Chapter 394 Taking the opportunity to make a fortune
The topic of everyone in the room suddenly turned to the autumn exam at the end of the month.
Lu Xiang stared at Lu Mingzhu without blinking. She looked very proud and would show off Xiao Muheng from time to time. If you didn't know, you would think that Xiao Muheng had already won the top spot in the imperial examination.
Number one scholar, huh!
Living her life over again, she would take away little by little the things that Xiao Muheng cared about most.
Money, fame, status, power.
Lu Mingzhu behaved well the whole day and didn't do anything extreme. But before leaving the banquet, she went to see Lu Chao. She felt a sense of superiority from somewhere and irritated Lu Chao a lot.
Lu Xiang: “…”
Qi Lu went there, that's fine.
She didn't have to stop him.
As September approached, the atmosphere in the capital suddenly became tense.
Students from all over the country have gradually moved into the capital's inns of all sizes. Walking on the streets, you can see scholars everywhere, reciting poems and composing couplets with others in the street, in order to learn from each other's level.
The gambling houses also offered bets on the top three, and some bolder people even bet directly on who would be the top scorer. Some even offered bets on teacups.
Surprisingly, Xiao Muheng's fame spread across the capital, and many people were optimistic about his victory.
Thanks to Xiao Muheng's marriage to Liu Anyao, everyone in the capital city knew his name.
It goes without saying who released the news.
Some people secretly speculated that Prime Minister Liu might have interfered and directly had his son-in-law be given the top spot.
But those who understand know that no matter how powerful Prime Minister Liu is, he cannot do anything about this, because even if you pass the exam, there is still the palace examination, which is the final screening.
There was once a candidate who scored the highest in the Imperial Examination. However, when he entered the Golden Palace to take the palace examination in front of the emperor, his mind went blank. The policy essay he wrote was completely nonsense, so the emperor threw him out of the palace.
If he can pass the palace examination, it will be enough to prove that Xiao Muheng is a man of real talent and knowledge.
Therefore, most people still believe in Xiao Muheng's ability.
After Lu Xiang learned that someone had set up a gambling game, he asked Huo Yi to secretly go to other gambling houses to bet on Qiao Yuanan to win the championship, with a ten to one odds.
It is not unusual for someone to bet on the person they like to win the championship, but what is surprising is that this name appears in all major gambling houses.
In order to avoid suspicion, the two gambling houses, Zhaocai and Jinbao, also used this name.
One hundred taels are placed in each place.
Huo Yi watched as he spent nearly ten thousand taels of silver in one go, and thought that he would be able to get back ten times his investment in the end, so he felt like he was pumped up every day.
As for whether he would lose, Huo Yi had never thought about it. Since the Third Miss did this, she would definitely win.
Even if I lose in the end, it’s only ten thousand taels of silver, but what if I win?
"Where did this Qiao Yuanan come from?"
"I don't know. Is he famous?"
"I haven't heard of it. If he is really a great talent, how could he be so unknown?"
"Should we buy a ticket?"
"Forget it. Maybe someone is trying to make a fortune by creating momentum. There are tens of thousands of students in the world. If someone is really talented, who would hide it like this and let others know that their ability is not good? Maybe if you go to Beijing, you can catch the eye of some senior official and rise to the top."
"That makes sense. Xiao Muheng is Prime Minister Liu's son-in-law, so it's safer for him to win."
"Let's go, let's take this opportunity to make some money."
The day of the autumn test.
The weather is getting cooler, the blue sky is cloudless, and the sun is shining brightly like gold with a warm feeling.
Lu Chao returned to the Lu family three days ago. He had recovered from his injuries after such a long period of recuperation, but he just stayed in the Qiao family and didn't want to come back. The old lady was happy to see this.
Early in the morning, he went to Fuyuan Hall for breakfast, and everyone in the mansion gathered here.
Lu Youping looked at his son earnestly, with an expression of comfort on his face.
"The autumn examination is different from the provincial examination. The environment is more difficult. There are three sessions in total, lasting five days. Can your body withstand it?" Lu Youchan asked.
Lu Chao nodded: "Don't worry, father. I am well now. Qiao's pharmacy has prepared a lot of pills for emergency use, as well as mosquito and insect repellent. Now that the weather is getting cooler, the five days will pass quickly."
"The main thing is food. Mother Wen, are the dry food for the young master ready?" asked the old lady.
Mother Wen replied, "Madam, everything has been prepared according to your request, and a lot of dried meat has been made."
Although it is autumn, it is still a bit hot during the day, and food cannot be kept properly. The only way to keep it is to make it into dry food, which can be stored for a few days.
At this time, Bizhu came into the room and said, "Madam, Master, breakfast is ready."
The old lady stood up and looked at her grandson with a loving smile: "Let's go, have breakfast so we can go for the exam."
Lu Chao took the old lady's arm and said, "Grandma, just wait for my good news at home."
"So confident?" The old lady looked at him with a chuckle.
Lu Chao raised his chin slightly: "Of course."
His second brother-in-law personally verified his results, and he got his second uncle's nod.
Becoming a Jinshi or something like that is no problem.
Lu Xiang walked behind and looked at the smug Lu Chao, his face darkened.
You are already feeling proud before you even take the exam, and you are not afraid of making mistakes due to being too proud.
If this guy fails the exam, I'll beat him to death.
Lu Chao, who was helping the old lady to the side hall, suddenly felt a chill on the back of his neck...
As Qiao Yuanan packed up his things and walked to the door, he saw Qiao Jingru already sitting in his carriage. The curtain was lifted. When she saw her second brother, she hurried him, "Second brother, you are so slow. If you don't leave now, you will miss the time to enter the tribute hall."
"I'm going to take the exam, what are you doing with me?"
Qiao Jingru said as if it was a matter of course: "I'll take you there."
"Haha." Qiao Yuanan looked at Qiao Jingru meaningfully: "Are you sending me off or Lu Chao off?"
"You all have to go take the exam, so it's on the way." Qiao Jingru said with a sweet smile.
Qiao Yuanan snorted jealously and got into the carriage.
He is the incidental one.
At the same time, the Xiao family was also alarmed because Xiao Muheng was taking an exam.
In the front yard, Mr. and Mrs. Xiao looked at their son with great joy. Soon, very soon, their Xiao family would have a top scholar, which would improve their family's fortunes and bring honor to the ancestors. With the support of Prime Minister Liu, his rapid rise to fame was just around the corner.
"Son, study hard in the exam and don't feel stressed." Mr. Xiao patted Xiao Muheng on the shoulder and comforted him.
To him, his son's exam today was just a formality. With Liu Xiang protecting him, he was not afraid that he would not get the first place.
Xiao Muheng looked at the pride in his parents' eyes, lowered his eyes, nodded and said nothing more.
"Husband." Lu Mingzhu walked up to him and handed him a purse. "Here is the lucky number I got when I went to Huangjue Temple yesterday. If you carry it with you, you will surely win the first prize. I put mint in it, which has the effect of refreshing the mind."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
