In Love With My Fierce Farming Wife!
Chapter 1248 - 1159: Top Scholar Parades through the Streets

Chapter 1248: Chapter 1159: Top Scholar Parades through the Streets

Ducking a flying embroidered shoe coming from who knows where, Xue Qian quickly said, urging his horse forward.

Muttering: "This is just too much. They’ve even started to throw their shoes. What won’t they throw?"

"That’s what I want to say."

Su Ke swung a punch to deflect a bunch of flowers nearly smashing into his forehead: "Look at these women... Didn’t they say that the necessity for men and women not to be too close is strict nowadays? So, what’s all this about!"

"Who can stop this when it’s the top scholar’s Horse Riding Parade? Such a refined event, taking place in public, who would bother about propriety? Move along!"

The people behind them all urged them to continue.

Su Ke quickly spurred his horse to catch up, but there was a disturbance up ahead. A richly dressed woman was holding a flower, offering it to the top scholar. And, to everyone’s surprise, he accepted her gift, and even took the flower and pinned it onto his crown.

This "flower-pinning custom" had a long tradition and yet never ceased to amuse.

And it completely set the atmosphere ablaze on Imperial Street!

Countless young women threw their flowers at the men without any hesitation.

Su Ke found himself submerged in a sea of flowers, making a disheveled escape.

But the horses they were riding were led forward by handlers from the start, to prevent startling them. Now, flowers cascaded down on them, and they had no choice but to take the impact.

In no time, all of the newly qualified Jinshi scholars on the Horse Riding Parade were covered in flower petals, on their heads and clothes, looking particularly comical.

Su Ke was no exception!

Really, these people were too wild!

"Su Ke, look over there. Do those few people seem to recognize you?"

"Where?"

Su Ke glanced back unconsciously, scanning around, but didn’t see the persons Xue Qian was referring to.

"Not there, over there!"

Xue Qian urgently corrected him and pulled on Su Ke: "See, isn’t that Miss Hanmei from Wentao Pavilion? Why would she come out instead of staying back at Wentao Pavilion?"

Miss Hanmei from Wentao Pavilion?

Su Ke instantly recalled the top courtesan from Lui’s Tavern, and quickly looked around, indeed catching sight of her in the crowd.

Miss Hanmei truly lived up to her reputation as the prominent courtesan unmatched in beauty as, even among the crowd, she stood out like a crane amongst chickens, serene and untainted amidst the plain folk.

Seeing him look her way, she waved at him.

Then she beamed with a smile: "Master Su!"

Such beauty in her smile rippled through the surroundings, drawing everyone’s eyes out as if they yearned to claim that smile for themselves.

Su Ke was momentarily stunned, then replied with a smile, urging his horse closer, and inexplicably bowed to her.

"Miss Hanmei, what brings you here?"

Miss Hanmei appeared surprised by his question, opened her mouth slightly, then grinned.

"I am here particularly to wait for Master Su."

Her spirited gaze shining, she gracefully picked up a bunch of blooming lilies and tossed them his way: "Master Su, catch!"

Su Ke subconsciously caught it.

The bouquet of lilies was in full bloom, radiating beauty, and Su Ke was completely enraptured.

But as soon as the flowers landed in his hands, they immediately drew the envious gazes of countless onlookers.

Even Feng Jiu and Lu Da fixed their gaze on him, full of curiosity. People have a natural inclination to pursue beautiful things. Miss Hanmei’s beauty was beyond words, and her mere presence instantly drew the eyes of many. Such a beauty, renowned for her name, had not chosen to gift flowers to the top scholar, second place, or third-place scholars, but instead, she had chosen Su Ke, who ranked just before the first class, and the implications made everyone think.

Su Ke also felt somewhat embarrassed, worried that his impulsive action might give the wrong impression.

He coughed softly, "Thank you, Miss Hanmei, for the gift of flowers."

"Why speak of thanks between us? I have yet to express my gratitude for the painting Master Su previously gave. These flowers are a gift I especially prepared for Master Su. It is proper to reciprocate, and I hope Master Su likes it. It wasn’t a waste of my effort," she said, bending her knee slightly towards him.

"I do like it, very much. The flowers are bright, and they’re nice to hold... heh heh..."

Su Ke laughed awkwardly.

He had painted that picture on a whim, and gifting it was really done without much forethought.

Now, to receive such a grateful acknowledgment from Miss Hanmei truly made him feel undeserving!

"There’s no need to worry about such trifles, Miss Hanmei. It’s just a painting, after all. Moreover, at that time..."

"To you, Master Su, it may be just a painting, but to Hanmei, its significance is profound. It’s far more than the painting itself, and no amount of grateful words from Hanmei would be too much. Therefore, this bouquet doesn’t compare to what Master Su has given Hanmei. Please feel reassured to accept it!" she stated.

With the conversation reaching this point, Su Ke lifted the bouquet in his hand, "Even so... thank you."

Miss Hanmei did not say more, only bowed towards him.

Su Ke bid farewell and urged his horse forward.

Xue Qian clicked his tongue beside him, "I never imagined, Brother Su, that you would have such good fortune! That’s the most sought-after Miss Hanmei from Wentao Pavilion. Countless gentlemen have spent fortunes for a smile from her, yet here you are, honored with her presenting you flowers in person. Just on this account alone, enough sons of nobility would despise you."

"Don’t talk nonsense, it’s just a bunch of flowers."

Su Ke insisted stiffly without saying much more and turned his head to look at Su Ke before continuing forward.

"It’s just a bouquet of flowers."

Xue Qian mimicked, then spurred his horse to catch up, "If it’s merely a bouquet of flowers, why not give it to your foolish brother? I wouldn’t mind," he said, making a grab for it.

"Are you talking nonsense, didn’t you hear her? She said the flowers were for me."

Su Ke naturally had no reason to let go.

Perhaps stimulated by Miss Hanmei giving him the bouquet, there were now many young ladies and wives tossing flowers at Su Ke from both sides of the road.

Su Ke didn’t turn any away; instead, he easily caught many and held them in his hands.

This amused the two newly qualified Jinshi scholars.

"One should enjoy life’s pleasures while young! Brother Xue, to covet another’s beloved is your mistake."

"Exactly! If Miss Hanmei, such a beauty, were to give me flowers, I couldn’t bear to let them go, haha..."

"No way!"

Xue Qian hastily laughed it off, "I’m just envious of Brother Su, even securing a beauty like Miss Hanmei."

The group jested with each other as they walked, and some accepted the kindness of others, pinning fresh flowers onto their crown hats one after another.