Chapter 207 Abusing the Scum (First Update)
When Yao moved to Bishui Hutong, her whole family was very happy and welcomed her arrival.
Madam Yao did not bring any maids, only her nanny Fang.
Gu Yan gave up his own room and moved in with Gu Xiaoshun.
Gu Xiaoshun didn't mind, after all, the bed was so big that it could comfortably sleep three people! Besides, the two of them went to school and learned their skills together, and their relationship grew stronger day by day, just like two real brothers.
Madam Yao and Granny Fang lived in Gu Yan's house.
The old master lived next door. The old lady complained that she had to take such a long detour through the main gate every time she went to rob someone of their private stash of money, so she simply let Gu Jiao knock down the wall between the two houses, turning them into a compound courtyard house with enough rooms.
The reason why Granny Fang lived in Yao's room was mainly to make it easier to take care of Yao.
The news of Yao's pregnancy was not kept from them; everyone knew that Yao was carrying a baby.
Gu Yan stared at Yao Shi's belly for a long time, finding it hard to believe that he was going to be a big brother.
Little Jingkong approached Madam Yao, his hands behind his back, tilting his head: "Madam, is the baby in your belly a little brother or a little sister?"
Madam Yao smiled and asked, "Does Jingkong want a younger brother or a younger sister?"
Xiao Jingkong thought for a moment, his eyes darting around. After confirming that Xiao Liulang wasn't home, he tiptoed and whispered in Yao's ear, "Younger brother. A younger brother just like my bad brother-in-law."
That way he can mold his wicked brother-in-law into a ball and flatten him!
Hahaha!
Xiao Jingkong still regrets that his bad brother-in-law failed to become Xiao Ba, so he pins his hopes on the little brother in Yao's belly.
He had a very peculiar logic: as long as the younger brother is born, the bad brother-in-law will become the younger brother.
How could Yao possibly guess the child's wildly imaginative thoughts? She even thought that Xiao Jingkong wanted a younger brother to play with.
It's already quite an achievement for someone in her condition to get pregnant. As for whether it's a son or a daughter, she feels it's fine either way.
Xiao Jingkong carefully cared for Yao Shi and the little brother in Yao Shi's belly, and then turned around to do his own thing.
Xiao Liulang has been quite busy lately. Feng Lin has run into some trouble—he is from Song County, and after passing the imperial examination, someone used his name to register land.
Land owned by a scholar from Zhao State is eligible for tax reduction or exemption.
Feng Lin's parents did not farm. Instead, relatives of the family used Feng Lin's name to register fields in various places and received a considerable amount of money as a form of filial piety. Feng Lin was completely unaware of this.
Unfortunately, the imperial court was rectifying the practice of "land grabbing" and, by sheer coincidence, chose Song County as a typical example.
This matter could be a big deal or a small deal. If it's a big deal, it could cause Feng Lin to lose his degree as a Juren (a successful candidate in the provincial civil service examination) and be unable to participate in the imperial examinations again.
Feng Lin was extremely anxious.
Xiao Liulang asked Feng Lin if his parents were involved in the matter. Feng Lin told Xiao Liulang that his parents were not involved, but the relatives had given them gifts. When they gave them the gifts, they said it was just a small token of everyone's goodwill for Feng Lin's studies. After the incident, they insisted that it was a share of the profits from the land.
His parents were in a hopeless situation, and in order not to implicate their son, they almost hanged themselves. Fortunately, Feng Lin's sister discovered them in time and dissuaded them.
This matter is not difficult to handle sooner or later. Feng Lin can go back and confront them face to face. Unfortunately, it is currently the spring imperial examination, and Feng Lin cannot leave.
After making numerous inquiries, Xiao Liulang learned that the local governor in charge of the matter was half a disciple of Feng Lao, who had promoted him when he served as the Minister of the Court of State Ceremonies. Xiao Liulang, as Feng Lao's disciple, sent an urgent letter to the governor.
When Xiao Liulang returned to Bishui Hutong, Xiao Jingkong, who should have been doing his homework in his room at this hour, was sitting casually on the threshold, with a small dog, seven chicks, and a fledgling eagle that had grown quite a bit bigger lying around him.
The formation is very neat!
Xiao Liulang was both amused and annoyed: "Such a grand welcome for me?"
Xiao Jingkong glanced at him, then proudly held up a gold medal in her hand: "A gift from Jiaojiao!"
After all that, it turns out he was just waiting here to show off to him.
Xiao Liulang initially thought it was just an ordinary little toy, but the moment he picked it up, he noticed how heavy it was. He immediately sensed something was wrong, and upon closer inspection, he was dumbfounded.
Isn't this a royal pardon?
No, he was only away from home for a short time, and she managed to get her hands on a get-out-of-jail-free card?
What kind of operation is this?
"Jiaojiao gave it to me! You're not allowed to take it!" Xiao Jingkong tiptoed and snatched the gold medal back, holding it in his arms.
"Stingy." Xiao Liulang moved his little head and stepped into the courtyard.
Xiao Jingkong, who had been moved around but was powerless to resist, went into a frenzy!
See? See? That's why he has to grow up quickly! He wants to grow as big as his bad brother-in-law, make him tiny, and then he can move him around as fast as he can! Move him around!
Xiao Liulang met Yao Shi in the backyard.
Gu Jiao had mentioned to her family a long time ago that she wanted to bring Yao Shi over, so he wasn't surprised to see Yao Shi.
Xiao Liulang could clearly sense that Gu Jiao's mood would improve when Yao Shi was around.
Perhaps Gu Jiao herself didn't even realize this.
After greeting Yao, Xiao Liulang went to the kitchen.
Gu Jiao is chopping vegetables.
Xiao Liulang said, "In a good mood?"
"No." Gu Jiao tilted her head.
Xiao Liulang: Look at that smug little guy.
Perhaps because she had moved in with her son and daughter, Yao was in a good mood, and her appetite had improved considerably.
Gu Jiao also had a good appetite. Xiao Liulang noticed that she ate half a bowl more rice than usual, and she even ate two bites of the daylily, which she hated the most.
Gu Jinyu's condition is not good.
She was personally ordered by the emperor to be sent to the Ministry of Justice for damaging the imperial seal. Although the matter was still under investigation and she had not yet been convicted, she was a weak woman locked in a gloomy and cold interrogation room. Not only was she afraid, but her body was also suffering.
At first, she genuinely thought it was an accident, but gradually, the more she thought about it, the more suspicious she became.
How could His Majesty suddenly be concerned about her marriage?
She was too arrogant at the time, thinking that she had enough to make His Majesty pay attention to her. But these past two days she has thought about it again and again. His Majesty has not even personally handled the marriages of the princesses. He has left them all to Empress Dowager Zhuang and Empress Xiao.
Furthermore, how could His Majesty casually tuck such a precious item as the Imperial Seal into a pile of picture books?
His Majesty did it on purpose.
From the moment she resolutely denied stealing Gu Jiao's invention, His Majesty decided to punish her.
His Majesty was not a capricious tyrant; he needed a just cause to punish people, which led to the incident involving the imperial seal.
But His Majesty did not punish her immediately. What was His Majesty waiting for?
While I was thinking, the door to the interrogation room opened.
Eunuch Wei walked in.
Gu Jinyu looked at him excitedly: "Eunuch Wei! You've come! Did His Majesty send you? I... I really didn't mean to! I didn't know the Imperial Seal was there! Please put in a good word for me with His Majesty!"
Eunuch Wei smiled faintly and sighed, "Look at what the princess is saying. I am just a servant. How could I possibly influence His Majesty's decision? Besides, His Majesty is in a bad mood. I dare not risk offending him."
Gu Jinyu was disappointed: "Then what brings you here today, Eunuch? Is His Majesty going to order my punishment?"
“I’ve come today to offer the Princess some guidance,” Eunuch Wei said with a smile. “The Princess should understand the gravity of the crime of damaging the Imperial Seal. If the Princess wants to live, she would have better tell the truth about the bellows.”
Gu Jinyu's expression gradually froze.
His Majesty said that the credit for the bellows belongs to the Little Divine Doctor, and no one is allowed to take it away, whether it is announced to the public or not. In particular, this outsider even slandered the Little Divine Doctor for stealing her inspiration, which is simply absurd!
Eunuch Wei sneered, "I have said all I can say. Princess, you should take care of yourself. However, I must remind you that His Majesty's patience is limited."
After Eunuch Wei left, Gu Jinyu slumped into a chair in despair.
How did it turn out like this?
Why does Your Majesty stand up for that country bumpkin?
So what if he invented a bellows? What's so great about that?
Besides this, what else can that girl do?!
Why is even the emperor protecting her?
Gu Jinyu was furious.
Unfortunately, she was now trapped and helpless. In the middle of the night, her personal maid came and asked her to go to the palace to beg Consort Shu.
The Emperor had anticipated that Consort Shu would come to plead for Gu Jinyu, so he had been staying with Empress Xiao with Qin Chuyu for the past few days.
Although Empress Xiao doted on her youngest son, he was always present, so she couldn't get anything done to the emperor!
Empress Xiao looked at the chubby boy who was engrossed in eating fruit, her expression indescribable: "Your Majesty, will you bring Xiao Qi again tomorrow?"
Emperor: "Yes, I've been spoiling him a lot lately."
Completely oblivious, Qin Chuyu: "..."
February was drawing to a close, and the results would be announced in a few days. The candidates in the capital lost their appetite, and long lines of candidates could be seen waiting outside the examination hall every day.
After more than ten days of seclusion and revisions, the work in the Inner Court was nearing its end.
"This is the last batch of exam papers." The vice president placed the last stack of neatly copied exam papers in front of the president.
The chief executive rubbed his sore eyes and said, "Let's stop here for today. Gentlemen, please go and rest. We should be able to finish reviewing them all by tomorrow."
The list of successful candidates will be released this afternoon after the papers are reviewed.
The examiners, their backs aching, stood up, stepped out of their seats, and bowed to the chief examiner, saying, "Respectfully seeing you off, sir."
The night was dark and the wind was high.
Everyone drifted off to sleep.
Gu Jiao also lay down on the bed in the east room.
The weather was still a bit chilly at the end of February, but she was small and had a fiery temper, so she wasn't afraid of the cold.
She covered herself with a quilt and soon fell into a deep sleep.
Then, she dreamed again.
(End of this chapter)
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