The Prime Minister's Darling
Chapter 1369 - 1369 666 Second Watch

Chapter 1369: 666 Second Watch Chapter 1369: 666 Second Watch Tianqiong Academy, near the end of school hours, the weather had already turned grim, with the classroom air feeling hot and sticky, leaving everyone struggling to breathe.

Even with the windows flung wide open, a cool breeze seemed elusive.

Those who studied here were not from extremely impoverished families, and everyone was reasonably particular, so there weren’t any unpleasant odors.

Gu Jiao sat in the last row, Mu Qingchen to her left, and the back door to her right.

From her spot, she could still breathe in enough fresh air.

Zhou Tong in the front row was nodding off.

Partly due to the stifling heat, and partly because he had stayed up late again to paint.

During the lecture, Master Gao was explaining the Gougu Theorem, which was what Gu Jiao had learned as the Pythagorean Theorem in her previous life.

“Zhou Tong!”

Suddenly, Master Gao called out a name.

Zhou Tong jerked to attention, standing up with a befuddled expression.

Master Gao said indifferently, “Answer this question, what’s the number?”

Zhou Tong swallowed hard.

What question? What number?

“Eighty,” Gu Jiao murmured expressionlessly.

Mu Qingchen looked at Gu Jiao curiously.

Zhou Tong straightened his back and declared loudly, “Eighty!”

Master Gao eyed Zhou Tong suspiciously, then glanced behind him.

Behind Zhou Tong were only two people, Mu Qingchen and Xiao Liulang; Mu Qingchen wouldn’t be the one to give the answer, and Xiao Liulang never paid attention in class and copied his homework from others.

“Hmm,” Master Gao grunted, motioning for Zhou Tong to sit down.

Zhou Tong let out a silent sigh of relief and wiped the sweat from his forehead with his sleeve.

After class, Mu Qingchen picked up the problems left by the master in recent days and pointed to one, asking Gu Jiao, “What’s the answer to this one?”

“I don’t know,” replied Gu Jiao without a second thought.

“And this one?” Mu Qingchen switched to another question.

“I don’t know that either,” said Gu Jiao.

With a frown, Mu Qingchen asked, “How come you knew the answer when Zhou Tong asked?”

Zhou Tong doesn’t know how to do it, and neither do you?

Gu Jiao casually replied, “I guessed.”

Soon after, Gu Xiaoshun came looking for Gu Jiao, “Liulang, it’s time to go home!”

“Okay.” Gu Jiao began to pack up her book bag, her demeanor nonchalant, as if she had an inherent lack of interest in studying.

Mu Qingchen gazed at her intently, “Have you ever considered taking the Imperial examination?”

“I’m not a citizen of Yan Country,” Gu Jiao said.

“Anyone who’s a student of the Academy can take part in the Imperial examination,” Mu Qingchen said.

Yan Country greatly valued talent and had shown this through their practice of establishing Martial Arts Arenas in various countries to scout for martial arts prodigies.

Though the Imperial examination mainly prioritized local candidates, exceptional ones from other countries could also be accepted out of the norm.

Several precedents had been set over the years.

Passing the examination could not only guarantee a permanent residency in Yan Country, but even transcending the mere position of someone with the inner city token was possible.

“Don’t you want to stay in Yan Country?” asked Mu Qingchen.

“Out of a thousand candidates, how many get to stay?” Gu Jiao countered.

…Difficult.

The Imperial examination in Yan Country was the most difficult among the six nations, not just because of the broad range and multitude of subjects but also the sheer number of candidates.

Local candidates accounted for eighty percent, with the remaining twenty percent being outstanding students from the other five nations. Home candidates had bonus points, and those from Liang Country and Jin Country received some additional points as well, but the selection process for candidates from the lower countries was especially harsh.

Hence, the difficulty for Gu Jiao to stand out among all the candidates was imaginable.

“I think you should give it a try,” Mu Qingchen suggested.

Gu Jiao waved her hand dismissively, “Forget it. I’d drop to my knees just writing the eight-legged essay, let Xiao Hen take it instead.”

“What about the military examination?” Mu Qingchen, seeing her disinterest in the literary exam, switched tactics.

Gu Jiao seemed baffled, “Why are you suddenly so concerned about my exams?”

Mu Qingchen reiterated, “If you pass, you could stay in Yan Country.”

Gu Jiao raised an eyebrow at him, “Why should I want to stay in Yan Country? Or do you want me to stay? Mu Qingchen, don’t tell me you’ve taken a liking to me?”

“You—” Mu Qingchen choked on his words, turning away coldly, “You’re a man, how could I possibly take a liking to you!”

“Good to know,” Gu Jiao finished packing the last book, picked up her book bag, “I’m off!”

“It’s going to rain!” Mu Qingchen called out to her retreating figure.

Without turning back, Gu Jiao just waved her hand to show she understood.

“Sister, it really looks like it’s going to rain, it’s getting dark,” Gu Xiaoshun commented, looking at the dark clouds overhead as they left the Academy, “Are you still going to tutor the Little Princess?”

“Yes,” answered Gu Jiao.

The little one was too earnest, asking a question could send him running to the Academy. Gu Jiao feared if she didn’t go, he would rush to her house in the rain.