Chapter 269: 196.1

It snowed at night, and upon waking in the morning, there was a layer of ice on the ground, which could cause one to slip.

Gu Jiao had prepared for this. She spread the sand she gathered in the past few days on the ground of the corridor and yards.

Opening the courtyard gate, she intended to spread it on the alley as well, only to find that the entire alley was already covered with sand, coal ash and even straw mats.

Gu Jiao wondered what was going on. Then, a neighbor not far away opened their courtyard gate, poked their head out and said to Gu Jiao with a smile, "Liulang is going to take the imperial exam, right?"

"Aunt Lu." Gu Jiao greeted the other party. This was one of the elderly woman's card friends. She had been to the house several times.

Gu Jiao then understood that this was their neighbors’ doing. The materials from each household were different, so that the ground was covered in colorful ways.

She used to think that their family was isolated, but for some unknown time, the elderly woman had already integrated their family into this alley.

Gu Jiao thanked Aunt Lu.

After that, several neighbors also opened their gates, all of them expressing good wishes for Xiao Liulang in the exam.

Gu Jiao thanked them one by one.

Her gratitude was from the bottom of her heart. After all, they were not Xiao Liulang's family and had no obligation to do this for Xiao Liulang.

Their kindness wasn’t out of duty, but friendship.

Of course, Grandaunt's contribution in this couldn’t be forgotten.

If not for Grandaunt getting along well with them, and telling them that Liulang of her family was going to take the imperial examination, perhaps they wouldn’t even know there was such a figure in the alley.

Each family also hung lanterns in their porch to brighten up the alley, which was usually only done during the New Year.

Gu Jiao curled up her lips.

She liked the capital.

Xiao Liulang also got up, and they had a simple breakfast.

Knowing that they would get up early and go out today, they had Little Jing Kong sleep in the elderly woman's room last night.

The carriage had been waiting at the corner early, however, it was not Old Chief's carriage, but Marquis Xuanping Estate’s.

Steward Liu greeted Xiao Liulang and Gu Jiao and said smilingly, "Young master, Young Madame, please get on the carriage."

Not far away, Liu Quan stood beside another carriage. He came a step late and was robbed of his duty by this grandson!

Both were surnamed Liu, but they were not related.

The horses and carriages of the Marquis Xuanping Estate's were all equipped with iron hooves and wheels that were in accordance with war standards, they were slip resistant and could rush through the snow and ice. This kind of road naturally wouldn’t pose any problem.

Xiao Liulang didn't refuse.

He first had the carriage go to Lin Chengye's house to pick up Lin Chengye and Feng Lin, and then went all the way to the examination compound.

Regardless of how many carriages and horses skidded on the road, Marquis Xuanping Estate's carriage drove into the distance and reached its destination without the slightest disruption.

They were the first to arrive. The rest of the examinees were probably delayed by the conditions of the road.

Gu Jiao lowered the curtain and said, "Fortunately, today is just the entry."

Xiao Liulang nodded.

Gu Jiao checked Xiao Liulang’s baggage before going out. Now taking it out, she checked it again for the second time.

Xiao Liulang would spend three days and two nights in the examination compound. No silver charcoal or hand warmer stove was allowed inside, so Gu Jiao had to pay careful attention to his food and clothing.

Gu Jiao prepared a jar of dried chili for all three men. In case the weather got really cold, they could chew some dried chili. After all, the space in the examination cell was so tight that you couldn’t run or jump to warm yourself up.

During cold weather, you didn’t have to worry about any mosquitoes, but you had to defend against the wind and cold. Gu Jiao also gave the three people medicine for the cold, the kind that wouldn’t make them drowsy after consuming it.

There was also frostbite ointment.

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In the metropolitan exam, the cell number wasn’t assigned according to the grades, but was drawn on the spot.

When the three people saw that it was almost time, they went down the carriage and drew lots together.

The examination compound in the capital was much bigger than the regional examination compound. There were four examination halls in total: east, west, north and south. The three of them had drawn three different examination halls, which was lucky.

Xiao Liulang was assigned in the eastern examination hall, cell number five.

The size of the examination cell was the same as that in the regional area, except that the walls were cleaner. As before, there were two planks of wood inside the cell, one serving as a table and the other as a bench. When sleeping, the two planks could be put together to make a bed.

Bedding would be provided by the examination compound.

After all, the weather was chilly, and they couldn’t just let the examinees freeze to death.

The Ministry of Rites was in charge of the supervision of the exam while the Hanlin Academy was in charge of marking the exam papers.

As early as yesterday, the marking officers from the Hanlin Academy had already entered the inner hall of the examination compound. Like the provincial exam, the marking officers could not leave the inner hall until all the exam papers had been graded.

It didn't take long for Xiao Liulang’s group to enter the examination compound, and the rest of the examinees also showed up one after another. Du Ruohan wasn’t slow either, he was the twentieth.

Gu Jiao also gave him a small medicine bag.

Du Ruohan expressed his thanks politely, but he didn’t take it to heart. You must be joking? How could he get sick when he was in such good health?

After giving the medicine bag to Du Ruohan, there was no need for Gu Jiao to stay any longer.

"Let's go back." Gu Jiao said.

Steward Liu asked from the outer seat, "Where is Young Madame going?"

“Medical hall.” Gu Jiao answered.

More than half a month had passed, and yet that boy Gu Chenglin still hadn't been discharged from the medical hall. Gu Jiao was going to kick him out today!

Steward Liu's attitude towards Gu Jiao had changed drastically. Gu Jiao didn't ask why, but it wasn’t hard to guess from Xiao Liulang's attitude that this "illegitimate child" had finally met with Marquis Xuanping.

Furthermore, Marquis Xuanping's attitude towards him wasn’t that of neglect, otherwise Steward Liu wouldn't have changed his face so quickly.

They were not in a hurry this time so the carriage drove slowly in the street.

Gu Jiao curiously enjoyed the scenery along the way.

She hadn't been to this area. It was strange and fresh.

As she was watching the view, Steward Liu suddenly said with a hint of a smile, "Young Madame, how did you and the young master know each other?"

Gu Jiao replied, "Isn’t the Marquis Xuanping Estate so powerful according to you, why don’t you check it yourself?"

He had checked, of course. He wanted to check with you, couldn’t he?

Steward Liu had already figured out the reason for his own Marquis' previous abnormal reaction. This illegitimate son Xiao Liulang actually bore a striking resemblance to the dead Little Marquis.

The age was pretty much the same too. Little Marquis's birthday was in the twelfth month while Xiao Liulang's birthday was in the first month.

Actually, the interval between their birthdays should have been longer. However, Little Marquis was born a month prematurely.

He said to Marquis Xuanping, "Both of them are your own flesh and blood; they’re brothers. It’s not that strange that they look alike, is it? Or does Lord Marquis think it’s possible that the dead Little Marquis has come back to life?"

Marquis Xuanping himself obviously understood this truth, but he still wanted to inquire about it.

Steward Liu let out a wry laugh and asked, "Young Madame, when you first saw the young master, was there a mole under his right eye?"

"No." Gu Jiao answered.

Steward Liu said, "You don't have to answer so quickly, think about it carefully first."

Gu Jiao retorted, "I see him a hundred and eighty times a day. Do I still have to think hard whether there is such a mole on his face?"

Steward Liu was left speechless.

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