lcionline Chapter 249 Affection for Su Mobai
Chapter 249 Affection for Su Mobai
When Fu Changge saw Tang Minzhi so close to Shangguan Qingqi, a look of doubt flashed in his eyes, but he quickly concealed it.
Taking two steps closer, Fu Changge also glanced at the list. Of course, he went straight to the first column and found Shangguan Qingqi's name, but there were two names before Shangguan Qingqi.
One is Tang Minzhi, and the other is Mu Qingchen.
Tang Minzhi achieved the top scholar rank, but his face showed little joy; his calmness was somewhat unsettling.
Fu Changge and Chi Xuan didn't get along, and Chi Xuan was on good terms with Tang Minzhi, so Fu Changge didn't really like Tang Minzhi.
Therefore, Fu Changge was quite surprised to see Shangguan Qingqi and Tang Minzhi talking so closely.
At this moment, another group of people squeezed through the crowd and entered. The person in charge was Mu Qingchen, who had previously provoked Shangguan Qingqi.
Fu Changge and Mu Qingchen were already acquaintances, and Fu Changge already considered Mu Qingchen as his future brother-in-law.
Upon seeing Mu Qingchen enter, he greeted her warmly, pointed his chin at the list of successful candidates, and exclaimed loudly, "Congratulations, Qingchen, you've won second place!"
Upon hearing Fu Changge's words, Mu Qingchen immediately glanced at the list.
When Mu Qingchen saw that her name was indeed listed second, especially before Shangguan Qingqi's name, she immediately smiled.
To Shangguan Qingqi, the laughter sounded somewhat sarcastic.
Sure enough, the next moment, Mu Qingchen raised her eyebrows triumphantly at Shangguan Qingqi: "I said before that if I were lucky, I hoped to appear on the list together with Brother Shangguan, and now it has really come true. Not only are we both on the list, but we are also so close to each other. It can be called fate, Brother Shangguan, don't you think?"
Although Shangguan Qingqi was smiling, a hint of disdain flashed in his eyes.
"Young Master Mu is joking. My being on the list is just a matter of luck. After all, I am a latecomer to this field and cannot compare to someone like Young Master Mu who has studied the classics since childhood. However, I am still satisfied with this result and it is barely acceptable."
As Shangguan Qingqi spoke, he looked at Tang Minzhi with admiration and flattered him, "Speaking of which, I admire you very much, Young Master Tang. Although you won the top scholar title, you acted as if you had just picked up a copper coin on the way. You are a perfect example of not being arrogant in victory."
Mu Qingchen knew that Shangguan Qingqi was indirectly saying that he had only won second place, but he was more smug than Tang Minzhi.
He was about to speak again when Fu Changge, who was beside Shangguan Qingqi, gave him a wink, so he held back and simply turned to Tang Minzhi, cupped his hands in a gesture of congratulations.
Tang Minzhi smiled modestly, her composure perfectly displayed.
Mu Qingchen wore a fake smile, but was filled with intense jealousy inside.
Shangguan Qingqi curled his lips in disdain and then glanced at the list, looking for Gu Huan's name.
Meanwhile, Gu Huan followed the Seventh Princess to the big tree. The Seventh Princess turned around and saw him following her, and asked curiously, "Huanhuan, why don't you go look at the notice? It was so hard to squeeze in, it will be difficult for you to see it later. While they are still inside, you should take a look!"
The "they" that the Seventh Princess was referring to were Shangguan Qingqi and Fu Changge.
She felt a little awkward when she suddenly saw Tang Minzhi, but fortunately, Tang Minzhi's gaze did not linger on her, and their eyes did not meet, which saved her a lot of embarrassment.
So when Su Mowan said she would wait under the big tree, the Seventh Princess breathed a sigh of relief and quickly ran out after her.
Gu Huan shook his head when he heard what the Seventh Princess said.
"I already know the rankings in advance, so I don't need to look. I'm just here to stroll around with you guys."
"You already know?"
The Seventh Princess looked at Gu Huan in surprise and whispered, "Judging from your face, did you fail the exam?"
"That's not the case."
Gu Huan was a little unhappy that the Seventh Princess looked down on him, and raised his chin, "Not the top class, just the third in the second class."
There are three winners in total: the first is the top scholar, the second is the second-ranked scholar, and the third is the third-ranked scholar.
The number of second-class candidates is not fixed. Gu Huan ranked third, which is actually not bad. He can be granted the title of Jinshi.
Given that Gu Huan's behavior was different from usual, the Seventh Princess looked him up and down, clicked her tongue, and praised, "You are indeed different now. With your official rank, you have become much more composed. If it were before, you would have been happily announcing it all over the streets!"
The Seventh Princess paused, then smiled and continued, "It's not in vain that Grand Tutor Gu has worried about us for so many years; he's finally made something of himself!"
Gu Huan smiled but didn't reply. The Seventh Princess's question was truly difficult for him to answer.
He used to be similar to Shangguan Qingqi. Although he had read many books and written many articles under the constant guidance of Old Master Gu, the time he spent reading and writing was still less than the time he spent in brothels.
From this perspective, Gu Huan does possess some talent. Others may study diligently for many years but not necessarily achieve the same results as him.
Su Mowan gestured for the Seventh Princess and Gu Huan to stay put, while she and Su Ruofeng walked to the other side of the thick tree trunk.
There weren't many people around.
Su Mowan whispered, "Second brother, did you receive the message I had someone deliver to you last time?"
"received."
Su Ruofeng nodded and said in a low voice, "I have already discussed it with my father, and he agreed. He should have spoken with the Minister of Rites, right?"
Su Mowan was surprised that Su Ruofeng acted so quickly and directly: "You mean you want Father to communicate with the Minister of Rites? Does that mean you're going to propose marriage directly?"
Seeing her surprise, Su Ruofeng was puzzled and a little embarrassed: "What's with that expression? Do you think Fu Yingli is bad?"
"That's not it."
Su Mowan shook her head in denial.
If I had to say who wasn't good enough, it would definitely be Su Ruofeng. Fu Yingli is gentle and beautiful, yet she fell for someone as unreliable as Su Ruofeng.
Su Ruofeng is impatient and impulsive.
His only redeeming quality is his sincerity.
Su Mowan was surprised because she felt that Su Ruofeng's feelings for Fu Yingli were a bit lacking.
Therefore, she felt that it was a bit hasty to suddenly propose marriage.
Su Ruofeng actually understood her concerns and leaned close to her ear, saying, "You don't know, when I faced Fu Changge in the martial arts exam last time, he told me that Mu Qingchen would soon be going to his house to propose marriage. I think Fu Yingli went to the restaurant that day probably because of this."
I really don't know.
The news that the General's Mansion intended to form a marriage alliance with the Ministry of Rites' Mansion had been circulating for more than half a year. The Ministry of Works' Mansion, or rather Mu Qingchen, actually dared to make a move on Fu Yingli.
This is, without a doubt, a blatant act of provocation.
If Mu Qingchen were to marry a beauty like Fu Yingli, it would be like a fine cabbage being eaten by a pig!
Su Mowan's impression of Mu Qingchen had already reached its lowest point. But when she looked up, she happened to see Mu Qingchen talking to Shangguan Qingqi, with Mu Qingchen looking smug.
Su Mowan narrowed her eyes and asked Su Ruofeng in a low voice, "Then, second brother, what exactly are you thinking?"
"What can I think?"
Su Ruofeng shrugged, somewhat indifferently saying, "That's just how it is. I don't like Fu Changge, so I'll make sure he doesn't get his way!"
Su Mowan frowned.
“If this is all you’re after, there’s no need to go through with the betrothal. I think Fu Yingli likes you quite a bit. If you don’t like her, you shouldn’t marry her so easily.”
Su Ruofeng didn't expect Su Mowan to say it so directly. He naturally had some feelings for Fu Yingli, otherwise he wouldn't have accepted the invitation to go boating on the river. But he couldn't very well say, "I like Fu Yingli, so I have to marry her," could he?
This is so embarrassing, I can't even say it!
So Su Ruofeng said, "Now that I've married her, I'll definitely treat her well, so you don't need to worry about that."
Su Mowan smiled.
"That's good, but you haven't come of age yet. It will be a long time before the betrothal is formally arranged, won't it?"
"That's not difficult at all, we can just do it ahead of time."
Su Ruofeng said with a hint of pride, "I have also passed the imperial examination. When the emperor's decree comes and I am granted a position, I can be crowned immediately. Back then, my elder brother was only sixteen when he was crowned. I am considered late."
Su Mowan knew this; Su Mobai had been married at the age of sixteen.
In the entire capital, only two people have been capped at the age of sixteen: Su Mobai and Murong Jing.
Su Mowan had witnessed Su Mobai's prowess firsthand, but as for Murong Jing... Su Mowan had never personally witnessed Murong Jing's abilities; she had only heard about them.
Fortunately, she still has the opportunity to see things gradually.
Suddenly recalling the scene of Tang Jingzhi and Su Ruofeng talking together, Su Mowan thought for a moment and asked, "Second brother, you seem to have some connection with Tang Minzhi's elder brother?"
Su Ruofeng chuckled, not answering the question, but teasingly said, "I think you're the one who has a close relationship with Tang Minzhi. I heard that Tang Minzhi helped you get the documents you needed to build that painting pavilion."
Speaking of this, Su Mowan also felt embarrassed, but she did give Tang Minzhi a gift in return, that original work by Master Han Qiu, which was enough to repay the favor.
As for the documents, Su Mowan had heard Tang Minzhi say that he had some connections with the son of the Minister of Works and could ask that person for help. Now it seems that the person with some connections with Tang Minzhi is Mu Qingchen.
Thinking of this, Su Mowan turned her head to look over there, and just then she saw Tang Minzhi and Mu Qingchen talking about something, while Fu Changge and Shangguan Qingqi next to them looked impatient.
Just then, Su Mowan suddenly heard two people whispering not far away.
But she heard it all.
Su Mowan listened intently, and after hearing it, she felt a little incredulous. Those two actually said that the princess was going to set up a arena to recruit a consort.
Rumors circulate that the eldest princess is in love with Su Mobai.
Su Mowan felt that there was something wrong between the eldest princess and Song Chuwen. What was the eldest princess trying to do by suddenly announcing the recruitment of a consort?