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S T E L L A R C L O U D
[Azurixa] [Celeste S.] [Christine G.-L.] [Vecintia N.]
O R A N G E S T A R
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Y E L L O W S T A R
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G O L D S T A R
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R A I N B O W S T A R
[Amanda] [Book W.] [Britnae M] [Caroline] [Christigale M.] [DetectiveGeek421] [Haruka N.]
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[Quae] [Ray] [Scorpion Princess] [Victoria]
Feng Lin said admiringly, "I really envy that you can sit with Liulang."
The serial numbers written on the two people’s exam permits were consecutive, either they sat front and back or left and right of each other.
Du Ruohan rolled his eyes, saying, "What is there to envy? If you like it so much, I’ll change seats with you!"
Du Ruohan simply didn't understand. When they were young, he and Feng Lin were obviously the best friends while Xiao Liulang was an outsider who only lived there for a short time. How did Xiao Liulang manage to squeeze him out of his place?
Feng Lin said, "I would like to, but I also have to get the examiner's approval first."
Lin Chengye also expressed great envy. He also wanted to sit next to Xiao Liulang.
Du Ruohan was puzzled, "Seriously, what's the matter with you two? Is it possible to copy his answers by sitting next to him or something?"
Feng Lin gave him a look that can only be understood but couldn’t be described, "You don't understand. As long as I sit next to Liulang, I feel secure in my heart."
Lin Chengye also nodded.
It was the same for him.
Feng Lin was a native of Song County. Although they lived in the county town, in fact, his grandparents and clan members resided in the countryside. To put it bluntly, he was a poor country boy who had never seen the world in his life.
It was almost time for the palace exam and he would soon meet the Emperor of the State of Zhao. Just thinking about it made his legs weak.
Although Lin Chengye was the son of the wealthiest man in the provincial capital of You Province, he actually wasn’t that respected because of his lowly status as a merchant.
Whenever the Imperial Academy students mentioned him, wouldn’t most of them talk about how they had lots of dirty money at home? Some people even said that his ranking was bought with money.
Anyway, Lin Chengye was more afraid of seeing the Emperor than Feng Lin.
Xiao Liulang looked at the two men and said, "Don't think too much, just take the exam normally. The Emperor is neither a poisonous snake nor a fierce beast; he won't condemn the examinees because of a small thing."
Du Ruohan muttered, "How do you know? You haven't seen the Emperor.”
Xiao Liulang didn't answer.
In fact, it was himself who was really under pressure. He had a hunch that once he entered the palace, he would certainly attract the attention of the Emperor.
Although he had enough confidence to deal with it, he couldn’t guarantee what attitude the Emperor would have.
Feng Lin pulled Du Ruohan who seemed to always aim at Liulang, saying, "All right, all right, let’s not talk about this anymore and just hurry back. Little Belly, are you going back to the Zhuang Family or with us? We are going to go to Liulang's house and try to guess the exam questions."
Du Ruohan was about to refuse but he thought of something and asked, "Is Lady Jiao there?"
Xiao Liulang looked at him coldly, "She's not there!"
Du Ruohan:“…”
Du Ruohan ultimately went with them. Zhuang Xianzhi was an old-fashioned man. He never did such things as guessing the exam questions. He believed that whether a person could pass the exam had nothing to do with luck, but rather on individuals’ strength.
In fact, apart from his own excellence, Du Ruohan had also made more efforts than ordinary people.
Zhuang Xianzhi never talked about exam techniques or whatnot, so Du Ruohan still had to rely on himself to deal with and pass the exam.
Gu Jiao wasn’t at home today.
She had just received a letter from Xue Ningxiang, in which Xue Ningxiang said that her mother-in-law at home was in very poor health, so she was asking Gu Jiao to send a message to Zhou Erzhuang to see if he could come back to see his mother for the last time.
Gu Jiao was aware of the condition of Xue Ningxiang's mother-in-law. It was the normal deterioration with age. All her major organs had begun failing, which was irreversible despite any medications.
Gu Jiao didn’t know much about the military camp, and she wasn’t sure whether Zhou Erzhuang could ask for a leave of absence to go home. They reportedly could take a leave if they had to mourn the death of their parents, but at present, Xue Ningxiang's mother-in-law had yet to pass away.
Gu Jiao thought about it and decided to take a trip to the military camp.
Deputy General Hu was transferred back to Hushan Camp, and Gu Changqing was also in this camp. Gu Jiao didn't bother him, but asked the guard to send a message to Zhou Erzhuang directly, saying that she was waiting for him outside the camp.
Zhou Erzhuang became Deputy General Hu’s personal guard, and his status was much higher than at the beginning, so no one was perfunctory with him any more.
The guard quickly went to pass the message.
It was just that Zhou Erzhuang was currently in training, and he was the one being trained, so he wasn’t allowed to leave halfway. The guard asked Gu Jiao to wait for a while.
Gu Jiao hadn’t been waiting for long when Gu Changqing came out of the training camp.
Gu Changqing was also in training, but he was the one who was training others, hence it didn’t matter if he walked away for a while.
"What a coincidence." Gu Jiao greeted him.
Gu Changqing nodded at her.
In fact, how could there be such a coincidence? It was someone’s deliberate action.
Gu Changqing had long reminded the guards that if a girl surnamed Gu came to Hushan Camp, be sure to inform him.
The guard actually informed Gu Changqing first before passing the message to Zhou Erzhuang.
Of course, Gu Changqing would never say these.
Gu Changqing saw a letter in her hand and asked, "Are you here to deliver a letter to Zhou Erzhuang?"
Gu Jiao nodded, "En. A letter came from his family. His mother was seriously ill, hoping to see him for the last time. Is it easy to ask for a leave of absence in your military camp?"
"Yes, it’s easy." Gu Changqing said lightly.
The guards on the side were dumbfounded. Commandant, was it really okay for you to lie with your eyes open?
The Hushan Camp’s Fast Cavalry Great General was notoriously unkind. For an insignificant personal guard such as Zhou Erzhuang, asking for a leave would be more difficult than ascending to heaven, unless he didn't want to be in the camp anymore, or he would have to be demoted when he returned.
Gu Changqing held out his hand to get the letter, "Leave it to me. You go back first, and I'll tell him."
Gu Jiao thought for a moment, "Okay. Also tell him to go to the medical hall before he sets out for home, I have some things for him to bring back."
Gu Changqing agreed, took the letter, and watched Gu Jiao get into the carriage before turning into the camp.
Deputy General Hu was neither his subordinate nor his immediate superior. He was under the command of General Ran, while Deputy General Hu was under the command of General Qin.
He did not have too much personal relationship with General Qin and Deputy General Hu in normal days.
After hesitating for a moment, he went to Deputy General Hu's area and told him about Zhou Erzhuang’s matter, "...my sister and his sister-in-law are friends."
This explained why he had helped Zhou Erzhuang several times.
Deputy General Hu was suddenly enlightened. It was no wonder that Zhou Erzhuang could get the Marquis Ding'an Estate’s shizi to personally deliver things for him. It turned out to be this kind of connection.
Zhou Erzhuang was just a peasant from the countryside. Naturally, his brother and sister-in-law were also just country folks. Then their friend should also be from the countryside.
Deputy General Hu had heard that the Marquis Ding’an Estate's real daughter was carried away by mistake at birth by someone else and grew up among the common people, so it must be her.
Gu Changqing didn’t elaborate about their family matters, and Deputy General Hu also had the sense to not delve further into it. He smiled and said, "This guy has been with me for several years, and he has suffered a lot, be it big or small. He is courageous and cautious, and has made great contributions. One year, he delivered a letter to me for dispatching troops and passed through You Province. In order not to delay the military situation, he opted to not visit home despite it being just a few steps away... I think it's time for him to take a vacation."
These words were somewhat exaggerated.
It was true that Zhou Erzhuang bore hardships and stood hard work, and it was also true that he was courageous in killing the enemies in battles, but that thing about not visiting home despite it being just a few steps away... It was just nonsense.
Zhou Erzhuang took the waterway and passed by outside the You Province, which was hundreds of li away from Qingquan Village.
Raz P.'s Thoughts
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