The Grand Secretary’s Pampered Wife

Chapter 196 Will try (two more in one)

Snow fell at night, and in the morning the ground was covered with ice, which was slippery.

Gu Jiao had already prepared and spread the sand she had collected a few days ago on the ground of the corridor and yard.

She opened the courtyard door and wanted to pave the hutong as well, but she saw that the hutong was all paved, with sand, coal ash, and straw mats.

Gu Jiao was thinking about what was going on, when a neighbor not far away opened the courtyard door, stuck a head out of it and smiled at Gu Jiao, "Is Liu Lang going to take the exam?"

"Aunt Lu." Gu Jiao greeted her. She was one of the old lady's poker friends and had been to the house several times.

Gu Jiao understood that the road was paved by the neighbors, and each household used different materials, so the paving was colorful.

She always thought that their family was isolated, but the old lady did not know when they had let their family integrate into this alley.

Gu Jiao thanked him.

After that, several neighbors opened their doors, and they all said auspicious words like congratulations to Xiao Liulang High School.

Gu Jiao thanked them one by one.

Her gratitude comes from the heart, they are not Xiao Liulang's family, they are not obliged to do this for Xiao Liulang.

Their kindness is not duty, but affection.

Of course, there is also the aunt's credit.

It's not that my aunt was on good terms with them. She told them that Rokuro at home was going to take a scientific examination. They were afraid that they didn't even know that there was such a person in the alley.

Every household also hangs lanterns under the porch to light up the hutong, which is usually only for the New Year.

Gu Jiao curved the corners of her lips.

She likes Beijing.

Xiao Liulang also got up, and the two simply had breakfast.

Knowing that they would get up early today, they let Xiao Jingkong sleep in the old lady's house last night.

The carriage was waiting at the entrance of the alley early, but it was not the carriage of the old sacrificial wine, but the mansion of the Marquis of Xuanping.

Steward Liu bowed to Xiao Liulang and Gu Jiao and said with a smile, "Young Master, Young Madam, get in the car."

Not far away, Liu Quan stood aggrievedly beside another carriage. He came a step late and was robbed by this grandson!

They share the same surname, Liu, but they are not related in any way.

The iron hoofs and wheels of the Marquis of Xuanping's mansion are anti-skid according to the specifications of the war, so they can charge into the battle on ice and snow.

Xiao Liulang did not refuse.

He first sent the carriage to Lin Chengye's house to pick up Lin Chengye and Feng Lin,

Then go all the way to Gongyuan.

I don't know how many chariots and horses slipped on the road, but the horse-drawn chariot of the Marquis of Xuanping rode on the ground and arrived at its destination without the slightest influence.

They were the first to arrive, and the rest of the candidates were probably delayed by road conditions.

Gu Jiao put down the curtain and said, "Fortunately, today is only the entrance."

Xiao Liulang nodded.

Gu Jiao checked it once before going out, and now she took out his baggage and checked it a second time.

Xiao Liulang had to spend three days and two nights inside, and was not allowed to bring silver charcoal or a hand stove, so Gu Jiao had to pay attention to clothing and food.

Gu Jiao prepared a jar of dried peppers for all three of them. If it was really cold, she would chew some dried peppers. After all, the room was so small that she couldn't get up and run around.

In winter, there is no need to protect against mosquitoes, but it is necessary to protect against wind and cold. Gu Jiao also filled the three with cold medicine, the kind that won't make you fall asleep.

And frostbite cream.

The seats for the test are not assigned according to the grades, but are drawn on the spot.

Seeing that it was almost time, the three went down to draw a sign together.

The Gongyuan in the capital is much larger than the local Gongyuan. There are four examination rooms in the east, west, north, south and south. The three of them were selected in three examination rooms. No one was lucky.

Xiao Liulang is in the examination room No. 5 of the East Examination Hall.

The size of the examination room is the same as the place, but the walls are more clean. There are still two wooden boards in the examination room, one as a table and the other as a bench. When sleeping, the two wooden boards form a bed.

Futons are provided by Gongyuan.

After all, it is very cold, and it is not good to freeze the candidates.

The examination was invigilated by the Ministry of Rites, and the papers were graded by the Hanlin Academy.

As early as yesterday, the examiners of the Hanlin Academy had already entered the inner hall of the Gongyuan. Just like the rural exam, the inner curtain officials could not leave the inner hall until all the examination papers had been reviewed.

Not long after Xiao Liulang and the three entered the Gongyuan, other candidates showed up one after another, and Du Ruohan was not slow, he was the 20th.

Gu Jiao also gave him a small medicine bag.

Du Ruohan thanked him politely, but he didn't take it seriously, what a joke, how could he be sick with such a good health?

After giving the medicine pack to Du Ruohan, Gu Jiao didn't need to stay any longer.

"Let's go." Gu Jiao said.

Steward Liu asked from the outer seat, "Where is the young lady going?"

"The hospital." Gu Jiao said.

More than half a month has passed, and Gu Chenglin has not been discharged from the hospital, and Gu Jiao plans to drive him away!

Guanshi Liu's attitude towards Gu Jiao has changed a lot. Gu Jiao didn't ask why, but it is not difficult to guess from Xiao Liulang's attitude that he, the "illegitimate child", has already met Marquis Xuanping.

And Xuanping Hou's attitude towards him is not too contemptuous, otherwise Manager Liu would not have changed his face so quickly.

At this time, there is no hurry, and the carriage is driving slowly on the street.

Gu Jiao curiously admired the scenery along the way.

She's never been to this area, it's strange.

She was looking good when Manager Liu suddenly smiled and said, "Young madam, how did you and the young master know each other?"

Gu Jiao said, "You Xuanping Marquis Mansion is so powerful, can't you check it yourself?"

Of course I checked it out, isn't this asking you to verify it?

Liu Guanshi had already figured out the reason for his gaffe. This illegitimate son, Xiao Liulang, actually looked a lot like the deceased little Marquis.

The age is basically correct, that is, the birthday of Xiao Houye is in the twelfth lunar month, and the birthday of Xiao Liulang is in the first lunar month.

In fact, the interval should have been longer, but Xiaohou Ye was born a month premature.

He said to Marquis: "It's all your flesh and blood, brother, doesn't it look weird! Could it be that the dead little Marquis came back to life?"

His own Marquis obviously understands this truth, but he still has to inquire.

Liu Guanshi sneered and said, "Young madam, when you saw the young master, was there a mole under the young master's right eye?"

"No." Gu Jiao said.

Liu Guanshi said: "You don't have to answer so quickly, think about it carefully."

Gu Jiao said, "I see him a hundred and eighty times a day. Do I still need to think about whether there are moles on his face?"

Manager Liu was speechless.

Liu Guanshi thought to himself that he not only underestimated the young master, but also underestimated the young lady. He didn't have the slightest bit of poverty and sourness of a poor family child, and he was not easy to handle, nor easy to fool.

Really not a family, do not enter a door.

The carriage was driving on the streets of the southeast district. Due to the exam, several main streets were blocked, and only candidates were allowed to pass with the exam guide. They could no longer go back the same way they were on.

They changed streets.

The shops on this street are very novel, giving people a feeling of flowers and willows.

"What is that?" Gu Jiao asked, pointing to an attic on the left.

Guan Shi said, "Did the young lady say Cuixianglou? That's a brothel."

Is this the ancient brothel?

After being here for so long, Gu Jiao opened the curtains slightly and looked at the brothel in front of her curiously.

When Liu Guanshi looked back and saw her undisguised excitement, he frowned slightly.

From the girl's family, shouldn't you avoid it when you hear the brothel? Why are you still watching? Without blinking your eyes?

"What building is that?" Gu Jiao asked, pointing to another two-storey shop.

Guanshi Liu said, "Is it Yunle Pavilion? It's a theater."

"Listening to the play?" Gu Jiao asked.

Steward Liu paused and explained, "Men listen to the play."

Gu Jiao: "Oh."

The area of ​​Guozijian is a key school district in Zhaoguo, and it is not allowed to have such a place where people are drunk, let alone brothels and theaters. Gu Jiao has never seen a casino or a martial arts hall.

"Is that a casino?" Gu Jiao asked, pointing to a shop with big gambling words hanging in front of it.

Steward Liu: "Yes, young lady."

"What about that?"

"It's also a casino."

"Why didn't you write gambling?"

"It's a casino with a relatively high status."

"what about this?"

"auction."

Gu Jiao asked several places in succession. It was either a brothel, a martial arts hall, or a casino. Her eyes were bright, as if a green light was shining.

Steward Liu: ... Young Madam, are you really okay with this? When the Lord Hou asked back, it was really not my fault.

After passing this street, the storefront became much more serious, Gu Jiao was in a state of disinterest, yawned a little, and let down the curtain.

Steward Liu, who carefully selected the most prestigious street in the capital for Gu Jiao and was going to be introduced by a tour guide: "..."

When she reached the end of the street, a burst of shouts and quarrels caught Gu Jiao's attention. Gu Jiao opened the curtains and looked at the shops on the street: "What is this place?"

"This is Qingfeng Tower." Manager Liu said.

Gu Jiao's small head probed out: "It seems to be very lively, what are they doing?"

Manager Liu closed his eyes helplessly: "I bet that I will try."

Young lady, can you not always be attracted by these random things?

"What kind of bets will you try?" Gu Jiao asked.

"Ranking." Manager Liu said.

There are many gambling games like this in Beijing, but the most sensational is the Spring Festival, which is held every three years. The major casinos in Beijing will start the game and let the big guys come to bet. There are various things that are blocked. The third flower, the second place, the top ten in the meeting, the top ten in the palace test, etc.

The higher the ranking, the more expensive the minimum bet.

For example, in the top ten of the exam, the minimum is ten cents per bet, and in the top ten in the palace exam, the minimum becomes one hundred cents per bet.

It's not that the more expensive you are, the more you lose. It mainly depends on the number of people who bet. If all of them are next, then the odds of this person are extremely low.

The most popular character this year is Anjun Wang, from Huiyuan to the champion Yishui'er all bought him.

In contrast, the competition for the second place and the third flower is fiercer. The first son of the Chen family, the uncle of the Luo family, the first son of the Zhao family... Gu Jiao even saw Du Ruohan's name on the betting list.

Gu Jiao swept down from the beginning to the end, not to mention the top ten in the palace exam, she didn't even see Xiao Liulang's name in the top ten in the general exam.

what's the situation?

Is her husband not even worthy of the top ten?

"Young madam..." Director Liu followed behind Gu Jiao with a worried expression.

Although the major casinos in the capital have set up gambling tables, Qingfenglou is especially different. It is actually an elegant place. You can drink tea, taste wine, enjoy food, and even hear stories and songs. The top class in Beijing is gathered here. of celebrities.

Although my young lady is the daughter of the Hou's mansion, but she grew up in the countryside since she was a child, I'm afraid...

To put it bluntly, Steward Liu was worried that Gu Jiao would not be able to get on the stage, but he was not afraid of losing the face of the Marquis of Xuanping. Anyway, the Marquis was already shameless and skinless, but she was embarrassed and laughed at by others, and it was her who was uncomfortable.

Gu Jiao was in a hurry to go out and didn't bring any money. She turned to look at Manager Liu: "Did you bring any money?"

Manager Liu was taken aback.

Gu Jiao stretched out her hand and gestured at him to take out money.

Butler Liu didn't bring too much, just a few pieces of silver, plus the driver's total was only 12 taels.

Gu Jiao walked into the Qingfeng Building.

Xiao Er stepped forward and asked politely, "Girl, are you here to place a bet or drink tea?"

"I bet." Gu Jiao said.

To be honest, Gu Jiao's clothes are not luxurious, but every year at this time, many commoners come to bet, and there are still a lot of them.

Compared with those people, Gu Jiao had an erythema on her face.

Xiao Er was well-informed and did not lose his composure. He enthusiastically led Gu Jiao to the betting table and asked her, "Which gentleman do you want to bet?"

All the people who participated in the examination were well-known Juren, and it was not an exaggeration to call one Juren Master.

Gu Jiao said, "The person I want to drop is not on your list."

"Which bet are you going to bet?" Xiao Er said with a smile.

Gu Jiao said, "Huiyuan and Zhuangyuan."

"Yo, isn't it on top of this? Look!" Xiao Er pointed to the list hanging in the center of the lobby. The name of the King of Anjun was written under the Huiyuan and Zhuangyuan, and of course the names of several other candidates. Names, but it is obvious that the candidates are serving as a foil for the King of Anjun, and there are very few people who buy them, and they are all childcare.

Gu Jiao: "There are no candidates I want to bet on."

Xiao Er: "Then... who does the girl want to bet?"

Gu Jiao: "Xiao Liulang, the Imperial Supervisor."

The second said that he had not heard it.

Xiao Liulang still has a certain reputation in Guozijian. After all, there are not many freshmen who have been directly promoted to Xingxingtang. This year, there are only two, one is the Prince of Anjun, and the other is Xiao Liulang. Moreover, Xiao Liulang ranked first in the subsequent exams almost every time, and he also had a conflict with Zheng Siye.

It's just that those things happened inside the Guozijian. Who would know him outside the Guozijian?

There are not many famous nobles and hairpins in the capital, and there are not a few talented people who are famous. They may not be as good as Anjun Wang, but they are definitely not comparable to a poor boy from the countryside.

"I just want to bet on him, and I'll go to another house without me." Gu Jiao said, she really turned around and left.

This is a business that can make a profit without losing money. There is no such thing on the list, which means that the person is bad!

Xiao Er wouldn't miss this deal. He hurriedly stopped Gu Jiao and said with a smile, "Don't go, girl, I'll help you write your name! How much do you want to bet? The minimum bet for the top ten is..."

"Huiyuan, champion." Gu Jiao said.

Xiao Er was stunned: "You, that person are you going down?"

"Yeah." Gu Jiao nodded seriously.

Xiao Er glanced at her like a fool: "Okay, okay!"

I really don't know where the little idiot came from, this kind of note will be lost.

Xiao Er said, "One bet for Huiyuan is one tael of silver, and one bet for champion is five tael of silver. How much do you want to bet?"

Gu Jiao said, "All down."

Gu Jiao placed five bets on Huiyuan, and one bet on champion, which was exactly ten taels, all of which were Xiao Liulang's name.

At this point, Xiao Liulang's name finally appeared on the betting list.

Manager Liu shook his head.

Ten taels of silver, his 10 taels of silver, just tossed away in vain.

I really don't know where the young lady's confidence comes from, thinking that the young master can beat many talents in the capital to become the first, even if she is in the top ten.

Huiyuan? Scholar?

Dare to think!

Steward Liu followed and asked Gu Jiao in a low voice, "Young Madam, can we go?"

Gu Jiao paused, then suddenly looked at the list on the opposite side that was blocked by a translucent gauze curtain and said, "What is that list?"

"That..." Liu Guanshi frowned.

Xiao Er stepped forward smartly, smiled and said, "That's the hairpin list! You can also place bets!"

"What is the hairpin list?" Gu Jiao asked.

Xiao Er said: "The hairpin list is the list of girls, and it is the list that was announced at the end. The candidates who have passed the high school exam will take part in the palace exam personally presided over by His Majesty in April. He will be appointed by His Majesty to be the first-class jinshi, which is what we call the champion, the second-ranking man, and the third-flowering man. These three people will be able to parade through the streets with hairpins, and their flowers can be given away. Now the big guys are betting. Who can get the flowers of a first-class jinshi."

"Can I only get one?" Gu Jiao asked, blinking her eyes.

The corner of Xiao Er's mouth twitched, what do you mean you can only get one? Do you know how rare a flower is?

This flower is a gift from His Majesty, and it is of great significance. The general champion, second place, and third flower are not willing to give it away!

So the girls robbed them, and they had indeed robbed them before, but it was too disgraceful for the court, so the court banned flowers from looting.

There are only two ways to get the hairpin of the first-class jinshi: one is that the other party willingly sends it, and the other is to challenge the opponent.

Xiao Er sighed: "Girl, do you think, how talented are those who can be admitted to the first-class jinshi? Who can challenge them? Not to mention challenging them in martial arts, they can completely ignore what they are not good at. Challenge! So, unless they are willing to give it away, or a woman as smart as the Crown Princess."

Speaking of the Crown Princess, Xiao Er couldn't help but say a few more words: "Don't say it, girl, there are really people who have two hairpins."

Gu Jiao said calmly, "That Crown Princess?"

Xiao Er said with admiration on his face: "Yes, it's her! She challenged two first-class scholars one after another, and they all won! His Majesty said that she voted for the wrong daughter, otherwise what would happen to the boys?"

Gu Jiao had no feelings for the crown princess, she was only curious about who was on the hairpin list.

Xiao Er led her to take a look.

There are many names of famous ladies on the hairpin list, of course, not their real names. For example, the daughter of Luo Guogong's mansion is written as Miss Luo San.

The most vocal on the list are Miss Gu and Miss Zhuang Er.

You don't need to guess to know that the two are Gu Jinyu and Zhuang Yuexi.

Zhuang Yuexi is the younger sister of the King of Anjun, and the King of Anjun will definitely be the champion in high school. It is very likely that he will give the hairpin flower to his own sister.

As for why it wasn't given to Zhuang Mengdie, Zhuang Yuexi was a talented girl, and Zhuang Mengdie was a straw bag. Of course, everyone preferred the former.

Even so, Zhuang Mengdie is still on the list of hairpins, writing about Miss Zhuang Wu, who she bought herself, just to save face.

Under Gu Jinyu and Zhuang Yuexi, are Miss Luo San, Miss Thursday, Taoist Miaoyin...

Uh... how come even Taoist nuns are on the list?

Gu Jiao saw several familiar surnames on the list, which seemed to be several daughters of female students.

"Girl, do you want to bet on the hairpin list? Follow the big guy, you can't go wrong." The little two was referring to Gu Jinyu and Zhuang Yuexi, both of whom had a high probability of getting hairpins.

Gu Jiao is not interested in this.

Just when she was about to turn around and leave, a woman's playful voice came from the corridor on the second floor: "Come on, I want to bet!"

It is Zhuang Mengdie.

Gu Jiao looked up.

From her point of view, she could see Zhuang Mengdie walking from a wing holding Zhuang Yuexi's arm, both of them were wearing veils, and she could not be seen from their point of view.

The shopkeeper went upstairs in person and cupped his hands at the two of them: "Excuse me, Miss Zhuang, who do you want to bet on?"

Zhuang Mengdie said with a smile: "Place Miss Gu's bet!"

The shopkeeper said warmly, "How much do you want, I'll write it down for you!"

Zhuang Mengdie laughed sarcastically: "Wait, what I want to go down... is not Miss Gu, who is already on the list."

"Ah?" The shopkeeper was startled.

Zhuang Mengdie looked at the opposite wing: "It's Miss Gu from Ding'an Hou's Mansion! You probably don't know yet, this Miss Gu on the list is not a daughter of a Hou's mansion at all, just a peasant girl in the countryside! The real Miss Gu Family is someone else! You Qingfenglou has such a big board, and you can't even figure out the true and false of the person! I am really ashamed for you Qingfenglou!"

She scolded Qingfenglou on her lips, but who could not hear that she was mocking Gu Jinyu in innuendo?

Gu Jinyu also came to the betting scene today, she just wanted to see how popular her popularity was, who would have met the mad dog Zhuang Mengdie!

Qingfenglou is crowded with people. Once the news is released, the entire capital will soon know!

Gu Jinyu's face turned ashen.

Zhuang Mengdie was in a good mood, and left behind a copper plate.

That's right, the hairpin list is a copper plate and a bet.

Zhuang Mengdie only made one bet.

After half an hour, Gu Jiao's name appeared alone in the last place on the hairpin list.