Events in the Capital
Yufu County was calm and peaceful. Everyone was happy and loving each other.
However, the capital was shrouded in dark clouds.
During this period, two major events happened in the capital.
First, the imperial examinations in July had ended.
The list of the top three was sent directly to Qizhen Emperor by the transcriber of Hanlin Academy.
He opened the list.
Their names were impressively printed on it.
Lin Shu!
Shang Zhuo!
Jiang Huaixin!
The three of them were ranked first.
The transcriber of Hanlin Academy, Lord Lin Si, stood there waiting. He had been secretly sizing up the list since the moment the Emperor opened it.
Because he was also a student of Teacher Yu from Mingshan Academy, he was naturally more attentive when he saw Shang Zhuo and Lin Shu's names.
However, the list of the top three was still decided by the Emperor.
Qizhen Emperor opened the papers written by the three and looked through them one by one.
The three essays were not long, but he read them for about an hour.
To be precise, he read them carefully.
Lord Lin asked, "Your Majesty, has the champion of this imperial examinations been decided?"
Qizhen Emperor frowned. It was difficult for him to make a decision.
After a long time, he only picked out the title of Third Flower.
He directly handed Jiang Huaixin's paper to Lin Si and said, "This person's writing is orthodox and talented. However, in terms of poetry theory, he is still lacking compared to the other two. Dai Tanhua will be appointed as Hanlin Academy's editor."
"Yes!" Lord Lin took the papers and asked, "What about the Zhuangyuan and Bangyan?"
Qizhen Emperor was still deliberating. "The students taught by the Yu father and son are indeed extraordinary. Every year, there are always two people from Mingshan Academy, including Lord Lin."
"The number of students taught by Teacher is few. This subject is also very honored to be under his tutelage."
He was a person who knew how to talk!
Might as well —
Qizhen Emperor temporarily threw the problem to him and said, "Shang Zhuo and Lin Shu are equally matched. The six theories have a balance between light and dark. Both of them answered the questions I set. Lord Lin, you have also read their essays. Tell me, who is qualified to be an editor at Hanlin Academy?"
Since ancient times, the Zhuangyuan would enter the Hanlin Academy to write, while the Bangyan and Tanhua would be edited by the Hanlin Academy.
After half a year of practice, one would be able to take up an official position in the imperial court below the third rank and above the fifth rank. After two years of practice, one would be assigned to various prefectures to take up a position as a local official, or an official position in the imperial court below the sixth rank.
As for those who made the roll, they were given the titles of Minister of State, Manager, Secretary of the Secretariat, Judge, Doctor, Prefect...
Qizhen Emperor threw this difficult problem at him. Lin Si pondered for a moment, then cupped his hands and said, "The first rank of the court examination has always been decided by His Majesty. This subject has read Shang Zhuo's and Lin Shu's essays, and both of them are good. It is indeed difficult to distinguish between them."
"What does Hanlin Academy think?"
"Wait for His Majesty's decision."
Qi Zhen Emperor was also worried. He picked up the two articles and read them again. This time, he read them for almost two hours, pondering every word.
Lynn stood there, his feet numb.
But in the end —
"Alright, you may leave first. I will think about it carefully."
Lin Si bowed. "Yes, your subject will take his leave."
He left.
Actually, it didn't matter who was the zhuangyuan between Shang Zhuo and Lin Shu. They were both students of Mingshan Academy, so they would naturally take care of each other in the bureaucracy.
The second important matter was Jing Yi's marriage.
After Concubine Xiao settled her daughter's marriage, she had also proposed to Qi Zhen Emperor that her son should marry the Princess Consort.
The title of the Princess Consort would naturally be Ji Muqing.
Qi Zhen Emperor had said that he would consider it carefully, but because the assassin had died for no reason in the Supreme Court's prison, and because of the Ministry of Personnel's report, the matter of Jing Yi's marriage was suppressed and never mentioned again.
Concubine Xiao saw that the timing wasn't right, so she didn't mention it again. Seeing that the storm had passed, she brought it up again during dinner.
"Has His Majesty considered the matter of Yi 'er marrying the Princess Consort?"
Qi Zhen Emperor's expression darkened on the spot, but he didn't say anything.
He just wasn't in the mood to eat.
It was bedtime.
Concubine Xiao undressed Qi Zhen Emperor and said, "Your Majesty, now that Xuan 'er's marriage has been decided, she will go to Huyi when everything is ready. This concubine only has this one daughter, and I really can't bear to part with her."
"At that time, you were the one who suggested it, and we agreed. You should also be prepared."
"Yes, as a mother, although I can't bear to part with Xuan 'er marrying to Huyi, for her own good, I will do anything. This concubine's life has always been for Your Majesty and our children. Now that Xuan' er has a home, this concubine is very worried about Yi 'er's marriage. Your Majesty, what do you think?"
However —
Qi Zhen Emperor didn't respond to her.
"Your Majesty?"
"Alright, we have already said that we will consider it carefully. You don't have to say anymore."
His tone was very heavy.
Concubine Xiao's hand that was undressing him paused for a moment, and the corners of her mouth couldn't help but curve into a superficial smile. She replied, "Yes, we will listen to Your Majesty."
Even so, Concubine Xiao was still unwilling to accept it!
How long would she have to wait if she hadn't thought it through?
Although she didn't mention it again that night, the next day she was like an 'unkillable cockroach' and continued to pester him.
Qi Zhen Emperor had just finished reading the memorials and was about to go for a walk in the imperial garden when Concubine Xiao appeared.
She followed him like a shadow.
After accompanying him for a while, she sat down in a pavilion in the imperial garden.
Unexpectedly, she didn't mention it herself this time and directly brought a living person over.
Ji Muqing's figure appeared in the imperial garden at the right time.
Previously, when the Crown Prince chose her, she fell ill and was sent out of the palace. Since then, she had been staying in the General's residence and didn't go out. Naturally, it wasn't a coincidence that she appeared here today. Early in the morning, Concubine Xiao had sent someone to bring her into the palace, waiting for this good show.
Unlike her usual image of heavy makeup, Ji Muqing today was very bare-faced.
She wore a purplish-red dress embroidered with beautiful peonies and daffodils. A light gauze draped over her shoulders, fluttering gently in the wind. Her makeup wasn't as white as before, but only a light touch of powder. Her eyes were slightly curved and full of spirit. Her eyebrows were slender like willow leaves, her nose was high, and her lips were as light as vermillion. Her entire person was as light as a painting.
For a moment, she looked somewhat similar to Ji Wanxin, just that she lacked the latter's morbid beauty.
She walked to the pavilion with graceful steps and bowed warmly.
She didn't dare to look straight at him and said, "This commoner Ji Muqing greets Your Majesty and Your Highness Concubine Xiao."
Her voice was like a song.
Qi Zhen Emperor frowned slightly.
Concubine Xiao immediately explained, "Your Majesty, it's like this. This concubine knows that Miss Ji has no relatives in the capital besides her eldest brother and second brother, so this concubine wanted to invite her into the palace to accompany this concubine."
Are you kidding me?
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