Jingyun, Su Gui, Di Renjie, and Hao Chujun were having a meal in the mutton restaurant. This group looked like two older brothers taking their younger siblings out for breakfast.
The fragrant smell of mutton wafted through the air, making people's mouths water.
"Princess, do you know the inside story? Did we pass the exam or not?" Su Gui served a bowl of mutton soup for Li Jingyun and asked curiously.
With Li Jingyun's capabilities, she should even be able to eavesdrop on His Majesty's discussions about the top candidates, right?
Maybe His Majesty and the Crown Prince even had to seriously consider her opinions.
Li Jingyun smiled, held the steaming mutton soup, took a big sip, then slumped contentedly into her seat, patting her stomach. "I don't know. Don't you remember? Your names were covered. How could I know?"
"You're such a bad liar."
Su Gui rolled his eyes and complained. Did she really think he was a naive child to be fooled like this?
He was getting closer and closer to Li Jingyun, and his words were becoming more and more casual.
Di Renjie and Hao Chujun, hearing the conversation between Li Jingyun and Su Gui, thought that fortunately they were facing the little princess. If it were someone else, Su Gui would have been scolded so badly that he wouldn't know which way was up.
"Why are you so impatient? You'll know in a while. Or are you not confident in your own learning?"
Suddenly, a voice sounded behind them.
Li Jingyun quickly turned her head and saw Li You. She even stopped drinking the mutton soup and rushed over directly. "Fifth Brother! Why are you here?"
"The results are about to be announced. It's such a big event. Of course I have to come and take a look." Li You rubbed his younger sister's fair and tender face and said with a smile.
Li You was dressed in a silk round - collared robe. Beside him was a fair - skinned and handsome young man. At first glance, he looked no different from the sons of ordinary wealthy families. In fact, Li Jingyun knew that he had changed a lot.
Since he took charge of these mutton restaurants, he had traveled far and wide, seen many people and things, and with the help of Shi An, he had become much more mature. His relationship with his siblings had also become closer. He just didn't often visit his uncle or Concubine Yin.
"Greetings to His Highness the King of Qi."
The three quickly stood up and saluted.
Li You smiled and waved his hand. "Sit down. No need for such formalities. Is the food to your liking?"
"The mutton here, Your Highness, is tender and juicy, extremely delicious. We all like it very much."
Hao Chujun heaped praise on Li You, which made Li You beam with joy. He nodded repeatedly. "Alright, enjoy your meal. Hong Xuan, have fun."
"Thank you, Fifth Brother!"
Li You had just come to say hello. After that, he left.
Li Jingyun was concerned about the imperial examination results because several of her acquaintances had taken the exam. If Su Gui passed, he would enter the court as an official. If he didn't, he could only become an official in her princess mansion.
If Di Renjie passed, he could find out the truth about the wool trade. As for Hao Chujun, there was no need to say more. His family had fallen into decline, and he was waiting to pass the exam to revive it.
"Why aren't they announcing the results yet?" Hao Chujun, who had been silent all this time, craned his neck and eagerly awaited the results. However, there was still no news from that side.
Instead, a group of people walked towards their mutton restaurant.
What was going on?
Were they hungry after waiting for the results and came here to eat something first?
The leader was a middle - aged man in his thirties or forties, with calloused hands but dressed in a Confucian scholar's robe. He led a group of people over and saluted Li Jingyun. "May I ask if this is Princess Chengyang?"
"It's me."
"We are here to thank the Princess for her great kindness!"
Everyone saluted together. There were at least three hundred people, and more and more people were gathering. Li Jingyun felt a little flustered. Where was Cheng Chuxia? He wasn't here today!
"Be excused! Get up!" At the sight of his master's signal, Eunuch Feng immediately said.
"Thank you, Princess!"
Li Jingyun took a good look at the man in front of her. Wasn't he the candidate who had been invited to visit the library when it was first built?
After so long, he could still recognize her?
"Why aren't you waiting for the results and come to find me instead? Is it because of the library?" Li Jingyun asked curiously, tilting her head.
The leading man nodded repeatedly. "That's right. If it weren't for the library proposed and built by the Princess, how could we from poor families be able to read those books for free? This is all the Princess's great kindness!"
The others echoed, "Thank you, Princess!"
"You don't have to be like this." Li Jingyun smiled.
Su Gui also stood up. "Gentlemen, if you really want to repay the Princess, then make some achievements and benefit the common people. This is what we scholars should do."
"True! True indeed!"
Everyone nodded repeatedly, indicating their agreement.
Sure enough, the people around the little princess were remarkable. Even at such a young age, they could have such profound insights.
Just then, the results were announced across the street. Everyone briefly bid farewell to Li Jingyun and rushed over in a hurry to check their rankings.
Su Gui and the others were no exception. Hao Chujun was the most anxious. He was waiting for this ranking to change his fate.
Otherwise, the little family fortune left by his father would be eaten up by him.
Li Jingyun didn't go over. She leisurely finished the remaining half - bowl of mutton soup. Fortunately, the weather was getting warmer, and it was still warm after being left outside for so long.
She already knew the rankings.
Su Gui, Di Renjie, and Hao Chujun had all passed. Di Renjie had the highest ranking, while Su Gui and Hao Chujun's rankings were similar. In fact, last night, she had even discussed with her father what official positions to give them.
In the end, they came up with something, but it was of no use anyway. They still had to consider the opinions of the prime ministers in the Political Affairs Hall.
She even privately thought that even if Su Gui passed the exam, she still wanted him to be the chief official of her princess mansion.
From the crowd, laughter and sobs could be heard from time to time. It was a time of joy for some and sorrow for others.
Two quarters of an hour later, Hao Chujun came over, excitedly sharing the news with Li Jingyun. "Princess, I passed! I finally passed!"
"Hao Da, isn't this your first time taking the exam? Why do you say 'finally'?"
Manjing dared to call him like this. In a few days, when he really became an official, they would have to address him by his official title.
"I'm just too happy. It was a slip of the tongue. Please don't blame me, miss." Hao Chujun said with a smile.
After getting this ranking, he seemed to relax completely. He seemed to be glowing and was no longer as tense as before, looking more at ease.
Di Renjie and Su Gui also came out together. Both of them were beaming with confidence. Su Gui said, "Someone will go to my house to inform my family later, right? It's my turn to feel proud."
"Someone should go to your father and mother's place. As for your sister, my elder brother is there. Congratulations, gentlemen. You've achieved your wishes."
Li Jingyun smiled. "Next, there will be the Deer Cry Banquet."