Chapter 187: Chapter 77: Diethyl (Part 2)_2
Zhuang Changhe was scolded by his father as he spoke these words, but eventually, his father agreed. Of course, the reason his father agreed was that he knew his daughter’s concern for her son over the years. Being a matter related to his son’s lifelong matters, she would not act rashly.
Ruo Lan nodded, “Good, having sister take a look first would put my mind at ease.” It was appropriate to be cautious. Ruo Lan wasn’t worried about the lady not being good, but concerned about her not being compatible with her brother in temperament and other aspects.
Ma Peng had only caught a mild cold. After taking two doses of medicine and sweating it out, he was better, but to make it convincing, he still lay in bed to rest.
Three days after the examination, the results were out.
Tingli and Tingyi both failed the exam. They knew this result and weren’t too disappointed; if not this time, then the next. They were still young and not in a hurry.
The scene at Ma’s Mansion was exceptionally lively!
Ma Chengteng was away on duty, and with Ma Peng feigning illness in bed, no one from the mansion had gone to check the results. However, the Chief Steward, diligent and devoted to duty, remembered how everyone had little hope during the township examination, yet the Eldest Young Master managed to pass. The same miracle could happen again; perhaps their young master was just lucky enough to pass again!
Ma Yuan looked from the bottom up, growing more disappointed as he looked, and upon reaching the last hundred names in the Palace Graduate list without finding Ma Peng’s name, he gave up hope. Striking it lucky once did not mean reaching the second tier.
Just as Ma Yuan was about to head back to the mansion, he heard someone exclaim, “Passed, passed…”
Ma Yuan found the voice familiar and, looking up, saw that it was Zhuang Changhe—the brother-in-law of their young master. Naturally, he stepped forward to congratulate him, but to his surprise, Zhuang Changhe could hardly contain his joy, “Congratulations to us both…”
Ma Yuan exclaimed in surprise.
Zhuang Changhe smiled lopsidedly, “My brother-in-law also passed, and ranked even higher than me!” His passing was expected, but his brother-in-law’s success was a complete surprise. However, Ma Peng’s supposed success pleased him even more than his own.
Ma Yuan, mouth agape, said, “Our young master…” and immediately squeezed back into the crowd to check the list. Learning from his previous approach, he now looked from the front to the back and paused at the forty-eighth name; the candidate was named Ma Peng.
Ma Yuan pinched his own hand, incredulous. His young master ranked forty-eight? How was that possible? Achieving third tier could be considered good luck, but ranking in the second tier was baffling.
Continuing to scan the list, Ma Yuan saw that there was only one Ma Peng mentioned; no second occurrence. He cautiously asked Zhuang Changhe, “My in-law, is it possible there was another candidate with the same name as our young master in this examination?” Having a namesake was common in that era, especially given the vast territory of the Great Yuan Dynasty.
Zhuang Changhe, initially delighted, pondered Ma Peng’s performance. It was like drinking a pot of ice-cold water in the heat of June; now, it felt like someone had poured a bucket of cold water over his head in the dead of winter. Zhuang Changhe tentatively said, “That shouldn’t be possible.” If it was a namesake, it would be a false celebration.
Ma Yuan stammered, “Old Master and the young master didn’t send anyone to see the results, but I thought it best to check just in case, in the off chance that he really passed.” Ma Yuan didn’t dare say that perhaps the young master had just scraped through like last time.
Ma Yuan’s uncertainty was mainly due to Ma Peng’s demeanor; after exiting the examination, he seemed out of sorts, and when seeing Old Master, he looked like someone guilty of wrongdoing, avoiding eye contact with Old Master. After returning, he lay in bed, listless—not at all seeming like someone who had performed so well—hence, Ma Yuan’s guess that there must have been another candidate with the same name as their young master.
Zhuang Changhe also feared a mix-up. Initially, with no expectations, he had gone back to report the good news, bringing joy to his father and sister. If he were to turn around and declare it was a mistake due to a namesake, the disappointment would be immense. “We shall check the records of this candidate,” he said. Initially caught up in the celebration, now, looking back, something indeed did not add up. How could Ma Peng possibly have scored higher than him?
Ma Yuan quickly nodded. It was a good idea.
Ma Yuan went to the Ministry of Rites to inquire about the information of the candidate who ranked forty-eighth. The officials usually encountered requests for information verification when an error was found that needed correction; however, verifying information right after the results were announced was a first.
Ma Yuan, with a distressed face, said, “Sir, please understand. I’m worried in case there is a mistake. If it was someone with the same name as our young master, that would lead to undue celebration for both Old Master and the young master.”