I'm coming clean: I'm the reincarnation of the God of Literature.

In early May, Qinghe County went completely mad.

The open space in front of the county government office was packed with people.

Gamblers, commoners, scholars—everyone craned their necks, staring intently at the empty wall.

"Hurry up! It's driving me crazy!"

"I've staked thirty taels of silver; Gu the Prodigy must be the top scholar! He absolutely must!"

"Nonsense, I bet fifty taels! If I lose, my wife will break my legs!"

Gu Ang stood at the front of the crowd, his palms sweating profusely.

He arrived here before dawn and has been waiting ever since, his voice is hoarse from shouting.

An old man next to him tugged at his sleeve: "Young Master Gu, your brother is definitely going to be the top scholar, it's a sure thing!"

"Of course! He was the top scorer in the county exam last time, how could he possibly do poorly in the prefectural exam this time?"

Gu Ang grinned, but he was unsure of himself.

The prefectural examination was much more difficult than the county examination, and the examiners from the capital clearly didn't like Ci'er.

just in case……

No, no, I can't think about these things.

Ci'er is so capable, there's definitely no problem.

The atmosphere in the Gu family courtyard was so oppressive it felt like it was about to rain.

Gu Mingzhe sat at the table, holding a book in his hand, but didn't turn a single page for a long time.

Lin was boiling water in front of the stove. The water had boiled three times already, but she was still putting firewood into the stove.

Only Gu Ci sat on the threshold, holding his younger sister Gu Qingqing in his arms, and teaching her one word at a time with a copy of the Three Character Classic in his hand.

"Qingqing, look at this character '人' (person). It's a stroke that reaches the sky and a stroke that stands upright."

Gu Qingqing tilted her head, gesturing with her little finger in the air: "Brother, I can write!"

"Good girl." Gu Ci patted his sister's head.

Gu Mingzhe couldn't hold back any longer: "Ci'er, aren't you in a hurry?"

"What's the use of rushing?" Gu Ci turned a page: "The grades are already set, there's no way to change them by rushing."

That's what they say, but in my heart...

"Father, if you can't sit still, why don't you go to the county government office?"

Gu Mingzhe slapped his thigh: "Right, right, I have to go check it out!"

He stood up and ran outside, but turned back at the door, calling out, "Ci'er, aren't you coming with me?"

"I'm not going." Gu Ci hugged his sister tightly: "The list of successful candidates will come to our house sooner or later. I'll just wait at home."

Gu Mingzhe opened his mouth, but in the end he said nothing and turned to run away.

Lin wiped away her tears by the stove: "Ci'er, I know you're under a lot of pressure, but don't hold it in. It's okay to cry."

"Mother, I'm really not in a hurry."

Gu Ci smiled and said, "Please take the kettle down; the water is almost boiled dry."

Mrs. Lin was taken aback and quickly took the kettle down.

The afternoon sun was so intense it made people dizzy.

The crowd in front of the county government office grew larger and larger, and some people began to curse.

"Why isn't it out yet? We've been waiting all morning!"

"Yeah, it's driving me crazy!"

Just then, the sound of horses' hooves came from afar.

A fast horse galloped in from the street corner, its rider shouting at the top of his lungs, "The results of the prefectural examination are out! The results of the prefectural examination are out!"

The crowd erupted instantly.

"Tell me quickly! Who is the top suspect?"

"It must be Gu the Prodigy!"

The horse galloped to the front of the county government office, the rider dismounted, took out a large red paper from his pocket, and pasted it on the notice board.

The crowd surged forward like madmen.

Gu Ang squeezed to the front, his eyes fixed on the notice.

Looking down from above.

First author: Zhao Wenxiu.

Second: Li Yungong.

Third: Qian Siyuan.

Fourth: Zhou Jingxing.

fifth……

Fifth: Gu Ci.

Gu Ang's mind went blank.

fifth?

How could it be fifth?

He rubbed his eyes and looked at it again.

Still fifth.

There was a moment of silence, followed by an overwhelming roar.

"What the hell?! Fifth?!"

"How could Gu Shentong only be fifth!"

"I bet fifty taels of silver, and it's all gone!"

Someone in the crowd rushed forward to tear down the notice, but was stopped by the yamen runners.

Gu Ang stood there, his fists clenched so tightly they cracked.

A scholar approached and said, "Young Master Gu, listen to me, something's not right about this list."

"What do you mean?"

"Look at these top four. Zhao Wenxiu is the son of the Zhao family in the prefectural city. Li Yungong is the nephew of the prefectural school instructor. Qian Siyuan and Zhou Jingxing are also from prominent local families in the prefectural city."

The scholar lowered his voice: "I've heard their writing in the prefectural city; it's terrible, not even as good as your brother's finger."

Gu Ang gritted his teeth: "What did you say?"

"I'm telling the truth! Your brother's poem 'Spring Breeze of Success' has already spread throughout the prefectural city, and all the candidates in the examination hall are convinced of its excellence."

"But when this list came out, your brother was only ranked fifth. What is this if not a conspiracy?"

Gu Ang turned and ran.

"Young Master Gu, where are you going?!"

"I'll go home first, then go to the prefectural city to settle accounts with those corrupt officials!"

He ran all the way home, rushed into the yard, and was panting heavily.

"Ci'er! The results are out!"

Gu Ci looked up: "How many?"

"Fifth!" Gu Ang exclaimed, his eyes red. "Ci'er, you're fifth!"

Gu Mingzhe had just run into the yard when he heard these words and froze on the spot.

"Fifth... how could it be fifth...?"

Gu Ang slammed his fist on the doorframe: "These corrupt officials are going too far! Ci'er's talent is the best in the world, why is she only ranked fifth?!"

"Brother, don't get agitated." Gu Ci stood up and put his sister on the stool.

How could I not be excited?!

Gu Ang's voice changed: "Ci'er, those people are deliberately suppressing you! The top four are all locals with connections in the prefectural city; their writing isn't even as good as one of your fingers!"

Madam Lin rushed over and hugged Gu Ci, tears streaming down her face: "Ci'er, my Ci'er..."

Gu Mingzhe leaned against the wall, his face deathly pale: "What are we going to do... what are we going to do..."

Gu Ci patted his mother's back: "Mom, I'm fine."

"How could you be alright!" Gu Ang rushed over. "Ci'er, let's go to the prefectural city to file a complaint! We'll sue those heartless examiners!"

"Brother, will it do any good to complain?"

"I want to go too!"

Gu Ang clenched his fists: "I can't let them bully you like this!"

Looking at her brother's red eyes, Gu Ci felt a surge of warmth in her heart.

"Brother, calm down."

"I can't calm down!"

"Listen to me." Gu Ci pulled Gu Ang to sit down: "Fifth place is fifth place. It's not like you failed the exam. You can still participate in the prefectural exam."

"But……"

"There's no 'but' about it." Gu Ci smiled. "The path of the imperial examinations has never been smooth sailing."

Gu Mingzhe walked over, his voice trembling: "Ci'er, your father is useless, I can't even help with this little thing..."

"Father, it's not your fault."

Lin hugged Gu Ci and cried even harder.

Gu Qingqing also cried, "Mother, don't cry, brother is the best!"

A somber mood hung over the courtyard.

Just then, the sound of horses' hooves came from outside the door.

Gu Ang wiped away his tears, walked to the door, and looked outside.

A squad of armored guards stopped at the gate. The leader dismounted, walked to the door, and bowed, asking, "Is Young Master Gu here?"

"I am a guard from Princess Yong'an's residence. I have come to deliver a message on the princess's orders."

The guard took a letter from his pocket and handed it to Gu Ang.

Gu Ang took the letter and saw that the envelope was stamped with Princess Yong'an's private seal.

"Ci'er, the princess has sent another letter."

Gu Ci walked over and opened the envelope.

This time, the letter was written in neat, small regular script:

"I am aware of the matter concerning the prefectural examination. This was orchestrated by the Zhu family, my political enemies in the capital, to humiliate you and to give me a warning."

"You should remain calm and refrain from any rash actions. Jade must be carved to become a useful object. This turmoil may be a blessing in disguise for you."

"I will arrive soon."

Gu Ci finished reading the letter and looked up.

The guard bowed and said, "The princess said that if Young Master Gu needs anything, he should just ask."

"Thank you, Princess." Gu Ci put the letter away. "Please tell the Princess that I am well."

"Yes." The guard mounted his horse and led the group away.

Gu Ang leaned closer: "Ci'er, what did the letter say?"

"The princess said that someone deliberately targeted me in this prefectural examination."

Who is it?!

"The Zhu family of the capital."

Gu Mingzhe gasped: "The Zhu family... I've heard they're the prime minister's mortal enemies..."

Madam Lin turned pale with fright: "Ci'er, what should we do? We can't afford to offend a family like this!"

"Mother, don't be afraid." Gu Ci smiled. "Since the princess has sent a letter, it means she will help us."

"But……"

"There's no 'but' about it." Gu Ci looked into the distance. "This turmoil might actually be a good thing."

Gu Ang frowned: "Good news? Ci'er, what are you thinking?"

"Brother, think about it. If I get the top score without any problems, what will those people think?"

"They'll say I only wrote because of the princess's connections, and no matter how good my writing is, it won't count."

"But now I only got fifth place, which proves one thing - I didn't use connections, I relied entirely on my own ability."

Gu Ang and Gu Mingzhe were stunned.

Lin wiped away her tears: "Ci'er, you...you really think that way?"

"Yes." Gu Ci nodded. "Moreover, the princess said she will arrive soon."

"Once the princess arrives, the truth of this matter will naturally come to light."

Gu Ang gritted his teeth: "Ci'er, you're right, let's wait for the princess to arrive!"

The atmosphere in the courtyard finally eased a bit.

Gu Mingzhe walked to Gu Ci's side and reached out to pat his head: "Ci'er, I really didn't expect that you would have such a broad mind at such a young age."

"Father, you taught me this."

"I taught you that?" Gu Mingzhe smiled wryly. "Where did I teach you these things?"

"You taught me to read the classics, aren't these the principles contained within them?"

Gu Mingzhe felt a lump in his throat and turned away.

Lin hugged Gu Ci, tears still streaming down her face, but a smile had already appeared on her face: "Ci'er, I knew you were the best."

Gu Qingqing rushed over and hugged Gu Ci's leg, exclaiming, "Brother is the best!"

Gu Ci squatted down and pinched his younger sister's cheek: "Qingqing, be a good girl, how about I tell you a story?"

"good!"

Gu Ci picked up his younger sister and sat down on the threshold.

The setting sun cast a long shadow on him.

Gu Ang stood to the side, watching his younger brother's back, his heart filled with mixed feelings.

Ci'er is only eight years old.

An eight-year-old child has to face so many conspiracies and schemes.

He clenched his fists.

Just wait, once he passes the imperial examination and becomes a scholar, he must protect his younger brother and not let anyone bully him.