Chapter 380: 197 Real Versus Fake Missy (two updates combined into one) _2
The face of Marquis Gu became extremely unsightly: “How could she do this?”
Gu Jinyu sobbed, “Actually, I can’t blame Miss Zhuang, she only spoke the truth. I’m indeed not father’s biological child, my real parents were country folks, that’s my background…”
Marquis Gu said with heartache, “Father doesn’t allow you to talk about yourself ! In father’s heart, you are indeed his own daughter!”
The maidservant glanced at Marquis Gu and muttered, “Poor Miss, being spoken about by Miss Zhuang in this way, everyone won’t place their bets on Miss anymore! This only the first day, who knows what will happen in the future when she goes to the girl’s school. How will those people bully her?”
Bully his daughter? How can this be?
Marquis Gu didn’t understand the concept of betting and only after questioning the maid did he get to know that Qingfeng Building had organized a betting pool on the imperial examinations, and one of the bets was on who would receive a hairpin from the scholar of Class Alpha.
Out of the three hairpins, one was likely to be given to Zhuang Yuexi by Prince An. Aren’t there still two left?
Marquis Gu thought, considering Jinyu’s capabilities, she should at least be able to win one from the other two candidates.
He cannot let Jinyu suffer this injustice.
That afternoon, he drew five thousand taels of silver from the warehouse and took them all to Qingfeng Building to place a bet.
“Who are you placing a bet on, Miss Gu?” The shopkeeper asked.
“Are there many Miss Gu’s?” Marquis Gu asked.
The shopkeeper, not recognizing Marquis Gu, explained with a smile, “There are two Miss Gu’s in Marquis Residence, one is second Miss Gu and the other is eldest Miss Gu.”
Can that girl also be listed? Marquis Gu rolled his eyes, quickly recalling what the maidservant had said about Zhuang Mengdie deliberately placing a bet of a single copper plate on Gu Jiao in order to humiliate Gu Jinyu. Qingfeng Building must have listed the girl at that time.
Does she think she can compete with Jinyu?
Without saying a word, Marquis Gu placed the entire bet on Gu Jinyu.
The amount bet on Gu Jinyu suddenly became equal to Zhuang Yuexi.
Gu Jiao still remained lonely at the very end.
The concubine also received news of the examinations’ betting pool and quietly arranged for the eunuch to take some silver to Qingfeng Building to place bets.
Prince An was sure to win. Although many people placed bets on him, the odds were too low. However, the concubine still bet on him, earning a little is better than earning nothing at all.
The concubine also placed bets on Gu Jinyu and Zhuang Yuexi, as well as Daoist priestess Miaoyin.
As for Miaoyin, she has some story to tell. She is the legitimate granddaughter of Prime Minister Yuan, sent to the Taoist temple because she was hard to raise after she was born. It is strange that she, who was indeed at death’s door, thrived after entering the Taoist temple.
The Concubine had inquired about her, Miaoyin can return to society when she turns sixteen. Calculating the time, it would be roughly around the time of the release of the examination’s result.
The concubine felt that, even for the fame of Prime Minister Yuan, Miaoyin should be able to get a hairpin.
The little grandson of Prime Minister Yuan also participated in the examinations. His fame was not as big as Prince An, but Concubine placed her bet on him being the second-placed scholar.
Next, the Concubine placed a bet on a talented youth from Jiangnan. This man has a good reputation in Jiangnan, he would’ve placed high in the examinations three years ago, but unfortunately he fell ill and missed the exams.
He is a good friend of the Fifth Prince, who had recommended him to her. The Concubine trusts her son’s judgement, so she placed a bet on him being among the top scorers.
Having done all these, Concubine worried that she might have missed someone. She called a personal maid and asked, “Who did the Crown Princess bet on?”
The palace maid said, “Your Ladyship, I have inquired, the Crown Princess did not place a bet.”
The Concubine didn’t understand what the Crown Princess was thinking. It was such a great opportunity to make money, why not take it?
The palace maid speculated, “Among these talented men and women, only Prince An has the talent to catch the eye of the Crown Princess, but the Crown Princess can’t place a bet on Prince An.”
Having said that, it made sense. Prince An is from the house of Zhuang, and Empress Xiao and the Zhuang family are enemies. The Crown Princess placing a bet on the Zhuang family’s chance would provoke Empress Xiao, wouldn’t it?
Concubine isn’t aligned with anyone in the inner palace, she can bet on anyone she wants.
After Gu Jiao left Qingfeng Building, she went directly to the Medical Hall.
Doctor Song just came out from Gu Chenglin’s ward, his expression was indescribable.
Gu Jiao walked over and asked, “What? He still doesn’t want to leave?”
Dr. Song shook his head: “His wound has healed long ago, the stitches were also removed, his pulse and all other aspects are very normal, there’s no point in staying here any longer.”
Although an injury to the muscles and bones takes a hundred days to recover, Gu Chenglin, being young and vigorous, should go back to the Residence and continue recuperating. Why would he insist on staying in this Medical Hall?
A big part of Gu Chenglin’s reluctance to leave was because he couldn’t accept the betrayal of Ling Concubine, he refused to return to the place that once had Ling Concubine’s presence, and also refused to hear about her.