It snowed at night, and in the morning the ground was covered with a layer of ice, slippery.

Gu Jiao had already prepared and spread the sand that had been stored a few days ago on the ground of the corridor and courtyard.

She opened the courtyard door and wanted to spread the alley as well, but she saw that the alley had been paved completely, and there were soot and straw mats.

Gu Jiao was thinking about what was going on, when a neighbor not far away opened the courtyard door, poked a head out of it and smiled at Gu Jiao: "Liulang is going to take the exam, right?" ”

"Aunt Lu." Gu Jiao said hello, this is one of the old lady's card friends, and she has been to the house a few times.

Gu Jiao understood that the road was paved by the neighbors, and the materials used in each household were different, so the paving was colorful.

She had always thought that their family was isolated, but the old lady had somehow integrated their family into this alley.

Gu Jiao thanked her.

After that, several more neighbors opened their doors, and they all said auspicious words such as congratulating Xiao Liulang to high school.

Gu Jiao thanked them one by one.

Her gratitude is from the bottom of her heart, they are not Xiao Liulang's family, and they are not obliged to do this for Xiao Liulang.

Their kindness is not their duty, but their affection.

Of course, there is also the credit of my aunt.

It's not that my aunt gets along well with them, and they tell them that Liulang in the family wants to conduct a scientific examination, but they are afraid that they don't even know that there is this person in the alley.

Each household also hung lanterns under the porch to illuminate the alley, which is generally only the case during the Chinese New Year.

Gu Jiao bent the corners of her lips.

She loves the capital.

Xiao Liulang also got up, and the two had a simple breakfast.

Because they knew that they would get up early and go out today, they let Xiao Qingkong sleep in the old lady's room last night.

The carriage was waiting at the entrance of the alley early, but it was not the carriage of the old sacrificial wine, it belonged to the Marquis of Xuanping.

Steward Liu bowed to Xiao Liulang and Gu Jiao, and said with a smile: "Little young master, young lady, get in the car." ”

Not far away, Liu Quan stood aggrievedly beside another carriage, he was a step late, and was robbed by this grandson!

has the same surname as Liu, but they are not related to each other.

The iron hooves and wheels of the Xuanping Marquis Mansion are anti-skid in accordance with the specifications of the war, and they can charge into battle in ice and snow, and this kind of road condition is naturally not a problem.

Xiao Liulang did not refuse.

He first let the carriage go to Lin Chengye's house to pick up Lin Chengye and Feng Lin, and then went all the way to the Gongyuan.

I don't know how many carriages and horses slipped on the road, but the carriage of the Marquis of Xuanping rode on the dust, like walking on the ground, and arrived at the destination without the slightest impact.

They were the first to arrive, and the rest of the candidates were probably delayed by the road conditions.

Gu Jiao lowered the curtain and said, "Fortunately, I just entered today." ”

Xiao Liulang nodded.

Gu Jiao checked it before going out, and then took out his baggage to check it for the second time.

Xiao Liulang had to spend three days and two nights inside, and he was not allowed to bring silver charcoal and hand stoves, so Gu Jiao had to put some thought into clothing and food.

Gu Jiao prepared a jar of dried chili peppers for the three of them, if it was really cold, just chew some dried chili peppers, after all, the room was so small, and they couldn't get up and run and jump.

You don't have to protect against mosquitoes in winter, but you have to protect against wind and cold, Gu Jiao also packed cold medicine for the three of them, and they won't doze off after eating it.

There is also chilblain cream.

The seat number of the examination is not assigned according to the results, but is drawn on the spot.

The three of them saw that the hour was almost up, so they went down together and drew lots.

The Gongyuan in the capital is much larger than the local Gongyuan, there are four examination rooms in the east, west, north and south, and the three of them won the three examination rooms, and there is no one who is lucky.

Xiao Liulang is in the No. 5 examination booth in the east examination room.

The size of the booth is the same as in the place, except that the walls are cleaner. There are still two wooden planks in the examination room, one as a table and one as a bench, and when sleeping, the two planks are put together to form a bed.

The futon was provided by the Gongin.

After all, on a cold day, it is not good to freeze the candidates.

This examination is invigilated by the Ministry of Rites, and the papers are graded by the Hanlin Academy.

As early as yesterday, the examiners of the Hanlin Academy had already entered the inner hall of the Gongyuan, and like the township examination, the inner curtain officials could not leave the inner hall until all the examination papers were reviewed.

Not long after Xiao Liulang and the three of them entered the Tribute Academy, the rest of the candidates arrived one after another, and Du Ruohan was not slow, he was the twentieth.

Gu Jiao also gave him a small medicine bag.

Du Ruohan thanked him politely, but he didn't take it too seriously, what are you kidding, he is in such good health, how could he get sick?

After giving the medicine package to Du Ruohan, Gu Jiao had no need to stay any longer.

"Let's go." Gu Jiao said.

Steward Liu asked in the outer seat, "Where is the young lady going?" ”

"The Doctor's Chamber." Gu Jiao said.

More than half a month has passed, and Gu Chenglin's kid hasn't been discharged from the hospital yet, Gu Jiao plans to drive him away!

Steward Liu's attitude towards Gu Jiao has changed greatly, and Gu Jiao didn't ask why he was like this, but it is not difficult to guess from Xiao Liulang's attitude that he, the "illegitimate child", has already met with Xuanping Hou.

And Xuan Pinghou's attitude towards him is not too contemptuous, otherwise Steward Liu would not have changed his face so quickly.

At this time, there was no hurry, and the carriage drove slowly down the street.

Gu Jiao curiously admired the scenery along the way.

She's never been to this area, it's strangely fresh.

She was looking at it vigorously, and Steward Liu suddenly smiled and said, "Young Madam, how did you and the young master meet?" ”

Gu Jiao said: "Your Xuanping Marquis Mansion is so powerful, won't you check it yourself?" ”

Of course I checked it, isn't this going to ask you to check it?

Steward Liu has already figured out the reason for his marquis's gaffe, this illegitimate son Xiao Liulang actually looks very similar to the dead little marquis.

The age is basically right, that is, the little marquis's birthday is in Layue, and Xiao Liulang's birthday is in the first month.

In fact, it should have been a longer interval, but the little marquis was born a month prematurely.

He said to Hou Ye: "It's all your flesh and blood, brother, it's not strange to look like it!" Could it be that the dead little marquis has come back to life? ”

His own Hou Ye obviously understands this truth, but he still has to inquire.

Steward Liu sneered and said, "Young Madam, when you saw the young master, did the young master have a mole under his right eye?" ”

"Nope." Gu Jiao said.

Steward Liu said: "You don't need to answer so quickly, you think about it carefully." ”

Gu Jiao said: "I look at him a hundred and eighty times a day, do I still need to think about whether he has a mole on his face?" ”

Steward Liu was dumbfounded.

Steward Liu said in his heart, he not only underestimated the little young master, but also underestimated the young lady, there is no poverty and sourness of a poor child, and it is not easy to handle, and it is not easy to fool.

It's really not a family, don't enter a door.

The carriage drove on the streets of the southeast district, and because of the examination, several main streets were closed, and only the candidates were allowed to pass with the examination, and the road they had taken when they came could no longer return the same way.

They changed the streets.

The shops on this street are novel, giving people a feeling of red and willow green.

"What's that?" Gu Jiao pointed to an attic on the left hand side and asked.

Steward Liu said: "Did the young lady say Cuixiang Building?" That's the Green House. ”

Is this the ancient Qinglou?

I haven't seen it for so long, Gu Jiao opened the curtains a little and looked at the Qinglou in front of her curiously.

Steward Liu looked back and saw her little look that couldn't hide her excitement, and his brows furrowed slightly.

The girl's family, shouldn't you avoid it when you hear the Qinglou? Why are you still in love with it? Don't blink an eye?

"What kind of building is that?" Gu Jiao pointed to another two-story shop and asked.

Steward Liu said: "Yunle Pavilion? It's a theater. ”

"Listening to the play?" Gu Jiao asked.

Steward Liu paused and explained, "Men listen to the play. ”

Gu Jiao: "Oh. ”

The area of Guozijian is a key school district in Zhaoguo, and this kind of drunken and gold-obsessed place is not allowed, not to mention the Qinglou and the theater, Gu Jiao has never even seen a gambling house and a martial arts hall.

"Is that a gambling house?" Gu Jiao pointed to a shop with big gambling words hanging in front of him and asked.

Steward Liu: "Yes, young lady. ”

"What about that?"

"It's also a gambling house."

"Why didn't you write a bet?"

"It's a gambling house with a relatively high status."

"Where's this?"

"Auction house."

Gu Jiao asked a lot of places in a row, either the Qinglou or the martial arts hall or the gambling house, her eyes were bright, as if there was a green light.

Steward Liu: ...... Young lady, are you really good like this? When the Hou Ye asked, it was really not me who brought it bad.

After crossing this street, the pavement was much more serious, Gu Jiao was not interested, yawned, and lowered the curtain.

Steward Liu, who carefully selected the most noble street in Beijing for Gu Jiao and planned to be introduced by a tour guide: "......"

When she walked to the end of the street, a shout and quarrel attracted Gu Jiao's attention, Gu Jiao opened the curtain and looked at the shop on the side of the street: "What is this place?" ”

"This is Qingfeng Tower." Steward Liu said.

Gu Jiao's little head poked out: "It seems to be very lively, what are they doing?" ”

Steward Liu closed his eyes helplessly: "Bet on the test." ”

Young lady, can you not always be attracted to these inconsistencies?

"What bet will you try?" Gu Jiao asked.

"Ranking." Steward Liu said.

There are a lot of gambling games like this in Beijing, but the most sensational is the triennial spring festival, the major gambling houses in Beijing will start to let the big guys bet, blocking all kinds of things, the more popular is the Yuan, the champion, followed by the flower, the eye, the top ten, the top ten of the palace test, etc.

The higher the ranking, the more expensive the minimum bet.

For example, if you are in the top 10 of the exam, the minimum is 10 wen yuan and a note, and when you go to the top 10 of the palace exam, the minimum becomes 100 wen and 1 note.

It's not that the more expensive you lose, the more you lose, it mainly depends on the number of bets, if all of them are under one person, then the odds of this person are extremely low.

The hottest character this year is King Anjun, from Huiyuan to Zhuangyuan Yishui'er all bought him.

In comparison, on the contrary, the competition between Bangyan and Tanhua is more fierce, and the disciples of the Chen family, the concubines of the Luo family, and the sons of the Zhao family...... Gu Jiao even saw Du Ruohan's name on the bet sheet.

Gu Jiao swept it down from beginning to end, not to mention the top ten in the palace exam, she didn't even see Xiao Liulang's name in the top ten in the exam.

What's the situation?

Isn't she even worthy of a top ten?

"Young lady......" Steward Liu followed behind Gu Jiao, looking worried.

Although the major gambling houses in the capital have set up gambling games, Qingfeng Lou is particularly different, it is actually an elegant place, you can drink tea, taste wine and enjoy food, and even hear storytelling and singing, where the top nobles and celebrities in the capital gather.

Although her young lady is the daughter of the Hou Mansion, she has grown up in the countryside since she was a child, so I am afraid that she will ......

To put it bluntly, Steward Liu is worried that Gu Jiao will not be able to get on the stage, and he is not afraid of losing the face of the Marquis of Xuanping, anyway, the Hou Ye has no face and no skin, but her shame has caused ridicule from others, and she is uncomfortable.

Gu Jiao was in a hurry to go out and didn't bring any silver, so she turned her head to look at Steward Liu: "Did you bring any silver?" ”

Steward Liu was stunned.

Gu Jiao stretched out her hand and gestured at him to take out money.

Steward Liu didn't bring too much, just some broken silver, and the coachman's total was only ten taels.

Gu Jiao walked into Qingfeng Building.

Xiao Er stepped forward and asked politely, "Girl, are you here to place a bet or to drink tea?" ”

"I bet." Gu Jiao said.

To be honest, Gu Jiao's dress is not luxurious, but at this time of year, many civilians come to bet, and there are quite a few.

Compared with those people, Gu Jiao had an extra red spot on her face.

Xiao Er was well-informed and did not lose his temper, he enthusiastically led Gu Jiao to the betting table and asked her, "Do you want to play that master?" ”

Those who participated in the examination were all meritorious and famous, and it is not an exaggeration to call one person a master.

Gu Jiao said: "The person I want to go down, you don't have it on the list." ”

"Which bet are you going to make?" Xiao Er said with a smile.

Gu Jiao said: "Huiyuan and champion." ”

"Yo, isn't that over here? And lo and behold! Xiao Er pointed to the list hanging in the center of the lobby, and the names of King Anjun were written under Huiyuan and Zhuangyuan in turn, and of course the names of several other candidates were also written, but it was obvious that those candidates were foils for King Anjun, and few people bought them, and they were all nurseries.

Gu Jiao: "There are no candidates I want to bet on." ”

Xiao Er: "That...... Who does the girl want to bet on? ”

Gu Jiao: "Guozi Jian Xiao Liulang." ”

Xiao Er said he hadn't heard of it.

Xiao Liulang still has a certain reputation in Guozijian, after all, there are not many new students who go straight to the hall, there are only two in total this year, one is King Anjun, and the other is Xiao Liulang. And Xiao Liulang almost ranked first in the follow-up exams, and he also clashed with Zheng Siye.

It's just that those things happened inside the Guozijian, who still knows him after the Guozijian?

In the capital, there are not many famous nobles and hairpin families, and there are not a few famous talents, who may not be as good as King Anjun, but they are by no means comparable to a poor boy from the countryside.

"I'm just going to bet on him, and I'll go somewhere else without me." Gu Jiao said, really turned around and left.

This is a business that makes sure that you don't lose money, and there is no one on the list, which means that the person is bad!

Xiao Er would not miss this deal, he hurriedly stopped Gu Jiao, and said with a smile: "Girl, don't go, I'll help you write your name!" How much do you want to bet? The lowest bet for the top 10 is ......"

"Huiyuan, champion, big three." Gu Jiao said.

Xiao Er was stunned: "You, that person who you bet three bets on?" ”

"Hmm." Gu Jiao nodded seriously.

Xiao Er looked at her like a fool: "Okay, okay!" ”

I really don't know where to come from, this kind of bet will obviously be in vain.

Xiao Er said: "Huiyuan one tael of silver and one note, champion five taels of silver and one note, how much do you want to bet?" ”

Gu Jiao said: "It's all down." ”

Gu Jiao placed five bets on Huiyuan, one bet on the champion, just ten taels, all of which were Xiao Liulang's names.

At this point, Xiao Liulang's name finally appeared on the bet sheet.

Steward Liu shook his head.

Ten taels of silver, his ten taels of silver, just tossed away in vain.

I really don't know where the young lady got her confidence, thinking that the young master can defeat many talents in the capital and become the first, even if she bets on the top ten.

Will Yuan? Champion?

How dare you think!

Steward Liu followed and asked Gu Jiao in a low voice, "Young lady, can we go?" ”

Gu Jiao paused, and suddenly looked at the opposite side of the list blocked by a translucent gauze curtain and said, "What kind of list is that?" ”

"That ......," Steward Liu frowned.

Xiao Er stepped forward smartly and said with a smile: "That's the hairpin list!" Bets are also available! ”

"What is the hairpin list?" Gu Jiao asked.

Xiao Er said: "The hairpin list is the list of girls, it is the last list to be announced, the candidates who will take the middle and high school tribute will participate in the palace examination personally presided over by His Majesty in April, and those who have excellent results in the palace examination will be appointed by His Majesty as a first-class jinshi, which is what we call the champion Lang, Bangyan Lang, and Tanhua Lang." These three will be hairpins on the street, their flowers can be given away, and now the big guys are betting on who can get the flowers of the first Jinshi. ”

"Can I only get one?" Gu Jiao asked with a wink.

The corners of Xiao Er's mouth twitched, what do you mean that you can only get one? Do you know how rare one is?

This flower is given by His Majesty, and it is of great significance, and the general champions, lists, and tanhua are reluctant to give it away!

The girls robbed it, and they really robbed it, but it was too embarrassing for the court, so the court banned the snatching of flowers.

There are only two ways to get the hairpin of a Jinshi: one is to send it willingly, and the other is to challenge the other party, the other party can fight or refuse, if the other party loses, the hairpin must be sent.

Xiao Er sighed: "Girl, do you think, how talented and learned are those who can be admitted to the first class of Jinshi?" Who can challenge them? Not to mention challenging their martial arts, they can not fight at all if they are not good at it! So, unless they are willing to give it themselves, or they are a very smart woman like the crown princess. ”

At the mention of the crown princess, Xiao Er couldn't help but say a few more words: "Girl, don't say it, someone really has two hairpins." ”

Gu Jiao said lightly: "The crown princess? ”

Xiao Er said with admiration on his face: "That's right, it's her!" She challenged two first-class jinshi one after another, and they both won! His Majesty said that she voted for the wrong daughter, otherwise what would be the matter with the men? ”

Gu Jiao was indifferent to the crown princess, she was only curious about who was on the hairpin list.

Xiao Er led her to take a look.

There are many names of famous ladies written on the hairpin list, of course, not their real names, such as the daughter of the Luo Guogong Mansion, which is written as Miss Luo San.

The highest voices on the list are Miss Gu and Miss Zhuang Er.

You don't have to guess to know that the two are Gu Jinyu and Zhuang Yuexi.

Zhuang Yuexi is the sister of King Anjun, King Anjun will definitely be the top student in high school, and it is very likely that he will give the hairpin to his sister.

As for why it wasn't given to Zhuang Mengdie, Zhuang Yuexi was a talented girl, and Zhuang Mengdie was a straw bag, of course, everyone was more inclined to the former.

Rao is like this, Zhuang Mengdie is still on the hairpin list, and it is written that Miss Zhuang Wu, which she bought herself, purely to save face.

Under Gu Jinyu and Zhuang Yuexi, there are Miss Luo San, Miss Thursday, and Aunt Miaoyindao......

Belch...... Why is even Aunt Dao on the list?

Gu Jiao saw a few familiar surnames on the list, and it seemed that they were a few daughters of female students.

"Girl, do you want to bet on the hairpin list? You can't go wrong with the big guys. Xiao Er refers to Gu Jinyu and Zhuang Yuexi, both of whom have a great possibility of obtaining hairpins.

Gu Jiao was not interested in this.

Just as she was about to turn around and leave, a woman's joking voice came from the corridor on the second floor: "Come on, I want to bet!" ”

It's Zhuang Mengdie.

Gu Jiao raised her eyes and looked at it.

From her point of view, she could see Zhuang Mengdie holding Zhuang Yuexi's arm and walking from a side room, both of them were wearing veils, and they couldn't see her from their perspective.

The shopkeeper went upstairs in person and arched his hand at the two: "May I ask the two Miss Zhuang, whose bet do you want to place?" ”

Zhuang Mengdie said with a smile: "Miss Gu's note!" Five"

The shopkeeper said warmly: "How much do you want, the small one will be written for you!" ”

Zhuang Mengdie laughed mockingly: "Wait, I'm going to ...... It's not Miss Gu who is already on the list. ”

"Huh?" The shopkeeper was stunned.

Zhuang Mengdie looked at the wing room opposite: "It's Miss Gu from the Ding'an Hou Mansion!" I'm afraid you don't know it yet, this Miss Gu on the list is not the daughter of the Hou Mansion at all, just a peasant girl in the countryside who has the wrong one! The real Miss Gu family has someone else! You Qingfeng Building has such a big plate, but you haven't even figured out the truth of the person! I'm really ashamed of you Qingfeng Building! ”

Qingfeng Lou fell on her mouth, who couldn't hear that she was insinuating and ridiculing Gu Jinyu?

Gu Jinyu also came to the betting scene today, she just wanted to see how popular she was, who would have expected to meet Zhuang Mengdie, a mad dog!

Qingfeng Lou is mixed with many people, once the news is released, the whole capital will soon know!

Gu Jinyu's face turned pale.

Zhuang Mengdie was in a good mood, leaving a copper plate and leaving.

That's right, the hairpin list is a copper plate and a note.

Zhuang Mengdie only made one bet.

Half an hour later, Gu Jiao's name appeared alone in the last place on the hairpin list.