"Actually, young master, you don’t know! I have made a big deal this ti in the Capital, which earned so silver, but I have offended quite a few people. Oh! This is my follower Hui An, although he has so skills, two fists are no match for four hands! Yesterday, Hui An said that the young master’s martial skills are excellent, so we would like to ask you to protect us for a while. Once we reach the Capital, there will be a generous reward!"
Mr. Hu feigned a troubled expression and explained his predicant.
Gu Chengyu pretended to ponder, then shook his head as if helplessly.
"Originally, although Mr. Hu and I are re acquaintances, we hit it off well, and this help I could lend. It’s just unfortunate timing, as I’m returning ho this ti and haven’t seen my parents for over two months. Now my heart is eager to return. Moreover, in a month or two, I will have to go to the Capital to study, so I am afraid I am unable to assist with Mr. Hu’s matters!"
Gu Chengyu had actually guessed that the other party was interested in his martial skills. But this Mr. Hu seed like an official. Officials cannot leave their posts lightly unless it’s a festival, so he must be on so mission this ti.
And it might even be a secret mission, possibly extrely dangerous. Judging by his attire, although he seed to be posing as a rchant, which wasn’t very convincing in his eyes, he could still fool the ordinary person. A rchant would dress well to enhance his business presence, but there’s just one valuable thumb ring on his entire body.
Besides, he isn’t short of silver and would not undertake such a task. He is still a scholar, and it’s best to avoid getting involved in court matters. It’s possible those River Bandits are targeting Mr. Hu, which could be very dangerous. Gu Chengyu planned to stay away from him.
"Oh? Are you a scholar?" It wasn’t that Gu Chengyu didn’t look like a scholar, but no scholar has such martial skills.
Gu Chengyu smiled silently. Since the other party had stated his purpose, it was ti for him to take his leave.
"You returned at this ti, could it be for the spring examination of the scholars? Oh! This year there was the youngest scholar, could it be you?"
Hu Maoshen was shocked. He originally thought if Gu Chengyu agreed, he would not hesitate to reveal his identity and plan for the other party, even securing a military position. With such high martial skills, the Holy Emperor cherished talents and would not disagree.
The journey to Fengding Prefecture would certainly be perilous, and he truly needed such a person for protection. However, the other party was the youngest scholar of the Dayan Dynasty and had great hopes of making it to the Golden List in the spring examination three years later. How could such a person agree?
In such a case, he could only stop entertaining the idea.
"Forgive my audacity, may I ask if your surna is Gu?"
"Indeed!" Gu Chengyu nodded in agreent.
"Then it is quite a pity. I didn’t expect you to be the literary renowned Gu Jieyuan."
Gu Chengyu believed the other party was at least a court official and couldn’t offend him because he too would be taking the examinations to beco an official. In the future on the court, they would et often. Moreover, the other party might hold a high position, so the final formalities were necessary.
After Gu Chengyu left, Hui An stepped forward and asked, "Sir! I didn’t expect him to be the top scorer of the Provincial Examination! I don’t know how he learned such skills. I thought his inner strength was deep due to consuming so rare treasures since childhood."
"The Gu Family was originally just rural farrs. The good days have only co in recent years; consuming rare treasures is likely impossible." Hu Maoshen pondered that those River Bandits might indeed be after them, indicating their movents had been leaked. He was hesitating about whether to request more personnel from the Holy Emperor?
As for Gu Chengyu, everyone in the Capital knew of him. Because he rose to fa as a young man, these officials certainly knew about him and, even more so, were clear about what Gu Chengyu’s ancestors did for three generations. The difference lies in the officials who inquire and those who disdain, not even putting Gu Chengyu in their eyes!
"Did he start learning from the cradle?" Hui An felt a bit indignant—he had practiced martial arts for over twenty years to hone his skills, yet this eleven-year-old boy was so incredible?
"This person is not to be underestimated. Reportedly, he is heading to the Imperial College in the Capital. It seems the Capital will soon see so turbulences."
Gu Chengyu, bringing Ming Mo, returned to the cabin, and by then, the passengers outside had dispersed.
He instructed Ming Yan to fetch water and prepare to wash and sleep. Unexpectedly, there was another knock on the door.
Gu Chengyu felt a headache coming on. After handling an old fox, could he not get any rest?
Ming Yan also felt it was unusual to be disturbed so late. It seed soone else had a request?
"Go and check. Besides Senior Brother Sun and the others, tell them I’m asleep!" Gu Chengyu needed to sort out his thoughts; listening to Mr. Hu, it seed he intended to go to Fengding Prefecture, and what he was doing was indeed dangerous; otherwise, he wouldn’t have wanted protection.
He recalled three years ago when he went to the Prefecture for exams and encountered thieves while staying at Liuhe Inn. Prefect Jiang told him not to intervene, and the matter was left unsettled. He hadn’t heard of any caravan robbery cases in Fengding Prefecture since.
Could it be related to that matter? Prefect Jiang was also very secretive when discussing it at the ti.
"Young Master, it’s the steward of the ship at the door. I’ve sent him away," Ming Yan ca to report.
"Hmm! Has sothing happened with the River Bandits?" The ship’s steward wouldn’t approach him without reason; was soone severely injured among the bandits and unable to hold on?
"No, it’s rather that there was originally a scholar on the ship, and passing through checkpoints can get tax exemption. But that scholar was involved in the conflict and got slightly injured, now resting in bed. When we boarded, we ntioned you as a scholar, so he ca to ask if the young master could stand on the boat during the checkpoint."
"Standing on the boat" ant that during checkpoint crossings, a scholar or top scorer stood at the boat’s front to secure tax exemption for the vessel.
Upon hearing this, Gu Chengyu lost interest imdiately. It was already very late, and for soone accustod to sleeping early and rising early since arriving in ancient tis, it was already bedti.
The next day, Gu Chengyu got up feeling refreshed. After finishing his painting, he noticed Ming Mo approaching with a gossiping look. He held a food box that didn’t seem to belong to the ship.
"Young Master! This was sent by Mrs. Gao from upstairs. Since you were painting, I didn’t allow her to co in and disturb you. She left the food box and departed."
Gu Chengyu finally understood why Ming Mo looked so gossipy. The matter of rescuing the mistress and servant upstairs had beco known to Ming Mo and the others later. At the ti, Ming Mo even jokingly called him a hero saving the beauty, which Gu Chengyu sternly reprimanded.
This wasn’t the village, and the rules of the wealthy were strict. If anyone heard, wouldn’t it ruin the girl’s reputation? Therefore, he ordered them not to speak carelessly, not even to proclaim life-saving grace.
A young girl experiencing such an incident and having it spread could very well destroy her with rumors that can kill.
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