The Double-Chapter 68 - 66 Renowned Reputation

68: Chapter 66 Renowned Reputation

68 -66 Renowned Reputation

Jiang Li’s achievement of topping the Mingyi Hall examination for achieving three levels of examination quickly spread throughout the entire Yanjing City, naturally reaching Meng Hongjin’s ears as well.

At this moment, the Chengxuan Envoy’s Mansion was steeped in quiet.

Inside a room, Meng Hongjin was weeping softly by the side of a collapsed bed.

Mother Meng, distressed, wrapped her arms around her daughter and said, “My child, don’t cry, this is just the first of the six departments; haven’t we still three more departments to go?

It’s hardly the end of the world, right?”

“Disgraceful!” Meng Youde, Meng Hongjin’s father, had a very grim expression on his face and said, “To have been so confident in making a betting agreement with someone and now to suffer such a crushing defeat, it’s not just you who has lost face, I too am disgraced—it is completely useless!”

Upon hearing these words, Meng Hongjin felt an immense sorrow and wept even more uncontrollably.

Seeing her daughter weep so sorrowfully, Mother Meng was filled with indignation and immediately retorted, “How can this be blamed on Hongjin?

That Jiang Li had just returned to Yanjing City and spent eight years in a temple; everyone assumed she knew nothing, so how could they have anticipated her sudden triumph?

Could you have predicted it?”

Meng Youde was at a loss for words; he truly did not foresee this outcome.

This was exactly why when he learned of his daughter’s bet with Jiang Li, Meng Youde had merely chided her lightly for her impulsiveness and said no more because he was convinced in his heart that Jiang Li was bound to lose.

The reality had slapped him hard in the face.

Remembering the mocking looks from his colleagues at court that day, Meng Youde felt a deep irritation in his chest.

Mother Meng spoke up again, “I’ve been thinking, something about this isn’t right at all.

Could it be that Jiang Li used some underhanded tactic?

You should know that Jiang Yuanbai holds a not insignificant position in the court; could he have bribed the examiners this time?

Otherwise, how could my Lili possibly lose to her?”

“Exactly,” choked Meng Hongjin between sobs, “The sisters and I have been studying at Mingyi Hall for five or six years, and Jiang Li has been here for less than ten days.

Could it be that there was a school like Mingyi Hall in the temple, allowing her to study?”

As his wife and daughter both spoke this way, Meng Youde began to ponder.

He was now secretly aligned with the Right Chancellor, which made him the Right Chancellor’s man, and Jiang Yuanbai and the Right Chancellor had never gotten along.

He was essentially an enemy of the Jiang Family, and Jiang Li’s outstanding performance in the examination seemed unnatural.

If he could find evidence of collusion between Jiang Yuanbai and the Mingyi Hall examiners, it would be more than ideal.

The current Emperor hated anything underhanded in the civil service the most; if he could use this to strike a heavy blow against Jiang Yuanbai, it would be as if he himself had accomplished a great feat.

A blessing in disguise, Meng Youde suddenly felt a faint excitement brewing within him.

He picked up his outer robe and put it on, saying, “I need to step out,” and left in a hurry.

Watching her father leave, Meng Hongjin felt an even greater sense of aggrievement, and Mother Meng comforted her, “What’s there to worry about?

Don’t we still have the next three departments?

The examination for the next three departments starts tomorrow, with Zither, Imperial Archery and Horsemanship as the subjects.

Your skill in the Art of Archery and Horsemanship is amongst the best.

Even if the temple had teachers, they surely wouldn’t have had an instructor for the Art of Archery and Horsemanship.

That Jiang Li is bound to lose against you.”

Meng Hongjin was one of the few girls in Mingyi Hall who took a keen interest in Archery and Horsemanship.

Naturally impetuous, she was perfectly suited for the toughness required in the Art of Archery and Horsemanship.

Initially, her mastery of horse riding had dazzled all onlookers, and her archery was accurate enough to compete with the best of men.

In Mingyi Hall, or perhaps the whole of Yanjing City, no one dared challenge her in Archery and Horsemanship.

If the previous three departments of Writing, Mathematics, and Rites could be considered areas where Meng Hongjin excelled, then the upcoming three departments of Zither, Imperial Archery, and Horsemanship were her true forte, Zither notwithstanding.

With this thought, Meng Hongjin’s mind became a bit more settled, yet the humiliation she felt because of Jiang Li did not dissipate.

Because of Jiang Li, her previous grand declarations now seemed like a joke.

To be thought inferior to a dummy who had just entered Mingyi Hall, she could only imagine how many people would gossip about her behind her back.

The more Meng Hongjin thought about the scornful glances from others, the more her hatred towards Jiang Li grew by degrees.

She wished she could trample Jiang Li under the hooves of her horse in the upcoming Inspection Field…

Suddenly, an idea sprang to her mind.

If she could trample Jiang Li under the hooves of her horse…

At the Inspection Field, swords and blades are indiscriminate…

Her heart was like being tumbled in cold water, then doused with a hot soup, cool and hot intermingling, slowly boiling over.

…

Meanwhile, Meng Youde, who had gone out to find evidence of collusion between Jiang Yuanbai and the examiners, was also destined to return empty-handed.

To prove fairness, Mingyi Hall specially posted copies of the top three examination papers at the door of the hall, drawing countless onlookers.

Meng Youde was almost squeezed out by the crowd, hearing many people discussing around him, “If anyone dares to say again that Miss Jiang the Second doesn’t recognize a single character, I’ll crack their skull open with a staff.

I think Miss Jiang the Second writes much better than the scholars in our village school.

Though I don’t recognize a single word, I also know it looks good!”

This was presumably a plebeian.

There were also scholarly-looking readers whose voices carried through the crowd to Meng Youde’s ears, “The most marvelous aspect is the essay, with references and quotations, and unique insights.

Miss Jiang the Second must be a person who has extensively read many books.

I’ve studied in seclusion for fifteen years, yet I’m not as good as a young girl, shame on me!

Shame on me!” With that, he covered his face and sighed deeply.

“They say the writing reflects the person.

Miss Jiang the Second’s writing is rather masculine, full of breadth and an open and relaxed spirit, like that of a bold and spirited young man,” a burly man who resembled a soldier muttered in a subdued tone.

“This accounting skill is not bad either, and here’s a fresh method.

This method is good; I’ll copy it down and use it later to manage the accounts in my shop, much easier than the old methods,” chimed in a merchant with a golden abacus around his neck, his eyes shining brightly.

In short, as soon as Miss Jiang the Second’s examination paper transcription was released, all rumors were self-defeating.

There was no possible leak in Mingyi Hall’s examination, and Miss Jiang the Second must have written on the spot.

Compared to the other top three answers, Miss Jiang the Second’s examination paper was clearly much more brilliant.

This first place was truly well-deserved.

Meng Youde walked out of the crowd, dispirited and distracted, realizing he no longer needed to exhaust himself seeking evidence of Jiang Yuanbai colluding with the examiners.

Jiang Li’s examination paper not only allowed her to stand out but also brought honor to the Jiang Family.

And as Jiang Li received praise, by the same token, Meng Hongjin seemed inferior by comparison.

One person’s rise often means stepping on another’s reputation to ascend in the official circles, a common occurrence.

Meng Hongjin also represented the Meng Family in this wager, and at least for the first half, the Meng Family was losing.

Meng Youde’s steps floated as he headed toward his own mansion, the excited discussions of the people around him gradually becoming an indistinct murmur.

At this moment, only one thought occupied Meng Youde’s mind: the stakes of the bet had grown too much by now, possibly even known to the palace.

If Meng Hongjin couldn’t turn the tables in the next three departments, the Meng Family would have no chance of winning.

That could spell trouble.