Peasant Woman's Decreed Life as a Wife

Chapter 2134: Chapter 2131: An Unexpected Result

Explain clearly about the extra session of storytelling at the bathhouse.

Meanwhile, the news also reached the bathhouse shopkeeper.

Shopkeeper Zhang didn’t know the reason behind it, but since more sessions were needed, he couldn’t let it slide.

So he simply spread the word, making it widely known.

The bathhouse erupted again, and without any space in the bath, people sat in the main hall waiting in line. If the entire bathhouse yard wasn’t built so large, it would have been overcrowded, unable to let people in or out.

“Is there really an extra session?”

“I want to see how the content can be changed.”

“That’s right. I’ve placed a bet in the gambling den, betting ten taels of silver.”

“Oh? Brother, what did you bet on?”

“Of course, I bet that Yan Sanlang’s results would be better than Zhou Wulang.”

“It seems everyone else did the same.”

Zhou Erlang, mingling in the crowd, couldn’t help but take out some silver, instructing the servant boy beside him to bet on Zhou Wulang making a comeback.

He just didn’t believe it. Would the Chu family really change the script just because of the scholars’ remarks? Would that still be Lord Chu, whom he admired?

In any case, Zhou Erlang would rather lose silver than see Qi, Zhang Lin, and the others looking smug.

Soon, the storyteller began the new chapter.

It started with the imperial exam, where the Emperor unexpectedly noticed Zhou Wulang’s essay, and on the spot, posed several practical questions. While assessing his knowledge, he also wanted to know how Zhou Wulang would respond.

Zhou Wulang’s answers were unique to him, very straightforward, addressing the concerns of both the imperial court and the people. To put it simply, Zhou Wulang was sincere in his approach, and although his essay wasn’t very ornate,

he was thereby designated as the top scholar!

Once the storyteller revealed this result, the entire venue fell silent.

The crowd was bewildered.

No one expected Zhou Wulang, ranked tenth among the second class, to be promoted directly to the top scholar.

Yan Sanlang, who was also knowledgeable, was given the second-place scholar position, with no change from his previous ranking.

However, the second-place among the first class was changed to the first place of the second class.

“How can this be? Oh no, my silver! Who was spreading false news, misleading me? I always thought Zhou Wulang was quite promising!”

“Don’t mention it. This time, I even received insider news, hearing that many scholars were betting on Yan Sanlang.”

“What kind of insider news is this? It caused us to lose all our silver.”

“Didn’t you know? This information originally came from the scholars themselves. Those students said the scriptwriter in the bathhouse deliberately altered Yan Sanlang’s ranking this morning. Everyone thought Yan Sanlang was more capable, and surely, the scriptwriter wouldn’t dare go against that sentiment. After all, suggesting Zhou Wulang outshines Yan Sanlang would offend people, but then who knew…” The speaker lowered his head, not daring to continue.

One bold, regretful individual added, “Who knew the scriptwriter really had such nerve!”

“Now look, all of us have suffered serious losses.”

Zhou Erlang, mingling in the crowd, felt a bit dizzy hearing the last part. Had he just, in a fit of rage, bet a hundred taels of silver?

With a five-to-one payout, wouldn’t that mean he made five hundred taels?

Oh my, he struck it rich!

Meanwhile, in the upstairs private room.

After Zhang Lin and the others threw their cups down in anger.

The entire private room was eerily silent.

Because at this moment, these officials’ sons weren’t foolish; they realized things might not be that simple.

“Brother Qi, do you think, with this script daring to be told at such a critical moment, is it because the people behind it are bold, or…”