Connections Arranged by the Imperial Announcements Bureau

If you want to know who curses the most fiercely in the world, it must be scholars!

After a round of satire and counter-satire, they directly exposed Li Yang's background.

It turned out he was a low-quality playboy...

Those with strength and a bit arrogant were called antagonists; those without strength but still arrogant were called nonentities. Gu Lan naturally wouldn't waste time on nonentities.

However, at this moment, the queue suddenly became chaotic!

"No more spots for today. You can come back tomorrow!"

The yamen official had been writing all day and was visibly tired. Seeing that it was getting late, he directly called it a day, his tone filled with impatience.

The scholars at the front lowered their heads in disappointment and frustration.

Helplessly, they could only move their sore legs and prepare to go home.

However...

Li Yang, who had just arrived, was different. It seemed like he didn't pay attention to the yamen runner’s words and went straight to the registration desk.

"What’s up?"

The runner obviously knew him.

"Bro, make it easy for me. I don't want to come here for nothing. Add one more name for me." Li Yang said, and the scholars around him showed signs of annoyance.

They had been queuing diligently all day without complaining, and now, this newcomer wanted to ignore the rules?

The runner also gave him a disdainful look, "No way!"

"Hey bro, you might not know who my sister is."

Li Yang smirked.

"Who is your sister? Just a servant girl in the lord's residence. Get lost!"

The runner, hearing him speaking in such a domineering manner, felt displeased.

Moreover, he wasn’t foolish enough to make an expectation for someone who didn’t even bribe him...

Li Yang's smile disappeared instantly, and his face turned unpleasant!

He thought he was a young master, but everyone knew he was just the younger brother of a maidservant!

"This is a tough guy."

Gu Lan chuckled.

People around also laughed.

"Hey, he’s speaking the truth!"

"A rooster is just a rooster, even if it flies up to a branch. It won't become a phoenix!"

"..."

On the side, Lin Lu remained silent.

When he heard that the runner said they were done for the day, he felt quite relieved.

Because now he could go back and tell his sister that he couldn't register today and couldn't pay the registration fee.

Being able to postpone it for a day meant one more day for his sister to gather the money...

"Brother Gu, I'll go home first. My sister is still waiting for me."

"Sure."

Gu Lan waved goodbye.

At this moment, the yamen official, who was stretching his legs, walked over. He happened to overhear their conversation.

The yamen official looked Gu Lan up and down, his eyes somewhat hesitant.

"This young sir, are you... by any chance, Mr. Gu Lan from the Gu's teahouse?"

Huh??

This runner was already the center of attention, and when he asked this question, all the scholars who hadn't gone home turned their eyes to them.

Including Li Yang, who had just been humiliated.

"Yes, I am. Do you know me?" Gu Lan raised an eyebrow.

Today was indeed strange; his surname had unexpectedly high recognition.

"I don't know you, but..."

The yamen official hesitated halfway through his words, seemingly unsure of Gu Lan's identity. He quickly said, "Wait for me here; I'll go inform the Prefectural Governor Lord."

"Alright."

Gu Lan nodded, feeling a bit puzzled.

At this moment, the looks from the people around changed!

"Brother, do you know our Prefectural Governor Lord in Langzhou City?"

"I don't know."

Gu Lan replied casually.

"Then why did the yamen official suddenly become patient, and would even go to inform Prefectural Governor Lord for you?"

"Brother, you have connections with Prefectural Governor Lord and still patiently queue up. Truly, you are a man who doesn't reveal his true nature!"

"..."

For a while, everyone was talking in a flattering tone, all carrying an element of praise, hinting at Li Yang, the one with the fake connections.

Li Yang, left aside, was quite frustrated. He looked at Gu Lan with eyes full of envy.

"Prefectural Governor Lord has already gone to bed. How could he come because of this guy? A bunch of fools! Haven’ you seen that the yamen official wasn't sure just now?"

Li Yang, constrained by his pride, retorted with a bit of sarcasm.

But at this moment, before he could finish his sentence, the lights that had been off in the yamen suddenly lit up, and the central door, symbolizing important matters, slowly opened!

Two columns of yamen officials ran out in formation, and an old man in a blue official robe with a black gauze hat walked out with a smile on his face!

Wasn't this the current Prefectural Governor Lord of Langzhou?

Seeing him, Li Yang was taken aback. He was about to shout "Brother-in-law" as usual.

However, he heard the Prefectural Governor Lord respectfully inquire!

"May I ask... which one is Gu Lan?"

Li Yang was instantly petrified!

"Here."

Gu Lan waved his hand helplessly.

Seeing his handsome face, the Prefectural Governor Lord's green beans-like eyes immediately lit up. It seemed that he had confirmed Gu Lan's identity!

"Oh, Mr. Gu, isn't it a coincidence!"

"The registration list for today has just one spot left! Here, the Autumn Examination – Langzhou Bureau of Civil Affairs, number 295. It's your examination number; please keep it safe!"

The Prefectural Governor Lord said flatteringly, his face almost turning into a lump of wrinkles as he bent down and handed a small iron plate to Gu Lan.

The scholars present were all dumbfounded!

Damn, didn't they say that Prefectural Governor Lord likes to act like a high-ranking official? Why is he so amiable with Gu Lan? Almost kneeling down and kowtowing!

Now he’s playing the loving father!

"Are you sure you haven't mistaken the person?" Gu Lan asked in confusion.

"Of course not... and, didn't I say there's indeed one spot left, Mr. Gu, please rest assured!" The Prefectural Governor Lord said joyfully. "By the way, Mr. Gu, I am Dou Fu. In the future, I hope you will give me more guidance!"

Everyone: !!!

The Prefectural Governor Lord, with such a manner, used such a respectful address to someone like a low-ranking yamen official. It was simply outrageous...

Gu Lan was also puzzled. But Dou Fu seemed afraid to say more, and hurriedly said that he had something to do and took people back to the house before Gu Lan could ask him what was going on.

Li Yang, still wanting to approach and say a few flattering words, ended up being ignored by the Prefectural Governor Lord. Irritated, he kicked stone lion nearby!

The lights in the prefectural yamen all went out!

On the long street, at this moment, it was silent!

Gu Lan looked at the examination number in his hand, wondering if it was a friend of the original host's ancestors, who happened to have become an official in the court and knew that he would participate in the Autumn Examinations this year. Thus, he made this arrangement?

But who this bigwig could it be to make the Prefectural Governor Lord act like this?

"Haha! Brother Gu, you're so lucky. Success is just around the corner!"

Lin Lu envied him a bit, but his eyes were clear, full of blessings, without the jealousy seen in others' eyes.

"If I told you I don’t know him and had absolute no idea about it, do you believe it?" Gu Lan shrugged.

"I believe you, but Brother Gu is usually generous, and perhaps, unintentionally, you made some friends. It's hard to say." Lin Lu felt that such good fortune should happen to good people like Gu Lan.

"Brother Gu, my sister is still waiting for me. Farewell!"

"Hey, that... you should still go for the exam. If you really pass, I can lend you money!"

"...Alright."

...

After the outside completely returned to silence, in the dark yamen, Dou Fu asked the yamen official who was peeping outside through the door crack, "Did Mr. Gu and the others leave?"

"They've left, my lord."

"Phew! That's good, that's good. This matter is finally settled. I can finally go back and get a good night's sleep!"

"Isn't it a bit too much, my lord? These days, you couldn't sleep well. Is it because of this?"

"You know nothing!"

Dou Fu rolled his eyes and said in a low voice, "Do you know who arranged the special treatment for Mr. Gu? If I tell you, it might scare you to death!"

"Who?"

Seeing him so serious, the yamen official also felt a bit timid.

"It was the one from the Imperial Announcements Bureau in the capital!" Dou Fu stared at him with his eyes wide open and said in a low voice.

The Imperial Announcements Bureau oversaw the officials, and even the high-ranking officials in the court trembled whenever mentioned it... In this world, who could manipulate the Imperial Announcements Bureau?

For a moment, the small yamen official's mouth gaped open, shocked enough to sit on the ground!

Damn...