Autumn Examination; Scholar Lin Lu

A couple of days ago, Liu Yexi had already made the arrangements, so Mu Yuyan wasn't worried. But it was good that Gu Lan could study at home, avoiding unnecessary troubles outside, and Mu Yuyan could personally protect him.

Hmm, this seems like the reverse of the story my husband mentioned a few days ago, The Schoolgirl's Bodyguard. Well, not exactly...

Mu Yuyan appeared calm on the surface, but her thoughts were lively.

"Don't worry, my dear, I won't tire myself out with too much imperial examination preparation," Gu Lan nodded, smiling. His fingertips brushed through the green strands of hair, "As I mentioned before, studying is not for the purpose of becoming an official. My lady, have you forgotten?"

"It's a good thing that my husband has such noble aspirations," Mu Yuyan said. Of course, she didn't know the real reason he wasn't pursuing an official career. She just thought about his emotional speech, and her heartstrings were touched, brimming with tenderness.

Whether to absorb the shark pearl tonight or not...

Gu Lan was contemplating but couldn't help lowering his head and lightly kissed her on the lips. Mu Yuyan's entire body went soft.

"My dear..."

"Yes?"

"The moonlight tonight... is beautiful."

...

Half a month passed in the blink of an eye.

After Wu Feng escaped from danger, he immediately bought a good horse and galloped towards the capital.

Bearing deep hatred, he couldn't afford to stay too long, even after being saved!

Hearing that the female Emperor was not intervening in court affairs, Wu Feng was worried that she wouldn't deal with this matter. So, he initially planned to go directly and strike the Grievance Drum, announce Heavenly Sword Sect's heinous crimes engraved in stone tablets before the imperial city gates, and seek justice for his father.

However, things were out of his expectation!

On the night he arrived, the current Prime Minister, Sima Qin, came to see him. Holding the female Emperor's edict, he appointed Wu Feng as the Governor of Yunzhou, allowing him to inherit his father's legacy!

Wu Feng was dumbfounded!

Following that, he learned that the female Emperor had already executed Duan Pei, posthumously titled his father as the Marquis Ningyun, and he couldn't help but weep bitterly. Facing the direction of the palace, he performed three kowtows and nine prostrations.

"The Wu family will repay your Majesty's kindness!"

After returning to Yun Province, when the news spread among the common people in the capital, they were talking about it everywhere:

"Her Majesty is wise and discerning, relieving the Wu family's grievances. The Great Jing now has another loyal ministerial family!"

"In the future, there should be fewer demons in Yun Province. No need to worry anymore!"

...

Gradually, through this tale, whether among the common people or officials, the impression of the female Emperor was gradually changing.

...

On the long street of Langzhou, under the autumn breeze.

Today was the day for signing up for the autumn imperial examination.

Gu Lan came to the government office—Yamen, and saw a long queue. At the front, a Runner of Yamen was recording the names.

"Transmigration has this one drawback – no online registration!"

Gu Lan murmured softly as he walked to the back of the line.

Of course, he wouldn't foolishly stand in line.

Although the sun wasn't scorching today, standing for a long time still made one feel uncomfortable.

Those scholars in the queue were already showing signs of impatience, repeatedly pounding their waists and legs, showing discomfort.

Gu Lan bypassed the line and went straight to a small stall, ordered a glass of cold tea, and quietly waited for the crowd to thin out.

At this moment, Gu Lan suddenly noticed a mysterious figure at the end of the line.

It was a scholar wearing a blue headscarf and simple white Confucian robes, with a rather handsome appearance.

What made him mysterious was that he kept letting people take his place!

Although he started as the last person, every time someone else came to sign up, he let them stand in front of him.

After half a day of queuing, he was still the last one!

"Interesting," Gu Lan smiled slightly.

As the sun was setting, the number of pedestrians on the street gradually decreased. Gu Lan placed a silver coin on the table and calmly walked towards the registration line.

The scholar was still at the end.

Seeing Gu Lan approaching, he appeared a bit tired, but he still smiled and made a gesture of invitation, "Brother, you can stand in front of me; I'm not in a hurry."

If you're not in a hurry, why did you come so early? Letting people take your place one by one... Gu Lan thought, then put on a smile and bowed, "Thank you, brother. May I ask for your name, please?"

"My name is Lin Lu," the scholar responded politely.

Lin Lu... Gu Lan nodded, checked the names of important characters in the original text, and found that his name wasn't there. Feeling relieved, he spoke, "I am Gu Lan, pleased to meet you, Brother Lin!"

"Brother Gu, do you happen to be the owner of the Gu's teahouse?" Lin Lu suddenly asked.

"That teahouse is indeed mine," Gu Lan, not surprised to be recognized. He moved here from somewhere else, and there was only him with the surname Gu in the city after all.

"Ah! I must truly thank Brother Gu! Before the new year, my sister planted two acres of tea, but after the harvest, no tea merchant wanted it. In the end, it was you who bought it, resolving our urgent situation!" Lin Lu suddenly clasped his fists, gratitude filling his eyes.

Gu Lan had some recollection of this matter. It was a deal his wife made at the end of the last year. They didn’t earn any money from the deal; it was considered as a good deed and a bit of help towards the Lu brother and sister.

"It's a small matter, Brother Lin, no need to be polite," Gu Lan said casually. Growing more familiar, Gu Lan asked, "Earlier, I noticed that Brother Lin kept giving up your place for others, yet you hesitated to sign up yourself. May I know the reason?"

Lin Lu felt a bit embarrassed, scratched his head, and chuckled, "Actually, the main reason is that I don't want to take the exam... I came here to sign up to appease my family..."

Oh, there's someone like me... Gu Lan's eyes lit up. But why do you want to sign up?

"Brother Lin, haven’t you prepared for it?"

"Cough, of course not!" Lin Lu was choked a bit but explained, "It's just that my aspirations don't lie here. I don't want to waste this unjust money."

The imperial examination required fees, and the expenses increased if one progressed to the National University.

Lin Lu didn't want his sister, who worked hard to plant tea to support his studies, to bear that burden.

"What do you want to do then?" Gu Lan asked curiously.

"To tell you the truth, Brother Gu, I actually want to go to the battlefield!" Lin Lu's eyes were high-spirited, and his delicate face showed a touch of heroism, "There, not only can I receive rations, but there's also a chance to become a cultivator. Much better than being a scholar!"

Gu Lan looked at his physique and felt that this guy seemed to lack a clear self-awareness.

There's indeed a chance on the battlefield, but I'm afraid you might not survive to become a cultivator!

"What’s your sister’s opinions?"

"Well, she’s worried about me." Lin Lu answered honestly, "I’m the only son in our family, and she really can't do without me. But she doesn't know that a family like ours won't be able to raise a high-ranking official with money..."

Hearing his words, Gu Lan was deeply moved. Money, indeed, in any world, it determines one's destiny.

"Perhaps, your sister might not..." Gu Lan fell silent for a while and was about to speak words of comfort.

At this moment, a loud and unruly voice disrupted the serene dusk.

"Make way, make way! The sun is almost setting, and I must register today!"

A young man in luxurious purple attire barged through, not waiting at the end of the line but walking directly to the yamen official recording names at the front.

It was clear he intended to cut in! Gu Lan frowned and asked, "Who is this?"

"He's from the Li family, Li Yang, a worthless guy," replied the scholars in the line, not hiding their displeasure.

"He has been taking the exams for eight years and never made it. Later, he used his connections in the yamen to buy the position of a scholar."

"As scholars, we find him most despicable!"

"Who allowed him to have a 'good sister'? She happened to marry into our prefectural governor's family. Although she's just a concubine, she can still influence some decisions. Bringing 'honor' to their Li family!"

"Spit!"

"..."