Chapter 126.1: Coming-of-age
Chapter 126.1: Coming-of-age
An Junwang received an invitation from the Marquis Ding’an Estate that night.
Ever since his status as a hostage prince in the State of Chen had ended and he returned to the capital, An Junwang had been keeping a low profile. He hardly associated with people apart from when he was studying in preparation for the imperial exam.
People in the capital all knew the temperament of this An Junwang and would not take the initiative to make friends with him on normal days, so looking at the invitation in his hand, An Junwang was a little surprised.
In order not to appear abrupt, Marquis Gu’s invitation was addressed to both An Junwang and Zhuang Mengdie.
Receiving this invitation was quite unexpected, but An Junwang wasn’t so surprised to see Zhuang Mengdie’s name as he said, “Marquis Gu really raised a restless daughter.”
He didn’t have to think hard to know that this was Gu Jinyu’s idea.
However, An Junwang would never expect that Gu Jinyu had misunderstood his words that day, causing her to have an undue thought for himself. He only thought that she was winning Zhuang Mengdie over, and while she was at it, borrowed her hand to invite him to their home so she could also bask in his light.
With a sneer, he threw the invitation on the table.
Wu Yang asked, “Junwang, what is the Marquis Ding’an Estate thinking? Why did they send an invitation to you and Young Miss Mengdie?”
Actually, the relationship between the two parties was somewhat complicated. The last time they stayed in the Hot Spring Villa was just an accident. It was getting late and there was no inn nearby, and since his vision would become disabled during nighttime, they simply decided to stay in the villa of the Marquis Ding’an Estate before dark, lest they exposed his condition.
However, behind the Marquis Ding’an Estate was Imperial Concubine Shu, and behind Imperial Concubine Shu was His Majesty. Weren’t they afraid to arouse His Majesty’s speculation if they got too close to the Zhuang Family?
An Junwang sneered again and said, “If anyone really does question, it’s just young misses of both families hanging out together. It doesn’t have anything to do with whatever factions.”
Wu Yang pursed his lips disapprovingly, saying, “Junwang mustn’t attend the banquet of this kind of household! Even when the Old Marquis was still in power, they also weren’t worthy to have a relationship with our Zhuang Family, let alone now?”
An Junwang spoke faintly, “Don’t look down on the Marquis Ding’an Estate too much. The Old Marquis had great achievements in the war those days, but suddenly, His Majesty took over his military power, and he surrendered his secretly trained death soldiers just like that. He then left the capital bitterly disappointed and traveled around the world. Do you think this is really the case?”
“Isn’t it?” Wu Yang asked.
An Junwang narrowed his eyes as he said, “I always suspect that the Old Marquis’ breaking off relations with His Majesty is only a facade. In fact, he took this opportunity to leave the capital to secretly train troops for His Majesty. If the Marquis Xuanping Estate is the spear in His Majesty’s hand in the open, then the Marquis Ding’an Estate is the concealed arrow behind His Majesty’s back.”
Wu Yang expressed his doubts, “But looking at Marquis Gu, he doesn’t look like someone who can accomplish great things. How long can their Marquis Estate last with just the Old Marquis? Doesn’t His Majesty think this one support is a bit crooked?”
An Junwang had a deep look in his eyes as he replied, “Marquis Gu can’t, but Gu Changqing can.”
Wu Yang: “This…”
Instead of continuing the topic, An Junwang suddenly asked, “Young Miss Gu’s birthday is on the same day, correct?”
Wu Yang naturally understood that the Young Miss Gu in his master’s mouth was not Gu Jinyu. He answered, “It should be, and there is also Young Master Gu.”
An Junwang nodded his head, “Have our people found out where their residence is in the capital?”
Wu Yang: “Yes. When Young Miss Gu’s husband went to the Imperial Academy to report his name, his address was also recorded. Just…”
“Just what?” An Junwang asked.
Wu Yang said, “That house was the one that Junwang once took a fancy to and asked this subordinate to buy. Unfortunately at that time, it was bought by others at ten times its original price.”
An Junwang had a little impression of it, “You mean the house near the Imperial Academy with two spacious yards?”
“That’s right!” Wu Yang nodded hard!
An Junwang wondered, “How did they manage to live in that house?”
Wu Yang said, “I heard that Young Miss Gu’s husband rented it for thirty taels a month.”
An Junwang became even more puzzled, “Only thirty taels?”
Thirty taels was actually quite a lot, but if you knew that the house was bought at ten times of its original price, you would feel that this cost rent wasn’t worth mentioning.
All the houses in that alley were close to the Imperial Academy, but only that house had the largest yards, which was very suitable for a family with small children. And she happened to have a three-year-old little brother.
However, how did they rent it?
“Maybe they have good luck.” What Wu Yang really wanted to say was that the person who bought the house was a fool. If not, for what reason would he rent out an Imperial Academy district house at such a low price after spending so much money on it?
An Junwang shook his head and said, “Forget it, let’s not delve into this. It’s also better for them to live there since there are only students from the Imperial Academy nearby, and no one will recognize the Empress Dowager.”
“There’s one more thing.” Wu Yang said.
“What is it?” An Junwang asked.
Wu Yang looked weird as he spoke, “Junwang, do you remember the county’s recommendation slot? This subordinate has inquired before, Young Miss Gu’s husband is the top scorer for both the county and prefectural exams, and his total score ranked first in their county.”
An Junwang responded, “I know about this. It was because his grades were good enough that I convinced my grandfather to find a way to reopen the Imperial Academy, so that he can be admitted to the Imperial Academy. That way, his family will have to accompany him to the capital and the Empress Dowager can enter the capital without attracting attention. Is there a problem? “
Wu Yang said in a puzzled face, “The county’s recommendation slot wasn’t given to him. He got admitted by himself!”
An Junwang let out a quizzical hum. It was unknown whether he was more surprised that the other party got first place in the provincial exam, or that the county’s recommendation slot wasn’t given to him.
“Who did they give the recommendation slot to?” He asked.
Wu Yang answered, “It was given to a friend of his named Feng Lin. This subordinate has checked and this Feng Lin has no great background. He ranks 17th in the provincial exam. He took the entry-level exam in Song County and isn’t even a Linsheng. I don’t know how he managed to get the Imperial Academy’s recommendation slot.”
An Junwang sneered, “It’s enough to bribe the County Magistrate.”
Wu Yang furrowed his brows, saying, “But, the Imperial Academy’s recommendation list was handed in first, and only after that did the result of the provincial exam were posted. Could it be that Xiao Liulang was very confident that he would top the provincial exam even before the scores were released, so he bribed the County Magistrate in advance and gave his own slot to his friend? Isn’t this too outrageous?”
It was indeed too outrageous. After all, even An Junwang dared not easily take such a dangerous move.
But to say there was another deep story to it, An Junwang didn’t believe that either.
After all, Xiao Liulang’s background had been investigated by Wu Yang.