Chapter 522: How Long Are You Planning To Hide It For? (2)
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
“You, you… foolish woman, vulgar, repugnant, a shame on our culture…”
“Scram.”
Zhao Chuchu felt repulsed by these so-called scholars who were so full of themselves. These clowns love to lecture people, yet they don’t seem to be capable themselves.
“Also, scholars should learn to have some respect instead of eavesdropping on someone else’s family conversation like this. You even barged into someone else’s business and tried to reprimand other people? You are the one who is ruining the reputation of scholars. You are the one who is a shame to our culture! ”
The candidate almost fell from anger.
“As for what my husband does, you have no right to comment. Even if he cooks every day, he’ll probably still score better than you.”
“You, you…”
“Alright, darling, we shouldn’t waste our time on people like this. Let’s go.” Xie Heng didn’t even bother interacting with this person.
This person clearly had no importance whatsoever and wasn’t worth any additional attention.
Only then did Zhao Chuchu stop.
Before leaving, Xie Heng said, “Even if I cook every day, you will still never compare to me.”
After saying that, Xie Heng held Zhao Chuchu and Xie Jun’s hands and left.
“You, you…”
The candidate pointed at Xie Heng and kept stomping his feet.
The other candidates around them started murmuring, “Who was that? Why was he so arrogant?”
“I don’t know. It’s an unfamiliar face. I don’t think I’ve seen him before. Probably just a normal candidate? If he’s as capable as he claims to be, he should have become famous in the Imperial City long ago, right?”
“Does he not know that our brother Xu here has a high chance of becoming an advanced scholar? How dare that guy speak to him like that? No wonder he can only work in the kitchen. When a man can’t even judge the situation, how can he possibly be capable of anything significant?”
“Who knows? Let’s wait until the results are released. I would like to see if he is as good as he claims to be and whether our brother Xu is really worse than him.”
“Hahaha, we’ll have a good show to watch that day.”
“I’ll be looking forward to it.”
“Is this Xu person really good? Why are all of them trying to suck up to him?” Although they were already quite far away, Zhao Chuchu could still hear the conversation happening in front of the examination hall entrance. So she couldn’t help but ask Xie Heng about it.
Xie Heng laughed, saying, “He’s just a pretentious fellow who would do anything to get famous. Those compositions that he ‘wrote’ were all stolen from other people.”
“What? He plagiarized those essays? Then why didn’t the original author say anything or expose him?” Zhao Chuchu got angry, and she said, “How can he be so proud of something that he stole? Does he think that he’s capable of doing the same? How did he manage to pass the provincial exams?”
“Sometimes, we have to admit that luck is part of a person’s ability when it comes to the Imperial Examinations. For example, during the year that he took the Provincial Examination, he happened to have plagiarized a composition that could be used to answer the exam question, so he managed to pass.”
Zhao Chuchu was speechless.
“Oh my god, then what about the original author?”
“He was already a provincial graduate. What can the original author do? He did everything he could to suppress the original author. This person did manage to become an advanced scholar in the end. He became a government official in a small county. After just three years in his position as a magistrate, he managed to amass thousands of taels of silver in illegitimate earnings. I was the one who ordered his execution.’
“What about this time?”
“He won’t get the chance to. On the day that the results are released, he will be exposed, and his reputation will be completely ruined.”
“That’s great. Otherwise, I would be really mad. I can’t believe someone like this can be successful. How disgusting.”
“Alright, let’s not talk about him. How’s the Third Prince doing?”
Xie Heng changed the topic. They were still on their way back home. Although the two of them spoke rather softly, Xie Jun was right beside them.
“He’s much better now. He can even walk on his own now. I don’t know if the emperor will allow us to leave the prince’s palace, though. The prince’s residence is big and spacious, but I still prefer our little home.” Zhao Chuchu sighed and said, “l feel like I’m going to become dumb from being locked inside there for so long. It took so much effort to come out here just once.”
“Yeah, I’ll ask the Third Prince about this later. But, since he has already recovered, I think the emperor will allow us to return home.”
“l hope so.”
Zhao Chuchu didn’t know that the emperor had already seen Xie Jun.
When the three of them returned to the prince’s palace, Zhao Chuchu instantly felt that the atmosphere was a little odd.
The security around the prince’s palace had increased significantly. The emperor must have come.
But other than the emperor’s personal carriage, there were several other carriages from the royal palace.
Who did the emperor bring to the Third Prince’s residence?
The three of them went forward to identify themselves. The guard captain examined them carefully before letting them enter.
The eunuch, who had been following the emperor previously, was pacing around the courtyard anxiously. He seemed to be waiting for someone.
When he saw Zhao Chuchu, Xie Heng, and Xie Jun, his face filled with joy. “Mr. Xie, you’re finally back.”
“What’s the matter?” Xie Heng asked. “Did something happen to the Third Prince?”
“No, no, no, please, come with me.” The eunuch was very polite, but his gaze landed directly on Xie Jun’s face.
This was Xie Jun’s first time seeing a eunuch. He quietly dodged the eunuch’s gaze and tried to hide behind Xie Heng. However, the eunuch smiled fawningly, which made Xie Jun even more scared. He had heard the eunuchs all took in students.. Did this eunuch take a liking to him and want to get him to become a eunuch in the palace as well?