Destined

After Shen Ming left, that very evening, Gu Jiusi and Ye Shi'an entered the examination hall to begin preparing for the imperial examinations.

This time, Gu Jiusi served as the chief examiner, with Ye Shi'an and Jiang He assisting him. The exam questions were drafted by Fan Xuan and delivered to Gu Jiusi only on the night before the examinations.

The Autumn Examination consisted of three sessions, each lasting three days and nights. The first session tested the eight-legged essay, the second focused on official correspondence, and the third was dedicated to policy discussions.

In previous years, the Autumn Examination was usually held in August. However, as the Great Xia dynasty was newly established and affairs were hectic, the examination was postponed to October. Fan Xuan aimed to select practical talents for governing the country, so he privately told Gu Jiusi that when grading, emphasis should be placed on the policy discussion section, while the first two sessions could be assessed more leniently.

While the candidates were taking the exams, Gu Jiusi had to remain with them. He, Ye Shi'an, and the others were confined to the examination hall, feeling utterly bored. To pass the time, the three of them often went on inspection rounds.

In his youth, Gu Jiusi had been a poor student who always resorted to cheating during exams. Now tasked with supervising the examination hall, he was exceptionally sharp at detecting cheating methods. Every day, he caught several candidates and expelled them. Within a few days of the exam's start, no one dared to cheat anymore. Gu Jiusi's reputation for keen observation was firmly imprinted in the candidates' minds.

Nine days later, after all the candidates had finished their exams and left, the examiners remained confined. They had to wait until the papers were anonymized before they could grade them anonymously and finally be released.

Liu Yu Ru was aware of this, but she still felt somewhat concerned. When the examination hall doors opened, she arrived early and watched as the candidates emerged one by one. Some were overjoyed, while others wailed in despair. One candidate, upon exiting, ran out barefoot with disheveled hair and leaped directly into the moat.

Liu Yu Ru had originally come to see Gu Jiusi, but she found herself captivated by the candidates. Sitting in her carriage, she quietly observed them.

This was the most critical moment of their lives.

Their hardest efforts, their most arduous struggles, and their most significant moments were all concentrated here.

Acquainted candidates gathered in small groups, discussing the examination. They talked about the questions and whispered about Gu Jiusi.

"Chief Examiner Minister Gu is probably the youngest examiner in history. What if he fails to recognize the classical allusions in my essay?"

"Don’t worry about that," another candidate replied. "I’m from Wangdu, Youzhou. Last year, when Prince Liang attacked the city, Minister Gu engaged in a war of words with Prince Liang’s strategist on the city walls. I happened to be nearby. The two debated for half a day, testing each other’s knowledge. Though Minister Gu is young, there’s nothing he doesn’t know—his erudition is truly remarkable. You can rest assured about his abilities."

"Minister Gu is truly outstanding among men," the first candidate continued. "I’d only heard about how he defended Wangdu, managed the Yellow River, and eradicated corrupt officials. I thought he was merely capable in practical matters, but I never expected his scholarly knowledge to be so exceptional…"

The candidates walked past Liu Yu Ru as they spoke. She pursed her lips and smiled as she listened to their conversation.

Somehow, hearing them praise Gu Jiusi like this made her feel amused. She thought that if these people truly knew what Gu Jiusi was really like, they would be utterly astonished.

Gu Jiusi remained in the examination hall for five more days until the grading was completely finished. Only then were the results posted.On the day the results were announced, Gu Jiusi finally returned to the Gu residence. Liu Yu Ru had assumed he would wait until afternoon to come back, but unexpectedly, Gu Jiusi rode home on his horse early in the morning.

He arrived in such a hurry that Liu Yu Ru hadn't even gotten out of bed yet. Still drowsy and half-asleep, she felt someone carrying a chill from outside suddenly lift the quilt and squeeze in beside her.

Startled, she cried out. Gu Jiusi immediately wrapped his arms around her and quickly said, "Don't be afraid, it's me!"

Liu Yu Ru was momentarily stunned. Gu Jiusi held her close, seeming utterly exhausted, and mumbled, "Sleep more, I need to sleep too."

Liu Yu Ru glanced at the sky outside, still not fully awake. Dark circles under Gu Jiusi's eyes looked much worse than when they were in Xingyang. Her mind felt foggy—she didn't understand why Gu Jiusi had come so suddenly, nor why he had rushed straight to bed without doing anything else. Unable to make sense of it, she decided not to overthink it and burrowed deeper under the covers.

Nestled together in the warm, crowded bedding, Gu Jiusi hugged Liu Yu Ru and let out a contented sigh. "It's so much easier to sleep holding my wife."

Though still half-asleep, Liu Yu Ru agreed with him. She snuggled closer into his embrace, found a comfortable position, and wrapped her arms around him.

In her drowsy state, she thought: It really is better to sleep when my husband is here.

Being pregnant, Liu Yu Ru naturally needed more sleep. Before realizing it, she had been forcing herself to get up and work despite feeling tired every day. Now that she knew, she allowed herself to sleep as much as she wanted. Moreover, she hadn't slept well during the past few days without Gu Jiusi. With him back, her mind felt at ease, and she slept much more soundly. Thus, the two slept until the sun was high in the sky. Liu Yu Ru only woke when hunger stirred her from her slumber.

Thinking Gu Jiusi must still be exhausted, she initially intended not to disturb him. But the moment she moved, he woke up. He pulled her into his arms and whined like a child, "I'm hungry."

"I'll have someone prepare food."

"I want meat."

"Alright," Liu Yu Ru said with a laugh. "I'll have them prepare a whole table of meat dishes."

Gu Jiusi nuzzled against her shoulder and complained, "I'm never doing this again. It exhausted me—reviewing so many exam papers in just five days made my head feel like exploding."

His words puzzled Liu Yu Ru. "Just reading exam papers? Is it really more tiring than repairing the Yellow River?"

"Absolutely," Gu Jiusi stated decisively. "It's mentally draining."

Liu Yu Ru pushed him to get up, instructed servants to prepare meals and washing supplies, and began her own morning routine.

Gu Jiusi sat cross-legged on the bed, his hair disheveled, watching Liu Yu Ru freshen up. The couple chatted idly as she casually asked, "Are you really that afraid of studying?"

"It's not studying I'm afraid of—it's dealing with people who have messed-up thinking," Gu Jiusi scratched his head irritably. "Reading the material is one thing, but more than half were complete nonsense. How did these muddle-headed candidates even pass the provincial exams? I could write better than them after just a few years of casual studying."

Hearing this, Liu Yu Ru couldn't help but laugh, realizing Gu Jiusi was just frustrated from grading papers. She changed the subject to something more cheerful. "Weren't there at least a few that impressed you?"

"Of course there were."Gu Jiusi became quite animated when discussing this topic. He commented on several examination essays—since the names were concealed, he could only critique the content without knowing the authors' identities. Liu Yu Ru listened quietly, occasionally asking questions based on his remarks. Carried away by his enthusiasm, Gu Jiusi couldn’t stop talking. They ate together while chatting, and as the meal neared its end, he suddenly said, "Look, I’ve been doing all the talking. You must be bored just listening."

"Not at all," Liu Yu Ru replied with a smile. "I enjoy hearing whatever you say."

Gu Jiusi was momentarily taken aback. After a pause, he picked up a piece of meat and placed it in her bowl, leaning closer as he said, "But it shouldn’t always be me talking. Tell me about yourself."

Liu Yu Ru seemed troubled by this request. "I’m not good with words. I don’t know what would be worth saying."

"How could that be?" Gu Jiusi immediately responded. "Tell me how you’ve spent the last nine days."

After thinking carefully, Liu Yu Ru answered, "I wake up each day, pay respects to my parents-in-law, chat with my mother, then visit Floral Visage and check on Immortal Fragrance. After that, I return home, read, and go to sleep."

Gu Jiusi listened intently, but when she finished, he looked puzzled. "And then?"

"That’s all."

Gu Jiusi sighed helplessly and tried another approach. "What have you been eating lately?"

Liu Yu Ru meticulously listed everything she had eaten each day.

He then asked about her daily outfits, and she provided equally detailed descriptions of her wardrobe.

Their conversation unfolded in a question-and-answer format, with Liu Yu Ru’s replies as precise and orderly as entries in an account book—clear and proper, yet lacking spontaneity.

They continued talking until the meal ended, just as an announcement came that Ye Shi'an was summoning Gu Jiusi to the palace. "Oh no!" Gu Jiusi exclaimed. "I just remembered I have an audience with His Majesty."

He hurriedly scrambled for his official robes. Knowing exactly where his clothes were kept, Liu Yu Ru calmly retrieved his court attire and a fox-fur cloak, then instructed servants to prepare fragrant tea.

Gu Jiusi dressed in record time. As Liu Yu Ru saw him out, he fastened the cloak himself over his official robes and cap. After tying the knots, he rushed to declare, "I’m off!"

But instead of letting him go, Liu Yu Ru grabbed his cloak. Just as he was about to ask why, she stood on her toes, pulling him down until he bent forward, and gently kissed his cheek.

Stunned, Gu Jiusi looked at her in surprise. Liu Yu Ru pressed her lips together, suppressing a smile, her eyes shimmering with bashful tenderness as she softly said, "Since I’m not good with words, I’ll kiss you instead—so you’ll know I’m not entirely dull."

Overjoyed, Gu Jiusi cupped her face and, before she could react, covered it with enthusiastic kisses, peppering her cheeks with loud "mwah" sounds.

Blushing with a mix of embarrassment and annoyance, Liu Yu Ru pushed him away. "Brother Ye is waiting! You need to go!"

Having gotten his fill of kisses, Gu Jiusi gave her one last firm kiss before finally releasing her. "Alright, I’m really leaving now."

Liu Yu Ru covered her eyes and turned away from him. "Hurry up."Gu Jiusi hugged the official documents and ran out happily. Liu Yuru heard the footsteps and turned around, only to hear more footsteps as she turned. She saw Gu Jiusi peeking half his body out, his eyes shining as he looked at her and said, "Will you kiss me like this every day from now on?"

Liu Yuru was flustered by his antics. She pulled a book from the nearby shelf and threw it at him, scolding, "If you don't leave now, I'll personally escort you to the palace!"

Gu Jiusi, startled by the fiercely thrown book, quickly retracted his head and ran off.

After Gu Jiusi had run away, Liu Yuru finally smiled and murmured under her breath, "So childish."

With the conclusion of the Autumn Examination, the Xingyang case was finally settled. The sheer number of people involved, its widespread impact, and its profound consequences made it one of the most notable major cases in Great Xia.

This case occurred during the Kangping era of Great Xia and was historically known as the River Repair Case. It demonstrated the new emperor's firm stance toward the old nobility, using the Yellow River as a catalyst to firmly establish the nation's authority. After this case, local magnates across the land became more restrained, and Fan Xuan's reputation among the people soared even higher.

Riding the wave of Fan Xuan's prestige as a wise ruler was Gu Jiusi, who, after handling the River Repair Case, immediately presided over the imperial examinations.

This young and capable Minister Gu rose through the political ranks at an unprecedented speed. Everyone understood that if his previous appointment as Minister had been forcefully propped up by Fan Xuan, then after the imperial examinations, with his disciples quickly entering and spreading throughout the court, and after completing the Yellow River repairs, which earned him public acclaim, Gu Jiusi's position as Minister was now firmly secured.

By the time Gu Jiusi returned from the Yellow River, he would become the third most influential figure in the entire court, second only to Zhou Gaolang and Zhang Jue.

And at this time, he was only twenty-one years old.

Such a young man evoked mixed reactions from the outside world—some were skeptical, some envious, and others appreciative.

He became the hottest topic throughout the Eastern Capital. His name was on everyone's lips during tea breaks and after meals. Whenever Liu Yuru went out, she could hear Gu Jiusi's name from different people.

Politicians discussed Gu Jiusi's career, merchants talked about his family, and women eagerly chattered about how handsome he was.

Liu Yuru listened quietly to these comments. She felt as though she were holding a piece of unpolished jade, which, after much polishing, had finally begun to shine.

After the Autumn Examination came the Palace Examination. Normally, the Palace Examination would be held in early spring, but due to the River Repair Case causing a severe shortage of court personnel, it had to be moved up so that officials could be appointed sooner.

Thus, in mid-December, Gu Jiusi presided over the Palace Examination. Fan Xuan personally selected the top three candidates, and after their names were announced to the public, Great Xia's first imperial examination was concluded.

On the day the imperial examination ended, Gu Jiusi assisted Fan Xuan back to the imperial study.

The weather had turned cold, and Fan Xuan grew increasingly weary. As Gu Jiusi supported him, he could feel how cold his hands and feet were. Gu Jiusi said softly, "Your Majesty must take better care of your health. The millions of people in Great Xia are counting on you."

"Who are they counting on?" Fan Xuan slowly smiled at Gu Jiusi's words. "They're counting on all of you."

"Only with a ruler can there be ministers," Gu Jiusi said gently as he helped Fan Xuan sit on the high seat. "We are merely here to assist Your Majesty."Fan Xuan listened to Gu Jiusi's words and shook his head. He seemed somewhat weary. Zhang Fengxiang brought him a warming stove, which Fan Xuan held in his hands. Leaning back in his chair, he slowly said, "Everyone grows old and dies. I, your emperor, have lived most of my life already. I founded Great Xia, and the future of Great Xia belongs to you young people."

"Jiusi," Fan Xuan coughed lightly several times. Zhang Fengxiang hurriedly offered him medicinal tea. After drinking it and recovering slightly, Fan Xuan continued, "It's been a long time since I've been this happy."

"These young people today are all excellent. I am both comforted and delighted. With all of you here, I can rest assured."

"We are all still young," Gu Jiusi, sensing the undertone of entrustment in Fan Xuan's words, quickly responded, "We still need to rely on Your Majesty's guidance."

Fan Xuan smiled without speaking. He raised his hand and patted Gu Jiusi's shoulder.

He seemed to have much to say, yet in the end, only uttered: "On your journey back to Xingyang, take good care of Yuru."

Gu Jiusi hadn't expected Fan Xuan to show concern about this matter. He was momentarily stunned, then smiled and replied respectfully, "Your Majesty need not worry. This subject will take good care of my wife."

Fan Xuan smiled faintly. After exchanging a few pleasantries, he dismissed Gu Jiusi.

After Gu Jiusi left, Zhang Fengxiang refilled Fan Xuan's tea and said quietly, "Your Majesty treats Lord Gu as if he were your own son."

Hearing this, Fan Xuan smiled: "Looking at him reminds me of my younger days."

Zhang Fengxiang remained silent. Fan Xuan lifted his teacup and gazed outside. The Eastern Capital was shrouded in oppressive dark clouds. With a tone of nostalgia, he said, "In my youth, I was just like him. But I didn't mature as early as he did. In those early years, I was solely focused on the people, the nation, and power. I didn't spend much time with Niannu, nor did I have time to properly educate Yu'er."

Yang Niannu was Fan Xuan's wife and Fan Yu's birth mother.

Zhang Fengxiang knew that Fan Xuan had deep affection for this first wife. However, due to their arduous early life together, Yang Niannu never properly recovered after giving birth to Fan Yu, developing chronic health issues that eventually took her life when Fan Yu was still young.

After Yang Niannu's death, despite having only Fan Yu as his heir, Fan Xuan never remarried. Many believed this was due to Fan Xuan's profound love for Yang Niannu, but Zhang Fengxiang detected additional meaning in his words.

"Your Majesty is punishing yourself even now."

Zhang Fengxiang sighed. Fan Xuan smiled wryly and said, "I had hoped to properly guide Yu'er after ascending the throne. Unexpectedly, Heaven hasn't granted me that time."

"Still," Fan Xuan gazed into the distance with a bitter expression, "Heaven has been kind to Great Xia."

As Fan Xuan spoke, snow began to fall slowly from the sky.

Gu Jiusi, wearing his official robe with hands tucked in his sleeves, walked out from the palace.

Fan Xuan closed his eyes and let out a soft sigh: "Great Xia still has Gu Jiusi."