102: Chapter 76 Regretting the Marriage 102: Chapter 76 Regretting the Marriage The inspection at Mingyi Hall, achieving three levels of examination and the next three departments, had finally all come to an end.
This inspection had begun with great fanfare, and it ended no less spectacularly.
However, one name became known to everyone through this event, that of Miss Jiang the Second, Jiang Li.
In literature, mathematics, courtesy, music, horsemanship, and archery, she came out on top in all six categories.
This was the first such occurrence since the founding of Mingyi Hall.
If this Miss Jiang the Second had been a widely known prodigy since childhood, that would have been one thing, but this Miss Jiang the Second was a young girl who had only begun her enlightenment before being sent away to reside alone in a temple for eight years, which made her much more awe-inspiring than any prodigy.
The gambling houses in the alleys and streets of Yanjing City had earned a handsome profit, as the majority had placed their bets on Meng Hongjin due to the bet.
Very few had bet on Jiang Li, And even those who did only placed a small wager.
This meant that the gambling house owners made the real profits.
Hence, the owners were quite fond of Jiang Li, and whenever they saw someone, they always had some praise to say about her—returning the favor with kindness for the profits they had earned.
And so, due to this inspection, Miss Jiang the Second’s reputation had suddenly improved quite a bit.
Similarly, with gains come losses, Miss Jiang the Second had indeed made a name for herself at the inspection field, especially in zither music and imperial archery, where so many eyes had seen Miss Jiang the Second’s true talents, putting other families’ daughters to shame.
Therefore, this year’s inspection was a solo performance by Miss Jiang the Second, without the previous flurry of flowers vying for attention.
People remembered Jiang Li.
The previously dazzling Jiang Youyao and others were soon forgotten.
Even when people remembered Meng Hongjin, it was only because she had injured Princess Yongning with an arrow at the Imperial Archery Field and the ridiculous bet she had with Jiang Li, which had nothing to do with her own grace.
Some remembered Miss Jiang the Third for being sweet and lovely, delicate, and charming, and others remembered Miss Jiang the Second for her unrivaled beauty, graceful, and intelligent.
Among the myriad of choices in the world, everyone has their own preference, yet whether one can obtain their desired choice depends entirely on fate.
At Marquis Ningyuan’s Mansion, Zhou Yanbang was lost in a daze.
The pages on his desk fluttered in the wind, but he paid them no mind.
What appeared before his eyes was the image of a young girl in green at the racecourse, her figure soaring like the wind.
Zhou Yanbang was somewhat infatuated, for in all his past years, he had never been so taken with any woman.
Even his formerly satisfactory fiancée, Jiang Youyao, had not been the most important thing to him.
To marry a young lady, provide her with luxurious clothes and jewels, and entrust the management of the mansion to her, that was what a wife meant to him.
But now, Zhou Yanbang realized that the wife he wanted was none other than Jiang Li.
That young girl was like a riddle, the more she disregarded him, the more Zhou Yanbang became fixated.
Especially since Jiang Li had once been his fiancée and should have been his, had it not been for the Jiang Family’s mishap, which caused all this trouble.
At today’s racecourse, besides himself, there were many who looked at Jiang Li.
Zhou Yanbang did not like the way those around him gazed at Jiang Li.
She was his, how could others ogle her freely?
Previously, Jiang Li’s bad reputation might have made it difficult for her to find a good marital match.
But this inspection had made her talents widely known throughout Yanjing, and with her beauty, being the legitimate daughter of Jiang Yuanbai, and having reached the age for marriage, it wouldn’t be long before suitors came calling…
With Jiang Li’s qualities, it seemed that those interested in her were not few in number.
Zhou Yanbang felt uneasy and restless.
The thought of Jiang Li marrying another was like having his own wife taken from him, a feeling of anger mixed with regret.
As he brooded, a servant entered the room and announced, “Young Prince, Madam has arrived.”
Madam Ningyuan walked in.
Zhou Yanbang quickly stood up, “Mother.”
Madam Ningyuan smiled and said, “I had the kitchen prepare some Plum Cakes for you.
The weather has been hot these days, and it should refresh you a bit.” On seeing the somewhat disordered books on Zhou Yanbang’s desk, Madam paused, looked inquiringly at Zhou Yanbang, and asked, “Yanbang, have you been troubled by something lately?”
Recently, Zhou Yanbang often seemed distracted and frequently absent-minded when given tasks.
Considering that the Imperial College examinations had released their results and Zhou Yanbang had ranked third, she thought this upset him and thus consoled him, “You aren’t upset because of the Imperial College matter, are you?
Yanbang, your father has said, this wasn’t your fault.
We had never heard of Ye Shijie before, but since he managed to surpass Li Family’s eldest, Li Jing, he must truly have genuine talent.
Don’t dwell on it too much.
Third place is very commendable as well.”