The Prime Minister's Darling novel Chapter 198

Chapter 198: 126 and Hairpin (First Watch of the Night)_2

Wuyang looked perplexed and said, “Does the Prince still remember the recommendation quota for the county? I have learned that Gu Jiao’s husband ranked first in both of his youth exams, thus taking first place overall in the county.” _{ƒreewebηoveℓ.com}

Prince An responded, “I’m aware of that. It’s precisely because of his excellent performance that I managed to convince my grandfather to reopen the Guozijian. This way, he can bring his entire family to study, and the Empress Dowager can also enter the Capital City without attracting much attention. Is there a problem?”

With a puzzled expression, Wuyang said, “The county’s recommendation isn’t his, he earned his placement through exams!”

Prince An reacted with confusion, uncertain whether to be more surprised that the other had ranked first in the provincial exam or by the issue of the given slot.

“Who was given the slot?” he asked.

Wuyang replied, “It was given to his friend, a man named Fen Lin. I have checked, and this Fen Lin has no background. He ranked seventeenth in the provincial city exam, took his child exam in Song County, and did not even earn the ranking of scholarship student. Yet somehow, he managed to secure the Guozijian recommendation slot.”

Prince An sneered, “Just bribing the county magistrate would be enough.”

Wuyang furrowed his eyebrows, “But, the Guozijian slots are submitted first, and then the provincial exam results are released. Could it be that Xiao Liulang was confident he would rank first even before the results came out? Therefore, he bribed the county magistrate in advance, giving the slot that should have been his to his friend? Isn’t that absurd?”

Indeed, it was absurd; even Prince An would not dare to attempt such a risky move.

However, if it was suggested that there was some shady conspiracy at play, Prince An wouldn’t believe it either.

After all, Wuyang had scrutinized Xiao Liulang’s background. He was only a poor orphan from a foreign land who had lost his father at a young age. His mother had brought him up along with his older brother, but they both died, leaving only him.

He fainted outside the village and was saved by Gu Jiao. He then got married and settled in the village.

He had gained the appreciation of Principal Li who even unilaterally declared him his direct disciple.

Xiao Liulang never responded but his academic performance definitely skyrocketed after becoming Principal Li’s disciple.

Originally only occupying the bottom rank of his class, who would have expected that in less than one year, he would astoundingly rank first in the provincial city?

Prince An smiled indifferently, “Principal Li and my fourth uncle were once known as the four brilliant scholars in Capital City, my fourth uncle was always dissatisfied with Principal Li ranking higher than him, looks like now he has his answer.”