Transmigration: The Evil Mother-In-Law Is Actually Innocent!

Chapter 1820: Chapter 1820: Summoned or Not, It Makes No Difference

The examinees left the examination hall in rows. Chang Zhi was in the middle; by the time he could leave, Yang Xiu was swaying on his feet. In the end, Chang Zhi resisted the urge to lend a hand. They were close to each other, and if he helped Yang Xiu, it might lead to misunderstandings. At that point, his good intentions might ruin Yang Xiu.

Fortunately, the examiner noticed Yang Xiu’s struggle and sent someone to help him walk out.

Outside the examination hall, people were coming and going. Chang Zhi stepped out, feeling relieved all over, and heard his elder brother’s voice. He smiled, "Big Brother."

Zhou Changzhong approached with the servants and saw his younger brother was in high spirits, so he smiled, "Let’s go home. Mother is waiting for us!"

Chang Zhi paused for a moment, glancing at Yang Xiu who was being escorted out. He called over the young servant brought by his brother and gave instructions before leaving with him.

Yang Xiu was about to collapse when someone caught him. He turned his head to see it was a young servant boy. "Thank you."

Li Er lowered his voice and said, "My master saw the young master was in discomfort and kindly left a servant to escort you to the medical clinic."

Yang Xiu’s heart stirred, "Is it Master Zhou?"

Li Er nodded, "Yes."

Yang Xiu could no longer hold on and again owed Master Zhou a favor. "Sorry for the trouble."

Chang Zhi was already seated in the carriage, drinking soup. "The soup at home is still the best."

This year’s examination hall food was good; two dishes and a soup. The soup was optional, and some didn’t take it for fear of spilling or needing the lavatory, while only a few took the soup.

Zhou Changzhong took the empty bowl from his younger brother. "The examination hall served egg soup. What you’re drinking is old hen soup; how can it be the same?"

"At least they had egg soup in the examination hall—it’s not bad."

At least this year, there were fewer examinees falling ill than in previous years.

Zhou Changzhong saw his brother didn’t want more and said, "It’s free only this year. Next year, the Ministry of Rites won’t allocate Silver for it."

Chang Zhi laughed, "Being able to participate in the spring examination, a bit of Silver Coin is nothing."

Zhou Changzhong signaled for his younger brother to rest awhile; it would be a while before they’d reach home.

It wasn’t originally Zhou Changzhong’s turn to fetch him today, but Zhou Shuren had work, and he didn’t want his wife waiting outside, so he let his eldest son pick him up.

After drinking the soup, Chang Zhi felt a bit sleepy. During the spring examination, he had to concentrate fully, fearful that there might be errors on his paper. Now that it was over, listening to the sounds of hooves and rolling wheels, he fell asleep. When he awoke, he had already changed clothes, and his father had returned from the government office.

Chang Zhi, now alert, indicated that he wanted a bath. Once he was refreshed, he went to the main hall where his parents were waiting for him to dine. Half of the dishes were to replenish his strength.

Zhou Shuren motioned for his son to sit. "Let’s eat first."

Chang Zhi was indeed hungry and only picked up the rice bowl when his father took his chopsticks.

Zhulan saw her son eating voraciously and hurriedly said, "Slow down, no one’s competing with you."

Chang Zhi slowed down only after his belly was somewhat full. "Still, being at home is more comfortable; I can eat freely."

At the examination hall, he had only eaten half full, fearing that eating too much would make him drowsy and affect his thinking, or would need a toilet break, too. While growing, how could he not be hungry?

After dinner, Zhou Shuren didn’t ask about the exam questions. He was already displeased with just the essays in Eight-legged essays. "How confident are you?"

Chang Zhi straightened his back, "I have an eighty percent chance."

This year’s spring examination questions were all familiar to him. If he couldn’t earn an eighty percent confidence level, he might as well start over from scratch.

Zhou Shuren thought of the chief examiner’s preferences this year and added another ten percent, smiling, "Good son."

Ancient government officials’ offspring had advantages, after all. Chang Zhi had been trained according to the examiner’s preferences.

With the spring examination over, the servants at the Hou Residence were finally able to walk normally. Now all that was left was to wait for the spring examination results.

External bets had shifted again; the odds for Chang Zhi coming out as the top scorer was now one to fourteen, reflecting little faith in him securing the top scorer.

Chang Zhi had concerns about Yang Xiu, whom he considered his little brother’s rival. Thus, he had someone keep an eye on Yang Xiu.

Chang Zhi found out that someone was contacting Yang Xiu, not hoping to make him a son-in-law but to recruit him.

After discovering this, Chang Zhi ceased to pay attention to Yang Xiu. Given Lau Mingsheng’s precedent, it’d be best to avoid any association with the Hou Residence. He also retrieved Yang Xiu’s Jade Pendant from his brother and returned it.

On this day in Chang Zhi’s courtyard, the Fourth Prince lay ungracefully in a rocking chair. Although young, they were not supposed to enjoy it, but he’d grown fond of it after trying once. The Fourth Prince said, "I’ve bet my entire fortune on you, so you must do well."

Chang Zhi paused while eating walnuts. "Your entire fortune?"

The Fourth Prince coughed, "Not counting the estate my mother gave me; what I saved personally totals five thousand Silver Taels."

The estate provisions from his mother were to be given after marriage, currently managed by the Crown Prince, with annual proceeds saved on his behalf. Considering that, as the Fourth Prince, he only had five thousand Silver Taels, it was pitiful.

Chang Zhi asked, "What have you wagered on?"

The Fourth Prince replied, "I bet you’d be the top scorer, and also win the top three honors."

These two had the highest odds; he split the bet money evenly. If he won, he’d be rich.

Chang Zhi realized that those betting on him seemed to have elevated statuses. "Wu Shangheng also bet on me."

The Fourth Prince scoffed, "He’s incredibly wealthy."

Wu Shangheng wagered ten thousand taels!

Chang Zhi had the urge to facepalm, feeling pressure from the trust his friends and family placed in him!

The Fourth Prince said secretly, "Even the third one bet on you."

Chang Zhi, "??"

The Fourth Prince laughed heartily, "Yes, it’s indeed my third brother. He’s much poorer, always supported by the Du family. His mother’s lacking favor in the harem gets him no rewards, and the Du family doesn’t have much wealth. I heard he put all his finances on you."

Chang Zhi, "Your Highness, you may stop talking."

He didn’t want to hear any more, fearing the betters on him.

At the Hanlin Academy, Chang Zhi went to find Gu Sheng and saw him calculating accounts, unintentionally catching a full view. This was due to his habit of glancing and remembering key points from reading.

Gu Sheng raised his head at the sound of a cough, motioning to cover the papers but froze, "My lord."

Chang Zhi thought for a moment, "That’s enough."

Gu Sheng felt even then it wasn’t enough; he’d wagered a thousand taels on Master Chang Zhi after Wu Shangheng’s persuasion.

Luckily, Chang Zhi didn’t know Gu Sheng had wagered on him; if he did, he’d certainly be speechless. Outside, opinions were low on Chang Zhi, while those close to him were eager to profit off him!

In the blink of an eye, it was the eve of the spring examination rankings release. Chang Zhi noticed wherever he went, people were secretly watching him!

In the evening, while dining in the main hall, Zhulan was somewhat anxious; though her son wasn’t nervous, her stomach tightened.

Zhou Shuren remained calm, feeling as if he alone was awake. Seeing his wife only drinking soup, he spoke, "Our son will certainly become the top scholar."

Zhulan’s eyes lit up, "Did the Emperor hint to you?"

Zhou Shuren stroked his beard, "According to my understanding of the Emperor, he hasn’t summoned me to the palace these days, clearly afraid I’d find out something."

Zhulan pondered in her heart, agreeing with Shuren’s words, and suddenly laughed, "I don’t need to be nervous anymore."

Chang Zhi, "..."

Father truly understands the Emperor, so whether or not the Emperor summons or not makes no difference!