Chapter 274: A Generation of Grand Secretaries (36)

As expected, Lin Weiquan did not continue to arrest her, this so-called "maid" who was just a thief. It seemed that he did not dare to make a big fuss and spent some time quietly. In the end, Gu Sui said that he was going back to Lin County. Wen Wan was a little surprised. After all, Gu Sui wanted to investigate the cause of his parents' death and take revenge. How could he leave so easily?

"You're not going to investigate anymore?"

Gu Sui: "So what if we found out?"

Wen Wan: "What do you mean?"

"I've found out. With my current abilities, there's nothing I can do. I need to become strong enough to take revenge before I come to the capital."

Wen Yan: "..."

This truly demonstrates the protagonist's strategic thinking. Knowing he is temporarily outmatched, he decisively gives up, reasoning that revenge is a dish best served cold.

So the group left the capital and returned to Lin County.

When Shen's parents saw their daughter, they were extremely excited and happy. Shen's mother cried her eyes out, and Wen Wan comforted her for a long time, repeatedly emphasizing that she was fine, before she finally calmed her down.

As for Shen's father, his emotional expression was much more stable. He simply nodded and said, "It's good that you're back. From now on, when you go out, take guards with you. This time, I've found some who are very skilled, so they won't give anyone a chance to take advantage of you."

"Thank you, Dad."

Shen's father and Gu Sui went to the study again, and this time they talked for a longer time, lasting the entire afternoon before coming out.

Wen Wan asked Gu Sui, "What did my father say to you?"

"Some questions were asked about the capital city, and I was also asked what I plan to do in the future."

"So what are you planning to do?"

"I'm going to take the imperial examination."

Wen Yan: "!!!"

"You're going to take the imperial examination?" Wen Wan was a little surprised. She actually thought the main plot would be very difficult, but unexpectedly, the male lead was going to take the imperial examination again. Isn't this the main plot?

"Didn't you just persuade me to take the imperial examination on a whim?"

"Is that so? Is it because of Lin Weiquan that you want to become an official?"

Gu Sui didn't lie, nor did he need to lie to Wen Wan. He nodded. "Originally, I thought my responsibility was to protect my parents' property. However, Lin Weiquan's matter has made me realize that what I should do is avenge my parents. That is my responsibility. Now that I know who the enemy is, how can I do business with peace of mind?"

“I support you. I will support whatever you do. You are so smart. You will definitely pass the imperial examination with top honors and become a powerful minister. Then, no matter who Lin Weiquan, Chen Weiquan or whatever else he is, he will get the retribution he deserves.”

Gu Sui decided to take the imperial examination. As for the Gu family's assets, they were transferred to Wen Wan's name. When Wen Wan found out, she was extremely shocked, after all, this was a considerable fortune.

Surprisingly, Shen's father did not object.

Shen's father said to Wen Wan, "Actually, I don't agree with you being with him."

Wen Wan was surprised. "Why? Weren't you quite satisfied with him?"

Father Shen: "I am very satisfied with Gu Sui, but he is the businessman Gu Sui, the Gu Sui who is good at everything except for his poor health, not this Gu Sui who wants to avenge his parents' blood feud, enter the officialdom, and live in danger. He is no longer acceptable to me. He will bring danger to you and to our Shen family. So I dare not gamble. I want him to cancel the engagement with you, but he knelt down and begged me."

Wen Wan felt a sharp pain in her heart when she heard Gu Sui kneel down.

"Father!"

“I asked him to hand over the Gu family to me, and he agreed without a word of objection. I told him not to marry you before he becomes the top scholar in the imperial examination, and he agreed, so I agreed.”

Wen Yan: "..."

"He will definitely pass the exam."

Father Shen: "So confident? I admit that Gu Sui is very learned, but there are countless scholars and talented people in the world. I'm not even sure if he can do it."

"I just believe he can pass the exam." Wen Wan emphasized again. It wasn't just her belief; the original plot also showed that Gu Sui was the top scholar, and that was an unchangeable fact.

"You're siding with outsiders, I'm afraid I've raised this daughter for nothing."

“He is your future son-in-law, so he is considered family. Your daughter was raised well.”

Father Shen: "..." He does know how to talk.

...

After that, Gu Sui began preparing for the imperial examination. Wen Wan didn't bother him too much. However, Gu Sui kept Wen Wan by his side at all times. So in the study, Gu Sui would read various books on one side, while Wen Wan would be on the other side, occasionally eating, occasionally writing, occasionally picking her fingers, and occasionally teasing Gu Sui.

Gu Sui continued to live in Mo Bai Courtyard, while Wen Wan transferred the female lead away on the very first day.

After all, it's already confirmed that Gu Sui is her man, so Qin Yuege is her love rival. Besides, Qin Yuege is a female lead who has had her soul replaced. Who knows if she's good or bad? What if she has any intentions or wants to harm Gu Sui?

Two months passed in the blink of an eye, and the exam time arrived. Wen Wan's family was extremely worried. Chen's mother stewed chicken soup and various tonics for Gu Sui every day to nourish his body, fearing that Gu Sui might not be healthy and faint during the exam. After all, such things had happened before, and they had heard of quite a few. There was even a case where someone froze to death in the dead of winter because the roof tile of the exam was leaking. It was simply terrifying.

After passing the county, prefectural, and provincial examinations, he became a Xiucai (a scholar who passed the lowest level of the imperial examinations). He then participated in the provincial examination and achieved the top rank of Jieyuan (the first-ranked scholar in the provincial examinations). He then went on to participate in the metropolitan examination and also achieved the top rank of Huiyuan (the first-ranked scholar in the metropolitan examinations).

The Shen family was overjoyed, and Wen Wan was also very happy. Then, for the last time, they had to go to the capital to take the exam. Shen's father was worried, so he hired a lot of guards for Gu Sui and his daughter. He was worried that Lord Lin in the capital would deal with his daughter and son-in-law. After all, if his son-in-law wanted to enter the officialdom, Lin Weiquan would definitely cause trouble.

Wen Wan accompanied Gu Sui to the capital again, while Shen Yuechu followed along as before.

Wen Wan later learned that her silly older brother, Shen Yuechu, actually had someone he liked. It was during his last trip to the capital that her brother saw a beautiful woman on the road and fell in love at first sight. He missed her every day and almost fell ill with lovesickness.

It was only after Wen Wan noticed that Shen Yuechu spoke up; otherwise, she would have kept it a secret forever.

This trip to the capital was for his brother-in-law's exam, and he naturally couldn't give up the opportunity. Ostensibly, it was to protect his sister and brother-in-law, but in reality, he also wanted to see that girl again.

After arriving in the capital, Wen Wan first visited Granny Chen, bringing her many gifts. She also met Granny Chen's granddaughter, who was surprised by Wen Wan's arrival. After learning the reason, the granddaughter felt it was fate.

She also told Wen Wan that she planned to bring her grandmother to live with her, and her family had agreed.

This is a good thing. After all, it's inconvenient for Grandma Chen to live alone, and she might feel lonely. Being with her granddaughter will definitely make her very happy.

Wen Wan gave her a lot of things, which Granny Chen originally didn't want to accept, but Wen Wan insisted on giving them to her.

“If it weren’t for Grandma saving me that day, I might be dead by now. She saved my life and I must repay her.”

After seeing Granny Chen and her granddaughter off, Wen Wan returned to the courtyard where she and Gu Sui were temporarily staying—the same courtyard as before.

Liu Qi and Yuan Cheng continued to follow along, and although it was very expensive, Shen's father promptly renewed the subscription after learning about it.

Although it was expensive, it was guaranteed, which was one of the reasons why Shen's father agreed to let Wen Wan come to the capital with him; otherwise, he would never have agreed.

Wen Wan instructed Yuan Cheng to stay close to Gu Sui at all times. If the people of the capital knew that Gu Sui had come to take the imperial examination, who knows what dangers awaited them? This time, Wen Wan also brought Gui Zhi along, and the two occasionally went out shopping.

The capital city is much larger than the neighboring county. Even Guizhi had never been to the capital before, and this trip has broadened her horizons. Now Guizhi is much more cheerful, and Wenwan treats Guizhi as a friend, not as a servant.

As for Shen Yuechu, he went to find his dream girl whom he had met once. He drew a portrait that was neither beautiful nor ugly and asked around for several days, but he couldn't find out anything.

Every time he comes back, he is weak and unhappy.

Wen Wan was helpless. After all, not everyone is destined to fall in love. This might just be a missed opportunity. Shen Yuechu could only endure it.

Moreover, there are many nobles in the capital, and many shops here. Wen Wan originally thought that the shops in the neighboring counties were already quite large, but when she arrived here, she realized that they were incomparable. This was simply a shopper's paradise.

Wen Wan went on a shopping spree.

Guizhi was in charge of spending money, and Liuqi was in charge of carrying bags.

It is said that where there are many important people, there is also much trouble. Wen Wan really did encounter such a person. While eating at a restaurant, she met a spoiled brat who didn't know his place, and he was a very important one at that.

"Do you know who I am? My uncle is Lord Lin Weiquan, my little beauty. If you come home with me, you'll have wealth and riches, and all the gold and jewels will be yours."

Wen Yan: "???"

Indeed, they were not just spoiled brats, but also people who seemed destined to meet again.

Liu Qi looked at Wen Wan. With just one order from her, he could cripple this纨绔 (wan ku, a spoiled brat). Wen Wan shook her head and then said to the纨绔, "But I already have a fiancé."

"Who? Be with me, you'll be better than your fiancé."

"Then I need to go and tell my fiancé. Come with me."

That spoiled brat was brainless and actually followed Wen Wan. So they arrived at a sparsely populated place. Wen Wan gestured to Liu Qi beside her, and when the brat tried to attack Wen Wan, she kicked him three meters away and then subdued him.

"Killed?"

The纨绔 (playboy): "!!!"

"Don't kill me! My uncle is Lin Weiquan, a high-ranking official in the court. If you kill me, he will definitely not let you get away with it."

"Destroy it."

Liu Qi was about to make a move, but after crippling one of his hands, the纨绔 (wan ku, a spoiled brat) was so frightened that he wet himself. Wen Wan waved her hand, and Liu Qi stopped. "Your uncle is Lin Weiquan?"

"Yes, yes, I can give you anything you want, as long as you let me go."

"Can you give me anything I want?" Wen Wan said with a smile. The playboy was terrified. This was no beauty; she was a devil, and a terrifying one at that.

"So if I ask you for 100,000 taels of silver, you'll give it to me too?"

"One hundred thousand taels?"

He was surprised when he heard the number; how could he possibly have so much money?

Wen Wan gestured to Liu Qi, who was about to make another move when the playboy quickly begged for mercy, "I'll give it to you, I'll go back and raise the money right away, I'll give it to you."

"I don't trust you." She then looked at Liu Qi. "Is there any poison that can cause an extremely painful death?"

Liu Qi: "The Seven-Day Bone-Breaking Powder, if there is no antidote, will cause all the bones and muscles in the body to break in seven days, and there is no antidote."

Do you have one?

Liu Qi took out a bottle. "Yes."

"Feed it to him."

The纨绔 (wan ku) was unable to stop him, and Liu Qi forced his mouth open and fed him the medicine. Instantly, Liu Qi felt pain all over his body, as if his bones were about to break. Liu Qi then fed him an antidote. "There are seven doses of this antidote in total. You need to take it once every seven days. Only by taking all seven doses can you save your life."