SGEIRS -Chapter 328 Making the List in the Provincial Exam

This day was the day the results of the provincial exam were announced.

Everyone in the mansion was on edge, because the Second Young Master of the household had taken this year’s provincial exam. If his name appeared on the list, he would be eligible to take the palace exam.

Once someone qualified for the palace exam, they would be considered a jinshi. The first rank of jinshi had only three slots—unrealistic to expect—but the second rank could still be fought for. After all, the treatment and status between the second and third ranks were different.

All the men of the household, except those who were already working at government offices or attending the academy, gathered at Old Madam Gu’s residence. Gu Xiuhong was also present, waiting for the servant sent to check the results to return.

If the name appeared on the list, the Marquis Residence would gain prestige. In a family, when one person succeeds, everyone shares in the honor; if one person disgraces themselves, the whole family loses face. Gu Xiuming had been a perfect example—the absurd things he had done had made the entire Marquis Residence a laughingstock.

Madam Zhang, noticing that her nephew was calmer than the elders, asked with curiosity, “Xiuhong, everyone is so nervous—why aren’t you?”

Gu Xiuhong replied, “Aunt, there’s no use in being nervous at a time like this. If it doesn’t work out, we’ll try again in three years. My older brother will take it in three years, and who knows? Maybe both of us will pass together, just like last year’s autumn exam.”

Old Madam Gu, hearing this, looked at her grandson with approval and said, “With such patience, even if you fail this year, you’ll surely be on the list three years from now.”

“Xiuhong has always been steady. I bet he’ll make the list this time,” said Madam Zhang, picking a pleasant thing to say—after all, praising someone costs nothing. She then turned to Madam Chen, “Second sister-in-law, I think this is the time to arrange a marriage for Xiuhong. If he marries by the end of the year, maybe by next year he’ll be holding a big, fat grandson.”

Madam Chen glanced at her son and said helplessly, “I also hope to hold a grandson soon, but matters like this should follow fate. If he fails this year, we’ll wait a few more years. Xiuhong is stubborn; he insists on securing a good result before considering marriage.”

Old Madam Gu gently said, “Xiuhong has ambitions, and we elders should support him. Establishing a career can even come before marriage. He’s only eighteen—waiting a few more years doesn’t matter. Once he’s accomplished, what worry is there that a good girl won’t want to marry him?”

Being spoken about in terms of marriage before the elders made Gu Xiuhong’s cheeks flush slightly.

Madam Chen nodded in agreement, “Mother is right.”

Not long after, a maid came in to report, “Old Madam, Xiao Liu has returned from checking the list.”

Upon hearing this, everyone tensed. Even the usually calm Gu Xiuhong couldn’t help clenching his fists, showing signs of nervousness.

Old Madam Gu hurriedly said, “Quick, let him in.”

A moment later, Xiao Liu entered, bowed to the elders, and with a beaming smile said, “Old Madam, Second Young Master has made the list—he ranked forty-eighth.”

Forty-eighth?

Everyone was astonished. Rank forty-eight was no small feat—the provincial exam drew candidates from all over the country. Gu Xiuhong, only eighteen, achieving this rank was remarkable. Many people studied all their lives and never managed to pass. With a provincial exam rank of forty-eight, if he performed normally in the palace exam, he would become a second-rank jinshi; even if he didn’t, he would still be a third-rank jinshi.

Madam Chen’s joy overflowed. She looked at her son with tears glistening in her eyes, weeping from happiness. She had watched his hard work for so many years, and now there was finally a good result—it made the long years of study worthwhile.

Gu Xiuhong was also surprised. He had expected he might appear on the list, but rank forty-eight was beyond his expectation—an unexpected delight. Last year, he ranked eighteenth in the autumn exam. While that was high in the capital, in the provincial exam, with candidates from all over the country, even if he made the list, he would have expected a rank outside the top one hundred.

Madam Zhang felt a pang of envy. Last year, although Xiuyuan passed the autumn exam, he ranked one hundred and twentieth—seventh from the bottom. Even if he took the spring exam this year, there was no hope of a high rank.

Old Madam Gu was very pleased to see such promise in her descendants and nodded repeatedly, saying, “Good, truly good!” Then she gave a meaningful glance to the maid beside her.

The maid understood immediately and handed Xiao Liu the prepared reward money.

Xiao Liu accepted the reward, thanked the elders, and withdrew.

Old Madam Gu praised, “Xiuhong has brought honor to the Gu family again. With such outstanding descendants, the Gu family will remain strong.”

Gu Xiuhong, a little embarrassed by the praise, humbly said, “Grandmother, I made the list thanks to Third Uncle’s guidance these past days, plus the exam happened to play to my strengths. It was just luck, nothing more.”

Old Madam Gu waved her hand dismissively, “Even so, you’ve made the effort. If you hadn’t, even the greatest scholar of the time as a teacher couldn’t have helped you pass. Besides, the imperial exams always involve an element of luck. If the questions happen to suit your strengths, it increases your chances—this is our ancestors’ blessing.”

She paused, then continued, “There’s still time before the palace exam. You must not relax. Keep working hard and aim for a good rank there too.”

Gu Xiuhong quickly said, “Grandmother, rest assured. I will continue to work hard and strive for the best.”

Old Madam Gu smiled in satisfaction and told Madam Chen, “Today is a joyful day for our family. Hold a family feast tonight to celebrate. As the mother, you will oversee the dinner. After the palace exam, we will hold a ceremony in the ancestral hall to report this good news to our forebears.”

Madam Chen smiled and replied, “Yes, Mother.”

With the family’s success, the Gu household shone with pride. Old Madam Gu’s smile never faded.

In truth, the Gu family was not originally a scholarly household. The ancestors of the family, back when the High Ancestor Emperor was conquering the land, were unlettered warriors. They made a living as escorts at the courier bureau. During times of chaos, the bureau barely survived.

By chance, they encountered the High Ancestor Emperor recruiting talent. At that time, the emperor was highly regarded as the future wise ruler of the land, attracting many capable men. The ancestors and other escort masters decided to try their luck. If successful, it would be their chance for fame and fortune.

They gambled their lives on this bet—and won. The High Ancestor Emperor overthrew the tyrannical previous dynasty, quelled rebellions, ascended the throne, and established a new dynasty. Of the escort masters who joined him, only two survived. One became the Marquis of Jiangning but tragically lost his son in middle age, his beloved wife had already passed, and he had no heirs, dying before their ancestors. The other was their own ancestor, who as a meritorious official was granted a marquisate, becoming the Marquis of Changxing, with the title hereditary and unbroken.

Yet, even as a high-ranking marquis, he could not even write a memorial and behaved crudely. Civil officials mocked him behind his back as an illiterate, coarse warrior.

Because he had been denied education in youth, he made his descendants study diligently, hiring famous teachers. He did not expect them to top the imperial exams, only that they would no longer be mocked as unlettered. His instruction was strict.

Gradually, the Gu family transitioned from military to civil service, producing three top-ranking scholars, the third being Gu Jingxi. They also had many jinshi, slowly becoming a scholarly household.

As for military officers, the family still had sons in the army, though with low ranks. In times of peace, it was difficult for them to earn great achievements and promotions, so they had to build their careers slowly or wait for opportunities to distinguish themselves.