Chapter 137 Chapter 137 Touring the Boat
In the evening, Yu Li came to the Imperial Examination Hall to pick up Fu Wenxiao. Seeing that he was in good spirits, he felt relieved.
When Fu Wenxiao returned to the Wang family's house, he was greeted with various soups and waters to nourish his body. They were all specially prepared by Mr. Wang in the kitchen to nourish Fu Wenxiao.
In the words of Mr. Wang, Brother Fu has endured a whole day in the Imperial Examination Hall and must rest up more.
During the day, Yu Li heard Mr. Wang muttering, wondering if Fu Wenxiao had been assigned to the bad cell. If so, he was afraid he wouldn't be able to survive for a quarter of an hour.
You know, Nanjun Province is still hot and humid just after the Mid-Autumn Festival, with no signs of cooling down.
With so many people staying in the Imperial Examination Hall in such weather, you can imagine what the environment would be like. If you are assigned to the stinky cell, you can only wish for good luck. Those who are more particular will probably faint from the fumes.
Yu Li asked Fu Wenxiao if he was assigned a bad number.
"That's not the case." Fu Wenxiao said with a smile, "My luck is pretty good. I'm far away from the stinky hole."
Yu Li felt relieved after hearing this, "The next exam will be in two days, you should take a good rest during these two days."
During these two days, Fu Wenxiao indeed rested well in the house, and even Mr. Wang did not come to disturb him.
Yu Li stayed with him at the house, and when he had nothing to do, he would practice physical skills with him or read books with him.
Of course, Fu Wenxiao read serious books, while Yu Li read storybooks.
These words were originally sent to her by Mo Yuchan.
The two of them played together for several days in a row, and the relationship between Yu Li and Mo Yuchan made rapid progress. Now they felt like close friends, and coupled with the grace of saving her life, Mo Yuchan really wanted to give Yu Li everything she liked.
Knowing that Yu Li would be at home accompanying her husband who was about to take an exam, Mo Yuchan was afraid that she would be bored, so she had some storybooks sent to her to help her pass the time.
These days, Yu Li took a look at it when he had nothing to do.
Mo Yuchan didn't like those traditional stories about aristocratic ladies and scholars in love, but preferred those about the supernatural. Some of the stories in these stories were very imaginative and interesting, and Yu Li also read them with great interest.
Fu Wenxiao also flipped through it when he had nothing to do. When he saw the content about "reincarnation" in the storybook, he couldn't help but look at her.
"Why are you looking at me?" Yu Li asked in confusion.
Fu Wenxiao said implicitly: "Look at these... Is it okay?"
"What's the matter?" Yu Li was a little confused by him and looked at the script in his hand again. She had already read this book and didn't see any problems.
Fu Wenxiao looked at her for a while and smiled: "Nothing, I just wanted to ask you, does it look good?"
Yu Li said: "It's quite interesting."
Then she shared the plot of the story with him with great joy. This was the first time in her two lives that she had read such a fantasy novel and she enjoyed it very much.
But thinking that he hadn't finished the college entrance examination yet, she couldn't let him be distracted, so she stopped the topic and said seriously: "If you want to watch it, wait until after the college entrance examination."
As she spoke, she took away all the books and put them somewhere he couldn't reach.
Fu Wenxiao laughed and didn't insist on watching.
Although he felt that reading some storybooks would not distract him, since she cared about herself, he decided not to read them.
Two days later, Fu Wenxiao went to the Imperial Academy to take the exam again.
After this exam, the college entrance examination will finally be over, and the results will be available in about ten days.
-
After the college entrance examination, Yu Li confirmed that Fu Wenxiao was in good health and went out with him to play.
Previously, because he had to attend a gathering of scholars in the provincial capital and prepare for the college entrance examination, Yu Li went out to play with Mrs. Wang and Mo Yuchan. The two of them had never gone out together before.
For this reason, Fu Wenxiao specifically mentioned it, implicitly expressing that he also wanted to travel to the provincial capital with her.
After hearing this, Yu Li's first thought was that he was really clingy. His second thought was that he was the partner he had chosen after all, and as a partner, it was her responsibility to go along with him as long as it didn't involve principles.
She readily agreed to go out with him.
When Mrs. Wang heard that they were going out for a trip, she arranged a carriage and food for them, and told them what fun places there were in the provincial capital and which places were suitable for young people.
In fact, it is suitable for young couples and lovers.
When Mr. Wang heard that they were going out for a trip, he also wanted to go with them. Unfortunately, before he could open his mouth, he was stopped by Mrs. Wang.
After the young couple left, Mrs. Wang scolded them, "They want to have fun together, why do you, a grown man, get involved? Or do you think I am wronged because I am staying at home with you?"
At this point, she gave him a proper smile.
Mr. Wang shook his head hurriedly, "How could that be? It is my great honor that Madam can accompany me, so I am naturally happy." Then he suggested, "In fact, we can also accompany them to play, so that the four of us can have company."
Mrs. Wang almost burst out laughing.
This idiot!
Mrs. Wang stretched out her hand and pinched her husband's ear, and said with a smile, "What's the big deal about four people? They just want to go out and play together as a couple. If we go with them, even if we are a couple, it will not be as comfortable as just a young couple." Then she added, "Think about you back then. If we went out to play and my eldest brother and his wife also followed us, what would you think?"
Mr. Wang thought about it and realized that it was indeed the case.
He had no choice but to give up with regret.
-
After the college entrance examination, the provincial capital became even more lively.
In some brothels in the provincial capital, young scholars can be seen coming and going at any time. They come out to relax after the college entrance examination and before the announcement of the results.
When the results are announced, some will be happy while others will be sad. I won’t be in the mood to relax.
Therefore, many students take this opportunity to relax and guess who will be in the top ten of the college examination. The top candidates in the provincial examinations in each prefecture are mentioned the most, so they will definitely be in the top ten.
The one who was mentioned most often was Fu Wenxiao, the top candidate in the Qing'an Prefecture case.
Anyone who has seen Fu Wenxiao will be impressed by his demeanor.
The Daqing Dynasty has always been fond of beauty. Regardless of Fu Wenxiao's knowledge, his handsome appearance and outstanding demeanor alone made the scholars yearn for him.
After discussing academic matters with him and reading his articles, they were even more convinced.
Fu Wenxiao's reputation spread quickly in the provincial capital, and many people knew him.
Even the beautiful ladies in the brothels and pleasure boats in the provincial capital had heard of the title of the top candidate in the Qing'an Prefecture and wanted to meet him. They sent him invitations and invited him to meet in the pleasure boats.
These posts were stopped by Mrs. Wang before they were handed to Fu Wenxiao.
Mrs. Wang thought to herself, the young couple has a good relationship, aren't these brothels and pleasure boats that send invitations to Fu Wenxiao disgusting?
There is a large lake in the provincial capital with many brothels and pleasure boats on the lake, which is also a unique scene in the provincial capital.
The beauties on the painting boats were all women who sold their art but not their bodies. They were multi-talented and had always been known as talented women, which attracted many men who claimed to be talented and romantic men to board the painting boats and spend a lot of money.
Those talented and romantic men also considered it an honor to receive invitations from the painting boats. The more invitations they received, the more famous and popular they were.
"Wouldn't that be a bad idea?" Mr. Wang said, "After all, this is a letter to Brother Fu."
It always feels a bit bad to stop him like this.
Mrs. Wang looked at him with a smile, "Why do you think it's not good? Do you want to go too?"
When Mr. Wang saw the smile on her face, his hair stood on end and he quickly shook his head: "Of course I don't want to go. What's the point of going there? I'd rather stay at home with my wife!"
Madam Wang looked at him for a long time, and finally let him go, saying, "Mr. Fu is not that kind of person. He only has Li Niang in his heart. How could he accept such a letter?" She snorted, "I'm afraid he won't even take a look at it."
In that case, why hand it to him?
Mr. Wang echoed, "That's true. Brother Fu is a passionate man. He only has his sister-in-law in his heart, just like I only have my wife in my heart." Then he added, "No wonder Brother Fu and I get along so well. We both love our wives equally."
Mrs. Wang almost laughed out loud when she heard his boasting.
You and Fu Wenxiao get along well, isn't it just you who shamelessly got close to him and wouldn't let go?
Seeing how happy he was, Mrs. Wang smiled and didn't discourage him.
In the evening, Yu Li and Fu Wenxiao came back from outing and just in time saw the steward coming in holding a letter.
Mrs. Wang didn't expect that they would meet by chance, so she gave the post to Fu Wenxiao.
"What is this?" Yu Li asked curiously, "Who posted this for you?"
She had long been accustomed to Fu Wenxiao receiving all kinds of posts, so it was not too surprising. However, today's post was a little different. It was painted with delicate patterns, and when she got close, she could smell a faint fragrance, like the fragrance of a woman, which made people imagine a lot.
Fu Wenxiao just took a look at it and put it down, even picking up a handkerchief to wipe his hands, trying to wipe off the smell on his fingers.
He said calmly: "Some insignificant people."
Yu Li picked it up curiously and took a look, then soon realized something, "Xiao brother, it's the girl from the brothel who sent you a message."
After staying in the provincial capital for some time, she also knew that there was a den of money-making in the provincial capital, which was the brothel and painting boat.
The girls there only sell their art but not their bodies. I heard that they have excellent literary talent and are well-known talented ladies and beauties, and are very popular among men.
But she didn't expect that those pleasure boats would actually send invitations to Fu Wenxiao.
She felt a little unhappy, stared at Fu Wenxiao, and asked, "Do you want to go?"
Fu Wenxiao shook his head, "No."
After confirming that he didn't want to go, Yu Li smiled and said, "It's good that you don't go. I heard that the cost of a night there is very expensive, several times more expensive than a meal I had in a restaurant."
With that money, she could have several meals at the best restaurant in the provincial capital.
The food in the provincial capital's restaurants is indeed very expensive. Even if she has money, she can't afford to eat there often.
Fu Wenxiao couldn't help laughing when he heard her compare the money he spent on meals in the restaurant with the expenses on the pleasure boat.
Only she would make such a comparison, and it is so real.
While wiping his hands, he said, "Don't worry, Li Niang, I won't go there. It's really too expensive, and there's nothing fun there."
"Really?" Yu Li tilted his head to look at him, "But many men want to go, do you really not want to go?" Then he added, "Actually, I want to go too."
She hasn't cruised on a pleasure boat yet.
Fu Wenxiao's heart skipped a beat. He looked at her carefully and found that she actually wanted to go and was very curious about the place.
He didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "If you want to go on a pleasure boat, I'll go with you tomorrow. We'll rent a pleasure boat and go on a lake cruise. We won't go to places like that. They're too expensive."
The words "too expensive" instantly dispelled Yu Li's idea.
Indeed, the cost of a night in the painting boat is so expensive that it feels like everyone who goes there is being taken advantage of. Wouldn’t it be better to save the money to buy food?
Fu Wenxiao wiped his hands for a while, but felt that the fragrance on his hands still could not be eliminated, so he went to wash his hands.
When he came out after washing his hands, he found Yu Li flipping through the post and asked, "Mother Li, what are you doing?"
"This post smells so good." Yu Li turned around and said to him, "I want to smell what it is, it smells really good."
Fu Wenxiao came over and held her hand. "If you like, you can go to the perfume shop and buy perfume to rub your body, or I can make incense and perfume for you. I know how to make perfume."
"real?"
Yu Li looked at him with wide eyes.
He hummed, took the post from her hand, threw it into the bamboo basket for garbage, and then took her to wash her hands.
As the saying goes, one can identify a beauty by her scent. This scent should be special to a certain woman, and he doesn't like this scent to remain on her.
If she likes, he can make a fragrance that is unique to her.
-
The next day, Fu Wen and Yu Li went to cruise the lake.
It was the time of clear and crisp autumn weather, and gusts of wind blew across the lake, dispelling the unique heat of autumn.
There are also many seasonal delicacies prepared in the pleasure boat. You can sit there and enjoy the scenery of the lake while enjoying the food, which is particularly comfortable.
Yu Li was very happy. She felt that cruising on a painting boat was indeed a happy thing. No wonder all those men wanted to go cruising on a painting boat.
When she said this to Fu Wenxiao, Fu Wenxiao's expression was a little subtle.
Men go to brothels and pleasure boats, but they don't go there just for the pleasure boats.
Yu Li felt that he was looking down on her, and said, "I know, they also have romantic affairs with the beauties on the pleasure boats." Then she asked him, "Xiao brother, you seem to know a lot, have you been there?"
Fu Wenxiao: “…”
Seeing her staring at him seriously, Fu Wenxiao remembered what she once said, "A couple is two people together, and betrayal is absolutely not allowed." She took this matter very seriously. Everything else was fine, but betrayal was absolutely not allowed.
This betrayal is not only spiritual, but also physical.
"I've heard about it before." Fu Wenxiao said casually, "But I've never been there."
He was glad that he had disliked that kind of occasion before, and naturally he would not like it in the future.
Yu Li said "oh", withdrew his gaze, and continued to happily enjoy the food while appreciating the scenery.
At this time, a pleasure boat came from the opposite side.
This pleasure boat is extremely luxurious, more gorgeous than all the other pleasure boats on the lake. It is like a house floating on the lake, with carved beams and painted buildings, magnificent and stunning.
The sound of stringed instruments came from the painted boat.
Yu Li lay by the window, looked out curiously, and saw a group of dancers dancing in the houseboat opposite.
In the center of the pleasure boat, a man in brocade clothes was sitting there drinking, with two beautiful dancers in his arms, who were feeding him wine.
Perhaps noticing her gaze, the man suddenly turned his head and met her eyes as she lay by the window.
The man was stunned for a moment, and his drunken eyes stared at her closely with a look of amazement in them.
At this moment, a hand reached out, supported on the window frame, and then pulled back the girl who was lying on the window looking out.
The man stared at the hand and felt that it was slender, with distinct joints, and was so beautiful that he could imagine that the owner of the hand was a rare beauty just by looking at it.
Beauty is not divided by gender, both men and women can be called beauties.
As the two pleasure boats passed each other, the man also caught a glimpse of another person in the opposite pleasure boat.
He was a man dressed in a plain green robe. Although it was only a side profile, he was stunningly handsome, like a banished immortal. A quick glance at him made people feel like they were falling into a dream, unable to distinguish between illusion and reality.
The man suddenly sobered up a little.
He sat up suddenly, leaned out hastily, and looked at the departing pleasure boat in front of him in doubt, wondering if he had seen it wrong.
A dancer came over and said in a soft voice, "Little Prince, what's wrong with you?"
The man pushed her away, his eyes fixed on the pleasure boat. His handsome face, which was soaked in alcohol, looked sharp and cold instead of confused.
The dancers present were a little scared and no one dared to come over.
It was not until the pleasure boat went away and intertwined with the surrounding pleasure boats, making it difficult to tell which was which, that the man sat back with a gloomy and uncertain look on his face, picked up the wine and drank it all in one gulp.
A dancer approached him carefully and poured him a glass of wine.
At this time, she heard the man muttering: "It shouldn't be him. He was poisoned. Even if he escaped by chance, he wouldn't be alive now..."
Although he said so, the veins on his hand holding the wine glass were exposed.
**
While Yu Li and Fu Wenxiao were touring the city, at the Imperial Examination Hall, Mo Xuezheng and a group of examiners were busy reviewing the test papers.
Unlike the county and prefectural examinations, the names of the candidates in the academy examinations had to be covered, and it took a lot of effort just to cover the names and reveal them.
Although the work was tedious, Mo Xuezheng did not find it hard.
Now he just wanted to quickly read through all the candidates' papers one by one, and then find out the paper that might be "Fu Xiao's".
He presided over the two examinations of the Imperial Examination Hall, and the candidates had to salute him when entering the hall twice.
He was completely unprepared for the first time. When Mo Xuezheng saw "Fu Xiao" saluting him, he was so scared that his heart almost jumped out of his chest and he couldn't recover for most of the day.
The second time, he was prepared and was finally able to observe carefully.
This observation made him more and more suspicious that the man was actually "Fu Xiao" himself.
Fu Xiao, the former prince of the Zhenguo Duke, was praised by the saints as "a talented and beautiful jade" when he was young, which shows that he has both good looks and talents. His appearance is so beautiful that it is rare to see him, not to mention his talent, which even the emperor's teacher Yao Zhengqian praised.
There is only one person like this in the world, and there will never be another one.
No one can replace him, or become him.
So when he saw the student who looked like "Fu Xiao", no matter how unwilling Mo Xuezheng was to believe it, he had to accept the fact.
Mo Xuezheng was frightened.
How can it not be scary that someone who died a few years ago suddenly appears and shows up here to take the college entrance examination?
What's even more frightening is, why did he show up like this? Is there some conspiracy?
Although Mo Xuezheng was frightened, he could not do anything, and he did not dare to reveal his identity in public.
He could only pretend he was ignorant and didn't know him, and even hoped that this was just a man who looked like Master Fu.
No one knew the pain in Mo Xuezheng's heart. Everyone saw him marking the papers quickly with his bright eyes, and they all admired his energy.
When Mo Xuezheng saw the paper handed over by an examiner, he felt that everything was settled.
The paper is neat and the handwriting is clear, which is satisfactory at first glance. These are not the main points. The main point is the article above, which is liked by all examiners.
This article is so well written that it is amazing and stunning.
"Master Mo, the essay on this paper is really great."
"Yeah, I don't know who this guy is."
"Could it be Su Shaoyu from Hanzhou Academy?"
"Impossible. Although Su Shaoyu has good literary talent, his writing is still lacking in quality. He can't write such an article."
…………
Mo Xuezheng had a blank expression on his face and did not participate in their discussion.
Until someone asked: "Master Mo, do you know which student this paper belongs to?"
Mo Xuezheng said: "I don't know either, but I think that anyone who can write such an article must be talented and good-looking."
When everyone heard this, they all looked confused.
They believe in talent, but why "good looks"? Can you tell whether someone is good-looking from an article?
They have never heard of this truth: people who write well must be good-looking?
With such doubts, when the papers were unveiled, everyone finally saw the names clearly.
Fu Wenxiao!
"This Fu Wenxiao seems to be the top candidate in the Qing'an Prefecture's examination." An examiner said, "I have an impression of this boy. He has a very good appearance."
Others chimed in: “I remember him, too.”
Good-looking people always attract attention. During the college entrance examination, the examiners naturally noticed Fu Wenxiao. Even if he did nothing, just sitting there, he was very eye-catching and people couldn't help but notice him.
As he spoke, someone turned to ask Mo Xue Zheng.
"Sir Mo, you are right. People who write well tend to be good-looking." Although this sounded like a joke, it was also a small form of flattery.
Someone else asked, "Master Mo, did you know that this paper was from Fu Wenxiao of Qing'an Prefecture?"
Mo Xuezheng said calmly: "I do have some guesses."
But he didn't expect that Fu Wenxiao would be the one, as can be seen from this article, and...
Mo Xue Zheng suddenly felt extremely panicked. He had not forgotten what his wife and daughter had told him, that the husband of Miss Yu who saved their daughter was called Fu Wenxiao.
This is really such a coincidence.
Mo Xuezheng even suspected that Fu Wenxiao had played a role in this. Otherwise, how could it be so coincidental that his wife was the one who saved his daughter?
No, Master Fu is actually married?
Mo Xuezheng finally thought of this, and his pupils trembled slightly.
The man who was originally thought to be dead, not only was he not dead, but he also quietly found a girl to marry - Mo Xuezheng began to suspect that Fu Wenxiao had actually fled the capital on purpose?
Does the saint know about this?
Or did the saint already know this, or even tacitly approve it?
Otherwise, why was the Saint so calm when the news of Prince Fu's "death" was announced? You should know that the Saint has always doted on this nephew, and this doting directly bypassed those princes and was unique.
Thinking of this, Mo Xuezheng suddenly calmed down.
If this is true, then when he faces Master Fu, he has to pretend that he doesn't know his identity.
When the others heard what Mo Xuezheng said, they all looked enlightened.
"I see!"
"That makes sense. I heard that Fu Wenxiao from Qing'an Prefecture writes very well. After coming to the provincial capital, he participated in several literary gatherings, and the students in the provincial capital admired him very much."
After chatting for a while, everyone decided on the rankings for this college entrance examination. Without a doubt, everyone thought that Fu Wenxiao should be first.
When Mo Xuezheng picked Fu Wenxiao as the first place, he felt a little emotional.
Prince Fu came to take part in the college entrance examination under an assumed name, clearly to bully those students.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
