GBP Chapter 91 That Touch of Charm
Chapter 91 That Touch of Charm
The next day
Wen Zongji dressed in a dark blue silk robe with a round collar and wide sleeves, and a dark blue embroidered scholar's robe, with a scholar's cap on his head, and arrived at the Meridian Gate early in the morning.
The other successful candidates, also dressed in their official robes, waited there.
The main figures in the parade were the top three scholars in the first-class imperial examination, but other scholars would also participate, though they would not ride horses but would simply follow behind the procession.
They are both part of the main characters and witnesses to this glory.
Unlike Wen Zongji, Lu Nian'an, who was the top scholar in the imperial examination, wore a gold flower in his hair and a red cross on his head.
This is the exclusive configuration for the top scorer.
The glory belongs to the top scorer.
Wen Zongji found it somewhat strange; he couldn't appreciate this kind of aesthetic, but he respected it.
"Top scholar, you are the star of the day."
Lu Nian'an cupped his hands in greeting: "Congratulations to you too."
Wen Zongji, recalling another custom of parading horses through the streets, asked, "Brother Lu, is there anyone married in your family?"
Lu Nian'an shook his head: "My family is poor. It is already a great struggle to support my studies. How can we afford to get married?"
Lu Nian'an is older than Wen Zongji, and it is indeed quite late for him not to get married yet.
Wen Zongji circled around him and clicked his tongue, saying, "The unmarried top scholar, Brother Lu, is sure to be a hot commodity today. Be careful when you parade through the streets, lest some girl snatch him away."
Hearing Wen Zongji's frivolous words, Lu Nian'an said helplessly, "The Shuntian Prefecture will send yamen runners to escort you, along with entourages. Brother Wen's worries are really unnecessary."
"Brother Lu, with your dignified appearance and status as the newly appointed top scholar, it's no wonder some are willing to take the risk. I come from a noble family and know how formidable the daughters of our Wu Xun family can be when they're fierce. Brother Lu, haven't you heard the story of Zhou Sheng?"
Lu Nian'an genuinely didn't know: "Who is Zhou Sheng?"
An Guanglu, who was standing nearby, came over familiarly and explained: "At the beginning of the founding of the Great Chu, there was a man named Zhou who passed the imperial examination and became a Jinshi. The day after the announcement ceremony, all the Jinshi were paraded through the streets. This Zhou was as handsome as Pan An and had an outstanding appearance. During the parade, a girl from the Wu Xun family fell in love with Zhou at first sight."
"At the time, no one expected that the young lady would instruct the guards of the manor to break into the parade and snatch Zhou Sheng back to the manor in front of everyone."
Lu Nian'an couldn't help but ask, "And then?"
Wen Zongji chimed in, "Later, Zhou Sheng naturally married this daughter of Wu Xun's family. So, Brother Lu, you must be careful."
Hearing this, Wu Fengyuan, who was not far from them, kindly comforted them, "Brother Lu, there's no need to worry. Since that incident, the court has strengthened the protection of the Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations) when they parade through the streets. Today, we have infantrymen protecting us all the way through the streets."
"Furthermore, things are different now. In the early days of the Great Chu, Wu Xun was bold and impulsive, and inevitably did some inappropriate things. That will never happen again now."
Lu Nian'an cupped his hands in thanks: "Thank you for the reminder, Brother Wu. However, I don't think there's anything wrong with marrying a girl from the Wu Xun family. Such a spontaneous decision suggests that the girl must have a rather interesting personality."
This statement came out.
Everyone around fell silent.
Wen Zongji recalled his first meeting with Lu Nian'an, when Lu Nian'an expressed his heartfelt envy for Wen Zongji's marriage to Pei Rujing.
Wen Zongji's expression turned somewhat strange.
This newly crowned top scholar seems to want to live off a woman.
Is it because they're terrified of being poor?
Or was it out of rationality that he wanted to marry a noblewoman to help him?
Before Wen Zongji could come up with a solution, the Ministry of Rites officials in charge of the parade and the honor guard appeared.
The group stopped their previous conversation and stood back in their positions.
However, the way others looked at Lu Nian'an was rather unusual.
The yamen runners from Shuntian Prefecture led three tall horses to Wen Zongji and his two companions and invited them to mount the horses.
Wen Zongji and Wu Fengyuan both mounted their horses swiftly and decisively.
Lu Nian'an was encountering horses for the first time, so he certainly didn't know how to ride one.
The yamen runners of Shuntian Prefecture were prepared for this and took the initiative to help Lu Nian'an mount his horse.
As they mounted their horses, the honor guard immediately began to play music.
Erect a plaque that reads "Passed the Imperial Examination"!
The yamen runners led Lu Nian'an's horse at the front, with Wen Zongji and Wu Fengyuan following closely behind.
Then came An Guanglu and other second and third-class Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations).
The horse parade has officially begun!
……
Pei Rujing left not long after Wen Zongji left the Marquis's residence.
Granny Feng booked the best spot to watch the parade, by the window and right next to the street.
From the second floor, everything on the long street is clearly visible.
Pei Rujing gazed into the distance, growing impatient as she waited: "Why haven't they arrived yet?"
Wen Shuyu and Aunt Chen were also there.
Wen Shuyu stood beside Pei Rujing, her eyes fixed on the direction where Wen Zongji would appear.
Granny Feng said, "They should be here soon."
There is an auspicious time for a horse parade through the streets. Calculating the distance from the Meridian Gate to here, the time is about right.
At this moment, not only were the streets filled with people, but the second floors of the shops on both sides of the street were also completely occupied, with the windows all open, and everyone craning their necks to wait for the parade to appear.
"They're here!"
Wen Shuyu's eyes lit up, and she turned to look at Pei Rujing excitedly.
Upon hearing this, Aunt Chen quickly came over.
"They're here!"
Someone shouted from the street outside, and the noise instantly erupted like boiling water.
The people consciously made way for the procession to pass through the middle of the road.
With Lu Nian'an at the head of the group, everyone naturally noticed him first.
"The top scholar is quite handsome!"
"Has the top scholar gotten married yet?"
"Look here, top scholar!"
Shouts rose and fell, and many people threw flowers and sachets at Lu Nian'an.
Lu Nian'an dodged while bowing to both sides.
Then came Wen Zongji and Wu Fengyuan.
"Which one is the third-ranked scholar?"
"Of course, it's the one on the right."
"How handsome he is! No wonder the Emperor chose him as the third-ranked scholar."
"Hey, no wonder you're the third-ranked scholar."
"It's a pity that Young Master Wu only got second place, and failed to achieve the triple crown of passing the imperial examination."
"..."
The people chattered incessantly, discussing each passing scholar who passed the imperial examination. If they saw someone they liked, they would throw flowers at them to express their excitement.
As the youngest son of the Grand Secretary, Wu Fengyuan was not bad-looking, so he was naturally the one who got the most flowers and sachets smashed.
Wen Zongji was the most handsome, but as long as the people of the capital were not kept in the dark, they all knew that he was married, so he received the fewest sachets.
Yes!
At least, but not none.
I don't know which lustful girls were blinded by greed, but they even threw him sachets.
As Wen Zongji watched Pei Rujing's face grow increasingly dark and she showed signs of losing her temper, he couldn't help but curse inwardly.
This is deliberately trying to harm him!
Wen Zongji coughed lightly, cupped his hands, and said loudly, "I am already married. My wife is beautiful and well-educated, and I am very fond of her. Please, ladies, do not waste your sachets on me."
The room fell silent for a moment after these words were spoken, then erupted in cheers, the tone full of sarcasm.
"The third-ranking scholar is so deeply affectionate!"
Ignoring the teasing from the crowd, Wen Zongji looked directly at Pei Rujing with a gentle gaze and a smile on his lips.
Pei Rujing's anger at Wen Zongji being coveted vanished instantly, and she blushed slightly under Wen Zongji's gaze, her eyes lowered.
That one touch of charm was what amazed everyone!