jdhmnovel Chapter 353: The Scholar Who Married into the Imperial Examination (31)
Chapter 353: The Scholar Who Married into the Imperial Examination (31)
In the carriage, Hang Huaijing asked in confusion: "Husband, why are they following us..."
"I don't know, maybe it's a coincidence." Jiang Zui explained patiently: "But it's okay, just treat him as a stranger.
Or should I ask the driver to speed up?"
"Yeah." Hanghuai Jingzhi nodded in response.
Besides Jiang Zui and Hang Huaijing, there were also Yuan Le and the coachman from the Hang Mansion on this trip to Beijing.
Jiang Zui pulled the curtain of the carriage and told the driver to speed up, leaving Shi Ziwei and his wife far behind.
When Shi Ziwei saw that the carriage from the Hang Mansion was running so fast, he couldn't help but feel angry. He thought that Jiang Zui had become Jie Yuan now and couldn't stand a small person like him. There was a darkness in his deep eyes.
For some reason, Shi Ziwei seemed to be at odds with Jiang Zui. As soon as Jiang Zui went to the restaurant to eat, Shi Ziwei followed him with Zhang Shili.
Even the place he chose to stay was the same as Jiang Zui's. Shi Ziwei would go to whichever inn Jiang Zui went to.
Shi Ziwei's behavior made Hang Huaijing very annoyed.
There are so many restaurants and inns, why do they have to go together? !
Although Hang Huaijing was dissatisfied, he could do nothing about it.
After all, it is their own choice to choose which restaurant to eat at or which inn to stay in, and he has no say over it.
But this made Hang Huaijing even more annoyed with Shi Ziwei and his wife.
Hang Huaijing endured the entire journey from Linyang Prefecture to the capital, until he arrived in the capital, when he was finally able to get rid of Shi Ziwei and his wife.
Before coming to the capital, Hang's father gave Hang Huaijing a lot of money.
Therefore, as soon as he arrived in Beijing, Hang Huaijing bought a house directly.
As for Jiang Zui, she had no shame at all for being a gigolo and happily moved into the house bought by her husband.
Hang Huaijing was rich, so he was generous and had no scruples at all.
However, Shi Ziwei and his wife are different.
Although Zhang Jing gave Zhang Shili a lot of dowry, Zhang Shili and Shi Ziwei had been married for three years.
During these three years, Zhang Shili was responsible for all household affairs and expenses.
Even though Zhang Shili did not take Shi Ziwei's mother home, he would send money to her on time every month. Shi Ziwei was only responsible for studying hard.
Neither of them had any source of income, and Zhang Shili's dowry was almost spent.
This time, the reason why Shi Ziwei went to find Zhang Jing was not only because he hoped Zhang Jing could tell him about his connections in Beijing, but also for a more important reason, which was travel expenses.
The expenses for traveling from Linyang Prefecture to the capital are not small, plus one has to find a place to stay in the capital, and each of these requires money.
However, Zhang Jing did not tell Shi Ziwei about his connections, nor did he offer any help.
Finally, before leaving, Mrs. Zhang quietly gave some silver to Zhang Shili, which is why Shi Ziwei was so kind to Zhang Shili.
Even so, all the money was not enough for Shi Ziwei to buy a house in the capital, so he simply rented a quiet little courtyard.
After settling down in the capital, Shi Ziwei tried every possible means to get close to officials in the court.
But Jiang Zui was different. He took Hang Huaijing to tour the whole capital, eating, drinking, and having fun. He was very carefree and had no sense of urgency about the exam at all.
During this time, the two also made several friends.
Hang Huaijing would also write letters to his father and mother regularly every month.
In this way, Jiang Zui and Hang Huaijing spent several months in Beijing, and finally it was February.
As the imperial examination approached, Jiang Zui wanted to get closer to Hang Huaijing, but Hang Huaijing was unwilling.
"Husband, Jing'er, we haven't seen each other for a long time... I miss you." Jiang Zui hugged Hang Huaijing and said coquettishly.
"No." Hang Huaijing refused righteously.
In fact, he thought so too.
But considering that this is a critical moment, it’s better for him not to fall behind.
"Why?!"
Jiang Zui was rejected by her husband and thought that he didn't like her anymore. She said aggrievedly, "Jing'er, don't you like me anymore? Humph! I know that once you get something, you won't cherish it."
Jiang Zui's words instantly stunned Hang Huaijing.
Ok? !
What the hell? !
When did he say he didn't like Jiang Zui?!
Why doesn't he cherish Jiang Zui? !
It should be him who should be worried that Jiang Zui would fall in love with someone else and marry someone else.
Hang Huaijing pointed at himself and said with a confused look: "I... don't like... you?! How can you tell that?"
"You don't let me touch you." Jiang Zui said righteously.
"When did I not let you...touch...touch?"
"Now."
"You... Jiang Zui, you are at a critical moment now, you can't... focus on this kind of thing, you... you should... abstain from sex in the next few days." Hang Huaijing said embarrassedly with a red face.
"Hang Huaijing, do you think that your husband is a lustful villain?" Jiang Zui asked in a serious tone.
Hang Huaijing shook his head and said, "No."
"If it's not, why not?"
Jiang Zui's words stumped Hang Huaijing, and for a moment, Hang Huaijing was speechless.
Seeing this, Jiang Zui said, "You and I are husband and wife, legitimately. And didn't I ask you to believe me?
Don't worry, I, your husband, am determined and will not be deceived by you."
Then, with a threatening tone, "Do you want me to find another guy?"
"No!" Hang Huaijing retorted without even thinking: "I don't allow it.
You are mine and mine alone."
"Well, I'm yours." After saying that, Jiang Zui kissed the other person's lips fiercely, very hard, as if he was punishing the other person.
When Hang Huaijing thought that Jiang Zui was going to find other brothers, he felt so heartbroken that he had no choice but to let Jiang Zui control him.
Afterwards, Hang Huaijing felt very regretful, fearing that he would delay Jiang Zui's future.
However, after Jiang Zui's repeated persuasion, Hang Huaijing gradually let go of his worries.
On the day of the imperial examination, Hang Huaijing stood in front of the Imperial Examination Hall and repeatedly gave Jiang Zui instructions. He looked nervous and his words were full of worry.
"Remember, don't try to be too good at it. If you encounter a question you don't know how to answer, don't force yourself. Relax. I'll be waiting for you at home."
"Yeah." Jiang Zui said softly, "I know, not only me, but also you. When I'm not at home, don't be scared and nervous all day long. If you're bored, go and play with Zhao's brother..."
The two of them gave each other instructions.
Seeing that the time was almost up, Jiang Zui reluctantly left Hang Huaijing and walked towards the Imperial Examination Hall.
There are three examinations in the Spring Examination, each lasting three days.
Amid Hang Huaijing's anticipation and nervousness, the Spring Examination finally ended.
This time was different from the autumn examination. Jiang Zui's face looked obviously much more haggard.
Hang Huaijing looked at Jiang Zui's thin and tired face, and couldn't help but feel distressed, "Let's go home, I'll give you some nourishment."
The imperial examination was indeed very torturous, especially for Jiang Zui who was unlucky enough to be assigned to a bad single room, which was not very close to the toilet but not very far away either.
Moreover, it happened to rain heavily during the examination period, and the single rooms in the Imperial Examination Hall had not been repaired for many years, causing leaks in the single rooms of a small number of students.
Fortunately, Jiang Zui was not so unlucky. The single room he lived in did not leak, but he smelled the stinky odor of the toilet. Jiang Zui had no appetite for food.
During the exam period, all meals had to be prepared by students themselves. Hang Huaijing had inquired about the situation in advance and prepared a lot of food for Jiang Zui to resist hunger.
However, Jiang Zui looked at the biscuits and pastries that had been torn into pieces after inspection and had no appetite at all.
Jiang Zui finished the questions very quickly. After finishing the questions, candidates were not allowed to leave early, so Jiang Zui could only endure the nausea.
So, after Jiang Zui came out, Hang Huaijing thought that he looked much more haggard, but he did not see his pair of bright eyes.
When Jiang Zui heard what Hang Huaijing said, his eyes lit up instantly. He stared at Hang Huaijing like a hungry wolf and said in a low voice, "Fill me up? Husband, where do you think I need to be filled up?"
Hang Huaijing didn't notice Jiang Zui's wolf-like eyes, and said to himself: "You need to supplement everywhere, look at how thin you are..."
As Hang Huaijing was speaking, he noticed Jiang Zui's serious expression and suddenly stopped talking.
"I really need Jing'er to give me some... nourishment."
"what?!"
What? !
What to make up?!
What to use to make up?!
For a moment, Hang Huaijing's mind was filled with garbage.
Jiang Zui also used practical examples to prove that he really needed Hang Huaijing to replenish him.
Hang Huaijing wanted to resist, but when he saw Jiang Zui's pitiful appearance, he softened his heart.
For three consecutive days, Hang Huaijing restored Jiang Zui's original handsome face, but he himself was paralyzed in bed.
Jiang Zui's cheerful face and Hang Huaijing's haggard appearance formed a sharp contrast.
After Hang Huaijing was able to get out of bed, Jiang Zui took him directly to a temple outside the capital in order to make up to him.
Jiang Zui didn't believe in Buddhism, and Hang Huaijing didn't believe in it at first either, but for some reason, he suddenly wanted to go and worship and pray to Buddha to be nicer to Jiang Zui.
Unfortunately, Jiang Zui and Hang Huaijing had just finished worshipping Buddha when they saw Shi Ziwei and Zhang Shili, whom they hadn't seen for more than half a year.
Since the four of them arrived in the capital, they have never met each other again.
From October last year to February now, a full five months, they have never met each other in the capital.
The capital city is very big, and Jiang Zui and Hang Huaijing live in the west of the city, while Shi Ziwei and Zhang Shili live in the east, so it is normal that they don't meet each other.
Jiang Zui and Shi Ziwei took part in the Spring Examination at the same time, but they had never met each other.
Therefore, this chance encounter made the four of them feel a little dazed for a moment.