USWHC -Chapter 503 Alliance (Part 3)

Lu Anzhi immediately shouted excitedly, “Sixty-ninth place in the second class! Not bad, not bad! This year I can finally get assigned a decent post!”

Sixty-ninth place—among thousands of candidates, that was already quite good. Ji Yi instantly grew nervous and asked, “Do you know how many were selected in total this year?”

“Seems like one hundred and ninety-nine,” Lu Anzhi muttered, clearly not entirely certain.

Hearing this, Ji Yi’s heart leapt into his throat. The selection rate was far too low! “Then in what order do they announce the results?”

“There’s no fixed order. They probably go to whichever household is closest first,” Lu Anzhi replied hesitantly.

“Then the Princess’s residence should count as close, right?” Ji Yi swallowed hard, his anxiety tightening even further.

Only then did Lu Anzhi seem to realize what he meant and burst out laughing. “Ah, so that’s what you were worried about! You’re anxious too, huh? Don’t worry—the Princess’s residence is about as close as it gets. How many people can live right next to the imperial city? Most candidates are staying in inns out in the suburbs waiting for news. You’re so close—they might arrive any moment!”

Though he said that, time passed, and even Ji Yi began to grow impatient. Unconsciously, he walked toward the front gate of the residence.

“It’s already broad daylight—why hasn’t anyone come back yet?” Princess Lanxin said anxiously. At this point, even she could no longer sit still and had come out to wait.

But someone beside her poured cold water on the situation. “At this hour, they’ve probably already finished delivering all the results. If nothing came, that means he didn’t pass.”

With the consort’s blunt remark, Ji Yi’s heart sank. Could it be that he truly failed?

At that moment, Princess Lanxin spotted Ji Yi approaching. Seeing his face pale as death, she quickly tried to comfort him. “With Young Master Ji’s talent, how could you possibly fail? Don’t listen to his nonsense!”

Before Ji Yi could respond, a group of people appeared in the distance. Xiang Lian took one look and recognized them—it was the servants she had sent out to inquire about the results. She immediately rushed forward and asked nervously, “Well? Is Young Master’s name on the list?”

The leading servant sighed before speaking. “Not yet.”

“Then why did you come back?” Xiang Lian snapped in displeasure.

The servant raised his head resentfully, casting her a slight glare. “All the announcements have been delivered. What’s the point of waiting there anymore?”

All delivered? And still no name?

With a loud buzz in his head, as if struck by a thunderbolt, Ji Yi staggered backward. Impossible—had he really failed?

At that moment, a loud, hearty laugh suddenly rang out. The consort sneered triumphantly, “I said it all along! Someone who bought his way in as a candidate thinks he can pass the imperial examination and become a Jinshi? Impossible! A bunch of fools indulging in wishful thinking—ridiculous, truly ridiculous!”

“That’s enough—say no more!” Suddenly, the usually gentle Princess Lanxin shouted sharply, startling everyone present.

When she turned back again, Ji Yi had already silently walked out of the gate, wandering alone through the streets filled with laughter and celebration.

Everyone seemed so excited, as if each and every one of them had passed the exam. But why not him? Was he not good enough? Impossible. After so many years of study, could he not even achieve the rank of Jinshi? How could he ever speak of governing the country and bringing peace to the world? Truly laughable.

“Make way! Make way!”

At that moment, a carriage came racing from the distance. Everyone hurriedly moved aside—except for Ji Yi, who stood motionless in the middle of the road.

“Madman! Get out of the way!” someone shouted.

Everyone froze in shock. In the blink of an eye, the horse had reached him, its hooves flying straight toward Ji Yi’s face. One strike would not just kill him—it would leave him utterly disfigured.

Yet Ji Yi showed no intention of moving. He merely raised his hand slightly. Was he planning to use his fragile hand to block the horse’s kick?

At the critical moment, a hand suddenly shot out from the side and yanked Ji Yi away. “Brother Ji, have you gone mad?!”

But just as they turned to leave, a shrill neigh rang out. The entire carriage jolted violently, and the once-arrogant horse suddenly convulsed before collapsing to the ground, dead.

Unfortunately, Lu Anzhi didn’t look back. Otherwise, he probably wouldn’t have dared to drag such a “madman” through the streets.

Yes—just now, with a mere lift of his hand, Ji Yi had killed that fierce, overbearing horse.

Even in madness… he was unlike anyone else.