Quick Transmigration: I Actually Became a System Bug

As the day the results were announced approached, the atmosphere in Mengzhou Prefecture grew increasingly tense. The day of the announcement was a rare sunny day, and the night before, servants had already gathered around the walls of the examination hall gate, hoping to see their masters' results as soon as they were released.

Of course, in previous years, these family members or the scholars who did not personally go to see the results would usually arrive early at the restaurant or teahouse near the examination hall, order a pot of tea, and then nervously wait for the final verdict.

However, this year is different. Ji Han and Shi Shaoyu's new poems were carefully hung in the most conspicuous position in the lobby by the waiter after the restaurant closed the night before. As a result, the scholars who came to the restaurant early this morning to wait for the results were attracted by the two new poems as soon as they entered.

Gradually, all the scholars upstairs and downstairs gathered together, discussing the two newly added poems on the wall, even temporarily forgetting their biggest task for the day.

At that moment, Scholar Shi followed Young Master Zhang into the restaurant. Young Master Zhang was very satisfied with the scene inside. He opened his folding fan to cover the corners of his mouth, which were turned up in a smile, and whispered in Scholar Shi's ear,

"Brother Shi, shall we also stand in the crowd and carefully appreciate the masterpieces of our two nephews?"

For once, Shi Xiucai's usually indifferent face showed a speechless expression. He even rolled his eyes, something he had hardly ever done in his long life!

Seeing the scholar's disdainful look, and realizing that the usually polite young master Zhang had a rare expression of genuine shock on his face,...

"Brother Shi, wait for me! Brother Shi, I've just confirmed and am absolutely certain that you rolled your eyes at me!"

"Brother Zhang must have misread it. With your knowledge, there's no need to be so nervous about the list. You should get some rest, otherwise you'll start experiencing blurred vision at such a young age."

Young Master Zhang...

The two walked slowly to the private room reserved by Young Master Zhang on the third floor. When they entered, Shi Lao Si and Li Da Shao, two equally unconventional people, were talking with great passion. Shi Xiucai felt that if the occasion were not inappropriate, the two might have started to perform a sworn brotherhood on the spot!

The entrance to the examination hall downstairs was already surrounded by layers of people. The list hadn't even been released yet, and many people had already lost their shoes by being trampled. This gave a good indication of how fierce the battle would be in a little while.

"Dang! Dang! Dang!"

As the gong sounded, several armed constables pushed through the crowd and escorted the list of successful candidates to be posted on the wall of the examination hall. As the names of the successful candidates were read out one by one, the crowd became even more agitated, with some crying and laughing, and others even tearing their clothes to squeeze out and send the news home.

It was under these circumstances that Shi Xiucai saw Uncle Nian, who had lost a shoe and was missing a sleeve. Uncle Nian, no longer caring about his appearance, strode towards Wangxiang Tower.

"Master, master, you've won! You've won!"

"Hoo hoo... hoo hoo... Master, you've come in first place! You're now the top scholar of Mengzhou Prefecture!"

After delivering the message to Scholar Shi, Uncle Nian didn't linger for a moment and ran towards the Shi residence. He wanted to get ahead of the messengers so he could prepare red envelopes and copper coins in advance, and let the messengers and the neighbors all share in the joy.

After Uncle Nian left, the people around him realized what he had just said.

"Oh my, congratulations! Congratulations on passing the imperial examination with top honors, Brother Shi! You are truly talented!"

"Yes, yes, congratulations! Congratulations, Brother Shi, on achieving your wish!"

......

In an instant, all the scholars on the three floors flocked to Shi Xiucai, congratulating him and hoping to get closer to him.

During the pleasantries, thanks to the big mouths of Shi Lao Si and Li Da Shao, everyone learned that the little prodigy who wrote the two poems downstairs was Shi Shao Yu's child. The flattery became even more enthusiastic, and some people even wanted to become in-laws with Shi Xiu Cai right now and arrange a marriage between their daughters and Ji Han and Shi Shao Yu.

Ji Han/Shi Shaoyu: Achoo! Achoo! Why do they feel a chill down their spines? Could it be that Uncle Shi/Dad didn't do well on the exam?

As news spread that Shi Xiucai had become the top scholar in Mengzhou Prefecture this year, it also spread that he had two child prodigies and that Ji Han and Shi Shaoyu had written four poems. Looking at the rapidly increasing points, Ji Han and Shi Shaoyu felt that they were better off just lying down and doing nothing.

Of course, that's a story for later. After the results were announced, Ji Han and Shi Shaoyu were immediately brought back to the mansion, and their hard-won days of freedom came to an end.

That morning, Shi Xiucai did not stay at the restaurant for long. After hearing that Young Master Zhang had been the runner-up and that Young Master Li had unsurprisingly failed the exam, the group said their goodbyes and went home.

After returning home, Shi Xiucai entertained countless people who came to congratulate him. To Ji Han's surprise, in the evening, the old ancestor of the Shi family mansion spoke up, saying that the old ancestor had heard that Shi Xiucai had become the top scholar in the imperial examination and wanted him to bring his wife and children over for a meal and a chat.

Since the ancestor had spoken, Scholar Shi had no choice but to obey. After all, he was going to take the imperial examinations, and a lack of virtue would affect his chances of passing the provincial and palace examinations.

After the messenger left, to prevent any unforeseen circumstances tomorrow, Shi Xiucai briefly explained the situation at the Shi family's old residence to Ji Han and the others.

Just like what Ji Han and the others overheard, the current head of the Shi family in Mengzhou Prefecture is Shi Xiucai's father. Shi Xiucai's mother is his father's legal wife, and she gave birth to two sons, the eldest son Shi Mingqing and Shi Minghao (who is also Shi Xiucai). Shi Xiucai's father also has four illegitimate sons and three illegitimate daughters.

The main reason why Shi Xiucai took his wife away from the extended family to live alone in the countryside was due to the influence of his wife's family. According to Shi Xiucai, he and his wife were childhood sweethearts and had been betrothed since they were young. As they grew up, they fell in love and were about to get married when the Zhou family suddenly encountered a misfortune.

When the Zhou family got into trouble, the Shi family's first reaction was not to seek help through connections, but to try to sever ties with the Zhou family. The Shi family ordered Shi Xiucai to cancel the marriage with the Zhou family. In order to resist, Shi Xiucai simply took all his money and a few personal servants to the Zhou family and eloped with Xiucai's wife that very night!

Of course, this was done with the tacit approval of the Zhou family. Otherwise, even if something had happened to the Zhou family at that time, it would have been impossible for a mere scholar like Shi Xiucai to take his wife away from the huge Zhou mansion with just a few servants.

The next morning, after breakfast, Scholar Shi, or rather, Scholar Shi, along with his wife and three children, boarded a carriage and, carrying gifts, headed towards the Shi residence.