Chapter 858: Nearly Snatched Away in the Street

Canopies of parasols overlapped, accompanied by drums and music.

Jingzhe was surrounded and escorted to where Tong Huaqiong and the others were.

Lu Zhaozhao stood beside Tong Huaqiong, and when she saw Jingzhe in his Champion Scholar attire, she was utterly dazed.

Handsome, impossibly handsome.

Such a dazzling Champion Scholar—this was her husband.

Jingzhe looked at Tong Huaqiong and Lu Zhaozhao, and his eyes instantly turned red. When he had walked out of Qinghe Bay, he had sworn to win himself a good future, to make his mother proud and his wife happy.

Now he had done it.

From this moment on, Tong Huaqiong was the Champion Scholar’s mother, Lu Zhaozhao was the Champion Scholar’s wife, his younger sister Gu Taohua was the Champion Scholar’s sister, and all the women of the Gu Family who went out and did business would no longer be despised by anyone.

Especially Lu Zhaozhao—when she fell for him, he had nothing but his books.

When she married him, he was just a country Scholar.

Now he was the Champion Scholar and was about to embark on his official career. He swore he would climb to high office and make Lu Zhaozhao the imperial decree wife everyone in Shengjing envied most.

“Husband, you really became the Champion Scholar.”

Under Jingzhe’s burning gaze, Lu Zhaozhao was so excited her voice was trembling.

Tong Huaqiong and Gu Taohua supported Lu Zhaozhao on either side, advising her not to get too worked up. She had a child in her belly; they were afraid her excitement might affect the fetus, and if she got so worked up she gave birth early, that would be bad.

“I’m fine, I’m just so happy.”

Lu Zhaozhao wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes.

She now had two identities: Champion Scholar’s younger sister, Champion Scholar’s wife. She was starting to believe Gu Taohua’s claim that she carried good luck with her.

Sufen and Liu Yueer were directing everyone to throw Copper Coins to the neighbors and folks on the street. These Copper Coins had all been prepared in advance. Mrs. Zhao and Mrs. Hong and the others followed along to help, grabbing a handful of Copper Coins and stuffing them into the hands of anyone who came to offer congratulations.

Everyone accepted them with smiling eyes.

Lucky money from the Champion Scholar’s household—everyone wanted to catch a bit of that fortune.

Especially those with children studying at home; they brought the kids over to stroll in front of the Gu Champion Scholar’s gate, just to soak up some of the good luck.

As the second Champion Scholar in this dynasty to take first place in all six examinations, the officials, guessing at the emperor’s intentions, made a point of promoting this as a day when auspicious omens had descended.

Because of this, Jingzhe received even more attention than Champion Scholars in previous years.

During the parade through the streets, they even dispatched the Imperial Guard to clear the way.

Many people ran after Jingzhe, chasing him all the way to Tong Huaqiong’s front door.

All along the way sachets and flowers were constantly being tossed; Gu Dashu ran along while shouting that the Gu Champion Scholar was about to become a father, afraid someone might snatch Jingzhe away in a “Champion Scholar below the list” husband-grabbing.

Of course, some people simply didn’t believe that such a young Champion Scholar was already married. There were indeed people who tried to “catch” Jingzhe, but they were all blocked by Su Chengmin.

Su Chengmin thought that if Jingzhe really were snatched away, Gu Taohua would be the first not to spare him.

Jingzhe reached the gate, swung down from his horse, and the Imperial Guard relaxed their defenses a little.

At that moment, a whole crowd surged up with a “wula-la” and grabbed at Jingzhe’s robes. Jingzhe was so frightened his “flower-like face lost its color,” constantly shouting, “I’m already married!” “Already married!”

If Su Chengmin hadn’t reacted fast enough, Jingzhe would almost have been carried off right there on the street.

“Wife, I only cherish you.”

Wearing his flowered coronet, Jingzhe rushed to Lu Zhaozhao’s side, then worried he might startle her.

“My son is already married.”

“This is my third sister-in-law.”

“If you want to catch a husband, go for the second-place and third-place scholars. Don’t set your sights on our third brother.”

Tong Huaqiong and the others covered their mouths as they laughed while calling this out to everyone.

With Jingzhe becoming the Champion Scholar, not only was the Gu Family bursting with laughter, their shops were also buzzing with activity.

After Jingzhe was welcomed home, the onlookers, having drunk their tea and pocketed their Copper Coins, started heading to Jufu Supermarket, Taohua Dessert, and the other shops under Tong Huaqiong’s name.

Back when Jingzhe had just taken first place in the provincial exam, Tong Huaqiong had already prepared to catch the subsequent flood of customers. All of her shops had begun using Jingzhe’s Champion Scholar identity to run promotions.

At Taohua Dessert, for every jin of pastries bought, another jin was given free. If you bought mung bean cakes and other pastries favored by Champion Scholar Gu, you would receive packaging oil paper bearing the Champion Scholar’s personal signature.

Of course, all of the oil paper with Jingzhe’s signature had been signed in advance at Tong Huaqiong’s request.

At Jufu Supermarket, besides discounts throughout the store, they would draw three lucky customers each day and gift them a hanging scroll inscribed by Champion Scholar Gu.

Those three lucky customers had no idea that ten years later, compared to the Champion Scholar title, Jingzhe’s calligraphy and paintings would be renowned across the world, and anyone who wanted to obtain a piece of his work would have to rack their brains and pull countless strings.

In short, this wave of popularity lasted for a very long time before finally ebbing.

The turnover and reputation of Tong Huaqiong’s shops rose to a new height—but that is a story for later.

With Jingzhe becoming the Champion Scholar, Tong Huaqiong completely dropped all low profile.

The Gu Family hung lanterns and put up decorations, hosting a grand banquet for their guests.

Where there is joy, there must be worry.

No one regretted things more than the Su Family.

In the Jinluan Palace, when the emperor asked the court whom they thought should be made Champion Scholar, Su Shihang opposed appointing Jingzhe.

The reason he gave was that the previous Champion Scholar, Zhao Yang from Ning City, was already from the Lu Family, and Jingzhe was Zhao Yang’s brother-in-law. One household should not produce two Champion Scholars; this would cause both the Lu Family and the Gu Family to float off the ground.

Besides, Jingzhe’s policy essay was too sharp; young men who are too rigid are easily broken. If we make him Champion Scholar, wouldn’t that be encouraging future scholars to all take the path of unorthodox extremes?

In the end, the emperor did not adopt Su Shihang’s opinion.

Su Shihang was deeply frustrated. With Jingzhe shining so brightly under the Champion Scholar title, he now wanted to win him over but couldn’t.

Old Mrs. Su was even more displeased when she learned that Jingzhe had taken first place.

She had already thought Gu Taohua’s temper was fierce, keeping Su Chengmin completely under her thumb. Now that she had a Champion Scholar elder brother backing her, wouldn’t she press Su Chengmin so hard he’d never turn over?

And her own grandson had a Great General for an uncle to support him, and now would also have a brother-in-law to complete his network among civil officials. She feared that her own son would become ever more useless to her grandson, and that her grandson would no longer care about the Su Family.

“The Gu Family really is lucky, actually producing a Champion Scholar. But I suppose this Champion Scholar was earned thanks to the imperial heir, wasn’t he? Let them bask for now; once he’s in officialdom, that’s when we’ll see his real skill. I say the Gu Family will show their true colors sooner or later and end up having their property confiscated.” Lu Family’s daughter-in-law watched Old Mrs. Su’s expression and spoke with a face full of sarcasm.

Old Mrs. Su shot Lu Family’s daughter-in-law a glare and said, “If you can’t speak properly, shut your mouth. If the Gu Family is confiscated, Chengmin won’t be able to escape either.”

Lu Family’s daughter-in-law, scolded, didn’t dare talk back.

She was puzzled. Old Mrs. Su clearly didn’t like Gu Taohua or Tong Huaqiong, so how come the moment she spoke ill of the Gu Family, the old woman defended them?

She didn’t understand, really didn’t understand.

In fact, Old Mrs. Su’s thoughts were simple. She truly disliked Gu Taohua and genuinely resented Tong Huaqiong, but that didn’t mean she wanted calamity to befall Tong Huaqiong’s entire family. If Su Chengmin weren’t Tong Huaqiong’s son-in-law, Old Mrs. Su would be eager for Tong Huaqiong to suffer a great misfortune.

Now that Su Chengmin was Tong Huaqiong’s son-in-law, Old Mrs. Su hoped Tong Huaqiong would steadily run her business and provide Silver to support her grandson. No matter how rich a merchant was, they could never compare to an official; the Gu Family would still have to listen to her grandson.

Now that the Gu Family had produced a Champion Scholar, in future they would rely on Jingzhe instead, and her grandson Su Chengmin would become just a decorative son-in-law.

Old Mrs. Su’s mentality was like this: she feared her grandson’s Yue Family wouldn’t do well, yet she also feared the Yue Family would become a roaring tiger on the road.

“Go to my storeroom and pick two gifts that aren’t too valuable to send over to the Gu Family as congratulations.”

Old Mrs. Su ultimately felt they couldn’t afford to offend Tong Huaqiong—but they also couldn’t fawn over her. Sending a cheap gift just to show their courtesy would be enough.