Ji Qingshan was stunned. His first instinct was to scold Mrs. Zhu.
'What Mr. Song? How could they get something like this wrong? He had clearly heard them say Mr. Ji.'
The government officer's tone had grown impatient.
"Song Jing! First place in this county examination. How could we be mistaken?"
The courtyard, which had been buzzing with excitement just a moment ago, fell instantly silent.
A deathly silence spread as countless pairs of eyes turned in unison to Ji Qingshan.
Ji Qingshan's lips trembled, but he couldn't manage to form a single complete sentence.
In the silence, Mrs. Zhu's booming voice was like a megaphone.
"What did you say? Isn't it for our Fourth? Isn't the Scholar supposed to be Ji Liantang?"
By now, the officers also realized something was wrong.
Just then, another series of firecrackers erupted, mixed with the sound of gongs, crackling all the way to the east.
Faintly, they could hear shouts rising and falling.
