WBSGVS Chapter 60 V2

The palace exams didn’t disqualify anyone, as everyone who reached this stage was considered accepted. However, it was a rare opportunity for them to show themselves in front of the emperor.

No one would underestimate it.

Thus, Qingli had carefully prepared them for a mock exam, adjusting their mental states.

When the day of the palace exams came, they performed much more calmly than the other students. Among the crowd, they stood out and improved their rankings.

Chen Wen was ranked first, while the others were in second place.

On the day the results were announced, the top scholar rode through the streets on horseback, receiving great acclaim. Qingli and the only failed student watched from a teahouse window, joyfully observing the scene.

Meanwhile, the Wang family was engulfed in gloom.

Wang Yongming, hearing his daughter’s words and seeing her kneeling to apologize, was so furious that he nearly shouted, “Cheng Zhaohua is a schemer, how dare he… how dare he… And you, you’ve wasted all my efforts raising you, behaving like this!”

After his angry rant, he still couldn’t calm down. With a voice full of resentment, he muttered, “Do you think I won’t go kill him now?”

The top scholar’s parade was such a joyous occasion.

This year’s top scholar was not only knowledgeable and eloquent but also handsome, making the third-place scholar look a bit inferior by comparison.

But Wang Yongming’s daughter had chosen someone who wasn’t even on the palace exam list!

What use is such a man?

Wang Yongming had inquired and found out that the top scholar was still unmarried, with no match yet arranged. So he returned to discuss with his daughter, planning to have her marry the top scholar, so she wouldn’t be left with nothing.

But to his surprise, Wang Huixin immediately knelt on the ground, admitting her mistake. She explained that when they were in Huaiyang City, their emotions had gotten the best of them, and they had done something inappropriate. Now, she couldn’t marry anyone else.

Wang Yongming was so angry, he almost wanted to kill Cheng Zhaohua, thinking that would solve everything without anyone finding out.

But before he could say anything, Wang Huixin, spoiled by her father, threw herself at his legs, crying out, “Father, no! If you kill him, I’ll die with him!”

Wang Yongming, enraged, stumbled back. Even though he doted on his daughter, he couldn’t hold back a sharp kick. As he watched his daughter fall to the ground, he coldly asked, “Are you going to marry him?”

Wang Huixin cried miserably, but still firmly nodded, “I want to marry him!”

Wang Yongming exhaled sharply, his voice low and grim. “Fine, then marry him. But from now on, if you regret it and come begging me, I won’t care!”

Deep down, he couldn’t completely ignore his daughter’s wishes, and he couldn’t bear to watch her threaten suicide.

His words were harsh, but both he and Wang Huixin knew he was just speaking in anger.

At this point, however, if he truly married Wang Huixin off to the top scholar, and on their wedding night it was discovered that his wife had already been with another man, it would not be a union but a source of conflict.

If Wang Huixin was to marry, it had to be someone she could control.

Since she was so determined, even going to such lengths, he agreed to the marriage.

Wang Yongming finally relented, and Wang Huixin was overjoyed. She immediately went to tell Cheng Zhaohua. The Cheng family, still uneasy, were too afraid to meet with her. Cheng Zhaohua didn’t dare show his face, worried that Mr. Wang might remember him and bring misfortune to his own family.

Now, hearing that Mr. Wang was willing to allow him to propose, Mrs. Xiong rushed to find a matchmaker and offered all of their family’s wealth as a dowry.

However, this marriage wasn’t something that could be settled with just one meal; at least half a month’s worth of effort was required for the arrangements.

During this time, the Qionglin Banquet also began.

At the Qionglin Banquet, several high-ranking officials and newly minted scholars from the imperial exams gathered, and the emperor would also make an appearance.

Normally, the emperor would have the top scholar give a speech or perform something.

This time was no different, and the emperor’s first mention was of Chen Wen.

But unlike previous years, Chen Wen, having received a secret hint from the emperor, didn’t perform right away. Instead, he knelt and loudly declared, “Your Majesty, I have another gift that I wish to present. Please allow me to offer it for your inspection.”

He handed over a scroll he had taken from his sleeve.

“What is this?” the emperor asked with interest.

“This is something my master found in an ancient text,” Chen Wen replied. “It describes two things: one is movable type printing, which eliminates the need for manual copying of books. With this method, dozens of books can be printed in a short time.”

At these words, the initially murmuring crowd fell silent. The emperor stood up in shock, exclaiming, “Is this true?”

Chen Wen replied, “Your Majesty, my master has confirmed its authenticity.”

“Is the book still available?” the emperor asked.

Chen Wen shook his head. “Your Majesty, my master only discovered it by chance. At first, he didn’t take it seriously. But one day, when he was in a desperate situation, he remembered it in a dream and tried it. It worked. He was able to print books and survive the crisis.”

The emperor was disappointed but more excited, as the eunuchs presented the scroll Chen Wen had handed over. The emperor eagerly opened it and saw detailed instructions on the method. But as it was only written words, he couldn’t help but ask, “Is it possible to print directly now?”

This invention could greatly benefit the nation. With printing, the cost of books would decrease, and more scholars would emerge. This would be a great fortune for the country.

Chen Wen nodded. “My master is waiting outside the palace gates, ready for your summons.”

The emperor was about to nod and summon him when he suddenly noticed the last line on the scroll: [Please, Your Majesty, keep this secret. Only meet with me privately, as the ancient text holds more than just this discovery. Others may take notice.]

The emperor immediately changed his tone. “I still have matters to attend to. Chen Wen, come with me.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.” Chen Wen stepped forward and followed the emperor out of the Qionglin Banquet.

Wang Yongming, watching their retreating figures, couldn’t help but feel envious. No wonder such an exceptional scholar like Chen Wen could be produced in such a small place—the teacher must be extraordinary.

Although the printing technique might not have been invented by Chen Wen’s master, it was Chen Wen who brought it to the world’s attention. This remarkable invention, which would benefit the nation and its people, would surely earn the emperor’s favor.

If he were his son-in-law, what worries would there be?!

But for some reason, his right eye kept twitching, as though something bad was about to happen.