Outside, firecrackers roared in unison, and a joyous band was making its way towards the Marquis's Mansion to announce good news.
Upon receiving the news, Chen Xuan rushed back from the military camp on the outskirts of the city. He happened to meet the official who came to deliver the good news and immediately ordered someone to give the official some silver as a token of gratitude.
The official congratulated him, saying, "Congratulations, Marquis! Young Master Chen has become the top scorer in the provincial and metropolitan examinations at such a young age. He has a boundless future ahead!"
The Marquis's Mansion was already in the emperor's good graces. Now that their only son had achieved such a feat at the age of twenty, it was like adding fuel to the fire and adorning flowers with brocade. In front of this family, no matter how humble he was, it was never enough.
Chen Xuan laughed heartily. "Thank you for your kind words, sir!"
Then he invited the official into the mansion for a cup of tea. The official left on the pretext that there were still other families to announce the good news to.
After this commotion, a large number of commoners gathered at the entrance. Nanny Li ordered someone to prepare some copper coins and scatter them among the crowd. Laughter and congratulations filled the air, making everyone can't help but smile.
Chen Xuan patted Chen Tingfeng on the shoulder and said with a smile, "Good boy, you have the same charm as your father when he was young!"
The former marquis of the mansion was a military man, and naturally, his son, Chen Xuan, had also inherited his martial skills. He had shown great talent in military strategy since childhood.
However, as a family of military generals, he sometimes worried that being too powerful might arouse the emperor's suspicion. Therefore, when Chen Tingfeng was young, he only focused on making him study. Learning martial arts was only for physical fitness.
Who would have thought that among this family of rather straightforward military generals, there would be such a sly fox? Since childhood, he had been able to play tricks and was good at everything he learned. As he grew up, it was even more so. If Chen Tingfeng were to take the military imperial examination, he might not achieve any less than what he had now.
Chen Tingfeng nodded slightly. "Father's praise is too much. I'm still not as good as you."
Lady Bai said with a smile, "It's a great joy that Shaochuan has become the top scorer in the metropolitan examination. We should probably host a banquet."
However, Chen Xuan pondered for a moment and frowned slightly. "Too much wealth and honor might arouse jealousy. This banquet doesn't need to be too sumptuous. Just invite the families that have close contacts with the Marquis's Mansion."
"Father is right," Chen Tingfeng said calmly. "Winning two top scores in a row is too eye - catching. We still need to lie low for a while to avoid attracting too much attention."
The imperial palace examination was coming up next. He had to be more discreet. The fame of winning three top scores in a row was too great. There might not be such a person in several dynasties.
He thought idly that he might as well aim for the third place in the imperial examination.
Fu Zhen watched the three of them talking quietly. When her gaze fell on Chen Tingfeng, he keenly looked over. She shifted her eyes and looked elsewhere.
... No wonder she had set her sights on Chen Tingfeng in her previous life. Such a handsome, talented, and wealthy young man, who could not be tempted?
It was a pity that he was too smart and too sharp. She couldn't handle him.
Lady Bai nodded in agreement. After a moment of thought, she said, "Then invite the Zhang, Bai, Liu, and Tong families, as well as the Duke's Mansion. You can also invite the low - ranking officials in the court that you have close contacts with. And Shaochuan," she looked at her son beside her, "invite your good friends from the academy too, especially the Second Prince. Talk to him nicely."
Every time she saw Chen Tingfeng's unceremonious attitude towards Xie Yan, she felt a little scared. Even if their relationship was good, Xie Yan was, after all, the Second Prince. If he were to ascend the throne in the future and suddenly seize on this point, the Marquis's Mansion would be in great trouble.
Chen Tingfeng nodded indifferently. "I know, mother."
Xie Yan was not a narrow - minded person. This was also one of the reasons why he had chosen him. Moreover, just as a cunning rabbit has three burrows, he had more than three plans.
Lady Bai and the marquis carefully discussed the matters of hosting the banquet. Chen Tingfeng couldn't get a word in, so he had no choice but to watch quietly.
Fu Zhen listened attentively.
There were many rules for hosting banquets in wealthy families. This was something she had never learned before. It was good to learn a little.
Before she knew it, Chen Tingfeng's gaze fell on her. He stared at her for a moment. Seeing that she was so absorbed in listening, he unconsciously walked slowly towards her. Suddenly, he said, "Cousin is really eager to learn."
Fu Zhen was startled by him. She gritted her teeth, and the anger and grievance began to well up in her heart again. "I'm not as talented as cousin. Naturally, I can only learn more to avoid being taken advantage of by someone."
Chen Tingfeng smiled. "Who could take advantage of cousin? Why don't you tell me and let me have a listen?"
He was clearly asking on purpose.
Fu Zhen turned her head and ignored this inexplicable person.
After she had a thorough talk with Chen Tingfeng that day, she had thought that the two of them would stay out of each other's way. Who would have thought that Chen Tingfeng would act as if nothing had happened and still come up to mock her. He even paid more attention to her than before.
She was a little annoyed. She should have held back her temper that day. Chen Tingfeng was such a stubborn person. The more you didn't want him to do something, the more he would do it!
Seeing that she didn't respond, Chen Tingfeng didn't say anything more, as if he was just teasing her out of boredom.
Lady Bai and the marquis discussed for a while. After finalizing the details, they turned to look at them and said with a smile, "The banquet will be held three days later. Shaochuan, you go with your father to write the invitations. Zhenzhen, you stay by my side and help me arrange everything."
"Yes, aunt," Fu Zhen replied.
Chen Tingfeng also bowed his hands and followed the marquis to the study.
Lady Bai took Fu Zhen's hand and led her into the main hall. "I saw that you were listening so attentively just now. Do you want to learn these things?"
A blush appeared on Fu Zhen's face. She said a little shyly, "I want to learn some etiquette for my future."
Her words were quite straightforward. Lady Bai immediately understood that she was thinking about her married life. She couldn't help laughing. "Our Zhenzhen said she didn't want to get married a few days ago. Why are you changing your mind now?"
Fu Zhen was embarrassed by her teasing. She stamped her foot while clutching her handkerchief. "Aunt! I, I just want to learn. Just tell me if you'll teach me or not!"
Lady Bai said with a smile, "Teach, teach, teach! If you want to learn, how could I not teach you? I originally planned to talk to you about this this year, but I was afraid that you had just returned to the Marquis's Mansion and didn't want to put too much pressure on you."
Fu Zhen felt a warm current in her heart. "Thank you, aunt, for thinking about me."
"What's there to thank for? It's only right," Lady Bai asked someone to bring the menu from the previous banquet. "For a family like ours, there are usually not many changes when hosting a banquet. The specifications are all set. We only change some dishes according to the guests' tastes."
She took the menu and pointed to a dish name. "For example, this dish uses heavy ingredients. If there is someone at the table who prefers light food, this dish should not be placed in front of that person. And this dish..."
Lady Bai taught very carefully and understandably. Fu Zhen was a smart girl. Now that she was listening attentively, she secretly memorized all these words in her heart. For the things she couldn't remember, she asked someone to bring paper and pen and carefully wrote down all these etiquettes one by one.
As Lady Bai was talking, she couldn't help sighing. If Fu Zhen had grown up in the Marquis's Mansion since childhood, with this kind of hard - working spirit, after a little tutoring from a teacher, she would probably be better than most noble girls in the capital.
Naturally, she wouldn't have to worry about her marriage like she did now.