Chapter 384: 197 Real Versus Fake Missy (two updates combined into one) _6
The imperial guards were no longer surprised. There were exams of all sizes at the Capital City’s Imperial College every year, and this madman could be caught outside every time.
The imperial guard said coldly, “You can’t get in again, why do you keep coming here?”
“Passing by,” Liu Yisheng answered, as he was held down with his hands bound behind him, feeling uncomfortable.
“What happened?” Another imperial guard approached.
“It’s Liu Yisheng.” the first imperial guard said, he had planned to drive Liu Yisheng away, but clearly his companion wasn’t going to let Liu Yisheng off so easily.
The companion crouched down and pulled a slip of paper from the fist Liu Yisheng had clenched. The slip contained today’s test questions.
He sneered at once, “You even stole the exam questions, what are you trying to do? Colluding with the people inside to cheat?”
These exam questions had already been leaked, all the imperial guards knew it. But he simply found the young man annoying and wanted to pin a charge on him to humiliate him.
Liu Yisheng was dragged into a nearby alleyway.
A flurry of punches came his way, leaving his face bloody and his body convulsing.
“Stop it, stop it! It’s the examination period, don’t beat him to death!” The first imperial guard couldn’t bear to watch any longer and stopped his companion, then led him back to their patrol path.
Snow was falling densely.
Liu Yisheng was sprawled out on the cold street, gazing up at the gloomy sky.
He couldn’t see any hope.
But he also understood that those people wouldn’t let him die.
They wanted him alive to bear the guilt of the deposed crown prince and the Liu family.
Cold snowflakes fell on his wounds.
If only he could freeze to death —
He closed his eyes and laughed coldly.
Suddenly, the light above his head dimmed, the snowflakes that were falling on him disappeared, and he faintly opened his eyes.
Someone had opened an oil-paper umbrella for him. The umbrella was painted with flowers and chicks in an awkward hand, but the handle was delicately engraved.
The girl under the umbrella had a quality of jade about her.
A large red patch was on her left cheek, which looked radiant against the snow.
Gu Jiao crouched down, setting the umbrella aside.
He reached up to stop Gu Jiao.
“Don’t move.” Gu Jiao said.
Liu Yisheng…didn’t move.
Gu Jiao placed her little basket of medicine on the ground, took out small first-aid kit, got a few tongue depressors and placed them in his mouth: “Bite down, it might hurt a bit.”
Liu Yisheng bit down on the tongue depressors.
Gu Jiao clasped his right arm and returned it to place with a snapping sound.
This one hurt a bit more.
Gu Jiao gently placed her hand on his left leg, lifting it up: “I will count to three and then reposition it for you. If you’re okay with it, nod.”
Liu Yisheng nodded nervously, sweating profusely.
This act made him feel shy.
It was back in place.
Liu Yisheng didn’t even have time to brace himself for the pain.
Of course, the pain was intense. Tears welled up in his eyes.
But he suppressed it again.
With her stethoscope, Gu Jiao listened to his breathing. Upon touching one of his ribs, he grunted in pain.
Gu Jiao took the stethoscope back, undid his coat, and slid her hand inside.
Immediately he freaked out, “What are you doing?”
“Shh, don’t move,” Gu Jiao said, carefully probing his ribs, “A rib is broken, the dislocation isn’t very obvious, it can recover by itself.”
Gu Jiao took her hand back.
This hand, which was just wandering over his chest, made Liu Yisheng feel embarrassed: “Are all female healers …”
“It’s a doctor.” Gu Jiao corrected him.
Liu Yisheng fell silent.
Gu Jiao stood up, “You wait here, I’ll call a carriage for you.”
“There’s no need.” Liu Yisheng stopped her.
“Hmm?” Gu Jiao looked at him, confused.
Liu Yisheng suddenly couldn’t meet her eyes. He glanced down: “I said, no need.”
After a pause, he clenched his fingers, coldly looked at her, “If you’re saving me in the hope that I’ll repay you one day, then you’re mistaken. You should be placing your bets on those exam candidates, not on me, a rat that is despised by everyone!”
Gu Jiao heaved a long sigh, “You still don’t believe in yourself.”
Liu Yisheng laughed at himself, “You’ve made a wrong assessment. I’m just a loser who doesn’t even qualify for the imperial examination!”
Gu Jiao hummed, “Do you want to participate in the Imperial Examination?”
Liu Yisheng turned his face away, “I don’t want to, and it’s also impossible.”
Gu Jiao said seriously, “There’s nothing impossible in this world.”
“Really?” Liu Yisheng laughed coldly. A gust of wind blew by and Gu Jiao’s oil-paper umbrella rolled over, exposing the painted flowers and chicks to his gaze.
He suddenly started laughing, full of derision, “Has you ever heard about the scholar stoles flower? Every year, the emperor personally confers three Class Alpha scholars, and the emperor’s rewarded flower hairpin. If you can obtain their flower hairpins, I will believe in what you said, that there is nothing impossible. Remember, not one, but three.”
“Don’t blame me for not reminding you, even the current crown princess has only managed to get two.”