Huo Heng, looking at the pig’s head, simply wanted to die. Whether this bet was good or bad, the result wouldn’t be good no matter what. Whether he said it or not, everyone already assumed he lost this bet. Tomorrow, the entire capital city would be talking about the love between the third young master Huo and a roasted pig’s head, and they would exaggerate and describe how emotional and expressive his “I love you” was. People were particularly interested in spreading such gossip, like Miss Sheng sitting over there, her eyes sparkling. Should he deny it and say, “I didn’t, I conceded”? Having a reputation for conceding wasn’t much better.

This loss of face was just a personal joke for the capital, which was still somewhat acceptable. What Huo Heng knew people’s eyes were truly ridiculing was this: Lu Xingzhou is Huo Shang, he was originally from their Huo family!

The Huo family, unlike the millennium-old prestigious Pei family, hadn’t been established for many generations and belonged to the category of “vulgar military men.” They desperately needed some cultural prestige to enhance their appearance and establish their foundation. But their descendants were all useless. Both his older brother, Huo Qi, and he, Huo Heng, entered the Imperial Academy through connections, but they had no achievements there. The whole family always wanted to project an image of calmness and dignity, but they always inadvertently revealed their shallowness and arrogance. This point had always been subject to significant discrimination from the Pei family and other prominent families.

This time, after great difficulty, the top scholar was from their own family, which could significantly improve their reputation. But what did they do? This top scholar didn’t even acknowledge their Huo family; his surname was Lu! Not only was he originally from the Huo family, but it was like sand slipping through their fingers… He could even hear others whispering: “The Huo family is truly amusing. Their whole family is full of arrogant disciples, and after great difficulty, they have one who can improve their image, yet they turn against each other.”

“I wonder if Grand Tutor Huo and Marquis Huo are green with regret, mistaking a pearl for a fish’s eye.”

“Lu Xingzhou’s performance will continue to be brilliant. Every highlight will be a slap in the face for the Huo family. I see that this year’s entertainment is all centered around the Huo family…”

“Shh, keep quiet. Huo Heng’s cultivation is not low. Don’t let him hear.”

“Not low? Two years ago, he was just barely clinging to the bottom of the new talent list. Now that he’s past the age, he’s off the list… In contrast, their estranged seventh younger brother, who is one of the top killers on the new talent list, how can he have the face to say his cultivation is not low compared to him? They are not even on the same level…”

“Hey, thinking about it that way, the top two on the Dan Master new talent ranking already entered the Dan Academy last year. Even if Daoist Xuan Qing was the first outside, this time he was again ‘killed’ by Lu Xingzhou. This Old Lu is truly like the list’s killer…”

“Third Young Master Huo? Third Young Master Huo?” Pei Chuyun’s voice echoed again: “It’s time to fulfill the bet.”

Huo Heng had never felt this sweet-sounding voice so disgusting. He angrily flicked his sleeve: “That wasn’t the bet, it doesn’t count!” Having said that, he angrily left his seat under countless ridiculing gazes, unable to stand it any longer.

Behind him, Pei Yu’s voice added a jab: “The Huo family’s betting standards, we know them today… Never mind, Brother Huo, Brother Huo’s love for the pig’s head deeply moved us, and we will spread it to everyone…”

Huo Heng’s liver was burning with anger, and he quickly disappeared up the stairs. Laughter echoed behind him, and the other young masters and ladies who were friends with the Huo family were all red-faced and embarrassed, unable to speak. It was truly too humiliating.

Pei Yu was in a good mood. He leisurely sipped his tea and looked at the younger sister he had just found and who had just gotten back at their enemies. His gaze was exceptionally amiable.

Originally, he inexplicably gained a younger sister. Although she didn’t compete for family business, Pei Yu still felt a little resistance in his heart. It was a common human emotion for a legitimate son to look at the daughter of a concubine. Moreover, his father didn’t know what was wrong with him and disregarded their reputation, making the Pei family the subject of discussion everywhere, which amplified his slight resistance.

But at this moment, when countering their enemies, he truly experienced what it meant to be family, the feeling of siblings working together. It was comfortable! Pei Yu, who had lacked siblings as playmates since childhood, felt that having a younger sister was truly good at this moment.

In addition, Pei Chuyun had been giving the Pei family a lot of face these past few days. Except for the incident of meeting Lu Xingzhou where she lost some composure and became like Sheng Yuanyao, who acted like a clumsy melon, like just now when she also tried to squeeze around to look for Lu Xingzhou and was pulled up by Pei Yu… At other times, she was truly flawless beauty and elegance, with unexpected literary talent. The other day, when she went on a garden tour with young ladies from other families to compose poems, one small poem overshadowed the crowd, and one tune on the xiao astonished the entire gathering.

When the news spread back home, it brought them great honor, and even Pei Qingyan drank a few more cups happily.

Except for Huo Heng and these enemies who still stubbornly said “the village girl they found outside,” who in the entire capital truly regarded this girl as a village girl? Countless young masters had lost their souls for her and couldn’t eat or sleep. Now, there were even many voices saying she was the most beautiful woman in the capital.

Beauty, temperament, talent, family background, each was top-notch. The comprehensive addition was terrifying. A storm named “The Pei Family Girl” had swept through the capital these days.

Of course, there were many beautiful young ladies from noble families in the capital, and it was quite difficult to be recognized as the first. For example, there were also some voices saying that Miss Sheng was no worse than Miss Pei… People who preferred heroic and valiant tastes were always many, and Sheng Yuanyao’s official uniform added extra points.

Pei Yu glanced over. At this moment, these two were just leaning side by side on the railing looking down, seemingly looking for someone. Looking at them at a glance, it was indeed a case of orchids and chrysanthemums each having their strengths, very pleasing to the eye.

Pei Yu knew who they were looking for. Lu Xingzhou… It was really strange. Why didn’t he see him this time?

Also, who was Lu Nuonuo?

While mocking Huo Heng upstairs, the discussion downstairs was naturally not about this. People were discussing the two dark horses in the top scholar and second place, especially the inexplicable Lu Nuonuo.

“Lu Xingzhou is alright. At least he’s a somewhat known figure. But who is this Lu Nuonuo! Who has ever heard of this person?”

“Haven’t heard!”

“Look at the scores on this list, they are terrifying to the extreme. Full score in the literary exam, full score in diagnosis, full score in prescribing and curing, full score in refining pills!”

“Lu Xingzhou also got a full score, and even an additional point. It is said that he provided a solution for the blood sore disease, and his merit was great, hence the top scholar.”

“This session is terrifying like this, two full scores. In the past, it was difficult to even see one, right?”

“These two people have opened up a big gap with Xuan Qing’s score. What accident, what dark horse, is this strength not on the same level?”

“According to this, this second place Lu Nuonuo’s strength is not inferior to the top scholar. Her name has not been heard of. We need to dig fast.”

The common people were just eating melon and discussing, while those who wanted to recruit people for various forces were anxious and sweating profusely.

Over there, someone found the downcast Xuan Qing, only to discover that he was already a member of the Huo family. He Hui and Chen Yu, who also performed excellently, were also being cultivated by various forces. Everyone knew that Lu Xingzhou belonged to the Tianxing Sword Sect, and it was a bit troublesome to recruit him. Now, the unknown Lu Nuonuo seemed like she could be pursued.

Sheng Qingfeng directly ordered his subordinate to shout loudly there: “Which one is Lu Nuonuo? Our Vice-Chief Sheng of the Town Demon Department invites you!”

Others were also unwilling to be left behind and followed suit, shouting: “Which one is Lu Nuonuo? The head of the Xie family has a gift!”

“Why go to those families? Come to our Northern Army!”

“Our Qi Zhen Pavilion is willing to offer an annual salary of a thousand taels of silver. We invite Mister Lu Nuonuo to preside.”

A group of people shouted for half a day, and their voices were mixed together, almost unclear.

In the distance, at the corner of the street, a little girl was biting a candy stick, just pushing a wheelchair and poking her head out to walk towards here. Hearing the noisy crowd, she hesitated and asked the person beside her: “Who are they calling?”

The person on the road said: “Lu Nuonuo, the second place in this session of the Dan Academy.”

The little girl looked confused: “Why are they looking for me?”

“They are looking for… um?” The person on the road was stunned for a moment, and then, as if by some magic, the voice began to quiet down from here and spread to the center, and the whole area became silent.

Everyone turned their heads, their eyes gleaming green, looking at the little girl.

The little girl was still wearing a Daoist robe… Her face was round and chubby, her eyes were big and blinked, a candy stick in her mouth with the stick exposed, and her expression was bewildered, exceptionally cute.

The only connection she had to “Dan Master” was perhaps that small Daoist robe…

And, she was pushing the wheelchair on which Lu Xingzhou was sitting.

“You…” Someone carefully asked: “Who did you say you are?”

The little girl took out the candy stick and spoke clearly: “I am Lu Nuonuo.”

“May I ask what the relationship is between the girl and Young Master Lu Xingzhou?”

“He’s my Master.”

The whole place was silent as cicadas in winter. Everyone’s mouth was filled with candy sticks, and their brains were empty. Many people had seen Lu Xingzhou with a child servant who helped push the wheelchair, but even Sheng Qingfeng hadn’t considered that this one was just Lu Nuonuo.

You’re telling me that the second place in this session of the Dan Academy is a child? And Lu Xingzhou’s disciple? Master and disciple package the top two? Has this world gone crazy? It couldn’t be a coincidence with the same name, could it?

In the dead silence, Sheng Yuanyao directly flipped over the railing from upstairs and jumped down, rushing to Anu and hugging her. She fiercely ‘kissed’ her on the face: “Anu, why did you also take the exam?”

“I don’t know. They gave me a paper, told me to treat diseases, and told me to refine pills. I thought other people’s child servants don’t need to do this, aren’t they bullying people?”

A group of people seemed to wake up from a dream. This was real!

So the crowd surged over: “Little girl, come to us. We will give you ten jin of sugar every day!”

Sheng Qingfeng’s chest puffed up significantly. He led the crowd to block them: “Everyone, please go back. Can’t you see that Miss Lu has already reached an agreement with our Chief Sheng of the Town Demon Department?”

The crowd: “?” Looking at this appearance of being held in her arms and kissed on the face, was she reaching an agreement with your Chief of the Town Demon Department, or did your Miss Sheng family want to be someone’s stepmother? So you are such an old Sheng!

Sheng Yuanyao suddenly remembered something, hugged Anu, and ran away: “Almost forgot, my money, my manor, I’m coming!”

Lu Xingzhou was dumbfounded: “My child…”

His eyes blurred, and the Pei siblings stood in front of him, smiling and saying to Sheng Qingfeng: “Vice-Chief Sheng, since the second place has been taken away by your daughter, how about leaving the top scholar to our Pei family to chat?”

Sheng Qingfeng was confident. He said politely: “Please make it convenient for them.”

Did you think I didn’t want to recruit the top scholar? He was the princess’s person, how could I recruit him? Was the Pei family that amazing? Yuan Yao was still smart, and her relationship with Anu was very close… I heard that when this Pei family girl was a maid by Lu Xingzhou’s side, she fought with Anu every day.

What was foresight?

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