Chapter 195 Protecting One's Own (Second Update Combined)
"My darling, my darling!"
Little Jingkong, with his short legs, trotted into the kitchen.
Gu Jiao was chopping vegetables when she looked up at him and asked, "What's wrong?"
Little Jingkong, clutching his bald head, asked in confusion, "What does 'exam-taking' mean?"
"Hmm?" Gu Jiao paused in her chopping.
Xiao Jingkong said, "I just overheard that guest who came to our house talking to my brother-in-law. He asked my brother-in-law to take the exam with him. Does that mean he would take them with him? Like he did with Brother Feng Lin and Brother Lin Chengye?"
Gu Jiao's gaze turned cold. She put the cleaver on the cutting board, took off her apron, and walked out of the kitchen.
In the study, Xiao Liulang looked at the other person with a calm expression.
Wang Yun smiled and said, "Was I too abrupt in saying this? Young Master Xiao may not be able to accept it right away, but if I explain it to you like this, you will understand. I know a little about your situation. You come from a county town and became a live-in son-in-law in a farming family. Despite your family background, you were able to pass the provincial examination with top honors and enter the Imperial Academy. I believe you must have put in a lot of effort behind the scenes. I admire your abilities, and I believe you can pass the imperial examination with high honors."
There's usually a "but" at this point.
As expected, Wang Yun continued, "However, it may not be so easy for Young Master Xiao to become a Jinshi (successful candidate in the highest imperial examination). The provincial examination is presided over by examiners who only look at the exam papers, not the candidates themselves. After passing the provincial examination, His Majesty will personally conduct the palace examination, where all the candidates will sit in front of His Majesty and he will see everyone's faces."
He was talking about the face, but his gaze was fixed on Xiao Liulang's legs and feet.
The meaning is obvious: how could His Majesty possibly choose a cripple as a candidate for the imperial examination?
There are three lists of Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations). The first class consists of Zhuangyuan (top scholar), Bangyan (second-place scholar), and Tanhua (third-place scholar), who are granted the title of Jinshi Jidi (successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations). The second class consists of four or more people, who are also Jinshi on the main list and are granted the title of Jinshi Chushen (successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations). The rest are called the third class, who are on the supplementary list and are granted the title of Tong Jinshi Chushen (successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations).
The emphasis on the word "same" itself already indicates that it is different from the Jinshi degree.
Although this dynasty relaxed the application requirements for the imperial examinations compared to the previous dynasty, none of the successful candidates who passed the final palace examination had any physical or facial deformities.
Isn't that obvious enough?
Wang Yun smiled faintly: "It's just that you can't pass the imperial examination anyway, so why not grant my young master's wish?"
Xiao Liulang remained unmoved, so Wang Yun continued to persuade him: "Besides, you are still young, only eighteen this year. If you really want to take the exam, you can always take it again in three years. If you study for three more years, you will be better at it and have a better chance of winning in front of His Highness, right?"
Every sentence sounds like it's for Xiao Liulang's benefit, but a closer analysis reveals that every word shows contempt for him.
Gu Jiao's gaze was extremely cold.
Behind Gu Jiao, Feng Lin, the Forestry Department, and Du Ruohan also came over to listen in.
They had heard of people who took exams for others before, but this was the first time they had actually encountered one. This guy surnamed Wang was disgusting; he didn't even act like he was asking for a favor.
He has to belittle people to discourage them, as if only in this way can he show his own status and wisdom.
Wang Yun continued, "The compensation will definitely satisfy Young Master Xiao. You can think of it as my master using this money to buy three years of your time. In fact, the one who benefits is Young Master Xiao himself. Three more years of study, three more years of learning, and you can also earn a fortune that you can't spend in several lifetimes. Why not? More importantly, Young Master Xiao can also make a friend of my master. Even if you don't pass the imperial examination in the future, my master can still find you a good official position!"
What a boastful tone!
How dare someone say something like "seeking an official position"? What's their background?
Feng Lin's face scrunched up.
Although Du Ruohan wasn't particularly close to Xiao Liulang, she was still furious at his shamelessness.
Xiao Liulang said calmly, "You speak so confidently, how would I know if your young master is worth my acquaintance?"
Wang Yun smiled arrogantly: "My young master's surname is He, and the Duchess of Luo's surname is also He."
...
When Wang Yun came out of the house, Gu Jiao and her entourage were no longer in the main room.
Wang Yun cupped his hands in a respectful gesture to Xiao Liulang: "Young Master Xiao, you might as well consider this carefully. I will come back to ask you for your answer in three days."
Halfway through the game, half of the players left, leaving the old lady feeling frustrated.
Inside the kitchen, the mahjong partners who had run away, Du Ruohan, Lin Chengye, Gu Jiao, and Feng Lin, held a small meeting.
Several people sat on small stools.
Du Ruohan: "The Luo family is the only aristocratic family in the capital that can rival the Xuanping Marquis's family and the Zhuang family. There used to be the Liu family as well. If this candidate surnamed He is really from the Duchess's family, then he really has the right to say those big words."
With the power of the Duke's mansion, it would be incredibly easy for them to get Xiao Liulang a minor official position in the capital.
All things considered, he studied even faster than Xiao Liulang himself.
"Why do I feel like I've seen that guy surnamed Wang somewhere before?" Feng Lin said, resting his chin on his hand in deep thought. "I feel like I've seen him somewhere before."
Du Ruohan frowned: "Now that you mention it, I'm starting to think so too."
“Congratulations, Jinghong.” Lin Chengye said.
Du Ruohan didn't recognize the name, but Feng Lin immediately remembered it: "It's him!"
"Who?" Gu Jiao asked.
"The top scholar in the provincial examination from Pingcheng!" Feng Lin said.
This happened when Xiao Liulang took the imperial examination for the title of Xiucai. Xiao Liulang ranked first in both the county and prefectural examinations, but in the third examination, the provincial examination, his examination paper was switched with an eight-legged essay, and he missed the top spot.
Feng Lin paid special attention to the top scorer in that provincial examination, whose name was He Jinghong.
Of course, he didn't meet him in person.
Lin Chengye was not in Pingcheng when the children took the imperial examination. The reason he knew about He Jinghong was because He Jinghong also came to the provincial capital for the provincial examination in June.
He Jinghong, Xiao Liulang, and Feng Lin stayed at the same inn.
“I remember now! I remember now! He lives next door!” Feng Lin said. “At first, I didn’t know he was He Jinghong. I just overheard someone calling him. The man surnamed Wang is his steward, and he’s appeared with him a few times.”
Feng Lin was a talkative person, and since the top scorer in the imperial examination lived next door, he chattered on and on to Xiao Liulang, Du Ruohan, and Lin Chengye.
Feng Lin said, "At the time, I even joked, 'Could it be that this guy bribed the examiners of the academy examination to replace Liu Lang's exam paper?'"
This speculation is not without merit.
Xiao Liulang's performance in the early stages was too outstanding, making him the only candidate to be the top scholar. There are only two types of people who can benefit from defeating him: those whose strength is just barely enough to pass the exam, and those who can greatly increase their chances of passing the exam by defeating someone who is guaranteed to be in the top fifty.
There is another type whose achievements are comparable to Xiao Liulang's; if Xiao Liulang dismounts, he will be number one.
However, without evidence, they had no choice but to give up.
Besides, Xiao Liulang himself didn't care.
Just because Xiao Liulang doesn't care doesn't mean Gu Jiao doesn't care.
Gu Jiao's eyes were dangerous: "What rank did he get in the provincial examination?"
"Eleventh," Lin Chengye said. He remembered it very clearly because he never thought he could pass the imperial examination. He secretly read the list of successful candidates countless times at home, and he could recite it backwards from first to last place.
Feng Lin's score in the provincial examination was seventeen, and he was six places ahead of Feng Lin. This might be acceptable in Youzhou, but it would be insufficient in the capital.
With top scholars everywhere in the capital, who would care about a provincial capital's National Day?
He Jinghong failed the Imperial Academy exam and is very likely to be eliminated before even reaching the provincial examination.
Once he passes the imperial examination, the Duke of Luo's mansion will have room to maneuver.
Although the palace examination was presided over by the emperor himself, it was actually the most treacherous pool in the entire process.
It's true that the imperial examination was presided over by the emperor. The emperor could expel candidates he didn't like on the spot, or he could keep in mind those who caught his eye. However, it was impossible for the emperor to review all the candidates' papers by himself.
The exam papers were still reviewed by the cabinet ministers, who would select a dozen or so outstanding papers for the emperor to review or interview. From these papers, the emperor would select three top-ranking scholars and bestow upon them the title of Jinshi (进士).
This is where the power struggle between the emperor and his ministers begins.
Among these dozen or so people, there will inevitably be several promising talents from major forces, as well as talents favored by the emperor himself.
If an emperor wants to protect his own people, he must tolerate the people of his ministers. Otherwise, if the ministers rank the people the emperor favors outside the top ten or so, the emperor will not even have the chance to promote them.
Even if these dozen or so people didn't make it into the top rank, they would still be second-rank Jinshi, so there was no risk of them becoming Tong Jinshi.
Of course, the ministers couldn't go too far; if they really put in a complete fool, the emperor would still turn on them.
As for someone like He Jinghong, you could say he lacks talent, but he does, just not exceptionally so. Moreover, his grades have been quite good all along. If he were to achieve outstanding results in the provincial examination, it would be more logical for him to be sent to the palace examination.
"Was this emperor really that incompetent?" Gu Jiao asked.
Du Ruohan sighed, "In the past, Empress Dowager Zhuang ruled from behind the curtain, and the power of the cabinet was in the hands of her own brother, Grand Tutor Zhuang. This year, the situation may have changed slightly. After all, Empress Dowager Zhuang is unwell and has gone to the imperial palace to recuperate, and the Zhuang family's power is not as strong as it used to be. However, it is precisely because of this that all parties must seize this last opportunity, otherwise, once His Majesty completely takes back the power, it will be difficult for them to control the palace examination again."
Feng, Lin, and the other two spent a pleasant day in Bishui Hutong, except for Du Ruohan, who lost so badly that she gambled away her entire allowance for the following month.
The old lady happily counted her money inside the house.
Feng, Lin, and the other two took their leave.
Before leaving, the three of them gave Xiao Liulang a strange look.
Xiao Liulang frowned and asked, "What's wrong?"
The three shook their heads vigorously, like rattles: "It's nothing, it's nothing!"
The beautiful woman told them to pretend they didn't know, so they might as well know nothing at all.
The three of them got into Lin Chengye's carriage and left.
He turned and went into the courtyard, only to find that Gu Jiao had come out.
"It's so late, are you going out?" he asked.
Gu Jiao said "Oh," and then said, "Let's go to the clinic."
Xiao Liulang and the other three were on leave for ten days, and the second boss specially gave Gu Jiao a day off so that she could stay home and spend time with her family. So, in principle, she didn't need to go to the clinic.
And even when she goes, she never goes empty-handed.
She would always carry her little basket on her back, which contained her small medicine kit.
Xiao Liulang gave her a deep look.
Xiao Liulang had misunderstood Gu Jiao; she really was going to the clinic to check on Gu Chenglin. She had already taken out Gu Chenglin's medicine and given it to Doctor Song, so it didn't matter that she didn't bring her medicine kit.
Gu Jiao swore that she wasn't going to cause trouble for He Jinghong.
She still didn't know where He Jinghong lived.
But perhaps I was just having a lucky day, because right after I finished watching Gu Chenglin leave the clinic, I ran into a group of people walking their birds.
"Young Master He! Your parrot has arrived!" A vendor handed a birdcage to a young nobleman, lifted the cloth covering the cage, and said, "This cost a fortune to get. The owner initially refused to sell it, and I had to go to great lengths to persuade her!"
“My cousin loves raising birds!” the young nobleman said.
The vendor chuckled, "I'm not exaggerating, Young Master He, there's no parrot in the entire capital that's smarter than this one. The Duchess will definitely love it!"
The young nobleman was very satisfied. He tossed him a money pouch, instructed his attendants to take the birdcage, and turned to walk into the alley.
Her surname was He, and her maternal aunt was the Duchess of the State.
The features were so obvious that Gu Jiao couldn't ignore them even if she wanted to.
This isn't me coming to you; you delivered yourself to my door, right?
Gu Jiao followed.
Young Master He personally carried the birdcage over, and as he walked, he thought about how his aunt had been amused by the parrot, and he was in an extremely cheerful mood.
He entered an alley.
Seven or eight attendants followed closely behind him.
The group was following along happily, but unexpectedly—
Whoosh!
One has disappeared!
Whoosh!
Another one has disappeared!
Young Master He glanced back and vaguely sensed that something was wrong, but the alley was narrow, and he couldn't notice that there were fewer people for a while.
Swish, swish, swish!
When he turned around again, only one follower remained behind him.
The attendant stared wide-eyed, his face filled with terror!
Young Master He was startled: "What's wrong with you?"
The attendant collapsed with a thud!
Gu Jiao appeared in front of Young Master He.
She wore a narrow-sleeved blue dress, her hair as black as ink. She used the white jade hairpin that Xiao Liulang had given her to tie her hair into a single bun on top of her head, and her black hair hung down like satin, flowing naturally in the cold wind.
Her eyes were cold and aloof, with a hint of disdain.
“He Jinghong?” she said.
Young Master He immediately held the birdcage in front of him: "Who are you? How do you know my name?"
Gu Jiao bluntly stated, "I heard you cheated on the college entrance exam."
Young Master He's eyes flashed: "What nonsense are you talking about! I didn't!"
It seems so.
There's nothing more to say here.
Gu Jiao looked him up and down, her gaze finally settling on his legs.
He was pondering whether to break his legs so he couldn't crawl to the examination hall, or break his hands to avenge Xiao Liulang's failure in the provincial examination.
As a result, He Jinghong grabbed the birdcage and ran away without saying a word!
Gu Jiao didn't even blink. She leaped up, pushed off the wall, and flew over his head. She turned and delivered a spinning kick, sending him tumbling through the air before crashing to the hard ground with a thud.
The birdcage was smashed on the ground, and the parrot that we bought at great expense flew away.
Young Master He was a pampered nobleman, and he had never fallen like this before. He felt as if his brains had been splattered and his internal organs had been displaced.
Gu Jiao walked over calmly, looked down at him, and coldly grabbed his collar, lifting him up like a little chick.
However, she suddenly sensed that something was wrong.
A dark shadow landed at her feet, and she turned her head to look in the direction of the shadow.
Xiao Liulang had appeared in the alley at some point and was standing at the entrance, staring intently at her... and at He Jinghong in her hand.
Gu Jiao's eyes darted around, and she blinked innocently, saying, "He fell down, so I helped him up!"
She paused, then said seriously, "I don't fight!"
Xiao Liulang: "..."
He Jinghong: "..."
"You go back first," Xiao Liulang said to Gu Jiao.
"Oh." Gu Jiao gently released He Jinghong, her voice exceptionally tender. "Be careful not to bump your head."
He Jinghong was trembling all over!
Gu Jiao obediently left.
Xiao Liulang casually extended his hand to He Jinghong.
He Jinghong glanced at him, still shaken. She had been frightened by Gu Jiao, but as she calmed down, she remembered who Gu Jiao was.
He and Xiao Liulang were both in the Imperial Academy, and he paid close attention to Xiao Liulang's every move. Naturally, he had seen Gu Jiao, who always came to the Imperial Academy to pick him up after school.
He Jinghong suddenly felt less afraid.
What a poor kid who didn't dare to make a big deal out of having his exam paper switched during the provincial examination, what courage did he have to be arrogant in front of me?
Because of his disdain for Xiao Liulang, he also felt a bit more disdain for Gu Jiao.
He Jinghong grabbed Xiao Liulang's hand and stood up. He leaned against the wall with one hand and clutched his aching chest with the other, saying fiercely to Xiao Liulang, "I'll remember this debt!"
That woman dared to treat him like that and even let his expensive parrot escape; he won't let her get away with it!
Watching his unsteady departing figure, Xiao Liulang said calmly, "Don't you want me to take the exam for you anymore?"
He Jinghong paused in his steps.
Xiao Liulang looked at him calmly and said, "I will take the exam for you, and we'll call it even."
He Jinghong turned to look at Xiao Liulang, narrowing her eyes suspiciously: "Is that woman that important to you?"
Xiao Liulang: "I have one more condition."
He Jinghong: "Go ahead."
Xiao Liulang said, "You must also pay me the reward that Steward Wang promised me earlier."
He Jinghong sneered, "Ha, you hit me, and you still want a reward?"
Xiao Liulang looked at him coldly: "If I hadn't hit you, I wouldn't have agreed at all."
He Jinghong's eyes flickered as she carefully considered the matter in her mind.
He had been paying attention to Xiao Liulang ever since he saw his eight-legged essay in Pingcheng. From the provincial examination to the Imperial Academy, Xiao Liulang’s performance was impeccable. If Xiao Liulang could really take the exam for him, then he wouldn’t have to worry about his results in the metropolitan examination.
Apart from Prince An, no one can rival Xiao Liulang.
“Okay, I promise you.” He Jinghong raised his chin and said.
“Words are no proof.” Xiao Liulang glanced at a study not far away. “You must sign a written agreement guaranteeing that as long as I help you pass the imperial examination, you will not cause any more trouble for me or my family!”
He Jinghong frowned: "You don't trust me?"
Xiao Liulang frankly replied, "That's right."
“You…” He Jinghong choked, but to be honest, he did have the intention of settling scores later. Once Xiao Liulang passed the exam for him, he would find a way to deal with the couple.
Xiao Liulang continued, "You not only have to put it in writing, but you also have to swear to heaven that if anything happens to me or my family in the capital, it will be blamed on you!"
He Jinghong pointed at his nose and said, "Don't go too far! If you bump into something while going out, are you going to blame it on me?"
Xiao Liulang hummed in agreement: "That's right, it's yours, so are you going to agree or not?"
He Jinghong has a toothache!
Only an idiot would agree to that!
The allure of becoming a tribute student was too great. My cousin said that as long as he could pass the tribute student exam, my cousin's husband would have a way to make him a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations) on the official list!
The Luo family has only one spot available.
His aunt told him to work hard and not lose to the relatives from other branches of the family.
He Jinghong steeled her heart and said, "Fine!"
Anyway, I'll agree first and see what happens!
Xiao Liulang and He Jinghong went to the study and asked for a quiet side room.
Xiao Liulang recited, and he wrote.
The gist of the story is that Xiao Liulang agrees to take the imperial examination for him. The specific method is that they write each other's names on the examination papers. Xiao Liulang guarantees that he will be among the top three in the imperial examination, and he promises to pay Xiao Liulang a reward of five thousand taels of silver.
"You must not discard me after I have served my purpose, and cause trouble for me and my family."
"I will not ask for the payment back."
"We can't have someone steal it back."
"We can't take it back."
He Jinghong: "..."
Finally, a written agreement was drawn up, and He Jinghong signed and affixed his fingerprint to it.
Xiao Liulang also signed the document.
He Jinghong said coldly, "What if we don't get into the top three..."
Xiao Liulang interrupted him: "I'll refund half of the fee. If you don't pass the imperial examination, I'll refund the whole amount."
He Jinghong snorted coldly, "That's more like it!"
Two copies were made, one for each party. He Jinghong paid half of the deposit first, and the remaining payment would be settled according to the results after the results were announced.
After putting away the documents, He Jinghong stood up and patted Xiao Liulang on the shoulder with satisfaction: "Do your best on the exam, don't let me down."
Xiao Liulang rarely smiled; he simply said, "Don't worry."
Xiao Liulang rarely smiled, but when he did, his smile was captivating, even stunning He Jinghong, a grown man.
He quickly came to his senses, cleared his throat awkwardly, and turned to leave.
Xiao Liulang looked at the document in his hand, and his smile gradually turned cold.
He turned and went to the Jingzhao Prefecture, where he filed a lawsuit against He Jinghong in court!
Before He Jinghong even returned to the Duke's mansion, he was arrested by the officials of the Jingzhao Prefecture.
He Jinghong was completely bewildered. What was going on?
"Yes, it was him. He forced me to sign a contract to take the exam for him. He also threatened that if I didn't agree, he would make my whole family suffer."
In the courtroom, Xiao Liulang spoke with a pained expression.
Xiao Liulang already holds the title of Juren (a successful candidate in the imperial examinations), so he does not need to kneel.
He Jinghong didn't actually need to kneel, but he was too emotional and the officer forced him to kneel on the ground because he was angry that the Jingzhao Prefecture was in trouble.
He Jinghong is going crazy!
Is this some kind of blatant lying? Who exactly made whom sign the agreement?
Xiao Liulang sighed: "He said his cousin is the famous Duchess of the State. I can't fight him. If I don't want to die, I'd better do as he says. Otherwise, he can kick me out of the Imperial Academy tomorrow."
He Jinghong was furious: "I didn't say that! Sir, don't listen to his lies! He's the one who made me sign the agreement! He even offered to take the exam for me! He set me up!"
Xiao Liulang said, "I have no grudge against you, why would I set a trap for you?"
He Jinghong angrily said, "Because...because your wife beat me up! You were afraid I would retaliate against her, so you agreed to let me take the exam for you!"
As soon as He Jinghong uttered the word "agree," he realized he had made a mistake.
Xiao Liulang said with a pained expression, "My lord, this matter has nothing to do with my wife. My wife has never even met him. I don't know who he offended that would try to frame my wife and use this to threaten me."
This was the first time Xiao Liulang had ever been so shameless. He thought it would be embarrassing and awkward, but to his surprise, it went quite smoothly.
Is he exceptionally talented in this area?
The Prefect of the Capital has seen many cases of staged accidents; a simple investigation will tell whether it's real or fake.
He summoned He Jinghong's servants, but none of them knew that Gu Jiao had been seen.
He Jinghong's alleged staged accident is now confirmed.
The Prefect of the Capital: "Do you have any other witnesses?"
"It's gone!"
"have!"
The two spoke in unison.
The Prefect of the Capital looked at the two men, his brows furrowed: "Xiao Liulang, you said there are witnesses, where are the witnesses?"
Xiao Liulang said, "At Lord Zhuang's residence."
The Prefect of the Capital's heart skipped a beat: "Which, which Lord Zhuang?"
Xiao Liulang said solemnly, "Zhuang Xianzhi, the fourth son of Grand Tutor Zhuang."
Oh dear, the Zhuang family has been dragged into this.
The Prefect of the Capital broke out in a cold sweat and had to take the case seriously: "Who...who is the witness you're talking about?"
"Du Ruohan, Lord Zhuang's nephew."
Xiao Liulang decisively betrayed Du Ruohan.
Feng Lin and Lin Chengye only knew that Du Ruohan had an uncle in the capital, but they did not know who this uncle was. Xiao Liulang knew because he saw Du Ruohan and Zhuang Xianzhi enter the prefect's mansion together in the prefectural city.
Du Ruohan also called Zhuang Xianzhi her uncle.
Zhuang Xianzhi was the son of Grand Tutor Zhuang. The father and son disagreed on political views, so Zhuang Xianzhi left his post and went to live elsewhere.
Zhuang Xianzhi was not at home, so Du Ruohan came alone.
The Prefect of the Capital asked solemnly, "Xiao Jieyuan said that He Juren threatened him, asking him to take the exam for him, and that you are a witness. Is this true?"
Du Ruohan glanced at Xiao Liulang. This kid is really good at hiding things. It turns out he had already discovered that they were eavesdropping!
"Yes!" Du Ruohan recounted how Wang Yun had come to Xiao Liulang's door to coerce and entice him.
He Jinghong's face turned deathly pale: "You, you, you, you're lying!"
Du Ruohan rolled his eyes: "Whether I lied or not, wouldn't the magistrate investigate? It's none of your business to interfere!" He looked at the Prefect of the Capital, "If the magistrate doesn't believe me, he can send someone to ask. So many neighbors have seen his servants come by!"
The Prefect of the Capital indeed sent someone to inquire, and it was proven that Wang Yun had indeed visited Xiao Liulang's house.
He Jinghong retorted, "My lord! Don't believe his one-sided story! Why would he be at Xiao Liulang's house? They clearly know each other! They... they're in cahoots!"
Xiao Liulang said calmly, "If you know each other, you're in cahoots. Young Master He even knows the Duke. Could it be that Young Master He's actions were instigated by the Duke?"
That's a terrible way to put a hat on someone!
The Prefect of the Capital almost fell off his chair!
He Jinghong was also speechless.
He felt that Xiao Liulang was arguing unreasonably, but he just couldn't refute it!
With witnesses and physical evidence at hand, He Jinghong cannot escape the charge of cheating in the imperial examinations.
Cheating in the imperial examinations is a serious crime, especially when it involves both extortion and coercion—the circumstances are particularly egregious! He Jinghong can forget about ever stepping into an examination hall again!
Unable to take the imperial examinations, he could only become a discarded son of the Duke of Luo's family.
The Duke wouldn't tarnish his reputation for a discarded pawn, so He Jinghong had no power to cause trouble for Gu Jiao anymore.
This matter caused quite a stir, and by nightfall, Gu Jiao also found out.
The two were taking a walk in the courtyard.
Gu Jiao asked him, "Aren't you afraid of getting yourself into trouble?"
After all, he had signed the document, and if he had encountered a muddle-headed Prefect of the Capital, he might have been convicted along with the other officials.
"And you?" Xiao Liulang asked in return.
Gu Jiao fell silent.
After a long pause, he said in a serious tone, "I told you I was just helping him up!"
Xiao Liulang raised an eyebrow: "Oh, so you just happened to lend a hand to Luo Du and Zhao Rui?"
And then they helped the person so much that they couldn't get out of bed for months?
Gu Jiao held her ground: "...I only helped her up once!"
Xiao Liulang chuckled softly.
This was the first time Gu Jiao had seen him smile like that. She had never known he could smile, and he could smile so beautifully.
What was that saying again? My brother's smile wasn't a smile; it was a deadly poison.
A thought suddenly flashed through Gu Jiao's mind.
From now on, this man can only smile for her.
February has arrived in the blink of an eye, and the imperial examinations are about to begin.
Last autumn, Xiao Liulang and his group encountered the hottest provincial examination ever. This year, they were unlucky again, with no spring warmth and blooming flowers, only a once-in-a-century cold snap.
In February, the north wind was howling in Beijing, and it even snowed on the fifth day of the Lunar New Year.
The scholars who fell into the icy lake during the bridge collapse did not fall ill; instead, they contracted illnesses due to the late spring cold snap.
The clinic's business suddenly improved significantly.
Gu Jiao asked Doctor Song and others to turn the herbal medicine into pills for easy carrying, so that she could continue to take the medicine even after the next imperial examination.
The imperial examination was divided into three sessions. The first session tested the Four Books and Five Classics, the second session tested the Eight-Legged Essay, and the third session tested policy questions. The content and process of the examination were similar to those of the provincial examination. In both sessions, candidates entered the examination hall one day in advance and left the examination hall the day after the examination.
The first day to enter was the eighth day of the lunar month.
Gu Jiao got up very early.
(End of this chapter)
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