In Love With My Fierce Farming Wife!
Chapter 1244 - 1155: Only by Raising a Child Does One Realize a Parent’s Grace

Chapter 1244: Chapter 1155: Only by Raising a Child Does One Realize a Parent’s Grace

"Everyone was frenziedly spreading the news, rushing to tell one another. Some even said that Top Scholar Su is so handsome that countless young ladies lament their inability to marry him!"

The maidservant Ye Mai, attending to Qin Shuan’er, chattered on without end, "Young lady, our two families have genuine ties of friendship. Now that Master Su has passed the Imperial Examination, do you think we should go and offer our congratulations?"

However, Qin Shuan’er, despite listening, had long since let her thoughts drift far away.

After Ye Mai asked for the second time, Shuan’er lightly shook her head, "Knowing he has passed, I am truly happy for him. As for offering congratulations in person... perhaps, let’s not?"

Back when she was in the palace, she was extremely worried about Su Ke’s results. But now, having truly learned of his success, her heart had calmed down. She felt an inexplicable sense of hesitation.

Him, now in the midst of glory and honor, but what about her? Still confined within her chambers, awaiting marriage. Even if she went, she could, at best, only catch a distant glimpse, fearing even a few words might be beyond her reach. What point would there be in going?

Ye Mai looked at her, not understanding, "But young lady, weren’t you eager to leave the palace simply to inquire about Master Su’s results? How come now, upon learning he has passed the examination, I feel you’re not at all happy?"

"Too much talking!"

Her face couldn’t hide her emotions, having her thoughts guessed so accurately.

The young maidservant, scolded and unsure of what to do, shrank back a bit, her eyes brimming with tears, which only made Shuan’er more irritable.

"What are you dallying for? Get out!"

Once the maidservant had left, Shuan’er felt an upsurge of contained frustration with nowhere to vent, and couldn’t help but throw herself onto the bed, viciously punching the bedding to release her anger.

What has come over me?

Over at the Su Family’s Mansion.

The news of success was followed in quick succession by two groups bringing tidings of joy and then came the rewards from the Empress herself. Yet before anyone could come back to their senses, His Majesty’s rewards arrived!

Compared to the Empress’s gifts, His Majesty’s were much lighter, but he had sent none other than Eunuch An, the Chief manager of his personal attendants!

Eunuch An, an old servant by His Majesty’s side, had always been close to the emperor. Perhaps he had even spent more time with His Majesty than the Empress had. The fact that His Majesty sent Eunuch An himself to deliver the gift showed the depth of regard he has for Su Ke!

Nobody was unaware that this newly minted Top Scholar was in fact a bonafide Uncle-in-law to His Majesty. Judging from His Majesty’s appreciation for him, it was certain that there would be a place for Top Scholar Su in the court hereafter.

Eunuch An’s aged face bore a squinting smile as he held a jade Ruyi scepter with both hands and respectfully greeted Su Ke.

"Your servant comes bearing His Majesty’s verbal commendation, personally extending congratulations to Top Scholar Su, and also to have the honor of sharing a cup of wine. Additionally, His Majesty has bestowed a jade Ruyi scepter as a token to celebrate Top Scholar Su’s success."

"I am grateful to Eunuch An for taking the time to come here personally, and I thank you for that. Eunuch An, please take a seat," Su Ke replied.

Not daring to overstep, Su Ke was unfailingly courteous in response.

Eunuch An knew full well His Majesty’s intentions and extended the utmost courtesy to the promising future of Top Scholar Su.

With one party keen and the other receptive, they were naturally in perfect accord.

Firecrackers erupted in front of the mansion as if they cost nothing, blasting away for quite a long time, and the clamor of joy persisted even longer than the sound of the firecrackers.

Eunuch An, after delivering the jade Ruyi scepter by decree, did not rush back to the palace, but instead enjoyed a few cups of wine at the Su Family’s Mansion. Hearing that Eunuch An had arrived at the Su Family’s Mansion, officials from neighboring residences, upon receiving the news, inevitably came to offer their congratulations under the pretense of celebration and also took the opportunity to show their faces in front of Eunuch An.

Eunuch An was a cunning man and subtly heaped praise upon Su Ke both directly and obliquely.

His implication, to a certain extent, also reflected His Majesty’s sentiment. Naturally, the others wouldn’t dare contradict His Majesty, and inevitably they complimented Su Ke as well. Soon afterward, his mentor Lei Yin, accompanied by several colleagues from Yingtian Academy, arrived, stirring up yet another commotion which need not be mentioned.

As night fell and the hubbub had dispersed, Su Ke found his belly filled with wine.

Little Shitou and Duan Yan supported the drunken Su Ke into his room, and Mrs. Su-Hua hurriedly brought him sobering soup to drink. This day truly allowed her to bask in glory. She smiled so much that her mouth never closed all day.

"Everyone says that you only understand your parents’ kindness when you have children of your own. Raising a child involves endless worries, and only today have I truly understood the meaning of these words. Look at him, he’s so grown up, yet he’s still such a troublemaker."

She complained with her lips, but her movements were gentle.

Su Ke gulped down the sobering soup in two mouthfuls and pushed the bowl to her, "Mother, leave these matters to the servants from now on. Why else do we keep so many people at home? To be decorations?"

"Decorations? You’re going to be an official soon, and you’ll need attendants to serve you, won’t you?"

Mrs. Su-Hua saw things clearly and couldn’t help but nag him again, "Today your uncles mentioned they wanted to assign some of your cousins to serve under you—to have you show them the world. What do you think?"

It was the usual way of things: "When one man achieves the Dao, his poultry and dogs rise to Heaven." Once someone from the clan passed the civil service examinations, suitable individuals would be selected from among relatives and friends to help with mundane affairs, social networking, and such.

However, Su Ke was quite troubled at this moment, "Mother, my head is throbbing. Could you not discuss this with me right now?"

These matters should at least wait until after he had posted to an official position, shouldn’t they? It was premature and annoying to talk about it now.

"Alright, Mother won’t talk about it."

Mrs. Su-Hua tidied him up and covered him with quilts before drawing the curtains, "You should go to sleep! Tomorrow morning is the academic award ceremony, and you can’t afford to be lazy. Sleep, sleep, ah!"

As Mrs. Su-Hua spoke, she turned and saw that Su Ke had closed his eyes. She carefully walked out, and then noticed the Jinshi official robes placed on the bedside.

Thinking of how Su Ke was still so young and the robes would likely not fit, she instinctively picked them up and left the room, ignoring her exhaustion to alter the robes for him throughout the night.

Happiness invigorates the spirit!

The next day before dawn, Su Ke awoke.

Steaming sobering soup was set on the bedside, and Little Shitou and Duan Yan were already bustling in and out of the room, tidying up.

He hastily got up, slipped on his clothes, which felt surprisingly well-fitting, and began to wash and rinse. Fearing a repeat of the embarrassing situation during the palace examination, he dared not even eat breakfast and hurriedly made his way to the Imperial Palace Gate.

Today was the day of the academic award ceremony, and the commoners of Shengjing had already packed into both sides of the Imperial Street waiting expectantly.

As per the annual tradition, once the final rankings were published, there would be an event where the top scholar would ride through the streets on a horse, and the Shengjing commoners would compete to witness it, hoping to imbibe some of the scholar’s talent. Even more so, there was the tradition of "choosing a husband on the scholar’s list."

After all, it’s said, "A long drought meets the sweet rain, meet an old friend in a foreign place. On a wedding night, Listed on the golden plaque."

Life’s four great moments of joy, and being "Listed on the golden plaque" occupies the most crucial and significant part. One can imagine its importance. Su Ke, like many Tribute Scholars, arrived early at the front gate of the Imperial City to wait.