The autumn and spring imperial examinations were fine, but the provincial examinations usually required candidates to take the exam in their place of origin.
Gu Pingsheng was from Qingyun County. Gu Xingzhi had gotten this opportunity by going through the connections of the headmaster of Hualing Academy and donating a lot of money.
Being brought up at this time is certainly not a good thing.
To put it mildly, it was just taking advantage of a loophole by coming to Shuojing with his older sister, Gu Yaoniang, for the sake of convenience and good fortune.
However, if one insists on making a fuss about this and accuses Gu Pingsheng of cheating in the imperial examinations, then that is a valid argument.
Gu Yaoniang's face paled.
The emperor watched with great interest the constantly changing expressions on the two faces, and Gu Yaoniang was about to speak: "Your Majesty..."
But the emperor coldly interrupted him: "I didn't ask you."
Gu Yaoniang's heart sank—it seemed that whether today would bring good fortune or misfortune was uncertain. She was anxious, but dared not say another word.
When Gu Xingzhi sent Gu Pingsheng to Hualing Academy, he did not explain to Gu Pingsheng in detail how it was done. Only Gu Xingzhi and Gu Yaoniang knew the inside story.
Now that Gu Xingzhi is gone, only Gu Yaoniang remains. Gu Pingsheng devoted most of his time to studying, and Gu Yaoniang worries that he himself is not fully aware of this, let alone how he can quietly extricate himself from the Gu family.
Gu Yaoniang gently closed her eyes.
"Yes. I followed my elder sister and second uncle to the capital and was fortunate enough to study at Hualing Academy, where I also took the exams."
Gu Pingsheng remained completely calm.
His tone was extremely casual, as if the saint were just an ordinary elder asking him a very ordinary question.
The sage had expected the young man to panic or plead for mercy. But to his surprise, the young man remained remarkably composed. The sage's opinion of him rose even higher.
"Oh? Do you know that according to the laws of Dacheng, you can only take the exam in your place of household registration? Now that you have obtained the title in Shuojing, I can take it away."
The sage's voice remained calm and unhurried, but his words struck Gu Pingsheng and Gu Yaoniang's hearts like a heavy hammer.
Scholars spend ten years studying diligently, hoping to gain official rank and recognition. But what is even more shameful than failing the exam is having one's rank and recognition taken away.
That is the most shameful thing.
For scholars, being stripped of their academic titles is a denial of their entire being, from their knowledge to their character.
As arrangements had been made beforehand, Gu Yaoniang wasn't particularly flustered; she was simply hoping to say a few words in defense of Gu Pingsheng. However, after being reprimanded earlier, she dared not speak up easily again.
Gu Pingsheng respectfully kowtowed again on the ground before speaking: "Your Majesty, please forgive me! Although my ancestral home is Qingyun County, I am a native of Qingzhou. However, since I came to Shuojing, my elders were worried that the frequent visits to my home would affect my studies, so they bought me a house before I arrived in Shuojing. My household registration was also transferred to this house. Strictly speaking, I am now a resident of Shuojing."
Since he was already a resident of Shuojing, participating in the imperial examinations in Shuojing was not considered a violation of regulations.
This was an answer that even the sage had not anticipated.
Gu Yaoniang stole a glance at the aloof and imposing emperor. The man remained silent, and the hall was utterly still.
Gu Yaoniang couldn't help but feel a little flustered. Gu Pingsheng's response was correct, and what he said was all true, but he made a mistake in dealing with a sage.
In that case, if the Sage were unaware that Gu Pingsheng was now a registered resident of Shuojing, and yet summoned him to inquire, wouldn't that be a loss of face for the Sage?
She clenched her fists involuntarily.
Gu Pingsheng remained silent, his head still on the ground. His expression was calm, but Gu Yaoniang felt much relieved, experiencing a sense of pride that her own child had grown up.
The sage remained silent for a long time, but then footsteps echoed in the hall.
A familiar voice rang in my ears: "Dad! See? I told you they wouldn't openly disobey orders and cheat!"
Princess Ruining emerged from behind the screen.
Gu Yaoniang finally understood what had happened today.
It seems someone, or perhaps someone, spoke to the Emperor about Gu Pingsheng's irregular participation in the provincial examination in Shuojing, despite his origin in Qingzhou. Princess Ruining was aware of this and likely pleaded for Gu Pingsheng out of consideration for Gu Yaoniang.
Today, it's probably just to summon them to the palace and give them a chance to explain. It seems the Emperor never really considered this a big deal.
No wonder I saw them in Yong'an Hall.
No wonder the sage only exerted pressure but never punished anyone.
She felt the pressure on her shoulders suddenly ease, and her whole body instantly felt relaxed.
Faced with his beloved daughter, the sage could only smile helplessly: "Alright, get up, all of you."
Gu Yaoniang and Gu Pingsheng then stood up.
Princess Ruining stood beside the Emperor and winked at Gu Yaoniang.
Feeling at ease, Gu Yaoniang also subtly narrowed her eyes at her.
The emperor looked at Gu Pingsheng and said, "I have made things difficult for the Gu family before. Do you have any complaints?"
Gu Yaoniang broke out in another sweat. Gu Pingsheng, however, looked completely bewildered: "What the Gu family has done is all within the Gu family's duty. The Sage rules the world and has already shown favor to the Gu family, so why should we complain?"
The sage suddenly seemed to lose interest: "You're quite tactful."
"Oh, Dad! Don't forget what happened today!"
Princess Ruining tugged at the hem of the Emperor's dragon robe and said coquettishly.
Gu Yaoniang was taken aback—what else could it be?
The emperor feigned displeasure and gave Princess Ruining a disapproving look.
"I've heard that you and the second son of the Lu family are now engaged?"
When Gu Yaoniang realized that the question was directed at her, she flicked her sleeve and was about to kneel down again, but the Emperor quickly interrupted her: "Alright, alright, no more formalities."
Gu Yaoniang could only stand there awkwardly, curtsying and nodding in reply, "Yes. It will be in the spring of next year."
"Have we exchanged the formalities yet?"
The sage asked again.
Gu Yaoniang was taken aback. Lu Zhaoan was now living separately from his mother, Lin. Lin was sometimes clear-headed and sometimes confused, so Lu Zhaoan had to decide on these rules himself and discuss them with the Gu family.
She vaguely remembered that they had only sent a matchmaker to the Gu family to set a wedding date and completed the betrothal ceremony. As for formally announcing the wedding date and exchanging gifts, they hadn't reached that stage yet.
Gu Yaoniang replied in this way.
The sage glanced at Princess Ruining and saw that she was also looking at him.
The sage could only shake his head helplessly, but said nothing. He simply waved his hand, dismissing Gu Yaoniang and Gu Pingsheng.
Gu Yaoniang and Gu Pingsheng got into the Zhaocai car, and only then did Gu Pingsheng reveal his true colors.
He let out a soft breath and said to Gu Yaoniang, "Sister, you scared me to death."
He extended his palm towards Gu Yaoniang. Only then did Gu Yaoniang notice that her palm, hidden beneath the wide sleeves of her robe, now bore some nail marks. And her once fair palm was now covered in sweat.
Gu Yaoniang laughed.
She said so. I thought this younger brother was really something special, but it turns out he is just nervous...
Upon returning home, before the two could even tell their parents about what had happened that day, people from the palace arrived again.
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