Chapter 275: The First Grand Secretary (37)
The纨绔 (wan ku) was unable to stop him, and Liu Qi forced his mouth open and fed him the medicine. Instantly, Liu Qi felt pain all over his body, as if his bones were about to break. Liu Qi then fed him an antidote. "There are seven doses of this antidote in total. You need to take it once every seven days. Only by taking all seven doses can you save your life."
The纨绔 (playboy): "!!!"
Are these all demons?
What's your name?
The playboy: "..."
So he's in such a terrible state, and he still hasn't said his name? He usually just says his uncle is Lin Weiquan, and that's enough to make him feel invincible in the whole capital. Who would have thought that this time he took a fancy to a beauty and almost lost his life? Why is his life so miserable?
"My name is Lin Gou."
"Lin Gou? What grudge do your parents have against you to give you such a lousy name?"
Lin Gou, "Gou as in 'gouchie' (苟且), not Gou as in 'pig' or 'dog' (猪狗)."
Wen Yan: "..."
The word "苟" in "苟且" (meaning "to live a life of ignominy") doesn't seem to be much better than "狗" in "猪狗" (meaning "pig" or "dog"). "Little dog! I won't let you pay 100,000 taels all at once. I still need to stay in the capital for a while. Here's what I'll do: I'll give you seven days."
Lin Gou: Seven days isn't that many days!
But now that he was about to die, Lin Gou had no right to negotiate, so he was forced to agree. Wen Wan told Liu Qi to release him, and Lin Gou ran away as fast as he could, looking extremely disheveled.
Guizhi, standing to the side, was completely stunned.
"Miss... are you alright?"
Wen Wan: "I'm fine. You should ask that person if they're alright."
Gui Zhi: "..."
Looking at Liu Qi to the side, Gui Zhi began to feel guilty. She had always thought that Liu Qi was an ordinary guard, so she would sometimes ask Liu Qi for help and even hand over things that she couldn't carry to Liu Qi. After all, Liu Qi had a kind and approachable face. Who would have thought that what he did just now would scare Gui Zhi so much? This was no ordinary guard; he must be a master.
I wonder if this expert holds a grudge or if he will retaliate against her.
Wen Wan said with a smile, "Liu Qi was just trying to scare him. That poison should be fake, right, Liu Qi?"
Liu Qi nodded. "Yes, I don't have such a vicious poison. It was just an ordinary pill that won't kill anyone. Who knew that person was so timid and actually believed it?"
Guizhi nodded. "I see."
"It's good that he believed it. He got a sum of money for free. This is what you call getting what you deserve. Since he called Lin Weiquan 'uncle,' then he should pay off Lin Weiquan's debt." She held a grudge. She hadn't forgotten the time when Lin Weiquan sent people to kidnap her.
...
I'm back home.
Shen Yuechu stood there blankly, clutching a handkerchief and grinning foolishly, unaware of Wen Wan's approach.
He gave him a hard shove. "Brother, are you crazy? Why are you laughing all by yourself? This handkerchief looks like it belongs to a girl. Did you meet your dream girl?"
Shen Yuechu smiled. "Of course, I saw her, and I even helped her get rid of the bad guys. We also went to many places. Before I left, she gave me this. Sister, do you think she has feelings for me too?"
"Since she gave you such a personal item, it must have some meaning. What's the girl's name? Where does she live? Which family does she belong to?"
Shen Yuechu was stunned.
Wen Wan asked in surprise, "You didn't ask, did you?"
Shen Yuechu: "I forgot. I was just too happy, so happy that I was dizzy and didn't remember."
"Then how will you find her after that? This capital city is so big, and you've been searching for so long before you managed to run into her by chance. Who knows what the next time will be?"
Shen Yuechu suddenly felt unhappy. "What should I do? I forgot, I should have asked her name."
Wen Yan: "..."
She never expected that her brother was actually not very bright and was rather dull-witted.
No wonder he squandered his family fortune, and no wonder he was tricked into becoming a sucker by those scoundrels.
When Wen Wan asked the system, the system didn't know either. After all, this person wasn't even in the story, and they didn't even know her name. Even the system couldn't find out.
"How could I be so stupid? I was so happy that I forgot the important thing. What if I don't meet her again? I've made up my mind. I will marry no one but her in this life. My heart can't hold anyone else. If I can't marry her, I'd rather grow old alone and never marry again."
Wen Yan: "..."
Shen Yuechu left immediately, saying, "I have to go find someone. I believe we are destined to be together."
Wen Wan remained silent.
Guizhi: "Young Master is childish; he'll give up if he can't find it."
"It's better to find someone, because it wouldn't be good if you got heartbroken."
Who is heartbroken?
"Ah Sui? Have you finished reading?" Wen Wan saw Gu Sui coming over and ran over to him, then grabbed Gu Sui's hand and shook it. "Are you tired? I bought a lot of delicious food. I went to Zhuangyuanlou to buy it. Everyone says it's good for the brain, and that all the top scholars in the past ate it. Eating it will help you become the top scholar."
Gu Sui: "..."
He felt he might not need it.
Wen Wan asked Gui Zhi to bring it out. When Gu Sui opened it, he found that it was just a stew of various expensive ingredients, which had nothing to do with improving intelligence. However, seeing Wen Wan staring at him eagerly, Gu Sui still picked it up.
"While it's hot."
Wen Wan watched Gu Sui finish his drink and asked, "Was it good? Did you feel like your brain suddenly became sharper?"
Gu Sui: "..."
The system couldn't help but burst into laughter. [Host, are you stupid? This is just Buddha Jumps Over the Wall! How does it have anything to do with improving IQ? Don't you know this is superstition? It's just a gimmick by Zhuangyuanlou.]
"I know, but I just want peace of mind. You have no lover, you're a lonely system, you wouldn't understand what we people are thinking."
system:【……】
Why are you attacking it?
...
The imperial examination for the top scholar was a major event for all scholars in the country. It was much more difficult than the modern college entrance examination, since there was only one top scholar.
Wen Wan was even more anxious than Gu Sui. Although she knew that Gu Sui could succeed, she was still anxious. After all, the original plot couldn't be completely trusted. Lin Weiquan hadn't anticipated this, and now the plot had changed a lot. So, Wen Wan couldn't even be 100% sure whether it would succeed.
Burning incense and praying to Buddha every day has become feudal superstition. I've even visited temples that are said to be efficacious.
Gu Sui, on the other hand, seemed quite nonchalant. He did read and study every day, but he still made time to accompany Wen Wan to play, which scared Wen Wan so much that she lost her mood to go shopping and stayed at home with Gu Sui.
The time for the palace examination arrived quickly.
Unable to enter the palace, Wen Wan could only wait at home, which nearly gave her a heart attack. She finally understood the feelings of modern parents who send their children to take the college entrance examination; she felt a deep sense of empathy for them.
"Guizhi, give me some water."
Guizhi took out some water. "Miss, don't worry, the young master will definitely be fine. He's so learned."
"You're right, but I just can't control myself."
The ordeal lasted a long time. Wen Wan didn't know how much water she drank or how much food she ate, and she ended up going to the outhouse countless times.
Even after sending people to inquire, they couldn't find out anything.
Wen Wan kept talking to the system, and the system got so fed up that it shut down on its own to ensure its safety.
Fortunately, the palace examination only lasted one day, and the results came out in a timely manner. The guards that Wen Wan had sent to gather information quickly delivered the news.
He truly deserves the title of top scholar.
Moreover, the top three were all kept in the palace.
That's not important. This is the Emperor's boundless grace. What's important is that she passed the exam, just like in the original story. Her son, Asui, is indeed a top scholar and deserves to be the future Grand Secretary.
Upon hearing the news, Shen Yuechu immediately wanted to throw a grand banquet to celebrate. "I have to write to my parents. This is such great news! No one in our Shen family has ever been a top scholar. This is truly bringing honor to our ancestors."
After all, a brother-in-law is family, so it's certainly a source of pride for the family.
Besides, he will be the elder brother of the top scholar in the future, which is an absolutely wonderful thing!
Wen Wan agreed, so Shen Yuechu temporarily got over her heartbreak and quickly made arrangements to have a meal in the capital and another meal when she went home.
Everyone got busy, and Wen Wan joined in, but she was happy; it was an experience she had never had before.
The procession through the streets on horseback took place the following day.
People from all over the capital came to see, and Wen Wan was also by the roadside. Shen Yuechu found the best spot and gave gifts to everyone he met, praising his brother-in-law as today's top scholar.
Then he received countless envious glances, mostly directed at Wen Wan. They never expected that the young top scholar already had a wife, and such a beautiful girl at that.
Soon, Wen Wan saw Gu Sui sitting on a tall horse, dressed in the robes of a top scholar, with a big red flower on his chest.
His gaze was fixed on her, pounding as if it were about to burst from his chest.
This is Gu Sui.
This is the person she likes, this is her person.
So outstanding, so beautiful, so graceful, she seems like a celestial being.
Clearly, the third-ranked scholar should have been the most handsome, but Gu Sui stole everyone's attention. Some of the bolder women even threw their purses at Gu Sui.
Wen Wan frowned.
Fortunately, Gu Sui didn't accept it. Wen Wan touched her body and was glad that she also had a purse. She quite liked this kind of antique-style thing, and wearing it on her body made her smell nice all day.
When Gu Sui walked over, the two looked at each other. Gu Sui smiled at her, and Wen Wan gestured to the purse in her hand, then threw it to Gu Sui, who caught it in his arms and fastened it to his waist.
All eyes were on the top scholar Gu Sui and Wen Wan, who had just received her purse. Shen Yuechu enthusiastically introduced them, "See? The top scholar is my brother-in-law, and this is my sister. They are very much in love."
Congratulations!
Wen Wan had Gui Zhi deliver a lot of snacks and small gifts to the people, and then headed towards Gu Sui's horse.
After everything was over, Gu Sui took Wen Wan home.
She wanted to change out of her clothes, but Wen Wan wouldn't allow it. Wen Wan was very disappointed. Why didn't this world have a cell phone or camera? If only this scene could be recorded.
So Wen Wan thought about it and then asked Gui Zhi to find the best painter in the whole capital to paint a portrait of Gu Sui, who had become the top scholar in the imperial examination.
Then he treasured the painting, saying, "This will be our family heirloom."
Gu Sui laughed loudly.
It was a genuinely happy laugh, even happier than when he became the top scholar in the imperial examination. Becoming the top scholar was within his expectations, and he was confident in himself. However, it also meant that he would face more dangers and storms in the future. So, while it was a joy, it was also complicated by uncertainty about what was about to happen. Yet, seeing his lover's happy face, he suddenly felt that it was really good to be the top scholar.
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