Who Cares About Being the Matriarch? My Rebellious Husband Secured Me a Noble Rank! - Chapter 80

“The Second Young Master scored the top rank in the provincial exam!”

“The Second Young Master got the top rank!!!”

The young servant ran all the way back to the Chi mansion with the news, causing ripples like a stone thrown into a calm lake.

…

Madam Hou suddenly stood up, disbelief written all over her face. “Are you sure you didn’t hear wrong?”

The servant nodded eagerly, “Mistress, the whole street is saying the same thing—there’s no mistake!”

“How could he possibly get the top rank?” Madam Hou’s face darkened, and the servant fell silent, growing uneasy.

The Second Young Master getting the top rank—shouldn’t this be good news?

Why does Madam look so unhappy?

The servant had been hoping for a reward for delivering such good news first—but now, it seemed unlikely.

Nearby, Chi Yue frowned, suspicion flashing in her eyes. “Chi Yan getting the top rank? Could he have cheated?”

Madam Hou paced back and forth, her expression growing colder. “That useless spendthrift, now suddenly the top scorer? It’s like he’s just inviting suspicion! There must be something fishy going on.”

The servant dared not speak.

Madam Hou narrowed her eyes. “You stand guard at the gate. When Chi Yan returns, bring him to Fuyong Hall immediately.”

…

Meanwhile, in the West Courtyard, the reaction was entirely different.

Second Madam Chi clutched her chest, stunned. “What did you say? Did I hear right?”

Ba Liang’s face lit up. “Madam, you heard correctly! Our Second Young Master got the top rank!”

Second Madam still found it hard to believe, counting on her fingers. “The top rank… that’s first place, right?”

Xue Qing covered her mouth and smiled softly. “Yes, Madam, the top scholar is number one.”

Second Madam blinked, suddenly fully awake. She stood, pacing excitedly, a radiant smile spreading across her face. “My son got the top rank! That brat finally made me proud!”

Realizing her excitement, she quickly covered her mouth, but then couldn’t help bursting out laughing.

The servants inside caught the joy and laughed along.

Second Madam then generously declared, “Rewards! Everyone will be handsomely rewarded!”

The crowd cheered in unison, “Thank you, Second Madam!”

Her smile never faded. “Now, let’s go to the gate and welcome Master and Mistress back!”

At this moment, the couple should be returning.

As Shen Tangning and Chi Yan just got off the carriage, they saw Second Madam eagerly looking toward the gate.

Before they could gather themselves, she rushed forward and hugged Chi Yan, patting his back. “You little brat, you’ve finally made your mother proud!”

Chi Yan lowered his eyes, a faint smile tugging at his lips. “Not bad. As long as I didn’t embarrass myself.”

Second Madam then warmly embraced Shen Tangning, her tone full of feeling. “Tangning, you’ve worked hard these days!”

Shen Tangning paused, lightly patting Second Madam’s hand. “We’re family. You’re too kind.”

Her mood was complicated. The rumors outside hadn’t reached Second Madam’s ears yet—only now could she smile.

If she heard those words, who knows how she’d feel?

Second Madam tugged both of them to walk back inside, her face glowing. “Come on, we have to celebrate properly tonight!”

Just as they reached the gate, a young servant approached, hesitating. “Second Madam, Madam Hou requests the Second Young Master to come to Fuyong Hall.”

Shen Tangning instinctively exchanged a glance with Chi Yan, sensing something strange.

If they just wanted to congratulate him, there’d be no need to keep them waiting or summon him to Madam Hou’s place.

Second Madam, however, was too joyful to think further. “Of course! This joyous occasion should be shared with Mother!”

Shen Tangning thought the matron was overly optimistic but kept silent. They’d see how things played out.

At Fuyong Hall, the atmosphere was far from celebratory—instead, it was heavy and tense.

Realizing something was off, Second Madam’s smile slowly faded.

Madam Hou sat at the matriarch’s right side. She looked up as they entered, her eyes fixed on Chi Yan with a cryptic gaze. “Oh? Yan’er, you’re back?”

Chi Yan felt a chill sweep over him—her gaze was like a cold, slippery predator sizing him up for a fatal bite.

Shen Tangning saw him freeze, unusually quiet, his usual carefree air replaced by an indescribable coldness.

She tugged his sleeve softly. “Husband?”

Only then did Chi Yan regain composure and step forward.

Shen Tangning held back her suspicion and greeted the matriarch politely.

The old lady didn’t immediately invite them to sit. Narrowing her eyes, she stared at Chi Yan. “I hear you got the top rank?”

Her tone wasn’t happy; it sounded more like a sharp accusation.

Shen Tangning’s eye twitched—this was no warm welcome.

People outside doubted Chi Yan’s achievement, and here, they weren’t any more convinced.

Second Madam wasn’t stupid either. She knew well what the household was like when Chi Jingyu got his rank—and now, this was no congratulation, but an interrogation.

Chi Yan stood tall, neither humble nor arrogant. “Grandmother, thanks to the blessings of our ancestors, I was fortunate enough to meet your expectations and secured the top rank.”

“Expectations?” Shen Tangning thought. The matriarch? What a joke.

The old lady’s heart tightened. Suddenly, she slammed her hand on the table, anger flashing across her face. “Chi Yan, you have some nerve! Do you know the punishment for cheating on the imperial exam? Are you trying to drag down the whole Chi family with you?”

The harsh scolding came so suddenly, Chi Yan had no chance to defend himself.

Second Madam was shocked, glaring at the old lady. Gritting her teeth, she said, “Grandmother, do you have any evidence that Yan’er cheated? If not, you can’t just say such things!”

The old lady sneered. “If he didn’t cheat, how else could your son have gotten the top rank?”

Second Madam’s chest felt stabbed. Her face paled. “Why not? Yan’er passed the county exam at twelve!”

Madam Hou’s eyes darkened. She tried to soothe Second Madam. “Sister-in-law, don’t be too upset. Mother only fears Yan’er has lost his way for a moment.”

Lost his way? So basically, they’re still doubting her son!

Shen Tangning frowned lightly. “Grandmother, Aunt Hou, the exam results were reviewed by the Ministry of Rites before posting. If my husband’s name wasn’t legitimate, do you really think the officials would post it? What do you think?”

The matriarch’s face darkened, unable to respond.

Madam Hou feigned puzzlement. “I’m curious too. Normally, the family who’s celebrating would have come by now. Why haven’t they?”

Shen Tangning’s eyes flickered nervously. “…”