Jiang Li's achievement of topping the Mingyi Hall examination for achieving three levels of examination quickly spread throughout the entire Yanjing City, naturally reaching Meng Hongjin's ears as well.
At this moment, the Chengxuan Envoy's Mansion was steeped in quiet. Inside a room, Meng Hongjin was weeping softly by the side of a collapsed bed. Mother Meng, distressed, wrapped her arms around her daughter and said, "My child, don't cry, this is just the first of the six departments; haven't we still three more departments to go? It's hardly the end of the world, right?"
"Disgraceful!" Meng Youde, Meng Hongjin's father, had a very grim expression on his face and said, "To have been so confident in making a betting agreement with someone and now to suffer such a crushing defeat, it's not just you who has lost face, I too am disgraced—it is completely useless!"
Upon hearing these words, Meng Hongjin felt an immense sorrow and wept even more uncontrollably.
