SGEIRS -Chapter 356 Mistaken About the Person

Today, the weather was clear.

The academy exam also began today. Gu Xiuwen and Meng Chengzhang were participating. Before this, they had already taken the county and prefectural exams and had become tongsheng (students who passed the preliminary exams). Now, participating in the academy exam, if they performed well, they could likely become xiucai (candidates who passed the provincial exam), officially stepping onto the path of scholarly achievement.

Aside from them, Meng Chengxing, encouraged by Meng Jinyu, also took part in this academy exam.

Meng Jinyao, as their elder sister, felt nervous. Of course, her worry was solely for her second younger brother, Meng Chengzhang. As for Meng Chengxing, whether he became a xiucai or not didn’t concern her.

Madam Zhang was also anxious about her youngest son’s exam. Last year, her eldest son had become a juren (a successful candidate in the provincial exam). Since his rank was low, he didn’t participate in this year’s spring exam, seeing little hope. Seeing that Madam Chen’s son had become a jinshi (successful candidate in the imperial exam) this year, she was envious. Now that her youngest son was taking the academy exam, she hoped he would succeed and become a xiucai, so that both her sons would have scholarly achievements, bringing honor to the family.

Additionally, their main branch of the family was the weakest of the three branches of the marquis mansion because the eldest son had no prospects. When the matriarch passed away and the family divided, the main branch couldn’t rely on her husband—it would have to rely on her two sons. If Xuanyi’s two elder brothers were successful, arranging marriages in the future would be much easier.

Previously, when her eldest son took the academy exam, Madam Zhang hadn’t been so nervous. But now, with her youngest son taking it, she was extremely anxious. Ultimately, it was because she had little confidence in her youngest son’s learning.

After a moment of anxiety, Madam Zhang realized, a bit belatedly, that she had been strict with her eldest son but seemed to have been too indulgent with her youngest, spoiling him. As a result, the eldest son was self-disciplined, while the youngest had been lazy, caring only for play. Although he had become more diligent since entering Lingshan Academy, she still worried whether he could make up for the past year’s lost knowledge.

Madam Zhang let out a long sigh. Out of her three children, she had only properly educated her eldest son. Her youngest son and daughter hadn’t been guided well. Her daughter’s capriciousness had led to such a poor outcome, and her youngest son had only been able to enter Lingshan Academy thanks to the matriarch’s suggestion and his uncle’s help in securing connections, allowing him to transform himself.

With her sigh, both Meng Jinyao and Madam Chen looked toward her.

Madam Chen asked, “Sister-in-law, why the sigh?”

Madam Zhang didn’t answer directly, instead changing the subject: “It’s nothing. Second sister-in-law, aren’t you helping Xiuhong find a suitable girl? Have you found anyone he fancies?”

Mentioning this matter made Madam Chen feel depressed. She replied helplessly, “I did suggest a few good girls to him, thinking I’d see which one he preferred, so I could speak to their parents and arrange for them to meet. But he told me there was no rush, to wait a bit. Earlier, before he became a jinshi, he said he had no interest in marriage and only wanted to study, and I agreed. Now that he’s succeeded, what is there still to wait for?”

Meng Jinyao curiously asked, “Second sister-in-law, could it be that Xiuhong already has someone in mind?”

Madam Zhang also said, “Second sister-in-law, maybe Xiuhong truly does have someone special, just as the third sister-in-law said.”

Madam Chen immediately said, “He normally devotes himself entirely to studying the classics, oblivious to worldly matters. I haven’t seen him get close to any girl, so there’s no way he has someone special. Besides, if he did, he would have told me and his father, waiting for us as parents to propose. But he hasn’t mentioned anything.”

Meng Jinyao pondered and said, “Second sister-in-law, don’t worry. I think Xiuhong is ambitious. Perhaps he’s not yet in office and temporarily has no mind for marriage. Once he secures an official post and truly steps onto the path of a career, he will consider marriage then.”

Madam Zhang agreed, “Third sister-in-law is right. Xiuhong has always had his own plans. Second sister-in-law, just wait a little longer.”

Madam Chen sighed lightly, “It seems that’s all we can do.”

Elsewhere, Du Sizhe had been upset for a few days due to an unpleasant encounter with his cousin a few days prior. After reflecting carefully, he finally decided to see the Gu Marquis that his cousin liked, to judge whether it was worth her entrusting her life to him.

Du Sizhe arrived at the Dali Temple office on time, hoping to see Gu Jingxi.

It was currently free time, and officials were leaving the Dali Temple.

Soon, a young man, not yet twenty, dressed as a constable, ran toward the temple and shouted inside, “Minister of the Court!”

Du Sizhe froze. Isn’t Gu Jingxi the Minister of the Court?

He looked toward the temple gate and saw two officials standing there. The one on the left looked ordinary, about fifty years old—too old to be Gu Jingxi.

The other, around thirty, looked upright and refined, with a short beard. He was frowning as he scolded the constable for being careless.

Du Sizhe frowned. Gu Jingxi was supposed to be thirty this year. Why did he look so anxious and old?

If he stood with his cousin, they didn’t look like a married couple at all—more like father and daughter. What could his cousin possibly see in Gu Jingxi?

Perhaps it was because her father, Uncle Meng, didn’t give her fatherly love. Having lacked it from childhood, she felt cared for by Gu Jingxi, and mistook affection for romance.

While Du Sizhe was lost in thought, he saw a much younger man appear behind the two officials. This man, in his twenties, was strikingly handsome and extraordinary in demeanor. Both officials and the constable bowed to him.

Du Sizhe looked at him and heard the officials address him as “Minister of the Court.” He froze. Had he mistaken the person? This young man was the real Gu Jingxi?

He quickly noticed the difference in official robes: the young man wore the robe of a third-rank official, while the thirty-year-old man wore that of a fifth-rank official. He had assumed, based on the shout “Minister of the Court,” that the older man was Gu Jingxi, judging solely by his face.

After finishing his conversation with the constable, Gu Jingxi parted from his colleagues and descended the steps. Suddenly, he saw an unmarried young man approaching. He stopped, observed the young man, and after a brief glance and a moment of thought, guessed his identity: “You are the young master of the Du family, my wife’s cousin?”

Du Sizhe was surprised: “Gu Marquis has seen me?”

Gu Jingxi replied lightly, “Not seen. Just guessed.”

Du Sizhe was stunned. He had never met Gu Jingxi before, and Gu Jingxi couldn’t have met him either. He asked, “If Gu Marquis hasn’t met me, how could you recognize me at a glance?”

Gu Jingxi pursed his lips and smiled faintly. “Master Du, since I could become Minister of the Court, I do have some eye for people. Do you have something you wish to discuss with me?”

Du Sizhe’s heart skipped a beat. He hadn’t said anything yet, but the other seemed to know his intentions.

Gu Jingxi added, “This isn’t the place to talk. Let’s find a teahouse and speak properly.”

Du Sizhe stammered, “O-okay,” and followed Gu Jingxi, feeling utterly bewildered. Just a few words, and he was already being led along by Gu Jingxi.