Chapter 262: Writing an IOU

Gu Kang stood there looking, his eyes revealing a hint of icy cold smile.

No matter how sharp-tongued these scholars were, they were still scholars; even if they had deep grudges, at worst they would verbally attack each other, but Gu Kang directly dragged the noble young master who had schemed against him into the icy river.

The Imperial River in winter, at dusk, the water was bone-chilling, and cold air kept seeping into Gu Kang's body, making him involuntarily shiver.

Yet seeing the noble young master who had fallen into the river and nearly drowned, his eyes filled with a few more points of delight.

At this critical juncture, catching a wind-cold, seeing that the spring imperial examination was approaching, if he fell ill he would miss this selection and have to wait another round.

The onlooking scholars all condemned Gu Kang as ruthless, how could he drag someone into the icy river—wasn't that simply trying to take a life?

Indeed he was a discarded offspring of the Gu family, his thoughts were extremely vicious.

Gu Kang lifted his gaze and coldly swept over the scholars who came forward pointing at his nose and scolding him, then let out a cold laugh.

"How? Are all of you blind?"

"He pushed me first; not returning courtesy is impolite! You all are readers of the sages' books, surely you understand this principle."

"If you are not convinced, then let's have another match with me—I will accompany you to the end!"

The surrounding abuse suddenly fell silent; they stared fixedly at the youth standing in the night, his eyes as fierce as a wolf, and dared not speak further.

They were merely so-called classmates who had drunk a drink or two together; seeing others bully Gu Kang, they just joined in the clamor, not worth starting a dispute with him.

Seeing that this kid Gu Kang was quite scheming, this time no one dared to bully him again, and they all stepped back a few paces.

Gu Huai, who had been leaning by the boat watching the joke, lost his former composure; his brows furrowed slightly, he slowly straightened his body and looked toward the youth who turned and walked into the night.

Gu Kang was no better off at this moment; having just fallen into the water, although he quickly and nimbly grabbed that person's sleeve and pulled him down as well.

He then used that force to climb onto the bank, yet more than half of his body was still wet; when the night wind blew, his whole body trembled slightly, and he shivered lightly.

Even though he was chilled to the bone, he showed no weakness before them, stiffly walking toward the woods by the bank, but before he had taken a few steps he bumped into Gu Jiu Ling.

Gu Kang's steps halted there; the composed expression he had maintained finally showed a few cracks in Gu Jiu Ling's eyes, revealing surprise, then he regained his earlier composure.

Gu Jiu Ling also stared fixedly at her own younger brother; the original host's relationship with this brother was not good, she had transmigrated into the original host's body, and this brother had repeatedly schemed against her, making her feelings toward him cold.

All this was out of respect for the original host's mother and maternal grandfather; after all, her body shared the same blood as Gu Kang, she could not bear to watch him die.

Since the last time she helped him heal his leg and left him some silver, they had had no further contact; she never expected that after just a few months apart, a person could change so much.

Gu Kang also knew this elder sister did not welcome him; he slowly stepped back, lacking the face to ask Gu Jiu Ling for help again.

From now on, he would have to bear everything himself.

Gu Kang bowed slightly toward Gu Jiu Ling, brushed past her shoulder intending to leave, but Gu Jiu Ling softly said: "Go to the carriage over at the Prince Rui's residence and change into dry clothes; first put on the guard's attire."

Gu Kang's face twitched slightly in surprise; he hadn't expected Gu Jiu Ling to help him, yet he no longer had the face to accept it.

He hurriedly said: "Thank you, elder…… Princess Consort for your concern; I'll be home soon, no need for this trouble."

After Gu Kang said that, Gu Jiu Ling looked at him with new respect; he actually showed some backbone.

One must know that backbone was a trait Gu Kang had never possessed; now it suddenly appeared before Gu Jiu Ling, leaving her momentarily at a loss.

She then lightly laughed and said softly: "Not changing is fine; walking back from here to your courtyard will take at least half an hour; if you freeze during that time, catch a wind-cold, and fall ill."

"This year's spring imperial examination you won't be able to attend; those Gu family rascals will surely laugh at you."

"The scholars of Shang Jing all say the same thing: you are nothing but a discarded offspring of the Gu family, unfit for the table, you haven't even had time to take the exam before you're already defeated."

Gu Kang had already walked past, but hearing Gu Jiu Ling say that, his steps stopped again.

He turned to look at Gu Jiu Ling, but Gu Jiu Ling instead stopped looking at him, taking Xiao Yin's hand to prepare to enjoy the scenery on the Imperial River.

Gu Kang's voice, slightly damp, came over muffled: "Thank you, elder sister, I'll go change clothes now."

Now nothing can suppress Gu Kang except one thing: the spring imperial examination.

These past months Gu Kang has almost exhausted all his strength; he just wants to prove to those good-for-nothings of the Gu family that he, Gu Kang, will still rise.

He is not trash; he is an upright person.

This opportunity of the spring imperial examination is truly too important for him, even more important than his life.

He merely did not want to owe Gu Jiu Ling a favor; the self-respect he had painstakingly regained made him unwilling to seek help from that woman again.

But as soon as he thought of the spring imperial examination, he immediately compromised.

Gu Jiu Ling also did not look at him, merely saying softly: "Remember to give me an IOU; we are no longer siblings, so don't call me elder sister—I can't bear it."

"For changing clothes, plus venue fee and clothing cost, give me an IOU for five hundred taels."

"When you rise to prominence in the future, remember to repay me!"

"If you remain as mediocre as you are now, I won't ask for repayment either; I'll just treat it as giving alms to a beggar."

Gu Kang's expression twitched; he bowed deeply to Gu Jiu Ling, turned and walked toward the carriage she pointed at, changed into clean clothes inside, and unwilling to discard his wet clothes, he rolled them up, wrapped them, and carried them in his hand.

Then he actually left an IOU for Gu Jiu Ling; Jiu Yue held the IOU and brought it to Gu Jiu Ling's face, moving her lips but not knowing what to say.

After all, the Second Young Master had also been raised as a child of nobility and wealth; not wanting to have fallen to such a state, he felt the master might be too harsh on the Second Young Master.

Nowadays all families actively help their children prepare for the spring imperial examination; the Gu family even invited several great scholars to give lectures to the Third Young Master, while the Second Young Master is alone.

If the Prince Rui's residence could step in to help at this time, it wouldn't have come to being bullied so badly.

Not expecting that even if the Second Young Master changed clothes in the master's carriage, he would still have to write an IOU?

Gu Jiu Ling took the IOU Gu Kang had written, but tore it into pieces and scattered them on the water surface.