Chapter 540 - 202: Gu Lin (2)
Chen Wanqing gave a polite smile, waving her hand. "That won’t be necessary."
Zhao Jing also said, "It was truly a small effort, not worth mentioning. In this world, if you’re not the one talking about others, others are talking about you. Fortunately, it was all a misunderstanding. I imagine the rumors will die down after today. I have other important matters to attend to, so I must decline Mr. Gu’s kind offer today."
Gu Lin exchanged a few more pleasantries, then reluctantly bid the two farewell. He called over his young servant who was waiting nearby, and the two of them headed toward the Gu family estate.
Only after the Gu family’s carriage had disappeared from sight did Chen Wanqing tug on Zhao Jing’s sleeve. "You’re not exactly the type to help people out of the sheer goodness of your heart. Why did you decide to bail him out this time?"
Chen Wanqing had been at home lately, so she didn’t know much about the gossip on the streets. Zhao Jing explained to her in detail about the Gu family being implicated in bribing an examiner, which had dragged Gu Lin into the mess.
Whether the Gu family had actually bribed the examiner, or whether it was Gu Lin’s second uncle or his father who had spoken with the official, was irrelevant. Given that Gu Lin lacked the talent, forcefully pushing him into a higher position wasn’t for his own good—it was purely intended to harm him.
Gu Lin’s father managed a vast family fortune; he surely wasn’t that foolish. The only other possibility was that someone in the Gu family had ulterior motives and wanted to use a borrowed knife to kill.
Unfortunately for them, Gong Yuanxiu only took the money without delivering. And Gu Lin’s ability was so lacking—forget becoming the top scorer in the provincial examination, he performed so poorly he didn’t even become a scholar.
Thus, their deadly plot was effortlessly thwarted.
With Zhao Jing doing him this convenient favor, the slanderous rumors staining Gu Lin’s name were now completely washed away.
It was too sunny where they were standing. Also, because he had spoken up earlier, many people had recognized Zhao Jing and were showing signs of approaching him to chat.
Seeing this, Zhao Jing took Chen Wanqing’s hand and led her behind a large locust tree.
"Gu Lin isn’t the eldest son of the Gu family, but he’s the only one of his generation who is a man of letters. His scholarship is poor, but he’s a decent person. He’s also outgoing, righteous, and has friends from all walks of life. In that regard, he’s quite similar to De’an. I imagine he and De’an would get along very well."
Chen Wanqing gave him a light pinch, urging him to get to the point.
Zhao Jing smiled. "There’s really no grand reason. I just helped him out since it was convenient."
"I don’t believe you," Chen Wanqing said.
Hearing this, Zhao Jing couldn’t help but chuckle again.
Only then did he hint at his true motive. "The Gu family is a well-known major grain merchant in Heyuan Province, with millions upon millions of bushels of grain in their stores. Befriending them is just me planning for a rainy day, securing a connection for the future."
Upon hearing this, Chen Wanqing’s expression was one of sudden realization.
’So *that* was why. It was because they were "grain merchants."’
’Indeed,’ she thought. ’In times of peace and prosperity, with favorable weather, a grain merchant is just an ordinary businessman, not worth going out of one’s way to befriend. But in chaotic times, or during wars, floods, or droughts, having a major grain merchant like that as a friend would be incredibly useful.’
Chen Wanqing said, "I knew it. You never do anything without a reason. Every move you make has a deeper meaning."
Zhao Jing teased her, "Then tell me, my love, what was the deeper meaning behind all the effort I put into marrying you?"
Chen Wanqing replied with an all-knowing air, "It was so I could bear your children and continue your family line."
Zhao Jing burst out laughing.
If they weren’t on a public street, with the Prefectural Magistrate’s Office across from them and the examination hall beside them, with students passing by from time to time, Zhao Jing would have truly wanted to pull her into his arms for a long, passionate embrace.
His love had her own unique wit and humor deep in her bones. A single, simple sentence from her could make him roar with laughter. How could he not love her?
The two of them stood outside, murmuring idly to each other, so engrossed that they didn’t notice the time passing. Naturally, they didn’t stop to wonder why De’an had been gone for so long.
De’an had run into trouble.
He had just collected the failed examination papers and was leaving the office when a young man stopped him.
The man wore the insignia of a Sixth Rank civil official and carried himself with the air of someone from a prominent family. No matter how you looked at it, he didn’t seem to be a local official from Xinghuai Prefecture.
Considering how freely the man moved about the examination hall, De’an began to form a theory.
He bowed respectfully. "May I ask which official you are, sir?"
Inwardly, however, he was running through the list of chief examiners, deputy examiners, and associate examiners.
’This man is young, so he can’t be the chief examiner, Gong Yuanxiu. And he has a righteous aura and the strong scent of a scholar about him. He doesn’t look like a crafty old fox from the Ministry of Personnel, so he certainly isn’t Mr. Yuan, Yuan Shixin.’
’The associate examiners are mostly scholars, those with the same degree, or Advanced Scholars who haven’t yet been appointed to a post. None of them are qualified to wear official robes...’
Mulling it over and over, De’an came to a realization about the man’s identity.