Chapter 179: 118 Release List (First Update)
Gu Jiao and Xiao Liulang first sent their three younger brothers to Tianxiang Academy and a private school, then the two went together to the county Yamen.
The Guozijian had indeed issued the admission paper, and the names were out, but Xiao Liulang’s was not among them.
“How can this be?” Gu Jiao asked.
“This…” The County Magistrate was uneasy. He awkwardly glanced at Xiao Liulang and then at Gu Jiao, “I don’t know if I should speak.”
“Feel free to speak,” Xiao Liulang said.
The County Magistrate sighed.
Anyone with discerning eyes could see that there was something fishy about it. Since the county started conducting the child examination, there had never been a candidate better than Xiao Liulang. Even though Xiao Liulang did not succeed in the college examination, his overall performance still ranked first in the city.
Moreover, he was a student of Tianxiang Academy, the only direct disciple announced unilaterally by the headmaster Li. He maintained his decorum with a spotless reputation—there was no reason for him not to be awarded a spot.
The County Magistrate was also unhappy.
He was the first to write down Xiao Liulang’s name, but who made it—
“I really can’t say this, please let me go. I’m just a small county official, I can’t afford to offend those nobles!”
“Who did you give the spot to?” Gu Jiao asked.
The County Magistrate hesitated for a moment before answering, “A candidate named Fen Lin.”
Gu Jiao and Xiao Liulang were visibly shocked.
“Which Fen Lin?” Gu Jiao asked, furrowing her brows, “The Fen Lin from Tianxiang Academy?”
The County Magistrate was startled, looking at them both, “Ah, yes! Do you know him?”
Gu Jiao turned to look at Xiao Liulang, “How many Fen Lins are there in your academy?”
“Only one,” Xiao Liulang replied.
Gu Jiao murmured, “This is strange, how could Fen Lin’s score be higher than yours? No, this isn’t about grades.”
Xiao Liulang said to the county official, “He is not even local, he is from Song county. How could he get a local spot?”
“That’s what I also said, but…” The County Magistrate stopped midway, realizing he nearly let something slip, and quickly amended, “In any case, my hands are tied! Mr. Xiao, Mrs. Xiao, you better go.”
The County Magistrate truly felt sorry for Xiao Liulang. Such a promising child, if only he had been born into a wealthy family, who could truly estimate his future potential?
“This situation should not be related to Fen Lin,” Xiao Liulang explained to Gu Jiao as they left.
“Mmm, I know,” Gu Jiao nodded.
Neither of them were the type to lose their judgment easily. While others might suspect Fen Lin at first, the two of them knew Fen Lin well enough to know he was incapable of such an act of betrayal.
Moreover, he didn’t have the means to do so in the first place, he had no powerful backing.
This was clearly directed at Xiao Liulang. Whoever was behind this was using Fen Lin to suppress Xiao Liulang – such a heart was condemnable!
Gu Jiao suggested, “Should we go to the Prefecture City to inquire?”
“Oh, don’t bother! The orders came from the Prefecture City!” The County Magistrate quickly chased after them when he heard that they were planning to appeal. He was worried about losing his official position and hurriedly said, “Let me tell you the truth, behind this is someone powerful from the Capital City, you won’t achieve anything even if you go to Prefecture City!”
“Who is this person of power from the Capital City?” Gu Jiao could only think of one person in the Capital City who would hold a grudge against Xiao Liulang.
“A Marquis.” The County Magistrate said. The man who delivered the documents carelessly let slip the rank of the person involved, which was how he found out about the Marquis. But he couldn’t reveal which Marquis, he wouldn’t dare!
“A Marquis?” Gu Jiao murmured.
As soon as she uttered these words, a horse carriage stopped in front of the Yamen.
The Marquis stepped down from the carriage pompously, straightened his clothes with a refreshed look, then his eyes fell on Gu Jiao and the lame Xiao Liulang. “Ah? Is it you guys? What a coincidence! Did you come specifically to see if your names were on the Guozijian admission list? Let me guess, you didn’t make it, did you? Ha ha ha! Ha ha ha ha!”
The Marquis laughed uproariously.
“I need to have a word with him.” After saying this to Xiao Liulang, Gu Jiao pulled the Marquis onto the carriage.
After a round of chaos, the Marquis ended up slumped in the corner of the carriage, pale-faced.
Gu Jiao grabbed his collar and said coldly, “Change the admission list back!”
The County Magistrate, after seeing the Marquis’s mien, hurriedly went back into the Yamen to retrieve a brocade box the Marquis had brought earlier. When he brought the box out to the carriage, the Marquis was already bruised and battered.