Chapter 22 The one targeted by his good brother is not his sweetheart

Pei Jiandian selected the top scholar.

He was the first Jinshi to pass the imperial examinations and become a top three scholar since the founding of the Dajing Dynasty.

He did better than in his previous life, and even His Majesty personally praised him as a talented person.

During this period, wherever he went, he was greeted with applause and praise. Many people also proposed marriage to him, and his second aunt Liao brought her niece from her mother's side to him the day before yesterday.

Naturally, he rejected it coldly.

After being reborn, Pei Jian became colder and more lonely, unwilling to waste any thought on people and things that had nothing to do with him.

But even so, there were still many banquets that he could not refuse. It was half a month later when he saw Gu Ci again.

Wen Qingheng hosted a banquet today and invited three other students from the same academy of the Imperial College.

This time, Wen Qingheng ranked 17th in the second class of the palace examination, and Qin Lang also passed the imperial examination at the last place. After the court examination, they only had to wait for the appointment of officials, so everyone was relatively relaxed during this period.

Only the late arrival of the concubine was considered.

As soon as they met, Qin Lang shouted at Gu Ci to drink three cups of wine, "Why are you busier than us? Tell me the truth, are you doing something shameful behind our backs?"

“Nonsense!”

Gu Ci laughed and cursed. He was a generous and straightforward person, and he didn't hesitate to refuse. He really punished himself with three cups of wine, and then smiled and said, "Don't ruin my reputation. I'm preparing to give her... a surprise recently."

Taking advantage of Wen Qingheng's presence, he implicitly referred to Nianxi as "she". Nian'er told him to stop provoking her brother. When his beloved spoke, he obeyed.

"I heard that in Jinling, the Dragon Boat Festival is particularly lively. There are painted boats with drums, flying dragons and eagle heads, oars and drums, and flags fluttering. She goes to watch it every year. I thought since she likes it, I personally won the first place and gave it to her.

Your Majesty, didn’t you specially build ten racing boats in Yangzhou this year to prepare for the dragon boat race on the Luo River? These past few days, I have been learning how to row a dragon boat and steer it.”

Qin Lang was shocked and asked incredulously, "You're going to row a dragon boat?"

Gu Ci raised his eyebrows, "How about it? I have even booked a room along the Luo River in advance, so she can clearly see me steering the ship."

Wen Qingheng poured cold water on him, "What if we lose?"

Gu Ci waved his hand nonchalantly, "It doesn't matter if I lose, what matters is the thought."

There is one more little thought that I didn't mention, and that is that in the dragon boat race, the helmsmen all have long hair and tattoos. Nianxi already has him, so how can she look at another naked man!

Qin Lang slowly raised his thumb, "You are the best, Master Gu. I am really impressed. You are so disgusting, but you are amazing! If I were your little cousin, I would be so moved that I would cry and shout that I want to marry you on the spot."

"What nonsense are you talking about?" Wen Qingheng was not happy to hear this.

Pei Jian glanced at Qin Lang.

The tone of his reprimand was not good either, "I don't need her to be moved, I just want her to be happy."

This is not moral kidnapping. The man does something touching to make the woman compromise. He doesn't want to put pressure on Nianxi, he just wants to accompany her to do what she likes.

Qin Lang knew that he had said the wrong thing, and Pei Jian's look made his heart flutter, so he could only say nonsense, "Okay, okay, you are a love saint. But you are really willing to take it easy."

Gu Ci's family background was so high that few people in the capital could be more noble than him, except for the royal family. In the past, whether it was dragon boat racing, horse racing, or playing football, these people only came to the event to win the prize money and add some extra spice.

It is rare to be able to abandon one's status and compete with a group of boatmen.

"Not bad." Gu Ci didn't care about it.

It's not a performance for others. He just wants to leave Nianxi with good memories, so of course he has to do his best.

Although Wen Qingheng was still angry about Gu Ci's initial concealment, he was also very satisfied with his intentions. However, he wanted to act like an older brother and did not show it on his face.

Pei Jian has remained silent since the topic of dragon boat racing came up.

Qin Lang felt a little embarrassed for a moment. He looked at the faces of the people around him and said a few words of support, unable to do so.

Gu Ci just wanted to make Nian Xi happy, and didn't care about the reactions of these three people. Seeing that Pei Jian hadn't said a word, he suddenly thought of something, "The room I booked has a good location, you can ask Miss Eryuan to come with you."

He always felt that Pei Jian pushed himself too hard, had a cold personality, lacked a bit of humanity, and seemed to care about nothing except the established goals.

If they had not grown up together, if Pei Jian had not encountered misfortune in his childhood and was not taken care of by his mother, Gu Ci felt that his relationship with Pei Jian would at most be that of classmates, and would never be like it is now.

This is certainly not Pei Jian's fault.

Gu Ci is a soft-hearted person. When he thinks about Pei Jian who lost his parents at a young age and was oppressed and humiliated by his second uncle's family, he can understand Pei Jian's inhumanity.

Nianxi has a gentle personality and is easy to get along with. He thinks it is easier for women to open up to each other when chatting, and prescribing the right medicine may really help his good brothers to have a happy life, so he came up with this suggestion.

But Pei Jian refused without even thinking, "No need."

Pei Jian had actually long forgotten about the Dragon Boat Race during the Dragon Boat Festival. But thanks to Gu Ci's nagging for half a day, he remembered this little thing after a long time.

Nianxi loved the excitement of dragon boat races and attended them every year when she was in Jinling. When she learned that His Majesty was building a boat in Yangzhou and was going to hold a dragon boat race in Beijing, she was extremely excited.

Pei Jian was very puzzled. "Don't you watch it every year? Compared to the south, the capital is just a small fight. What's the point of watching it?"

Accustomed to the grand spectacles, according to Pei Jian's logic, he should not have any high expectations for the dragon boat race in the capital.

Nian Xi said, "Of course it is worth seeing, and it is of great significance! This is what I like, and I want you to be by my side and watch what I like with me."

Pei Jian has been used to living alone since he was a child, and he cannot understand the meaning of "company".

I like it.

Whether appreciating a painting, tasting a delicious dish, or reading a book...she hopes he will accompany her.

Even though it is something that can be done by one person, she would rather wait until he has time to finish it with her.

As for wasting time, she said, "This is also the meaning of companionship."

But in the end, he was unable to "accompany" her in that dragon boat race.

At that time, he had just entered the officialdom and was serving as an editor in the Hanlin Academy. A celebratory document drafted by him and several colleagues contained mistakes. He was the youngest among them, so his superior sent someone to tell him to return to the Hanlin Academy immediately to correct the mistakes.

He is in a dilemma.

Nianxi had been looking forward to this dragon boat race for a long time, and he was afraid that she was not sensible and would waste time.

"Go ahead and get busy."

Pei Jian couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief, pretending not to notice the disappointment and forced smile in Nian Xi's eyes.

In fact, the mistake was not in his draft, so he didn't have to go. But in his heart, official duties were more important than Nianxi.

He was not as attentive as Gu Ci, and was even less considerate and thoughtful in taking care of Nian Xi. He did not book a private room in advance, and just left Nian Xi behind in the crowded crowd.

Pei Jian took a deep breath and suppressed the sadness that was welling up in his heart.

With Gu Ci in this life, Nian Xi no longer has to be disappointed on the Dragon Boat Festival. He thought that she would definitely have an unforgettable experience.

As for the regret of Nian Xi in the previous life, it can never be made up.

Pei Jian frowned. He had said so much to Nian Xi that day in Jiaomen Garden, but it seemed that Nian Xi and Gu Ci had become closer.

Is she so deeply in love with Gu Ci?

Wen Qingheng was very interested in Gu Ci's topic and asked, "Who is the earring girl?"

Gu Ci glanced at Pei Jian and saw that he had no intention of objecting, so he said, "Sweetheart."

Qin Lang was shocked, feeling that he had discovered a shocking secret, and his eyes swept back and forth between Gu Ci and Pei Jian.

Wen Qingheng was completely unaware.

He had always admired Pei Jian's talent, and upon hearing this he smiled and asked, "Which girl is so lucky?"

Pei Jian's profile was stern. He lowered his head to take a sip of tea, then lowered his eyes to hide the expression in his eyes. "You don't need to know."

Wen Qingheng was embarrassed on the spot and his face turned red.

Qin Lang was busy with his brain storming and didn't care about the lively atmosphere.

Gu Ci stepped in to smooth things over, "Shi Zhang is just like that. Even I don't know who the earring girl is, and she's hiding it very well~"

Wen Qingheng walked down the stairs and said hurriedly, "I overstepped my authority."

Qin Lang's eyes darted around, and when he turned his head, his eyes met Pei Jian's. He shuddered as he was stared at by the latter's dark eyes.

He quickly sat up straight, and when he heard Gu Ci call them "Miss with earrings", he looked at Wen Qingheng first.

Heng, I hope you know the truth and don’t be discouraged.

Looking back at Gu Ci——

I hope you know the truth and don't let your guard down.

If the two of them had seen Pei Jian's unclear look that day, they would have known who the so-called girl with earrings was!

But he didn't want to get involved, after all, the person being targeted by his good brother wasn't his sweetheart or sister.

Qin Lang seemed to be the wise man at this table and remained silent.