Red Mansion: Fuyao River and Mountain

Chapter 95: Rongguo's first case (seeking first order)
After finishing all the chores, Jia Zheng asked for an hour's leave from the Minister Li Dekang. When Li Dekang asked the reason, he learned that today was the day when the results of the academy examination would be announced, and that Jia Cong, who was good at calligraphy, had taken a reference for this examination.

Now that Jia Cong was being raised by the second branch of the West Mansion, Jia Zheng, the second branch's uncle, naturally took this matter very seriously and wanted to go back in advance to inquire about the announcement of the results.
Li Dekang had just received a piece of calligraphy from Jia Cong. He had a good impression of this talented young man and naturally agreed.

Jia Zheng hurried back home and immediately sent his servant to the Ministry of Rites to inquire about the news.

This reminded him of his scientific examinations back then. Unfortunately, he achieved nothing, which was a lifelong regret.

I also heard from my family that Wang Ziteng came to celebrate the birthday today, and the young master of the Wang family broke into the inner courtyard and humiliated Jia Cong in person.

Jia Zheng was so angry that he smashed the teacup to pieces and yelled at Zi Teng in front of Mrs. Wang for not parenting his children well, making Mrs. Wang extremely embarrassed.

……

While the commotion was going on here, a messenger arrived at the main gate of Rongguo Mansion with the good news. The doorman was shocked when he heard the news and quickly informed the housekeeper.

Although the steward Lai Da looked down on Jia Cong, he did not dare to neglect him. The messenger who brought the good news entered through the ceremonial gate and went straight to Rong Xi Tang.

When Lady Jia, Jia Zheng, Mrs. Wang and others heard the news, they were all shocked and went to Rong Xi Tang one after another.

After the news spread, Jia Lian and Wang Xifeng both rushed over, but the inner courtyard was deep and the news could not reach Yingchun and other sisters so quickly.

The messenger who announced the good news entered the hall, knelt on one knee, and sang aloud: "Your family's son Jia Cong passed the Yongzhou Academy Examination and ranked first in the twelfth year of Jiazhao!"

First of all, this is something Jia Zheng dared not even think about. His talent for studying was limited back then, so he should be thankful that he could go to school.

The first place in the case was not something that could possibly appear in his world.

Even the fact that the yamen runner came to his house to report the good news that he had passed the exam was only a beautiful thing that could happen in his imagination.

Now it is happening right before our eyes, and they even say that Jia Cong got the first place in the college examination!
Jia Zheng's face flushed red, and he seemed to not believe his ears. He asked again with a trembling voice: "Say it again!"

The yamen runner who brought the good news was well-informed. He was used to seeing all kinds of strange reactions from the successful candidates in their sudden joy.

Now, the first place winner turned out to be the Rongguo Jia family with white jade for halls and gold for horses. Everyone knows that the Jia family has two dukes and is a prosperous and wealthy family in the world.

I am really lucky today. People like this spend money like water. I am here to announce the good news, and it is a great honor for me to be the first in the college examination. How can I not get the reward?
So he was in high spirits and sang loudly: "Your family's son Jia Cong won the first place in the Yongzhou Academy Examination in the twelfth year of Jiazhao!"

He took out the good news from his bosom. It was stamped with the large vermilion seal of the Ministry of Rites, and it could not be fake at all.

Grandmother Jia, Mrs. Wang, as well as Jia Lian, Wang Xifeng and others who arrived later were all stunned.

They all knew that Jia Cong studied very hard. In their impression, if he studied for four or five years, he would probably be able to get admitted to a university.

Even so, it is extremely outstanding in the wealthy and prosperous Jia family. If this is the case, it means that this kid has accumulated great blessings in his previous life.

But they never expected that Jia Cong would not only be admitted to the university on his first attempt, but also won the prestigious title of first place in the college examination.

When Jia Zhu entered school at the age of fourteen, he was known as a gifted prodigy, but he was just admitted to school. His ranking in the examination was still at the bottom, far behind the top scorer.

But now Jia Cong is not even thirteen years old, and he has not only passed the imperial examination and become a scholar, but also won the honor of being the first in the state. He is much better than Jia Zhu was back then!
Historically, almost half of those who won the first place in a state examination would be able to enter the palace examination and be named on the gold list.

After all, the Jia family had produced scholars such as Jia Jing and Jia Zhu, and Jia Mu, Wang Fu-ren and others knew some of the ways of scholars.

This kid is so talented at such a young age. Could it be that the Jia family is going to produce another Jinshi?
Everyone present looked shocked, but they felt differently.

It was impossible for Grandmother Jia to say that she was not happy at all. She just felt mixed emotions. Baoyu, whom she loved the most, was unknown, while the one whom she disliked the most wanted to be the first in everything. And Mrs. Wang looked at the yamen runner who brought the good news, and the fear in her eyes became deeper and deeper. She no longer had someone like Jia Zhu who could support the family, and now she only had Baoyu left.

Jia Cong and Baoyu are of the same age, one is still being pampered in the inner house, while the other has even won the title of chief at the desk. Isn't he far inferior to him? After a long time, even the old lady will have trouble saying anything.

Jia Zheng laughed heartily and said, "Madam, this is great joy! Cong, who was young and had no ambition to study, not only did he enter school at an early age, but he also won the first place in the imperial examination. This is truly a blessing from our ancestors, and a great honor to our family!"

Then he said to Lai Da: "Give this official a reward of silver and wine, no, a reward, a big reward!"

The runner was overjoyed. He knelt down and said a lot of auspicious words like "pass the imperial examination", "win the top prize in the imperial examination", "may become a noble for generations". People in their line of work were very fluent in saying these things.

This made Jia Zheng very happy, and he finally rewarded him with five gold ingots each and left happily.

Jia Zheng asked Lai Da to send someone to find Jia Cong. After a while, deafening firecrackers were heard outside the gate of Rongguo Mansion, and the noise could be heard throughout Ningrong Street.

The news that Jia Cong won the first place in the imperial examination spread quickly in the two Jia mansions. Soon Jia Zhen from the East Mansion heard the news and came to congratulate him, but there was no sign of Jia Cong.

……

Xiaoqiu, the little maid in Jia Mu's courtyard, ran quickly along the wind and rain corridor in the inner courtyard, her little face slightly flushed.

When they arrived at Qingzhizhai, they slammed the gate of the courtyard.

It was the maid Juan'er who opened the door. Xiao Qiu asked breathlessly, "Is Sister Qingwen here? I want to talk to her."

Qingwen ran out of the room and looked at Xiaoqiu, whose face was red. She frowned and said, "You little rascal, knocking on the door so loudly in broad daylight, I thought it was a robber."

Xiaoqiu didn't care about Qingwen's harsh words, and said with a smile: "Sister Yuanyang asked me to tell you a piece of news. Just now, an official came to report the good news that Master Cong won the first place in the imperial examination."

Qingwen's pretty face was filled with surprise. She pulled Xiaoqiu aside and asked, "I really got the first place!"

Xiao Qiu smiled and said, "How could it be false? I saw it with my own eyes. The second master even rewarded the official who brought the news with a large ingot. The firecrackers outside the mansion gate announcing the good news are still going off now."

Qingwen jumped three feet high with joy and shouted in a charming voice, "Third Master is so amazing! Third Master won! Third Master won the first place!"

Juan'er and Si'er were also having a great time in the yard.

At this time Wu'er also ran out after hearing the news. With a look of surprise on her face, she pulled Xiaoqiu and asked again, then she happily hugged Qingwen.

Laughter like silver bells echoed in Qingzhizhai, and the green bamboos in the courtyard seemed to be infected as well, swaying lightly in the autumn breeze.

Xiao Qiu looked at the scene in front of her with some envy, and said, "Sister Qingwen, it's so nice here, and the Third Master is so capable. Why don't you ask the old lady to let me come over and join you."

Qingwen tapped Xiaoqiu's head with her finger and scolded her with a smile, "What are you dreaming of, little girl? Just stay with the old lady. But you have done a great job today, so I'll reward you."

As he spoke, he pulled Xiaoqiu into the room and brought over two plates of snacks that Wu'er had just made. Wu'er then poured her a cup of hot tea with a smile.

Xiaoqiu was at the age when she was very greedy. She kept stuffing snacks into her mouth and ate them with great pleasure. She even forgot the melancholy she had just felt when Qingwen rejected her.

The cute way he ate made Wu'er Qingwen giggle.

(End of this chapter)