Do You Know?: Rule the World.

Chapter 109 Molan: Xiaoliu has become more astute in recent years
After distributing the palace flowers according to age, Wang Ruofu left with a flick of her sleeves, walking angrily in the backyard.

"My lord, you are becoming more and more partial now. I, Ru'er, should have chosen first the things sent by the Crown Prince and Hua'er!"

"My daughter has become the Crown Princess, yet she still has to endure the bullying of that bitch from Linqi Pavilion!"

Mother Liu quickly consoled her, "Madam, calm down. It's just a girl's plaything. Why is there such a need?"

"The master is most wary of legitimate and illegitimate children. If the eldest lady steps forward and angers the master again, wouldn't it make Linqi Pavilion more powerful again?"

"Fifth Miss is the same. When she's impulsive, she's prone to saying the wrong thing, which can be used against her."

Wang Ruofu let out a long breath, "Ruru really has taken after my personality."

"But this girl Molan actually wants to curry favor with the Duke of Qi's Mansion. We're really giving her face, but she doesn't even consider her own worth!"

"In terms of status, Ru'er is the only one in the entire Sheng family who can match the Duke's Mansion."

Madam Liu frowned slightly and asked in a low voice, "Did the eldest lady choose the Qi family for the fifth young lady?"

Wang Ruofu snorted softly and slowly waved her round fan. "My father is worthy of being enshrined in the Imperial Ancestral Temple, my mother has been granted an imperial decree, my father-in-law is a scholar who has been awarded the third place in the imperial examination, my mother-in-law is the only daughter of a noble family, and my husband works in the Ministry of Personnel."

With every word she spoke, her back straightened a little.

"The eldest daughter is now the Crown Princess, personally appointed by the Emperor and the Empress. She comes from a family of noble scholars."

"When Changbai passes the imperial examination, I think it will be more than enough for Ruer to marry into the Duke of Qi's mansion."

Mother Liu didn't think there was anything wrong with what she said. She just said, "Ultimately, this matter depends on Fifth Miss's opinion. The princess is a mother-in-law, and that's not something that ordinary people can handle."

"Madam, you can't arrange marriages behind the girl's back."

Wang Ruofu nodded, "Of course I know."

"It's just a matter of planning ahead. I know Ru'er's personality best. This matter can't be rushed."

"The most important thing is that we can't let those vixens from Linqi Pavilion succeed."

-

This year's spring examination was presided over by Hanlin University Scholar Hai Ning. The Great Zhou Dynasty's imperial examinations have always implemented a strict system of avoiding relatives.

Any examiner who has a family relationship with the examinee, such as father and son, brothers, uncle and nephew, father-in-law and son-in-law, must resign voluntarily. Violators will be charged with cheating in the imperial examination.

Sheng Hong, who was originally expected to serve as a co-examiner, now doesn't even dare to ask a single question.

In the past, when I met Mr. Hai, I would say hello, but now I just dare to bow from afar and even skip the greetings, for fear of giving people a chance to talk.

And on the second day after Hualan was canonized as the Crown Princess, Sheng Hong wrote a letter of thanks, every word of which was sincere and showed his humility and caution.

After today's court meeting ended, Zhao Han said hello to Sheng Hong and went straight to Ciqing Hall.

Hualan and Shulan were chatting at this time.

After being named the Crown Princess, Hualan became more graceful and composed in her every move.

As a concubine, Shulan's demeanor is just right. Today, she is wearing a snow-blue brocade dress, which makes her look noble yet not ostentatious.

Seeing Zhao Han come in, Hualan immediately stood up to greet him, while Shulan took a half step back and bowed her head.

Zhao Han's eyes swept over the ginseng, honey, Poria cocos cake and other foods on the table.

After helping them both up, he asked gently, "Are you planning to send this to Changbai and Changfeng?"

Hualan pursed her lips and smiled, with a hint of concern in her eyes.

"Yes, their brothers are about to take the imperial examination, and I am getting nervous too."

"As the eldest sister, I can only prepare these to show my appreciation."

"Don't worry too much, Changbai will definitely pass the imperial examination this year." As Zhao Han spoke, he came to the bronze mirror. After Shulan understood what he meant, she immediately stepped forward to take off his court robes.

As Hua Lan placed the ginseng into the food box, she said, "Your Highness is so sure that Chang Bo will pass the exam, but what about Chang Feng?"

"Chang Feng barely made it onto the list in the Autumn Examination, but I'm afraid I won't be so lucky in this year's Spring Examination."

Hua Lan sighed softly, "Your Highness is right. With Chang Feng's personality, he really needs to calm down."

"I just hope Changbai can get a good ranking. If he can make it into the first class, it will be a great honor for the Sheng family."

Zhao Han smiled slightly, raised his hand and gently pinched Shulan's round little face, then turned his gaze to Hualan.

"Don't worry. After Changbai passes the imperial examination and enters the Imperial Academy, and has gained some experience, we will let him take up a position in the Imperial Household Department."

Normally, a new Jinshi must first pass the selection process to become a Shujishi, and then undergo training in the Hanlin Academy.

Only then will there be a chance to transfer to the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, a process that will take at least three to five years. Hua Lan frowned slightly, "Your Highness, please don't treat Changbai differently just because of me."

"If Dad knew, he would definitely scold me for being ignorant."

Zhao Han smiled and said, "The Eastern Palace is in need of personnel. I am well aware of Changbai's talent and character."

"That's good. On behalf of Changbai, I would like to thank Your Highness for his cultivation." Hua Lan smiled, and the worry on her face disappeared.

The day before the Spring Examination, the Sheng family was busy.
In Weiruixuan, Wang Ruofu was carefully checking the items prepared by the maids.

She frowned, rubbing her fingertips on the fabric of her clothes for a moment, and said, "The clothes you wear to the examination room cannot have any layers, they must be single clothes, and you should prepare a few extra sets of changes."

He then lifted the quilt to check its thickness, "Although it's already spring, the late spring cold snap is the worst."

"It was snowing this time last year, and the Imperial Examination Hall was very cold and gloomy."

Rulan lazily leaned on the soft couch. She was always careless and didn't care about Changbai's Spring Examination. She said nonchalantly, "Mother has never been to the Imperial Examination Hall, so how can she know if it's cold in there?"

Wang Ruofu turned her head to look at her and was about to speak.

Madam Liu came in and said, "Madam, the Sixth Miss sent over some knee pads. She said they were handmade and can keep out the cold at night and prevent your knees from getting cold."

Wang Ruofu picked up the knee pad and took a look. She saw that the stitching was fine and there was a layer of waterproof silk cloth on the outside.

Her voice softened unconsciously. "Sixth girl is really thoughtful. Bai'er has taken good care of her all these years."

Rulan came over to take a look, curled her lips, and asked, "Is there anything over at Linqi Pavilion?"

Mother Liu nodded and said, "One pair for each of the two brothers."

"Hmph, she's quite considerate, playing nice with both sides. Even the eldest sister insisted on having a portion for everyone when preparing food."

"Why do you have to think about Linqi Pavilion as well?"

After saying that, Rulan turned away unconvinced.

Wang Ruofu rolled her eyes at her and said, "Sixth girl, you are thorough and considerate in your words and actions. This is the demeanor that a lady from a noble family should have."

"Your elder sister is now the Crown Princess, so she should act even more fairly. You should learn from these principles."

Seeing Rulan still pouting, Wang Ruofu slammed the table and said, "You bastard! Your own brother is taking the imperial examination, and instead of preparing for him, you're here making sarcastic remarks."

"I know." Rulan responded reluctantly.

Wang Ruofu took a deep breath and personally folded the knee pads and placed them in the examination basket.

In Linqi Pavilion, Lin Qinshuang was wearing a peach-pink brocade robe, with her eyebrows and eyes painted particularly delicately.

Looking at the knee pads in the package, his eyes were full of disgust.

"Send anything here."

Sheng Changfeng glanced at it, and after thinking for a while, he said, "When His Royal Highness the Crown Prince took the imperial examination, I heard my second brother casually mention that Wei Xiaoniang also gave him a pair of knee pads."

Molan picked up the kneepad and touched it. "He's quite good at copying. Xiaoliu has become more and more astute in recent years."

"It's just that the material of this knee pad is a bit shabby."

Lin Qinshuang raised her hand and threw the kneepad to the maid beside her, "Take it away, don't leave it here and get in the way."

"I'm afraid Wei Ruixuan is also very disgusted with it."

Sheng Changfeng just sat there eating pastries and didn't care about the knee pads.

After Lin Qinshuang finished packing, she looked at Sheng Changfeng expectantly, "My son, you must do your best."

"I, your little mother, finally managed to find some evidence against you, and only then was I able to suppress Wei Ruixuan's limelight for the past few months."

"If my second brother gets into high school and you fail, I wonder how they would ridicule the three of us behind our backs."

Molan also said: "Third brother, you must pass the imperial examination and come back. Don't embarrass me and my mother."

In her heart, if her brother could pass the imperial examination, she would have one more chance of marrying into the Duke of Qi's mansion.

Chang Feng waved his hand and said confidently, "Don't worry. Scholar Zhuang said my writing was excellent a few days ago."

"I will definitely get into high school this time!"

Seeing this, Lin Qinshuang's eyes flashed with relief, and she nodded hurriedly: "It's good that my son has such ambition!"

(End of this chapter)