Ji Yu got up very early. Master Lin told him that the caravan had been arranged and would set off at 2 pm. It was unknown whether they would make it in time this time. They would probably have to suffer a bit, but they would arrive in seven or eight days.
Ji Yu hurriedly thanked the teacher, and then took Wang Shanchuan to buy things.
Ji Yu handed Wang Shanchuan a sign and told him to go to the gambling house and take out the winnings, but not to reveal his identity. Ji Yu waited at the door.
He came out in less than half an hour. Ji Yu took the purse from his hand, took out the silver bills and counted them carefully.
"There are actually two thousand taels." Ji Yu put the money away and handed a hundred taels to Wang Shanchuan. "This is your hard-earned money."
"I can't accept it. Miss Gu has already paid me my wages." Wang Shanchuan pushed it away and refused to take it.
Ji Yu had no choice but to force it on him, "This is the reward for you going in to get the money for me just now. You didn't embezzle the money, so this reward is what you deserve."
Ji Yu calculated that he still had 2,100 taels on him.
The return fare is 100 taels, and I can buy some things to take back.
Ji Yu went to the largest jewelry store in Beijing.
It was the first time for the waiter to see a man shopping in a jewelry store. But he still greeted him warmly, "What would you like to buy, sir?"
"Do you have a bracelet?" Ji Yu asked.
"Yes, I'll take you to see it." The waiter said and took Ji Yu to the other side.
Taking out the bracelets from the store, Ji Yu picked and looked at them again. Wasn't there a purple one like the one he gave to Gu Niannian in his previous life?
Ji Yu asked, "Do you have any purple jade?"
After hearing this, the waiter hurried to the back to look for it and finally found a few.
Ji Yu fell in love with a purple one at first sight, and also picked up a red agate bracelet.
"How much do these two bracelets cost in total?" Ji Yu asked.
"430 taels, I'll give you a discount and make it 400 taels." The waiter's eyes sparkled when he saw Ji Yu's generosity.
After Ji Yu paid the money, he took the bracelet and carefully put it in his arms.
He also took Wang Shanchuan with him and bought some dry food to eat on the way.
At 2 o'clock in the afternoon, the two men waited for the escort agency at the gate of the capital city on time and began to rush back to Lin'an Prefecture.
Ji Yu calculated the time. The good news about the exam results would arrive in Lin'an City in about five days, and he should arrive in Lin'an City about one day later than the results.
At this time in Lin'an City, the Gu family was in deathly silence.
Yesterday was the day when the results of the imperial examination were released in Beijing, but an unexpected guest came to the Gu family. The prefect came with the order from his immediate superior to break off the engagement with the Gu family.
Zhao Xiuyong specially canceled the engagement before the results came out, because he was afraid that others would say that he broke the promise after he passed the exam.
Before the prefect left yesterday, he said he would come back today. So today, everyone in Gu's house was in a gloomy mood.
After the prefect arrived at the Gu family, he sat in a high position and said disdainfully, "You are a merchant family, so you shouldn't marry a scholar. I have explained to you that you should sign the agreement to cancel the engagement and take back the compensation. From now on, you can marry separately and have nothing to do with each other. How great!"
Father and Mother Gu sat at the table, not saying a word.
They knew that they could not fight against all this and could only accept it. After all, officials should not fight against the people.
In the end, Gu's father and mother signed the document, proving that both parties had voluntarily broken off the engagement and there was no question of betrayal.
"Since your daughter has broken off the engagement, why don't you marry me as my concubine? I'm not too old and my position is okay, so you won't suffer any loss." The prefect was in his 40s, with a face full of flesh. He stroked his beard and said in a vulgar way.
The prefect had long been eyeing the Gu family's wealth. He also coveted Gu Qingqing's beauty, so he should not seize this opportunity.
"I will never marry you. Since you are taking money to do things for others, leave my house as soon as you are done!" Gu Qingqing came out from behind and said angrily.
"Don't be rude!" Gu's father shouted angrily.
Turning around, he smiled and said, "My daughter is too naughty and unruly. She is really not a good match. I hope the prefect will reconsider it."
"Just wait for me. There will be a time when you will have to beg me for help." After saying this, the prefect walked away quickly with his big belly.
But the prefect took away the agreement between the two parties and immediately publicized it in Lin'an City.
It was said everywhere that Gu Qingqing was divorced because she did not observe the virtues of a woman. She was divorced and abandoned, so she was no longer a good person.
On the fourth day after the examination results were announced, the streets and alleys of Lin'an City were filled with unbearable rumors.
On the fifth day after the results of the examination were released, the results of the examination were also delivered to Lin'an Prefecture at full speed. The whole city of Lin'an was suddenly filled with joy.
All the students were very proud. No one in Lin'an City had passed the exam for four consecutive years. This year, the top student in Lin'an City was ranked first! There were also two top three students.
There was an endless stream of people going to the Lu Mansion to congratulate, from local officials to local wealthy businessmen.
Everyone came to the Lu Mansion with one purpose, to congratulate Ji Shuyao. Today was the first time that there were so many people in the Lu Mansion.
In the yard, several women were chatting.
The prefect's wife complimented him with a smile, "This little prodigy Ji is indeed a prodigy! He is amazing! He got the top spot at the age of fifteen."
Another lady also agreed, "Who says it's not true! He took the imperial examination at the age of 15, and the worst candidate in the palace examination would be first class."
Today's situation has earned Ji Shuyao enough face. A few days ago, her mother-in-law was secretly talking about her, saying that she had been married for half a year but had not laid an egg.
Ji Shuyao also smiled and replied, "Although my brother is very talented, he is also very hardworking. In order to prepare for the exam, he didn't come back many times in half a year."
The other ladies' eyes lit up when they heard this, and they quickly asked, "I wonder if Master Ji has any engagement?"
The prefect's wife also said, "My daughter is 14 years old. She is good-looking and well-behaved. I have always been worried that she can't find a good family."
When Ji Shuyao heard this, she roughly understood what the ladies meant, and quickly said, "My brother is more opinionated, and I can't make the decision on his affairs."
"What is there that you can't decide? An elder sister is like a mother. As long as you arrange a marriage for him, can he say no?" A group of ladies joked.
Ji Shuyao just smiled and agreed with a few others, not daring to talk any further.
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