Chapter 347
"What's so great about him! I heard there's something fishy about that top scholar's results!"
"Something fishy? What kind of fishy thing?"
"They cheated! Otherwise, how could someone from a small town possibly outperform so many others?"
"I've also been hearing rumors lately that this Duan Jieyuan bribed the examiners beforehand to leak the exam questions to him! They also say that if nothing unexpected happens, Duan Jieyuan's results in the spring examination will be quite good!"
"Oh! He's come to Luoyang and still hasn't restrained himself? So that's how he got his title of Jieyuan?"
Hearing their words, Yunxi unconsciously clenched her hands, which were hidden in her sleeves.
Duan Huaichuan was naturally gifted, and Yunxi had witnessed his diligent studies. How could he possibly cheat?!
Moreover, this rumor is really malicious, claiming that Duan Huaichuan got the questions in advance. If Duan Huaichuan really gets good grades, wouldn't that just confirm the rumor?
Just as Yunxi was about to speak, her wrist was grabbed.
Through the white veil, she saw the warning in Zheng's eyes.
"lady......"
"Do not act rashly."
The situation is still unclear, and their Marquis's residence cannot directly express its opinion.
The gossiping people had already gone far away, so Yunxi had no choice but to swallow the words that were about to come out.
After everyone returned to the Marquis's residence, Yunxi quickly changed her clothes and went out through the side gate to see Doukou.
“Something is very wrong with this. Rumors started circulating yesterday afternoon and have now spread throughout the streets and alleys. Everyone knows about it. There must be someone pushing this behind the scenes.”
Yunxi pursed her lips.
Things turned out exactly as she had predicted.
Who could be behind that?
Could it be the crown prince?
Zheng said that Duan Huaichuan was difficult to win over. She also heard Li Ze say that the Crown Prince was only virtuous on the surface, and that he might be impatient and thinking of simply ruining Duan Huaichuan.
Such a possibility cannot be ruled out, but Yunxi always felt that it was not enough.
Seeing Yunxi deep in thought, Doukou looked around and moved closer to Yunxi: "Miss, do you still have any silver?"
Yunxi snapped out of her daze: "How many do you want?"
Doukou pursed her lips, then said embarrassedly, "Could you give me two hundred taels?"
Before Yunxi could ask, Doukou continued, "I'm using my savings to make connections everywhere, so that if any beggars or anything like that hears any rumors, they can come to me and let me know. I think that's pretty good, so I was thinking about whether I could develop hairpins as well."
Upon hearing this, Yunxi finally understood.
No wonder Doukou even knew when the wind started.
"You are very smart."
Yunxi was never stingy with clever people. When she returned home that day, she had Jixiang take three hundred taels of silver to her.
"The young lady said that since you are doing this for her, there is no reason for you to pay out of your own pocket. So please keep this extra hundred taels safe as compensation. If you need money in the future, just ask."
Doukou quickly accepted the gift with both hands: "Thank you, Miss! I will definitely take care of this matter!"
Jixiang nodded, then lowered his voice and said, "Also, you must be careful when dealing with those shady characters. The young lady said to hire some thugs to follow you around at all times. You are the young lady's only eyes and ears outside, so you absolutely cannot get into trouble."
Hearing this, Doukou felt a warm current flow through her heart: "I understand."
Ji Xiang could not linger; after speaking, he turned and hurriedly left.
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