My Wife is Unbeatable in the Whole World, Touch Me If You Dare!-Chapter 284 - 164: Attentive Anning

Song Residence.

The results of the spring examinations had not yet been announced.

But Li Nuo had already known the outcome in advance.

As the Lord Father-in-law was the Minister of Personnel, the results of the spring examinations would inevitably pass through his hands before being announced.

The results were not beyond Li Nuo's expectations.

First place in the spring examination, and also the first in all Six Arts.

Except for the Book Department, he had achieved exceptional results in the rest of the subjects.

Achieving exceptional results in the Book Department was nearly impossible, for one, Han Zhuo's painting was formidable but not yet top-notch.

Secondly, for compositions, examiners had different opinions, making it hard to award full marks.

Achieving such results in the spring examination was not something worth boasting about, of course, that was only in the case of Li Nuo.

His goal was not the spring examination; he had to demand of himself the standards of the Imperial Examination.

Song Zhe looked at Li Nuo with an extremely skeptical gaze and asked, "When on earth did you study the Six Arts?"

Li Nuo replied honestly, "Just these past few months."

"How did you study in the Horse Riding Department?"

"Practiced a few times at the Horse Field..."

"What about the Shooting Department?"

"My wife taught me."

"And the Music Department?"

"Listened to some tunes at the Music Workshop, read some books..."

...

Song Zhe simply did not believe him.

Foolish for eighteen years, and he becomes first in the spring examination within a few months, moreover, first in all Six Arts.

Even Li Xuanjing wasn't this formidable.

If this were true, what would be the point of those scholars who had studied diligently for ten years?

It seems the rumors outside were indeed true.

To protect his only son, Li Xuanjing did not hesitate to have him feign folly for eighteen years.

He must have been secretly preparing for the Imperial Examination for many years.

Damned Li Xuanjing!

He had fooled everyone and even his best friend!

Return his wife!

And his daughter!

Song Mu'er looked at Li Nuo with admiration and said, "Brother Li Nuo is so impressive, scoring so many first places, you will definitely become the top scholar in the future!"

Hearing Mumu's words, Song Jiaren seemed to think of something, her gaze drifting towards Li Nuo with a contemplative expression.

Song Zhe glanced at Li Nuo and said, "Don't get too complacent too early, the mere spring examination is incomparable to the difficulty of the Imperial Examination. Not to mention those from famous families, even among the Four Great Academy, those who can achieve first place in the spring examination in all Six Arts are more than a handful; in the following twenty days, you must still not slack off. Strive for a good ranking, preferably in the top ten. That way, starting off your career, you would be in a seventh-rank official position..."

Although Li Nuo didn't feel proud, he still nodded in agreement.

As for becoming the top scholar in the Imperial Examination, he truly didn't have absolute confidence at the moment.

After the Lord Father-in-law left, Li Nuo continued reading.

Song Jiaren's gaze wandered into the distance, slightly distracted.

She both hoped that her husband would outshine everyone and become the top scholar in the Imperial Examination.

And she worried that the court would arrange for him to marry the Princess.

This left her feeling conflicted for a moment.

In another courtyard of the Song Residence, another person also harbored conflicted feelings.

She had learned about his spring examination results from Ning'er.

Thinking that Song Jiaren might become the top scholar's wife, while she had to be forced by her mother to marry a boorish lout who could neither write poetry, play the zither, nor paint, was stifling her heart.

What made her more aggrieved was that all of this should have been hers!

Fortunately, nothing had happened between them yet.

Song Ning'er looked at the silent figure who had stood there for a long while without speaking, and could not help but ask, "Sister Teacher, what's the matter?"

The woman looked down at her and suddenly asked, "Ning'er, if Mumu took away something you really liked, and moreover something that originally belonged to you, what would you do?"

Song Ning'er replied without hesitation, "Of course I would take it back!"

The woman gently touched her head and said softly, "You're right. Something that belongs to you should certainly be taken back..."

...

The actions of the Ministry of Personnel were swift; the day after the spring examination ended, they had compiled the results of all the examinees, posting the list of those who had passed the spring examination on the outer wall of the Ministry of Personnel.

This spring examination was the largest in decades.

The number of examinees participating in the spring examination was nearly fifteen thousand.

After the Six Arts examination, less than five hundred had ultimately passed.

Although passing the spring examination didn't guarantee a future in official service, it was still a glimmer of hope.

And those who hadn't passed didn't even have the qualifications for the Imperial Examination.

"Haha, I passed, I passed!"

"Fifty-second in the spring examination, I can get into East Mountain Academy!"

"Four hundred ninety-sixth, the very last one, that was close, that was close..."

Today outside the Ministry of Personnel, it was crowded with examinees checking the results; some were so excited that they laughed out loud, while others bowed their heads in silent despair.

The first thing everyone did, naturally, was look for their own name on the list.

Once they confirmed their name was on the list, they relaxed, and their gazes returned to the roster.

The rules of the spring examinations mostly mimicked those of the Imperial Examination; the first place in the spring examination was the equivalent of the top scholar of the Imperial Examination, the most exceptional individual among these fifteen thousand examinees.

The spring examination of Chang'an brought together the top talents of Daxia, second only to the Imperial Examination in value.

They were curious about who this year's spring examination first place was.

At the top of the spring exam list, one name occupied a line all by itself.

That name was Li Nuo.

Everyone's expression was one of astonishment.

This name was well-known throughout Chang'an.

In the past few months, he had stirred numerous tempests in Chang'an, slaying the sons of nobles, forcing Princes to admit their wrongs, possessing a beauty unmatched...

It was safe to say, among those present, there was no one who hadn't heard of this name.

For the past two months, little news had come out of Chang'an about him.

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Unexpectedly, when his name appeared before everyone's eyes again, it was on the list of successful candidates for the spring examinations.

At this moment, someone seemed to have discovered something and exclaimed, "Look, look at the rankings for each subject!"

Similar to the Imperial Examination, the results of the six subjects in the spring examinations would also be listed separately, with the first place in each subject being equivalent to the top scholar in that subject for the Imperial Examination.

Everyone's gaze shifted towards the other lists.

Quickly, their expressions turned to shock and numbness.

Book Department, Mathematics, Ritual Department, Music Department, Horse Riding, Shooting—first place in all six subjects bore the same name!

Li Nuo!

Li Nuo!

...

Still Li Nuo!

Being first in the spring examinations, and being first in all six subjects, were completely different concepts.

It meant that he had completely dominated his peers in all subjects.

"Li Nuo?"

"The son of the Minister of Justice?"

"Could it be someone with the same name?"

"It must be someone with the same name..."

At this moment, many people harbored this thought.

After all, for the past ten or more years, the son of the Minister of Justice was known to all as a fool.

Yet within less than a year, he had ascended to the top of the most fiercely competitive spring examination session in Chang'an with overwhelming dominance.

The contrast was too great, and it was difficult for people to accept at once.

But thinking of the poems that had recently been trending in Chang'an, all penned by his hand, their speculations began to waver.

Twenty years ago, Li Xuanjing monopolized the top scholar position in all six subjects.

Twenty years later, his son was also pulling off the same feat?

How could their Li Family always be filled with such prodigies...

...

Compared with the Imperial Examination, the spring examinations didn't command as much attention. With the Imperial Examination less than a month away, most people were focused on the upcoming exams.

But there were a few who cared deeply about this spring examination.

Inside a luxurious residence in Chang'an.

Marquis Yongshou looked incredulously at the messenger and asked, "What did you say, first in the spring examinations?"

The person nodded and said, "Not only is he the first in the spring exams, but he's also the first in all six subjects. Among those, his score in the Book Department is A+, and the rest are exceptionally good..."

Marquis Yongshou plopped back down into his chair, muttering, "I knew it, I just knew it!"

When he had spent a large sum of silver taels to prevent Li Nuo from participating in the Imperial Examination, the nobles looked down on him, thinking he was making a big fuss over nothing.

It proved how far-sighted he was.

Could the son of Li Xuanjing be a dullard?

Only a fool would believe that!

Top scholar in all six subjects immediately reminded him of Li Xuanjing himself.

No, Li Xuanjing's son was even more ruthless than Li Xuanjing.

Li Xuanjing had not killed nobles' sons in public.

Li Xuanjing didn't have a father who was powerful enough to dominate the court either.

Li Nuo was a Law Practitioner, and these nobles were the biggest boost on his path of Cultivation. Once he became an official with Li Xuanjing supporting him, their future lives would probably become even harder...

Thinking of this, Marquis Yongshou stood up from his chair and said, "Call Marquis Lantian, Marquis Fengyang, and Duke Liyang here... tell them Lord Marquis has an important matter to discuss with them."

At the Princess Mansion.

Li Anning leaped out of bed, not even bothering to wear shoes, and asked excitedly, "Really?"

The maid nodded and said, "Replying to the Princess, Young Master Li is not only the first in the spring examinations but also first in all six subjects. I saw it myself on the list outside the Ministry of Personnel..."

Li Anning sat back down on the bed, her expression still somewhat incredulous.

She had packed her luggage and at the most desperate moment, it seemed like a glimmer of hope had appeared.

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Even though being first in the spring examinations didn't guarantee first in the Imperial Examination.

There was still a glimmer of hope...

At the Song Residence.

Phoenix looked at Li Nuo with a beaming smile and said, "Congratulations to Young Master Li for winning first place in the spring examinations."

Li Nuo waved his hand and said, "It's useless, this isn't the Imperial Examination..."

Phoenix came to teach Mumu about floral arts, and Li Nuo went outside to play a game of flying chess he had recently taught her.

Inside the room.

Song Jiaren was trimming the branches of flowers and suddenly asked, "Can first place in the spring examinations secure the top scholar in the Imperial Examination?"

Phoenix thought for a moment and said, "It's hard to say..."

Seeing Song Jiaren looking at her, she explained, "The spring examination is the first step in the Imperial Examination. Passing it simply means you have qualified to take part in the Imperial Examination. Daxia has more than a hundred provinces, each holding spring examinations every year. Over four years, there are nearly five hundred spring examination top scholars, but there is only one top scholar for the Imperial Examination. In every session of the Imperial Examination, the court recruits only one hundred Advanced Scholars, and eighty percent of the first-place spring exam takers don't even become Advanced Scholars..."

Upon hearing this, Song Jiaren's heart eased slightly, but then a sense of regret surged within her.

Phoenix looked at her and asked with a smile, "Is Miss Song worried that if Young Master Li becomes the top scholar, he will have to marry the Princess?"

Having her concerns pointed out so bluntly, Song Jiaren's flower arranging paused, and she shook her head, "No."

Phoenix continued with a glowing smile, "Miss Song need not worry, had you not married, there would indeed be such a risk. But now that you are married, and since the Princess can't be a concubine, even if Young Master Li becomes the top scholar, he won't be chosen as the Prince Consort..."

Because it was meant as comfort, she only spoke half the truth.

The chances of Li Nuo marrying the Princess were slim, but they weren't nonexistent.

If he only became the Imperial Examination top scholar, the Princess still had six other subject top scholars to choose from.

But if he alone clinched top scholar positions in all six subjects, no matter whom the Princess chose, it would be him.

The Emperor of Daxia had pledged in the grand assembly, with numerous officials as witnesses, to select one top scholar from this Imperial Examination session to be the Prince Consort,—that promise had to be fulfilled.

If Li Nuo did indeed emulate his father and monopolized all six subject top scholar positions,

Then Song Jiaren would be looking at only two paths.

Either they divorce, and he marries Princess Anning,

Or she demotes herself to be a concubine—which would also require Princess Anning's consent even if Song Jiaren wished to become one.

At that time, the status of the two women would be completely reversed.

Li Nuo was playing chess with Mumu in the courtyard when he looked up and saw Li Anning walking in from outside.

She was holding a thick stack of books, nearly covering her neck, and her front was squeezed out of shape.

Li Anning walked up to Li Nuo and placed the books heavily on the table. Li Nuo asked with curiosity, "What is this?"

Li Anning caught her breath and said, "These are transcriptions of compositions from the top scholars of the Imperial Examination's Book Department over the years. I had a hard time finding them in the imperial library. Make sure you read them well, and don't run off tomorrow, I've invited several Court Painters. Your spring examination painting earned an A, so I want them to give you some pointers..."

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