Chapter 103.2
The second young miss wasn’t your own but someone else who had occupied the ident.i.ty of the eldest young miss for so many years. To her, It was a good thing not to be sent back to her real family. Why would she complain?
The second young miss was indeed innocent, but so was the eldest young miss, no?
She suffered the hardships that the second young miss should have while the second young miss enjoyed the happiness that was originally the eldest young miss’. Shouldn’t it be understandable why she wasn’t happy?
However, Huang Zhong had been following the Marquis for so long and was deeply aware of the Marquis’ character. He was extremely obstinate. He was amenable to coaxing but not coercion. The more you forbid him to do something, the more he would stick to doing it.
On this point, the father and daughter were a hundred percent alike.
Huang Zhong sighed, "Lord Marquis, let"s head back home."
Marquis Gu had a dangerous glint in his eyes as he said, "Things haven"t been done yet, how can this Marquis go home already?"
Huang Zhong was speechless, "But, there"s nothing you can do about it."
"Just because I can do nothing on her end doesn"t mean it will be the same on the other end." Marquis Gu said coldly, "Let’s head to the academy."
The cla.s.ses in the academy had just finished.
Xiao Liulang came out of Tianxiang Academy and was on his way to pick up Little Jing Kong at his private school.
Marquis Gu called a servant boy from the academy and asked him to identify which one was Xiao Liulang. The servant boy raised his hand and said, "That"s him!"
Marquis Gu looked at Xiao Liulang, and with only one glance, his eyes almost popped from their sockets!
Wasn"t that the teenager who looked similar to Little Marquis of Zhao that he saw when he was on his way home from the village last time?
How could it be him?
In fact, Marquis Gu and Little Marquis of Zhao didn’t have much interaction, mainly because there was little contact between their two estates. Although they were both Marquises’ Estates, Marquis Xuanping Estate ranked above Marquis Ding"an Estate.
Marquis Xuanping was a genuine first rank n.o.bility.
He was extremely powerful and had wealth equivalent to that of an entire nation. He was a hegemon in the capital.
Marquis Xuanping"s younger sister was the current Empress of the State of Zhao. Her own younger sister, Imperial Concubine Shu, had to give her a salute as an imperial concubine whenever they saw each other.
A son from this kind of family could definitely be called heaven"s favorite.
But despite being born with this kind of outstanding background, he still strived to make progress. At the age of twelve or thirteen, he became the young Chief of the Imperial Academy. He possessed a magnificence that did not lose to his biological father, Marquis Xuanping.
Unfortunately, those whom the Heavens loved died young.
Marquis Gu looked at Xiao Liulang once more.
With this second look, he thought he didn’t feel much like the Little Marquis of Zhao after all.
The Little Marquis of Zhao was a simple and kind-hearted youth. He was as warm and gentle as jade and always had a clean and beautiful smile on his eyes.
Xiao Liulang"s eyes were too cold and he gave off a dark and gloomy aura.
Marquis Gu squinted in displeasure.
Just then, Xiao Liulang approached their direction. The servant boy waved at him and called, "Xiao Liulang! Someone is looking for you!"
Xiao Liulang glanced at Marquis Gu and paused.
Marquis Gu didn"t wait for him to come over his spot. Instead, he walked over to him and asked with a contemptuous look, "You’re Xiao Liulang?"
Xiao Liulang looked at him with his usual expression and said, "What"s the matter?"
Marquis Gu threw Huang Zhong a meaningful glance. Huang Zhong then took out a stack of silver banknotes from his bosom accordingly.
Marquis Gu said arrogantly, "Leave my daughter and these silver banknotes are yours!"
Xiao Liulang didn"t even look at the silver banknotes as he said with a straight face, "Aren’t these too few?"
Marquis Gu raised his chin and said, "Five thousand taels is enough for you to squander for several lifetimes. You can marry a few beautiful ladies to pamper and still be able to enjoy the rest of your life. Don"t think that you have a bright future just because you are a top scorer twice. I’ve seen people like you so many times, and only a few of them were really able to get to the palace exam. If you are unlucky, you might fail the provincial exam. "
How much effort and strength did the n.o.ble and high-ranking families spend to cultivate their children? There were many intelligent and studious children among them. How could these poor students compare with them?
Even if he was lucky enough to get into the capital, did he really think he could get ahead of everybody?
Perhaps he could really pa.s.s the provincial exam with his talents, however, the further up he went, the more difficult it would be.
Every year, the top three pa.s.sers were examinees that hailed from several major forces in the capital. How many amongst them did the Emperor have no choice but to accept, and how many hidden political battles had taken place? This wasn’t something a poor scholar like Xiao Liulang could ever imagine!
There was indeed a chance to turn a group of shrimps into small fish by studying, but it was absolutely impossible for them to be a carp that turned into a dragon.
Marquis Gu looked at Xiao Liulang and said, "People’s lives are predestined from birth. You’re not worthy to be my son-in-law. Be wise and just disappear from my sight with these silver banknotes. If you don"t think it’s enough, I can give you a little more. Huang Zhong!”
Huang Zhong took out another silver banknote worth 1000 taels.
Xiao Liulang chuckled coldly, "Marquis Gu, have you forgotten something?"
"What?" Marquis Gu asked.
Xiao Liulang hooked up the corners of his lips and said, "She’s not your daughter yet."
Bull’s eye!
Marquis Gu"s arrogance came to a stand still!
Xiao Liulang sneered faintly, saying with a trace of ridicule, "If you mean your current registered daughter, then you don"t have to worry. I"m not interested in that daughter who was raised by your side. Even if you give me another 5000 taels of gold, I still won"t look at her!"
What was this, this, this disdainful tone?
Wasn’t this guy too arrogant?
Did he have any idea how many people in the capital wanted to ask for Jinyu"s hand in marriage? And those people were all young masters from n.o.ble and high-ranking families who were a thousand times better than him!
Forget it, now wasn’t the time to be angry at this. He was almost led astray by this boy!
Marquis Gu clenched his fists, intending to teach this ungrateful brat a lesson. He called, "Huang Zhong, Huang Zhong!"
Huh?
There was no one else here?
Where the heck did he go?
Marquis Gu turned around to see where Huang Zhong had gone. Suddenly, a slender plain hand stretched out from behind him, grabbed his collar and dragged him into a side alley.
After half an hour, Gu Jiao came out of the alley refreshed.
Xiao Liulang looked at her strangely. She dusted off her hands and smiled gently, "Thanks for waiting. We"ve finished our conversation. He won"t bother you again."
Marquis Gu, who had been "conversed" with Gu Jiao, was currently sitting in the corner of the alley like a puppet with broken strings. His whole body was leaning helplessly against the wall in so much pain that he almost lost consciousness.
Beside him, Huang Zhong also became a soulless puppet.
The two people looked lifeless, they were badly battered with a crooked nose and twisted mouth, absolutely a tragic sight!