Mr. Wang drooped his head and complained again, "My scholarship is no match for my older brother’s. If he had taken the exam this time, he would have surely placed first. What a shame..."

"These things take time. When your brother takes the exam next year, he’s sure to win top honors."

"I suppose that’s the only way to look at it now."

As they spoke, they arrived before the Dragon Gate.

This was, in fact, the north gate. To pass through it was to leave the examination grounds.

But it had long been known by a more auspicious name: the "Dragon Gate."

A carp leaping over the Dragon Gate—it was the dream of every scholar, the very aspiration that set them upon the path of the imperial examinations.

A few people were already waiting there, but not many—only five or six.

The Dragon Gate would only be opened once ten scholars had gathered. As their numbers were still insufficient, they could only wait. 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

Among the scholars who had arrived early, some actually recognized Zhao Jing and Mr. Wang.

They greeted them warmly and asked how they had answered the questions on the exam.

Mr. Wang laughed it off, saying, "My knowledge is lacking, so I’d rather not make a fool of myself." Zhao Jing was about to give a vague answer as well, but before he could speak, Chen De’an came to his rescue.

Chen De’an hurried over, and at that very moment, two more scholars appeared from the west. It was none other than Li Cun and Chu Xun.

With the addition of those three, they finally had enough people to open the Dragon Gate.

The constables on duty opened the Dragon Gate. The students waiting nearby, who moments before had been laughing and joking together, now crowded forward, each scrambling to be the first to leap through.

Chen De’an ran up and clapped Zhao Jing on the shoulder. "Come on, let’s go! We’re crossing the Dragon Gate. Why aren’t you the least bit excited?"

"It’s just a superstition; you can’t take it seriously. What difference does it make if you’re first or last? Whether you can truly leap the Dragon Gate doesn’t depend on who crosses this threshold first. It depends on real skill."

Chen De’an was already light-headed from the exam. Hearing Zhao Jing go on with this philosophical nonsense made him feel like he was seeing stars.

’The exam is over, so why won’t he give me a break?’

He wiped his face, said no more, and simply grabbed Zhao Jing to get him moving.

As they reached the gate, Li Cun and Chu Xun caught up. The group exchanged nods and walked out.

But in the instant they stepped through the gate, Li Cun skirted around Chu Xun, moving to his side to get closer to Zhao Jing. He then asked, "Zhao Jing, are you married to Miss Chen?"

The moment he spoke, Mr. Wang and Chu Xun, who were both unaware of the situation, stared at him wide-eyed.

’What is Li Cun up to? Does he want to give Zhao Jing a belated wedding gift?’

Zhao Jing, however, saw the real question hiding behind Li Cun’s troubled gaze.

But ultimately, he lacked the courage. If he had dared to specify which "Miss Chen" he was asking about, he might have learned the truth much sooner.

This was Zhao Jing’s thought, yet he deliberately offered no clarification. He just looked Li Cun deep in the eye and said, "We’re married."

’Why should I clarify things for Li Cun?’

’The Li family had broken their promise, leaving my sister an object of ridicule. While their actions had indirectly benefited me, the fault lay not with Li Cun but with his mother’s selfish whims.’

’But a man who can’t even persuade or restrain his own mother—how dare he pine for another man’s daughter?’

’Any woman he set his sights on was doomed to misfortune.’

"We’re married," Zhao Jing repeated.

Li Cun visibly sighed in relief, a genuine smile spreading across his face. "That’s wonderful. Now our Teacher can rest in peace. I only wish I’d known sooner. Let me send a belated wedding gift."

"There’s no need. It’s all in the past. If you really feel you must, then wait until I have a child. It won’t be too late to send a gift then."

Li Cun agreed in a heartbeat, his smile as brilliant as the midday sun. "Then we have a deal! When you welcome a child into your family, I will personally come to congratulate you."

In that short time, the crowd of family and friends waiting outside the gate had already swarmed toward them.

Someone shouted, "My son!" Another called, "You must be exhausted, sir! Let’s get you home. Your wife has some chicken soup simmering for you." A third person asked in a dramatic, sing-song voice, "Oh, my dearest nephew, you’re sure to pass with flying colors this time, right?"

Chen De’an had no time for any of this. He grabbed Zhao Jing and began pushing his way out. He had already spotted his mother and Yao’an in the crowd.

As they pushed through the crowd, Chen De’an leaned toward Zhao Jing’s ear. "You’re a real piece of work, you know that? Why didn’t you tell Li Cun it’s my sister you married?"

"He’s a scholar, same as us. He’s studied day and night to get this far. As much as I despise them for what they did to my sister, I don’t want to shatter his morale right now. You call me a piece of work, but I think I’m actually a great guy."

"Right, right, a ’great guy.’ Of everyone in our two families, you’re clearly the best. Hmph. We’ve been thick as thieves since we were kids. Did you really think I couldn’t figure out what you’re actually thinking? You’re just worried that if Li Cun finds out, he’ll start pestering my sister, isn’t that it? Don’t I know you by now? I’ve seen right through you!"