Finest Servant

Chapter 305 The Reward of the Peony Garden

"Yes, yes." Xiao Yuruo exclaimed in surprise, her face lighting up with joy. "I remember now. Last spring, during the imperial examination, wasn't the top-ranked scholar none other than Young Master Su Mubai? He even received a golden decree from the Emperor, a proclamation that was made across dozens of provinces."

[TL: Zhuangyuan, which is a historical title given to the scholar who came first in the highest imperial examination in ancient China.]

Su Mubai clasped his hands and smiled without a word, tacitly acknowledging the statement.

Being the top scholar on the imperial list was the dream of all scholars. The surprise was understandable when they realized that this stunning gentleman standing before them was indeed the newly-decorated top scholar. Even Xu Zhiqing, usually indifferent, could not help but cast an extra glance at Su Mubai.

‘What's so great about being the top scholar?’ Lin Wanrong thought to himself, ‘When I was in college, I was the top scholar too. Moreover, there are top scholars from prestigious universities who go back home and sell meat. This guy, peddling orchids in the garden and feigning elegance, isn't much better.’

"So, you're the top scholar, huh? I've never met a top scholar before, even though I've lived this long. Nice to meet you, what an honor." Lin Wanrong enthusiastically shook Su Mubai's hand.

With grace, Su Mubai nodded and smiled, "I'm but a simple scholar, favored by His Majesty to be named the top scholar on the golden platform. It's a cause for great humility. Today, hearing Brother's discourse on orchids, I'm even more filled with admiration. I hope to have more opportunities to learn from you in the future."

Upon hearing that the one presenting the orchids was the newly decorated top scholar, Su Mubai, there was an immediate stir in the garden. If Prince Cheng was the subject of awe, then the top scholar was admired by all, especially the ladies who came to enjoy the flowers. They had a natural affinity for the top scholar. Seeing the elegant and exceptional demeanor of the scholar, their hearts began to flutter, showing signs of love at first sight.

"Thank you all for your kindness." Su Mubai, now the center of attention, smiled and greeted everyone around him. His demeanor and style were top-notch, winning people's hearts instantly.

Lin Wanrong watched helplessly as he shook his head. Orchids were supposed to love tranquility, but this scholar had turned a quiet orchid garden into a vibrant scene of blooming peach blossoms. It seemed to contradict the elegant name of the orchid.

Seeing that the two young ladies held this scholar in high regard, Lin Wanrong pulled Xiao Yuruo aside and asked, "Miss, it's not too hard to become a top scholar, right? I could go and bag one myself, make a scene... uh, where do I sign up? How much is the registration fee? Is there a prep class before the exam?"

Xiao Yuruo, both annoyed and amused, replied, "What nonsense are you spouting? Do you think becoming the top scholar is a child's game, that it's easy? The imperial examinations are held once every three years, starting with the entrance examination. Only those who pass this can become scholars. Just this one step stops countless scholars in their tracks. Many people spend their entire lives studying and still fail to pass this level. Only the top two levels of scholars can take part in the provincial examination. This is called 'recorded admission'. The provincial exams are held every three years, and each province sets their own questions. Only those who pass this can become ‘recommended persons,’ with the first rank called 'Jieyuan'. Only recommended persons can participate in the metropolitan exam, selecting a hundred to become tributes, with the top rank called 'Huiyuan'. Only then comes the palace exam, personally presided over by the Emperor, selecting the three ranks of scholars. This Su Mubai was ranked first in all three exams, and was personally selected by the Emperor as the top scholar of the imperial examination, and thus be called Zhuangyuan. He was selected from hundreds of thousands of participants. Do you still think it's not hard?"

Sweat dripped down Lin Wanrong's face, the challenge of passing four examinations was no small feat. He let out a chuckle, the Eldest Miss studied him once more with a serious gaze, saying, "However, if you were to change your nature and dedicate yourself to studying, with your intelligence and wisdom, achieving the highest honors in the imperial examination wouldn't be a problem."

Lin Wanrong couldn't help but smile at her flattering words. Xu Zhiqing, overhearing the Eldest Miss explaining these fundamental concepts to Lin Wanrong, couldn't help but wonder about him. Had he fallen from the sky? How could he not know about the imperial examination system? Where had his knowledge come from?

Seeing Lin Wanrong absorbed in the conversation, Xu Zhiqing added with a smile, "This Top scholar Su, was not only chosen by the Emperor himself on the Golden Hall but he was even more extraordinary. Typically, top scholars, once appointed, are sent to various locations to serve as officials. After gaining experience, they are promoted. However, this Top Scholar Su was favored by the Emperor and kept in the imperial academy, often accompanying the Emperor. He is in the Emperor's good graces and is envied by all."

With this information, it seemed this Su Mubai was indeed a favorite at the Emperor's side. "This youngster's made it," Lin Wanrong said, nodding his head in acknowledgment.

After exchanging pleasantries with everyone, Su Mubai approached with a smile, "I'm humbled and embarrassed, I didn't expect such a spectacle. I apologize to the young ladies for my inattention. I can tell from your remarks and demeanor that you are both extraordinary, may I ask for your names?"

Xu Zhiqing responded with a gracious smile, "I am Xu Zhiqing, and this is Miss Xiao from Jinling."

Su Mubai expressed his surprise, "Xu Zhiqing? Could you be the beloved daughter of Master Wenchang, the chief instructor of Jinghua Academy, Xu Zhiqing?"

Xu Zhiqing responded with a gentle smile, which Su Mubai took as confirmation. He quickly gave a deep bow and said, "This humble self has long admired Mr. Xu's great name. Today, this humble self is fortunate to meet you. You are as beautiful as a celestial being and one can't help but admire you."

‘What a bootlicker,’ Lin Wanrong thought to himself, laughing secretly. But he couldn't deny that Top Scholar Su was humble, cautious, and polite. There wasn't much to criticize about him. Only Lin Wanrong, driven by jealousy, found him disagreeable. The other guests in the garden didn't seem to mind him at all.

The noise in the garden disturbed Xu Zhiqing, and she couldn't help but frown. She turned to Su Mubai, "Young Master Su, did you grow those two unusual flowers yourself?"

Su Mubai answered, "You flatter this humble self. These two were gifts from a friend. This humble self brought them here today in hopes of finding a connoisseur. To meet Miss Xu and you sir, is truly a fortunate event in this humble self."

Lin Wanrong, unaccustomed to Su Mubai's repeated use of the word "humble self," gave a yawn, "Miss, I think we've admired these unusual flowers enough, I need to visit the restroom."

The two young ladies glared at him simultaneously. Xu Zhiqing said, "Just now, we admired two orchids, both were stunning. Although I am unskilled, I've also found an orchid to share--"

As her words trailed off, Ye Yuchuan, who had been standing silently next to Xu Zhiqing, unveiled a curtain, smiling, "Miss Xiao, Mr. Su, please look--"

All eyes swept into the unveiled space. Inside the curtain was a delicate orchid, half white with spots of purple and red, its petals curling backward, giving an impression of a butterfly in flight.

Su Mubai circled the orchid, marveling after a long inspection, "Among all orchids, each has its trace. But this flower, like an orchid yet like a butterfly, is rare in its beauty. I wonder if it is an orchid among butterflies or a butterfly among orchids? Miss, you possess the refined nature of an orchid, but where did you find this top-notch among orchids?"

Top scholar Su really had a slick tongue. Regardless of whether he recognized the orchid or not, he began by showering it with praise, speaking of 'orchids among butterflies, butterflies among orchids.' Damn, why didn't he just straightforwardly admit he didn't recognize it? Why all the pointless talk?

Lin Wanrong snorted coldly, sneering in silence.

Xu Zhiqing laughed and said, "Top Scholar Su, you flatter me. Do you know the name of this orchid?"

Su Mubai hesitated for a while before shaking his head, "I consider myself a lover of orchids, but this strange species is not only unfamiliar to me, I've never even heard of it. Brother, do you have any insights?" He smiled at Lin Wanrong, a hint of inscrutability in his eyes.

Lin Wanrong recognized the orchid. What confused him was how this clearly mutated species could be cultivated in this era. Whoever did it was a genius.

Xu Zhiqing seemed to have anticipated that Su Mubai wouldn't guess it. She smiled at Lin Wanrong, "Lin San, can you tell us the name of this orchid?"

‘Damn, calling him 'Top Scholar Su' but referring to me as 'Lin San.' Can't you just call me 'Brother Lin'?’ He didn't care for these scholars to begin with. Hearing her, he laughed, "This is called the Butterfly Orchid, a mutated variant of the orchid. Its petals, labellum, and column are all serrated, resembling a dancing butterfly, hence the name 'Butterfly Orchid'. This particular one has nearly fifty percent of its petals transformed, making it a true 'Full Butterfly Petal', a top-quality orchid."

Su Mubai looked at him in surprise. Lin Wanrong's capabilities and knowledge were far beyond his expectations. The Eldest Miss stared at him in delight, her red lips parting as if to say something. Yet when the words reached her mouth, she only smiled shyly, gripping his hand tightly and not letting go.

Lin Wanrong was also quite proud. Damn, they were lucky to have him today. Otherwise, none of these rare flowers in the orchid garden would be recognized. Wouldn't that be a joke if it got out?

Seeing his smug look, Xu Zhiqing laughed, "Lin San, are you saying this is a Butterfly Orchid?"

‘Damn, could I be wrong?’ He nodded, glancing provocatively at Xu Zhiqing.

Miss Xu covered her mouth with a smile, looked at him amusedly but said nothing. Ye Yuchuan laughed, "Lin San, it's quite impressive that you recognized the first two orchids. But you are quite wrong about this one. This exceptional orchid is a variety cultivated personally by Miss Xu. It doesn't yet have a name. So, isn't it a mistake to call it a Butterfly Orchid?"

He had been had! Lin Wanrong felt a jolt of alarm. So this Butterfly Orchid was actually a creation of Xu Zhiqing herself and hadn't been named yet. Clearly, this was the girl tricking him. She hadn't named it, what was there for him to guess?

Observing Lin Wanrong's deflated arrogance and having recovered some ground, Xu Zhiqing's face lit up with a faint smile. "Lin San, your observations are commendable. Aside from the name, everything else you said was incredibly accurate." Seeing Lin Wanrong's unyielding demeanor, she managed to hold back her laughter and said, "This orchid was successfully cultivated by me only recently, and I have not yet had time to name it. Since you call it the 'Butterfly Orchid,' this name is indeed quite elegant. Very well, I'll use the name you've suggested. Let's call it the 'Butterfly Orchid.'"

Looking at her smug satisfaction, Lin Wanrong could only shake his head helplessly. An intelligent woman was indeed troublesome.

—---

Of the three exotic orchids, Lin Wanrong identified two and a half. However, this Top Scholar Su didn't seem to care at all. Just as the group was conversing, a young servant walked up to Su Mubai and whispered a few words in his ear.

Su Mubai's expression changed briefly, but he quickly regained his composure. He looked deeply into Lin Wanrong's eyes before speaking with an earnest smile. "It's been an honor to meet both the ladies and gain acquaintance with gentlemen like Brother Lin and Brother Ye. The last garden is full of beautiful and fragrant peonies, which must be admired. A distinguished elder, learning of my acquaintance with a few young talents, has asked me to invite you all to appreciate the peonies together. I hope the two ladies and gentlemen won't decline."

‘Damn it, I'm fed up with this endless appreciation of flowers,’ thought Lin Wanrong. Just as he was about to make an excuse to slip away, the Eldest Miss tightened her grip on his arm. She leaned over and whispered into his ear, "You've offended Prince Cheng. Although Mr. Xu is helping you in the court, he's on thin ice. Since Top Scholar Su has extended an invitation, you should try to get along with him. If he speaks well of you to the Emperor, even Prince Cheng won't be able to harm you."

The Eldest Miss was genuinely worried for him. However, things in the court were not as straightforward as she made them out to be. Lin Wanrong gave a bitter smile and, rather than arguing with her, he followed the group into the peony garden.

The Peony Garden was the largest in the Grand Prime Minister Temple. In its center was a two-story pavilion, adorned with hanging bamboo curtains, as if someone was inside appreciating the flowers.

"King of Flowers, National Beauty, and Heavenly Fragrance," these were the accolades the world had given to the peony. The environment of the Grand Prime Minister Temple was an ideal home for these blooms, and the early spring flowering of the peonies was indeed a marvel to behold. As soon as one entered the garden, the intense fragrance of the blooming peonies was overwhelming, with endless rows of flowers creating a dizzying spectacle.

Everyone entering the garden gasped in amazement and was full of praise for the peonies. However, Lin Wanrong didn't share the excitement. These peonies, although incredibly beautiful, were also very delicate and required careful nurturing. As Lin Wanrong put it, other than being visually appealing, they had little else to offer.

"You're so contrarian," the Eldest Miss chuckled at his sullen face. "Everyone else adores these peonies, but you keep your distance."

"Sigh, that's just the way unique people are," Lin Wanrong replied. He picked up a piece of foxtail grass from the ground, blew on the fluffy head, put it in his mouth, and gave it a light chew. "Even this foxtail grass is better than the peonies."

Miss Xu was about to say something when laughter echoed from the pavilion, "Mubai, have the people I asked you to invite arrived?" The voice was aged and familiar, though its origin eluded her.

Su Mubai quickly saluted, "All the gentlemen and ladies have arrived as requested."

Seeing Su Mubai, a recent imperial examination champion, show such respect, Lin Wanrong asked Xu Zhiqing, "Miss Xu, you seem to know everything from heaven to earth. Do you know the identity of the person in the pavilion?"

Xu Zhiqing laughed, "I don't work at court, how could I know everyone? If you're so curious, why not go and lift the curtain to see for yourself?" Lin Wanrong rolled his eyes as if to say, 'forget I asked.'

The person inside the pavilion seemed to be sizing everyone up and sighed, "Miss Xiao, come closer so I can see you."

Xiao Yuruo hesitated. She didn't know who this person was, and why he was singling her out. She cast a helpless glance at Lin Wanrong. He pondered quickly - this person was obviously of high status, and his intentions for calling Miss Xiao over were unknown.

Seeing the pleading look in her eyes, he grinned, "Don't be scared, I'm here." Without worrying about the opinions of others, he led her toward the pavilion.

Su Mubai hastily blocked their way, "Brother Lin, this elder specifically requested Miss Xiao alone."

‘A summons, really? Why would my wife be summoned by him?’ Lin Wanrong, holding a foxtail grass, swayed it lightly and laughed, "A summons? I didn't hear that. Miss Xiao and I are always together."

Xiao Yuruo was moved, tightly holding his hand. However, the elder in the pavilion laughed, "If he wants to come, let him. Lin San, come with Miss Xiao."

‘Damn, am I that famous?’ Even this big shot knows my name. Lin Wanrong squeezed Miss Xiao's hand, whispering, "See, he knows us? Could it be that you secretly asked him to mediate for us? Ah, you're too eager."

"Stop it." Xiao Yuruo chided him lightly. His soothing words did calm her a bit, and she walked forward with him.

When they were not far from the pavilion, they were stopped and couldn't advance any further. Xiao Yuruo stood there feeling uneasy, as though the man's gaze was solid, seemingly penetrating the curtain and constantly examining her.

As they stood waiting, Lin Wanrong was rather displeased. He was about to speak when a sigh came from behind the curtain, "She really looks just like her, as if carved from the same mold."

What did he mean? Who did Miss Xiao resemble? Couldn't be Madam Xiao, could it? Could the person hiding inside be her old flame? Lin Wanrong narrowed his gaze, trying to get a glimpse of the man behind the curtain, but he couldn't discern his face.

Miss Xiao was puzzled. After a long silence, the man asked, "Miss Xiao, how is your mother doing?"

So he was an old flame after all. Lin Wanrong chuckled to himself. Considering Madam Xiao's charm, she must have had quite the past.

Xiao Yuruo bowed upon the mention of her mother, "My mother is well. May I ask, who are you—"

The man let out a long sigh and said, "I am an old acquaintance of Miss Guo from twenty years ago. After so many years of absence, I did not expect that her daughter has grown into such a beautiful and elegant lady."

Eldest Miss Xiao, unsure of his relationship with her mother, did not dare to speak. Suddenly, the man loudly commanded, "Servant, bring a seat for Miss Xiao."

In the blink of an eye, a burly attendant hurriedly brought over a brocaded stool and respectfully placed it behind Xiao Yuruo.

The Eldest Miss glanced around and noticed everyone, whether it was Xu Zhiqing or Su Mubai, they were all standing with bowed heads, only she had been granted a seat. Her heart fluttered with unease, and she hastily said, "Esteemed elder—"

The man chuckled, "If I tell you to sit, you sit. As a descendant of an old friend, you need not observe such formalities."

"Elder, I am also a descendant of your old friend—their family. Could you also grant me a seat? To be frank, this flower viewing is quite tiring." Lin Wanrong chuckled and brazenly asked.

Upon hearing his words, Su Mubai felt a chill run down his spine. This man truly dared to say anything. Was he not afraid for his life?

The man in the pavilion laughed, "What does your tiredness from flower viewing have to do with me? If you wish to sit, you should prove your worth. Today, Miss Xu, Top Scholar Su, and you, Lin San, are all present. I shall put you to the test. Answer well, and I'll reward you with a seat."

"I object—" Before the man could finish, Lin Wanrong had already loudly interjected.

Su Mubai glanced at Lin Wanrong, watching his arrogant and reckless demeanor. He couldn't help but wipe the sweat from his forehead. What kind of a person was this who feared nothing? When it came to ignorance, shamelessness, and fearlessness, he conceded that he was no match for Lin San.

When Xu Zhiqing heard the man in the pavilion calling her Miss Xu, she felt familiar yet puzzled, as she didn't recall such an elder. Upon hearing Lin San's objection, she felt like laughing. Wherever this man was, there wouldn't be any dullness.

"What do you object to?" The man in the pavilion, amused, responded. Accustomed to his high status, people usually trembled in his presence. Today, after exchanging a few words with this lad, it reminded him of his own youthful bravado, causing him to feel quite exhilarated. Seeing Lin San interrupt his words, he didn't feel any resentment. Instead, he found it rather interesting, so he asked.

"Elder, what do you want to test us on? Actually, there's no need. My butt—oh, I mean, my posterior, is my own. If I want to sit, why would I need your permission?" Lin Wanrong chuckled and without waiting for a response, he simply sat down on the grass.

Everyone in the garden was dumbstruck, whether it was Ye Yuchuan, Su Mubai, or Xu Zhiqing, none knew how to describe this Lin San. When it came to disregarding propriety, not knowing when to give up, if Lin San claimed the second place, no one would dare to claim the first.

The man in the pavilion also paused, and after a while, he burst out laughing. "You kid, your audacity is truly... something else! Forget it, forget it. When it comes to skewed logic, there's nobody in this world who can beat you. However, in my presence, no one dares to sit casually on the ground—"

If not on the ground, where else would one sit? Lin Wanrong wondered, unless he was expected to sit on the man.

The man pondered for a moment and laughed, "I am well aware of all the things you've done in Jinling and Shandong. It would be really inappropriate if I didn't give you anything. Well, since you sat on the ground in this garden, the garden of the Grand Prime Minister's Temple, I will give it to you."

Lin Wanrong was befuddled by his words, but Su Mubai was utterly shocked. As soon as this elder opened his mouth, the back garden of the Grand Prime Minister's Temple was set to be named as Lin.

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