After being reborn, her aloof ex-husband and her crazy deceased husband got into a fight.

Unsurprisingly, Lan Tingzhou once again became the top scholar.

During the grand ceremony of announcing the results, the Vice Minister of the Court of State Ceremonies loudly proclaimed: "The first-ranked scholar in the first class of the imperial examination, the top scholar, from the capital city, Lantingzhou." Everyone felt that this was well-deserved, and Lantingzhou truly deserved the title.

Emperor Jinghe summoned the top three candidates of the new imperial examination to his study separately, and kept Lantingzhou there for a while longer.

Lan Tingzhou knelt down and performed a deep bow to Gongsun Rui. Gongsun Rui stepped down from the dragon throne and personally helped him up.

More than a decade later, when Gongsun Rui saw Lan Tingzhou again, he realized that the little boy who was once no taller than him had grown taller than him.

As a child, Lan Tingzhou was exceptionally handsome, with rosy lips and white teeth, and a well-proportioned appearance that made him unforgettable. Unexpectedly, Lan Tingzhou became even more dazzling as an adult.

He truly is a "gentleman of noble character, refined and polished like jade."

Based on his appearance alone, he should have been the top scholar in the imperial examination. From then on, the image of the top scholar in folk tales came to be.

If Lan Tingzhou hadn't already been married, Gongsun Rui would have considered acting as matchmaker. This man is simply too handsome! And not only is he good-looking, but he's also talented, and even better than that, he has impeccable character. Such a fine young man, whom he could easily marry, would win people's hearts.

"Minister Lan, is there any place among the Six Ministries that you would like to visit?" Gongsun Rui asked with a friendly smile.

Upon hearing this, Lan Tingzhou's heart skipped a beat. Did this mean he could choose any of the six ministries? Gongsun Rui's olive branch was too obvious. But considering Gongsun Yi's current power and control over the court, he still lowered his brows and spoke calmly, "This humble subject wishes to first enter the Hanlin Academy."

Newly appointed scholars typically spend a few years training at the Hanlin Academy before being assigned to various posts; this is standard practice. Gongsun Rui originally intended to give Lan Tingzhou a shortcut, allowing him to skip a step and directly enter the Six Ministries, but who knew...

"Hmph, still so old-fashioned and rigid," Gongsun Rui thought to himself, shaking his head.

“If you start from the Hanlin Academy, I’m afraid it won’t be easy for you to realize your grand ambitions,” Gongsun Rui said.

"Your Majesty," Lan Tingzhou said calmly, bowing his head, "there is a saying in my hometown: 'Haste makes waste.' I believe that as long as one's heart is firm enough, 'anything one desires can be achieved with simple steps.'"

"Well, I was the one who was too impatient." Gongsun Rui smiled slightly.

"If that's the case, then I appoint you as a compiler in the Hanlin Academy. You may report to the Hanlin Academy next month."

"Thank you very much."

Although Lan Tingzhou expressed his gratitude verbally, he did not move, seemingly having no intention of leaving.

Gongsun Rui was puzzled and asked, "Does Minister Lan have anything else to say?"

"Your Majesty, my residence..."

Gongsun Rui's scalp tingled. Why was this person still thinking about this? Moreover, this person was incredibly audacious, coming right to his doorstep to collect a debt!

Gongsun Rui's face hardened, and he said expressionlessly, "Minister Lan, if you have nowhere to stay, you can apply for official housing at the Ministry of Personnel. It will only cost half a tael of silver per month."

Ha, are they planning to renege on their debt?

Lan Tingzhou suddenly looked up, his dark eyes staring straight at Gongsun Rui.

Such behavior was extremely disrespectful. Gongsun Rui could have easily charged him with "disrespecting the emperor," but after staring at him for a long time, Gongsun Rui guiltily looked away.

He coughed awkwardly twice and said, "Minister Lan has passed the imperial examination six times in a row. He is a rare talent in the world and a blessing to our Great Yong. He should be rewarded."

"Some time ago, Minister Wang of the Ministry of Works retired and returned to his hometown. There happened to be a house available in the western part of the city. I will bestow this house upon Minister Lan."

"Your Majesty, I thank you for your great kindness. However, I wish to take the eastern part of the city."

"You want it, but they won't sell it to you!!" Gongsun Rui was so angry that he forgot all about etiquette and blurted out the words.

Lan Tingzhou glanced at Emperor Jinghe silently, then lowered his eyes and said nothing more.

"Either you choose a different reward, or you go ask him for it yourself. Whatever it costs, I'll cover it for you," Gongsun Rui said with a dark face.

With Lan Tingzhou's appearance, does he think that a dignified ruler like Lan Tingzhou would refuse to give him a house?

"What's so special about that house that you're fighting so fiercely over it, neither of you willing to back down?" Gongsun Rui was truly puzzled.

Lan Tingzhou said nothing more, only bowed and silently left the Imperial Study.

He also wanted to know what was so special about that house that made Gan Cai'er so obsessed with it, and that Meng Yu so determined to keep it from giving an inch. It seemed that the house held a great secret that was not told to outsiders, but both Gan Cai'er and Meng Yu knew it.

Lan Tingzhou disliked this feeling, as if Gan Cai'er and Meng Yu were in the same circle, while he was standing outside of it.

It wasn't just dislike; there was even a barely suppressed anger.

After the Vice Minister of the Court of State Ceremonial announced the words "Top Scholar, Lanting Boat," the area in front of the Lan residence was immediately surrounded by a huge crowd, and even the officials from the Ministry of Rites who came to deliver the good news couldn't get in.

Lan Tingzhi hung baskets of firecrackers all over the walls of the Lan family mansion, and they went off for a full hour before he finished lighting them.

A dragon and lion dance troupe, seemingly appearing out of nowhere, danced and made a great commotion around the Lan residence. Gan Cai'er took out some silver melon seeds she had prepared beforehand and had the servants distribute them. Anyone who came forward asking for good luck was given a share.

For a time, the area in front of the Lan Mansion was bustling with activity, comparable to the opening of a temple fair.

"My son-in-law is really a top scholar!!!" Xiao Hong excitedly hugged Gan Cai'er and spun her around.

"Sixty thousand taels! Miss, we really won sixty thousand taels of silver!!"

Gan Cai'er was so dizzy from being shaken that she quickly broke free from her grasp and said with amusement, "Are you so happy because your husband became the top scholar, or because of the 60,000 taels of silver?"

"Of course I have them all~~~" Little Red proudly raised her head, her eyes and brows full of joy.

"Yes, this is indeed a double celebration." Gan Cai'er smiled.

Looking at Gan Cai'er's smile, Xiao Hong belatedly realized that although her young mistress was smiling, she didn't seem particularly happy.

"Miss, your husband has become the top scholar in the imperial examination, why do you seem a little unhappy?" Xiao Hong asked.

"Why would I be unhappy that he got the top score?" Gan Cai'er smiled and chuckled.

But in reality, she really couldn't be happy.

With Lan Tingzhou successfully becoming the top scholar, a huge weight was finally lifted from her heart. However, with this weight lifted, she also clearly realized that the time for her to leave Lan Tingzhou had come.

She looked around at her carefully arranged room, listening to the deafening firecrackers and bustling noise outside, and felt that this life was truly wonderful. So wonderful that she wanted to hold on to it all and never let go.

Unfortunately, what doesn't belong to you must eventually be returned. The good fortune that belongs to Lan Tingzhou cannot be delayed because of her. Otherwise, how could she repay the two people from her past life who saved her life?

Suppressing her slight sadness, Gan Cai'er said to Xiao Hong, "Xiao Hong, come with me to look at shops tomorrow."

"Miss, are you out of your mind? Tomorrow is the Qionglin Banquet, and the young master will be riding a horse through the streets. Didn't you book a room a long time ago? How could you possibly have time to look at any shops?" Xiao Hong said.

Gan Cai'er almost forgot that she had booked a private room at Wangjing Restaurant well in advance, wanting to see the grand spectacle of Lanting Boat, dressed in red and riding a white horse, parading through the streets once again.