After a brief commotion, someone in the crowd shouted, "They're here! They're coming this way!"

Gu Yu and Li Jiao, their necks craning, were almost knocked over because of their small stature. They steadied themselves, and the three people parading through the streets had already walked up to them.

The leader rode a red-maned steed, wearing a red round-necked scholar's robe with cloud patterns outlined in gold thread on the lapels and cuffs, and a large red flower tied across the middle. He also wore a scholar's hat.

With well-defined features, a prominent jawline, thin lips, and eyes gazing straight ahead, the large red flower on his chest made him look like a groom.

"This top scholar is really handsome."

"Yes, I heard he's not married yet. Noble ladies in the capital must be fighting over him. I wonder which nobleman he'll become."

Gu Yu was stunned. This top scholar looked so familiar. Had she seen him somewhere before?

She lost her balance and was shoved by the person behind her, falling into Li Jiao's arms.

Li Jiao helped the person up and said unhappily, "Be careful, you bumped into someone."

The man on horseback heard that he had bumped into someone, turned around, and saw the back of a boy wearing a hat. He couldn't see the boy's face clearly. The boy was standing up by clinging to the shoulder of another boy.

He turned and continued walking. Gu Yu, who had stood up, glanced again at the top scholar who had already passed by, suppressed the strange feeling in his heart, and looked at the second and third scholars behind him.

After Li Jiao helped her to her feet, she gestured with both hands to the scholar behind her, "Brother Xu, over here!"

The sound was so loud that the people next to him couldn't stand it, saying, "Why is this young man so loud?"

Gu Yu felt embarrassed and turned to everyone, saying, "I'm really sorry, Tan Hua is someone we know, so I was a little excited."

"Wow, that's your brother. That's impressive."

The other person didn't believe it, "Hey, why don't you just say the top scholar is your brother?"

You know what, it's true.

Then they saw the third-ranked scholar on horseback waving at them, "Be careful."

Li Jiao excitedly pulled Gu Yu, "Brother Xu saw us! He saw us!"

As I was passing by, I heard him shout again, "Go back quickly."

Only then did the people around believe it, and they looked on with envy, "It really is your brother, that's amazing."

“That’s right,” Li Jiao said, pulling Gu Yu outside. “Did you see that? Brother Xu is so handsome and talented. If he weren’t so good-looking, he would definitely be the top scholar.”

Although Gu Yu agreed with her, she didn't think so in her heart; she thought the top scholar was more handsome.

There were too many people outside, and after everyone had passed, they were about to go back when suddenly a riot broke out nearby, and they heard people talking about robbery and the like.

Gu Yu escorted Li Jiao back. As more and more people gathered, Gu Yu thought to herself that it was all over when several guards appeared behind her. "Miss Gu Yu, your subordinates will escort you."

The two returned to the palace under the cover of the guards, only to be caught red-handed by the princess.

Gu Yu quickly bowed, and the princess almost fainted from anger when she saw their attire.

"What kind of outfit is this? It's outrageous!"

Gu Yu quickly knelt down to beg for forgiveness. Li Jiao pulled the princess's hand and led her inside, saying, "Mother, what brings you here? Please come in and sit down."

The princess understood her meaning, but thinking that the two of them were going out like this without any guards, and who would be responsible if something happened, she said sternly, "Guyu, kneel down and do not get up without orders."

"Mother..."

The princess said, "If you're going to plead for her, then you should go with her."

Gu Yu gave her a meaningful look, and Li Jiao reluctantly went in. She sat on the couch and said with dissatisfaction, "Mother, it was me who asked her to come with me. It's not her fault."

The princess reached out and tapped her forehead: "You, you, you have no manners whatsoever as a lady of a noble family. What kind of talk is this?"

Did you see the top scholar today?

Li Jiao was delighted when the topic came up: "I saw him, and I even saw Brother Xu, the third-ranked scholar, he's very handsome."

The princess scolded, "It's true what they say, daughters grow up and leave home; now she's already eager to get married."

"whee"

"I'm going back now. Don't cause any more trouble, or I'll give you a beating with a cane."

"Mmm," Li Jiao knew her mother was a woman of her word, so she obediently agreed, as she couldn't bear to see Gu Yu get beaten.

He escorted the princess to the door, saying, "Take care, Mother." Just as he was about to help Gu Yu up, the princess turned around and said, "Gu Yu, you can only get up after kneeling for the duration of an incense stick burning."

He left only after saying that, and even sent someone to keep an eye on him.

Li Jiao went in and brought out a cushion to place on the floor. Gu Yu didn't dare to use it, thinking that it was only thirty minutes and there shouldn't be a big problem. Although she didn't know what thirty minutes meant, it was the first thing that came to her mind.

Seeing that she insisted, Li Jiao didn't want to persuade her, especially since her mother's spies were nearby. She took a small stool and sat down beside her to wait until the time it takes for an incense stick to burn was up. Only then did she help Gu Yu up.

Li Jiao said ingratiatingly, "You've suffered today. I'll ask the kitchen to make you something delicious to make you better later."

After watching the head maid leave, Gu Yu said, "Then I want to drink radish and pork bone soup."

Li Jiao looked at the maid and said, "Go and tell her I want to drink radish and pork bone soup tonight."

After they went inside, Li Jiao helped her sit down on a stool. "Does your leg hurt? Should we call a doctor?"

"No need, I'm fine, but I want to rest for a while."

Li Jiao said, "Then let's go back. I'll have a maid bring you food in a little while."

Gu Yu returned to her room feeling very tired. She took off her shoes and went to sleep, but in her dreams she kept dreaming of wolves and chili peppers.

In Li Yu's courtyard, a guard entered, "Master..."

Li Yu hummed in agreement: "They're back?"

The guard replied, "Yes, the princess and Miss Guyu were caught by the princess as soon as they entered the door, and Miss Guyu was punished by kneeling for the time it takes for an incense stick to burn."

After the guard finished speaking, Chang'an, who was grinding ink beside him, paused for a moment. A little ink got on his sleeve, and he immediately pushed his sleeve up a bit.

Li Yu looked up, a fleeting emotion flashing in her eyes, "Are you up now?"

"He got up, but said he wasn't feeling well and went back to his room to rest."

Li Yu lowered her eyes: "Yes, go down."

When Chang'an heard that Gu Yu was not feeling well, his face was full of worry and he was absent-minded, but the man next to him did not notice.

Li Yu: "Chang'an!"

Chang'an put down the millstone: "Young Master."

"Take the porcelain vase on the table over there, but don't say it was from me."

"Yes," Chang'an knew it was a top-quality medicine for treating illnesses, but he didn't know why the Third Young Master would be willing to give it to Gu Yu.

A possibility flashed through his mind, but he immediately rejected it. No, the young master must have sent the medicine because of the princess. He didn't want the princess to be sad. That must be it.

He took the medicine over, but Gu Yu was asleep. Feeling a little disappointed, he handed the medicine bottle to the maid, saying, "Then please give it to her later."

The maid smiled and said, "It's no trouble at all."

Outside the palace gates, the top three scholars who had just been presented to the emperor emerged, and the third-ranked scholar greeted the top-ranked scholar with practiced ease.

"Brother Su, my father insisted that I bring you home for a visit after he found out it was you. Would you like to come with me today?"

That's right, the top scholar in front of us is Su Yi, and the third-ranking scholar Xu Zijing is the second son of the former prefect of Qingyang County, Lord Xu.

It wasn't until Su Yi arrived in the capital that Lord Xu saw the list of successful candidates and remembered Su Yi, so he told his son to get to know him better.

Chu Yi said, "Let's wait a few days. Have you forgotten that we're going to the Prince's residence tomorrow?"

Xu Zijin suddenly realized, "Oh right, I forgot, see you at the Prince's Mansion tomorrow."

After saying that, he got into his family's carriage and drove away.