Chapter 760 The Reunion of Father-in-Law and Son-in-Law (First Update)
Han Wuye clenched his fist, a murderous glint flashing in his eyes.
He didn't really care whether Xiao Liulang advanced or not, because even if he did, Xiao Liulang wouldn't be able to pass the final stage anyway.
It's really not a good feeling to be fooled.
This kid named Xiao Liulang... he's a really annoying fellow.
Outside the tent, Han Lei shook his head slightly at Fifth Master Han, signaling with his eyes not to act impulsively.
This isn't a place for fighting; getting kicked out would be bad news.
Master Han closed his eyes slightly, exhaled a breath of stale air, calmed his emotions, and said to Gu Jiao, "It's all in vain."
Gu Jiao nodded in deep agreement: "You're right, it's all in vain, so you should just admit defeat and let Brother Feng compete with me in the next round."
Feng Ling was startled!
Besides the eleven selected men, the tent also contained examiners appointed by the imperial court and some cavalrymen who had been eliminated but were allowed to watch the battle.
All eyes turned to Gu Jiao.
This kid has a disfigured face and is not very old, yet he dares to speak so arrogantly in front of Master Han.
Isn't he afraid of dying?
Compared to the flamboyant Prince Han, this unassuming Fifth Master Han is the true killing god of the Han family.
Old Master Han valued him highly; if he hadn't been poisoned, the position of family head would probably have been his for the taking.
Master Han's emotions are not easily provoked; what happened just now was an accident and it will not happen again.
He gave Gu Jiao a deep look: "See you next time."
Gu Jiao shrugged: "Who knows if we'll be able to meet? After all, I've advanced, but you haven't."
Why bring up something you shouldn't talk about!
Han Wuye clenched his fist.
Han Lei, who was outside the tent, winked at one of the examiners.
The examiner immediately coughed lightly: "Ahem! Alright, let's begin! Xiao Liulang, you've advanced. You can stay and watch, or you can leave now."
Everyone looked at her with envy. Why couldn't this kind of luck fall on their heads?
Gu Jiao said helplessly, "Since the examiner has asked me to stay, I'll reluctantly take a look."
Examiner: "..."
The tent was spacious, with a sand table in the center. The examiners sat in the main seats, facing the direction of the tent entrance.
Those watching the battle stood in designated areas on both sides, guarded by ten guards.
It was very quiet inside the tent.
The first match is between Feng Ling, the eldest son of the Feng family, and Han Wuye.
Those who have made it to this round are all capable. Feng Ling himself is not weak, and he often studies military strategy at home, but he is ultimately not on the same level as Master Han.
Master Han won effortlessly.
Feng Ling walked dejectedly to the spectator area.
The young master from the aristocratic family next to him comforted him: "Alright, it's not unfair that you lost to Master Han. You can even brag about it later."
Feng Ling sighed, "That's true." But in the end, she has failed the family's expectations.
Next up was Master Qingfeng and the eldest son of the Nangong family, who was also Nangong Jing's older brother.
How much confidence did Nangong Jing have in his brother that he thought the Nangong family could advance as long as Han Wuye was eliminated?
Sure enough, the sand table simulation was completely crushed.
"You flatter me." Master Qingfeng cupped his hands in greeting.
The eldest son of the Nangong family looked ashen-faced and was dragged away by the guards in defeat.
Gu Changqing frowned slightly.
His most desired opponents in this match were Master Han and Master Qingfeng. These two were too powerful, and he hoped to have the opportunity to eliminate a formidable rival for his sister.
Unfortunately, he drew the eldest son of the Dong family.
"Han Zeyu advances to the next round!" the examiner announced the results.
Gu Changqing cupped his hands in greeting to the eldest son of the Dong family: "You flatter me."
The eldest son of the Dong family returned the greeting, accepting his defeat with dignity.
In the fourth match, Mu Qingchen faced off against her cousin from the Mu family, and Mu Qingchen won.
The first few groups were not too surprising, but the last group was somewhat unexpected.
One side was a member of the Han family, while the other side was a poor scholar named Jun Xiuhan.
In the previous two selections, most people paid attention to the people from the ten great families, and Jun Xiuhan, who was quiet and unassuming, was overlooked.
But he won again.
Gu Jiao at least used the identity of the adopted son of the Duke of Anguo, while Jun Xiuhan was an absolute poor student, one of the few students who studied at Canaan Academy on scholarships.
It was at this moment that everyone truly came to know this boy from a poor family.
"This kid's hit the jackpot," whispered the scions of wealthy families around Gu Jiao.
Gu Jiao glanced at him: "Why do you say that?"
The scion of a prominent family said, "It wasn't easy for him to get to this point. He just defeated the Han family. Just wait and see, the prominent families will definitely start trying to win him over."
Gu Jiao: "Oh."
All selections have concluded today. The next round will be a 300-mile raid, which is said to be set by the king himself. The specific location and rules will be announced on the day of the selection.
After leaving the camp, Gu Jiao went to the stable to find Black Wind King.
Gu Changqing followed closely behind: "The final selection is in three days. During these three days, you should give Black Wind King a good rest and recovery."
"I will," Gu Jiao replied.
Gu Changqing said, "The next round won't be in the military camp, so we need to be extra careful. If the Han family has any plans, I'll find a way to let you know."
Gu Jiao nodded: "You also need to be careful. Qi Xuan and Han Ye have seen you, so don't run into them."
Feeling pleased by her sister's concern, Gu Changqing readily agreed and nodded, "Okay."
As they spoke, the two arrived at the Black Wind King's stable.
Gu Jiao deliberately chose the most secluded stable, where no one would usually pass by. However, when the two arrived at the scene, they found two unconscious guards lying in the stable.
The guards were wearing the armor of the Han family's cavalry. One had a crooked nose and mouth, and the other had a bruised and swollen face; both were seriously injured.
Black Wind King stood arrogantly in place.
Gu Jiao inspected the Black Wind King's feeding trough: "It's poisoned. These two people came to poison the Black Wind King."
They hadn't expected the Black Wind King to be so powerful; their attempt to poison him failed, and instead, the Black Wind King kicked them unconscious.
Gu Jiao patted Black Wind King's head with satisfaction: "Boss is mighty, Boss is amazing!"
Gu Changqing looked at Black Wind King with some emotion: "What a fine horse."
...
Gu Changqing could not stay long. After giving a few instructions, he went to meet up with the Han family members.
Gu Jiao then led the Black Wind King out of the military camp.
Xiao Heng's carriage was parked on a side road not far away. Thinking that he had been cooped up in the carriage all day, Gu Jiao quickened her pace.
But when Gu Jiao arrived at the fork in the road, something troublesome happened.
There was a carriage parked on each side, one belonging to Xiao Heng and the other to the Duke's mansion.
The curtains on both carriages were lifted almost simultaneously, revealing the faces of Xiao Heng and the Duke of Anguo.
The two looked at Gu Jiao with anticipation and waited for her to get into the carriage.
Gu Jiao: "..."
Gu Jiao steeled herself and walked over, standing in front of the two carriages.
Master Jing poked his head out of the window: "Hey, Liu Lang, why aren't you getting in the car yet?"
Gu Jiao's eyes darted around as she quickly introduced, "This is Duke Anguo, this is Second Master Jing, and this is... my friend."
All four eyes turned to look at each other.
Duke Anguo's head couldn't turn, so Second Master Jing used his fingers to widen his eye sockets, wanting to see his elder brother's share as well!
Gu Jiao subtly lifted her foot towards Xiao Heng's direction.
A murderous aura burst forth from the Duke of Anguo.
Gu Jiao blinked and lifted her foot further toward Duke Anguo.
Xiao Heng's murderous aura also spread out in an instant.
Gu Jiao's little foot had nowhere to go, so she stood on one leg like a golden rooster.
It was Master Jing who got off the carriage and came to Xiao Heng's window, scrutinizing him carefully for a long time.
Suddenly, a slap landed on his head: "You brat! It really is you! What are you doing? Didn't you recognize the Duke's carriage? Didn't you know to come over and say hello? I thought someone had been standing here all day!"
The current emperor's eldest grandson, Xiao Heng, was completely bewildered by the call: "..."
Empress Xuanyuan is Xuanyuan Li's younger sister, and the Crown Princess and Xuanyuan Zi are cousins. According to seniority, Xuanyuan Zi is the eldest grandson's maternal aunt, while the Duke of Anguo is the eldest grandson's maternal uncle.
Shangguan Qing would stay at the small courtyard for a few days every time he returned to the capital. After Duke Anguo became a vegetable, he also secretly went to the mansion to visit him.
Outsiders were unaware of Shangguan Qing's private dealings with the Duke's mansion, but Second Master Jing was aware of them.
Judging from the slap that Master Jing slapped, Shangguan Qing had a very close relationship with his cousin-in-law and Master Jing.
Seeing Xiao Heng's silent demeanor, Master Jing asked incredulously, "What? It's only been a year, and you don't recognize me anymore?"
The persona can't collapse...
Xiao Heng smiled and said, "...We know each other."
Master Jing said irritably, "Then why didn't you call anyone?"
How would I know what Shangguan Qing calls you?
Duke Anguo is your maternal uncle, not your maternal uncle.
Master Jing said, "I thought you didn't even recognize me, your uncle."
Wait, shouldn't I politely call you Uncle Jing?
How did you become my uncle-in-law?
Is this how you try to get close to someone?
Master Jing, who could even trick Xuan Yuansheng into becoming his brother-in-law, said that tricking his sister's husband into becoming his brother-in-law was no big deal!
They didn't treat themselves like outsiders at all.
Thinking of something, Master Jing looked at Gu Jiao, then at Xiao Heng, and asked, "By the way, Liu Lang just said you're his friend. Do you know Liu Lang?"
“I…yes, we know each other. My mother was seriously injured, and it was Liu Lang who treated her. Now Liu Lang lives in the Qilin Palace, so it is convenient for him to continue treating my mother.”
"I see." Master Jing suddenly realized, without questioning the truth of the matter. Firstly, he had already heard about the Crown Princess's injury, and secondly, he had personally witnessed Xiao Liulang's medical skills.
"How is your mother?" Master Jing asked.
"The surgery was successful, and he has passed the critical period. He is currently recuperating at the Imperial Preceptor's Hall," Xiao Heng said.
Master Jing breathed a sigh of relief: "That's good."
Although the government announced that Shangguan Yan was out of danger, they were finally able to put their minds at ease after hearing the confirmation from Xiao Heng.
"Your voice has changed a bit," said Master Jing. "It sounds better than before. I knew it! Once a boy's voice changes, it's no longer that of a goose!"
Xiao Heng was so frightened that he broke out in a cold sweat.
Xiao Heng smiled and said, "Uncle is right."
"Come on, let's talk in the carriage! Your uncle is here too!"
Master Jing pulled Xiao Heng into the Duke's carriage, and Gu Jiao was also taken into the carriage.
Xiao Heng glanced at Gu Jiao without leaving a trace.
Gu Jiao glanced at the Duke and gave him a meaningful look.
Duke Anguo's gaze fell on Xiao Heng's handsome face.
Xiao Heng subconsciously touched the beauty mark painted on his right eye, and greeted him with a smile: "Uncle."
Duke Anguo's eyes flickered, and he dipped his fingertip in water, writing on the armrest: "I want to eat fruit, you two go and pick some."
“The two of us…” Second Master Jing counted in the carriage. His elder brother was in a wheelchair, and Shangguan Qing was ill. No matter how you looked at it, these two referred to him and Xiao Liulang.
He rarely showed any tacit understanding with his elder brother, and said to Gu Jiao, "Sixth Brother, I'll go pick some fruit over there."
"Oh." Gu Jiao stood up and glanced at Xiao Heng.
Xiao Heng nodded slightly to her.
Gu Jiao and Master Jing got off the carriage.
The Duke took in the subtle exchange between the two.
After the footsteps faded into the distance, the Duke wrote on the armrest: "You are not Shangguan Qing."
Xiao Heng pinched his fingertips.
The Duke continued writing: "Who are you to this little girl?"
It's a girl, not a boy.
Xiao Heng did not believe that the most talented scholar in Shengdu, who was full of knowledge, would make a mistake in writing a word.
There is only one possibility: he knew that Gu Jiao was a woman.
How did he find out? Did he discover it himself? Or did Gu Jiao tell him?
Gu Jiao participated in the selection of the Black Wind Cavalry commander under the identity of the adopted son of the Duke of Anguo. It was the Grand Preceptor who intervened, so Xiao Heng didn't think much of it.
However, it seems that Duke Anguo understands and cares about Gu Jiao more than he imagined.
Duke Anguo wrote it again: "Who are you to this little girl?"
This is the second time she's called a "little girl".
Xiao Heng was now completely certain that Gu Jiao's true gender had been exposed by the Duke of Anguo.
After recognizing that he was not Xiao Qing, the Duke of Anguo did not ask "Who are you?" or "Why are you impersonating Shangguan Qing?" but rather, "What is your relationship with Gu Jiao?"
This shows Gu Jiao's status in the eyes of the Duke of Anguo.
Why is Duke Anguo so concerned about Gu Jiao?
Just because Gu Jiao treated the Duke of Anguo's illness once or twice?
Many questions flashed through Xiao Heng's mind, but one thing he was certain of was that the Duke of Anguo would not harm Gu Jiao.
"I am her husband," Xiao Heng told the truth.
Duke Anguo's face immediately darkened.
(End of this chapter)
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