Chapter 725 - 720, - 721: From Wife to Concubine

Outside the imperial examination hall.

Guo Ning originally had few friends in Xiangyang, but after becoming the Imperial Examination Champion, many people came to associate with him, and he made quite a few friends.

Here, as Guo Ning just came out of the examination hall, Sun City and Jiang Quyang, whom he had interacted with a few days ago, surrounded him, inquiring about the examination.

Seeing that both Guo Ning and Sun City performed well, Jiang Quyang sighed and said, "It seems I am fated not to be an Advanced Scholar, as I did poorly on the exam questions."

After the Great Song Dynasty’s imperial examination, candidates are divided into three classes: the first class includes three who are conferred as Advanced Scholars, commonly known as the top three; the second class is conferred a scholar’s background, with the top known as the herald; and the third class is conferred a co-scholar’s background.

According to previous examinations, the number of people admitted each time ranges from thirty to about a hundred, but not exceeding one hundred.

Jiang Quyang had no confidence in himself, fearing it would be difficult to enter the top three classes.

"Brother Jiang, don’t belittle yourself." Guo Ning comforted him.

Sun City, being more familiar with Jiang Quyang, patted his shoulder and laughed, "If you don’t make it, fight again next year. If not in the top three, why read the book at all?"

"Forget it, I’m not like Brother Sun. I don’t want to endure the hardships of preparation again. If not, I might be like Brother Lin Zhong, heading to distant lands to benefit the people." Jiang Quyang said with an idealistic tone.

Jiang Quyang actually didn’t know Lin Zhong; it was from Guo Ning that he heard about him.

Jiang Quyang felt a kinship with this person and said if given the chance to meet, he’d surely make Lin Zhong his friend.

Guo Ning softly laughed from the side, "Brother Sun, if people outside heard what you just said, they might rush over to beat you up."

Many feel satisfied enough just passing the provincial exam.

If they heard Sun City’s words, "If not in the top three, why read the book," they would definitely get angry enough to attack him.

Upon hearing this, Sun City felt a bit scared and looked around.

Guo Ning and Jiang Quyang, seeing his demeanor, couldn’t help but laugh.

"Brother Guo, Brother Sun... I have already prepared a banquet at Fu Ze Restaurant, and I invite all of you scholars to join. I hope the three of you can do me the honor and come along." Qin Shi, noticing Guo Ning and his companions, extended an invitation.

Knowing that Qin Shi’s father was the president of the Linhuai Commerce Association, Guo Ning and his friends naturally agreed politely.

Just as the group was about to head to Fu Ze Restaurant.

Guo Ning suddenly heard someone calling the name "Guo Xian."

Guo Ning looked over and saw "a family of three," standing at the gate, eagerly watching.

"Brother Guo, get on the carriage." Qin Shi, seeing Guo Ning standing still, invited him onto the carriage.

"Wait a moment..."

Guo Ning said, then quickly walked towards the "family of three."

"Sir, are you looking for Brother Guo Xian?" Guo Ning asked Dai Ling, who appeared old enough to be his father.

"You are?" Dai Ling, almost in his forties, could indeed be considered an elder in the Great Song, so being called sir wasn’t strange.

"I am Guo Ning," Guo Ning said.

"The Imperial Examination Champion?" Dai Ling exclaimed, as he had quite a strong impression of the top scorer in the examination.

"I dare not be called that. Are you related to Brother Guo Xian?" Guo Ning asked.

Dai Ling nodded hastily, "We came from Cangzhou to find him, sir, have you seen him?"

Surrounded by scholars and armored warriors maintaining order, Huang Zhaodi, having little experience with the outside world, became very shy and simply nodded along with her child.

"He left the examination hall earlier. If you didn’t see him just now, then he must have gone. You can find him at General Zhang’s Residence." After saying that, Guo Ning smiled, patted the child’s head, and told Dai Ling, "Your child is very obedient."

Then, he boarded Qin Shi’s carriage and left.

Dai Ling wanted to explain, but there wasn’t enough time.

Inside Qin Shi’s carriage.

"Brother Guo, who were those people just now?" Qin Shi asked curiously.

"Oh, they are Brother Guo Xian’s relatives from Cangzhou, probably here to rely on him." Guo Ning replied, thinking to himself that he must have mistaken the person.

Guo Xian is indeed Guo Xian, not Dai Tu; his relatives are from Cangzhou.

Upon hearing this, gossip buzzed within the carriage.

Someone envied, "I heard Guo Xian has connections with General Zhang, who grew up with King Wei in the same village. With General Zhang as backing, he’ll surely rise smoothly in his career."

As the relationship between Chen Mo and Zhang River spread, it naturally became more exaggerated.

"Brother Liu, don’t envy. If you pass the hall examination, your marriage prospects won’t be any less than General Zhang’s. If you become the top scorer, you might even marry a princess." Jiang Quyang laughed.

"Oh, come on. I’d be content just to make it into the top three, and maybe have the chance for King Wei to inscribe something for my family’s bun shop. The top scorer is something I don’t even dare to dream of."

As these words fell, laughter filled the carriage.

As for Dai Ling’s situation.

After failing to find the person at the examination hall, Dai Ling decided to trust Guo Ning’s words and began making inquiries about the Zhang Family.

There was more than one Zhang Family in Xiangyang.

When asked which Zhang Family he was looking for, Dai Ling said General Zhang, and the person being questioned immediately gave him directions.

On the way, Huang Zhaodi asked Dai Ling puzzledly, "Uncle Ling, I heard this General Zhang grew up with King Wei and is a significant figure. Why would my husband be at the Zhang Residence?"

In response, Dai Ling was also puzzled, feeling an uneasy premonition.

After all, Dai Tu and Zhang River aren’t on the same path, but if they were together, the reasons could be very few.