The Ace Bigshot Becomes A Farmgirl

Jing Residence.

Madam Chang looked suspiciously at her Lord, ”Did you already know about this?”

Lord Jing was calm as ever, ”Yes, I knew. But I thought the Emperor would try his best to persuade him to stay. I didn’t expect he would still not change his mind.”

Zhou family.

Cen Yi found it extremely unbelievable, but then felt relieved and murmured to the nanny who came back with news, ”Actually, when you think about it carefully, it doesn’t seem strange. If he really wanted to climb his way up meticulously, marrying me back then was the best route. Later, he took down Gong Qiu and made a contribution, even when the late Emperor wanted to reward him, he refused.”

Everything seems to follow a pattern.

The daughters of official families like the Wu Family and Xue Family were also discussing it.

Not only them, but even the examinees who had not yet left the Capital soon heard this news.

The examinees from Changjin Prefecture immediately sought out Xun Sheng for answers, but Xun Sheng was completely clueless, still in shock, ”Even if you ask me, I don’t know. He wouldn’t tell me such things. I still can hardly believe this news is true.”

”What is Meng Yunzheng thinking? Everyone studies bitterly for many years just for the moment of receiving an official title. Yet he gave it up right at the doorstep.”

”But, it’s said that at the academy he opened, Mr. Huai’an and Mr. Hejiang will be teaching there. With those two, won’t the academy doors be trampled by everyone wanting to enter?”

”Anyway, I didn’t pass this time. How about when the academy opens, we go have a look? Just to see the scenery that Mr. Shanju speaks so highly of.”

”I’ll go too. Maybe through our connection with Top Scholar Meng, we can receive guidance from Mr. Huai’an and Mr. Hejiang, and pass the exam in three years.”

Everyone began to look forward to it, while only a few people quietly discussed this year’s Second Place and Third Place.

Chu Qiuping, who was the Second Place, was alright; his knowledge was there. He couldn’t compare to Meng Yunzheng—that’s just a fact. Regardless of whether the other party wants to be an official, that’s the truth.

The imperial examination only tests one’s knowledge, but how far you go as an official depends on yourself.

So after being shocked by Meng Yunzheng’s decision, Chu Qiuping instead felt a vague admiration. After all, it’s not anyone who can push aside the broad avenue and choose a path that offers no help to their official career.

However, Jin Lin couldn’t tolerate it. If Meng Yunzheng didn’t plan to be an official, he shouldn’t have taken the exam.

If he hadn’t participated in this imperial examination, Jin Lin would be Second Place, the second rank.

After angrily smashing two vases at home, Jin Lin went to complain to Chu Qiuping.

Chu Qiuping glanced at him and asked in return, ”Whether you are Second Place or Third Place, you’ll be made a Hanlin Academy editor when the official titles are bestowed.”

Moreover, he suspected that even without Meng Yunzheng, Jin Lin would most likely be Third Place.

In the end, Jin Lin’s appearance was indeed quite impressive; it’s necessary for him to be the Third Place just to maintain the image.

Jin Lin was choked with frustration and spoke resentfully, ”I know it doesn’t make much difference to me, but it’s unfair to you. Just think, if it weren’t for him, you’d be the top scorer. When the official titles are bestowed, your rank would start at the sixth grade. Even if it’s just one grade, to outsiders, the difference is huge.”

Chu Qiuping wasn’t foolish; he could easily recognize such blatant attempts at division.

He didn’t pay attention to Jin Lin, and even because of this, planned to distance himself from him.

Yet no one knew, the next day the Emperor promoted Chu Qiuping to a Hanlin Academy editor.