High-class maid

"Hey, hey, hey, what about me!" Wang shouted from behind. She now knew who Xing'er's personality resembled.

Seeing her parents so anxious, Shen Xing'er realized that they had been idle for some time and now that they finally had something to do, how could they not care?

She wasn't in a hurry. This wasn't something that could be done in a day or two. Besides, if she opened a shop, the flower patterns she had stored wouldn't be enough.

Therefore, Shen Xing'er slowly finished her meal, then slowly cleaned up the dishes, and finally went back inside to continue drawing flower patterns.

In a temple in the capital, Song Wenheng was being forced to read scriptures. He had been at Lingshan Temple for almost half a month, and from his initial madness and incomprehension to his current obsessive acceptance, he felt that all the suffering he was enduring was due to Song Wenyang.

"Young Master, news has come from within the city that Song Wenyang may be at the top of the list," a guard said softly as he entered the room.

*Snap.* The calligraphy brush in Song Wenheng's hand broke with a snap. He lowered his head, revealing a terrifying smile, and then asked...

"Is the news reliable?"

"Reliable. Song Wenyang is a hot commodity in the capital right now. He hasn't stopped having drinking parties since the imperial examination ended," the guard said, recounting the information he had gathered.

"Hmph, has Father lost his mind! He's just..." Song Wenheng stopped, then continued, "My mother's body is barely cold, yet he spends his days drinking and eating. I want him to taste the pain of losing someone he cares about!"

After Song Wenheng finished speaking, he whispered a few instructions to the guard. The guard's eyes darkened, then he turned and went out to carry out his duties.

Three days passed in the blink of an eye, and the day for the results to be released arrived.

Ever since Song Wenyang had that drink at Lord Shi's house, people have been constantly coming to invite him for drinks and meals. He had no choice but to agree to them all; after all, he had already been to Lord Shi's residence, and it wouldn't be right not to go to someone else's.

He got up and went to the entrance of the examination hall, which was already packed with people. To his surprise, he saw Shen Xing'er in the crowd.

The girl wore a peach-pink quilt dress, paired with a hairpin in the same color, and a bracelet she had given herself on her wrist. Her fair skin was dazzling in the sunlight.

"She still cares about me!" Song Wenyang was overjoyed, but he didn't show it on his face. There was nothing he could do; too many people were paying attention to him these days, and he could only try his best not to cause Xing'er any trouble.

"I won!" Shen Xing'er saw Song Wenyang's name prominently displayed at the top of the list. To avoid any mistakes, she double-checked the name and address.

"It really is Brother Song. I wonder if he came today," Shen Xing'er murmured.

Even knowing that Song Wenyang had passed the exam and achieved such a high ranking, Shen Xing'er dared not reveal it. The reason was simple: she was afraid of causing trouble for Song Wenyang.

Shen Xing'er turned and left with satisfaction. Song Wenyang didn't call out to her. Now that he had successfully made it onto the list, his marriage with Xing'er should be put on the agenda. There was no need to rush.

Dressed in all black and wearing a mask, Song Wenyang used his height advantage to walk to the front of the list. His name was prominently displayed at the top, and he had become the top scholar.

"This young master Song is truly talented. He passed the provincial examination a few years ago and has now passed the metropolitan examination. If he were to pass the imperial examination again, he would be a triple champion!"

"This young master Song is only a teenager and he already has such talent. How come his younger brother is not even half as studious as him?"

"Sigh, I heard that his younger brother was so heartbroken that he asked to go to Lingshan Temple. I don't know if it's true or not."

"Why would he volunteer to go to Lingshan Temple? This second young master of the Song family is so unruly, would he really give up the prosperity of the capital?"

"Who knows? There's a lot going on in high-ranking families. Anyway, the eldest son of the Song family has finally made it through."

The whispers of the crowd reached Song Wenyang's ears, but he had no time to pay attention to them. He was busy returning to his courtyard to tell Uncle He the good news. The two of them hadn't seen each other for a long time, and he felt a little unaccustomed to it.

Song Wenyang, dressed in black and masked, quietly left again. Those who were waiting to curry favor with him waited in vain and returned home disappointed.

"Uncle He, Uncle He, open the door." Song Wenyang arrived at the alley of Shangqiao Street and skillfully returned to the small courtyard. He had walked this road many times and was now so familiar with it that he could find his way home with his eyes closed.

"Strange, why is nobody here?"

The silence in the courtyard made Song Wenyang uneasy. He Bo loved liveliness, especially after Lin Shi's death. He Bo would go out for a stroll in the street every day. Why was the door locked today?

"Could it be that Uncle He also went to the street to check the results?"

Song Wenyang was puzzled. He didn't have his key with him today, and he couldn't kick the door open. After thinking it over, he decided to climb over the wall.

With a light leap, he cleared the already low wall. Song Wenyang went to the kitchen first and saw that there were still dishes and chopsticks on the table that Uncle He hadn't had time to wash. Relieved, he then went to Uncle He's room.

But when he lifted the curtain, he saw a scene he would never forget.

He Bo fell into a pool of blood!

"Uncle He!" Song Wenyang's head instantly went blank. He rushed over like a madman, but dared not touch anything, fearing that if he moved, Uncle He's injuries would become more serious.

No matter how much Song Wenyang called out, He Bo did not respond. Song Wenyang touched He Bo with trembling hands and found that He Bo's body was already cold.

"I don't believe it, I don't believe it, Uncle He, wait for me, I'll go and call the doctor!" Song Wenyang murmured, as if to comfort Uncle He, or perhaps to comfort himself.

He got up to call the doctor, but his legs went weak from nervousness and he fell to the ground, hitting his head on the door frame. Ignoring the pain, he immediately stood up and ran out.

He ran to the charity hall and saw that there was only an old doctor dispensing medicine.

"I'm sorry!" Song Wenyang said, then grabbed the doctor and ran home.

If one has good eyesight, one will recognize that this doctor is the same person Wu Xunzhi had brought back to treat that day.

"Oh dear, young master, slow down! This old man can't keep up!" The doctor panted as he ran and called out.

Song Wenyang had no time to pay attention to him. In the end, he was so annoyed by the old doctor that he had no choice but to grab him and use his lightness skill to fly to the courtyard.

Before the doctor could even complain, he was stunned by the sight before him. He put his medicine box on the ground and jogged over.

"It's too late, there's no chance of saving him." The doctor shook his head regretfully. The dead man on the ground was about the same age as him, yet he had died here so tragically. It was truly pitiful.

"Doctor, I beg you to save him! I'll give you any amount of silver, and I have all kinds of medicine, as long as you can save his life!"

Song Wenyang, with a sob escaping his own ears, pitifully begged the doctor.

“Child, I am truly powerless. Look at the blood on the ground; it has already congealed. If I am not mistaken, he died yesterday.”

The doctor shook his head. He had been practicing medicine and saving lives for many years and had seen this kind of situation many times. He didn't blame him for being heartless, but there was really no need to save him.