My Wife Is The Female Lead In A Scum Alpha Novel - Chapter 53

53

Gu Qingci went out with Cao Hang to participate in a “demonstration match” and even gave a “teaching session.”

Gu Qingci’s arm fracture was almost healed. Wen Renyi removed her splint, allowing her to move freely, though she still couldn’t exert much force and needed more time to recover.

So she continued to rely on one hand and her feet for coordination.

Over the past few days, in order to stir up public opinion, Gu Qingci had no choice but to go out and demonstrate her skills.

But this day was different.

The audience Cao Hang invited for Gu Qingci consisted of disabled veterans who had been injured on the battlefield.

Gu Qingci never imagined that one day she would become someone else’s idol, that her actions could inspire others.

After becoming disabled, these veterans had weak labor abilities, lacked education, and had received meager compensation from the imperial court, so they lived in hardship.

Although Cao Hang’s family had some money, their ability to help was limited.

Cao Hang himself practiced relying on brute strength and talent, completely unaware of the principles behind it.

Seeing Gu Qingci’s excellent training, he hoped she could help these people, perhaps finding them jobs as guards or escorts to make a living.

Gu Qingci unreservedly taught them her core training methods.

For those who had lost both hands, archery could still be done with their feet, but that was more of a circus act—using a crossbow would be better.

When Gu Qingci brought this up with Cao Hang, she realized that this world didn’t even have crossbows.

Gu Qingci didn’t elaborate further. She didn’t know exactly how to make a crossbow, only the general principles—it would require research.

So instead, she focused on teaching leg-based combat techniques.

These men had their own advantages. Having experienced life-and-death situations on the battlefield, they had practical experience and learned quickly during training.

Truthfully, Gu Qingci wanted to say that since they were already in such a state, they didn’t need to push themselves so hard.

But she also understood the limitations of this era.

These people still needed to eat.

By noon, the gathering ended, and Gu Qingci treated everyone to a meal at a restaurant. There wasn’t a private room large enough, so they occupied three tables in the main hall.

These men admired Gu Qingci from the bottom of their hearts, so during the meal, their conversations were filled with regret and support for her.

“Failing the military examination this time, Master Gu is truly a pearl cast into the sea!”

“I think it’s impossible for Master Gu to have failed—there must have been some foul play.”

After a few drinks, the men spoke their minds, but another voice suddenly came from outside.

“Some people just aren’t skilled enough. If they failed, they failed. Yet they go around spreading rumors about exam fraud—how laughable!”

When the voice rang out, everyone turned to look at the entrance.

A delicate young woman in red, wearing a veil and holding a soft whip, appeared at the restaurant—it was County Princess Changning.

Gu Qingci had been in a good mood, but seeing County Princess Changning instantly soured it—she disliked this woman.

County Princess Changning also despised Gu Qingci, looking at her with disdain and contempt.

“…County Princess, Master Gu’s skills are truly outstanding. For someone of her ability to fail the exam, there must have been fraud!” One of the veterans Gu Qingci had just trained spoke up in her defense.

“Yes, County Princess, don’t speak of Scholar Gu like that. She is a very good person.” another person chimed in.

The others also voiced their agreement.

County Princess Changning hadn’t expected that everyone would defend Gu Qingci.

“She’s clearly two-faced! Don’t be fooled by her! Cao Hang, do you believe me? Stop associating with her!” County Princess Changning said angrily, turning to Cao Hang with a commanding tone.

Cao Hang had come from the border regions. His adoptive father had ties with her father, and upon arriving, he had visited County Princess Changning’s family. From the moment he saw her, his gaze had been infatuated.

County Princess Changning was well aware of her striking beauty and was accustomed to such admiration from men like Cao Hang, though she still somewhat enjoyed this kind of “adoration” Cao Hang’s attitude toward her had always been fawning.

“What kind of person Scholar Gu is, I can see with my own eyes.” Cao Hang replied unhappily.

“…Fine! All of you have been deceived by her! A mere alpha, relying on beauty to bewitch people—aren’t you ashamed?!” County Princess Changning was incredulous that even Cao Hang would side with Gu Qingci.

“Ah, thank you, County Princess Changning, for praising my beauty.” Gu Qingci said with a smile, her eyes curving happily.

She was genuinely touched by everyone’s support.

These martial artists suited her temperament well.

Only this County Princess Changning was truly annoying.

“You… you! Very well. No matter what, Gu Qingci, you failed the exams. No matter how famous you become, you’re still a failed scholar. The examiners are all discerning and sharp-eyed. Do you know who this is beside me? He is this year’s top martial scholar, the number one in the metropolitan exams—Wei Hu! He is the truly deserving one.” County Princess Changning huffed indignantly, her spirits lifting as she remembered the person accompanying her.

The man beside County Princess Changning was tall and brawny, clearly a formidable fighter. He cupped his hands in greeting to the crowd, his expression rather arrogant.

“Scholar Gu’s reputation has soared these past few days. I, too, would very much like to spar with her.” Wei Hu said, looking at Gu Qingci.

“Wei Hu is the top young warrior in our army—he’s been on the battlefield! Gu Qingci, don’t tell me you don’t dare to accept! Don’t just know how to spread rumors without any real skill.” County Princess Changning taunted, her eyes challenging.

This childish provocation wasn’t even worth Gu Qingci’s attention.

But the other party was the top scholar—who wouldn’t step on such a conveniently offered ladder?

Just as Gu Qingci was about to accept, rapid footsteps sounded from outside, and a servant—one of Cao Hang’s men—rushed in.

“Honorable ladies and gentlemen, the court has posted a new notice! The martial exams will be retaken in three days, with all participants from the metropolitan exams required to attend! His Majesty has dismissed the previous examiners and ordered His Highness the Crown Prince to investigate the matter thoroughly.”

The servant delivered the report.

Cao Hang and Gu Qingci immediately stood up.

“Say that again—where was the notice posted? Who will oversee the exams?”

Cao Hang strode toward the servant to ask.

The servant explained and led a few of them outside to see for themselves.

County Princess Changning’s face paled.

Wei Hu’s expression also darkened.

He had earned the top score, and now they had to retake the exams?

What kind of joke was this?!

The group hurried to see the court’s new announcement, while those with connections went to gather more concrete information.

Once Gu Qingci confirmed the news, she was overjoyed. After thanking Cao Hang, she immediately rushed off to find Ruan Zhi.

Ruan Zhi was in the accounting room going over the books when Gu Qingci burst in like a whirlwind, scooped her up into an embrace, and planted a kiss on her forehead.

With a loud “pop” the sound was very sharp.

Seeing this, several shopkeepers quickly retreated.

Although Ruan Zhi maintained her usual cool demeanor on the surface, her heartbeat quickened slightly as Gu Qingci hugged her so passionately.

“What happened? Don’t strain your arm!” Ruan Zhi met Gu Qingci’s blazing gaze and coughed lightly before speaking.

“Madam, the court has ordered a retake! The exam will be held in three days! The invigilators from the last assessment have all been dismissed and are under investigation.” Gu Qingci shared the news excitedly.

Ruan Zhi looked at Gu Qingci and smiled faintly at the corners of her lips.

It seemed their efforts hadn’t been in vain.

Of course, it was also based on Gu Qingci’s genuine talent.

Otherwise, the exam results wouldn’t have been questioned, and those who “spread rumors” might have been punished instead.

Now that a retake was possible, it meant their high-stakes gamble had paid off.

Seeing the smile on Ruan Zhi’s face, the faint dimples that appeared added a touch of warmth to her cool demeanor, making her look… adorable!

Gu Qingci couldn’t resist kissing Ruan Zhi’s dimpled cheek again.

Ruan Zhi stiffened at the kiss.

What kind of expression was this—kissing whenever she was happy?

“Madam, I’ll study hard for the exam! I won’t let you down!” Gu Qingci said earnestly, quickly suppressing her wandering thoughts.

“Good. These next few days, you must be extra careful. Three days—who knows what might happen. My lord, perhaps you should stay at Wen Renyi’s or Cao Hang’s residence.” Ruan Zhi suggested after a moment’s thought.

She was worried someone might target Gu Qingci.

After all, the stakes this time were unexpectedly high.

It wouldn’t be surprising if someone resorted to underhanded tactics.

If Gu Qingci were injured again—unable to use her hands or exert any strength—and failed this exam, it might inadvertently validate the legitimacy of the previous one.

Both Cao Hang and Wen Renyi had more skilled guards around them than Ruan Zhi, and their statuses provided an additional layer of protection.

Gu Qingci understood Ruan Zhi’s reasoning.

“Madam, what about you? Come with me.” Gu Qingci said, holding onto Ruan Zhi.

“I’ll be fine. If anyone is targeted, it’ll be you, not me. Besides, I have other matters to attend to. These next few days are critical for the palace store’s eunuch supervisors to select goods—I can’t slack off. Don’t worry, Master Min is here.” Ruan Zhi reassured her.

Gu Qingci knew Ruan Zhi made sense, but she still couldn’t bear to part.

She hugged Ruan Zhi tightly, nuzzling against her, wanting to be even closer—until Lian Rui announced from outside that Wen Renyi had arrived.

Ruan Zhi’s concerns were shared by Wen Renyi.

So, upon hearing about the retake, Wen Renyi came straight to fetch Gu Qingci.

Gu Qingci packed her bags and went to stay with Wen Renyi.

When Cao Hang heard the news, he brought his own luggage and guards to join them at Wen Renyi’s place.

“There are three days left to prepare. I don’t even know what to focus on. The martial exam doesn’t need preparation, and I really don’t feel like studying.” Cao Hang said, slumping into a chair.

“Then just watch Scholar Gu prepare.” Wen Renyi retorted irritably.

“No, no—these three days are your chance to improve! Brother Cao, for the written exam, forget everything else. I’ll teach you a universal template—memorize it, and no matter the topic, fit it into the structure first, establish the word count and outline… And Lady Wen Ren, you mentioned before that you failed the martial exam—where exactly did you fall short? Tell me, and we’ll focus on practicing that these next few days.”

Gu Qingci thought for a moment and said.

This retake wasn’t just an opportunity for herself.

She also wanted her two friends to achieve better results.

“…Is that really possible? Teach me, quick!” Cao Hang jumped up from his chair upon hearing Gu Qingci’s words.

Wen Renyi had been observing Gu Qingci teaching various archery techniques over the past few days and was also somewhat tempted.

Gu Qingci first wrote down the essay strategies she had summarized and had Cao Hang memorize them. Once he had them down, she gave him mock questions to practice writing and hone his skills.

As for Wen Renyi, her main weakness during the assessment had been in combat.

Her combat skills were lacking, and when facing experienced opponents, she was quickly defeated.

Moreover, she was too much of a “gentleman” making her an easy target for underhanded tactics.

Gu Qingci tailored a specialized training program for Wen Renyi based on her characteristics. She sparred with her, taught her several grappling techniques, and showed her how to protect her vital points, identify her opponent’s weaknesses, and maneuver effectively.

The three days passed in a highly productive manner for all of them.

Every day, Shimo would go out to find Ruan Zhi, reporting to her about Gu Qingci’s situation and also updating Gu Qingci on Ruan Zhi’s status.

Ruan Zhi had already qualified to participate in the selection for official shops in Yanjing City, but whether she would be chosen depended on the preferences of the eunuch sent by the palace to oversee the process.

These eunuchs were the emperor’s most trusted confidants and understood his tastes best.

They made the initial selections, which were then reviewed by the emperor, and the finalists would become suppliers of goods for the imperial court.

Thus, Ruan Zhi had indeed been very busy these past few days.

Three days later, Gu Qingci, Wen Renyi, and the others lined up to enter the examination hall once again.

The last time they had come, it was still chilly with the lingering cold of early spring. Now, it was the warm and bright third month of the year.

Gu Qingci no longer wore a cloak, and her composed demeanor still drew attention from the crowd.

After this period of time, most of the examinees recognized Gu Qingci.

She wasn’t intimidated, greeting everyone with a smile.

She appeared harmless, even dazzlingly beautiful, causing many to momentarily lose focus.

Those who had interacted with her more, like Wen Renyi, knew that Gu Qingci had nerves of steel—the more intense the situation, the calmer she became.

Once inside, they were quickly divided into groups.

“Is this intentional? Your group has Wei Hu!” Wen Renyi exclaimed in surprise upon hearing Gu Qingci’s group assignment.

“It’s fine. Whoever’s in it makes no difference.” Gu Qingci replied with a smile.

Meanwhile, Wei Hu, upon learning that he and Gu Qingci were in the same group, turned to look at her with a fierce competitive gleam in his eyes.

He had to eliminate Gu Qingci in the combat round!

This was a matter of great importance for his future!

Gu Qingci didn’t know who had deliberately arranged this, but having this match with Wei Hu moved to the examination grounds was just as well.

To prove that the corruption scandal triggered by her failing the exam was not a rumor or fabrication, but a solid, undeniable fact, nothing would be more direct than her defeating Wei Hu.

The content of the retake was the same as the previous examination.

The difference was that this time, everything was completely open and transparent.

At each step, the results were announced loudly, recorded, and publicly displayed.

The results of the martial examination weren’t just known within the group—those waiting outside would also hear them.

Gu Qingci’s right hand was still unusable, so this time, she again relied on her left hand and feet.

Everything went smoothly.

During the match, Gu Qingci was paired with Wei Hu.

Wei Hu cracked his knuckles, looking at Gu Qingci with an imposing demeanor.

Gu Qingci observed Wei Hu, deliberately leaving an opening for him while flashing a sweet, tiger-toothed smile at him.

Wei Hu was momentarily stunned but quickly snapped out of it, striking at the opening Gu Qingci had left. As he attacked, he himself exposed a flaw.

Gu Qingci mustered all her strength and struck Wei Hu’s chin.

Before Wei Hu could land a hit on Gu Qingci, he felt a sharp pain in his chin and soon lost consciousness, collapsing to the ground.

“Whoa—” As Wei Hu fell unconscious, several examinees watching their duel gasped in shock, and even the examiners were stunned.

Wei Hu was the top martial scholar from the previous selection!

And just like that, he was instantly defeated by Gu Qingci!

None of them had even seen clearly what move Gu Qingci had used or where she had struck Wei Hu.

How had he been knocked out so quickly?!

The imperial physician in charge of examinee injuries rushed over to revive Wei Hu.

When he came to, he was still dazed.

“Y-you… you used some dark art!” Wei Hu’s first reaction upon waking was to accuse, clutching his jaw and slurring his words.

“If you lose, you lose! Saying something like this just shows you can’t accept defeat!” Gu Qingci snorted coldly.

Wei Hu was tall and burly, and as the top martial scholar, Gu Qingci had wanted to defeat him quickly and decisively. To eliminate Wei Hu, she had pulled out all the stops—even resorting to the “beauty trap.”

Knocking Wei Hu out wasn’t some high-level technique.

It was just that she knew a little bit of science—the chin is connected to the trigeminal nerve, which in turn is linked to…

In short, a well-placed strike there could KO an opponent, provided they were foolish enough to leave an opening.

And who asked him to aim for her injured arm in the first place?!

Gu Qingci ignored Wei Hu and went to take the written exam.

The result of Gu Qingci and Wei Hu’s match was soon announced loudly, causing an immediate uproar among all the examinees who heard it.

Those who had supported Gu Qingci before were overjoyed.

Naturally, the faces of those who had passed through connections turned grim.

Gu Qingci had to rewrite her strategy essay and tactical simulations, giving her a headache.

The hand she had used to strike Wei Hu was bruised and throbbing with pain.

After submitting her written exam, Gu Qingci stepped out, but neither Ren Yixuan nor Cao Hang had emerged yet.

So she waited for them for a while.

Soon, the two came out as well, their faces brimming with excitement.

“When I heard you beat Wei Hu and even eliminated him, I laughed so hard I slapped the table. I couldn’t stop for a while during the written exam.” Cao Hang said upon seeing Gu Qingci.

“This arrangement was definitely intentional. Luckily, Scholar Gu is amazing!” Wen Renyi said with a laugh.

“Lady Wen, did you pass the martial exam this time?” Gu Qingci greeted the two and asked.

“Of course I passed! And I owe it all to you, Scholar Gu. It’s late today, but tomorrow I’m treating you to a meal!” Wen Renyi replied cheerfully.

“I’ll treat you too! Today, when I wrote my essay, the ideas just flowed—I feel like I could even take the civil exam now!” Cao Hang chimed in.

Hearing that both of them had performed well, Gu Qingci was also delighted.

After leaving with them, Gu Qingci said her goodbyes and went to find Ruan Zhi first.

Ruan Zhi’s carriage was already waiting outside.

As soon as she stepped into the carriage, Gu Qingci pouted and extended her hand toward Ruan Zhi.

“What’s wrong? Did you not do well? Did they make things difficult for you?” Ruan Zhi’s heart skipped a beat as she asked. Dirty tricks came in countless forms—who knew what those people might have done to stop Gu Qingci?

“Wife, no… it’s my hand, it hurts… Look, it’s bruised.” Gu Qingci gestured with her eyes for Ruan Zhi to look at her hand.

Ruan Zhi lowered her gaze and saw the back of Gu Qingci’s hand—red and swollen.

“What happened?” Ruan Zhi asked, her heart aching at the sight. She quickly fetched some medicinal wine for bruises and held Gu Qingci’s hand, applying the wine gently.

Gu Qingci gave her a brief explanation.

As Ruan Zhi listened to Gu Qingci’s understated account, the person before her now looked pitiful, complaining about her hand hurting. Who would have guessed that this very hand had just knocked out the previous martial arts top scholar with a single punch?

Ruan Zhi truly didn’t know how to interpret Gu Qingci anymore. Perhaps this was just her unique way of being.

A cooling sensation spread over her skin, and Gu Qingci felt slightly better. She leaned closer to Ruan Zhi.

“Madam, I missed you so much…” Gu Qingci murmured, nuzzling against the side of Ruan Zhi’s neck.

“…” Ruan Zhi stiffened.

Missed her?

It had only been three days. She really was…

Ruan Zhi found it absurd, but that word made her heart race uncontrollably.

“You’re seeing me now, aren’t you? How was your food these past few days? Did you sleep well? I’ve already instructed the cook to prepare a feast. Let’s go back and eat first.” Ruan Zhi said softly.

Gu Qingci nodded.

“Not seeing you these past few days was the hardest part. It was really so tough. But now that I’m with you again, everything feels better.” Gu Qingci said.

Ahhh, she was just a hopeless romantic.

An incurable romantic.

Right now, all she wanted was to be close to Ruan Zhi.

It wasn’t appropriate to get too intimate in the carriage, but after holding her for a while and breathing in Ruan Zhi’s scent, Gu Qingci felt both joyful and content.

When they arrived at their residence, they ate together. Gu Qingci took a bath, dried her hair, and secretly wondered if she could steal a kiss from Ruan Zhi today. But while waiting for Ruan Zhi to finish bathing, exhaustion overtook her, and she fell asleep shortly after lying down.

Ruan Zhi returned to the room to check on Gu Qingci and found her asleep. She applied a bit more medicine to Gu Qingci’s hand.

Watching Gu Qingci sleep so peacefully and sweetly, Ruan Zhi felt a stirring in her heart. She leaned down and kissed Gu Qingci’s forehead.

As their skin touched, a strange, indescribable emotion rose within her—one she had never felt before.

It was like pressing a personal seal onto paper.

A promise, and a claim.

“Sister… I really want… to kiss you…” Gu Qingci murmured in her sleep, nuzzling closer to Ruan Zhi.

Ruan Zhi’s heart raced again.

That “sister” wasn’t directed at anyone in particular, but she knew—it was meant for her.

From the moment they met, Gu Qingci had called her that.

Back then, every time she heard it, it felt like a spell being cast on her.

Now, hearing it again, the enchantment hadn’t faded—instead, it carried even more affection.

Not wanting to disturb Gu Qingci’s sleep, Ruan Zhi simply lay beside her, matching her breathing until she, too, slowly drifted off.