Chapter 218 The "It's so good!" moment (Second update)
"Hmm? You've arrived." Gu Jiao stood up and saw Xiao Liulang. She walked towards him with her small medicine box in her arms, without giving the Prince of An any extra glance.
Prince An gave a self-deprecating laugh, looking at his outstretched, superfluous hand.
I knew she could avoid it.
But still—
"School let out early today, so I came to check on things." Xiao Liulang paused, then added, "Jingkong has been taken back by Liu Quan."
This is the tacit understanding that only people who spend every day together can have; without her even asking, they already know what she might ask.
Gu Jiao smiled and said, "I'm all set here. I can pack up and head back."
Xiao Liulang: "How is Jiang Shi doing?"
Gu Jiao: "The recovery is going well."
Xiao Liulang: "I just saw Xiao Jiangli. She was helping to get medicine. The little girl is quite clever."
Someone is talking a lot today.
Gu Jiao didn't think too much about it and went back to the courtyard to pack her things.
Prince An smiled at Xiao Liulang, his eyes filled with affirmation and encouragement: "You did well in the provincial examination. The palace examination is no less difficult than the provincial examination. Do your best in the palace examination, and I will find a way to send your examination paper to His Majesty."
All the candidates were qualified to participate in the palace examination, totaling 210 people, but fewer than 30 examination papers were actually presented to the emperor.
Although the power to conduct the imperial examinations appeared to be in the emperor's hands, the first step was actually overseen by the cabinet.
For test takers, having ability alone is not enough; they also need connections, otherwise their exam papers will never even reach the emperor's hands.
The Grand Secretary's surname is Yuan, but Grand Secretary Yuan is old, and now most of the power in the cabinet is in the hands of Grand Tutor Zhuang.
The reason why Prince An extended an olive branch to Xiao Liulang was twofold: firstly, he had indeed taken a liking to Xiao Liulang from the beginning, and secondly, he was confident enough that even if his examination paper was submitted to the emperor along with Xiao Liulang's, he would still be able to win the top scholar title.
As for whether there was a third reason, such as wanting to show off his status and superiority in front of Gu Jiao, we don't know.
Gu Jiao slung her small basket over her shoulder and walked over: "What are you talking about?"
"It's nothing." Xiao Liulang glanced at Prince An expressionlessly, showing no gratitude whatsoever. He then turned to Gu Jiao and said, "Let's go."
"Okay!" Gu Jiao nodded and left the clinic with him.
In the evening, Feng Lin arrived alone, without Lin Chengye. Ever since he started living with Lin Chengye... uh, no, after they started living together, Feng Lin rarely went out alone.
Today is because Lin Chengye has been arranged to go on a blind date by Manager Zhou.
Feng Lin came to talk to Xiao Liulang about his parents' case in Song County. The case had made progress—after receiving Xiao Liulang's letter, Feng Lao's disciple immediately took over the case of Feng Lin's parents and personally interrogated Feng Lin's relatives.
The relatives in the countryside had never seen such a powerful official before. In their minds, the county magistrate was like a god, yet even the county magistrate could only stand aside and pour tea for him.
It didn't take much effort for Feng Lin's relatives to confess that the matter had nothing to do with Feng Lin's parents, thus clearing their names and also clearing Feng Lin's name.
"Liu Lang, can you hear me?" In the study, Feng Lin waved his hand in front of Xiao Liu Lang.
"Yes, I heard you," Xiao Liulang said absentmindedly.
I feel like something's off about you.
Feng Lin had to rush back to study for next month's imperial examination, so he didn't stay long.
As he was leaving the courtyard, he ran into the old priest coming from next door. After thinking for a moment, he told Liu Lang's great-uncle about Liu Lang's strange behavior: "...I don't know what's wrong with him. I've never seen him like this since we reunited."
The old chief priest went to Xiao Liulang's study.
"You've arrived," Xiao Liulang greeted him, his mood not very good.
The old chief priest sat down opposite him at his desk, then looked at him intently and asked, "Is something troubling you?"
"No," Xiao Liulang denied.
The old chief priest asked, "Is it Lord Xiao?"
Xiao Liulang: "No."
The old chief priest: "The imperial examination?"
Xiao Liulang: "No."
The old chief priest pondered for a moment: "Jiaojiao?"
Xiao Liulang: "..."
Xiao Liulang changed the subject: "Weren't you tutoring Xiao Jingkong? How's he doing?"
Oh dear, you've changed the subject.
When did you and that little monk become so affectionate?
The old priest wasn't going to give up so easily; otherwise, he wouldn't have insisted on moving here in the first place. His Ah Heng was no longer the carefree Ah Heng of the past; he had locked himself away and was unwilling to come out.
The old priest said earnestly, "I've always wanted to ask you, what are your true intentions regarding you and Jiaojiao? When you fainted on the roadside and Jiaojiao took you in, it was the Gu family who forced you to marry her. Although you are husband and wife, you are not really husband and wife."
Xiao Liulang remained silent.
The old chief priest continued, "You didn't leave her before because you were worried she would have nowhere to go. Now that worry is gone, what are you still thinking about?"
Xiao Liulang said, "I haven't considered anything."
The old chief priest continued, "Then let me ask you again, why did you come to the capital? You probably never want to come back to this place in your entire life, right?"
Xiao Liulang opened his mouth.
The old chief priest didn't give him a chance to answer: "Don't say Jiao Jiao forced you to come; she held a knife to your throat!"
Xiao Liulang lowered his eyes: "No."
The old chief priest sighed, "Such a good girl, once you miss her, she's gone. If you don't cherish her, someone else will. I think Feng Lin is pretty good, and Lin Chengye is a reliable guy too."
Xiao Liulang's face darkened: "Teacher!"
The old chief priest laughed and said, "Alright, alright, just kidding. They don't have those feelings for Jiaojiao, but who knows if someone else might?"
That's the truth. Jiaojiao is so outstanding, someone will always discover her good qualities and fall for her.
The silly apprentice is smart about everything, but he just doesn't get it right in this area.
After the old chief priest left, Xiao Liulang stayed in the study for a long time, until it was completely dark before he got up and went out.
Gu Jiao was tidying up the yard.
He saw some unchopped firewood in the woodshed, and picked up an axe to chop it. Gu Jiao quickly came over and took the axe from his hand, saying, "No need, I'll do it."
She was very persistent.
Xiao Liulang went to the well to fetch water again, but she stopped him.
Xiao Liulang's gaze fell on her hands carrying the water bucket. Her hands were long and slender, but not as delicate as those of a lady from a prominent family. There were thin calluses on her palms and knife marks on the base of her thumb.
All the hardships she endured were in these hands.
Xiao Liulang suddenly felt a little uneasy.
"What's wrong with you?" Gu Jiao asked him.
"My darling, my darling!"
Little Jingkong came running over, holding up a homework assignment. "I've finished the questions my great-uncle gave me!"
Gu Jiao took it and looked at it. Although she couldn't understand it, the characters were better than before.
"That's great," Gu Jiao praised.
Little Jingkong didn't leave, his little hands behind his back.
"What's wrong?" Gu Jiao asked.
Little Jingkong said cutely, "I want to eat candied hawthorn."
Gu Jiao nodded: "Okay, I'll go buy it for you."
Xiao Liulang said, "I also need to go buy some things."
Gu Jiao smiled and said, "Then let's go together."
Little Jingkong Bengbeng: "I want to go too!"
Gu Jiao said softly, "Go to sleep early, you have school tomorrow. I'll save the candied hawthorn for you to eat tomorrow morning."
Xiao Jingkong: ...Okay.
Being a child is such a hassle, they need to sleep so much!
Gu Jiao and Xiao Liulang went out.
"What do you want to buy?" Gu Jiao asked as they walked down the street.
“Uh… a book,” Xiao Liulang said.
Gu Jiao thought for a moment: "It's not far. I'll pass by the bookstore when I buy candied hawthorns."
Xiao Liulang: "Hmm."
The nights in March weren't as cold, but the wind still felt a little chilly.
Xiao Liulang glanced at Gu Jiao without leaving a trace; she didn't seem... very cold.
The two quickly arrived at the entrance of the bookstore. Gu Jiao said regretfully, "It's closed. What books do you want to buy? I'll buy them for you tomorrow."
Xiao Liulang said casually, "It's not in a hurry. I'll buy it myself after school tomorrow."
"good."
The two continued walking forward.
I don't know what bad luck I had today, not only was the study closed, but the candied hawthorn vendor also packed up and left.
Gu Jiao looked bitter and resentful.
Xiao Liulang glanced at the street across the alley: "He also likes fried dough sticks, there are some for sale over there."
Gu Jiao had eaten fried dough sticks in her previous life, but those were just deep-fried flour, somewhat like fried dough sticks. The fried dough sticks in the capital were mixed with glutinous rice and had fillings inside. Not only did Xiao Jingkong like them, but Gu Yan and Gu Xiaoshun also liked them.
However, Gu Yan cannot eat it.
Gu Jiao decided to buy some fried dough sticks.
Gu Jiao was the only one who felt unlucky tonight, but when they arrived at the fried dough stick stall, Xiao Liulang's face darkened.
The capital city is so big, how come he's everywhere!
The fried dough stick stall had two tables set up, one of which was occupied by Zhuang Yuexi and Prince An.
Prince An also saw Xiao Liulang and Gu Jiao. He smiled warmly at them and said, "What a coincidence, you're here to eat at this restaurant too? They've been making food here for many years, and it tastes very good. You've come from out of town, so you haven't tried it yet, have you?"
Xiao Liulang: I've been eating this since I was a child, want to know more?
Xiao Liulang's mood suddenly became irritable.
The girls' school was right next to the clinic. Zhuang Yuexi had met Gu Jiao before and knew that Gu Jiao was probably a female doctor from Miaoshoutang, but the two had no connection.
She asked Prince An, "Brother, do you know him?"
Prince An introduced, "Miss Gu was my classmate."
Strictly speaking, the proper way to introduce the young couple should be my classmate and his wife.
Prince Ke'an automatically ignored something.
Upon hearing that it was her elder brother's classmate, Zhuang Yuexi's expression softened slightly. Soon, she asked, "Which Miss Gu?"
Prince An's gaze remained fixed on Gu Jiao: "The daughter of the Marquis of Ding'an."
The Marquis of Ding'an's mansion has only two daughters: one is Gu Jinyu, and the other is the real daughter who is said to have grown up in the countryside.
Is this the girl in front of me?
She's really good-looking...
Zhuang Yuexi saw the red birthmark on Gu Jiao's left cheek and swallowed her question.
She wasn't arrogant like Zhuang Mengdie.
Since her older brother acknowledged them as her classmates, she would treat them with respect.
"Come and sit down, this will take a long time," Prince An said to the two.
There was another table, but it was full. The only empty seat was next to them.
The two walked over and sat down.
Gu Jiao stood next to Zhuang Yuexi, and Xiao Liulang stood next to Prince An.
However, this seating arrangement ironically placed Prince An and Gu Jiao face to face, and Zhuang Yuexi and Xiao Liulang face to face.
Zhuang Yuexi only had eyes for her brother and didn't really look at Xiao Liulang.
But Prince An kept staring at Gu Jiao!
Xiao Liulang frowned. What was wrong with him? Why did he come to buy fried dough sticks?
There were many people buying fried dough sticks, and they waited for a quarter of an hour before it was their turn. During that time, Prince An and Zhuang Yuexi's fried dough sticks were ready, but Prince An gave them to someone else.
Xiao Liulang's face darkened even more.
Prince An exchanged a few pleasantries with the two, mostly asking questions such as, "Why are you out eating so late?", "How did you get here?", and "Is it far? Should I take you back later?"
Zhuang Yuexi didn't realize her brother's special feelings for Gu Jiao, and thought he was just showing concern for his classmate.
Xiao Liulang, however, understood that he and Prince An were not that close at all.
Before long, Prince An started talking about an astronomical book he had read in the State of Chen.
Gu Jiao became interested.
When she's interested, her eyes light up, shining like stars.
Xiao Liulang felt a tightness in his chest.
Their fried dough sticks were ready, and Prince An paid for them.
"No need." Xiao Liulang coldly placed the copper coin on the table. "We'll buy it ourselves."
Prince An shrugged and smiled.
Xiao Liulang and Gu Jiao left, and Prince An and Zhuang Yuexi also planned to take a carriage back to their residence.
Just then, a dragon and lion dance troupe suddenly appeared on the street. It turned out to be a courtesan from a brothel parading through the streets, causing a stir along the entire Chang'an Avenue.
The crowd surged forward, threatening to engulf them.
Gu Jiao grabbed Xiao Liulang's wrist and pulled him through the crowd.
Gu Jiao stopped only after entering Bishui Hutong, and then she heard a soft laugh.
Gu Jiaoxiao stiffened and turned around.
But the person she was holding in her hand was not Xiao Liulang at all, but Prince An!
Gu Jiao: "..."
On the other side, Xiao Liulang's handsome face turned cold.
That girl actually ran off with another man right in front of him?!
Sorry, I forgot to set the update time.
(End of this chapter)
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