Secondly, it was the Emperor himself who demoted him to the lowest rank, so even if he had favors from Prince Dun, other officials would think twice before employing him. So, although it seems that Yuan Qi Yu still has a chance, in fact, unless he has extraordinary luck, he has no chance of rising up. Moreover, he is already useless and has left a bad impression on the Emperor, so Prince Dun is very likely to give up on him.
Wenren Taibo couldn't help but sigh in his heart, but Emperor Xuanren laughed, "You little nerd, you are really a nerd. If someone sees you, I don't know how to deal with it. But there's nothing wrong with this. It's rare to have such a pure heart."
Wen Renyang has never been really stupid, he is just obsessed with reading, and external affairs and objects rarely disturb him. Over time, he has formed certain habits, and outsiders seem to think he is slow in reaction. In fact, he knows a lot of things in his heart, but as I said, he just doesn't care, no matter whether it is praise or criticism, but when it is really beneficial to him, he also knows how to deal with it.
Emperor Xuanren still had government affairs to deal with, so he did not keep Wenren Yang for long.
Not long after Wen Renyang left the palace, Yuan Qi Yu's affairs soon became known to the public with the tacit approval of Emperor Xuanren.
Obviously, Emperor Xuanren was also sounding a warning to some people, telling them not to think that they have reached the top by this step and become complacent. He might be like many other scholars in the imperial city, borrowing the name of Wenren Yang as a "talented scholar".
As a person involved, Yuan Qiyu naturally learned the news earlier.
He had fainted in the morning due to the stimulation of Wen Ren Yang, and now he vomited blood and fell into a coma again. This time, it was not as easy to wake up as before. You must know that when he entered the imperial city to prepare for the imperial examination, he knew that he had noble relatives like Concubine Shun and Prince Dun. As long as he passed the exam, he would not have to worry about his future. His family never thought that he would fail the exam. Therefore, all the family members, young and old, followed him and were ready to enjoy the good life.
The results of the palace examination had not come out yet, but they were ranked last among the top three, which disgusted the emperor. They felt as if the sky had fallen and the earth had collapsed. They cried loudly as if their parents had died. Perhaps, in their hearts, this was more serious than losing their parents.
“Cry, cry, cry. What’s the use of crying now? Hurry up and find Old Madam Zhou and ask her to come to the palace to look for Concubine Shun. Then we will think of a way to see Prince Dun. It would be best if there is room for redemption. If…” The speaker was Yuan Qiyu’s grandfather, the head of the family. The Old Madam Zhou he mentioned was Concubine Shun’s biological mother, a daughter of the Yuan family.
"Okay, okay, I'll go right away." His wife wiped away her tears and took her daughter-in-law, Yuan Qiyu's mother, to Zhou's house. The unconscious Yuan Qiyu was completely ignored. Obviously, in their eyes, Yuan Qiyu's future was more important than himself.
Yuan Qi Yu was originally one of the helpers trained for Prince Dun, and the Zhou family could not ignore him. However, it was impossible for him to enter the palace at this time today, and he could only come as early as tomorrow.
As for Prince Dun's mansion, Prince Dun did see it, but he didn't make any clear statement. He understood his father's temper, and once he had spoken, there was basically no room for maneuver. He didn't have to have Yuan Qi Yu. Yuan Qi Yu might be of some use to him, but he couldn't bring him any other benefits. There was no need for him to plead for such a person at the risk of angering his father. To put it bluntly, he had already given up on Yuan Qi Yu in his heart.
Therefore, Prince Dun’s choice was exactly what Wen Renyang had expected.
But he was still angry. He was angry because the Wen family didn't even give him face. If the news got out, he would be laughed to death!
Moreover, he couldn't even protect those who were registered with him. How many of those new scholars were willing to join him? They would be completely resentful of the Wen family.
The Zhou family didn't know what Prince Dun was thinking yet, and they were trying to make a final effort. Prince Dun didn't stop them. It would be best if Yuan Qi Yu could be saved. As for whether his mother would anger his father, he was not worried. There was still affection between his mother and his father. He was just begging for mercy. At most, his father would disagree, and he would not get angry with his mother for this.
So if it succeeds, that’s the best, but if it doesn’t, there’s no loss.
There is no queen in the main palace, and as one of the people who assists in managing the harem, Shunfei does not need anyone else's permission to meet with people outside the palace.
Concubine Shun knew that she was not a very smart person, and was even far inferior to her sister who lived in the Marquis of Pingyang's mansion. However, she refused her sister's help with advice from the very beginning, because the Marquis of Pingyang and the Emperor were completely two different kinds of men. Using the means to win over the Marquis of Pingyang to win over the Emperor would be courting death. Concubine Shun was neither smart nor stupid.
She has come this far and has raised her son safely. Even though there are countless newcomers and she has long lost favor, she can still occupy a place in the harem. Even the virtuous concubine dares not touch her. She naturally has her own way of survival.
To put it bluntly, she likes whatever the emperor likes, and she won't like what the emperor doesn't like, but she won't add insult to injury either. Even when she is educating her son, it is just an ordinary upbringing, and she never instills any ideas in him. Her methods are very crude, but they are very effective on Emperor Xuanren.
Emperor Xuanren was never a ungrateful person. As long as they didn't make big mistakes, it was okay for them to show a little temper occasionally. He was especially tolerant of those who had served him since the palace, and Concubine Shun was the most tolerant among them. Therefore, even if he didn't favor her, he would occasionally visit Concubine Shun's palace. This kind of closeness was something that Concubine Xian didn't have, and the concubines of higher ranks were not without jealousy.
With this affection, what Concubine Shun wants to do is naturally more convenient than being given by others, but will she ask Emperor Xuanren for mercy? Of course not. Knowing that there is no room for maneuver in this matter, Yuan Qiyu is dispensable to her son, so how stupid is she to waste that affection? After all, affection is limited, especially when it is given by the emperor, so don't expect it to be effective forever, so you have to cherish it doubly and use it on the cutting edge at the critical moment.
But Prince Dun did not know all this. However, he did not come to the palace to dissuade her, and she was not disappointed. Her son was just like her, not a very smart person, with ambitions that did not match his abilities. However, she had never thought of her son sitting in that position. Of course, Concubine Shun did not talk to Prince Dun about this issue. After all, he was her biological son, so she had to give him some face.
She also knew that her son was not a very bold person. He would not dare to go too far even if he had the guts to do something. The things he did dare to do were within the tolerance of the emperor. In other words, the emperor even indulged his own children. The emperor was in his prime and would always be able to make good arrangements for his son in the future. Therefore, Concubine Shun was not worried.
So, in Wen Renying's previous life, when the throne fell to Prince Dun, Concubine Shun was not happy, but rather a little devastated. In fact, she had indeed predicted correctly that after her son ascended the throne, her life would not be easy, and she would end up in a miserable situation.
The reason why she agreed to the sign handed in from outside the palace was, firstly, that was her mother, and secondly, she should give her a proper knock. Therefore, when Shun Fei's mother brought the Yuan family in, Shun Fei even had the leisure to do the vase insertion.
After the greeting, Concubine Shun asked someone to find a seat and serve tea, and then she washed her hands slowly.
Before she could speak, the Yuan family members finally couldn't hold back anymore and began to cry miserably.
It was not the first time they met Concubine Shun. They had been brought in once before by Old Madam Zhou. They were nervous at first, but seeing that Concubine Shun was a good-natured person, they seemed to be very relaxed this time, not caring about their image or the occasion.
"Alright, stop crying. It's useless. I won't beg the emperor for mercy."
The crying stopped abruptly because of Concubine Shun's indifference. She stared at Concubine Shun in a daze, as if she couldn't believe that such a kind and amiable Concubine Shun would become like this. Was she like this because she asked her for help? Was she such a profit-seeking person in nature
Shun Fei saw their eyes change, but she didn't care. "I have never seen your child, and I don't know exactly what happened yesterday. However, based on the little I know, did you raise the child astray? What kind of place is this? There are a lot of nobles under the feet of the emperor, and he is even more frivolous than those people.
He was so arrogant that he dared to speak rudely without knowing the situation. If he really met an important person, he would be beaten half to death. Besides, Wenren Yang was so famous in the imperial city. He had introduced himself to others, but he was so stupid as to bump into them and humiliate himself. He had been in the imperial city for quite a while. As a scholar, shouldn't he also associate with scholars? If he associates with scholars, how could he not know Wenren Yang? So, what on earth does he do all day
Not to mention the emperor's words, even if he could plead for mercy, I would not say a word. I would be ashamed.
Tell me that with his temper, it is good for him to fall down now, so that he can know that there are always people better than you, and avoid causing greater trouble in the future, which will implicate me and Prince Dun."
The Yuan family was speechless. Was their child raised wrong? Perhaps, because the child was smart, and because he had a relative like Prince Dun, his goal had already been set. The whole family had high hopes for him. With the vague indulgence of his elders, the endless praise, and the flattery of others, he was arrogant and conceited, and he really thought he was a big shot.
They were actually aware of these things, but before coming to the Imperial City, no one took them seriously. They had a powerful backer, so what if they were a little arrogant? The result...
Old Madam Zhou had no intention of speaking again. Her daughter and grandson were naturally much more important than outsiders.
"Okay, if there's nothing else, just leave the palace. Today is the Shangsi Festival, a good day for an outing. It's good to go out and relax. Don't think too much, it's useless. - Do you want to go with them, or stay in the palace for dinner and go back in the afternoon?" Concubine Shun's attitude of driving people away was quite rude.
It is not easy for Mrs. Zhou to see her daughter. It is impossible for her to just hand over a name card whenever she wants. Once she comes, she naturally wants to be closer to her daughter. If she chooses to stay, the original family members can only leave.
Xiaocao was naturally out with her family at this time. She was alone before and was very busy every day. Not to mention the Shangsi Festival, she celebrated any important festival in the same way, and it seemed to make no difference.
Things are different now, and Xiaocao's mood is completely different. It is still good to enjoy the taste of life.
Compared to yesterday's trip, the number of people today is quite considerable. Except for those who cannot go out and those who have to go to the government office, all the others have gone out. It is a grand and lively scene.
The imperial city and its surroundings are so large that there are many places to go, and the gap between the rich and the poor is not that big today. Of course, even so, ordinary people can only look at the wealth of the rich from afar.
In order to prevent the same incident from happening again, Han not only ordered the maid to serve well, but also warned Wen Renying to stay with her fourth sister. Wen Renying happily accepted the task assigned by her mother.
Is it the rhythm that if you make a mistake once, your credibility will be gone? Although Xiaocao feels helpless, she accepts it well.
Along the way, he met many familiar people and greeted each other. Xiaocao got to know some new people, but as the saying goes, first time is strange, second time is familiar, so after a few times, he became more calm.
Wenrenjia did not follow the trend and go to the streamside. Ordinary small hills, small woods and other places are all good choices.
Along the way, you can see many young men riding horses, calling their friends, dressed in fine clothes and riding fast horses.
The older children brought the younger children, flying kites and playing games happily. They also brought a lot of fruits and snacks from home. Those who were more particular set up a table, while those who were more casual just spread mats on the ground, sat on the edge, and started to enjoy the food. It was really a leisurely and comfortable time.
After Xiaocao returned to the Wenren Family, she has had relatively free time, but it is still not as free as it is today.
She sat on the ground, hugged her knees, closed her eyes, and let the breeze brush across her cheeks, feeling comfortable. Wen Renying lazily nestled beside her, and even stretched out a hand to hold Xiaocao's waist. She couldn't be driven away, and Wen Renying even smiled and said that she was afraid that she would run away.
Han left for a while halfway through the journey, but her face did not look very good when she came back.
"Mom, what's wrong?" Xiaocao asked, looking up.
Han sat down next to Xiao Cao and said, "I saw the Meng family just now. Do you still remember the Meng family?"
"The home of Xiao Si's fiancée?" There were too many people and there was a possibility that they were mixed up.
Wen Renying also sat up and looked at her mother.
"Yes, on the day of our family's banquet, Yang'er's fiancée didn't come. Someone in her family said that she caught a cold. When I saw the Meng family, I went to check on them, but the girl was still not there. I asked about the situation, but saw that the Meng family was hesitating and their expressions seemed a little wrong. Now that I think about it carefully, the Meng family's faces didn't seem very natural that day. I wondered if there was something wrong with the girl." After all, it was the daughter-in-law who was going to marry into the family in a few months, so Han was somewhat worried.
Xiao Cao pulled Wen Renying's hand away and stood up. "If mother is worried, let's go and take a look."
"Go now?" Han was surprised. Her daughter was such a believer.
"Today is all about having fun anyway. If you really leave me idle for the whole day, it would be so boring."