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At dawn the next day, everyone in the family was up early.
Previously, Gu Jiao used to be the earliest riser, but today when she walked out of the house, she found Yao Shi, Old Chief, Grannie Fang, and Yuya'er gathered in the main room.
Not only that, Eunuch Qin was also there.
"What's going on?" Gu Jiao greeted them.
Everyone looked at the birthmark on her face and sighed in unison.
Gu Jiao thought to herself: What's with that disappointed look on your faces? Has my status in this family become so low that you don't even care to see me anymore?
The others exchanged a knowing look, and after Gu Jiao had finished her bowl of tonic soup for breakfast, an extra bowl of the same soup was placed in front of Xiao Liulang.
Eunuch Qin emphasized, "It's venison soup, it's good for men!"
Xiao Liulang: “...”
The frustration in Xiao Liulang's heart was stuck in his throat, unable to rise up or go down.
When a certain someone lay flat on bed last night, he really thought she was ready to go all the way. He hesitated for a moment out of conscience, only to hear someone’s soft snoring under him.
He was dumbfounded on the spot, okay!
He was the one who got teased, he was the one who couldn't eat or sleep properly, and in the end, he was the one who was misunderstood... Where could he find justice?
Xiao Liulang drank the venison soup with a dark face.
Eunuch Qin returned to the imperial palace with a smile.
The officials from the Ministry of Revenue and the Hanlin Academy had traveled a long distance for a day and a night and finally arrived in the capital this morning. The Minister of Revenue did not dare to delay and went to report to the Emperor with his legs almost giving out.
He did not arrange any false charges against Xiao Liulang, nor did he deliberately overlook his contributions. Firstly, there was a Hanlin official accompanying them to record the entire journey, and secondly, Marquis Xuanping was standing in the imperial audience hall.
That's right. This guy who never attended the morning court and always slept until late in the day actually showed up for the morning court for the first time today.
The impression of the Minister of Revenue towards Xiao Liulang was not bad. However, he received instructions from Grand Preceptor Zhuang to credit An Junwang as much as possible for their achievements. As for Xiao Liulang, he was supposed to give him neither merits nor demerits. He just didn’t have to mention him.
However... The Minister of Revenue was reminded of his own experience of nearly breaking his legs from walking. He didn’t doubt that if he dared to falsely accuse Xiao Liulang even a little bit, Marquis Xuanping could break his legs in the presence of the Emperor.
The Minister of Revenue reported truthfully.
Both Xiao Liulang and An Junwang had commendable performances. Although the Minister of Revenue intentionally provided more opportunities for An Junwang to perform meritorious services, Xiao Liulang had actually done too much in the countryside.
The Emperor was pleased to hear this. Both of them were talented pillars of the State of Zhao. Among the top three scholars in the imperial examination, the first and second-ranked scholars had already made a name for themselves in the six ministries. Only the third-ranked scholar was still unknown.
However, this could not be rushed. After all, both Xiao Liulang and An Junwang had powerful backgrounds supporting them. Even if they stood out, they were not worried about being suppressed. On the other hand, Ning Zhiyuan's background wasn’t as strong, so he needed to gain more experience in the Hanlin Academy.
The Emperor rewarded both Xiao Liulang and An Junwang with a calligraphy piece and had Eunuch Wei deliver it to the Hanlin Academy.
After the court session ended, the Emperor returned to Huaqing Palace.
"Your Majesty." A young nun carrying a food box came over and bowed to him. She said, "Imperial Concubine Dowager made some snacks herself and asked this lowly one to bring them to Your Majesty. By the way, imperial concubine dowager also asked this lowly one to inquire if Your Majesty has been well lately. It has been a few days since she saw you, and she is very worried."
The Emperor froze slightly.
Indeed.
He had not visited Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing for a few days.
This was simply impossible in the past.
As long as Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing was in the palace, he would visit her every day.
Was he still angry that his imperial concubine mother had concealed her relationship with Gu Chao from him?
Although his imperial concubine mother eventually chose him, did he still have a knot in his heart?
"Your Majesty, if there is nothing else, this lowly one will take her leave." The young nun handed the snacks to Eunuch Wei and then turned and left.
The Emperor looked at the food box in Eunuch Wei's hand.
Eunuch Wei understood and opened the lid, saying, "Your Majesty, it's jujube paste pastry."
This was his favorite snack. Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing learned to make it from the imperial chefs just to cook it for him.
He was suddenly reminded of the days when Empress Dowager Zhuang was sent to the cold palace, and he, Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing, and Ning’an were ostracized. On his birthday, when he couldn't even have a decent hot dish, his imperial concubine mother went to pick jujube from a tree and made a jujube paste pastry with them.
It didn’t taste very good, but it was the best food he remembered from that time.
The Emperor picked up a piece of the jujube paste pastry and took a bite.
It was also made with crisp jujube, and the memory of that time flooded into his mind. He sighed heavily and said, "Go to the nunnery and inform imperial concubine mother that Zhen will have dinner with her tonight."
"Yes." Eunuch Wei complied.
……
Recently, Second Owner had hired another physician, to be exact, a physician from the Rejuvenation Hall. He had been kicked out of the Rejuvenation Hall and everyone was waiting to see him fail, but he instead rose in the capital along with Miraculous Hands Hall.
The business of Miraculous Hands Hall grew bigger and bigger, and many physicians secretly wanted to join them. After careful selection, Second Owner chose the physician surnamed Miao.
His medical skills were good, but more importantly, his character was strong.
It took Second Owner a long time to convince Physician Miao to come, but once he did, he took on a lot of the medical work, so Gu Jiao wasn't as busy as before.
Today, Gu Jiao went to play chess with the old beggar, but he was unexpectedly not there. She waited for a while but didn't see him, so she put on a mask and headed to the martial arts school instead.
"Little brother Gu!"
A middle-aged man with a big belly and a rosy face called out to her.
Gu Jiao looked at him and asked with her eyes—— What's up?
Her attitude wasn't particularly friendly, even cold.
However, the man didn't mind. Anyone who had seen Gu Jiao's martial arts knew how temperamental she could be, so the fact that she was willing to communicate with him was already giving him face.
The middle-aged man said with a smile, "Little brother, I have watched every one of your matches. You are very bold in your approach, your fighting style is aggressive, and you have made great progress. With all due respect, this kind of small martial arts school is no longer suitable for your level. Would you be interested in trying your skills in another place?"
It turned out he came to poach her.
Gu Jiao looked at him, took out a small notebook, and wrote: ‘Are there any skilled fighters in the place you mentioned?’
Look at this, what an arrogant little tone!
However, he liked it!
This young man did have the capital to be arrogant.
The middle-aged man smiled and said, "Of course, but I don't know if you dare to go?"
Gu Jiao wrote lightly: ‘What? Is it the underworld or something?’
"Hahaha!" The middle-aged man was amused by Gu Jiao's arrogance and humor, "Little brother, don't worry, I won't let you go to such a place with your talent. Let's go there directly!"
Gu Jiao left the martial arts school and had Little San go back first. She took the middle-aged man's carriage to a brothel in the north of the capital.
This was Gu Jiao's first time in the north of the capital.
Bishui Alley was located in the southern part of the capital, Marquis Ding'an Estate was in the southeast, and her house visits were mostly in the southern and eastern parts of the capital.
Everything here made Gu Jiao feel unfamiliar, but there was also an inexplicable attraction.
Following the middle-aged man through the brothel, they arrived at a dyeing workshop, and below the dyeing workshop was an underground martial arts arena.
From the middle-aged man's mouth, Gu Jiao learned that the martial arts arena did not have a name, and people only referred to it as the ‘Narcissus Embroidery House’ during regular days.
The martial arts arena was very large, almost as big as four Taihe Martial Arts Schools combined. If Gu Jiao had not seen it with her own eyes, she would never have believed that there was such a huge underground venue under the foot of the Emperor.
The center of the martial arts arena had four fighting platforms, just like the martial arts schools, while there were countless private rooms surrounding them. The middle-aged man did not explain what they were exactly used for.
The middle-aged man waved his hand and pointed, "Do you see those rooms with gourds hanging on their doors? Do not go in there."
Why? Gu Jiao asked with her eyes.
The middle-aged man explained, "Those are the private rooms of the best experts. If you rush in, you'll be beaten to death."
So, killing was allowed in this place.
There were matches happening on all four fighting platforms, and compared to Taihe Martial Arts School, the matches here were much bloodier and more violent. The air was filled with a pungent smell of blood, and Gu Jiao felt her blood boiling.
The violent factors within her were starting to stir again.
Gu Jiao restrained her bloodlust and followed the middle-aged man to a bookkeeping room in the east.
"Hey, look who Old He has tricked into coming today?" A young man who was organizing account books looked up and gave Gu Jiao a meaningful glance. "Such a young gentleman, how could you bear to do this to him, Old He? Aren't you afraid he'll be beaten to death?"
That meant people could die in the ring too.
Gu Jiao gained a clearer understanding of this underground martial arts arena.
"First, put down fifty taels of silver!" The young man said to Gu Jiao.
Gu Jiao frowned, they were asking her for money?
"I'll pay for this, little brother!" The middle-aged man generously took out a fifty-tael silver banknote and slammed it on the table.
The young man's gaze towards Gu Jiao became more intriguing. "To make Old He, this iron rooster, pluck his feathers for you, it seems like you have some ability. Well, I will take good care of you and try not to let you die too early."
Gu Jiao wrote in her notebook: ‘Can I look around?’
Old He replied, "Yes! But remember what I told you earlier, don't go near the rooms with the gourd hanging on the door."
Gu Jiao nodded and left the bookkeeping room. She heard the conversation between the young man and Old He behind her.
"What? Are you really going to make this kid fight? He's even skinnier than me! And he's a mute! Don't you remember the lesson from last time? You brought back someone who claimed to be a master, but he was punched to death in one blow!"
"Trust my judgment this time, but don't put him against someone too strong in the first round, let him warm up first..."
Gu Jiao gradually walked away, and the conversation between the two was gradually drowned out by the shouts from the fighting arena.
It was her first day here, so Gu Jiao just wanted to familiarize herself with the environment, but she didn't expect to see someone she knew.
A person wearing a black cloak walked past in front of her. They were tightly wrapped so that their face could not be seen. However, as the person pushed open the door, the hood of the cloak fell off.
Gu Jiao looked intently. It’s her?
Raz P.'s Thoughts
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