Chapter 72: Disgrace and Glory Coexist

It must be so.

Otherwise, they wouldn't do such a thing even if they were insane.

No matter how one thinks about it, such actions should not be taken unless absolutely forced.

Eldest Madam Ning was immediately agitated and furious.

"She's playing with fire now, fearing to tarnish her reputation by hooking up with others, she wants to cling to my Ning Yunzhao to escape," she shouted sharply, "just like before, endlessly."

This explanation made sense, and Eldest Master Ning nodded as he stroked his beard.

"How can we let her mess around like this?" Eldest Madam Ning got up to leave the bed, "What about the imperial decree? Even with an imperial decree, she shouldn't force people like this; I need to go to the palace, I need to see the emperor, I need to see the Empress Dowager."

Eldest Master Ning quickly reached out to stop her.

"What's the rush?" he said.

"How could I not be in a hurry?" Eldest Madam Ning's face flushed red, her voice sharp, "Ning Yunzhao is being ruined by that cheap slut."

Eldest Master Ning hurriedly tried to calm her.

"I mean, don't rush; the day after tomorrow Ning Yunzhao and the second eldest master will set off, and when they return, we can discuss it together," he said, "How can you be so overwhelmed and panicked?"

That's true, Eldest Madam Ning thought for a moment while soothing her chest, then sat back down.

"Write them a letter urging them to come back soon," she instructed.

"I've already sent someone with an urgent letter," Eldest Master Ning said.

Eldest Madam Ning raised her hand to cover her face and began to cry.

"This is truly a sudden disaster," she cried, and then bitterly added, "That cheap slut is the disaster of my family. When I knew she had tried to hang herself, I should have sent someone to help her along, even if I ended up in jail, it would be better than today, dragging my son down with her."

"Don't talk nonsense." Eldest Master Ning chuckled, then hesitated for a moment, "Actually, it's not really dragging him down, considering that Miss Jun now..."

Eldest Madam Ning abruptly stopped crying.

"Miss Jun is still that vulgar, ill-mannered cheap slut from the northern lands in my eyes," she said grimly, emphasizing every word.

Regardless of her now curing Prince Huai, being praised by the Empress Dowager and the emperor, founding the vaccination for the benefit of the children, respected by all.

She is still that despicable cheap slut.

Eldest Madam Ning looked at Eldest Master Ning.

"Don't even think about it," she said.

Eldest Master Ning was embarrassed.

"What have I thought? I haven't thought anything," he said, as he helped Eldest Madam Ning lie down, "You rest now, don't worry."

Don't worry?

How could she not worry?

It must have spread everywhere by now.

She was going to have such a daughter-in-law; round and round, she could never escape this woman, she had lost all her face in this lifetime.

Eldest Madam Ning lay sideways on the pillow, pulled over the quilt, and began to cry.

..............................…

Sunlight fell on the front of the Imperial City, as hundreds of people lined up, bowing towards the Imperial City.

Each person held the official robes, official boots, and Wood Plate bestowed upon them; from today onward, they were no longer common scholars but government officials, their decades of hard study finally paying off.

Ning Yunzhao, standing at the forefront, changed into the official robe and boots with the aid of an eunuch, lowered his head to put on a hat, and an eunuch pinned a golden flower on it, which under the sunlight shimmered brilliantly.

With the addition of the flower, more gazes were directed toward him.

This might be because it's rare for a man to wear a flower, or because he is a top scorer whose fiancée is being fought over by the Jinyiwei and the Duke of Chengguo's heir.

Although he rarely went out these days, he had anticipated such gazes.

Just this morning, before leaving the house, Ning Shiyi patted his shoulder.

"Make sure you don't get killed by those looks," he said sympathetically, "Remember, you're not just a top scholar anymore."

But also a man whose fiancée was fought over by two men.

Almost cuckolded top scorer - truly unprecedented, the attention was bound to be extraordinary.

Why would he be killed by the looks? Why fear the gazes and discussions of the world?

Ning Yunzhao straightened his attire, watching the parade horses being led out one by one by the eunuchs.

He thought it was an honor.

He thought it was an honor to help her, to be able to help her even more so.

With the arrival of the horse handlers, the court music blew again, and the eunuchs loudly called the palace graduates to mount their horses.

Ning Yunzhao mounted his horse and immediately felt different atop it. Everyone before him seemed to look up, and the other palace graduates stepped aside to let him go first.

Although Ning Yunzhao did not experience a wild joy, he understood why scholars relentlessly strove for a scholarly title—the feeling at this moment was truly indescribable.

Although not wildly enthralled, he was indeed delighted, not because he could look down upon all from a great height, but because he could finally act on his own.

Previously, he used to cautiously hint and guide others, hoping to help them when they experienced trouble.

Now, he had the status of a government official, he had a position, he had the opportunity and the right to speak, and when he spoke, people listened, considered, and deliberated.

Being able to help her and not just be a bystander was a very pleasant feeling.

A smile crept across Ning Yunzhao's lips as he reached the outside of the Imperial City, and the noise from the crowd surged towards him like a tide.

Outside the Imperial City was a sea of people, not only those from the capital, but many from other places too, bringing their families and especially their children, as if seeing these new palace graduates would increase their children's luck in future exams.

But this time, aside from discussing the top scholar's talents, there were some other conversations.

"So, Miss Jun's fiancé is him."

"Indeed, a perfect match of talents and looks."

"Do you think Thousand-Man Commander Lu is more handsome or Top Scholar Ning?"

"Of course, Top Scholar Ning!"

"I think Thousand-Man Commander Lu!"

"Have you forgotten about Duke of Chengguo's heir?"

"Then I choose Duke of Chengguo's heir!"

"Choose your sister! Top Scholar Ning and Miss Jun are engaged."

This messy noise made the atmosphere on the streets weird, and though there was a spectating cheer, it felt somewhat less respectful.

Walking behind Ning Yunzhao, the other high-ranking graduates felt a bit awkward; although the people were not pointing and joking about them, they still felt uncomfortable.

This was all blamed on Ning Yunzhao, and everybody's gaze with a trace of resentment was focused on the young man at the front.

What was worse, he was walking at the forefront. It would have been better if his ranking was lower and he walked at the end.

Old Heavenly Father is truly unfair, assigning such a top scholar to their group. Would they be remembered as the cohort whose top scholar's fiancée was pursued by Thousand-Man Commander Lu?

They really were too innocent.

Their resentment and the street's laughter did not affect the top scholar's mood.

He sat straight on his horse, his expression warm and he waved at the people on the streets with a smile, obviously in a good mood.

The noise from the streets grew even louder.

"Top scholar, please send our regards to Miss Jun."

People also egged on.

Ning Yunzhao showed no signs of embarrassment; instead, his smile deepened, nodding intentionally or unintentionally towards those speaking.

Which made the street even livelier.

"When will the top scholar get married?"

"Will the top scholar allow Miss Jun to practice medicine after marriage?"

"He must let Miss Jun practice medicine."

The shouts from the street rose one wave higher than the next.

What is this situation! Is this still a flower-pinned parade?

The palace graduates following Ning Yunzhao felt none of the previous graduates' longing to parade through the streets the whole day, wishing only that the horses would move faster and they could enter Qionglin Garden to end this awkward situation.

But unfortunately, today was not as they wished; a commotion ahead slowed the procession even more.

What's happening?

The graduates at the back couldn't help but crane their necks to look.

"Miss Jun is here."

"There is Miss Jun."

She actually came!

First, the fiancé publicly discussed the engagement, now the fiancée came publicly to watch her betrothed's horse-riding parade.

You two really are enough.

The graduates almost wanted to facepalm,

**************************************************************************************

Update today (*^__^*) Teehee...