The Double

Chapter 65: Great Reputation

The news that Jiang Li had taken first place in the Mingyi Hall's upper three subjects examination quickly spread throughout Yanjing City, and naturally reached Meng Hongjin's ears.

At this moment, the Chengxuan Commissioner's residence was unusually quiet. Inside the room, Meng Hongjin lay slumped by the couch, weeping softly. Her mother, heartbroken, held her close and said, "My child, don't cry. This is only the upper three subjects. There are still three more subjects to be tested—how can it be the end of the road?"

"Disgraceful!" Meng Youde, Meng Hongjin's father, looked extremely displeased. "You made a bet with such confidence, and now you've lost so miserably. You've even dragged your father into this shame—utterly useless!"

Hearing this, Meng Hongjin felt a sharp pang of grief and wept even more uncontrollably.

Seeing her daughter's distress, Meng's mother was filled with resentment and retorted, "How can you blame Hongjin for this? Jiang Li has only just returned to Yanjing City. She spent eight years in a nunnery—everyone thought she was empty-headed. Who could have predicted she would suddenly take first place? Could you have predicted it?"

Meng Youde was left speechless. He truly hadn't anticipated such an outcome. Precisely because of this, when he learned that his daughter had made a bet with Jiang Li, he had only lightly scolded her for being impulsive and said nothing more, convinced that Jiang Li would surely lose.

But reality had dealt him a harsh blow. The thought of his colleagues' mocking glances during court that morning made his chest tighten with irritation.

Meng's mother spoke again, "I've been thinking, and this whole affair seems suspicious. Could it be that Jiang Li used some underhanded method? You know Jiang Yuanbai holds an influential position at court—could he have bribed the examiners? Otherwise, how could our Hongjin possibly lose to her?"

"That's right," Meng Hongjin sobbed. "My sisters and I have studied at Mingyi Hall for five or six years, while Jiang Li has been here for less than ten days. Unless there was a school like Mingyi Hall in the nunnery where she could study?"

Hearing his wife and daughter speak this way, Meng Youde began to ponder. He had secretly aligned himself with the Right Prime Minister, making him one of the Right Prime Minister's men. Jiang Yuanbai and the Right Prime Minister had never gotten along, so he was effectively an enemy of the Jiang family. Jiang Li's outstanding performance in the examination seemed unnatural. If he could uncover evidence of collusion between Jiang Yuanbai and the Mingyi Hall examiners, it would be perfect. The current emperor detested any tampering in scholarly affairs. If he could use this to strike a heavy blow against Jiang Yuanbai, he would have rendered a great service.

A loss may turn out to be a gain—Meng Youde felt a faint thrill of excitement. He picked up his outer robe and draped it over his shoulders, saying, "I'm going out," before hurrying off.

Watching her father leave, Meng Hongjin felt even more aggrieved. Her mother comforted her, "What is there to fear? There are still the lower three subjects. Starting tomorrow, the tests for music, charioteering, and archery begin. Your skills in charioteering and archery are among the best. Even if there were teachers in the nunnery, they certainly wouldn't have taught charioteering or archery. Jiang Li is bound to lose to you."Meng Hongjin was one of the few women in Mingyi Hall who took great interest in archery and charioteering. Her fiery temperament perfectly matched the rugged demands of these disciplines. Her chariot-driving skills had once dazzled audiences, while her archery accuracy rivaled that of skilled men. In Mingyi Hall—or even throughout Yanjing City—no one dared challenge her supremacy in archery and charioteering.

If her previous performances in literature, mathematics, and rites could be considered merely excellent, the upcoming music, charioteering, and archery would be her specialties—with music aside, charioteering and archery were her true forte.

Thinking of this, Meng Hongjin felt slightly reassured. Yet, the humiliation inflicted by Jiang Li lingered. Because of Jiang Li, her earlier bold declarations now seemed laughable. To be outperformed by a newcomer to Mingyi Hall—how many would gossip behind her back?

The mere thought of others’ mocking glances fueled her hatred for Jiang Li. She yearned to trample Jiang Li beneath horse hooves during the upcoming examination...

Suddenly, an idea surfaced in her mind.

If Jiang Li were trampled beneath horse hooves... On the examination grounds, weapons knew no mercy...

Her heart felt as if dipped in cold water, then scalded by boiling broth—alternating between chills and fever, slowly simmering to a boil.

...

Meanwhile, Meng Youde, who had gone to investigate Jiang Yuanbai’s alleged collusion with the examiners, was destined to return empty-handed.

To ensure fairness, Mingyi Hall had publicly posted transcribed copies of the top three examination papers by the hall’s entrance, drawing crowds of onlookers.

Meng Youde was nearly shoved aside by the throng, overhearing exclamations: "If anyone dares claim Second Miss Jiang is illiterate again, I’ll crack their skull with a carrying pole! Her calligraphy surpasses even our village scholar’s—though I can’t read a word, I know elegance when I see it!"

This speaker was likely an uneducated man.

A refined scholar’s voice also reached Meng Youde through the crowd: "Her essay is the true marvel—erudite, classical allusions, and unique insights. Second Miss Jiang must be widely read. I’ve studied fifteen years in obscurity, yet I pale before a young girl—shame! Shame!" He sighed behind his sleeve.

"Handwriting reflects character," grunted a bearded man with a soldierly demeanor. "Second Miss Jiang’s script resembles a man’s—broad-minded, expansive, like a heroic youth."

"Her accounting methods are ingenious too," remarked a merchant wearing a golden abacus around his neck, eyes gleaming. "This novel approach simplifies bookkeeping. I’ll copy it for my shop—far easier than old methods."

In short, the transcribed examination paper silenced all rumors. Mingyi Hall’s integrity was unquestionable—Second Miss Jiang had clearly excelled on the spot. Compared to the other top papers, hers stood out as markedly superior.

This first place was indisputably deserved.

Meng Youde stumbled away from the crowd, dispirited. There was no need to exhaust himself seeking evidence of Jiang Yuanbai’s collusion. Jiang Li’s examination paper not only secured her prominence but also brought honor to the Jiang family. And the more praise Jiang Li received, the more Meng Hongjin’s shortcomings would be magnified by contrast.The rise of one individual by stepping on the reputation of another is a common occurrence in officialdom. Meng Hongjin also represented the Meng family, and in this round of the wager, at least in the first half, the Meng family had lost.

Meng Youde walked unsteadily toward his residence, the excited discussions around him gradually blurring into indistinct noise. At this moment, only one thought occupied his mind: this wager had escalated far beyond a childish game, its repercussions had grown too significant, and even the palace might have taken notice. If Meng Hongjin failed to turn the tables in the lower three categories, the Meng family would stand no chance of victory.

That would indeed be troublesome.

(End of Chapter)