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

Chapter 1325: Chapter 1325: A Model Family

After the examination results were posted, Zhou Shuren felt scrutinizing glances as he attended court, especially from a few with whom he did not get along. Among them, Scholar Ding’s gaze was the most gloating.

Zhou Shuren, ”...”

Had he fallen out of touch with the times? Is being the second-place scholar, second in the entire nation, no longer impressive?

After the morning court session, Li Zhao approached and asked, ”Are you alright?”

Zhou Shuren, ”...What could possibly be wrong with me?”

Li Zhao lowered his voice, ”I was worried you might be disappointed, that’s why I came to check on you. Actually, second place is already quite impressive.”

Zhou Shuren was most proud of his grandchild. He could feel it. Everyone knew that Zhou Mingyun was personally tutored by Zhou Shuren, and one can only imagine the anticipation contained therein.

Zhou Shuren forced a smile, ”I truly don’t mind. Second place is more than just alright. Out of the whole nation’s selection of talents, being second in the country, what more could I possibly ask for?”

Li Zhao, certain that Zhou Shuren was not disappointed, was just about to say something with a smile when someone beat him to it and said, ”Hard-mouthed.”

Zhou Shuren snorted, ”What place did your esteemed family’s son rank?”

Scholar Ding’s face turned green. Ranked in the seventies, he was seething inside. Before the examination, Zhou Mingyun had stolen the limelight from the capital’s students, and now, letting everyone down, Zhou Shuren still had the nerve to joke and laugh. On what grounds?

Zhou Shuren continued to twist the knife: ”Is Mr. Ding too embarrassed to say? Does anyone know? Alas, who made me only care about the top ten.”

Wong Ju stepped back. Zhou Shuren had a knack for making cutting remarks.

Following Zhou Shuren’s words, many ministers fell silent. Though not first place, second place was still highly coveted! When had they become so lofty as to disdain the second-place scholar?

Scholar Ding’s face reddened with anger, hoping to mock Zhou Shuren, but now everyone’s attention was focused on him instead.

Zhou Shuren watched Scholar Ding hastily leave and clicked his tongue, ”Didn’t even last one round, eh?”

Wong Ju thought, if only you could see the lethality of your own words, each one a dagger to the heart.

Zhou Shuren, with a smug expression, looked at the ministers around him, ”Everyone seems to be walking quite slowly today!”

Following a brief second of silence, the ministers quickened their pace and dispersed.

At the Zhou residence, Mingyun changed into a new set of clothes. Zhulan asked, ”Are you sure you want to go out with me?”

Mingyun nodded, ”Grandmother, now is precisely the time when I should step out with confidence, being second in the nation is indeed something to be proud of.”

Zhulan smiled, ”Who knows, outside they may start calling our family the house of the second-place scholars!”

Mingyun paused, then laughed, ”Yes, grandpa and my fourth uncle were both second-place scholars!”

If three generations were all second-place scholars, that would indeed be quite amusing, solidifying their status as the house of second-place scholars.

Chang Zhong had been told by his father since yesterday that his older nephew had no chance for the top scorer title. He wanted to pat his older nephew on the shoulder, but not tall enough, he looked up at his nephew’s height, agilely climbed onto a chair, patted his shoulder, and said with satisfaction, ”Big nephew, I will earn the top scorer title for our family.”

Mingyun burst into laughter, ”Then I’ll wait for my little uncle to become the top scorer.”

Chang Zhong clenched his fist, feeling full of drive.

Zhulan rapped her son on the head, ”Come down now, let’s get going.”

Mingyun watched his little uncle with a chuckle. The days of leisure for his little uncle were numbered; after the Palace Examination, he’d have to attend the Academy. Mingyun then thought of the Academy, which had invited him to return and lecture a few classes.

Today, Zhulan was going to the Painting shop to pick up a painting she had reserved, a landscape of snowy scenery. It was the work of a renowned artist, for which Zhulan had waited a long time to get and naturally came at a hefty price.

The Painting shop was always a favorite place for literati and scholars. For Mingyun, who was very recognizable in the capital, his appearance immediately attracted the attention of everyone.

Mingyun could hear the hurtful words aimed at him, but his heart was filled with disdain. More than anything, these people were jealous of him.

Chang Zhong couldn’t stand it anymore. Seizing the moment when his mother went upstairs, he glared fiercely at the crowd gathered together, pointing at them with his finger, ”Has my great nephew eaten your family’s food or drunk your family’s water? Since he hasn’t, even my father has never uttered a harsh word about him. Don’t act as if you’re my great nephew’s elder. How dare you? What gives you the right?”

Mingyun’s outstretched hand retracted. His young uncle had always been a dependable elder, who, despite his youth, always remembered his role as a senior, very protective of his own.

Seeing that no one replied, Chang Zhong’s chubby face broke into a sarcastic smile, ”Although my great nephew did not become the top scholar, he came in second. And you? Let me guess, either you did poorly or you failed the examination altogether. Tsk tsk, with such results, you still have the face to scorn the second in the whole country? Where do you get the courage? From a thick skin or from having no shame? Ah, it must be the latter, because jealousy makes your faces too ugly.”

Zhulan stood at the top of the stairs watching her young son go all out, her eyes twinkling with amusement. His words were truly venomous. Looking down at the group with their flushed faces and ears, her pleasure only grew.

Seeing no one responding, Chang Zhong’s eyes shimmered with sarcasm and he finally summed up, ”When any of you surpass my great nephew, then you can talk about him. I’ll respect you as real men then. But for now, pff!”

His last ’pff’ summed it all up. The little guy wasn’t big, but he had an outstanding presence, with his chin held high, looking incredibly triumphant.

Mingyun held his young uncle’s hand and surveyed the group, ”Zhou is waiting for your guidance and warmly welcomes everyone. We shall see who is superior through our writings.”

Chang Zhong said cheerily, ”Being second is good, great nephew. Look, dad ranked second, Fourth Brother ranked second, and you were personally tutored by dad. It should be passed down directly, our family having three generations nicely in line is wonderful.”

Mingyun patted his young uncle’s head, who was trying to divert attention to reduce the impact and not draw too much hatred.

Sure enough, when they went upstairs, people had already started to talk.

Mingyun could still hear someone saying, ”Only a second-place finisher is a true member of the Zhou family!”

Mingyun, ”...”

No, actually, everyone in their family aspired to be the Top Scorer!

When Zhulan saw her son running over, she took a handkerchief and wiped the sweat from his forehead. Dressed a bit too warm, the child, full of energy, sweat easily.

Chang Yi was never daunted. Growing up in a certain environment, it was hard for Chang Yi to feel intimidated. As the youngest son of the Chief of Staff, he had met too many people, having seen the Ministers of the Six Ministries fully assembled, not to mention princes and other dignitaries. The environment shaped him, making him stand proud and confident from a young age.

Because the Crown Prince was very interested in Zhou Mingyun, the Painting shop matter quickly came to his attention.

The Crown Prince’s eyes shone brightly, ”The youngest son of Minister Zhou has quite the sharp tongue.”

What the Emperor was concerned about was, ”If Zhou Mingyun is the second-place scholar, indeed, it would be three generations of second-place scholars.”

The Crown Prince asked, ”Will Father confer the title of second-place scholar on Zhou Mingyun?”

The Emperor stroked his beard, ”That will depend on Zhou Mingyun’s performance in the palace examination. I will not make it easy for him.”

Of course, even if Zhou Mingyun did exceptionally well and came out on top, he would not be the Top Scorer. The Emperor had given Zhou Mingyun a chance, but unfortunately, he lacked a bit of luck. The Emperor had intentionally reviewed Zhou Mingyun’s answer sheets and found that he was not far off from the top scholar.

When Zhulan got home, she saw a letter from Chang Yi. After reading it, she asked Qing Xue to summon Lady Li.

Lady Li asked, ”Mother, is there something you need from your daughter-in-law?”

Zhulan replied, ”This is a letter from Chang Yi. Ming Shan has not pulled through and is gone. As the eldest daughter-in-law of our family, you will represent us and see if the Wang family needs any assistance.”

Lady Li was stunned, ”Gone?”

”Yes.”

After Lady Li left, Zhulan’s thoughts drifted away. This was the ancient world, an era where imperial power reigned supreme.

Ming Shan had passed away, and the Wang family had been prepared. Although it was hard, they accepted it quickly. The Wang family had children and did not allow themselves to be weak. The Wang family was decisive, immediately leading people to prepare for a return to the Zhou family village.

In the blink of an eye, the palace examination ended. Because two generations of the Zhou family became second-place scholars, it was erroneously suggested that the Zhou family might as well be dubbed the ”family of second-place scholars”; some said they were a model family. The career of the Chief of Staff was very inspiring indeed.

This time around, there was less attention on Mingyun.

On the day the results were posted, Mingyun did not go to see them; Ming Teng went instead. Ming Teng returned quickly, and seeing her son silent, Lady Li grew anxious, ”Speak, will you!”