Transmigration: Space-Aided Rise to Power and Prosperity-Chapter 246 - 82: Midway Reversal

"If the renowned doctors in the Prefecture can’t help, then we’ll invite ones from the Capital! Don’t worry, this illness will certainly be cured." Prefect Jiang looked at the woman on the bed, his feelings somewhat mixed. It’s only been two months, and the Yu Family’s appearance has become haggard, no longer radiant as before.

"I think I should write a letter to inform my father-in-law and mother-in-law! They have wide connections, maybe they know some renowned doctors." Prefect Jiang had been diligent in the past two months, and he was worried too. After all, the Yu Family was his first wife, and he certainly wouldn’t just ignore her.

The meals in the examination hall at noon were indeed two large white buns and a plate of eggplant fried with minced meat, with no soup provided. Gu Chengyu glanced around and secretly exchanged the bun in his hand with one from his space, which he had prepared earlier.

He broke the bun into pieces and slowly ate them with clear water.

Out of the corner of his eye, Gu Chengyu saw Chen Xuewen sitting at the head. It was meal time, but Chen Xuewen was not eating. Just as Gu Chengyu took a bite of the bun, two constables approached.

Chen Xuewen watched as the two constables walked up to Gu Chengyu’s seat. He had already arranged for small slips of paper to be hidden in the two marked buns, intending to claim Gu Chengyu colluded with others and cheated in the exam. As long as the slips were found, Gu Chengyu would find it difficult to defend himself.

Gu Chengyu watched the two constables get closer, thinking to himself that the plan was underway. Although such a method was not particularly clever, it was effective. As a Prefecture Chief, if accused of cheating, previous exam results would certainly become invalid, and he might end up in prison.

He had already examined the plate of eggplant with meat and found nothing hidden in it. As for whether it was drugged, he did not know.

So as he watched the approaching constables, he felt relaxed; he wasn’t afraid of their search. However, he was curious about the excuse they would use to search his exam booth.

Suddenly, a constable came in from outside and whispered something into Chen Xuewen’s ear. Gu Chengyu kept his eyes on them, using his good hearing to catch Chen Xuewen’s shocked reply, "What did you say? How so sudden?"

Then the constable said a few more words in a soft voice, which Gu Chengyu did not hear. Subsequently, Chen Xuewen stood up and walked towards Gu Chengyu. The two constables saw Chen Xuewen approaching and looked surprised, but then they saw Chen Xuewen subtly wave his hand.

The two constables exchanged glances and walked elsewhere. Chen Xuewen glanced at Gu Chengyu, internally admiring his luck, and also felt relieved.

Only, when he observed, he saw Gu Chengyu had eaten all the buns. He felt a bit puzzled, not knowing if Gu Chengyu had discovered the slips or if he had yet found them and was pretending to be calm.

Gu Chengyu looked curiously at Chen Xuewen, then wiped the bun crumbs from his hands, unsure why they had given up this opportunity. He guessed it might have something to do with the conversation between Chen Xuewen and that constable earlier.

Since the situation had settled, Gu Chengyu took out the test paper and draft paper and began writing again.

He had only written four lines of poetry earlier. Gu Chengyu stroked his chin and completed his thoughts for the rest. It was just past noon, and time was generous. After transcribing these onto the test paper, Gu Chengyu glanced at Xiao Zhong in his space and found it was only past three.

The ink on the test paper had already dried; Gu Chengyu hesitated whether to submit the paper early.

Chen Wenxue glanced at Gu Chengyu, noticing he had put away the pen and ink, letting the paper dry. He wondered why his teacher insisted on targeting this person. Gu Chengyu was the Prefecture Chief; wasn’t his teacher afraid it would implicate his son-in-law? Normally, his teacher wasn’t so irrational!

Gu Chengyu thought, then decided to ring the small bell beside him. In this hot weather, staying in the examination hall was not as good as going outside to find a teahouse to wait.

Once the scholar sealed the name on the test paper, Gu Chengyu elegantly followed the constables out of the examination hall. Passing rows of examinees, he saw some were hot enough to open their chests, wiping sweat with their clothes. They were envious seeing Gu Chengyu submitting his paper early. 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

In the previous Prefecture exam, some examinees remembered the Prefecture Chief, so now they could only admire him.

As Gu Chengyu walked past, he saw Sun Xian wiping sweat while writing on the test paper. As for Ye Zhiqiu, his exam booth was far from Gu Chengyu, and due to the angle, he could not see him.

Outside the examination hall, today’s weather was windless, the heat baking the ground beneath. Gu Chengyu saw a teahouse opposite, intending to enter and wait.

When Ye Zhiqiu and others came out, the sky had grown dark. Gu Chengyu and his group prepared to return to the inn for dinner.

"Chengyu! You must be sure to succeed this time?" Sun Xian had great confidence in Gu Chengyu, believing the difficulty level of the test paper wouldn’t faze him.

Gu Chengyu smiled and shook his head, "What in this world is sure to succeed?" Just earlier, he nearly got embroiled in a scandal, so life is full of surprises.

"You guys are lucky; I’m not very gifted in poetry and this time’s composition was truly difficult!" He Shunian lacked confidence in his poetry. Writing spiritually resonant poems seemed as challenging as climbing the sky.

The teacher often said his poems lacked spiritual energy, instead having an abundance of craftsmanship. So he could only stick closely to the topic without disrupting the format; even if plain, as long as the preceding answers were good, he could pass.

They all studied at the same private school and understood each other’s weaknesses, offering He Shunian some comfort.

Gu Chengyu noticed Gu Wanhua trailing behind. Since the last incident, Gu Wanhua had become much quieter, unlike his former vivacity. Previously, after every exam, Gu Wanhua would surely initiate discussion, but now he remained silent at the back.

Gu Chengyu thought it was good to let him learn a lesson. He was already a father, yet still unreliable. The family was not wealthy, and to repay his two hundred taels of silver, even the land was sold until only two mu were left. His aunt even returned home to borrow some, barely gathering the two hundred taels.

This time Mr. Gu didn’t help, and Gu Chengyu certainly wouldn’t persuade him. With Gu Wanhua scheming against their family like this, if he lent him money, wouldn’t it be as if turning the other cheek after being slapped?

Initially, Uncle Gu didn’t want to sell the land, came up to speak hesitantly, but his mother rebuked him, leaving him speechless, walking away blushing.

Gu Chengyu hesitated whether to inform Sun Xian about this. On one hand, he felt nothing had happened; on the other, he worried that if Sun Xian found out later, would he be displeased with their family’s concealment?