The Prime Minister's Darling novel Chapter 9

Chapter 9: Protective

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

In the blink of an eye, it was the day of Xiao Liulang’s exam.

Gu Jiao woke up early and leavened some dough. Then, she steamed a basket of porcelain-white steamed buns, and cooked a pot of wild fungus soup.

The wild fungi were picked on the mountain, and they had already finished the first harvest. These were freshly picked yesterday, and there was still a lot left; she planned to sell them at the market later.

In fact, she had also picked some wood ear fungus, but fresh wood ear fungus was poisonous and had to be sun-dried before it could be eaten.

While waiting for dinner, she went back to her room to take her medicine.

The wounds on her wrist and the back of her head had already healed, and she was almost finished with the medicine. The ointment was more efficient, and there was still more than half of the bottle left.

On the other side, Xiao Liulang had also got up.

Gu Jiao knew that he had studied late last night and did not wake him in the morning, but he was still very early.

Gu Jiao arranged the bowls and chopsticks, and scooped half a bowl of wild fungus soup for him. She was worried that he would need to use the toilet after entering the examination hall, so she specially did not fill it to the brim.

However, Gu Jiao did not know if it was her imagination, but she felt that the look which Xiao Liulang’s gave her from time to time was a little resentful.

The exam would take an entire day, so Gu Jiao prepared some steamed buns and water.

After pausing for a moment, she seemed to have thought of something and stuffed another ten copper coins into the bag.

Xiao Liulang’s eyes flickered when he saw her stuffing the copper coins in, but he did not say anything.

Gu Jiao handed him the bag she had packed. “I’ve already arranged for transportation and paid the fare. I asked them to send you directly to the academy.”

“Okay,” Xiao Liulang replied. He took the bag and walked out with his walking stick.

Gu Jiao looked at his crippled leg and resisted the thought of sending him to the village entrance. He would not be receptive to the idea either way.

When Xiao Liulang arrived at the village entrance, Second Uncle Luo’s ox cart was already parked under the pagoda tree. There were many people sitting there, villagers bringing their vegetables and eggs to sell in town.

When the villagers saw him, they crowded him, smiling and greeting.

Xiao Liulang was a scholar. He appeared cold and aloof most days, but he did not put on much airs. Any family who wanted to read or reply to a letter would come looking for him. Although Gu Dashun was also a scholar, Gu Dashun was in a private school during the day and buried himself in his studies at night when he returned home, so the villagers rarely looked for Gu Dashun.

There was one last seat on the ox cart. It was probably reserved for him.

Just as Xiao Liulang was about to go up, he felt a figure flash past and block his way.

The other party pressed on the ox cart with one hand and supported another figure behind her with the other. “Shun’zi, hurry up!”

It was Madam Zhou and her son from the Gu family’s eldest branch.

Madam Zhou blocked Xiao Liulang completely, not giving him a chance to get on the ox cart.

On the ox cart, a woman said, “Hey, Shun’zi’ mother, Liulang came first.”

Gu Dashun stopped halfway while climbing the cart.

He turned his head and looked past his mother at Xiao Liulang.

Xiao Liulang’s eyes were cold and his expression indifferent.

Madam Zhou snorted nonchalantly. “My Shun’zi has an exam to take! So what if he came first? Why should he delay my Shun’zi from taking his exam just because he came first?”

Everyone in the village knew that Gu Dashun was someone promising. He had been admitted to the county school a while ago, and it was even said that he did not have to kneel and bow when he met the county magistrate.

Although Xiao Liulang was a good young man, he was not as important as Gu Dashun’s future.

If Gu Dashun made it big, not only would he bring glory to the Gu family, but the entire Clearspring Village would also benefit from him.

No one made a sound.

“Well…” Second Uncle Luo said awkwardly, “Liulang… he’s also going to take the exam.”

Last night, when Gu Jiao came to look for Second Uncle Luo, she had already explained to him that Xiao Liulang was going to take an exam at the academy. Since Xiao Liulang could not walk easily, she instructed him and asked him to make sure to send him there. For this, she even gave him two copper coins.

Second Uncle Luo was puzzled. The fool from the Gu family, who did not get along with Xiao Liulang, seemed to have become an entirely different person when she was talking to him.

However, before he could ask further, Gu Jiao had already left.

Even upon hearing that Xiao Liulang was also going to take the exam, Madam Zhou did not take it to heart at all.?How can Xiao Liulang’s exam even compare to my son’s?

If he doesn’t stand a chance, there’s no need to go through the trouble.