Chapter 273

Gu Jiu Ling was eating a pastry, looking at the opened package that Gu Kang had brought over.

Besides the hot pastry, underneath lay a stack of paper on which Gu Kang had written his essay.

"What does this mean?"

Gu Kang hastily swallowed the last bite of his pastry, rose, walked over to Gu Jiu Ling, took out the manuscript, and held it up before her eyes.

He looked at her with utmost sincerity and said: "Yesterday when I paid my respects to Mr. Wen, Mr. Wen said your elder sister's essay was written very well, far surpassing his."

"Mr. Wen also said my essay's brushwork isn't very flashy, but its value lies in its steady and solid style."

"But I want to stand out in the spring imperial examination; that might be difficult. His meaning is to let me take my essay to my elder sister for a bit of critique."

"I implore my elder sister not to withhold your guidance!"

Gu Kang earnestly bowed deeply to Gu Jiu Ling; this manner was completely different from just now when he kowtowed to her.

At this moment, Gu Kang was treating Gu Jiu Ling as if she were his teacher.

Gu Jiu Ling, however, was dumbfounded— which of Mr. Wen's eyes saw her essay as far superior to his?

She suddenly recalled that last time at the poetry gathering she had pretended to be the author, but that piece wasn't actually hers— yet everyone had believed it.

Gu Jiu Ling focused her gaze on the earnest, well-behaved boy seeking advice before her, and suddenly realized that Gu Kang, who was studying diligently and making progress, was also quite annoying!

Seeing Gu Jiu Ling silent, Gu Kang's expression grew slightly anxious, and he immediately bowed low before her.

"What are you doing? Get up, get up— it's rather embarrassing."

Gu Jiu Ling's smile was a bit awkward; she tried to joke her way out, but Gu Kang lifted his gaze and stared steadily at her, his expression filled with a hint of pleading and regret.

"Elder sister, I truly know I was wrong; now I only wish to pass the spring imperial examination and become a presented scholar, so I may comfort my mother's spirit in heaven."

Gu Jiu Ling fell into deep thought; she wasn't thinking about her mother, but about how she could continue the deception.

She is a medical student, not a graduate of the Now we need to output lines: English department; this unlucky child suddenly came to her for instruction, asking how to write an essay.

He might as well just kill her outright!

Moreover, I cannot tell Gu Kang that I am not his sister— his sister died long ago, I am merely an impostor, and I cannot write poetry, nor can I even write the characters of this world properly.

But no matter who I tell this to, it sounds like an Arabian night tale, utterly unbelievable.

Seeing that Gu Jiu Ling still hadn't given him any guidance on his essay, Gu Kang assumed she was still angry with him and bowed down again.

He then lifted his gaze to look at his own elder sister and said: "Elder sister, this time I also want to win some honor for myself, for you, and for Mother."

"The Gu family has bullied people too much; I will surely surpass Gu Huai by a head in the spring imperial examination, and whatever they did to drive me out before, I will make them come begging for my return!"

"Elder sister, I will also avenge all the resentment you have suffered at the Gu family!"

This is probably the first time, after that previous calamity Gu Kang endured, that he has so strongly expressed his true feelings, laying bare his most genuine self before Gu Jiu Ling.

He had ripped open his own bleeding heart to show her.

He truly knew he was wrong, truly, truly knew he was wrong.

He only hoped that Gu Jiu Ling could help him revise his essay.

Gu Jiu Ling steeled herself to look at the essay Gu Kang had written before her; at first glance, not to mention the content, even his handsome handwriting was pleasing to the eye.

Fortunately, she had studied a literary appreciation course in high school, so she still retained some impression.

After a rough look at Gu Kang's essay, Gu Jiu Ling's first impression was actually surprise.

She felt that Gu Shijie's scoundrel's literary genes were still not bad; Gu Cheng and Gu Huai, setting aside their personal character, still wrote decent essays.

Now Gu Kang's essay, to her layperson's eyes, appears well written.

The brushwork is sharp, the logic clear, the structure well organized.

The only shortcoming is a lack of literary foundation in ornate poetry; it looks rather plain, without much embellishment.

The essay's content also has no faults to pick, but this time we must find fault anyway.

"The essay is quite good! Steady and grand, objectively calm in critiquing the ills of the times, it is truly an excellent work!"

Gu Jiu Ling first gave a round of praise, but Gu Kang did not show happiness on his face; instead, he furrowed his brows, bowed with clasped hands before her, and said: "I hope my elder sister can point out a few shortcomings."

"What shortcomings! Gu Jiu Ling really couldn't see any further details."

She too, pressed by Gu Kang's urgency, coughed and said: "However, in terms of diction, there is still some deficiency; it is not ornate enough."

"Moreover, now the Southern Qi Court is corrupt; the emperor surely also wishes to strive for governance and advocate reform."

"Perhaps this year's topic will be reform; if that theme appears, ornate diction would be utterly worthless in the face of unique political insight— worse than trash!"

"If the topic of this spring's imperial examination is reform, then your essay will be all the more able to gain the upper hand."

"After all, an argumentative essay cannot achieve prominence just by having ornate diction; one must also look at the content."

"Content is the royal road! How about this: elder sister, help me copy out… write another political essay, and when the time comes for the spring imperial examination, you can memorize and write it all down; the Mingjing class should be passable, what do you think?"

Gu Jiu Ling thought more and more that this plan was feasible; although Gu Kang has become a fine child now, seeing him participate in the spring imperial examination still makes her uneasy.

Since today the siblings have spoken openly, she will help to the end, see the Buddha to the west, and directly help him get through the spring imperial examination to slap the faces of those beasts of the Gu family.

Thinking of this, Gu Jiu Ling actually felt rather refreshed.

She hurriedly lowered her head to look for paper, preparing to copy out from memory those famous ancient prose pieces she had memorized in high school; if she could memorize the whole text, it would enable Gu Kang to pass the spring imperial examination.

But just as Gu Jiu Ling was about to think which piece to copy, Gu Kang before her earnestly looked at her and said: "Elder sister, I cannot do this; I know you are doing it for my good, but your literary talent may not necessarily reach another level?"

"Elder sister, when it comes to writing essays, we must absolutely not falsify things; we must proceed step by step."

"I have already disturbed my elder sister for so long; I will take my leave now."

Gu Kang also sensed that his elder sister seemed truly unable to understand his essay, feeling odd inside, and also didn't want to say anything more.

Xiao Yin was about to leave court and return to his mansion; Gu Kang inwardly felt somewhat afraid of Xiao Yin.

"Elder sister, take care!"

Gu Kang gathered the plain paper from the package, prepared to leave the study, but Gu Jiu Ling called out to stop him: "Gu Kang! After the spring imperial examination, elder sister will be waiting to see how you strike back at the Gu family!"

Gu Kang stared for a moment, then earnestly nodded and turned toward the study's door.

Jiu Yue sent the Gu family's second master away from the Wangfu, then returned to the study and reported to Gu Jiu Ling the matter just handled.

I don't want to see my master propping his chin and acting foolish.

Master! The Second Young Master has left!

Gu Jiu Ling rubbed her face and said: "Jiu Yue, you say I now and my brother are renewing our estrangement— is it too late?"