Dream of the Red Chamber: Madam, please have some self-respect!

Three days later, on the day the results were announced, the Rongguo Mansion was plunged into a state of anxious waiting from the time the lanterns were lit at dawn.

This feeling was exactly the same as that of the scholars standing in front of the county government office, all feeling uneasy and anxious.

In the flower hall of Grandmother Jia's courtyard, after breakfast, Lady Wang, Lady Xing, Wang Xifeng, Li Wan, and all the sisters were present. They seemed to be chatting casually, but their eyes kept glancing towards the door.

Especially Mrs. Wang, who was to the right of the old lady, seemed calm as she held Buddhist prayer beads in her hand, but she was moving the beads faster than usual.

"Don't worry, Grandmother," Wang Xifeng said, her eyes darting around. She was a master of humor, and she lightened the mood with a few jokes. "Our Brother Bao came out of the examination hall looking very energetic this time. He said his essays were very smooth, so he must have made it into the 'circle'! I think so too. With a talent like Brother Bao's, once he puts his mind to it, how could he not succeed?"

Although she couldn't recognize many characters and didn't understand the specifics of the county examination's "group list" and "supplementary list," she still understood from the conversation that "entering the circle" meant being on the list.

Madam Wang then revealed a reserved yet expectant smile: "Feng'er is good at making us happy. What does a child like her know about good and bad? As long as things end peacefully and she doesn't cause any trouble, I'll be thankful and grateful."

Despite saying that, the joy in her eyes and brows was undeniable; she probably hoped that her son could be placed in the inner circle of the "group case".

Madam Xing, now more subdued, stopped her usual subtle rivalry with her sisters-in-law and said with a smile, "Second Madam is too modest. Grandmother often praises Baoyu's intelligence. But Yun-ge'er..."

As she spoke, her tone became somewhat subtle: "She didn't look well after the exam, and even said herself that she didn't do very well, and that she'd probably struggle to even make the 'second-best' list..."

Tan Chun, relying on the favor of her grandmother, naturally spoke her mind.

She couldn't stand anyone saying anything bad about Jia Yun, so she immediately chimed in, "Yun-ge'er is just being modest! We've all seen how hard he studies. Besides, even His Highness Prince Xin and Li Jijiu have praised him, so how could his learning be lacking? Even if he doesn't do well in the first round, he might still be able to make up for it in the second."

The moment those words were spoken, the flower hall fell silent for a moment.

Grandmother Jia raised an eyebrow and glanced thoughtfully at Tan Chun. This girl was usually so sensible; why was she so eager today for a minor official position in the west wing? Could it be...?

Seeing this, Xue Baochai quickly replied gently, "Third Sister is right, Yun-ge is indeed diligent. However, exams ultimately depend on performance on the day. I saw that Brother Bao really put his heart into it this time; he came out of the examination hall looking radiant, so his essay must have gone smoothly."

Upon hearing this, Madam Wang's dark expression softened somewhat.

Grandmother Jia shifted her gaze from Tan Chun to Dai Yu, who had been sitting quietly.

Seeing her slender body leaning slightly forward, looking as if she wanted to speak but dared not, as fragile as a rootless duckweed, I couldn't help but think of my daughter Jia Min who had died young.

The old lady's heart softened, and she quickly beckoned, "Yu'er, come here and sit next to your grandmother. You're not well, so don't always sit in the wind."

Daiyu then timidly moved to Grandmother Jia's side and whispered, "Grandmother, I think Bao-er-ge and Yun-ge-er are both very good. It's just that Lan-ge-er... The other day I saw him studying under the eaves, his little hands were red from the cold but he was still writing. It was really heartbreaking. If he can pass the exam, I don't know how happy my sister-in-law will be."

That's a clever way of putting it, subtle and understated, so it can't be wrong.

Sure enough, upon hearing this, Grandmother Jia sighed and said, "It's hard on this child; he's so young yet already knows how to study hard."

The commotion in the flower hall did not reach Mengpo Studio, while Jia Zheng was restless in his study.

He knew his son's limitations. Although he had indeed made some progress these days, Baoyu's limited knowledge was only good enough to fool his own family.

But when you get to the real exam, it's already difficult enough to finish the paper. How can you expect to be in the "group" in the first round?

He dared not have any hope.

On the contrary, Jia Yun, although he admitted after the exam that he was only average, Jia Zheng knew that this boy was calm and steady, and perhaps he was truly learned but kept a low profile.

Even if they're not in the inner circle, making it into the outer circle or the secondary list, and waiting for the next round to be tested, is still pretty good.

But what if all three of them fail the imperial examination and are not on the list... then the Jia family's participation in this imperial examination will truly become a joke.

He paced back and forth irritably, feeling even more disgusted by the faint sounds of laughter and chatter coming from outside.

Meanwhile, Jia Yun, the person everyone was talking about, was staring blankly at a scroll in her small courtyard.

Jia Yun has been somewhat restless lately.

He repeatedly reviewed his exam paper, especially the policy essay. At that time, his thoughts flowed freely, and he wrote down some ideas about finance and commerce. Although he tried his best to package them with the words of sages, the core viewpoints were indeed somewhat "heretical" in that era.

He sighed inwardly, "I was too hasty... In the imperial examinations, stability is paramount. I'm afraid I've really failed this time, and I probably won't even make it onto the 'secondary list'."

Seeing his solemn expression, his mother, Bu, did not dare to ask any more questions, but silently swept the floor even more diligently.

Just as these thoughts were swirling, a commotion suddenly arose outside the second gate, followed by the excited, distorted voice of Steward Lai as he rushed in, shouting:

"Release them! Release them! Congratulations to the old lady, master, and ladies! Our second master... has a ranking! He's in the inner circle of the 'group case'! Seventh place! Seventh place!"

This joyful cry was like a thunderclap, instantly startling the entire Rongguo Mansion!

"Second Master!"

"Seventh place!"

"Seventh in the inner circle?!" Madam Wang was the first to stand up. Her face beaming with joy, her voice trembled. "Amitabha! Buddha bless me! I knew my Baoyu was destined for greatness! It must be him! It must be him!"

She was so excited she almost cried, and grabbed Grandmother Jia's arm again: "Grandmother! Did you hear that? Baoyu ranked seventh in the inner circle in the first round! He's practically guaranteed to win the prefectural examination too!"

Upon hearing this, Grandmother Jia was both surprised and delighted, exclaiming repeatedly, "Good! Good! Quick! Send someone to see clearly! Is it really Baoyu?"

Upon hearing the good news, Madam Xing, Wang Xifeng, and the others gathered around to offer their congratulations. Apart from Tan Chun, who seemed a little embarrassed, the whole room was filled with jubilation, and everyone was convinced that the seventh-ranked person in the inner circle must be Bao Yu.

Wang Xifeng loudly ordered, "Quickly! Prepare the reward money! A generous reward! Then go to the ancestral hall to offer incense to the ancestors!"

Madam Wang, radiant with pride, began to boast to the room full of people: "Although the child himself put in the effort, it's also thanks to the master's excellent guidance and the old lady's blessings... I've said it before, Baoyu's intelligence goes without saying, he just doesn't put in the effort usually. Once he does, what academic achievement can't he attain? Look, he ranked high in the inner circle in the first round. If he goes to the prefectural examination, won't he be 'ascended to the next rank'?"

The way she spoke made it seem as if she could already see Baoyu dressed in his scholar's robe.

Aunt Zhao forced a smile in the corner, her words so sour they made her wring her handkerchief, yet she dared not utter a sound.

Just as the joyous atmosphere reached its peak, the messenger, Steward Lai, rushed into the flower hall, panting, with a hesitant expression on his face.

"Lai Da, have you seen the list clearly? Tell me the details quickly!" Madam Wang said anxiously.

Lai Da, panting heavily, wiped away his sweat before cautiously saying, "Madam... that, that list of major cases... I saw it very clearly... the seventh place in the inner circle... is Second Master, it's Second Master Yun from the west corridor... Second Master Bao... he, he's not on the list of major cases, nor... nor on the secondary list..."

"What?!"

The flower hall fell silent instantly; you could hear a pin drop.

Madam Wang's hand, which was holding the teacup, suddenly trembled, and the tea spilled out, staining her apricot-yellow silk skirt with a dark color.

She seemed oblivious, staring blankly at the doorway. Madam Xing, standing nearby, also let out a soft "Oh dear," her mouth agape as if she wanted to say something but then stopped herself.

Sister Feng, who had been all smiles and ready to offer her congratulations, suddenly froze on her lips and turned into astonishment.

Seeing that Madam Wang had spilled her tea, she quickly took out a handkerchief and bent down to wipe it, repeatedly saying, "Madam, be careful not to burn yourself!"

Tan Chun's previously tense shoulders relaxed almost imperceptibly, and a hint of pleasure flashed in her eyes, but she immediately lowered them.

But this subtle change did not escape the notice of Grandmother Jia's drooping eyes.

This girl...

"You...who are you talking about? What about Baoyu...Lan-ge'er?" Madam Wang practically spat out the words through clenched teeth, her voice becoming shrill.

"It's...it's Second Master Yun, Jia Yun, seventh in the inner circle. Lan-ge'er is...on the secondary list, still has a chance. Second Master Bao...is indeed...not ranked yet." Lai Da repeated it with a stiff upper lip, cold sweat dripping from his forehead.

Who does Jia Yun think he is, Second Master! Lady Wang was seething with hatred. She could only blame this servant for not being able to speak properly, and for having a brain full of mush!

The festive atmosphere in the flower hall vanished instantly, leaving only a deathly silence and Madam Wang's deathly pale face.