TFWYH – Chapter 573 Top Scholar

The civil and military officials present all had different thoughts in their minds, while Ling Yu had also just finished giving his answer.

“Hahaha…” The Emperor was overjoyed. “What a top scholar who achieved first place in all three major examinations! I never expected that in my lifetime I would gain such a talent.”

“Congratulations, Your Majesty! Long live Your Majesty, ten thousand years, ten thousand years, ten thousand upon ten thousand years!” The ministers all knelt and shouted in unison. The successful candidates were no exception.

The entire hall was filled with celebration.

Outside the palace, countless family members of the candidates were still waiting anxiously.

The common people in the streets also knew that a new top scholar would be announced today, and many came out to watch the excitement.

Even more unmarried young ladies had prepared handkerchiefs and embroidered sachets, ready to throw them to the gentleman they fancied later.

Tang Wan did not squeeze into the crowd. Instead, she rented a private room at the nearest restaurant and leaned against the windowsill, staring at the palace gate.

Mu Qingfeng thought she was worried and comforted her, “Brother Ling will surely achieve top honors.”

Tang Wan rolled her eyes at him irritably. “I know. I just miss my husband. He’s already been gone for two hours.”

Mu Qingfeng… had just been force-fed an enormous mouthful of lovey-dovey sweetness and was overwhelmed by it.

Just then, the palace gates opened wide.

The messengers announcing the good news walked in front, beating gongs and drums.

Following behind were three gentlemen riding horses.

And the one dressed in the robes of the top scholar—if it wasn’t Ling Yu, who else could it be?

Behind him were the second-place scholar and the third-place scholar.

The second-place scholar was a middle-aged man in his forties, his face full of triumphant joy.

The third-place scholar was also someone Tang Wan knew—it was Su Yangyu.

As the three rode through the streets on horseback, the crowd erupted.

“Damn, it really was Young Master Yu who became the top scholar.”

“Nonsense. He was already first in all three major exams. If he didn’t get top scholar, then who would?”

“I bet the Emperor wanted to make him third-place scholar because he’s so handsome. But not only is he handsome, he’s talented too, so His Majesty had no choice but to let someone else be third-place scholar.”

…

The townspeople chattered excitedly as they watched.

Countless young ladies gazed at Ling Yu with love in their eyes, tossing handkerchiefs and sachets at him one after another.

Some knew Ling Yu already had a wife, but didn’t care.

Others didn’t know he had a wife at all.

In any case, Ling Yu instantly became the dream lover of every young woman.

By contrast, the second-place and third-place scholars were much colder in popularity.

Although Su Yangyu was not as handsome as Ling Yu, he was still fairly good-looking, and being young, he did receive the occasional handkerchief or sachet from a few girls.

But the second-place scholar was depressed. He was being completely ignored.

He looked at the handsome young man ahead of him, riding a fine horse in the robes of the top scholar, and could only smile bitterly.

Comparing people really could drive one mad.

After passing through one street, Ling Yu already had many handkerchiefs hanging from him.

He showed not the slightest tenderness, sweeping them all away and letting them fall to the ground.

This action shattered countless maidens’ hearts all over the street.

Some girls immediately shifted their attention to Su Yangyu. Others refused to give up and continued throwing handkerchiefs at Ling Yu.

Even if he tossed them away, they had no regrets.

When Ling Yu finally entered Tang Wan’s field of vision, this was exactly the scene she saw.

The girls kept throwing things at him, while Ling Yu kept brushing the handkerchiefs off himself without even glancing sideways.

The irritation in Tang Wan’s heart instantly eased somewhat. She hurriedly waved at Mu Qingfeng. “They’re here, they’re here! Where are the sachets I prepared? Bring them all over!”

Mu Qingfeng’s eye twitched. “All of them?”

“Yes!” Tang Wan said with a completely serious face. “I embroidered all of them myself, each with different patterns. My beautiful husband can switch them around and wear a different one each day.”

“…That’s really unnecessary.”

The girls embroidered mandarin ducks—you embroidered ducklings.

The girls embroidered green bamboo—you embroidered dried stalks.

The girls embroidered lotus flowers—you embroidered flat pancakes…