Young Master Gao? Call me Little Grand Secretary!

Gao Zhao left the study and hurriedly returned to the courtyard. He summoned Gao Yi and Lu Qian and instructed them, "Go and gather all the information regarding the imperial examination policies after the Chongning era!"

"Huh? Young master, why are you suddenly interested in this!" The servant was taken aback and quickly advised, "Young master, that's something only a bunch of peasants take. We don't need to..."

"Just do what I tell you to do. Why all the nonsense?"

Gao Zhao was displeased and scolded the servant, who immediately shut up and nodded in obedience.

Lu Qian hesitated, looking somewhat troubled, and said, "Then Lin Chong is guarding the gate..."

"Go out the back door!" Gao Zhao interrupted him impatiently, feeling quite disdainful. How could Lin Chong scare you like this? I was trapped in the room with his wife, and I panicked?

The subtle clues reveal that Lu Qian is not destined for greatness!

After the two left, Gao Zhao began searching for paper and pen, preparing to organize the information he had received from Gao Qiu that day.

Gao Zhao's family was of very ordinary means in his previous life. The reason he was able to live a comfortable life was mainly due to two factors.

Firstly, he doesn't care about saving face; as long as the money is enough, he'll do any job!

He once got into a fight with someone, offering 500 yuan for each person to kowtow, but he ended up making 3,500 yuan from the other person!

People laugh at me? You're bragging! I can earn your monthly salary in ten seconds, you dare laugh at me!

Secondly, he focused on information gathering, which was unavoidable due to poverty!

The money he had was hard-earned, so he was extremely cautious about every investment.

Every time I visit a new club, I have to go through a dozen different clubs to gather as much information as possible, so that I can make sure that every penny I spend is well spent...

After much effort, he finally found a set of writing brush, ink, paper, and inkstone. He poured some water into the inkstone, then vigorously rubbed the ink stick, dipped the brush in the ink, and wrote two black ink blots. After that, he decisively threw the brush away and broke off a thin twig from outside.

Writing on tree branches is difficult, but at least it's legible.

After making a simple note, Gao Zhao looked at the unevenly written characters and began to ponder.

The path of favoritism is not feasible in the short term. If one wants to take the imperial examination route, one must enter the Imperial Academy and compete with students from all over the country. Is that feasible?

Some things are fine to fool others, but if you actually fool yourself, then you become a laughing stock!

If I were to study at the prefectural school, I might not even pass the entrance exam for the outer dormitory of the Imperial Academy, which would be a complete waste of time!

But then he thought, if he didn't go, what else could he do?

Like the original owner, who relied on power to act tyrannically, bullying men and women?

What does that mean!

They have absolutely no sense of perspective!

He was a man with lofty ambitions, wanting to become an official... no, he wanted to live a life of extravagance and debauchery; becoming an official was merely a means to achieve his goals.

How can we let these past few years go to waste!

So I should do something...

Suddenly he was stunned again; he was someone who had cheat codes!

If you're not good at studying, then add some points to your intelligence. I refuse to believe that once I've maxed it out, I still can't beat those people.

When the thought of unlocking a cheat code arises, the world suddenly seems vast!

Reading is good; we should read!

Those ideas you just had were too narrow-minded!

How can you think that failing the imperial examinations is a waste of time?

When did reading become so utilitarian?

Fame and fortune are not important; what matters is learning the profound meaning of the sages' words!

In that instant, Gao Zhao felt as if he had been elevated once again!

He gathered up the papers on the table and hurriedly ran off to find the maid named Qian Bao'er!

Once he stepped outside, he realized he had no idea where Qian Bao'er worked. He couldn't very well go and bump into her in the entire mansion!

Left with no other choice, he summoned the maid who was busy in the courtyard and asked her to fetch the person.

Upon hearing the order, a complex light flashed in the old woman's eyes—three parts curiosity, three parts doubt, and ninety-four parts disdain.

What good can come of a dissolute playboy finding a young and beautiful maid? It's obvious!

"Go now!" Gao Zhao didn't bother with any more words, his face hardening as he snapped at them.

The old woman dared not disobey, so she had no choice but to go find someone.

Gao Zhao waited for a long time before the old woman slowly approached with Qian Bao'er, whose face was full of shame and anger.

"Why are you so slow!" Gao Zhao said displeasedly, beckoning, "Come in with me!"

Qian Bao'er bit her lip and walked into the room.

The old woman sighed inwardly. Young people are just too impatient. She could only look at her with regret and shake her head inwardly. She was too old. If she were ten or eight years younger and still had her charm, she would definitely have saved her from this disaster!

"How's it going with the job I asked you to do last night to find the poor guy?" Gao Zhao asked impatiently as soon as she entered the room.

Qian Bao'er, touching the button, was startled again. She had thought that he had changed his mind about asking her to come today! But it turned out to be these unrelated things again.

She said irritably, "I asked around for you, but as soon as people heard it was you, they all thought you had ulterior motives and didn't want to ask you for help!"

Gao Zhao was furious and cursed these people in his heart for being ungrateful. He had gone out of his way to help them, and they still doubted his original intentions!

He was about to find a reason to get Qian Bao'er to go back and promote the product, but he swallowed the words back and waved his hand, saying, "Let them be! The fact that they're still worried about these things means they haven't reached the end of their rope yet! Just keep talking to people; whether they come or not is none of your concern!"

"Oh," Qian Bao'er responded, her fingers still gripping the buttons of her clothes.

"Go!" Gao Zhao waved his hand, dismissing the man.

"That's it?" Qian Bao'er looked incredulous.

"Otherwise what?" Gao Zhao said impatiently, "From now on, you should come to me on your own to report on your work progress. Don't make me come looking for you!"

"That would be best. If you come looking for me, my reputation will be ruined." The little maid rolled her eyes and turned to walk out.

Gao Zhao was furious and about to lash out, but then he thought that at his age, it would be beneath him to argue with a mere maid!

Qian Bao'er went out, but the old woman was still there. Seeing her come out, she hurriedly went to greet her: "So soon?"

The young maid blushed and hurriedly explained, "It's not what you think. Young Master has something to tell me!"

The old woman looked at her with suspicion, then stepped back to look again before nodding: "She's definitely not a virgin!"

The maidservant then realized what she had been looking at, and was immediately filled with embarrassment and anger. She spat and ran away.

The old woman curled her lip and said, "You little brat, you're just being pretentious. When I was your age, handsome young men from all around would be lining up at my door!"

Seeing that the approach with the little maid was blocked, Gao Zhao began to think of other solutions.

As dusk fell, the servant and Lu Qian returned carrying a pile of thread-bound booklets made of hemp paper.

"What's this?" Gao Zhao picked up a book and flipped through it.

"It's a tabloid!" the servant explained. "Didn't you want the imperial examination edicts from previous years? They're all here, along with interpretations of the palace examination questions from unknown officials!"

Gao Zhao immediately became interested and began to read through the books one by one.

I finally finished reading it late into the night, and couldn't help but curse under my breath: "That damn Gao Qiu really did lie to me! Luckily, I'm naturally suspicious!"