Yun Wanchen smiled faintly, gently patting her little head in a comforting gesture, his eyes dark and cold, as if they were cold stars.
[Hmm, what’s wrong with Big Brother?]
[Why do I feel that he’s suddenly a bit sad?]
[Is it my imagination?]
[...]
For some reason, Yun Wanqing suddenly felt his emotions had changed.
Outside the front yard gate.
A man in a dark blue robe leaned against a red wooden pillar in the corridor, with his arms crossed and his chin slightly raised, indifferent in demeanor.
’Clatter~’
The sound of wooden wheels rolling came.
A young man in black appeared around the corner of the corridor, pushing a wheelchair.
"Brother Ming Yue~"
Gu Heng’s eyes immediately showed a hint of joy as he stepped forward to greet Yun Wanchen.
"It’s been a while, how have you been lately, Brother Ming Yue?"
"Everything remains the same, how about Jin’an?"
Yun Wanchen smiled faintly, his eyes like a galaxy blossoming, instantly melting ice and snow, showing no trace of shadow.
Jin’an was Gu Heng’s courtesy name.
Gu Heng touched his forehead and said, "I’ve just returned from Nanzhou Prefecture, apart from being rather tired, everything is fine."
"Brother Ming Yue, I’m sorry for returning too late and missing your welcome."
In Da Wu Country, the status of Imperial Merchants was not high. There were twelve major Imperial Merchants, each managing various industries for the Royal Family, such as salt, textiles, silk, tea, iron ore, and land transport.
Besides connections and commerce, Imperial Merchants didn’t have actual speaking power in the Court, yet there were indeed many matters to handle.
Especially for the Gu Family, managing land transport and tea. As the Young Master, Gu Heng was busy all day long.
"It’s fine."
"By the way," Gu Heng glanced at the legs on the wheelchair, his gaze probing, "how was the trip to Jingzhou with Seventh Master Yun, Brother Ming Yue?? Any gains?"
"It was a worthwhile trip."
Yun Wanchen smiled faintly, admitting it generously.
Soon he would be able to stand again, and this matter could not be concealed forever. Although he wanted to keep it hidden for a short while, if he wanted to pin this on Jingzhou and protect his younger sister’s secret, he would have to let out some information at the right time.
"Oh? Is that so? That’s wonderful, I congratulate you in advance, Brother Ming Yue~"
Gu Heng couldn’t help but laugh happily. It was apparent that at this moment, he genuinely felt happy for his friend.
But, the world is unpredictable, people will inevitably change, won’t they?
Yun Wanchen slightly lowered his eyelids, covering the dark specks in his eyes.
Inside the hall, after the servant served the tea, he retreated, leaving only Gu Heng, Yun Wanchen, and the quietly unnoticeable Cang Yan.
After a few casual words, Gu Heng’s expression suddenly became uneasy. Holding the tea cup, Yun Wanchen softly blew on it, his eyes showing a slight movement, he spoke calmly.
"Jin’an seems to have something to say."
Hearing this, Gu Heng’s expression became even more uneasy. He bit his lip and spoke softly.
"Brother Ming Yue, to be honest, besides visiting you, I actually have a favor to ask~"
His voice became weaker, and a faint redness appeared on Gu Heng’s handsome face, feeling ashamed and embarrassed.
Everyone values dignity. If it wasn’t absolutely necessary, he really didn’t want to make this request to a friend.
"Oh? Jin’an, feel free to speak your mind. Between us, there’s no need for hesitance."
Yun Wanchen smiled gently, as if the moonlight had entered his embrace.
"Thank you, Brother Ming Yue. In that case, I’ll speak plainly."
Gu Heng coughed, suppressing his embarrassment, and said, "My aunt’s family has a cousin who passed the imperial examination last year as a third-class presented scholar and has yet to secure any official position~"
In Da Wu Country, the presented scholars were divided into three classes.
The first class was the Zhuangyuan, Bangyan, and Tanhua, known as ’top presented scholars’, totaling three people.
The second class was known as ’presented scholars graduate’, totaling fifty people, and the third class included a hundred to two hundred people.
What does ’of equivalent presented scholar origin’ mean?
It’s a pseudo-title granted as consolation for those who didn’t make it, otherwise, why add the word ’equivalent’?
Therefore, third-class presented scholars were of little value, and after becoming a presented scholar, they couldn’t retake the examination.
Those with equivalent presented scholar status, if lucky, could be selected to study at the Shuchang Hall for the imperial examinations, staying in Haojing to secure an official position next time.
If unlucky, they could only wait or be assigned to remote, bandit-ridden places no one wanted to go.
"My aunt’s family sought many connections and faced obstacles everywhere. My grandmother, knowing my close friendship with Brother Ming Yue, asked me, along with my aunt, to come to Brother Ming Yue for help."
"I didn’t want to agree initially, but my grandmother and aunt were willing to kneel to me for this. As elders, how could I accept their kneeling?"