My Wife Is The Female Lead In A Scum Alpha Novel - Chapter 55

55

The sky was not yet fully bright when Gu Qingci yawned repeatedly inside the carriage, her dark eyes becoming moist.

Yet, a smile lingered at the corners of her lips.

Because her mouth was sweet.

Before leaving, she had stolen a kiss from Ruan Zhi.

Ruan Zhi was a light sleeper and had been awakened by the kiss, like Sleeping Beauty.

Her eyes were dazed and unfocused, looking at Gu Qingci in a daze—unguarded, utterly vulnerable, and utterly tempting. Unable to resist, Gu Qingci kissed her again.

From the moment she left the room until now, the image of Ruan Zhi in that state remained vivid in her mind.

If it weren’t for the exam, Gu Qingci would have loved to stay a little longer.

The carriage hadn’t gone far when it came to a stop, snapping Gu Qingci out of her reverie.

“My lord, the road ahead is blocked—the carriage can’t go any further.” the coachman informed Gu Qingci.

Early in the morning, hundreds of prospective scholars had gathered for the palace examination. Gu Qingci wasn’t among the earliest, so the road leading to the palace gates was already jammed.

After instructing the coachman, Gu Qingci got off the carriage early and made her way forward on foot.

She wore black ankle boots and a new outfit made for her by Ruan Zhi from shimmering satin—a water-red, narrow-sleeved yisan. Even in the dim light, she stood out strikingly in the crowd, impossible to miss.

Tall and straight, with a slender waist, her delicate and youthful face stood out even more with her high ponytail tied with a red satin ribbon, swaying as she walked—both dashing and beautiful.

Those around her couldn’t help but glance her way more than once.

Acquaintances and friends exchanged greetings along the way.

Gu Qingci cupped her hands in a casual salute, her demeanor spirited and brimming with confidence.

Wen Renyi and Cao Hang had arrived earlier and were waiting for Gu Qingci to join them in line.

The security checks to enter the palace were strict—no weapons were permitted. Gu Qingci carried only a cloth satchel slung across her shoulder, containing brushes, ink, a water container, and some snacks.

She had consulted Wen Renyi and the others beforehand. The examination would last the entire day, and they wouldn’t be allowed to leave until dusk, so bringing some food was advisable to stave off hunger.

The group lined up at the back, waiting to enter the palace.

“Today, you’re wearing new clothes again, Scholar Gu. I can’t quite place this fabric—how is the color so vivid and beautiful?” Wen Renyi remarked enviously as he examined Gu Qingci’s attire while they waited in line.

“This is a new type of fabric my wife sourced from skilled artisans. It’s called shimmering satin. The craftsmanship is complex, and it’s not yet available on the market.” Gu Qingci replied with a grin, puffing out her chest proudly.

Several people nearby heard and also turned to look.

However, lined up at the palace gates, no one dared to act too boldly, speaking only in hushed tones to discuss.

The examinees for the civil and military exams passed through security checks and entered from the outer palace gates using their admission ticket tokens. They lined up in order as their names were called, waiting for everyone to enter before proceeding with ceremonies such as paying respects and other formalities.

During the roll call, Gu Qingci heard Qin Xuanming’s name.

She hadn’t paid much attention to him these days, nor had he appeared before her or Ruan Zhi. Unexpectedly, he had also passed the exam this time.

There were many candidates for the civil exam, with over two hundred selected, while the military exam had one hundred.

Comparatively, the civil exam was still more challenging.

Qin Xuanming, standing far away, also caught sight of Gu Qingci.

His demeanor was somber, lacking the triumphant spirit one might expect from someone who had made it to the palace exam.

Gu Qingci had no time to notice him, but he had been closely observing her and Ruan Zhi’s situation.

He had initially assumed Ruan Zhi had married poorly and worked hard to rise in status, hoping to help her if she ever needed it. Yet, he had watched as Gu Qingci steadily advanced through the exams.

Even failing the imperial examination didn’t stop her—she retook the test and became the top candidate in the reexamination.

It was utterly bizarre.

It seemed Ruan Zhi no longer needed his help.

This was what he had once wished for, yet he couldn’t bring himself to feel happy about it.

Forced to marry someone like Gu Qingci—could she truly be living well?

The capital was a place of splendor, filled with nobility and influential figures. Could Gu Qingci resist such temptations?

Naturally, Gu Qingci had no idea what Qin Xuanming was thinking and paid him no mind. She only hoped he would continue to keep his distance from them.

The palace exam no longer involved elimination but merely a reshuffling of rankings.

In previous years, both the civil and military exams tested literary skills, posing a single policy-analysis question.

The military exam had always been overshadowed by the civil exam, with candidates not even granted an audience with the emperor.

This year, however, was different.

After a series of procedures, the civil and military exams were conducted separately, with different questions.

The civil exam lasted a full day, while the military exam required fewer written responses, allotted only half a day. It was said the remaining time would be devoted to testing martial skills.

Gu Qingci finished writing her policy response ahead of time, so she took a break to eat something while waiting.

Once she handed in her exam, the written portion of the military examination was over.

A supervising eunuch gathered all the military examinees and called roll once more.

“In a moment, I will lead everyone to the Archery Pavilion. His Majesty will be observing from the Arrow Tower. Please adhere to the rules and do not leave the designated area. Anyone who violates this will be apprehended by the Imperial Guards.” the eunuch warned the candidates.

The crowd was momentarily stunned.

The military examination would be personally observed by the Emperor—this was unprecedented!

After the initial shock came excitement, and everyone secretly rolled up their sleeves, eager to put on their best performance.

Gu Qingci also felt a surge of enthusiasm and straightened her dress.

She ran through her mind how best to showcase the fabric of her outfit.

It was a pity she hadn’t practiced in advance before the exam, so she could only rely on imagination.

Fortunately, the midday sunlight was strong, and the shimmering satin looked especially striking under its rays.

Gu Qingci followed the crowd to the Archery Pavilion, a vast open space about the size of a football field.

The Emperor’s Arrow Tower was a small two-story pavilion surrounded by numerous Imperial Guards.

After bowing in unison under the eunuch’s direction, the candidates were regrouped and issued bows and arrows.

For the Emperor’s safety, the arrows had rounded tips and were dipped in colored dye. The targets were palm-sized copper plates—a hit would produce a ringing sound upon impact.

Compared to previous assessments, the difficulty was not insignificant.

Gu Qingci observed the lighting and the Emperor’s position, quietly calculating the angles in her mind to best showcase her beautiful outfit later.

Initially, she had only expected to “display” it to her fellow examinees and the proctors—she hadn’t anticipated the Emperor’s presence.

This was even better.

In the Arrow Tower, seated in the center in bright yellow imperial robes was Emperor Changping. To his left and right sat three adult princes and princesses, along with the Minister of War, the General of the Southern Garrison who was in the capital to report on his duties, and others.

Emperor Changping still looked unwell, his face sickly.

Yet his eyes remained fixed on the scene below.

He was paying close attention to this military examination.

When it was Gu Qingci’s turn, Emperor Changping’s expression brightened slightly, and he seemed more alert.

It wasn’t that he recognized Gu Qingci—it was just that her archery stance was too distinctive.

Gu Qingci’s carefully calculated shooting posture was highly aesthetic, pleasing to the eye and uplifting the mood of those watching.

The chief eunuch, who had been closely observing Emperor Changping’s condition, quietly took note of the situation.

Ye Youli, who had previously appeared disinterested and on the verge of falling asleep, sat up straight, her eyes gleaming with interest as she looked in Gu Qingci’s direction.

The Crown Prince maintained his usual gentle and approachable expression, showing no change in demeanor, while the Third Prince’s face remained stony, revealing neither joy nor anger.

“Thank you, Father. Today, we witnessed the remarkable spectacle of shooting arrows with one’s feet. It was truly fascinating! I wonder how she managed it and whether others could do the same.” Ye Youli said with a smile as Gu Qingci finished her archery display. Emperor Changping glanced at her.

“We’ll summon her later and ask.” Emperor Changping replied, waving his hand and whispering a few instructions to the chief eunuch beside him.

The Third Prince’s expression darkened slightly.

The more interest Emperor Changping took in Gu Qingci, the more unfavorable it was for him. After all, when he had orchestrated the attack on Gu Qingci and her companions, he hadn’t gone to great lengths to cover his tracks. If they investigated, they would likely have already figured it out.

It was as if he had personally handed Gu Qingci her moment of fame.

Now, Gu Qingci was like a thorn lodged in his throat—deeply uncomfortable, yet impossible to remove for the time being.

The previous incident of striking Gu Qingci’s name from the list had been shouldered by an official from the Ministry of War under his faction. Although the official hadn’t dared to implicate him, that was only on the surface.

Emperor Changping had subtly reprimanded him.

At the same time, he had lost several positions in the Ministry of War, weakening his influence and inadvertently strengthening the Crown Prince’s faction.

Now, as he looked at Gu Qingci, his anger simmered, but he had to suppress it, leaving him to stew in frustration alone.

The one hundred candidates, divided into ten groups, completed their archery rounds quickly. In no time, the archery segment concluded.

Gu Qingci had once again hit every target.

Following the previous examination format, the tests continued with saber techniques, strength demonstrations, and sparring.

This round wasn’t about elimination; it was merely for the Emperor to observe and assign rankings. However, everyone performed with exceptional effort—some achieving better results, while others, due to nerves, performed worse.

“His Majesty has issued an additional challenge. Aside from regular archery, if anyone can shoot arrows with their feet like First Place Winner Gu and hit the target, they will be rewarded.” the supervising eunuch announced to the candidates after the standard assessments concluded.

The group of prospective scholars looked at each other in bewilderment.

Among them, some had minor criticisms of Gu Qingci’s foot archery, thinking she was just showing off. Others, whose rankings had dropped due to the retake of the re-examination, also harbored some resentment toward her.

But no one had expected the emperor to propose such a challenge.

Who in their right mind, with both hands intact, would practice something like this?

Cao Hang had practiced it.

As the others hesitated awkwardly, Cao Hang was the first to volunteer and give it a try. He hit four out of ten shots, which was considered quite good.

Those who followed managed to hit one at most, and even that was mostly luck.

After no more volunteers came forward, a eunuch led Gu Qingci closer to the archery pavilion, still separated by several layers of imperial guards.

Having successfully drawn the emperor’s attention and now engaging in a close dialogue, Gu Qingci was very satisfied with this “product placement”—she had caught the eye of the highest patron!

The only downside was the feudal etiquette requiring her to kneel and bow.

Under the weight of imperial authority, she had no choice but to comply with the rituals.

Gu Qingci quickly glanced upward, taking in the varied expressions of those seated above.

She recognized Ye Youli, who looked indifferent and uninterested as she watched Gu Qingci.

Based on Ye Youli’s position and the personalities of the others mentioned in the plot, Gu Qingci guessed the identities of the rest.

Noticing the Third Prince’s dark expression, Gu Qingci felt a pang of discomfort.

Having underlings to take the blame sure was convenient—it kept him completely clean.

“So you are Gu Qingci? Truly talented and accomplished, both in skill and appearance.” Emperor Changping remarked as he examined Gu Qingci up close.

“Your Majesty flatters me. It is all thanks to Your Majesty’s grace.” Gu Qingci replied humbly, laying on the flattery for her royal patron.

“How did you come up with the idea of shooting arrows with your feet?” Emperor Changping asked.

“Reporting to Your Majesty, on my way here, I encountered bandits and broke my arm. Not wanting to miss the examination and delay my service to the court, I had no choice but to resort to this method.” Gu Qingci explained.

The Third Prince tensed upon hearing this, fearing Gu Qingci might lodge a complaint.

But Gu Qingci only mentioned it in passing and did not elaborate.

“You certainly know how to improvise. How did you achieve such stability? Is it all natural talent?” Emperor Changping pressed further.

“Reporting to Your Majesty, I was inspired by a street performance I saw in the capital. My wife hired a street performer to teach me for a few days, which helped me improve… Would Your Majesty like to see it?” Gu Qingci replied, once again emphasizing her marital status. Seeing the emperor’s interest, she tentatively offered a demonstration.

It’s easy to handle many things later if you can please this big Buddha.

The candidates waiting outside were all envious of Gu Qingci.

She was actually invited by Emperor Changping for a conversation.

They couldn’t hear what Gu Qingci and the others were saying, but not long after, everyone saw the steward eunuch hand Gu Qingci a few teacups. Gu Qingci placed the teacups on her head and performed a set of martial arts moves, with the cups remaining perfectly still.

Gu Qingci’s robes fluttered, the fine shimmer under the sunlight resembling scattered silver.

If one ignored the cups on her head, there was even a hint of ethereal grace in her movements.

After finishing the martial arts routine, Gu Qingci transferred the cups from her head to the sole of one foot. With the cups balanced upside down, she flipped her body and performed another set of moves.

The crowd: “…”

Was this the Palace Examination?

This was the Palace Examination!

Wen Renyi watched from the side, both shocked and amused.

Truly, no one but Gu Qingci could pull off such a unique, unorthodox style.

Gu Qingci performed a few of the circus acts she had practiced, making Emperor Changping laugh heartily. His complexion even seemed to improve noticeably.

As it was getting late, Gu Qingci wasn’t asked to continue her performance.

The martial examination was thus concluded.

Gu Qingci thanked the emperor and withdrew, leaving the palace with the others.

The candidates had nothing more to do after this.

The results would be announced after another day.

The submitted policy essays would be reviewed by specialized examiners, with only the top ten presented to Emperor Changping for final ranking.

What rank one would receive depended entirely on the emperor’s mood.

Once she left, Gu Qingci stopped overthinking it. She couldn’t wait to return home to see Ruan Zhi.

After bidding farewell to Wen Renyi and the others, Gu Qingci hurried back.

Ruan Zhi had just returned from “work” and finished freshening up. Gu Qingci wanted to hug her immediately but remembered she was covered in dust. She quickly washed up and changed clothes before going to see Ruan Zhi.

“Madam, I miss you so much…” Gu Qingci hugged Ruan Zhi and said.

Ruan Zhi felt slightly uneasy.

Why does this person always talk about missing her?

Today was the palace examination—how could she still have time to miss her?

“How did the palace examination go?” Ruan Zhi asked, noticing how clingy Gu Qingci was but not pushing her away.

At first, Gu Qingci had tentatively approached, afraid Ruan Zhi might still be upset about what happened in the morning.

Though Ruan Zhi’s expression remained indifferent, she didn’t seem angry.

Encouraged, Gu Qingci moved even closer, nuzzling her head against Ruan Zhi’s shoulder as she began recounting the events of the palace examination.

As she spoke, Gu Qingci’s gaze fixed on Ruan Zhi’s lips.

Ruan Zhi was wearing the lipstick Gu Qingci had bought for her.

Her lips now bore a soft pink-orange hue, looking tender and sweet, utterly delectable.

Gu Qingci swallowed hard and edged even closer to Ruan Zhi.

“Madam, I woke up so early today, and I’m exhausted, and I didn’t even eat enough…” Gu Qingci murmured pitifully, closing the distance between them.

Ruan Zhi wanted to lean back slightly, but hearing Gu Qingci’s plaintive tone, she found her too pitiful to resist.

So she let her draw near.

As Gu Qingci approached, she could smell the tea fragrance on Ruan Zhi, mingled with a hint of floral scent—the aroma of the lipstick she wore.

“May I kiss you, Madam?” Gu Qingci asked softly.

Ruan Zhi pressed her lips together.

Clearly, Gu Qingci wanted to kiss her but was being polite about it.

Earlier that morning, hadn’t she woken Ruan Zhi up with a kiss without even asking?

“I’ll be very gentle.” Gu Qingci added, leaning in again.

As long as Ruan Zhi didn’t pull away, she would take it as silent consent.

She inched closer, closer, until their lips finally met.

Ruan Zhi’s lips were coated with the lipstick, and as Gu Qingci touched them, she tasted sweetness.

That ordinary sweetness, because it was on Ruan Zhi’s lips, became utterly enchanting, irresistible.

Gu Qingci had promised Ruan Zhi.

So her kiss was naturally extremely tender.

Her lips treated Ruan Zhi’s as if they were fragile silken tofu, afraid they might shatter at the slightest pressure.

Four lips overlapped, mingling each other’s breath and scent.

Ruan Zhi could feel herself being treated with tenderness.

At the same time, she could also sense Gu Qingci’s restraint.

It wasn’t until Lian Rui came to call them for dinner that they finally parted.

Gu Qingci was reluctant to stop.

Ruan Zhi no longer resisted—this was already tremendous progress.

When Ruan Zhi saw the bright sparkle in Gu Qingci’s dark eyes, her heart trembled, and she averted her gaze.

“Weren’t you hungry? Let’s go eat.” Ruan Zhi said as she walked out, with Gu Qingci following eagerly behind.

Having not eaten well during the day, Gu Qingci indulged a bit more at dinner that evening.

After the meal, while strolling to aid digestion, she hovered around Ruan Zhi, helping her carry account books, grinding ink, and the like—all with a cheerful demeanor.

After bathing that night, Gu Qingci forced herself to stay awake, waiting for Ruan Zhi to finish her bath.

Her hair was still damp.

Yawning, Gu Qingci helped Ruan Zhi dry her hair.

Watching Gu Qingci patiently endure, her eyes glistening with drowsy tears, waiting until her hair was dry before leaning in to ask for a kiss, Ruan Zhi couldn’t help but feel her heart soften once more.

If indulging her was what it took, then so be it.

The next morning, as soon as Ruan Zhi woke up, Gu Qingci eagerly assisted her with washing up.

“Madam, let me apply your lip rouge for you.” Gu Qingci offered enthusiastically, keen on helping with her makeup.

“…” Ruan Zhi sensed ulterior motives, but seeing the puppy-dog eyes staring at her with hopeful anticipation, she nodded in agreement.

Gu Qingci chose a hibiscus-flavored lip rouge, tinting Ruan Zhi’s lips a shade reminiscent of muted rose, making her skin appear even fairer and adding a touch of gentleness and elegance to her demeanor.

Just that slight change in color transformed Ruan Zhi’s entire aura.

Whimper, my wife is so beautiful.

My wife is truly divine.

Gu Qingci was utterly smitten and couldn’t resist leaning in for another kiss.

The sweet and sour taste, combined with Ruan Zhi’s pheromones, was like taking a sip of lemon tea.

“…” Ruan Zhi’s ears turned red from Gu Qingci’s kisses.

“Stop fooling around. We still have to go out.” Ruan Zhi said in a measured tone.

“I know, this time I’ll apply it properly!” Gu Qingci quickly assured.

She didn’t dare push her luck any further.

Ruan Zhi originally had other plans for the day, but just as they were about to leave, an invitation arrived.

“It’s from the eunuch in charge of the official shop. It seems we’ll have news today.” Ruan Zhi said, her heart lifting with joy.

The eunuch had been stringing them along before, clearly angling for some benefit. Ruan Zhi had sent several invitations, all of which were rejected. She hadn’t expected him to take the initiative today.

Whether the news was good or bad remained to be seen—they’d have to meet him to find out.

Ruan Zhi: Whose attention-seeking troublemaker is this? Oh, mine. Never mind then.