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S T E L L A R C L O U D
[Celeste S.] [Azurixa] [Esther D.] [Christine G.-L.]
O R A N G E S T A R
[Smurfinbatik] [J Jean] [K.Rom] [Tori D.] [Nicole] [Ziana K.-P.]
G O L D S T A R
[Cindy] [Victoria] [Nanashi D. Y.]
R A I N B O W S T A R
[Book W.] [Christigale M.] [DetectiveGeek421] [Hlau V.] [Britnae M] [kuroneko_chan]
[Liznel M.] [onepiece] [Ray] [Scorpion Princess] [Sweetlove]
In the capital, it was unknown how many noble households or high-ranking official families for generations were there. Famous talents from such families were not few in numbers. They were not necessarily as good as An Junwang, but they were by no means a poor boy from the countryside could compare.
"I want to bet only on him. If that’s not possible, I'll just go to another gambling house." Gu Jiao said, and really turned to leave.
This was a business that made no loss for sure. That person’s name wasn’t even on the list, which meant that person was bad!
The worker wouldn’t miss such a transaction. He stopped Gu Jiao and said with a smile, "Don't go, young miss. I'll write his name down for you! How much are you going to bet? The lowest betting price in the top ten is..."
"Huiyuan, Zhuangyuan." Gu Jiao responded.
The worker was stunned, "You, you’re placing it under that person’s name?"
"En." Gu Jiao nodded seriously.
The worker stared at her as though he was looking at a fool, "Alright, alright!"
He really wondered where this little fool came from. It was obvious that such a bet would just go to waste.
The worker: "How much are you going to bet? One bet for Huiyuan cost one taels of silver, for Zhuangyuan it’s five taels of silver."
Gu Jiao replied, "Everything I have."
Gu Jiao placed five bets on Huiyuan, and one bet on Zhuangyuan, exactly ten taels of silver, all of which with Xiao Liulang's name.
At this point, Xiao Liulang's name finally appeared on the betting list.
Steward Liu clicked his tongue and shook his head.
Ten taels of silver, his ten taels of silver, gone just like that.
He was really curious where the Young Madame got her confidence from, that she really believed that the young master could beat this many gifted scholars in the capital to become the top scorer. It would’ve been fine if she placed her bets in the top ten instead.
Huiyuan? Zhuangyuan?
He really dared not think about it!
Steward Liu followed up and whispered to Gu Jiao, "Young Madam, can we go now?"
Gu Jiao paused and suddenly looked at the list on the opposite side, which was blocked by a semi see-through gauze curtain, and asked, "What list is that?"
"That..." Steward Liu frowned.
The worker stepped forward cleverly and said with a big smile on his face, "That's the flower hairpin list! You can also bet on it!"
"What’s the flower hairpin list?" Gu Jiao asked.
The worker: "The flower hairpin list is a list of young ladies, and it's the last list to be published. Examinees who have passed the metropolitan exam and became a Gongshi will take part in the palace exam presided over by His Majesty in the fourth month. Those who have achieved excellent results in the palace exam will be appointed by His Majesty as the first-class Jinshi, that is, Zhuangyuan, Bangyan, and Tanhua. These three people will lead a parade through the streets carrying flower hairpins, and these flower hairpins can be given away. Now everyone is betting on who can get the flower hairpins of the first-class Jinshi."
"You can only get one?" Blinking, Gu Jiao asked.
The corner of the worker’s mouth twitched. What do you mean, you can only get one? Do you know how rare one is?
These flower hairpins were from His Majesty, and it was of great significance. Generally, the Zhanyuan, Bangyan, and Tanhua were unwilling to give it away!
As a result, the girls scrambled to snatch it, and some of the Jinshi had been robbed successfully, which was too humiliating for the court. Hence, the court banned the snatching of flower hairpins.
There were only two ways to get the flower hairpin of the first-class Jinshi: one was that the Jinshi was willing to give it, and the other was to challenge the Jinshi; the Jinshi could accept the challenge or refuse it. If the Jinshi lost, his flower hairpin must be given to the challenger.
The worker sighed, "Young miss, think about it. Just how talented are the people who can pass as a first-class Jinshi? Who can challenge them? Don't mention about challenging them in martial arts. They can completely refuse if it’s something they are not good at! So, it’s unless they are willing to give it themselves, or the young lady is as smart as the Crown Princess."
At the mention of the Crown Princess, the worker couldn’t help adding, "Now I remember, young miss. Someone had really received two flower hairpins."
Gu Jiao said lightly, "The Crown Princess?"
The worker had a look of admiration as he said, "Yes, it’s her! She challenged two first-class Jinshi one after another, and she won both times! His Majesty said she was born a woman by mistake. Otherwise, what's the matter with those men?"
Gu Jiao had no interest in the Crown Princess whatsoever. She was only curious about who was on the flower hairpin list.
The worker took her to see it.
There were many names of young ladies from noble and high-ranking families written on the list. Of course, it wasn’t their real names, such as the daughter of Duke Luo Estate, which was written as Third Young Miss Luo.
The most popular ladies on the list were Young Miss Gu and Second Young Miss Zhuang.
She didn’t have to guess hard to know that they were Gu Jinyu and Zhuang Yuexi.
Zhuang Yuexi was An Junwang's own sister, and An Junwang was bound to be the Zhuangyuan as the majority believed. It was very likely that he would give his flower hairpin to his own sister.
As for why not give it to Zhuang Mengdie, Zhuang Yuexi was a talented young lady while Zhuang Mengdie was a straw bag. Of course, people would prefer the former.
Even so, Zhuang Mengdie was still on the flower hairpin list, as Fifth Young Miss Zhuang. Of course, it was herself who placed a bet on her own name, purely just to save face.
Following right under Gu Jinyu and Zhuang Yuexi was Third Young Miss Luo, Fourth Young Miss Zhou and Taoist nun Miao Yin...
Uh... Why was there a Taoist nun on the list?
Gu Jiao saw several more familiar surnames on the list, which seemed to be the young misses from the women’s academy.
"Young miss, do you want to place a bet on the flower hairpin list? If you follow everyone, you can't go wrong." The worker was referring to Gu Jinyu and Zhuang Yuexi, both of whom had a great possibility of getting flower hairpins.
Gu Jiao was not interested in this.
Just as she was about to turn and leave, a girl’s playful voice came from the corridor on the second floor, "Somebody, I want to place a bet!"
It was Zhuang Mengdie.
Gu Jiao raised her eyes and looked at her.
From her point of view, she could see Zhuang Mengdie coming from a private room holding Zhuang Yuexi's arm. Both of them were wearing veils and they were unable to see her from their point of view.
The shopkeeper went upstairs in person and cupped his hand to the two of them, "May I know, both Young Misses Zhuang, who are you going to place your bet on?"
Zhuang Mengdie smiled and said, "I’m placing a bet on Young Miss Gu!"
The shopkeeper muttered, "How much are you going to bet? This humble one will write it down for you!"
Zhuang Mengdie laughed mockingly, "Wait, the person I want to bet on... is not the Young Miss Gu who is already on the list."
"Ah?" The shopkeeper was confused.
Zhuang Mengdie looked at the opposite private room and went on, "It's the Eldest Young Miss Gu of the Marquis Ding'an Estate! You may not know yet, Young Miss Gu on the list is not a real Marquis Estate’s daughter, but a peasant girl from the countryside that was mistakenly carried! The real Young Miss Gu is someone else! Your Brisk Wind Tower is supposed to be a big establishment, and yet you don't even know whether a person is genuine or fake! I'm really ashamed on behalf of your Brisk Wind Tower!"
She was scolding the Brisk Wind Tower, but who couldn't recognize that she was mocking Gu Jinyu by innuendo?
Gu Jinyu also came to the betting site today. She just wanted to see how popular she was. How could she expect that she would meet this mad dog, Zhuang Mengdie, here!
There were many people in the Brisk Wind Tower. Once the news got out, the whole capital would soon know about it!
Gu Jinyu's face was livid.
Zhuang Mengdie was in a good mood, leaving behind a coin and turning to leave.
That's right. One bet on the flower hairpin list cost one copper coin.
Zhuang Mengdie placed only one bet.
Half an hour later, Gu Jiao's name appeared alone at the bottom of the flower hairpin list.
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