Squire Zhongs gaze meant exactly this. There are dozens of provinces in Jin country. Each province sends at least two or three hundred people to the capital. Which metropolitan exam does not have over ten thousand participants? With this kind of result as the foundation, after the metropolitan exam results come out he is afraid it will rank behind several thousand names.
This provincial exam ranking looked quite shabby. He could not help sighing. One hundred and six. In principle the old master is a person who knows the score. The one he trained should not have this kind of foundation and still be sent out! The hope of passing the exam is not great yet he still insists on coming to take it. He came but did not come to the Zhong residence. What does he want to do?
Du Fei was also puzzled and could not answer.
Squire Zhong looked at the card. Liangtao County in Liezhou. This is probably the place where the old master is living in seclusion. The old masters hometown is not in Liezhou either. How did he end up running off to Liezhou?
Du Fei asked. It looks like he still does not want to show his face or let us know he has come. What should we do?
Squire Zhong asked back. Can he decide that? My daughter is almost twenty. Have you seen many families whose daughters at the age of twenty are still not married? How many people are pointing fingers behind our backs? My wife and I feel more pressure year after year and we are stifled. Even if the old master himself came he would still have to give me an explanation. What kind of situation is it when he comes but hides and refuses to see us?
Du Fei broke into a small sweat. That is true as well.
Squire Zhong said. I feel that boy is a bit sneaky. Do not let him stir up any trouble. You go personally.
Good. Du Fei agreed. He casually set the overturned round stool upright before leaving.
Squire Zhong sat down again. He lifted the teacup several times but could not bring it to his mouth. He could not drink. He looked at the content on the card and repeatedly sighed. How could it be one hundred and six? With this result there is no way to stay in the capital to fill a vacancy…
Right at that moment a person bounced out from outside the door. It was Wen Ruowei. Dad hurry up. It is time to set off.
Madam Zhongs figure appeared right after. Yes we should hurry. At least we need to reach Lingci Mountain in time for lunch right?
Squire Zhong looked towards his two daughters at the door. Your mother and I have something to discuss. You two go back first and wait.
Then you two hurry up. Wen Ruowei was somewhat dissatisfied but was forcibly dragged away by her elder sister Zhong Ruochen.
Madam Zhong sat down opposite her husband. You look like you have something on your mind. What is wrong?
Squire Zhong said. Forget about Lingci Mountain. We are not going.
Madam Zhong was stunned. She subconsciously raised her hand to adjust the golden hairpin in her hair bun. She had finally dressed up to her own satisfaction. If they suddenly did not go how unwilling she would feel. Lingci Mountain is only open to the public once a year. There is only this one chance in a whole year. Your two daughters have prepared everything. The steward side has also prepared. We are just waiting for you alone. What matter is so important that it makes everyone unhappy?
Squire Zhong handed the card in his hand to her and let her see for herself.
Madam Zhong took the card with suspicion and flipped through it. As she looked her facial expression gradually stiffened. She slowly stood up and asked carefully. The son of that person has come?
Yes. Squire Zhong nodded and raised his chin. You should be able to understand the things written above right? He has come to the capital to take the exam.
Madam Zhong said. How come we did not hear even a whisper of news beforehand?
Squire Zhong said. They did not publicise it. He first circled around outside the Zhong residence. I do not know what he means by that.
Such a thing suddenly happening meant that even if Madam Zhong wanted to go to Lingci Mountain she no longer had any interest now. She looked at the card for a while longer then asked with suspicion. How did the provincial exam ranking end up after the one hundredth place? Can he pass the golden list with this? Or does that person have connections to help his son through the back door?
I do not know. Once we see the person it will naturally become clear.
…
In the garden Wen Ruowei who was being pulled along by her elder sister suddenly said. Sister have you noticed that dads expression seems a bit off?
Zhong Ruochen had noticed it and nodded.
Wen Ruowei said. Sister I feel something is not right. We will not end up not going to Lingci Mountain right?
Zhong Ruochen was silent for a moment. If we cannot go then we cannot go. Dads matter is more important.
How can that be? It is only once a year opportunity. Wen Ruowei甩 off her elder sisters hand and turned to run. I am going to eavesdrop a bit.
Ruowei. Zhong Ruochen called out but the person had already run off and she could not stop her.
Wen Ruowei ran all the way to outside her parents courtyard. Then like a thief she lifted her skirt and slowly crept to the main room door. She leaned against the wall and quietly eavesdropped.
She did not know what she heard but she suddenly covered her own mouth with a face full of shock.
After continuing to eavesdrop for a while her arm suddenly hurt. She turned back and saw a small stone had hit her arm. Looking up she discovered a guard standing on the courtyard wall pointing at her in a warning manner.
Wen Ruowei stuck out her tongue and carefully left again.
Once out of the courtyard she hurriedly lifted her skirt and ran quickly all the way back to the garden.
Zhong Ruochen was just about to scold her a couple of times but Wen Ruowei leaned on her shoulder and whispered first. Sister Lingci Mountain is definitely not happening and there is no need to go. Even if you let me go I would not go either. I definitely have to stay behind and watch. She had a face that said I have a huge secret.
Zhong Ruochen was surprised. Stay behind to watch what?
She did not quite understand what on a day like today could be more worth watching than the flower sea at Lingci Mountain.
Wen Ruowei blinked repeatedly. Watch the future brother in law!
… Zhong Ruochen was stunned then immediately pushed away her younger sister who was leaning on her shoulder and turned to leave. She felt her younger sister was teasing her again.
Ah. Wen Ruowei stamped her foot ran over to pull her elder sister and said in her ear. Sister I finally understand now why the family is not in a hurry to marry you off. It turns out you were already engaged long ago. Your fiance seems to be the son of a big shot. Something from the Ministry of Works yes the head of the Ministry of Works. The future brother in law seems to be the son of the former head of the Ministry of Works. The person seems to have already come to the capital and is staying at some guild hall. He came to take this metropolitan exam. Steward Du seems to have already gone to pick him up.
… Zhong Ruochen instinctively thought her younger sister was lying because this younger sister loved to joke or could be said to often trick people. Yet the more she listened the more something felt wrong. Words like head of the Ministry of Works were not terms her younger sister would normally use. It also did not seem like a lie that could be verified immediately.
Which young girl does not dream of romance? She herself had often secretly wondered before why her family was not anxious at all when she had already passed the age for marriage.
Now after hearing this explanation her heart was suddenly tossed up and down. She pushed her younger sister away again. What nonsense are you saying? How could such a thing be hidden?
This time it was her turn to hurriedly leave as if escaping.
Sister it is true. Steward Du has already gone to pick him up. We will be able to see him in a while…
Liezhou Guild Hall.
After registering Yu Qing wandered out again. He stretched lazily right outside the guild hall gate.
The carriage waiting on one side of the guild hall immediately came trotting over and stopped. The coachman jumped down and smiled. Is it Young Master A? I am Li Gui from Shengji Carriage Shop. Old Sun had his arm smashed by a fallen staircase when he went out and cannot lift it. The carriage shop had to let me fill in. Please get on the carriage.
Yu Qing became more cautious. He pulled open the carriage curtain and took a look. Seeing the chair he had bought yesterday inside he then got on the carriage.
Coachman Li Gui sat on the carriage shaft and asked. Young Master A where do you plan to go look at today?
Yu Qing said. Go for a stroll around the imperial palace area.
This was his first time in the capital. He had not yet seen what the imperial palace looked like. He definitely wanted to see it.
Alright. Sit tight. Li Gui gave a shout cracked the horse whip and the carriage moved forward at a steady pace.
Yu Qing lifted up the carriage door curtain and window curtains again. With three sides open it was perfect for enjoying the scenery. Yesterday the time was late and the sky was dark so he had seen a night view. Today in broad daylight it was perfect to take in the capital scenery.
Things like studying and preparing for the exam he would not even think about because there was no need. When the time came he would finish the matters and leave.
He no longer planned to touch the Zhong family situation. He had thought it over carefully last night and made the final decision. He would not go to the Zhong family on this trip.
Nothing else. He simply felt that meeting Ah Shihengs fiancee was too ridiculous.
Making this decision was not easy. The Zhong family was so rich. It was a big piece of fat meat. Just touching it would grease one hand!
After making the decision he felt relaxed. He might as well stroll around the capital properly and find out the information he wanted. Then he could sell the fire cricket for a high price at that time. That would be proper income.
He did not know when Xu Fei would give him those four thousand taels of silver.
Today he had specially asked for Xu Feis registered address from the guild hall side. He still needed to find out the location later to guard against Xu Fei reneging on the debt.
Just as he was looking at the street scenery outside the carriage with many thoughts in his mind he suddenly sat up alertly. He discovered that the carriage had already left the street and entered a quiet alley.
Feeling something was wrong he immediately asked. Li Gui where is this going?
Li Gui turned back and smiled. Taking a shortcut to the imperial palace.
As soon as his words fell a person suddenly flashed out from the doorway of a household the carriage was passing. He directly darted into the carriage.
Yu Qing was greatly alarmed and abruptly drew his sword.
The newcomer sent a palm strike through the air. Yu Qing immediately felt a powerful force assaulting him. The half drawn sword was forcibly pressed back by the force through the air. The chair he was sitting on instantly broke into pieces. The person was already carried flying. When his figure stabilised again the newcomer had already locked his throat and sat with him side by side on the back seat.
Yo your vigilance is quite high and your reaction is quite fast. The newcomer teased with mockery. There was surprise in his eyes. Only after making a move did he discover that Yu Qing actually had upper martial realm cultivation. He looked at Yu Qings posture of wanting to draw the sword. Able in both civil and martial arts. A bit interesting.
Saying this was actually because a misjudgement had occurred.
Someone who could pass the provincial exam at this age must have spent most of their time and energy on studying. He had thought Yu Qings佩 sword was just an accessory. Only now did he discover the misjudgement. He could not help feeling glad that he had come personally. Otherwise he might have let this fellow escape.
He was none other than Du Fei the chief guard steward of the Zhong residence.
As soon as the other party made a move he suppressed him so that he could not move at all. Yu Qing immediately judged the other partys cultivation. A profound level expert!
He was already cursing in his heart. He did not know what bad luck he had walked into this time coming out. He kept running into profound level experts one after another in groups. Even sitting in a carriage for a stroll he could be kidnapped by a profound level expert. It was really seeing a ghost. Did it still let people live or not?
The carriage had already left the alley and reached the bustling street again. The curtains and such had also been lowered.
Yu Qings tightly stretched heartstrings relaxed a little. It did not look like they wanted to kill him. It indeed looked like a kidnapping.
But he could not figure it out. After arriving in the capital he seemed to have not provoked anyone. How could he be worth a profound level expert coming to kidnap him? Could it be that he had shown off his wealth?
He suspected that renting this carriage for one or two taels of silver a day was too flashy. He felt a bit regretful that money and such were all on him. They should have been left at the guild hall.
Of course he also suspected whether Xu Fei had sent them.