The Prime Minister’s Darling-Chapter 1556 - 755 New King (Second Update)

"Xiao Liulang! Come and draw your token number!"

Gu Changqing glanced at the deputy examiner and said to Gu Jiao, "It’s a lottery to determine the order for the next round of selection. I’ve already drawn, and it’s Heavenly Stems Jia One. You should hurry over."

The order of appearance was arranged according to the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches, with Jia of the Heavenly Stems equivalent to the number one, hence also called Heavenly Stems Jia One.

After drawing the token number, it won’t be announced publicly, so Gu Changqing did not know who else had drawn Heavenly Stems Jia One.

Gu Changqing said, "As long as you do not draw Heavenly Stems Jia One, it will be fine."

If the two of them were to face off so early, it would not be advantageous; he wanted to eliminate a few more opponents for her.

Gu Jiao looked at him and said, "You can’t jinx it, it’ll come back to haunt us."

"Hmm?" Gu Changqing was confused.

Gu Jiao said, "Never mind, I’ll explain in detail next time. I’m off."

"Go ahead," Gu Changqing said.

Gu Jiao led the Black Wind King towards the military camp in the east.

Another round of selection was underway on the field, and one of the contestants turned out to be the Taoist priest Qingfeng.

Gu Jiao was somewhat surprised.

He had come too.

Indeed, he was the elder brother of the Geng Family head.

The Geng Family had two spots, but the one earlier clearly wasn’t enough; if he hadn’t taken to the field himself, the Geng Family really wouldn’t have had a chance.

The Taoist priest Qingfeng was riding a handsome white horse.

He had the look of an immortal, and even riding a horse, he seemed to float with a celestial air.

He burst out from the midst of the raging fire, his gaze cold and resolute, a touch of ash smeared on his face, which added a certain war-torn charm.

He raced ahead of the others, leading by a distance, and with his stead took his place on the high platform.

Gu Jiao could tell he was holding back a little.

After all, it was just the first round—the point was to advance, not to push too hard.

Who hasn’t held back a little, right, Boss?

Gu Jiao patted the Black Wind King and turned her attention away from the situation on the platform.

If the Taoist priest Qingfeng hadn’t lost at horse riding, his martial skills were even less likely to fail.

As she arrived at the entrance of the military camp, she bumped into another acquaintance.

Compared to the Taoist priest Qingfeng, the man before her was less of a surprise.

"Mu Qingchen," she greeted him.

Mu Qingchen appeared somewhat weary, it was unknown if the incidents at the Mu Family had affected him.

Mu Qingchen did not show much surprise on his face, not because he expected Gu Jiao to be there, but because he had seen her during her selection.

He didn’t ask Gu Jiao how she happened to be here, feeling, if he did, that she wouldn’t answer.

With a complex look on his face, he looked at Gu Jiao and said, "I will give it my all."

"So will I," Gu Jiao responded.

Just then, a soldier came to lead away the horses of Gu Jiao and Mu Qingchen to the stables for feeding.

Mu Qingchen handed his horse over to the soldier.

Gu Jiao said, "My horse doesn’t need feeding."

The soldier said, "It’s hot, and the horses are using a lot of energy, if they don’t replenish water and food in time, they can easily get dehydrated."

Gu Jiao still insisted, "I know, it’s not necessary."

The soldier opened his mouth wanting to say something, but Mu Qingchen interjected, "Take the horse down."

"Ah, yes," the soldier led away Mu Qingchen’s horse.

After the soldier took the horse to the stables, two men dressed in luxurious brocade came over, one with a white beardless face and the other with a goatee.

The white-faced, beardless man said, "Why didn’t you bring it over?"

The soldier reported, "To answer the Dong Family head, that young man said his horse didn’t need to be fed."

"Hah, what did I tell you?" Dong Family head sneered as he looked at the goateed man beside him, "Old Yang, you should believe now, right? That young man is definitely not a simpleton; he’s cunning and highly vigilant, not so easy to deal with."

Yang Family head frowned and pondered, "Who exactly is this young man?"

Dong Family head smiled and said, "This young man is a student of Tianqiong Academy, from Zhan Country, and a schoolmate of Mu Qingchen. That masked man in white, who we took away that day, I suspect was Mu Qingchen."

Yang Family head expressed doubt, "Why would Mu Qingchen do such a thing? Isn’t he the Mu patriarch’s grandson from his daughter’s side? Why doesn’t he help his own family?"

Dong Family head smiled faintly, "Perhaps the Su Family has their own schemes—who knows?"

Yang Family head said thoughtfully, "If he isn’t from Yan Country, then he must also be posing as a member of a collateral branch to take part in the selection. Is his purpose really just to help Mu Qingchen wear down the competition?"

Dong Family head agreed, "Very likely."

...

Elsewhere, Gu Jiao and Mu Qingchen had both finished drawing their lots.

In the barracks, the pair did not exchange any information.

After they came out, Mu Qingchen hesitated before he still called after her, "I got Earthly Branches."

Gu Jiao hummed a response, "What a coincidence, I got Earthly Branches too."