Chapter 259 Pampering My Husband (Second Update)

Everyone was surprised to see him leave his own seat and sit next to Xiao Liulang.

However, upon further reflection, he realized that he had left early last night and returned late today, so he probably hadn't heard the comments about Xiao Liulang. Moreover, coming from a poor family, he was unfamiliar with the seating arrangements and likely assumed that the top two scholars sat opposite each other.

This is the tragedy of students from poor families: they can't see the situation clearly, they don't understand the rules, and they offend people unintentionally without realizing it.

However, the people disliked Xiao Liulang the most, and didn't hate Ning Zhiyuan much. Ning Zhiyuan had neither good looks nor a good background, and compared to Xiao Liulang, he was simply not worth mentioning.

Soon, everyone turned their cold gazes to Xiao Liulang again, whispering among themselves, mostly criticizing him.

Xiao Liulang sat upright on the cushion, seemingly neither hearing nor choosing to ignore it.

The main hall was noisy, but his figure looked rather thin.

Ning Zhiyuan took a sip of tea and suddenly said to him, "I checked the exam papers at the Ministry of Rites. I read your essay, and you truly deserve to be the top scholar. You don't need to care about other people's opinions. Prince An's policy questions were also very good, but compared to you, they lacked a bit of childlike innocence. I think that's what truly impressed His Majesty. On the other hand, my policy questions were slightly inferior to Yuan Yu's, but in the end, I came in third and he came in fourth. It's probably because Yuan Yu is the grandson of the Grand Secretary Yuan, so it's easy for him to rise above others, while for a poor scholar like me, if I don't achieve the top three in the exam, I have almost no hope of getting ahead."

Xiao Liulang glanced at Ning Zhiyuan with slight surprise.

I threatened him so much yesterday, and he still managed to say those things to me.

It seems he was not unaware of those rumors.

Xiao Liulang calmly shifted his gaze: "You still have the nerve to sit here and talk to me? Aren't you afraid of getting yourself into trouble?"

Ning Zhiyuan remained silent for a long while before whispering, "If it weren't for you, I would be the one being ostracized now."

Ning Zhiyuan also came from a poor family. Unlike Xiao Liulang, who caught the eye of a nobleman, he had no one to back him up. If he were ostracized, he might not even be able to stay in the capital.

Xiao Liulang's grades were better than his, and his aura was greater, attracting everyone's jealousy, to the point that almost no one had the time to ostracize him.

"Hang in there." Ning Zhi took a deep breath and said, sounding aggrieved, "Otherwise, if you collapse, I'll be next..."

Xiao Liulang, who was almost moved by him, was speechless.

After the emperor arrived, everyone fell silent.

When the emperor saw Prince An's seat, he didn't say anything. After he sat down, he had the musicians play the "Deer Cry" melody. Then all the scholars recited the "Deer Cry" song together. Finally, he appointed the top three scholars to each compose a poem to suit the occasion, which greatly enhanced the academic atmosphere.

The meals at the Deer Cry Banquet were prepared by the Imperial Kitchen, which was much more sumptuous than the simple meals served on the day of the preliminary examinations and the palace examinations. Many people had never tasted imperial delicacies in their lives, and today might be their first and last time.

Despite the emperor's terrifying aura, they still ate with great relish, as the food was indeed delicious.

The emperor sat for a while and then left, handing the scene over to officials from the Ministry of Rites.

As evening approached, the banquet ended, and the scholars departed one by one.

Xiao Liulang and Feng Lin walked out of the Hall of Supreme Harmony together. Not long after they left, a eunuch approached them with a smile: "Excuse me, is this Scholar Xiao?"

Xiao Liulang glanced at him indifferently: "Who are you?"

The eunuch smiled and said, "This old servant's surname is Huang. I am His Highness's servant. His Highness wishes to see Scholar Xiao. Please, Scholar Xiao, come to the East Palace."

Xiao Liulang paused for a moment: "Why does the Crown Prince want to see me?"

The eunuch smiled and said, "This servant is just a messenger. If Scholar Xiao has any doubts, he can ask His Highness the Crown Prince in person."

Du Ruohan frowned.

One cannot refuse an audience with the Crown Prince.

Feng Lin was quite pleased: "Sixth Prince, the Crown Prince summons you!"

"Yes, I know." Xiao Liulang nodded and said to the eunuch, "Please lead the way, sir."

The eunuch gestured for him to enter: "Scholar Xiao, please."

"You all go back first, don't wait for me. Liu Quan will come to pick me up in a while." After saying this, Xiao Liulang and the eunuch headed towards the East Palace.

Feng Lin said with a grin, "Your Highness the Crown Prince has heard of Liu Lang's talent and wants to win him over, right?"

It's no wonder he thought that way. After all, the Crown Prince was the Marquis of Xuanping's nephew, and Xiao Liulang resembled the Marquis of Xuanping's son. Wouldn't that make him the Crown Prince's cousin? They were family!

Du Ruohan curled her lip and said, "The Crown Prince married his cousin's fiancée. Who knows how the Crown Prince will feel when he sees someone who looks like his cousin?"

Feng Lin shuddered: "Oh dear, I forgot about that!"

...

The Liu Family Compound in Beijing.

The once magnificent Liu Mansion has long been confiscated. Now, the Liu family is crammed into a dilapidated little house. In reality, the Liu family is just Liu Yisheng, a mute servant, and an old woman who is too old to do anything.

When Gu Jiao stepped into the Liu residence, Liu Yisheng was squatting on the ground, practicing calligraphy on a broken stone slab he had picked up from outside with an old brush dipped in water.

He didn't have money to buy paper and pens, so this was the only way he could practice.

He was slightly startled when he saw the small figure that suddenly appeared in the yard. A hint of embarrassment and awkwardness flashed in his eyes, but it was quickly replaced by a self-deprecating smile.

They've already been reduced to the dust, what self-respect or dignity do they still have?

He continued practicing calligraphy, ignoring Gu Jiao.

The mute servant in the courtyard warily grabbed a stick and stood in front of Liu Yisheng.

It seems Liu Yisheng has been bullied quite a bit.

Liu Yisheng sneered: "Step back, Anu. You can't beat her."

Anu didn't back down, glaring menacingly at Gu Jiao.

He wasn't very old, about the same age as Gu Xiaoshun. Gu Jiao took a piece of candy out of her pocket and handed it to him: "Want some?"

Anu's eyes lit up, and he drooled, but he didn't step forward. Instead, he held his line tightly.

Liu Yisheng gave a mocking smile: "Go eat. If she wanted to kill you, she wouldn't need to go through all this trouble."

Anu hesitated for a moment before putting down the stick, and like a little monkey, he swiftly snatched the candy Gu Jiao handed him, as if he would be tricked by Gu Jiao if he was even a second too slow.

After taking the candy, he broke off a small piece and ate it, then put the rest into his pocket.

"What are you doing here?" Liu Yisheng asked.

"Your medicine." Gu Jiao tossed him a stack of bundled medicine packets. "This is the last course of treatment."

“But I don’t feel any pain anymore.” He was referring to his cholecystitis.

“Even if it doesn’t hurt, you have to take it; this is part of the treatment,” Gu Jiao said.

Liu Yisheng said, "I have no money."

Gu Jiao said, "I know you don't have money. Sell me some information and I won't charge you for the medicine."

Neither of them mentioned the bet or the flower hairpin incident, as if they had both forgotten about it.

Liu Yisheng paused in her calligraphy practice: "What information do you need?"

Gu Jiao raised an eyebrow and asked, "Did your Liu family really rebel?"

Liu Yisheng chuckled and said, "So what if I've built it? So what if I haven't?"

Gu Jiao stroked her chin: "If you've ever rebelled, you should know a lot about the palace. For example... what methods are there to get into the palace?"

Liu Yisheng: "..."

On the other side, Eunuch Huang led Xiao Liulang toward the East Palace. Just as they were about to pass the Imperial Garden, Xiao Liulang suddenly paused.

Eunuch Huang asked, "Scholar Xiao, what is it?"

"No."

He thought he heard a cat meow, a very faint sound, but it made his hair stand on end.

Eunuch Huang laughed and said, "It's nothing, let's hurry up and go, don't keep His Highness the Crown Prince waiting."

Xiao Liulang nodded calmly.

A white cat was perched on a banyan tree not far away, happily munching on a small dried fish.

The two were walking through the Imperial Garden and were about to pass the banyan tree when suddenly, a palace maid came running from another entrance of the Imperial Garden: "Oh dear, oh dear! Someone come quick!"

Xiao Liulang turned around.

Eunuch Huang frowned, pointed to a young eunuch beside him, and said, "Go and see what happened. I'll take Scholar Xiao to see His Highness."

"Yes." The little eunuch quickly left.

To everyone's surprise, the young palace maid pushed him aside, ran all the way to Eunuch Huang, and knelt down with a thud: "Eunuch Huang! It's so good that you're here! Please, please save my prince! My prince is dying!"

"Who is she?" Xiao Liulang asked Eunuch Huang.

Eunuch Huang was furious and tried to break free from the young palace maid, but she clung tightly to his leg, pleading, "Eunuch Huang! Please save my prince!"

Eunuch Huang said angrily, "How can I interfere in His Highness's affairs? You must report to His Majesty!"

The young palace maid cried, "If I could see His Majesty, why would I need to beg for your help? Please take me to see the Crown Prince! Although my prince is a hostage, he is still a prince of Chen. You cannot ignore him! My prince has been ill for so long!"

"What happened?"

Princess Ning, who was taking a stroll near the Imperial Garden, also heard the commotion and slowly walked over with the help of her servants.

Consort Zhuang valued Princess Ning's pregnancy highly and specially asked the Emperor for permission to allow her to rest and prepare for childbirth in her Yongshou Palace.

When Eunuch Huang saw Princess Ning approaching, he glanced at the banyan tree not far away, a dark glint flashing in his eyes as he cursed the little palace maid for causing trouble.

The hostage prince of Chen is sick, so he is sick. He came here as a hostage, not as a prince. Doesn't he know that?

He's so angry!

(End of this chapter)