After a male student transmigrated into the body of a widow,

Chapter 141 Throwing Flowers

With such a distance between them, upstairs and downstairs, and with the surrounding noise, even if Madam Fang saw the top scholar speaking in their direction, she couldn't hear what he was saying.

However, Gu Lin knew this.

He had lived with Zheng Hao for many years, and through their long-term interaction, they had developed a deep understanding of each other.

Normally, if they want the other person to do something for them, they don't need to say anything; a look or a gesture is enough for the other person to understand what they mean.

However, recalling how Zheng Hao had slightly raised his head, his dark eyes locking onto his figure, and his thin lips parted slightly as he said, "Uncle Gu, I am already the top scholar in the imperial examination."

Not only that, but when faced with Madam Fang's question, Gu Lin felt a little embarrassed, yet also proud of Zheng Hao's achievement of becoming the top scholar.

Gu Lin said, "Xiao Hao asked me to throw him flowers."

Madam Fang was taken aback, then turned her head to look out the window, her gaze falling on the top scholar still riding a tall horse on the street. He looked aloof and unsmiling, but she never expected him to be someone who would act coquettishly with his elders.

Mrs. Fang found the other person's behavior somewhat unusual, and at the same time, she couldn't help but smile.

Then, under the helpless gaze of the young man beside her, she couldn't help but laugh.

"...I didn't expect...that the aloof and refined top scholar would be so different outside and at home."

Mrs. Fang's eyes were moist with laughter, and Gu Lin also found it amusing.

Looking at Madam Fang across from him, who was laughing so hard she was almost bent over, Gu Lin, being magnanimous, said without a care, "If it can make Sister Li San smile, it's worth it."

Mrs. Fang's smile was not meant to mock, but rather because she found the uncle and nephew pair quite amusing.

She slowly stopped laughing, turned to Xiangyun and said, "Go down quickly and get some fresh flowers from the shopkeeper."

Gu Lin added, "If fresh flowers are unavailable, a bouquet will suffice."

Xiangyun immediately went downstairs.

Then, she came up with a bouquet of flowers and said to Madam Fang and Gu Lin, "I bought these from a flower girl outside the restaurant. The manager had prepared in advance to sell to the ladies and gentlemen who were tossing flowers to win the imperial examination, but they've all sold out. Nobody expected that this year's top scholar and his group of scholars would be so extraordinary. Madam, you don't know, the ladies and gentlemen in our private rooms on both sides have been screaming non-stop!"

Thinking of the handsome and distinguished young man on the horse, Madam Fang sighed sincerely, "The love of beauty is not unique to men; women have it too."

After accepting the flowers from Xiangyun, Gu Lin went to the window, and the procession of scholars moved forward.

Flowers and fruits rained down on the scholars, who were all exceptionally handsome. The young men and women showered them with flowers and fruits.

He Yanzhi and Du Yuan rode their horses while constantly dodging the highly aggressive melons and fruits.

However, after years of sitting and studying in the study and school, coupled with the exhaustion from the imperial examination in the palace, and the repeated dodging, they soon felt extreme pain in their waist and abdomen.

They couldn't help but look up at Zheng Hao, who was walking through a sea of ​​flowers without getting a single petal clinging to him. He was also dodging the flowers and fruits thrown by women and boys, but he was much more composed than them. Moreover, after dodging back and forth many times, Zheng Hao showed no signs of fatigue and remained calm and collected from head to toe.

Among the second-class Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations), Zhen Yuan and Peng Zhizhi were also outstanding in appearance.

With their striking features and elegant demeanor, the top three scholars (Zhuangyuan, Bangyan, and Tanhua) were surrounded by a large crowd. Some women and men who couldn't squeeze through retreated and turned their attention to the other handsome scholars, tossing them their handkerchiefs, sachets, and sachets.

Among them, the sachets and handkerchiefs received by Zhen Yuan and Peng Zhizhi were of similar quality.

As for why they only received handkerchiefs, sachets, and sachets, and not fresh flowers and floral decorations, it's because the fresh flowers and floral decorations had already been given to the top scholar by the women and men.

Upstairs, in a private room of some restaurant, a bold young woman had her maid announce loudly: "Sir, are you married? My lady is the only daughter of the Peng family in the west of the city. She has no brothers or sisters, and her dowry is generous. Those who are interested may come and propose marriage!"

As soon as these words were spoken, a clear, bright voice rang out from another direction: "Are there any unmarried scholars who have passed the imperial examinations? My young master is the youngest son of the Chen family in the east of the city. He is loved by his parents and has loving brothers and sisters. His dowry is a generous one hundred loads. Those who are interested may come and propose marriage."

Two voices came in succession, both from young women expressing their desire to marry the scholars. However, the crowd on the street did not look down on the two women and men, thinking they were not virtuous. On the contrary, they cheered them on in good-nature, making the atmosphere even more lively.

Seeing this scene, Gu Lin was very surprised. He had personally experienced the strict restrictions imposed on women and boys by the Great Qian Dynasty, so he was puzzled that when someone openly asked for marriage, the people present did not cast contemptuous glances at him, but instead showed kindness.

Madam Fang explained, "Throughout history, there has been a tradition of 'catching a husband' on the day the results of the provincial and palace examinations are announced. This tradition continued into the Daqian era. Women and men in the capital have always been straightforward and bold. During the reign of Emperor Taizu, there was a woman who expressed her feelings to one of the successful candidates during the parade of the Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations), and they eventually married and lived happily ever after."

After that, whenever a successful candidate in the imperial examinations paraded through the streets, any woman or young man interested in one could give his name and address. Because of this tradition, the number of marriages in the capital after each palace examination was several times higher than before.

Upon hearing this, Gu Lin was not immediately swayed by the love story the other party was telling.

He asked the other party's first wife with some doubt: "There are two or three hundred Jinshi in total, and more than half of them are married. Under such circumstances, how can so many marriages be arranged?"

Seeing the young man beside her asking earnestly, Madam Fang smiled and said, "Since you've given your name and address, you've made two preparations. The good thing is that a scholar will come to propose marriage. Even if not, it's still a good thing to have this opportunity to meet more potential partners."

Gu Lin seemed to be thinking to himself, "Isn't this just a way to arrange a blind date?"

The scholar, riding a tall horse, gradually reached the middle of the street. Gu Lin slightly turned his head, his gaze returning to the window.

The handsome young man at the head of the group looked up at his position, holding flowers. Gu Lin raised his hand, and when Zheng Hao saw this, his hand holding the reins tightened slightly, his gaze fixed on the flowers in the young man's hand.

Seizing the opportune moment, when many people were bowing their heads to take out their purses and handkerchiefs, Gu Lin reached out and threw the light yellow bouquet of flowers, along with a variety of fruits and handkerchiefs, through the air.

The flowers are fragile and are frequently bumped by other objects in the air, but they stubbornly persist in flying without falling to the ground.

As the bouquet passed over all the objects and was thrown toward the three top scholars, He Yanzhi, who was closest to the bouquet, had already spotted it and leaned back slightly to dodge it.

Suddenly, a long arm appeared in front of him. He Yanzhi looked up abruptly, his expression surprised. He saw Zheng Hao with a cold expression, his body half-slung over the horse's back, his large hands holding a light yellow bouquet of flowers. Then, his legs straightened, his waist swayed, and his entire upper body returned to the horse's back.

The entire street fell silent for a moment, then erupted in earth-shattering screams.

What did they see?!

The seemingly aloof and refined scholar, before they could react, leaned his muscular waist to the side, not only avoiding a slump from his horse but also displaying superb riding skills, steer the horse forward.

Not only that, but as the young men and women looked at the top scholar dressed in a loose, unfitting bright red robe, they could see his lean and powerful arms through the suddenly tight clothing as he leaned to the side.

The girl and her boyfriend blushed. They had been shouting loudly just now, but now that they had actually seen something good, they were too shy to speak.

They dared not speak, but the women who were already married were extremely bold.

A woman patted the young man beside her and said, "See that? I never thought that this top scholar, who studies all day long, would have arms that are more muscular than my husband's, who has developed them through martial arts."

The young man's eyes were glued to the view as he said, "This is a real man. The scholar behind the top scholar is almost thinner than me."

However, people soon noticed what the top scholar was doing.

As they walked along, the usually aloof top scholar unexpectedly reached out to accept a bouquet of flowers.

Many young girls and boys were immediately heartbroken, and then became curious, wondering which beauty could make the top scholar take the flowers. They looked around, searching for any suspicious young girls or boys.

Gu Lin stood by the window and saw many people looking in his direction, so he quickly stepped back, successfully avoiding their stares.

Holding the pale yellow bouquet, Zheng Hao slightly raised his head and looked in Gu Lin's direction, only to find the window empty and the young man nowhere to be seen.

His thin lips tightened slightly, but when he looked down at the flowers in his hand and smelled their fresh fragrance, Zheng Hao's heart was filled with joy.

He held the reins in one hand and the bouquet in the other, and then refused to accept any other flowers or purses.

Seeing the young man hurriedly backing away, Madam Fang said with a smile, "If it were someone else present, they would want to shout out and enjoy the envious gazes of everyone when their nephew, the top scholar, is parading through the streets. But you just back away."

Thinking of the huge crowd below, Gu Lin waved his hand and said, "Sister Li San, don't joke around. If they find out that there are people in the restaurant who know the top scholar, neither of us will be able to leave."

Mrs. Fang was taken aback, and then, thinking of the crazy young man below, she actually felt that Gu Lin's words made sense.

"What a bunch of young men and women," Mrs. Fang said, shaking her head helplessly.

Hearing this, Xiangyun, who was standing nearby, joked, "Does Madam still remember when Master Jinshi paraded through the streets? Madam threw flowers to Master Jinshi. After Master Jinshi caught the flowers, Madam also stepped back, afraid that others would see her."

Mrs. Fang chuckled, clearly remembering the incident, and then looked at Gu Lin, saying helplessly, "It's clear that neither of us likes to show off."

Gu Lin smiled but remained silent.

He enjoys watching excitement, but he doesn't like being part of that excitement in other people's eyes.

After parting ways with Madam Tongfang, Gu Lin took a carriage back to the inn. Before he even entered, he saw the bustling and lively lobby outside the inn's main gate.

Gu Lin stepped inside, but before he even headed towards the stairs, a waiter saw him and immediately called out excitedly towards the counter, "Manager, the top scholar's uncle is back!"

As soon as he said this, all the diners in the hall turned their attention to Gu Lin.

The shopkeeper walked around the counter, jogged to Gu Lin's side, clasped his hands in a bow, and said with a smile, "Congratulations, Mr. Gu! Congratulations, Mr. Gu! Zheng Huiyuan, no, now Zheng Zhuangyuan! Not only is Zheng Zhuangyuan exceptionally talented and ranked first in the first class, but when he met the Emperor, he was also highly regarded and favored by the Emperor, who specially bestowed upon him the title of 'Mingzhang'. Mr. Gu is truly blessed to have such a worthy nephew."

Faced with the shopkeeper's uninterrupted praise, Gu Lin humbly replied, "Shopkeeper, you flatter me."

At the same time, he wondered how the shopkeeper knew about the newly appointed scholars' parade route so quickly, since this street was far from the parade route.

Perhaps sensing the young man's confusion, the shopkeeper said, "Just now, an official came to deliver good news, saying that Zheng Huiyuan has become the top scholar in the imperial examination, and several other candidates have become successful candidates in the metropolitan examination. We were overjoyed, and when we saw Mr. Gu return, we were so excited that we came forward to disturb him. We are truly sorry."

After figuring out the reason, Gu Lin was no longer surprised.

However, with the eager expressions and fervent gazes of the diners, Gu Lin felt it inappropriate to stay any longer. After exchanging a few words with the manager, he went upstairs.

As soon as he went upstairs, his figure quickly disappeared around the corner on the second floor.

A customer spoke up, asking the innkeeper, whose face was practically beaming with joy, "Innkeeper, I just heard you say that her husband is the uncle of the top scholar, and that she and her nephew are traveling alone to the capital for the imperial examination. Has something happened to her husband?"

If it weren't for the strict rules separating men and women, even uncles and nephews wouldn't have a reason to travel to the capital together alone.

The shopkeeper had been a merchant for many years and had seen countless customers come and go. The diners across from him seemed to be asking questions out of curiosity, but their eyes were filled with calculation and greed that could not be concealed.

Since Gu Fulang's nephew achieved the highest rank in the imperial examination, many men with ulterior motives have come to him to inquire about his whereabouts, some even spending large sums of money.

Their ulterior motives are as clear as day. They're just looking at the fact that the uncle and nephew come from humble backgrounds, depend on each other for survival, and that the nephew is a top scholar in the imperial examinations and extremely filial to his uncle. Plus, Gu's husband is young and handsome, so they want to marry him as a second wife.

This way, one could gain a beautiful woman and establish a connection with the newly appointed top scholar, whose starting point was a seventh-rank official. For some merchants who only had money, it was a sure-fire way to make money.

After all, the position of the top scholar's principal wife was not something they could even dream of. Countless officials valued the handsome top scholar and wanted to marry their sons or daughters to him.

Of course, it wasn't that no one wanted to give their daughter to the top scholar as a concubine, but considering that their family had no power or influence, it would be a real loss if they offended an official who wanted to choose a husband for their beloved daughter or son.

But the thought of giving up the opportunity to marry the top scholar in vain made them feel unwilling.

[Xiao Zheng was so happy to receive flowers from his wife!]