"It’s just a stroke of luck!" In fact, Gu Chengyu was also surprised to have achieved first place, as he only aid to be within the top ten in the academy exams. Being in the top ten is referred to as ’Bingsheng,’ which not only exempts one from more taxes on land but also provides additional inco, such as acting as a guarantor.
In the second round, more than four hundred candidates were admitted, with He Shunian and his group in the middle, while Gu Wanhua was at the bottom, ranking ninety-eighth from last. However, he was very pleased because for him, it was enough to pass. As for how he got to this point, he found it unimaginable.
Gu Chengyu was preparing to leave and glanced to his right at the crowd, but to his surprise, he spotted two familiar faces. One was a young candidate in a lake-blue robe, holding a fan, laughing and chatting with another candidate beside him, seemingly having done well!
Gu Chengyu recognized him as the scholar he had encountered in that alley. As he passed by, he overheard the candidates envying the scholar’s good ranking, predicting he would surely pass the final round.
The scholar modestly claid that he had studied by lamplight until the third watch of the night before the exam. Gu Chengyu shook his head with a smile, thinking, ’Where was he studying by lamplight exactly?’
The other familiar candidate was, of course, Senior Brother Huang, Huang Ming, who hadn’t noticed him and was squeezing his way out of the crowd. After Gu Chengyu partially guessed his intentions last ti, he decided to avoid interacting with such people and urged Gu Wanhua and the others to hurry up!
But it seed too late, as Huang Ming had already spotted Gu Chengyu through the crowd.
"Junior Brother Gu!" Huang Ming didn’t have an easy ti squeezing out of the crowd and imdiately hurried over to Gu Chengyu and his group’s side.
"Oh? It’s Senior Brother Huang? I was wondering why I hadn’t seen Senior Brother Huang yet! Looks like we’ve run into each other." Although Gu Chengyu didn’t like him, he didn’t wish to embarrass him either.
"Yes! We just happened to et right now! You see, there are too many people at this Prefecture exam, it’s hard to run into anyone. Which inn are you staying at? I haven’t seen you anywhere before!" In fact, Huang Ming was a bit puzzled too. He strolled around several larger inns hoping to run into Gu Chengyu, but he never did!
"We’re staying at the Liuhe Inn! Oh? Where’s Senior Brother Qian? Isn’t he with you?" Gu Chengyu looked around but did not see any trace of Qian Gui.
"Ah! It’s a pity! Senior Brother Qian failed and left for ho yesterday!" Huang Ming was genuinely regretful, as losing a roommate ant having to pay more for the room.
"Oh! That’s really unfortunate. We happen to be free today. How about I host, and Senior Brother Huang must grace us with your presence?" Though last ti was an excuse, Gu Chengyu felt obliged to follow through.
"Then I won’t be polite with Junior Brother Gu. I’d rather go visit your inn; I don’t know it yet! I’m unfamiliar with this Prefecture, and I have no idea where the Liuhe Inn is located?" Seeing that Gu Chengyu genuinely wanted to treat them, Huang Ming promptly agreed. He originally wanted to get close to him, so this fit perfectly with his plan.
Gu Wanhua and the others behind him found it a bit odd; Huang Ming was indeed enthusiastic and sowhat presumptuous.
Gu Chengyu had no choice but to agree to take Huang Ming to his inn.
"Are you staying at the Liuhe Inn?" Just then, a nearby candidate suddenly chid in.
"Yes! Is there sothing wrong with that?" He Shunian looked at the candidate with a puzzled expression due to the odd look on the candidate’s face.
The candidate glanced at the group, making them quite uncomfortable, and then shook his head, "I guess you haven’t heard! Scholars typically don’t stay at that inn."
Ye Zhiqiu and the others found it sowhat inexplicable. Could it be related to thieves at the inn? However, Gu Chengyu thought of the alley behind the inn where his room faced directly when the window was opened. He had noticed more than one house with those flirtatious won.
The windows in Ye Zhiqiu’s room didn’t face the sa way, so he couldn’t see as clearly! Perhaps they hadn’t paid attention.
"Brother, are you referring to the mountain bandits?" Manager Niu had grandly escorted the mountain bandits to the governnt office, sothing many people had seen, and it was the talk of the streets for days.
The candidate first gave a mysterious smile and then ambiguously said to the group, "You really haven’t noticed the alley behind the inn? That’s a place of indulgence! Previously, so candidates stayed there, gazing at the beautiful won all day, unable to focus on studying. Isn’t failing exams expected? Over ti, no scholars dared to stay there. You all have impressive self-control not to be swayed by beauty. I truly admire you!"
"So according to what you say, staying at that inn and failing exams is all because the alley houses beautiful won?"
Sun Xian scoffed at such an idea, knowing that last-minute cramming for exams only works to so extent, and much depends on regular accumulations. Moreover, getting distracted by beautiful won is due to one’s lack of self-control; why bla others?
Gu Chengyu also felt it was nonsense, as if failing the exam was all blad on won?
"I don’t know much now, but I heard before that those won, seeing scholars boarding at the inn, would flaunt themselves from their windows. Anyway, take care of yourselves!" The scholar glanced at them, sighed, and then walked away.
"Ahem! I haven’t seen anything. I spend all my ti in the room studying; who has ti for such distractions?" When Sun Xian noticed his future brother-in-law glancing at him, he quickly clarified.
He was five years older than Gu Wan, now seventeen, and marriage would have to wait until Gu Wan reached adulthood, at least another three years. He feared Gu Chengyu might distrust him, thinking he could be tempted by those won.
"Oh? Is that so?" Ye Zhiqiu was a bit surprised, having not noticed anything outside his window during his stay. He typically focused exclusively on reading the Holy Books, paying no attention to the outside world.
Gu Chengyu wasn’t worried about Ye Zhiqiu; still young and possibly naïve. However, for the other three, one was already married while the other two were engaged; he wondered whether they could maintain their resolve!
Sun Xian hurriedly made his stance clear, while He Shunian was completely at a loss. In contrast, Gu Chengyu noticed Gu Wanhua appeared sowhat uneasy, with his ears turning red! Being married, Gu Wanhua understood matters between n and won, so it seed Gu Chengyu needed to keep a closer eye on him to prevent him from letting down his virtuous niece-in-law at ho.
"Since that fellow said so, I think Junior Brother Gu might be better off switching inns. Even if everyone focuses solely on the exam, being talked about is never good!" Huang Ming advised while walking alongside Gu Chengyu and his companions.
"Worry not, Senior Brother Huang, let the innocent remain innocent!" Gu Chengyu felt they were just being dragged into unnecessary rumors, as the inn and the alley had nothing in common.
The group returned to the Liuhe Inn and asked Manager Niu to serve so simple dishes. Huang Ming, skillful in words, praised each of them to the skies like dragons and phoenixes among n but kept intentionally and unintentionally ntioning Gu Chengyu’s family background.
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