Zong Wenxiu's eyes widened in surprise. "We all passed? Jin Cheng, did I pass too?"
The little troublemaker nodded excitedly. "Yes, Brother, you did! You're still ahead of me, you're still better! But just wait, I'll catch up to you soon!"
Zong Wenxiu grinned from ear to ear. "Good, good, as long as we passed, that's what matters. Now we can both take the imperial exams as exceptional candidates. Jin Cheng, you're amazing. I'll be waiting for you to surpass me!"
"Mm-hmm!" The little troublemaker nodded vigorously.
Xu Wan patted his head and said with a smile, "A true genius indeed. You did well. When we get home, I have a big surprise for you."
The little troublemaker's eyes sparkled with anticipation. "A big surprise? Is it a reward?"
Xu Wan smiled and nodded. "Yes, a big reward for a good boy."
"A good boy... Haha, let's go home then!" The little troublemaker urged. "Home, home! I want to open my big surprise!"
"Wait, wait! Isn't it too soon? Haven't you seen the rankings yet? What place did you get?" Zong Wenxiu asked anxiously.
Zong Jincheng, with one arm hooked around Xu Wan and the other tugging at Zong Wenxiu to get into the carriage, babbled, "Oh, it doesn't matter! Whether we're first or second, we're both exceptional candidates for the imperial exams. Don't overthink it. We're both the best!"
Xu Wan's shoulders shook with laughter. This little rascal really knew how to comfort himself. If he had actually come in second, he would have bragged about it to the heavens and earth, making it sound like it was a once-in-a-lifetime achievement. It seemed his ranking was probably near the bottom.
But that was expected. After the incident with Luo Jingfeng, she had quietly adjusted his studies, focusing less on aiming for the top spot in the children's exam and more on building a solid foundation.
The real test would come during the official imperial exams.
At Yangyuan Marquis Manor, the news had arrived first. As soon as they got out of the carriage, firecrackers began to crackle at the entrance.
The Old Marquis and Old Marchioness stood at the door to welcome them. Behind them, rows of maids, servants, and guards shouted in unison, "Congratulations to Young Master Cheng and Young Master Xiu for passing the children's exam with distinction!"
The grand display and loud cheers drew the attention of the surrounding townsfolk.
The little troublemaker exclaimed, "Grandfather, Grandmother, I love you so much!"
The Old Marchioness's heart melted. "My dear grandson, Grandmother loves you too. Come here, let me see who this exceptional young scholar is, with such talent, looks, and character. When you grow up, matchmakers will be lining up at our door!"
The little troublemaker giggled, feeling proud. "I told Mother to prepare an iron threshold, but she didn't believe me. Grandmother, you believe me, right?"
"Of course, of course! Whatever my dear grandson says, I believe. Tomorrow—no, today—I'll have someone replace our threshold with an iron one!" the Old Marchioness declared earnestly.
Xu Wan: "..."
You two are quite the pair—one dares to say, the other dares to do.
The group happily entered the manor, and the Old Marchioness ordered the prepared celebratory cakes to be distributed to the onlookers, sharing the joy with everyone.
In no time, more and more townsfolk gathered at the entrance of the manor.
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But the Old Marchioness didn't mind. If the cakes ran out, she would have more made or bought urgently. Today was a day of celebration, and she wanted to give and give!
Once inside, the little troublemaker did nothing but chase after Xu Wan, asking, "Where's the surprise? Where's my big surprise?"
Xu Wan was still discussing the aftermath with Steward Liu: "Even if we replace the threshold with iron, we should cover it with a layer of wood on the outside. Otherwise, people might think something's wrong with our manor."
"Understood, I'll take care of it right away," Steward Liu replied before leaving.
Xu Wan then turned to Cui Zhi and whispered something. Cui Zhi's eyes lit up, and she nodded before going to fetch something.
"What is it?" The little troublemaker rubbed his hands in anticipation, eventually getting so impatient that he pulled Xu Wan along with him. "I'll go get it myself."
Xu Wan chuckled. "You can go by yourself. Why are you dragging me along?"
The little troublemaker replied matter-of-factly, "It's a gift from you. How can the giver not be there?"
"Fair point."
Xu Wan followed him and took the box from Cui Zhi. Zong Jincheng craned his neck to see inside.
Cui Zhi held the box up with a smile, and Xu Wan opened it, taking out the contents and handing them to him. "Returned to its rightful owner."
It was the jade pendant the Old Marchioness had gifted him, worth thousands of taels. On the day Xu Wan had first arrived at the manor, the mischievous little troublemaker had used it as collateral for a meal. He had been saving up ever since to redeem it.
Now, the pendant he had longed to reclaim was right before his eyes.
The little troublemaker exclaimed in delight, "The jade pendant! It's mine! The one Grandmother gave me!"
He held it carefully, examining it from all angles. His feelings were entirely different now compared to before. Back then, he hadn't understood the pendant's value or the depth of his grandmother's love.
Now that he had grown and understood these things, the pendant held profound meaning for him, like a long-lost friend finally returned.
The little troublemaker's eyes welled up with tears as he hugged the pendant, spinning around and jumping with joy. "My pendant is back! My pendant is back! What a wonderful surprise! I thought it would take me years to save enough to redeem it!"
According to the agreement Xu Wan had made with him, his monthly allowance of sixty taels would indeed have taken years to accumulate.
Xu Wan smiled and said, "Make sure to keep it safe from now on. If you use it as collateral again, I won't redeem it for you."
The little troublemaker nodded repeatedly, promising, "I won't, I won't! I'll never use it as collateral again! Hehe, I'm so happy. Mother, thank you for helping me get it back!"
Xu Wan smiled. "As long as you're happy."
She hesitated for a moment but decided not to tell him the truth about how the pendant had been returned. If he knew, the feeling of having it back wouldn't be as strong, and he might not cherish it as much. For now, let him believe she had spent a fortune to redeem it.
When the little rascal grew older, she would teach him about Steward Liu's principles of conduct.
The little troublemaker eagerly reattached the pendant to his belt and twirled around, asking, "Does it look good? Does it look good?"
Xu Wan nodded. "It looks great. You're quite the dashing young noble."
The little rascal let out an excited whoop and ran off, shouting, "I have to show my brother! Our pendants are the same. I was so jealous when I saw him wearing his. Now we can both wear them, and everyone will know we're brothers at a glance!"
Xu Wan teased, "If you say that, your friend He Zheng might want one too."
"Haha, I'll buy him one when I have the money."
"So generous?" Xu Wan raised an eyebrow.
The little troublemaker laughed it off. "Just kidding. When I grow up and become an official, it'll be hard to save that much money. But He Zheng would be happy just hearing that, and he'd stay happy for years!"
Xu Wan burst out laughing. "You really are a natural at painting grand dreams."
"What do you mean, painting grand dreams?" The little rascal looked confused.
Xu Wan explained, "Drawing a pie to satisfy hunger, imagining plums to quench thirst."
The little troublemaker thought about these two idioms and realized they were both related to great rulers. He immediately straightened his face and declared solemnly, "It seems I truly am a born leader. I don't even need to study—it comes naturally. With such talent, I'm destined to become a high-ranking official praised in the history books, leaving a lasting legacy!"