Chapter 356 Mistaken Identity
Today, the weather is sunny.
The provincial examination also begins today. Gu Xiuwen and Meng Chengzhang are also participating. Before the provincial examination, they had already participated in the county and prefectural examinations and become students. Now they are participating in the provincial examination. If they perform well in this exam, they are very likely to become scholars and then become scholars with official titles.
Aside from them, Meng Chengxing, at Meng Jinyu's urging, also participated in this imperial examination.
Meng Jinyao, as the older sister, became nervous. Of course, she was only nervous for her second brother, Meng Chengzhang. As for Meng Chengxing, whether he could pass the imperial examination or not was none of her concern.
Zhang was also nervous about her youngest son's exam. Last year, her eldest son passed the provincial examination, but because of his low ranking, he had little hope of passing this year's spring examination and did not participate. Seeing that Chen's son passed the imperial examination this year, she was envious. Now that her youngest son was participating in the provincial examination, she hoped that he would pass the county-level examination, so that both of her sons would have academic titles and bring her honor.
In addition, their eldest son's family is the weakest of the three branches of the Marquis's family because his eldest son is incompetent. After their mother-in-law passes away and the family is divided, the eldest son's family will not be able to rely on her husband, so they will have to rely on their two sons. If Xuan Yi's two older brothers are successful, their future marriages will be much easier.
Zhang had never been this nervous when her eldest son took the provincial examination, but now that her youngest son was taking it, she was extremely nervous. Ultimately, it was because she had little confidence in her youngest son's knowledge.
But after the initial tension subsided, Zhang belatedly realized that while she had been strict with her eldest son, she seemed to have neglected to discipline her younger son and had even spoiled him excessively. This resulted in her eldest son becoming self-disciplined, while her younger son was lazy and only knew how to play. Although he had become more diligent in his studies at Lingshan Academy, she didn't know if he could catch up on his knowledge in the past year.
Zhang sighed deeply. Of her three children, she had only managed to raise her eldest son well. She hadn't raised her younger son and daughter well. Her daughter was willful and ended up like this. Her younger son was only able to get into Lingshan Academy because his mother suggested it and his brother-in-law helped him pull some strings. Only then was he able to be transformed.
Her sigh drew the attention of both Meng Jinyao and Madam Chen.
Chen asked, "Sister-in-law, why are you sighing?"
Zhang didn't answer the question, but instead changed the subject: "It's nothing. Isn't your second sister-in-law looking for a good girl for Xiu Hong? Is there anyone you'd like to choose from?"
It would have been better if this matter hadn't been brought up, but once it was, Chen felt depressed and said helplessly, "I did mention a few nice girls to him, thinking about which one he preferred. I even went to talk to the girls' parents and arranged for him to meet them. But I didn't expect him to tell me there was no rush and to wait a little longer. Before he passed the imperial examination, he said he had no interest in marriage and only wanted to study, and I agreed with him. Now that he has passed the examination, what else does he want to wait for?"
Meng Jinyao asked curiously, "Second sister-in-law, could it be that Xiu Hong has someone he likes?"
Zhang also said, "Second sister-in-law, perhaps Xiu Hong really does have someone he likes, just as Third sister-in-law said."
Without hesitation, Madam Chen said, "He usually only studies the classics and doesn't pay attention to anything outside the window. I haven't seen him get close to any girl. It's impossible that he has someone he likes. Besides, if he did have someone he likes, he should have told me and his father so that we, as his parents, could propose marriage to him. But he hasn't mentioned it at all."
Meng Jinyao seemed to understand something and said, "Second sister-in-law, don't be anxious. I think Xiu Hong is an ambitious person. Perhaps he is not interested in marriage for the time being because he has not yet been granted an official position. He will only have the idea of getting married after he has obtained an official position and truly embarked on his career."
Zhang agreed, saying, "Third sister-in-law is right. Xiu Hong has always been a man of his own mind. Second sister-in-law, let's wait and see."
Madam Chen sighed softly, "There is no other way."
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Meanwhile, Du Szeze had an unpleasant encounter with his cousin a few days ago. He went back and was depressed for a few days. After reflecting on his actions, he finally decided to go and see what kind of person the Marquis Gu, whom his cousin liked, was, and whether he was worth his cousin's foolishness in entrusting her life to.
Du Sze arrived at the appointed time, waiting outside the Dali Temple government office, hoping to run into Gu Jingxi.
It's time to end duty, and officials are coming out of the Dali Temple.
A moment later, a young man dressed as a constable, not yet twenty years old, ran back to the Dali Temple. Just as he reached the entrance, he called out, "Lord Minister of the Court!"
Du Sze was slightly taken aback. Wasn't Gu Jingxi the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review?
He looked up towards the entrance of the Dali Temple and saw two officials standing there. The one on the left looked ordinary and appeared to be in his fifties. His age didn't match up, so he was clearly not Gu Jingxi.
The other man, with a dignified and refined appearance and a beard, looked to be in his thirties. He was currently reprimanding a constable with a stern face, seemingly scolding him for being reckless.
Upon seeing this, Du Sze frowned. He had heard that Gu Jingxi was thirty years old this year. Why did he look so old?
If he stands next to his cousin, they don't look like a couple at all, but more like a father and daughter. What does his cousin see in Gu Jingxi?
Could it be because Master Meng didn't give his cousin fatherly love, and his cousin lacked fatherly love since childhood? She felt cared for by Gu Jingxi and was moved, so she thought it was romantic love?
Just as Du Sze was lost in thought, he saw an even younger man appear behind the two officials. The man looked to be in his twenties, exceptionally handsome, and had an extraordinary air about him. The other two officials and the constables bowed to the young man.
Du Sze looked at the man and heard the two officials call him "Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices." He was slightly taken aback. Had he mistaken him for someone else? Was this Gu Jingxi?
Soon, Du Sze noticed the difference in the official robes. The young man was wearing the robe of a third-rank official, while the man in his thirties was wearing the robe of a fifth-rank official. He had been prejudiced by the title "Minister of the Court of Judicial Review" and had focused on the man's face, ignoring everything else.
After speaking with the constable and parting ways with his two colleagues, Gu Jingxi descended the steps. Suddenly, he saw a young man, not yet of age, walking towards him. He stopped, looked the young man up and down, met his gaze, and after a moment's thought, guessed the man's identity: "Are you the young master of the Du family, my wife's cousin?"
Du Sze looked surprised: "Lord Gu has seen me before?"
Gu Jingxi said calmly, "I've never seen it before, I'm just guessing."
Du Sze was taken aback, but he had never met Gu Jingxi before, and Gu Jingxi could not possibly have met him. So he asked, "Since Lord Gu has never met me, how did you guess my identity with just one glance?"
Gu Jingxi smiled faintly: "Young Master Du, since I have been able to become the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, I do have this much insight. Is there anything you want to say to me?"
Upon hearing this, Du Sze's heart skipped a beat. He hadn't said anything yet, so how did the other party know what he wanted to do?
Gu Jingxi added, "This isn't the place to talk. Let's find a teahouse to sit down and have a proper chat."
Du Sze stammered an "okay" and followed Gu Jingxi's steps. He was a little confused. How could he be led by the nose by Gu Jingxi after just a few words?
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