The Prime Minister's Darling novel Chapter 209

Chapter 209: 130 Prodigy (First Update)_2

The Zhuang family disregarded public opinion, insisting on sending all their sons to the exam site.

Prince An did not disappoint and emerged as the top scholar in the provincial examination held in the Capital City.

As is well known, the competition in the Capital City is the most intense, making the title of top scholar there the most coveted. If not, the Guozijian wouldn’t have broken their rule to grant him direct entry into Shuaixin Hall.

The grading speed of the Guozijian was as impressive as rumoured, with results out two mornings after the last day of exams on the twenty-seventh.

This year’s freshmen generally performed well, while those who had lagged behind due to years of confinement in the academy seemed lacklustre. Reading is akin to rowing against the current – if you don’t progress, you retreat.

However, not all older examinees were like this. The teaching quality of the Guozijian is beyond doubt. Those who paid attention would not fare too badly.

As expected, this batch of entrants into Shuaixin Hall were mostly older students.

However, when they collated the last of the exam papers, they discovered an unfamiliar name.

“Xiao Liulang?” asked Zheng Siye, “Which student is this? Did we have a Xiao Liulang in the Guozijian before?”

“Could he be a freshman?” asked Li Siye.

Zheng Siye frowned, “How could a freshman score so well?”

This score would be among the top in Shuaixin Hall too.

The two officials brought out Xiao Liulang’s student records, only to discover that he was indeed a freshman who had excelled in the provincial examination in Youzhou.

Li Siye laughed, “Isn’t this the first time a freshman has made it into Shuaixin Hall?”

He found himself oddly excited.

Zheng Siye coldly remarked, “Don’t forget that Prince An is also a freshman. This Xiao Liulang was simply lucky. The title of ‘Freshman King’ belongs to none other than Prince An.”

Li Siye didn’t dare to refute.

Although Prince An did not partake in the entrance examinations, anyone with discerning eyes could see that his academic prowess exceeded the senior students of Shuaixin Hall. If he were to take the exam, could the top position belong to anyone else?

Gu Jiao prepared a feast, inviting Fen Lin and Lin Chengye over to celebrate everyone’s start of school.

By the end of October, the Capital City was already getting cold. Apparently, the first snow had fallen on the hills of Temple of the Dragon Guard, it must be close to snowing in the city as well.

The silver charcoal that Gu Jiao stocked up earlier came in handy. She bought several hand warmers, filled them with silver charcoal – enough to generate heat for two hours, so that they could replace the charcoal when they returned at noon.

Now the price of charcoal had gone up, Gu Jiao’s forethought in stocking up had saved her family a significant amount of money.

On the first day of school, Little Jingkong wanted Jiaojiao to take him.

Gu Jiao escorted him and Xiao Liulang to the Guozijian, then Gu Xiaoshun and Gu Yan to Qinghe Academy.

When she returned to their mansion in Bishui Alley, the old lady had just gotten up and was sitting in the backyard on the rattan chair, playing with the fledgling eagle that Gu Changqing had sent.

This little hawk was found by Gu Changqing at the bottom of a cliff. It must have fallen not long after it was born, whether it had fallen by itself or was knocked down by its mother was unclear. In any case, it seemed its mother had forgotten to retrieve it.

Even so, it didn’t give in. It stubbornly struggled to stand up on the spot, it seemed a tremendous force was hidden within its tiny body.