My Wife Is The Female Lead In A Scum Alpha Novel - Chapter 54

54

The next morning, while Gu Qingci and Ruan Zhi were having breakfast, invitations were frequently delivered to them.

Gu Qingci’s reputation had already spread, and many people sent invitations hoping to make her acquaintance in advance.

“I don’t want to go to these gatherings…” Gu Qingci pouted, looking at the pile of invitations and acting coquettishly toward Ruan Zhi.

Among them were various factions, but the Third Prince’s faction was immediately ruled out—those invitations were tossed aside without a second thought.

As for the Crown Prince’s faction, Gu Qingci didn’t want to get involved either.

However, nominally speaking, it was the Crown Prince who had proposed the re-examination, which was a great favor to the military examinees. The Crown Prince’s faction had gained goodwill among the martial candidates, and many had already gone. It wouldn’t look good if she didn’t attend.

“Didn’t you quite enjoy gatherings before? This time, the results should be fair and just. You can go with confidence. These next few days, just keep a low profile and wait for the results to come out.” Ruan Zhi said, somewhat amused.

She knew Gu Qingci didn’t want to move and just wanted to cling to her side.

“I don’t want to move…” Gu Qingci rested her head on Ruan Zhi’s shoulder, thinking how nice it was to stay close to her like this.

Her wife was so fragrant and soft, and even when she clung to her like this, Ruan Zhi didn’t get annoyed and instead spoke to her gently.

Her face was cool and composed, but the tips of her ears were slightly red—so adorable.

The metropolitan exam had already added an extra round with this re-examination.

She really hoped this would be the final step, granting her a leisurely position—preferably one aligned with the neutral faction—so things wouldn’t be so troublesome.

“Then stay home and rest. I still have to go out and work today.” Ruan Zhi said, patting Gu Qingci’s head.

“Uh, I don’t want to stay home alone.” Gu Qingci lifted her head and said, meeting Ruan Zhi’s teasing gaze and realizing she was being deliberately teased.

Alright, it seemed Ruan Zhi was teasing her.

The normally serious Ruan Zhi, playfully teasing her, was just too cute.

Ahhh, her wife was adorable no matter what.

Gu Qingci leaned against Ruan Zhi again, clinging to her like a human accessory, nuzzling her shoulder.

“Madam, what do you need to do today? How are things with the official shops in the capital you mentioned the other day?” Gu Qingci asked Ruan Zhi. She knew socializing was unavoidable but just wanted to stay with Ruan Zhi a little longer and chat for a while.

Earlier, Ruan Zhi had been busy opening new shops in the capital and preparing goods for the official shops’ selection process.

This matter was the most important for them.

She had been so focused on preparing for the exams that she hadn’t asked Ruan Zhi much about it.

“It hasn’t been finalized yet. The official shops’ selection process is very strict, and the procedures are cumbersome.” Ruan Zhi said, knowing Gu Qingci disliked trouble and not wanting to burden her with too many details.

The emperor trusted the eunuchs, and even his personal food and clothing passed through their hands.

The chief eunuch in charge of procurement managed the selection of goods, which was also a chain of interests. Some of the lower-ranking eunuchs beneath him sought to skim a little profit for themselves.

Simply preparing high-quality goods wasn’t enough.

They also had to weigh profits and losses and grease the right palms.

“I heard His Majesty enjoys tea—why don’t we offer our finest tea leaves? No one could possibly outdo us.” Gu Qingci said.

Ruan Zhi had sent people everywhere to collect various types of tea leaves, systematically categorizing and grading them.

The few varieties they had selected, processed with mature techniques, were among the best in the world.

“Food items are the hardest. Most are produced by the imperial family themselves, processed by palace chefs. Outside merchants rarely get a chance. Tea isn’t feasible now either. Earlier, we sent tea masters to teach the palace staff, and now the palace supplies its own.” Ruan Zhi explained.

“Then what should we offer?” Gu Qingci asked.

“Flash satin—a type of silk fabric.” Ruan Zhi said.

“What does flash satin look like?” Gu Qingci was curious.

Just how many industries had Ruan Zhi developed? Gu Qingci had no idea.

She didn’t know much about fabrics either, though every time Wen Renyi saw what she was wearing, he’d express surprise.

Only then did she realize the fabrics of her clothes were all high-quality brocade, some of which were priceless.

What Ruan Zhi intended to supply to the imperial family must have been exceptionally fine as well.

Since there was still time, Ruan Zhi took Gu Qingci to the storeroom to have a look.

The patterned silk fabric had a shimmering effect, its visual appearance shifting slightly depending on the angle of light, making it far more dazzling and variable than ordinary silk. Its texture was also smooth and soft to the touch.

“Such fine satin—why hesitate?” Even though Gu Qingci didn’t understand fabrics, she could tell this silk was extraordinary.

“It’s not that simple.” Ruan Zhi said.

“Is it because the eunuch in charge wants a kickback? Or are they haggling, offering too low a price? We can’t afford to take a loss.” Gu Qingci speculated based on her own understanding.

“Of course we won’t operate at a loss. Don’t worry about these matters. Do you like any of these satins? Pick one, and I’ll have a seamstress tailor new clothes for you.” Ruan Zhi said.

“Madam, these satins are meant for the palace. I shouldn’t waste them.” Gu Qingci quickly declined.

“How is giving them to you a waste? What about this water-red one?” Ruan Zhi said dismissively, pointing to a bolt of fabric for Gu Qingci to see.

Gu Qingci still wanted to decline, but then she paused—hadn’t she just passed the imperial examination?

Even if she couldn’t meet the emperor during the palace examination, she would still be able to enter the palace, right?

Wearing it and making a round to show off, she might just catch the eye of some noble.

“Alright, Madam has chosen well. Could Madam ask the seamstress to finish it quickly? I’d like to wear it for the palace examination.” Gu Qingci said.

“Good.” Ruan Zhi nodded in agreement.

Ruan Zhi immediately called the seamstress to take Gu Qingci’s measurements.

Over the past few days, Gu Qingci’s figure had changed slightly again, so to ensure a proper fit, they needed to take new measurements.

“By the way, Madam, I just remembered something. Earlier, Cao Hang took me to meet some people…” Once they returned to the room, Gu Qingci told Ruan Zhi about the disabled veterans she had encountered.

“I feel they are all good people, loyal and righteous. For example, some may have lost an arm but are still highly skilled in martial arts. If we could recruit them, it would be beneficial. What does Madam think?” Gu Qingci finally asked.

Ruan Zhi looked at Gu Qingci, sensing her desire to help those people.

It was just a first impression, based on a momentary feeling.

However, Gu Qingci had also given her an idea.

She needed to build her own forces, and relying solely on Min Guiyi was too slow.

If she could recruit some experienced veterans, their character guaranteed, even if they had some disabilities, it wouldn’t matter.

“Since the master says they are good, then we can certainly use them. Another day, take Master Min along to see them. Our shops are in need of good guards. If they can’t serve as guards, they can do other things.” Ruan Zhi said to Gu Qingci.

Hearing this, Gu Qingci felt somewhat happy.

Helping those people while also benefiting themselves—a win-win situation was naturally good.

“Madam, do you know any skilled craftsmen? I’d like to make something.” Gu Qingci then remembered her plan to craft a crossbow.

“I have indeed recruited some. What kind does the lord need?” Ruan Zhi asked.

“The carpentry direction, skilled in making bows and arrows.” Gu Qingci said.

Ruan Zhi agreed to help Gu Qingci find someone to connect with and arranged for Gu Qingci to meet that person later.

After chatting with Ruan Zhi for a while, Gu Qingci reluctantly got herself ready and went out.

First, Gu Qingci went to find Wen Renyi and Cao Hang to go together.

For several days in a row, Gu Qingci had to attend social engagements every day.

And she also had to drink.

Gu Qingci remembered Ruan Zhi’s reminder and took hangover pills in advance each time.

By the time she returned, she was still a bit dizzy. After taking a bath, she lay down and fell asleep.

Fortunately, the results came out extremely quickly, and the list was posted on the third day.

That day, Gu Qingci went with Wen Renyi and the others to check the results.

“First place! First in the provincial examination!”

Cao Hang saw Gu Qingci’s name and grabbed her, shaking her excitedly.

Gu Qingci held onto Cao Hang and took a closer look to confirm.

Her name was at the top.

She really was the top scorer.

Even Gu Qingci herself felt it was somewhat surreal.

After all, during the re-examination, Gu Qingci was still using only one hand, her bow wasn’t the heaviest, and she had chosen lighter weights for the strength test. There were definitely many others who performed similarly or even better than her.

Even though she had defeated Wei Hu, Gu Qingci wasn’t entirely confident about her written exam.

Her handwriting was merely neat, and her policy essays were somewhat formulaic, lacking the strategic vision and adaptability expected of a great general.

She was the top scorer?!

If she hadn’t been certain that she hadn’t pulled any strings, Gu Qingci would have suspected there was some foul play.

“Congratulations, Master Gu!”

“Well-deserved!”

Many who knew Gu Qingci came to congratulate her.

Gu Qingci acknowledged them briefly and then searched the list for Wen Renyi and Cao Hang’s names.

This time, Cao Hang actually ranked tenth, an improvement of over eighty places from last time.

Cao Hang’s martial skills were outstanding to begin with. If he hadn’t conceded a hand to Gu Qingci, the outcome of their duel would have been uncertain.

His significant improvement was partly due to his better performance in the written exam, but another reason was likely that his previous results had been suppressed.

After all, he was a staunch neutral.

As for Wen Renyi, she ranked in the sixties this time, a huge leap from not making the list at all last time.

Wen Renyi never expected that what started as merely following his family’s arrangements—giving up the “shameful study of medicine” to take the military exams—would lead him step by step to achieving the rank of Military Presented Scholar.

This outcome delighted everyone.

“Could people say there was foul play with my position as the top scorer military provincial top scorer? Should we go another round?” Gu Qingci remarked as the group retreated from the crowd, her tone half-joking.

“That shouldn’t happen. Who else has your level of skill? For someone as outstanding as the top scorer, it’s natural for some to be discontent. You’ll have your hands full from now on, Scholar Gu.” Wen Renyi replied, shaking his head.

“…” Gu Qingci flexed her left arm.

She really didn’t want to work so hard—the wound on the back of her hand had just healed.

But this result was undoubtedly good news, and she had to share it with Ruan Zhi.

Just as Gu Qingci was about to bid farewell to Wen Renyi and the others to find Ruan Zhi, she spotted a group of people approaching.

“This is the current top scorer, Gu Qingci, the illustrious Gu Huiyuan!” someone announced, pointing at Gu Qingci to the newcomers.

“Hahaha! So you’re Gu Huiyuan. I heard you knocked out Wei Hu with a single punch. Truly impressive! Let me see what you’re made of.” A tall, burly man at the forefront spoke, throwing a punch at Gu Qingci without warning.

Gu Qingci’s mind buzzed—trouble had arrived just like that!

She quickly dodged, but the man pressed forward. Annoyed, Gu Qingci retaliated with a kick. Despite his size, the man was surprisingly agile, evading her strike and laughing before launching another attack.

“…” Gu Qingci had no choice but to defend herself.

“General Huang! Stop this! Brawling in the streets—aren’t you afraid of the censors reporting you?” Cao Hang interjected urgently after just a few exchanges.

General Huang withdrew his fist, nodding approvingly at Gu Qingci.

“Excellent skills—worthy of being the top scorer. My daughter has high standards and has rejected every marriage proposal, insisting she’ll only marry the top military scholar. Though the palace exams haven’t happened yet, I can already tell you’d be perfect. Why not marry my daughter? Let’s make this a ‘catching the groom under the rankings’ moment!” General Huang boomed jovially.

“…” Gu Qingci broke out in a cold sweat—another marriage proposal.

“Father!” Before Gu Qingci could refuse, a voice rang out—it was the Changning County Princess!

The princess was mortified.

She hadn’t expected Gu Qingci to become the top scorer in just a few days.

And now her father had pulled this stunt—how utterly embarrassing.

As for Gu Qingci, she was both awkward and speechless.

So the father of Changning County Princess is like this.

Although one is rough and the other delicate in appearance, their tempers are exactly the same.

“Thank you for your kindness, General Huang. I already have a wife and have no intention of taking a concubine.” Gu Qingci hurriedly said.

“Gu Qingci! You, you… Who cares about you?!” The County Princess of Changning was so angry her face turned crimson. She tugged at General Huang and stormed off in a huff.

Gu Qingci also quickly left with Wen Renyi and the others.

That was terrifying.

Ever since she passed the provincial exams, people had been trying to matchmake for her. Now that she’d become a jinshi, there would probably be even more.

She felt like pasting a line of words on her forehead to announce that she was already married.

“The top candidate in the palace examination is personally chosen by His Majesty. The top scholar in the provincial exams and the palace examination might be the same person, or they might not. Scholar Gu, you’ve made quite a splash this time—I think the title of top scholar is undoubtedly yours. Once you achieve that, you’ll need to be even more careful. Many noble ladies favor the top scholar. Some are even granted marriage by His Majesty.” Wen Renyi teased.

“…” Alarm bells rang in Gu Qingci’s head.

Was there any way to make sure everyone knew she already had a wife?

What if, as Wen Renyi said, the emperor arranged a marriage for her?

Thinking of the terrifying scenarios often depicted in dramas, defying the emperor’s decree meant death.

With this in mind, Gu Qingci bid farewell to Wen Renyi and the others and hurried off to find Ruan Zhi.

Ruan Zhi had gotten up late and was just getting ready to go out.

Gu Qingci burst into the room, shared the good news with Ruan Zhi, and even spun her around in excitement.

“Madam, if I make it into the top three after the palace examination, I’ll immediately change your household registration. Then you can wear whatever you like and adorn yourself however you please.” Gu Qingci said, looking at Ruan Zhi’s simple attire.

Ruan Zhi’s heart raced from being held by Gu Qingci. Seeing the sparkle in her eyes, a smile also crept into Ruan Zhi’s expression.

“Alright, I’ll wait for that.” Ruan Zhi said.

“Madam, I’ve thought of an idea. You could hire a storyteller to add you into the tales they’ve been weaving about me. I want everyone to know I have the most beautiful, most amazing wife!” Gu Qingci exclaimed.

“Why the sudden urge to do this?” Ruan Zhi was puzzled.

“Here’s the thing—I’m worried people might try to arrange marriages for me. If everyone knows I’m already married, they won’t bother, saving us the trouble. Also, now that I’ve topped the metropolitan exam, when you distribute celebratory money at the shops, you can directly say it’s from the top scholar’s wife. Our teahouse could even sell teas named after my ranking after the palace examination. For example, if I become the top scholar, we’ll name a tea ‘Top Scholar Tea’ and pair it with a ‘Top Scholar’s Wife Tea’—flavors that you and I love, as a couple’s set that must be bought together. If I become the third-ranked…”

Gu Qingci continued talking to Ruan Zhi.

Creating a product couple and promoting their married status—the more Gu Qingci thought about it, the more she felt it was a great idea.

“Lord, are you sure you want everyone to know about your connection to these shops?” Ruan Zhi asked after hearing Gu Qingci’s proposal.

Previously, Ruan Zhi had assumed she would divorce Gu Qingci, so when managing the shops and conducting business, she never mentioned Gu Qingci.

Later, even after deciding to postpone the divorce temporarily, she still didn’t bring up Gu Qingci.

After all, officials usually prided themselves on their noble status and were reluctant to associate too closely with merchants. Even if they owned shops, they typically had servants manage them.

Unless someone deliberately investigated, outsiders wouldn’t easily find out who truly owned the shops.

Putting it out in the open might seem somewhat inappropriate.

Especially having a merchant wife—it could easily lead to others looking down on them.

“I don’t mind at all. I just want everyone to know that I’m married and have the best wife. If you have any concerns, Madam, you don’t have to consider me.” Gu Qingci said, noticing Ruan Zhi’s expression and calming down slightly.

Ruan Zhi looked at Gu Qingci’s cautious expression and the way she spoke to her as an equal, and the corners of her lips, usually curved in a composed and restrained manner, lifted slightly.

Her previous worries were unnecessary.

Because this person was inherently different from others.

She took pride in herself.

And in the shops.

“Forget about the storytellers. The rest can be arranged.” Ruan Zhi said.

Seeing the light in Ruan Zhi’s eyes brighten, Gu Qingci couldn’t resist kissing the dimple that appeared when she smiled.

Ruan Zhi felt a little embarrassed and, after exchanging a few more words with Gu Qingci, went out to arrange the distribution of celebratory money.

Gu Qingci also went out to accompany Ruan Zhi.

The martial arts palace examination was scheduled for the next day, held simultaneously with the civil examination.

Early in the morning, before dawn, Gu Qingci put on her newly made clothes, freshened up, and took a carriage to the palace gates.