Yu Shu found a small courtyard in the east of the city. It was originally for the students who were going to the capital to take the exam. Because the students who lived here moved out before they could take the exam in February, the house was empty. The furniture was ready-made. The kitchen fire was only sealed for a few days, so there was no problem with the feng shui.
The landlord was an auntie who was over 50 years old. Her husband's surname was Yan. Her family had a vinegar business. She was very straightforward. When she saw Yu Shu dressed up and heard that she was an examinee of this year's Dayan examination, her widowed mother came to the capital with her maidservant, she immediately agreed to rent the house to her. She took her to the village head's house on the next street to sign the lease and set the rent at eight taels of silver a month. Yu Shu paid thirty taels of silver in advance.
Auntie Yan also warmly helped her with the trivial things such as unpacking the quilt and making the bed. She asked her to bring people to live here the day after tomorrow. Yu Shu gave her another ingot of silver and left after thanking her.
Yu Shu went out early in the morning. When she finished these things, it was almost dusk. She didn't have time to eat lunch. On the way back, she bought a roll on the street and ate it while walking home. This place was remote and there were no carriages, so she could only rely on her feet. At this time, Yu Shu misses her last life's carriage very much. It couldn't fly, but at least it had four wheels, so it was convenient to go anywhere.
Fortunately, Zhao Hui's house was also in the east of the city, not too far away. When Yu Shu was about to walk to the door, a carriage passed by her and stopped. The coachman, Lao Chui, smiled at Yu Shu. The curtain behind the carriage was opened. Xue Rui, who had changed into casual clothes, jumped out of the carriage and walked to her.
"Brother?" Yu Shu was a little surprised to see Xue Rui. She thought he was busy with work these days. She didn't expect that he had time to come to see her.
"Where have you been?" Xue Rui looked at her loose robe and remembered the day he met her in Autumn Osmanthus Lane. He remembered her appearance when she was setting up a stall on the roadside. Seeing her changed into a man's dress, he couldn't help but ask curiously.
"Uh, it's a long story. Let's go. We'll talk about it when we get back. " Yu Shu didn't intend to hide the fact that Xue Rui had gone to the Ji family to "steal" someone, but it was inconvenient to talk on the street, so she led him to her home.
There was still a long way to go. Xue Rui waved his hand and signaled Lao Chui to drive the car first, then slowly walked back with Yu Shu. Xue Rui was about half a foot taller than Yu Shu. The two of them walked side by side. One was tall and the other was slender. From the back, they looked like a pair of brothers who had a good relationship.
"Why are you free today? Aren't you busy at the yamen? What about the Ji family's case? Is there a statement? "Yu Shu kept asking. It was true that Ji Huaishan had committed suicide, but the case had not been resolved yet. Yu Shu was very concerned about how to convict him.
"This is what I wanted to tell you. The case was just decided this afternoon." Xue Rui tilted his head and looked at Yu Shu's expectant eyes. He hesitated for a moment. He said,
"Ji Huaishan was stripped of his post as the Right Judge of the Celestial Commissioner for leaking the Dayan examination questions. He was demoted to a clumsy commoner. His whole family was sent to Gunzhou. He died because he was afraid of punishment. Considering that Ji Huaishan had made great contributions during his tenure as the Celestial Commissioner, the emperor showed mercy and allowed his family to bury him. They were fined a thousand taels of silver, but they were not sent out. As for Ji Xingxuan, due to insufficient evidence and Junior Eunuch Ren as a guarantor, she was not convicted of cheating. She was released from her home and will no longer be arrested. "
Even though Yu Shu was mentally prepared, when she heard the verdict, she still couldn't help but curse her grandfather in her heart. They really let their whole family off the hook.
It wasn't that Yu Shu was heartless and wanted to see their family ruined to be happy. But this Ji family didn't have any good people. Now that they had formed a death grudge with her, staying in Jing City and not leaving would be a disaster for her.
Xue Rui was also very clear on this point. When he saw Yu Shu's depressed face, he comforted, "The Right Magistrate has already been defeated. The Ji family doesn't have a deep foundation in Jing City. Without Ji Huaishan, they can only tuck their tail between their legs. You don't have to worry about them finding you for revenge for the time being."
Just a few steps away from the door of the house, Yu Shu stopped. She asked him worriedly, "Isn't there still Ning Wang Ye?"
She wasn't afraid of the current Ji family. She wasn't afraid of Ji Xingxuan, a defeated opponent. What she was worried about was Ning Wang, Liu Hao, who had come out at the end of the court to save the beauty. She wasn't arrogant to the point where she considered everyone beneath her. In front of true power, she was just an ant.
Xue Rui's eyes flashed. He smiled slightly as he said, "Even though Ning Wang has feelings for Ji Xingxuan, he isn't stupid enough to openly support them. Also, the Twin Yang Gathering of the second month is coming. He's busy recruiting talents and doesn't have the extra energy to manage other matters. Also, I'm here, what are you worried about? "
Hearing the protectiveness in his words, Yu Shu laughed dryly as she scratched her neck. She didn't want to see Xue Rui go against Ning Wang because of her.
"Right, what's going on with the Twin Yang Gathering? That day at the restaurant, I heard you and the Ninth Prince talking about it. Didn't you say that the participants are all traders? Why do I hear that there are also matters of the princes?" Yu Shu asked curiously.
Last time, Xue Rui had told her that the Twin Yang Gathering would start from the Dragon Festival on the second day of the second month and would last for forty-nine days. All the major trading halls in An Ling City would participate. The traders of various families would gather here to compete for a golden plaque that was bestowed by the Emperor with the title of "Number One Hall in the World".
"Oh, it's like this," Xue Rui stood at the door of Zhao Hui's house and explained to Yu Shu,
"During the period of the Twin Yang Gathering, it is during the release of the results of the Great Yan Examination. It is also the time when the imperial examinations are held. An Ling City is home to the talents of the world. It is a grand occasion that only occurs once every three years. Other than the gathering of traders, there were also scholars and martial artists, competing with each other in the realm of knowledge. Because these traders, scholars, and martial artists have not yet entered official careers and have nothing to do with the state, they are not involved in forming factions for personal gain. Therefore, with the tacit consent of the Emperor, during the period of the Twin Yang Gathering, all the nobles in the capital, the powerful families, the trading halls, the academies, and the martial halls will participate and select talents for their own use. "
Hearing this, Yu Shu came to a sudden realization. Wasn't this Dual Yang Society just a "talent exchange meeting"? It was just that it was only held once every three years, so there were a lot of high-quality human resources accumulated. It was no wonder that all the princes were rubbing their hands together. After all, how could they miss this opportunity to openly recruit talents?
"So that's how it is. I understand," Yu Shu nodded and said half-jokingly, "Then I can also participate in this Twin Yang Gathering. If I don't get into the Taishi Library, at least I have a way out in the future."
To be honest, if she couldn't enter the Taishi Library, it was not bad to find a backer in this Twin Yang Gathering.
Xue Rui glanced at her and said lightly, "I have already booked you. Where else do you want to go?"
Yu Shu was stunned for a moment. She muttered with a strange expression, "What are you talking about? When did I become yours?"
Xue Rui frowned, "You forgot so quickly? You signed a contract with me. If you can't enter the Taishi Library, you have to obediently stay in my Wangji Tower to manage for three years. "
After his reminder, Yu Shu finally understood the meaning of his words. She coughed awkwardly. She had almost forgotten about this. If she couldn't enter the Taishi Library, she had to obediently work for Great Young Master Xue.
Seeing the displeasure on Xue Rui's face, Yu Shu hurriedly giggled and said, "It's not that I didn't remember it in a moment. It's written in black and white, so it's useless even if I forget it."
Xue Rui relaxed his brows and looked at her sensible appearance with satisfaction. He warned with a stern face, "The Twin Yang Gathering is indeed lively, but it is also very chaotic. There are crooks and honest people mixed in, and there are people from the Jianghu. If you want to go take a look, follow me. Don't run around alone. Do you hear me?"
"Oh." Yu Shu answered as she counted the days in her heart. Today was the 25th, and there were only a few days left until the second of February.
The Grand Examination's results were released by subjects. If she remembered correctly, the first subject, Yi Li, would be released on the fourth day of the second month, which was the third day of the Dual Yang Gathering. When the results were released, there would definitely be a lot of excitement to watch. It was easy to imagine how many nobles would fight for the top three of each subject.
It was a pity that she was too bad at Yi Li and was destined to not make it on the list. Otherwise, she could go and show her face.
The two of them talked for a while in front of the door. He Fangzhi happened to come back from the medical center with a medicine box. Seeing Xue Rui, she politely walked up to him and asked,
"Sir Xue is here. Why are you standing outside the door and not going in?"
When Yu Shu was taken away by the Celestial Commissioner's officers in broad daylight, He Fangzhi was so anxious that she went around asking for help. It was Xue Rui who sent someone to inform them. Later, he and Jing Chen sent Yu Shu back. Seeing that his identity could no longer be hidden, Yu Shu asked for Xue Rui's opinion and told Zhao Hui, her husband, and Pei Jing that Xue Rui was the eldest son of the Xue family. She also specifically told them not to leak the fact that Xue Rui had stayed in Yiyang, so He Fangzhi changed her story.
"I was just about to go in and have a seat. Did Doctor He just come back from the medical center? How's business?" After He Fangzhi invited Xue Rui in, he put on an amiable and approachable face. Yu Shu curled her lips. Even she had to admit defeat at this person's ability to change his face.
He Fangzhi sighed, "As a doctor, of course, I hope that the fewer patients, the better. But I have to support my family, and I'm afraid that no one will come to see me and get medicine. It's really difficult."
"Heh heh." Xue Rui smiled in understanding. "Humans eat grains, and they also have emotions. Falling sick is a very common thing, and it follows this logic. There's no need for a physician to be too concerned about it, you just have to treat the patient well."
Listening to his opinion, He Fangzhi nodded repeatedly, "You're right."
As they were talking, they arrived at the entrance of the hall. He Fangzhi stopped and said to Yu Shu, "Take Mr. Xue to see Xiaoxiu first. I just made a prescription this afternoon. Go to the kitchen and tell them to brew it."
He Fangzhi thought that Xue Rui was here to see Yu Xiaoxiu. After he finished speaking, he took the medicine box and left. Xue Rui turned his head to ask Yu Shu, "What happened to Xiaoxiu?"
Yu Shu's face darkened, "He was pushed off his horse in the study hall and hit his head."
Xue Rui furrowed his brows and looked angry, "What happened? Did someone bully him in the academy?"
Xue Rui knew that Baichuan Academy only accepted children of high officials in the capital. So, he personally went to Academician Song early in the morning and asked him to take special care of Yu Xiaoxiu. He was afraid that Yu Xiaoxiu didn't have a family background and would be bullied in the academy.
You've already exceeded your reading limit for today. If you want to read more, please log in.
Login
Select text and click 'Report' to let us know about any bad translation.
