The youngest princess at the time of the first emperor was conferred the title of Princess Chang'an by His Majesty today, and given the princess mansion and eight hundred elite soldiers, it can be said that she is as favored as a mountain.
And he did not forget that the two princesses who passed away in the Xiongnu were also sealed up and sacrificed in the Taimiao, only as if they were still princesses of the Liu Kingdom.
However, some Taoist priests of the Liu Kingdom are very quiet now, just because His Majesty has said that if anyone thinks that the princess should not be brought back and should stay with the Xiongnu who are fighting against them in the Liu Kingdom, then go to the grassland. .
Didn't you say you want to marry the princess to achieve reconciliation between the two countries
He didn't mind at all sending one or two people from the Liu Kingdom who had a great affection for the Xiongnu, and let them persuade the Xiongnu not to come to the Liu Kingdom to wreak havoc.
What? Don't like the Huns
If you really don't like it, why would you want to let the princess with golden branches and jade leaves go back to the prairie full of wind and sand
After a few people in a row made a statement that "the war is over, the princess should have been in the Huns since she married the Huns a long time ago" and were forcibly sent to the Huns, no one dared to say such words anymore.
If it was something else, those censors might have to stand up and use death as a lesson, but it's not like they didn't hear what His Majesty said in the court. Forcing the princess to return to the Huns, it's no different from selling herself for glory.
People's death admonitions can go down in history, if they die because of this incident, their stigma will last forever.
The court hall was quiet, and the scholars who were most able to express their opinions also learned to shut up after being sent away a few times.
And soon, a big event quickly attracted their attention.
Released.
When the list was posted on the wall, countless people's heads were pouring under it, and nearby restaurants, especially the second floor, which were convenient for observation, had already been booked.
Scholars have a good face, especially those who seem to be a scholar. Even if they want to know whether they are on the list, they still have to sit still and wait for their book boys or servants to report after reading the results.
The best place to sit still is on the second floor opposite the list, facing the bakery.
At this moment, Wei Mingyan was lying on the bedside with Zhao Shujiu, holding a thin and long thing called a telescope to look at it.
On the other hand, Zhao Shuqing, who should be most anxious, lowered his head slightly, took a sip of tea, his eyes were full of calm.
The little girl who was still dressed thickly today was too embarrassed to grab the binoculars, so she could only lie on the side of the bed anxiously and expectantly, with her slightly round fair face slightly raised, looking at Wei Mingyan who was looking through the binoculars.
"Your Majesty, how is it? Do you have the name of the second brother?"
"I'm just watching. There are too many people in front of me. Next time, I should send someone to go directly to the city gate to report the names of the candidates."
Today, the emperor, who was rarely dressed in white, leaned against the window, complained a few words, and coaxed Zhao Shujiu, "Jiu'er, come to my side to see, I can see clearly from my side."
When Zhao Shujiu passed by, he stared blankly, but he didn't say a word and gave her the binoculars in his hand. He just made the little girl's anxious cheeks flush, opened and closed his mouth, and hesitated to use the binoculars.
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, I also want to see..."
Wei Mingyan just pretended that he didn't understand, leaned to the left, moved out of his position, and said very kindly, "Come on, come here and have a look."
It was still Zhao Shuqing who couldn't see him teasing his sister, put down the teacup, and said in a low voice, "Jiu'er, before the list of candidates comes out, I will show it to His Majesty. He will know whether I am on the list early in the morning."
Wei Mingyan, who was exposed, looked at Zhao Shujiu who was looking at him in disbelief with a pair of big round eyes in a daze, laughed dryly, and handed her the binoculars in his hand, "Actually, I want Jiu'er to be more active. , Just like what you said about Shuqing, the body needs to exercise more, you see, Jiuer is so happy exercising."
Zhao Shuqing picked up the teacup and took a sip expressionlessly, ignoring this person who was clearly teasing his sister on purpose.
Zhao Shujiu didn't care. He got a telescope and hurriedly looked at it. When he saw the name written on the list clearly, he stomped his feet happily, and his pretty face was full of surprises, "Second brother! Second brother, you are the number one Name!! Second Brother!!"
She read it again, and then excitedly ran to Zhao Shuqing, "Second brother, you are so amazing!!"
Zhao Shuqing had expected this result, so he wasn't too surprised. He just saw that the little sister who had always been quiet and quiet blushed with excitement, her brows and eyes softened a little, her face moved, and a slight smile appeared.
Zhao Shujiu stared blankly at the elder brother in front of him, "Second Brother...Second Brother, you know how to laugh!"
"What?"
Wei Mingyan, who was still lazily leaning against the window, immediately got up, leaned in front of Zhao Shuqing with a surprised expression, looked at him as if he was watching some rare object, "It's really rare, Shuqing can still laugh."
"Look, I just said that you are good-looking, and you look almost like me when you smile."
Zhao Shuqing looked at him indifferently, and stretched out his hand to pull down the corner of his mouth.
"Second brother, what are you doing?"
Zhao Shujiu looked at him puzzled, his expression full of confusion.
Although he didn't really want to answer, but looking at his younger sister, Zhao Shuqing said calmly, "I can't take it back."
What can't you get back
Zhao Shujiu didn't know why, but Wei Mingyan burst out laughing suddenly, enough laughing, the handsome emperor pointed at Zhao Shuqing, his voice trembled slightly because he had laughed before, "Your brother, your brother can't stop laughing , Hahaha Shuqing, Shuqing, you are so funny."
Zhao Shujiu, who was still worried at first, couldn't help laughing out loud, his beautiful eyebrows and eyes were full of smiles.
Zhao Shuqing indifferently wiped the smile off the corner of his mouth with his hands.
The faint joy in my heart because of my first place was completely suppressed at this moment.
It's such a small thing, what's so funny.
Boring ancients.
***
Zhao Shuqing is not happy because he got the first place in the exam, but it does not mean that other people will not be happy.
The Zhao family was the happiest, especially Mrs. Zhao, who felt elated.
At the beginning, it was rumored throughout the capital that their family Shuqing had a bad mind. After her son's divorce, it's not that she didn't think about girls from other families. It's just that the other party evaded her as soon as the topic started.
If you say that the two families are well-matched, and their family status is even higher, how can Mrs. Zhao not feel uncomfortable if they don't even give a chance to talk.
Of course she knew that she shouldn't blame others, let alone others, if she married her daughter herself, and the other party had no fame and was not the eldest son, even if there were such rumors in the market, she would not be willing to marry her daughter.
I thought so, but I just couldn't let go of my breath.
What a good child her son is, he looks good and has a good temper. Although he is a little cold, he has never seen him lose his temper. He just reads books all day long. Although he likes to play with flowers and plants, playing with flowers and plants is also elegant thing ah.
A dignified son of the prime minister, there is no talk of marriage.
Every time she thinks of this, Mrs. Zhao's heart is filled with gloom, and she only hates the vicious Fan family.
After retiring from the marriage, he resigned from the marriage, and spread these messy rumors outside.
Thinking of how angry she was in those days, Mrs. Zhao felt that her heart began to feel uncomfortable again.
But fortunately, it suddenly occurred to her that her son had already passed the Juren examination and was still the first.
He immediately became happy again.
Happily handing out rewards to the servants, Mrs. Zhao chose a good dress, and went to the next door adult's house full of ambition.
She had to tell the world the good news.
In the future, let's see who has the nerve to say that her son is not good!
***
Soon, the news that Zhao Shuqing was admitted to Juren and was still the top one spread throughout the capital.
Not a disciple of a great Confucianism, nor a well-known talent, but a Zhao Shuqing who was rumored to have mental problems by the whole capital.
This news naturally aroused many people's discussions, and some people felt sour when they didn't pass the exam, and said in a tone of anger that Zhao Shuqing was the son of the prime minister, but they were blocked as soon as they said this.
Who doesn't know that the prime minister avoided the exam this time, and no one knew who the name of the paper he judged was when the paper was graded. If he still talked about his identity, wouldn't it be tantamount to slandering the entire court.
The student was startled by his classmate's words, so naturally he didn't dare to talk about it.
Some people are happy, and of course some people are worried.
Mrs. Fan was originally happy to go out today, but she heard such news.
After she came back, she went to look for her daughter, afraid that she would feel uncomfortable, but Miss Fan despised Zhao Shuqing as always.
"Mother, don't worry. Even if he gets the first place in the exam, he still has no official status."
Mrs. Fan wanted to say that with such good grades, and with the prime minister as a father, Zhao Shuqing's official career would be smooth sailing in the future, but looking at the confidence in her daughter's eyes, she couldn't say that.
"What my son said is that what we think is not something he can compare with just a single person."
Miss Fan put down the flowers she was embroidering in her hands, and her eyes were a little arrogant, "Mother, think about it, this Zhao Shuqing has never achieved anything before, if he had talent long ago, why didn't he show it before, why did he have to be admitted to Juren now."
Mrs. Fan was a little confused, "What do you mean?"
"It's just because I'm old. Didn't my mother say that? No one in the capital is willing to marry Zhao Shuqing. If he wants to marry, he must study hard?"
The arrogance in Ms. Fan's eyes deepened, "He has put so much effort into studying, and the rumors in Beijing must have had some influence a while ago. He probably wants to renew his marriage contract with his daughter."
She didn't say this just because she felt good about herself. Ever since Miss Fan grew up and started going to various banquets, her beautiful appearance has attracted a lot of attention to her.
In the whole of Kyoto, there are really not many people who can compare to Miss Fan in appearance.
Thinking of this, Mrs. Fan immediately showed a proud smile on her face, "That's right, why did mother forget these things, my son is so outstanding, then Zhao Shuqing is also a young boy, how could he not be calm in his heart."
The two of them laughed happily, but they completely forgot that Zhao Shuqing, an otaku, didn't want to leave the yard at all, and he didn't even see Miss Fan, so how could he fall in love with her again.
After the two laughed, they began to talk about business. Mrs. Fan said, "Mother has already found out that His Majesty really likes to go out of the palace, and often goes in and out of the Prime Minister's residence. He ran into His Majesty outside."
A little blush immediately appeared on Miss Fan's fair face, "Your Majesty is really good-natured. After being offended by him, he even asked him to teach him how to practice martial arts."
"That's right. Your Majesty has been very meek since he took the throne. I even asked the nanny who was released from the palace. Your Majesty, she hasn't been close to a woman yet."
"ah."
Miss Fan exclaimed, her eyes became more shy, "Your Majesty is so big, why..."
Mrs. Fan chuckled, "The Empress Dowager was about to choose a concubine for Your Majesty when she went, but she went before she could do so. Your Majesty has always kept his filial piety, and has waited until now."
Knowing that the emperor in her mind has never been close to a woman, Miss Fan's heart was agitated.
Her mother is still making up her mind, "Wait until His Majesty leaves the palace. Mother will take you out of the palace. My son is so beautiful|flashy. Your Majesty only needs to take a look..."
"Mom, what are you talking about!"
Miss Fan lowered her head shyly, but she was thinking about what His Majesty should look like.
I heard that the late emperor was very heroic back then, so your Majesty should follow the late emperor, right
Thinking about it, she thought of the little lady of the Zhao family who was designated as the queen, and then thought of His Majesty's frequent visits to the Prime Minister's Mansion, and immediately there was a little bit of gloom in her eyes.
She is really restless, although she is engaged, but at this age she will seduce|lure His Majesty to go to the mansion, if she enters the palace, she still won't seduce His Majesty's heart.
But when he thought about what his mother had said that Mrs. Zhao's appearance was also pretty, and that the young lady of the Zhao family must not be as good-looking as her, he became happy again in his heart.
The mother and daughter talked happily, completely unaware of a person lying quietly on the roof, and when they could no longer hear anything, they stepped on the big tree next to the house with a light step.
***
There is still one month left for the palace examination, Zhao Shuqing is not in a hurry, Wei Mingyan moved a lot of books from the palace to him.
"These collections contain the content that will be tested on the day of the imperial examination, and I can be regarded as giving you a thorough explanation."
The emperor smiled smugly, Zhao Shuqing silently put down his hands and was reading a book, watching the big boxes being lifted up by the servants and placed in front of him.
It wasn't until the seventh box landed that there was no follow-up.
He looked at Wei Mingyan expressionlessly, "Your Majesty, you want me to finish reading these seven boxes of books within a month?"
The emperor was confident, "I believe you can do it."
Ah.
Zhao Shuqing got up indifferently, the weather was cold at the moment, he felt that he needed to take a nap.
I hope that when I wake up, the person in front of me has disappeared in front of me.
He walked all the way into the house but didn't see a man come up to him to keep him. He stood by the window in doubt, watching Wei Mingyan lead the man out of the yard with a smile, his brows slightly frowned.
After getting along for such a long time, Zhao Shuqing has a preliminary understanding of the mentality of this ancient emperor.
Just like a child, you must be accompanied by someone to do everything.
And he was the one appointed to accompany him.
It seems like now that I came to the prime minister's mansion specially after leaving the palace, but it was just to deliver a few boxes of books, and I didn't ask him to accompany her, it was absolutely abnormal.
After thinking clearly, Zhao Shuqing stretched out his slender hand, smoothed his frowning brows, and left the room expressionlessly.
He went all the way to the back door and waited quietly. Sure enough, after a while, the voice of his sister chatting and laughing with the ancient emperor came out.
Then, he met the eyes of the two of them.
Zhao Shujiu stopped walking guiltily, Wei Mingyan looked up at the sky.
"Brother Shuqing, what a coincidence."
Hehe, this cheeky one.
Even though he longed to drag his sister behind him, Zhao Shuqing's voice was still calm, "Unfortunately, I'm waiting for you."
"Jiu'er, mother wants you to manage the accounts in the afternoon, do you remember?"
Zhao Shujiu carefully looked at his elder brother's expression, "Second brother, I have already dealt with all of that, using the method you taught me..."
After being reminded by his sister, he just remembered that because his sister had to learn how to manage the housework before, he was burned out, so he taught her some modern accounting methods.
"Shuqing, I have also seen your method of managing accounts. It is really good. It is clear at a glance, and it is simple and not easy to make mistakes."
Wei Mingyan saw that the little girl Zhao Shujiu had her head down so much that she didn't dare to say anything, so she hurried out to smooth things over, "I'm going to take Jiu'er to the theater, do you want to go with me?"
Zhao Shuqing looked at the sky, and his voice was rarely suspicious, "Would you like to watch a show in such a sky?"
"Naturally." The handsome emperor smiled smugly, and went over to pat him on the shoulder, "It's still a big show."
***
Miss Fan's family received news from the palace servants bought by her mother, saying that His Majesty will leave the palace today to play in the street.
Mrs. Fan asked her servants to watch at the gate of the palace early on, and indeed she saw a carriage being sent out, she quickly asked her daughter to wash up, and watched the carriage stop at the prime minister's mansion, the man in the white cloak brought several A follower went in, and the servant came to report.
It was rare for Miss Fan to be so nervous. Facing herself in the bronze mirror, she took several deep breaths, finally calming down a little.
Today is her big day.
If it goes well, once she is elected as a concubine, if she gives birth to a prince in the future, she may still be able to think about the position of the emperor.
If it doesn't go well...
She quickly suppressed this unlucky thought, how could it not go well, His Majesty must be in modest clothes when he leaves the palace, she, an official woman who doesn't know his identity, met him by chance, and she looks so beautiful , no man will not be moved.
Miss Fan waited nervously until her mother came to call her. It was said that the carriage stopped under the restaurant, and the young man in white cloak led the people up to the second floor. Then she got up quickly and looked at the bronze mirror again. Look, I took the maid out of the door.
There are still a lot of young ladies on the street. After all, there are fewer men coming out in winter now. Some young ladies who love to play come to go shopping. Miss Fan, wearing a veil, entered a gold shop next to the restaurant.
She seemed to be choosing jewelry, but in fact, her eyes were fixed on the door of the restaurant.
Mother said, His Majesty is wearing white clothes today, and he has four attendants with him, one of whom should be the chief eunuch in the palace, who is chubby and always by His Majesty's side.
I don't know how long she stood in the gold shop. Miss Fan finally saw a man wearing a white cloak come out, followed by round and fat attendants, and behind him were three guards with swords. As soon as they came out, He was about to walk towards the carriage.
Miss Fan was overjoyed, she quickly put down the jewelry she was looking at, bit her lip lightly, and led the people over there.
It's a pity that she dressed up today, but she didn't attract the gentleman's eyes.
Seeing that the gentleman in white was about to get into the car, Miss Fan gritted her teeth and pulled off the veil on her face pretending to be unintentional.
"ah!"
Mr. Lang, who was about to get into the car, heard the woman's exclamation, and subconsciously looked suspiciously, and then met a beautiful young face.
He was slightly taken aback, looking at his gaze, he was a little lost.
"This is the same as what is said in the script."
Zhao Shujiu lay on the opposite floor and looked down, seeing the two people chatting on the street like this, the tips of their ears became hot.
"Or else it's a big show."
Wei Mingyan clapped his hands, and raised his eyebrows at Zhao Shuqing who was sitting at the table and smiled lightly, "How about it, Shuqing likes this scene where gifted scholars and beautiful ladies meet for the first time?"
Zhao Shuqing picked up the teacup unhurriedly and shook his head, "If both of them are good-looking, it's the first time they met. If one of them is ugly, then we will never see each other again."
The emperor laughed, "Exactly."
Miss Fan downstairs also saw clearly the appearance of the gentleman in front of her. To her disappointment, the appearance of the person in front of her was not as handsome as she imagined, and even a little ugly.
But thinking of the identity of the person in front of her, she was still shy and gave him a shy look.
Sure enough, the amazement in the eyes of the opposite person was even heavier.
From this day on, Miss Fan frequently went out from Fan's house to meet this "His Majesty" secretly.
In his mouth, he is just the son of a wealthy businessman who came to Beijing to do business and has a wife at home.
Miss Fan didn't care at all, she wholeheartedly thought that he was hiding his identity, and his wife naturally meant the young lady of the Zhao family who hadn't entered the palace yet.
Leaning in his arms, she expressed her heart tenderly, expressing that she was willing to be a concubine for his sake.
The two had been dating for more than a month, and Mrs. Fan helped to cover it up. Finally, when the palace test was about to take place, the man who claimed to be the son of a rich merchant finally couldn't stand Miss Fan's urging, and agreed to come to his home to propose marriage.
Miss Fan's face was tender and sweet, but in her heart she was overjoyed.
During this period of time, she has used the skills she learned from her mother to "Your Majesty". In addition, she got acquainted with him because of her admiration for his talent without knowing the identity of His Majesty. Entering the palace, presumably the grace of this body is absolutely indispensable.
In the future, when the young lady of the Zhao family enters the palace, she has already won the heart of "Your Majesty".
On the appointed day, Miss Fan's family waited expectantly, and the gentleman really came to propose marriage with someone.
Master Fan didn't know about this, and he was furious when he heard that the son of a mere merchant came to marry his daughter, but he was still a concubine.
But the gentleman said again, this is what he and Miss Fan discussed together.
Furious, he left him in the lobby and went to Miss Fan's yard.
Miss Fan was painting her eyebrows. After hearing Lord Fan's question, she looked at her father in surprise, "Why is father so angry? What if my daughter is married to His Majesty and becomes a concubine?"
Master Fan was almost fainted by the sweetness on her face.
"That's not His Majesty at all!! I've been in court for many years, so it's possible that I still can't recognize His Majesty's face!!"
"He is the son of an ordinary businessman!"
— boom
The eyebrow pencil fell to the ground, only Miss Fan was left with a pale face, looking at her father in disbelief.