After saving the Empress, I became the top scholar in the imperial examination.

When Dong Yunzhuo was young, he had a falling out with Du Xiangqing, whose poetry was famous in the capital and who even ranked second in the imperial examination.

Dong, however, sat at the very end of the table and could only angrily curse, "What use are poems and lyrics? They're just for brothels and tea." As a result, he offended countless people and was suppressed for ten years.

Fortunately, a great disaster struck Jiangnan that year, and the imperial court was in dire need of capable people, so he was reinstated, which gave this "madman" a chance to rise again.

Now, this person has taken up a new post in the Censorate and concurrently serves as the Education Commissioner of Yingtian Prefecture, a meteoric rise indeed.

The appointment of him as a censor in the Censorate was a sign of his high regard for the emperor. His appointment as the Director of Educational Censor was an act of the emperor's encouragement to cultivate his reputation. The emperor arranged for him to become a mentor to the candidates in the imperial examinations, so that these candidates could be relied upon as his assistants once they entered the court.

Wu Shangmei had spoken with his uncle and maternal uncle a while ago. His uncle said that during the reign of Prince Xin, Dong Yunzhuo would likely be given a great role. This was also the reason why his uncle had summoned him today, to let him catch the eye of this prince.

As Wu Shangmei pondered, she couldn't help but glance at Gongsun Heng, who was still standing silently behind Ning Baixuan. Her eyelids twitched, and an endless sense of disappointment rose in her heart... What a cold-hearted woman!

Despite being his "former fiancée," she went to become the "master" of a mere eighteen-year-old boy just to save face. This is truly a disgrace to the Gongsun Qing family!

The third-ranking scholar, renowned throughout the capital and highly regarded by the Crown Prince, was filled with resentment. He told Dong Xuezheng about Ning Baixuan's "unparalleled talent in poetry," hoping Dong Xuezheng would express his opinion.

Dong Xuezheng didn't need to say much; a simple "Your poems are quite good; write more in the future" would have been enough for Magistrate Lou to understand his meaning and dismiss Ning Baixuan in the county examination.

Ning Baixuan's desire to take the imperial examination is truly delusional.

More than anyone else, he learned something else through his uncle—this person was actually the grand-nephew of the Marquis of Jingbei, and as long as Lady Xiao did not bear any more children for the Marquis of Jingbei, the title of Marquis of Jingbei would most likely fall into this person's hands.

Or perhaps this person has a son, who is then adopted into the lineage of the Marquis of Jingbei's eldest son who died young, so that the son can inherit the title.

My uncle said that this is probably what the Marquis of Jingbei was thinking. Ning Baixuan was not adopted by his eldest son. If the Marquis were to pass the title to his grandnephew, the eldest son's lineage would be cut off. He probably wanted to skip a generation and pass it on to his great-grandson who was adopted by him.

Perhaps for this reason, Ning Baixuan wanted to obtain official rank and establish a proper social status for himself.

Wu Shangmei glanced at the noble young man again and couldn't help but sneer inwardly.

Qin Yun had said that his grandfather and father would not allow the Xun Gui family to set this precedent.

The sons of hereditary nobles are either disregarding the law and being ignorant and incompetent.

Or they are like Shangguan Yun, who spend their days plotting a northern expedition and wishing to plunge Jiangnan into perpetual unrest, recklessly provoking border conflicts.

If it weren't for the officials of the court standing up for His Majesty and these nobles, the people of Jiangnan would probably have to suffer again from the Liaodong tax, the suppression tax, the training tax, and all sorts of exorbitant taxes.

Not only were the lives of ordinary people devoured by the Xun Gui Border Army, but when the Northern Dynasty marched south, they changed their allegiance on the city walls, just like Zu Dashou and Wu Sangui, turning against the Northern Dynasty and continuing to act as marquises and princes, causing further suffering to the people of Jiangnan, who also suffered the ravages of the Northern Dynasty's horses.

Therefore, we must never set this precedent, allowing some noble sons who cannot inherit titles to embark on the path of the imperial examinations, vie for official positions, hijack the government, and amass their private wealth!

Thinking of this, Wu Shangmei couldn't help but sigh inwardly. After a while, she straightened her chest and naturally felt a surge of pride for her country and people.

At that moment, something happened that was far beyond his expectations.

When Dong Xuezheng met this so-called great talent from a noble family, he was neither cold nor perfunctory. Instead, he put on a big, kind smile and said, "Good, good, good," and said, "Heaven has mercy, our Great Liang has finally sent down such a literary star!"

His poem at the North-South Poetry Gathering was renowned throughout both North and South, and his two poems for the Mid-Autumn Festival directly surpassed those of the Northern Dynasty's literary emperor! To receive his personal praise for "High Roar" is truly rare and precious.

Wu Shangmei was speechless.

The other three officials, including his uncle, also praised this talented man, saying, "Having read his poems, I can attest to his extraordinary talent."

With a beaming smile, Dong Xuezheng then asked the other person to introduce the others at their table. After the introductions, Dong Xuezheng stroked his beard and said with a smile, "This young man, Chu, has a blessed face, which is rare," "Young man Zhao is upright and peaceful," "Young man Zou is eloquent and humble," "Young man Zuo is a young man who has achieved success." Finally, he praised Tang Lianbin, saying that he "possesses great strategic acumen, which is rare, truly rare"...

talking.

Dong Xuezheng then laughed and said, "I've heard that Grand Scholar Liu, Old Man He, and Bai Xuan are close friends despite their age difference. When Emperor Wenzong of the Northern Dynasty uttered his 'Long Howl' and 'High Howl,' he even considered Bai Xuan an equal. If Bai Xuan doesn't mind, how about I address him as my virtuous brother?" As he spoke, Dong Xuezheng shook his head at the others with a smile, saying, "Otherwise, I'm afraid the Northern Dynasty will say that the Southern Dynasty doesn't value talent, that the Southern Dynasty is jealous of the virtuous and capable..."

Ning Baixuan readily agreed.

The crowd erupted in cheers.

Wu Shangmei's face gradually turned pale, and she was somewhat dumbfounded.

The sun is westward.

The literary gathering concluded amidst a warm and harmonious atmosphere of mutual appreciation between the local officials and talented scholars.

Dong Xuezheng then raised a toast to the students, saying with a smile, "We came with high spirits, and we leave with high spirits! In selecting talent for the nation, we show no favoritism! Seeing you all today is like seeing my brothers and nephews achieve success; it fills me with immense joy. Gentlemen, let us drink this cup to the brim!" Dong Xuezheng raised his cup and drank heartily. The students, their faces flushed with excitement, also raised their cups in unison…

……

Night falls.

The Prince Xin's mansion was still extremely busy.

In the temporary study of the Eastern Palace, Zhu Cuiwei took the folded paper handed to her by Qin Yuanyao and frowned as she looked at it for a long time.

the day before yesterday.

The murder of Lü Xiang, a senior official in charge of sacrificial rites, at his home shocked the court and the public.

The county government, the Ministry of Justice, the Court of Judicial Review, and the Embroidered Uniform Guard all mobilized and turned Lü Xiang's house upside down.

As a dignified fifth-rank civil official, Lü Xiang was suddenly murdered. If such a heinous case were to remain unsolved, the entire court would likely be plunged into a state of fear and insecurity.

After two days of investigation and thorough interrogation of everyone in Lü Xiang's household, the truth came to light.

The person who killed Lü Xiang was his family's stableman.

The groom coveted one of Lü Xiang's beautiful concubines.

Thinking that after his master died, the mistress would drive the concubine out of the hall, giving him an opportunity, he devised a plan to kill her.

He had thoroughly familiarized himself with the layout of the mansion beforehand. At dusk that day, he sneaked into Lü Xiang's study and plunged a sharp awl into his abdomen, thus murdering Lü Xiang...

The study was brightly lit.

Zhu Cuiwei held the memorial in her hand, her eyebrows, as light as distant mountains, furrowed slightly.

He glanced at Qin Yuanyao, who remained silent.

He turned his head and glanced at the lychees waiting to the side.

She silently pursed her pink lips, put the memorial down for the time being, and suppressed the doubts in her heart.

He instructed Qin Yuanyao to go to the East Palace Hall to discuss who should serve as the new Director of the Sacrificial Affairs Office and preside over her enthronement ceremony.

Qin Yuanyao immediately accepted the order, said "Yes," and hurriedly got up and left.

Zhu Cuiwei let out a soft breath, looked at the lychee, and said lightly with rounded lips:

"What's wrong? Sister-in-law, is there something important you need to tell me?"

Hearing that the other person called her "sister-in-law" instead of "Lychee," Lychee's face lit up, but she suppressed it after a light cough.

He said in a serious tone, "Miss, His Majesty summoned me to ask you something."

Zhu Cuiwei's eyes widened in surprise, and she immediately held her breath.

Lychee playfully scolded, "His Majesty asked, did you ask your son-in-law about the muskets?"