After all these days, it's finally coming to an end!
Looking at the students who looked pale and haggard, Shen Mingzhu sighed inwardly, realizing how difficult it had been for them.
The imperial examination system for promoting talented individuals is a major national undertaking, especially for the Great Yan Dynasty, and the upcoming batch of newly promoted officials is of particular importance.
For many long years to come, they will need to stay true to their original aspirations, remain impartial, and do their best for the people and for the Great Yan Dynasty.
Next, all the ministers gathered together, with the crown prince sitting in the centre. They began to draw lots to distribute the papers, with the southern papers recommended at a ratio of 55 to 35 and the northern papers at a ratio of 35 to 50.
Guagua, did you see that? Out of a hundred people, fifty-five were selected from the south, thirty-five from the north, and ten from the centre. Xiao Yanzhi and the others have reason to be arrogant!
Host, the South has always been a gathering place for scholars and literati, and has always been so.
Crown Prince Yan Beichen watched Shen Mingzhu stand there obediently, his thoughts occasionally drifting back to her. He smiled slightly, secretly marvelling at how much the young girl knew.
Shen Mingzhu: Isn't that obvious?
As one of the examiners for this imperial examination, I naturally need to understand the situation thoroughly.
They're just giving up, but they're not exactly good at it!
They've never let us down when it matters most!
The following day, Shen Mingzhu attended court again. After several days, the entire court seemed much more subdued.
Guagua, what's wrong? It feels like all the officials in the court have lost their energy and spirit after just a few days!
The entire court: Lord Shen, you've finally arrived! We've missed you so much!!!
Shen Mingzhu: What? Am I that important?
How come I didn't know?
Shen Changyuan: There are many things you don't know.
Tian Xuezhou: Oh dear, without Lord Shen in court, life feels hopeless!
The entire court: Yes, yes!
Guagua, see that? Your host is just so lovable!
Host, keep a low profile.
Guagua, come quick. What big things have happened in the last few days?
Host, oh my god! Princess Chang Le has divorced Tian Da Chui, and she has been demoted to a commoner!
So soon? I thought Princess Chang Le would cry and make a scene, refusing to agree!
Host, there's no way around it. She has to agree, whether she likes it or not. It's an imperial edict from Emperor Jingyuan, and Princess Chang Le dares not disobey!
However, Emperor Jingyuan still had a tiny bit of fatherly compassion. He took back the princess's residence and gave her a three-courtyard house as her home. Princess Chang Le—oh, no, she's now called the commoner. Yan Chang Le is currently crying at the Xuan Prince's residence!
Shen Mingzhu: Crying at the Xuanwang Mansion?
Su Qingshan: Sigh... I hope Chang Le can learn from this experience, give birth to the child in her womb properly, and live a good life. With the Su family and her elder brother, Prince Xuan, even if she is no longer the noble Princess Chang Le of Great Yan, ensuring her a lifetime of glory is not a problem.
All the civil and military officials looked at Emperor Jingyuan at the head of the table, and seeing that he had no expression, they all lowered their heads and pondered.
Ah! Is Emperor Jingyuan really that decisive?
Yan Beichen: Father Emperor is very decisive in handling matters!
Then, the system's voice came again.
Host, absolutely! After all, that's an emperor. A decisive action is necessary! What's a daughter? To be cursed with an iron broom in one's destiny is a taboo; it must be dealt with!
Guagua, what's Consort Li's attitude? Did she just obediently accept it?
Host, Consort Li definitely disagreed and pleaded for her! But Emperor Jingyuan's mind is made up. Consort Li has served Emperor Jingyuan for so many years. She naturally sees through the emperor's thoughts, and in the end, she can only sacrifice a pawn to save the king!
Shen Mingzhu nodded unconsciously.
Indeed, she loved her daughter, but Consort Li's favourite was definitely the Second Prince, Yan Yunxuan.
Consort Li feared that saying too much would incur Emperor Jingyuan's dislike.
Su Qingshan: Bao'er did the right thing.
All the officials and civil and military officials: Indeed, this time, Consort Li finally did one thing right.
To be honest, Princess Chang Le has gone too far lately!
She also had connections with Xu Kaiming, the son of the Salt Commissioner of Jiangnan…
Why...
Speaking of the Xu family, those who have connections with their colleagues in Jiangnan all sigh with regret!
The Xu family caused quite a stir in Jiangnan!
It's gotten so bad that they're about to take it to court!
The Xu family has become famous this time!
Aww~~~ Host, the commoner Yan Chang Le has been crying and complaining at the Xuan Prince's mansion, and Shen Jiao Jiao has been comforting her, which has prevented her from going out to manage the pharmacy for several days in a row. Now Shen Jiao Jiao is annoyed, too! She's trying to find a way to get rid of her!
Guagua, she's just visiting her own brother's house to vent her frustrations. If that doesn't work, Shen Jiaojiao can have someone else stay with her. It's going too far to kick her out!
Host, you don't understand! Right now, the Xuanwang Mansion truly only has two masters. Yan Yunxuan has to attend court and work, so only Shen Jiaojiao can represent the female members. As for the other concubines, they're all people who can't be brought into the open. Making them accompany her —whose face is that being slapped?
Guagua, sooner or later, Yan Yunxuan will settle this matter.
Host, you're really clever. Shen Jiaojiao subtly brought this up last night, but the second prince didn't take it to heart. He felt his sister had suffered a heavy blow and was in a bad mood, so as her sister-in-law, Shen Jiaojiao naturally had to comfort and console her and keep her company!
The entire court thought: The Second Prince's thinking is too simplistic.
They say three women make a drama, and one woman is worth five hundred ducks. With so many women in the Xuan Prince's mansion, each one has her own hidden agenda…
Just thinking about it is amazing!
Of course, what about your own backyard?
Yes! My wife manages things well!!!
Guagua, where is Consort Li? What's she doing?
Host, Consort Li has instructed her maternal family, the Su family, to take good care of and comfort Yan Chang Le. She plans to plead for Yan Chang Le's matters once Emperor Jingyuan's anger subsides, gradually restoring Yan Chang Le's princess status.
Shen Mingzhu: This is a gradual approach.
Yes, host, the current situation is extremely unfavourable for them. Emperor Jingyuan has made up his mind, and she can only ask her daughter Chang Le to suffer for now!
Oh dear, host, host! Yan Changle saw Zhou Hanchuan, who had come to see Shen Jiaojiao, at the Xuanwang Mansion. She knew he was the divine doctor who had recently opened a pharmacy in Shengjing and was leading disciples of the Divine Doctor Valley to provide free medical consultations. She asked him to take her pulse, saying she wanted to know if the baby in her belly was a boy or a girl. Her goodwill towards Zhou Hanchuan increased dramatically.
Guagua, could Yan Changle have taken a liking to him?
Host, she only has a favourable relationship with him! Currently, she is a commoner and has no intention of pursuing the divine physician of Divine Healer Valley.
Su Qingshan: Chang Le will finally behave herself and stay in her own residence to rest and prepare for childbirth!
Zhou Hanchuan and Shen Jiaojiao are now considered one of the Second Prince's moneybags, and they have good reputations, so they are highly valued!
He didn't want to see Zhou Hanchuan's connection severed again because of Chang Le!
At this moment, in the main hall, the Second Prince Yan Yunxuan felt a chill on the back of his neck again and had a feeling that something bad was about to happen.
Guagua, isn't the imperial examination results going to be posted today?
Host, yes, the city of Shengjing is packed with people today. Many families have already prepared ropes to catch a son-in-law from under the examination papers.
Guagua is it that urgent, can't they wait till everything is settled?
Host, strike first, or suffer the consequences!
Haha~~~ That's true!
Many ministers' families were eager to marry their daughters to new scholars. Gu Ci, the Minister of Rites, who wanted to find a scholar from a poor family with a respectable background and an upright character.
Looking at Shen Changyuan beside him, he thought, "The Marquis's mansion is nice, but it's deadly!"
Otherwise, it would truly be an excellent match.
What a pity!
At this moment, Shen Mingzhu thought about the end of the imperial examination and the upcoming wedding of her second brother and cousin Hao.
Guagua, next up is my second brother's wedding and my cousin Hao. Will my eldest brother's wedding still be settled? It would be even better if it were a triple celebration!
Host, the eldest daughter of the Wan family, is very willing to marry your eldest brother. Now that the imperial examination is over, she has sent a formal invitation today.
Oh, and Princess An and Madam Zhou, the Minister of Justice, also sent visiting cards!
Guagua, is our Shen family really that popular?
Host, you're only just realizing this now!
All the officials replied: Yes, yes, yes. The Shen family of the Marquis of Changping is now a very prestigious family in Shengjing. Everyone is willing to form a marriage alliance with your family.
Prince An: Hehe~~~ I want to marry my eldest daughter, Princess Anning, to Shen Qingzhan, the third young master of the Shen family.
Minister of Justice Zhou Wenwu: What a coincidence! My family has also taken a liking to Shen Qingzhan, the third young master of the Shen family.
Shen Changyuan: Oh my, I didn't expect the third son to be so popular!
My family also has a fourth brother, Shen Qingbo. You can check him out, too!
All the officials: Let's first look at the older sons; we can look at the fourth son of the Shen family later.
At this moment, Shen Qingbo is in his Qingbo Courtyard, holding his pet Bozai and stroking his fur.
"Bo-zai, Bo-zai, grow up quickly, and Daddy will take you out to eat something delicious~~~"
Bo-zai: Hoo hoo hoo!
Cat: Meow~~~ "Shut up! You're disturbing my rest~
Bo-zai: Heh~~~ "I was wrong, I'll shut up!
Cat: Hmph!
A gentle breeze blows, and snowflakes fall onto the bare branches.
Host, I have some really exciting news for you!
Tell me! You're keeping me in suspense again!
Alright, host, let me tell you, Shi Wenya, the eldest daughter of the Shi family, ran into your uncle Xie Yuze today and confessed her feelings!
Oh? Really? So brave? Has my uncle accepted it?
Prince An: What?
The eldest daughter of the Shi family confesses her love to General Xie?
It's such a pity that I didn't get to see it in person.
Will General Xie accept it?
Unexpectedly, even though General Xie's youngest son is about to get married, a girl is still confessing her feelings to him.
The person confessing their love was the younger daughter-in-law's sister?
Hahaha~~~
Should I start calling his son a brother-in-law?
Hahaha~~~
At this moment, the generals straightened their backs. "Wow, our general has made something of himself! Someone actually confessed their feelings to him!"
Tian Xuezhou: What's wrong with military officers?
Our military generals who defend our country are still highly respected.
Moreover, the Xie family has guarded the northern lands for generations, ensuring peace and tranquillity for the people there, which makes them worthy of the girl's affection and respect.
Ah! Oh dear! Ouch!
Guagua, what's going on? Has my uncle accepted it or not? What are you doing making all that noise over there?
All the officials: Yes, what exactly is going on?
I need help urgently.
I want to know the answer!
Shen Changyuan: I didn't realize my brother-in-law was so popular.
This young lady from the Shi family is quite brave; it's just a matter of whether his brother-in-law is romantic or not.
Guagua, what's going on?
Host, your uncle refused! He wants Shi Wenya to find someone of similar age and social standing to settle down with.
The results just came out today, so let her pick a good husband for herself!
Uh... okay, it seems her uncle doesn't like her at all.
She was actually looking forward to it at first!
Shen Changyuan: Don't expect everything; expecting everything will only harm you.
Crown Prince Yan Beichen: It seems my little Crown Princess is disappointed!
Shi Wenya was extremely excited at that moment. The moment she saw Xie Yuze, she suddenly felt that her life had been illuminated with golden light.
General Xie Yuze is shining brightly!
Some people, no matter how many years have passed or how many barriers of time remain, can easily steal your heart as long as they stand before you.
You know perfectly well that your heart beats for him.
Upon hearing that she had been rejected, Shi Wenya lowered her head and smiled bitterly.
My little sister is so lucky.
She will be his daughter-in-law from now on.
They'll probably be very happy, right?!
"General Xie, I truly admire you and hope you will allow me to stay by your side and take care of you. I mean it sincerely."
Xie Yuze frowned slightly and waved his hand in direct refusal.
"Miss Shi, my son is about to get married. You are my Hao'er's older sister inlaw and will be my junior in the future. You should listen to your family and find someone to settle down with. Everything else is just a bubble."
"Don't pursue relationships that will never lead to anything."
So decisive and efficient.
Shi Wenya felt as if she could hear her own heart breaking.
"General Xie, I hope you will give me a chance. I just need a chance."
Xie Yuze looked at the pretty girl in front of him and shook his head.
"Miss Shi, our two families will be related by marriage from now on. I will pretend I didn't hear what you said today. I hope you can find your own happiness in the future."
After saying that, he went directly to a private room in the teahouse next door.
He came here specifically to see his nephew Shen Qinghong's exam results but unexpectedly ran into Shi Wenya.
Why...
The little girl is still too young and naive.
Wow! My uncle is so decisive!
Shen Mingzhu's inner voice rang out once again.
The entire court felt that General Xie Yuze's decision was within expectations.
The two were from different generations and were both old enough to be each other's daughters.
Although it is called taking a second wife, there are no specific age requirements.
In addition, Xie Yuze holds a high position, so many families are willing to marry their daughters to him.
He has many choices.
He must have his reasons for not remarrying all these years.
Adding to the fact that the family's youngest son will marry the Shi family's youngest daughter, Shi Wenxuan, Xie Yuze, the father, felt awkward about him marrying her older sister, Shi Wenya
Host, Shi Wenya left in tears, heartbroken.
"There's nothing we can do, Guagua. My uncle doesn't like her, and we can't force him to marry a new woman."
Host, we definitely won't force him! Your uncle is a great general. How could we possibly pressure him!
After being rejected, Shi Wenya went home crying.
All those years of infatuation have ultimately turned into nothing.
Seeing her younger sister Shi Wenxuan embroidering her wedding dress, Shi Wenya wiped away her tears and calmly walked in.
"Little sister, how have you been lately? What do you think of Xie Hao?"
Upon seeing her eldest sister, Shi Wenxuan relaxed, a slight smile playing on her lips, and said shyly,
"Sis, he's okay."