SGEIRS -Chapter 225 The End of the Autumn Examination

Dali Temple.

Whether it was just his imagination or not, Gu Jingxi felt that his colleagues’ eyes kept sneaking glances at him from time to time. The suggestive looks, the teasing smiles—it all made him feel a little strange.

Puzzled, Gu Jingxi pulled his close friend aside and whispered, “Mobei, is there something on my face?”

Qi Yunwen glanced at him casually, then shook his head. “No, why do you ask?”

Gu Jingxi asked again, “If there isn’t, then why do their eyes feel… off when they look at me?”

At that, Qi Yunwen’s expression suddenly changed. His gaze dropped, eventually landing on the scented pouch at Gu Jingxi’s waist. The pouch itself was quite pretty—fine stitching, exquisite embroidery—but it was the mandarin duck pattern on it that drew attention. Usually, the austere Minister of the Temple didn’t smile easily in front of others. Seeing him wearing such a pouch, who wouldn’t find it odd?

Qi Yunwen chuckled. “This pouch is quite nice. Did sister-in-law give it to you?”

Gu Jingxi instinctively touched the pouch at his waist. He recalled how the young lady herself had hung it there last night, her shy, charming demeanor making him smile. “Who else would give me something like this besides her?”

“Yaoling,” Qi Yunwen teased, his smile filled with subtle meaning, “weren’t you raising her like a child? How come raising her turned into… this, hmm?” He even gave a playful wink.

Gu Jingxi’s expression froze. He had indeed treated the young lady like a child at first, but plans could hardly keep up with changes. Going with the flow, he replied smoothly, “We are husband and wife, just with an age difference.”

Qi Yunwen clicked his tongue twice and said, “Yes, you are married, but you don’t need to flaunt it like a peacock, hanging a pouch at your waist for everyone to see, as if no one should know sister-in-law made it for you.”

Hearing this, Gu Jingxi finally understood why his colleagues had been looking at him strangely today. He said calmly, “A scented pouch is just an accessory. What’s wrong with wearing it? You’re making a fuss over nothing. Making a pouch takes thought—if I don’t wear it, wouldn’t that be disregarding her effort?”

Qi Yunwen was momentarily stumped. Actually, he also had a pouch symbolizing affection between husband and wife. Why not wear it tomorrow? If both the friend and superior wore theirs, why shouldn’t he?

This small act, however, set off a chain reaction among the other officials at Dali Temple.

Previously, married officials thought such pouches were just for casual wear. Wearing them at the office, for colleagues to see, could feel a little embarrassing. Now that the Minister had set the example and the Deputy Minister followed suit, those who didn’t wear one suddenly felt out of place.

The Minister doted on Madam Gu—a devoted husband—and might even appreciate similar gestures. As subordinates, anything that could earn their superior’s favor was good for one’s career. So whether out of genuine affection or just appearances, many officials followed suit. Even those without a pouch had their wives make one.

This pleased their wives, who, inspired, made other designs as well.

Eventually, officials even developed a sense of friendly competition, showing off what their wives made for them. Inadvertently, the couple’s relationship improved, even adding a touch of novelty for long-married couples.

People began to say that the officials of Dali Temple had excellent conduct—men who truly cherished their wives.

Of course, that was later.

The Next Day.

The autumn examination had ended, and students who took the exam gradually left the Gongyuan.

After nine days and seven nights, living entirely at the Gongyuan with poor facilities, bad food, and little rest, the candidates were all mentally drained. When the exams ended, they looked exhausted, pale, and had lost weight.

Some could walk on their own; others needed to support each other; some even fainted and had to be carried out. Those who fainted were usually frail or pampered sons of wealthy families who had never endured hardship.

Families waited anxiously for the familiar faces to emerge.

Madam Zhang and Madam Chen came to pick up their sons, intending to ask how they fared in the exams. But when they saw their sons had grown thin, looked listless, and seemed completely drained, their eyes reddened with worry and they forgot to ask about results, rushing forward instead to fuss over them.

“Xiuyuan, you’ve worked hard; you’ve lost some weight.”

“Our Xiuhong has lost weight too—look at his face, there’s hardly any color left.”

“Back home, you’ll need to rest and recuperate properly.”

“Exactly.”

Gu Xiuming saw both of his elder brothers being fussed over by their mothers, while he only had his personal attendant to meet him. His father hadn’t shown up at all, neither at the start nor the end of the exams. He couldn’t help but feel a little upset.

After speaking with their sons, Madam Zhang and Madam Chen were about to leave when they noticed Gu Xiuming standing nearby. They took a brief look at him and, seeing that he too had grown thin, asked with concern, “Xiuming, how are you feeling? You’ve lost quite a bit of weight.”

Suppressing his discomfort, Gu Xiuming replied calmly, “Thank you for your concern, Aunt. I’m fine, just a little tired.”

Madam Zhang said, “Then go back, bathe, change, and get some rest.”

Gu Xiuming nodded and was helped into the carriage by his attendant. They headed back home.

Meanwhile, Meng Jinyao strolled leisurely at home. Seeing Madam Zhang and Madam Chen arrive, she suddenly realized that the autumn examination had ended and that the two sisters-in-law had gone to the Gongyuan to pick up their sons.

She studied the three Gu brothers. Their faces were haggard, eye sockets dark, bloodshot eyes, weak steps, and needing servants’ support. The elegant demeanor of noble heirs had vanished. Especially Gu Xiuming—his face looked worse than his brothers’, clearly showing how hard these past days had been.

Yet, despite being in the worst shape, Gu Xiuming carried a faint aura of confidence in his brows—a quality neither Gu Xiuyuan nor Gu Xiuhong had.

She was curious: could it be that Gu Xiuming did very well in the exams?

After a moment, Meng Jinyao withdrew her gaze and stepped forward, speaking gently, “Sisters-in-law, you’re back. Xiuyuan and the others have lost quite a bit of weight. Especially Xiuming—are you alright?”

Gu Xiuming cupped his hands and respectfully replied, “Son is fine. Mother need not worry.”

Meng Jinyao nodded slightly. “Good. You probably haven’t rested well these days. Now that you’re back, rest first. Once you’ve recuperated, you can go pay respects to your grandmother tomorrow. She was still asking about you three yesterday.”

Gu Xiuming responded, “Yes, Mother.”

With that, he was assisted back to Qingyuxuan. Madam Zhang and Madam Chen exchanged a few words with Meng Jinyao before taking their sons home.