Quick Transmigration: After Fake Death, All the Protagonists I Flirted With Went Crazy

Chapter 180 Ingratitude and Deceit (15)

The imperial examinations began in the misty drizzle of the capital.

Despite strong opposition from the court, Shen Xuntang appointed Baili Weisheng as the chief examiner for the upcoming imperial examination.

He suppressed a group of respected old stubborn men in the court.

Meanwhile, the Eastern Depot was also ordered to secretly protect the imperial examination.

Shen Xuntang placed a piece on the chessboard, facing his senior brother.

It should be collected.

"Junior brother, are you really sure about this?"

Ying Lian gently placed the black piece.

Gu Yao remained unmoved and placed a white piece.

What does "senior brother" mean?

Ying Lian looked up at the handsome young man in front of him and sighed softly.

He put down the chess piece, his face showing some helplessness. "I lost. You know exactly what I'm talking about, so why are you pretending to be confused?"

Gu Yao put down his chess piece and turned to look at the misty spring rain.

"Senior brother, not everyone can be as lucky as you and Han Shu. In this world, eight or nine out of ten things are not as good as they seem, and I am no exception."

Ying Lian looked at Gu Yaowei and remained silent for a moment.

But he wanted to persuade him again, "Are you really willing to put the child you've raised for almost two years in that position?"

“It’s not that I want to. I asked him if he wanted to, and he said yes, so I’ll help him achieve it. Anyway, for me, it doesn’t matter who sits in that position.”

Besides, I brought him out of the Cold Palace with this intention in mind from the start.

Seeing that Gu Yao had made up his mind, Ying Lian stopped trying to persuade him.

He knew his junior brother was a man of ideas from the first time he met him.

Once he's made a decision, he won't easily change it.

Ying Lian stood up and patted Gu Yao on the shoulder, "If you want to leave later, don't forget that you still have your master and senior brothers."

After saying that, Ying Lian climbed over the windowsill and flew away.

Seeing Ying Lian's somewhat anxious expression, Gu Yao smiled gently.

He must be rushing back to have dinner with Han Shu.

Gu Yao felt a little envious.

Looking at the first sliver of light breaking through the sky, he picked up the teacup on the table and took a small sip.

The sky, which has been gloomy for so long, should finally clear up.

The day the results were announced was a clear and bright day.

The fact that a relatively unknown student topped the list has sparked heated discussions in Beijing.

Rumors spread like wildfire.

Some say the candidate bribed the invigilator.

Some say that the candidate was favored by Shen Zhangyin, who is currently in power.

In any case, it's impossible to escape the fabricated romantic escapades between the examinee, Shen Xuntang, and Baili Weisheng.

The more rumors spread, the more outrageous it becomes.

Shen Xuntang showed no intention of explaining.

The controversial candidate was sitting opposite him.

They sat at the highest point of the teahouse, overlooking the chaotic crowd on the street.

Gu Yao looked at the young man with a leopard-like head and piercing eyes in front of him.

Hmm, he looks fierce, not like a scholar.

No matter how much they say, nothing is more convincing than letting the people of the capital see this man in person.

Given his appearance, it's highly unlikely anyone would call him a pretty boy.

Looking at the handsome young man in front of him, Ning Yi felt a little nervous.

He had no idea why this powerful official wanted to see him.

Did they see my article?

He was also shocked when he learned that he was the top scorer in the imperial examination.

He thought it would be good enough to even make the list.

After all, his words were too blunt, which was the kind of thing that examiners never liked.

Gu Yao looked at the somewhat burly young man in front of him and a smile appeared on his lips.

"What, you dared to criticize the eunuch faction when you were answering the questions, but now you've turned into a quail?"

Ning Yi remained silent, unsure how to respond.

Gu Yao smiled and didn't beat around the bush anymore. "Ning Yi, from Hexia Village in Nanyang, right?"

Ning Yi stiffened, not understanding why this Master Shen wanted to reveal his background.

When Gu Yao saw the quail-like young man in front of him finally raise his head, he smiled slightly.

"I'll be frank with you, you will not only be the top scholar in this imperial examination, but also the top scholar in the provincial examination."

Ning Yi's eyes widened; he was somewhat nervous, suppressing the tremor in his heart.

"why?"

Why was he chosen?

He clearly looked down on the eunuch faction, didn't he?

In a sense, he was an enemy of this Master Shen.

Gu Yao did not answer, but just looked at the bustling capital city outside, his voice somewhat ethereal.

"Young Master Ning, is the capital city prosperous?"

Ning Yi seemed not to understand why Gu Yao would ask such a question.

However, he still answered honestly, "The capital city is naturally the most prosperous."

Gu Yao shook his head upon hearing this, and pointed to the west of the capital.

Ning Yi looked in that direction, but didn't see anything wrong.

Gu Yao smiled. "Didn't see anything inappropriate, right?"

Ning Yi nodded.

"But has Young Master Ning been there? If you follow this direction, you will arrive at a completely different place."

Ning Yi was a little puzzled. Although his family was not well-off, they had never been short of food or drink.

“That’s a poor slum in the capital, the most wretched place in this prosperous city.”

Ning Yi was slightly taken aback; he seemed to know what Gu Yao wanted to say.

Have you ever seen children fight to the death over a dusty pancake that fell on the ground?

Have you ever seen a woman who can have a one-night stand with just one steamed bun?

Have you ever seen a corpse frozen to death in the snow-covered capital?

Ning Yi pursed her lips and did not answer.

Gu Yao didn't pay any attention and turned to look at Ning Yi.

"I want everyone in the slums to have enough to eat, not just those in the capital, Ning Yi, so do you understand?"

Ning Yi pursed her lips, a hint of indignation on her face. "But isn't the eunuch faction in power in this world today?"

Gu Yao looked at the angry young man and smiled. "Some people have developed disloyal intentions, so we must remove them. And the current situation is not solely the fault of the eunuch faction."

This court is rotten to the core. Therefore, I want to change this situation; I want you to be a sword in the emperor's hand, personally pruning away those intractable problems.

The young man had delicate features, and his eyes sparkled like dancing flames.

The fire, following the youth's somewhat fanatical gaze, burned straight into Ning Yi's heart.

Ning Yi only heard herself say, "Okay."