Chapter 249: Achieving the Triple Crown of Excellence
This novel is translated and hosted on BCatranslation
By the time Lu Yan Shu returned, the sky had already darkened.
Madam Xu had long ordered the servants to prepare a feast, waiting for his return.
The entire residence was filled with joy, and the servants all wore bright smiles.
“Big brother, big brother… come eat now… Chao Chao’s belly is flat with hunger!” Lu Chao Chao rushed up, tugging at her elder brother’s sleeve.
Lu Yan Shu took Chao Chao’s hand and led her to the dining table.
“It was wrong of me to keep Chao Chao waiting,” he said, gently patting her small head.
“Mother, third brother,” Lu Yan Shu greeted them, his brows carrying a warmth.
“The palace examination is set for the first day of the third month. I went to our maternal grandfather’s home to learn some court etiquette, lest I unknowingly offend His Majesty,” Lu Yan Shu explained.
Having spent years crippled and with Lu Yuan Ze being inattentive, Grand Tutor Xu had worried that no one would guide him properly, so he had invited him early to instruct him on proper conduct.
“There is no rush,” Madam Xu said with a smile in her eyes.
Lu Chao Chao sat obediently on the stool, her little legs swinging back and forth.
“Taboos? What kind of taboos?” she asked, curious.
“Emperor Daddy has a really good temper. Chao Chao has never seen him get angry…” Her eyes remained fixed on the roasted pigeon on the table.
Madam Xu gave her a sidelong glance. “Could it be that he is only good-tempered in front of you?”
Lu Chao Chao refused to believe it. “I painted his nails, braided his hair, and he didn’t get mad. I even used his jade seal to crack walnuts…”
Lu Yuan Xiao muttered under his breath, “Your name must be flickering on King Yama’s Book of Life and Death.”
Lu Chao Chao lifted her little face with pride. “The Book of Life and Death doesn’t have my name!”
Everyone burst into laughter.
“Since Yan Shu has the palace examination tomorrow, we won’t drink tonight. Let’s have a light meal so that he does not lose composure before the emperor,” Madam Xu instructed. She had personally selected the dishes, ensuring none were too greasy or carried strong odors.
Lu Chao Chao did not understand what “losing composure before the emperor” meant.
After all, she had urinated on him and even relieved herself in his arms more times than she could count.
Madam Xu’s eyes reddened slightly. “Yan Shu, do not let your heart bear too heavy a burden. Whether or not you become the top scholar, I am already content.”
“As long as you can stand and regain your health, I am at peace.”
[In Chao Chao’s heart, her mother’s child had lived a life of suffering, worse than death itself.]
The thought tore at Madam Xu’s heart like a knife.
“Mother, I understand,” Lu Yan Shu said softly.
The family enjoyed a warm and pleasant dinner together.
The next day, before the break of dawn, Madam Xu rose early to oversee everything personally and send Lu Yan Shu off.
By the time Lu Chao Chao woke up, it was already close to noon.
Madam Xu was standing before an incense burner, holding a bundle of sticks above her head before placing them into the censer.
“Bodhisattva, please bless him, let everything go smoothly…” Deng Zhi clasped her hands in prayer, murmuring under her breath.
Madam Xu, having not eaten breakfast, paced anxiously in the courtyard.
Even the servants seemed restless, clearly preoccupied with thoughts of Lu Yan Shu’s palace examination.
It was not until afternoon that Lu Yan Shu finally returned.
His face carried exhaustion, yet his expression was bright and at ease.
“You must be tired. Go rest in your room,” Madam Xu said. She had warned everyone in the household beforehand—no one was to ask about his results.
Lu Yan Shu, perceptive as ever, easily saw through their concern.
“Mother, do not worry. Everything went smoothly,” he reassured her with a smile.
A weight lifted from Madam Xu’s heart.
“Good, good. You have worked hard,” she said, not pressing him further.
Having suffered years of immobility, her son standing strong once more was already a blessing beyond what she dared to hope for.
Relieved of obligations, Lu Yan Shu declined all social engagements and stayed home, amusing Lu Chao Chao.
The next day, Madam Xu emerged from her room with dark circles under her eyes.
“Mother…” Lu Yan Shu said, half amused and half helpless.
Seeing her sleepless state, he could only sigh.
This time, Madam Xu could wait no longer. She took the family directly to Su Yun Pavilion.
Situated in a prime location, Su Yun Pavilion stood directly across from where the results would be posted. Its high upper floors offered an excellent view.
Additionally, it was said that the restaurant’s Hundred Duck Banquet was famous, making this a perfect opportunity to try it.
Lu Chao Chao, stepping into Su Yun Pavilion for the second time, found the place packed with guests, every seat taken.
The proprietress spotted Lu Chao Chao from afar.
“Princess Sunshine, please come in! A private room has been reserved for you,” she said, full of gratitude.
Who could have predicted? The restaurant business was more lucrative than running a brothel!
And with more female customers than male ones!
And they were generous patrons, never causing trouble!
Madam Xu was surprised—was Su Yun Pavilion really giving Chao Chao such face?
Little Chao Chao grinned widely.
Seated at the table, Madam Xu took a bite of the Hundred Duck Banquet and nodded in approval. “It certainly lives up to its reputation.” The menu featured duck prepared in nearly every style known in Northern Zhao.
“There’s also a marinated duck selection, selling duck heads, duck feet, and duck hearts separately. Many men buy them to pair with wine… I hear they sell extremely well,” Deng Zhi commented.
“We’ll take some home later,” Madam Xu decided.
Downstairs, the crowd was growing restless, servants from various households waiting anxiously.
“Who do you think will claim the top scholar title?” Many speculated in the hall.
“Of course, Young Master Lu Yan Shu! He was the provincial top scorer, the capital exam’s top scorer—who else could compete?”
“Not necessarily. There’s a dark horse this year.”
“A scholar from Changling, Li Zi Xi, just nineteen years old, reportedly as talented as Lu Yan Shu.”
“To think, we all assumed Lu Jing Huai would seize the title. Who knew he would barely pass as a distinguished scholar…”
Hearing this, many sighed.
“Ah, you all don’t know, do you?” A man raised an eyebrow.
“My cousin’s uncle’s brother-in-law’s wife serves in Lu Yuan Ze’s household. Tsk tsk…” The man clicked his tongue twice.
“Stop teasing! Spit it out!” the crowd urged.
The man grinned. “Lu Jing Huai plagiarized his essays!”
“He’s a fraud!”
“Think about it—years ago, Lu Yan Shu’s brilliance was widely known, yet who had ever heard of Lu Jing Huai?”
Someone slapped their forehead. “Hey, you’re right! I lived next door to Lu Jing Huai when he was seven or eight. Back then, his father scolded him daily for struggling with memorization.”
“There was no sign of genius at all! I thought he had some late enlightenment.”
The man nodded. “Late enlightenment, my foot! His mind was filled with nothing but scheming.”
“When Lu Yan Shu was crippled, all his writings fell into Lu Jing Huai’s hands. That’s how he became a scholar at ten.”
“A ten-year-old scholar—how dazzling!”
“From that point on, the Marquis favored him.”
“When he learned the truth, he nearly beat Lu Jing Huai to death. The boy is still bedridden.”
The crowd’s eyes gleamed—so many scandals from the former Marquis Zhongyong Manor!
“Now that I think about it, it all makes sense. Lu Yan Shu’s return to the exams marked Lu Jing Huai’s decline.”
“Serves him right!”
Just then, a cry erupted from outside.
“Lu Yan Shu has topped the rankings! He has achieved the Triple Crown of Excellence!”
The hall fell into a stunned uproar.