In February of the fourth year of Tianwan, all places were preparing for the imperial examination. This year's examination will be held from April 8th to April 18th, during which time various subjects will be tested.

The examination held every three years is already particularly important, not to mention that the court is currently in need of talents and Your Majesty is a wise ruler. Students from all over the world will naturally flock to you. Now is definitely a good time to serve the country.

Although the girls made temporary preparations, their families still took it seriously. After all, it was the first imperial examination for girls in Tianxiang Country, so they were very nervous.

For a time, the whole country was filled with the atmosphere of preparing for the exam.

On the other hand, the people of the imperial village who were preparing to go to various places to teach the oil pressing technology were also urgently requesting one thing.

They really wanted to meet Kong Zhang Sheren. The more they studied this technology, the more they felt that Kong Zhang Sheren was amazing.

Unfortunately, there has been no news from His Majesty.

It’s not that His Majesty didn’t allow her to see him, but Su Wan herself felt that less trouble was better than more. Anyway, the technology had been developed, so there was no need to say anything more.

Everyone in the imperial village had no choice but to leave for other parts of the country with regret.

It was only at the suggestion of Your Majesty that they always mentioned Kongzhang Sheren. They originally thought that not many people across the country knew about Kongzhang Sheren, but who would have thought that not only did everyone know about him, but some even felt that Kongzhang Sheren was extremely mysterious, and not one who sought fame, but a saint-like figure.

The saint mentioned here does not refer to the emperor, but is a praise for his wisdom and virtue.

When asked in more detail, the reason naturally came from the time when the Ministry of Revenue sent people to various places to increase sugar production from sugarcane and popularize sugar beets.

Not only that, there is another reason.

That is, the imperial court issued many recipes to improve the people's meals, all of which used home-cooked dishes, the simplest and most plain, but novel ways of eating.

The signature on it is also Kongzhang Sheren.

Only then did everyone in the imperial farm realize that Kongzhang Sheren's reputation seemed to have spread more widely among the people below, even wider than that of His Majesty?

They didn't dare to say this, but were immediately put in a dilemma.

Your Majesty, do you know that your reputation is so great?

Since ancient times, ministers who have made greater contributions than their masters have never had a good ending. In fact, if we ignore it and continue to say how good Kong Zhang Sheren is, this is also fine, but in this case, I am afraid it will not be good for Kong Zhang Sheren.

I’m afraid that Your Majesty will be suspicious.

Although His Majesty had told them before they left not to be stingy with their praise for Kongzhang Sheren, he was a little hesitant to say it now.

After much deliberation, everyone decided to send a letter back to Kyoto, asking the people from the imperial farm who stayed in Kyoto to help find out the situation.

Xie Pei certainly knew about these things, and most of the rumors came from him.

From various departments in the palace to opening shops all over Tianxiang Country, his people have been placed in hundreds of stores across the country. From food to housing and transportation, there is no place without his people.

How could such a huge information organization not know this?

Such a good reputation comes from him, so how could he be suspicious of Su Wan? She is a person who does not like to show off and will be nice to whoever is nice to her.

Unless you really make her angry, she won't bother with you.

It's not that she'll let you go with a good temper, but she's just too lazy to care. It would be fine if others don't know about it, but Xie Pei knows that there are very few people or things that can catch her eye.

If you are a person with a similar personality and good temper, even if you are a eunuch or a palace maid, you can be her good friend.

If she doesn't like you, she will still look down on you even if you are a prince's or a royal concubine.

She didn't like it because it was buried deep, so only she could find it.

But the secret that only he can discover is sugar for Xie Pei. It is not the sugar grown under Su Wan's encouragement, but the sugar that belongs to him exclusively.

So it’s good that the people in the imperial farm are so cautious.

When Su Wan arrived at the Qinzheng Hall, she saw Xie Pei smiling.

This expression is so familiar. He has had this expression ever since the two of them started preparing for their wedding, as if something happy happened to him every day.

The important officials in the court knew the truth and said privately that they were not so happy when His Majesty ascended the throne!

Every bit of it verified their original ideas.

Not stopping His Majesty from marrying Su Wan is the best choice!

Whoever doesn't have the eyes to see and stop it, is that someone with a mental problem?

So Su Wan didn't bother to ask. In fact, a lot of things in the palace have been divided up recently. After the Chinese New Year, the fourth princess, Princess Zhi, is already twelve years old. She basically follows Su Wan to learn how to handle palace affairs. There is also a Tai Jieyu who has no children, who is gradually taking over.

With the two of them helping out, everything in the harem was actually very stable. Even the release of people by various officials in May this year went very smoothly.

In the past few years, I have finally figured out the affairs of the harem, but it was not easy because the problems in the past were too serious.

Now that everything has been clarified, it will be easier to take care of Concubine Tai and Princess Zhi.

That Tai Jieyu probably never imagined that one day she would be able to become a powerful noble for a period of time. She had to sigh that fate was unpredictable and no one could predict it.

But she has been able to live a peaceful life until now, and she understands why she, a childless person, is the one who can be in power and is very cautious in doing things.

The other two imperial concubines were also envious, but at the same time they were also grateful that although they still lived in the palace, they could go out of the palace every month to visit their daughters, and their daughters could also return to the palace frequently and visit the various gardens in the palace without anyone criticizing them.

Now that the old sisters around me are in power, life will be better in the future.

At Princess Zhi's suggestion, several people naturally showed their goodwill to Su Wan. The powerful noble Tai Jieyu also said that as long as Su Wan entered the harem, she would definitely not be obsessed with power.

This cautious attitude also made Su Wan feel helpless.

She just wanted to be lazy!

Who doesn’t slack off at work?

Su Wan came here to get the imperial examination documents.

Unexpectedly, she was thinking of slacking off, and Xie Pei also wanted to do that, so he simply pushed the memorial aside and started chatting with Su Wan.

All I can say is that it happened in broad daylight and was really intimate.

Moreover, when the guards, palace maids and eunuchs saw the two people talking, they walked out of the door very quickly and even closed the door of the Qinzheng Hall.

Su Wan didn't have time to stop him, but thinking that it was already evening and no one would come, she decided to just talk to Xie Pei in the Qinzheng Hall.

Anyway, we will have dinner together later.

"I will go out of the palace a few times later to capture Yan'er, but I can't take you with me." Xie Pei said deliberately, his hand already holding Su Wan's hand, and he was still stroking it unconsciously.

Of course, the purpose of capturing Yan'er is as a betrothal gift, and I can take her with me as a betrothal gift.

But do I need to say this out loud?

"Then go ahead. What are you talking to me about? Do you need to report your itinerary to me?"

Xie Pei was already used to Su Wan's strange but prepared words, so he smiled and said, "Don't you know what I do every day?"

Su Wan wanted to pull her hand out, but the man obviously wouldn't let go: "You don't have to tell me, it's nothing."

"No, from now on, I'll have someone write you a list of what I do every day, how about that?"

Su Wan's eyes were full of doubts.

Are you okay?

Can the emperor's itinerary be given in this way?

Aren’t you afraid that it will be leaked and lead to assassination?

Xie Pei wanted to laugh when he saw Su Wan's expression, so he hugged Su Wan and let her sit on his lap: "Or I will tell you every day."

Su Wan clicked her tongue a few times and couldn't help but tap Xie Pei's nose: "Are you a little too happy recently?"

It's completely different from before.

"Of course I'm happy. How can I not be happy when I think about the fact that we're getting married soon? I think this day has been a long time coming." The more Xie Pei spoke, the deeper his eyes became.

Su Wan couldn't help but laugh too. When the Ministry of Rites asked her to prepare privately before, she didn't feel anything.

But I didn't expect that the more Xie Pei said this, the more I felt that the two of them were about to get engaged.

They will get married soon.

Those complicated rituals are not as effective as Xie Pei's unstoppable joy in making people feel this point more clearly.

The Minister of Revenue, the Minister of Rites, and the newly appointed Minister of Works happened to meet in the Qinzheng Hall. There have been a lot of things to do recently, and they often come to discuss matters with Your Majesty.

So he hurried over here, but he didn't expect that as soon as he arrived at the door, he saw guard Xiao Song and others, as well as the palace maid Wenqin guarding the palace gate.

Just as the Minister of Works was about to speak, the Minister of Rites quickly stopped him and said, "Wait a moment, wait a moment."

Didn’t you see it!

The palace maid beside Lady Su Wan is also here!

All of this needs to go in?

Guard Xiao Song did not expect that several ministers would come here at this time, and they came hand in hand, so he had to let the eunuch bite the bullet and knock on the door.

Xie Pei was chatting happily when he heard a cautious knock on the door.

Su Wan subconsciously got up from his lap. The eunuch was still saying, "Your Majesty, the Minister of Revenue, the Minister of Rites, and the Minister of Works request an audience."

???

Su Wan looked at the time. It was already evening, why were there still people coming?

And they were in the same room with the door closed.

Even if there is nothing, it becomes something.

How embarrassing it would be for them to see it!

Knowing that the two have a good relationship is one thing, but seeing them both in the Qinzheng Hall with their doors closed is another thing!

Su Wanren was a little confused when she thought of the ministers waiting outside, but she looked around and pointed to the open window on the side and whispered: "I'm going to the Palace of Heavenly Purity first. I also made soup today, so I have to leave immediately."

Xie Pei raised his eyebrows and said, "It's nothing. What if they see it?"

Su Wan glared at her and wanted to climb through the window swiftly. She usually saw Xie Pei climbing through her window and he was quite agile.

Xie Pei looked at her with amusement as she struggled to flip over, and said with a sigh: "You are still not skilled enough, not as skilled as me anyway."

???

What's the comparison with climbing through the window?

After Su Wan left, Xie Pei asked the eunuch to open the door. When he came in, the three ministers looked at each other for a few seconds. Is His Majesty the only one here?

They thought Su Wan was here too.

But it’s better, it saves embarrassment?

Su Wan has already walked towards the Qianqing Palace. Climbing through the window is not that easy!

But it was nothing to chat with Xie Pei in the Qinzheng Hall normally, so how come I was caught by three people today?

No, it’s better to let someone else come and deliver the documents next time.

When they arrived at the gate of the Palace of Heavenly Purity, the guards at the gate saw that it was Su Wan and naturally let her in.

After the New Year, Lady Su Wan would have meals with His Majesty.

Even if we are busy during the day, we will still make time to be together in the evening.

Sometimes, Lady Su Wan would cook by herself. Today, she even made soup in advance. The aroma was enough to make many people cry with greed!

People working in the kitchen were lucky because the lady-in-waiting Su Wan would always make extra for everyone to taste, while the gatekeepers could only get a few pieces of cake at most.

But just think about how the pastries taste, they are even better than those made in Kyoto sweet shops!

I don’t know if the female official will come over to cook other food today. I’m really looking forward to it.

Su Wan came over at noon and made some mushroom chicken soup, mainly because she wanted to eat it. Chicken stewed with mushrooms is delicious in any season.

Just as she put the chicken soup on another stove, she saw Wenqin coming over. She was obviously walking very fast. Su Wan smiled and scooped a bowl of chicken soup for her: "Let's talk after a break."

"When the ministers came in, they didn't mention you. I was scared to death. It was only then that His Majesty pointed to the window vaguely that I hurried over." Since the first day Wenqin came to Su Wan's side, she was told to ensure her safety, and she would worry when she didn't see her for a while.

But after drinking this bowl of chicken soup, all the fear was gone.

Delicious chicken soup!

The meat is soft and the taste is delicious.

While Wenqin was sipping the chicken soup, Su Wan rolled up her sleeves and prepared to cook.

Normally I cook based on my mood. I’m in a good mood today, so I’ll cook two dishes.

You can just use the yak broth that is always available in the kitchen and cook it together with tomatoes to make a yak version of tomato beef.

It’s a pity that there are no potatoes yet, otherwise this dish would definitely be more delicious.

I don’t know if there are any clues about those ships that went out to sea.

The thought only flashed through my mind. After the yak and tomato meat were ready, I just mixed some shredded kelp and cabbage. It was a simple and refreshing method.

It wouldn't be too troublesome for her and Xie Pei to have dinner together.

Everyone in the kitchen knew that His Majesty's concubine Su Wan was not picky about food and was frugal, and they all secretly admired her.

Especially those who served in the inner palace during the reign of Emperor Huaizong, every time they saw these, they would sigh and no wonder that it was no wonder that the two men governed the country so differently.

Your Majesty is so frugal, and the people below will naturally follow suit.

Su Wan didn’t even know that she could set an example by cooking.

After the meal was ready, Su Wan found a comfortable lotus leaf chair and half-reclined to read a book. More than half an hour later, Xie Pei came back.

They have been busy with official duties recently, and the two of them still have things to do after dinner.

Why do I feel even busier than when I was in the west kitchen?

Whenever Su Wan cooks, Xie Pei always manages to use a lot of it. Thinking that the Grand Secretary of Wenyuan Pavilion was still hinting at him whether he could ask the lady-in-waiting Su Wan to make him another serving of tomato noodles, Xie Pei wanted to laugh.

I haven't even eaten it a few times, why are others coming over to eat it?

Su Wan heard this and said, "What's the big deal? I did it for him last time, so why can't I do it now?"

"It's not that we can't do it." Xie Pei corrected, "There has to be a sequence. I have to eat it first, and then others can say anything."

The eunuchs and palace maids around couldn't help laughing.

Your Majesty even has to fight for food in front of the lady-in-waiting Su Wan.

"Okay, okay, I'll make two servings, one for you and one for the Grand Secretary of Wenyuan Pavilion, okay?" Su Wan gave him a chicken leg, "Is that okay?"

Xie Pei raised the corner of his mouth: "Okay."

When the two of them were taking time to eat, the news finally spread from the palace to outside.

In the past, people outside the palace only knew that His Majesty wanted to marry a palace maid, but now they even know the maid’s name.

When Aunt Su Wan heard the name, she was dazed for a moment, then she laughed. It must be the same name and surname. Her daughter already has a fiancé, so how could she be the palace maid who was going to marry His Majesty?

Aunt Su Wan had already had contact with people from the Ministry of Rites several times, so the people from the Ministry of Rites naturally changed into casual clothes.

After finishing the previous things, I can clarify my identity later. According to His Majesty's wishes, I cannot bring trouble to Lady Su Wan and her aunt in advance.

In fact, the first step is to determine the date of birth and the time of proposing marriage, and the issue of betrothal gifts will be discussed after the proposal.

But this list of gifts for marriage proposal made Gui Niang feel a little uneasy.

Isn’t this gift list too long?

After she confirmed it again and again, the other party said that this was indeed the list of gifts for proposing marriage, and the list of betrothal gifts was even longer than this.

Gui Niang is no longer the woman who lived in the deep courtyard of the mansion. Even in the mansion, she knows a lot about betrothal gifts and marriage proposals.

No matter how I think about it, it seems impossible.

Such a long gift list had never appeared before, even when the Su family was at its peak.

But she was well aware of her situation, so she sent a message directly to ask Wanwan to come back and see her.

Su Wan didn't even need to look at the gift list to know how exaggerated it was.

When it comes to matters like this, Xie Pei never knows how to use the word "low-key".

But when she got home and saw the scene, she was still shocked.

Even the manors in Lingnan are included?

Is this just a marriage proposal?

Facing her aunt's worried eyes, Su Wan couldn't explain her thoughts. When they were alone, she always felt that there were some things she had to say.

Gui Niang's worry was almost obvious. She held Su Wan's hand and said, "Who is the other party? If he is very powerful, what should we do?"

"What are you going to do?"

This was not the first time Su Wan felt her aunt's worry, but this time the worry was different from other times.

Because my aunt clearly felt that this matter was beyond her tolerance.

If she thought it was nothing when she heard the rumor, she was overwhelmed with disbelief when she saw the gift list.

Su Wan's eyes were complicated, but Gui Niang didn't notice. She just stood up anxiously and said, "It was so difficult for me to get out of the Su family, how about you?"

"What about later?"

"Wan Wan, if you don't want to get married, we won't get married."

If the previous worries made Su Wan feel complicated, the last sentence made the complexity more touching.

Years ago, she learned about her aunt's past and what happened when she was young. She didn't dare to resist her own affairs back then, but now, for her, she can say such words.

Su Wan said slowly: "Have you guessed who he is?"

Gui Niang was stunned: "Is it really him?"

Seeing Su Wan nod, Gui Niang was not happy, but felt much more sad.

When others knew that their daughter was going to marry the emperor, they were only too happy and wanted to advertise it all over the streets.

Only someone who truly loves his daughter would hesitate, waver, and finally have tears in his eyes.

"How could it be the emperor?"

"Concubines in ordinary families don't have a good life, let alone in the palace. Many people die in the palace for no reason. It's okay to be a female official, but what about being a concubine?"

Judging from Gui Niang’s experience and everything she has seen.

She was only concerned about her daughter's safety.

Although she had never been to the palace, everyone in Kyoto had heard gossip.

The imperial concubines and imperial concubines favored by the previous emperor are now in the cold palace, and their children are imprisoned. Even so, many people still say that it is his majesty's mercy, otherwise they should be killed.

There were many concubines before, and many of their children died in the palace. Whether it is a storybook or a storyteller, who doesn't like to talk about royal secrets?

In the past, Gui Niang would have just sighed that the palace was really scary, but fortunately her daughter was just a palace maid.

But at that time, incidents happened frequently in the palace, and searches for people who had secret dealings with people outside the palace were frequent. Gui Niang was so worried that she couldn't eat or sleep. Su Wan comforted her many times, and only when she heard the young eunuch Wei Jun say that everything was fine did she feel relieved.

The situation now is clearly more dire.

Given their family’s situation, no one can protect Wanwan.

Su Wan listened, and finally supported her and said seriously: "Don't worry, nothing will happen. Even if something happens, I have a way to leave."

There is a way to leave. This was the first time Su Wan said this.

Even when Hu Yanqiang asked her, she didn't say much. Now facing her aunt's love for her son, Su Wan said firmly: "Trust me, I can help you get out of the Su family."

"If one day."

"If there is a day, I can take you away from the royal family."

At this point, Gui Niang immediately held Su Wan's hand and said, "Just go on your own, don't worry about me."

The Meng Gui of the past would definitely not have said something like this.

She certainly wouldn't think of escaping from her husband's family, let alone the royal family.

But she had to think that only by gaining freedom could she know how good the outside world is.

Only then did I realize how painful it is to be trapped in a cage-like place.

Back then, she could stay in the small house of the Su family without saying a word, but she certainly couldn't do that now, because she already knows how good the world outside is.

The Su family was just an ordinary family. Wanwan had to become a female official to gain a firm foundation, and then someone would plan to rescue her.

What about the palace?

Gui Niang just felt worried. Although these worries came too early, she was still worried.

Su Wan noticed the difference again, and her eyes became much softer: "How could I ignore you? You are my mother, let's not talk about whether this is possible or not."

"Even if there is, I will take my mother with me."

Gui Niang opened her eyes wide, shed tears for the word "mother", and worried about the future.

Su Wan knew what her mother was worried about.

She was just considering her daughter's future, regardless of the other party's identity or how powerful he was.

In her heart, all she thought about was her daughter's safety.

In fact, Su Wan had thought about her family’s reaction when they found out that her marriage partner was the emperor.

But she never expected her mother's reaction would be rejection.

In ancient times, people rejected the imperial power because they were worried about her future and afraid that they would end up like her.

It was not the ordinary ecstasy, nor the congratulations from others after their worries, but only nervousness and uneasiness.

Maybe the mother in this time and space is also the mother in another time and space.

She didn't dare to resist her marriage, but she dared to resist. Su Wan hugged her and comforted her gently: "It's okay, don't worry, he and I are fine."

It's really good.

Otherwise things wouldn't have gone so smoothly.

From knowing Xie Pei's identity to knowing his feelings for her.

Finally, I made sure that he was not just talking.

Su Wan herself thinks that she is a person who is extremely difficult to impress.

But in this world, she has Xie Pei and her mother in this life, both of whom bring her great comfort in this world.

After Su Wan's repeated consolation, Gui Niang finally believed in the relationship between the two and finally sighed: "I should have known that I shouldn't have urged you to get married."

Who would have thought that the person she would marry would be the emperor?

Being a concubine is not pleasant, and being the emperor's concubine must not be pleasant either, right?

Su Wan smiled and said seriously, "He prepared three matchmakers and six betrothal gifts."

Gui Niang's eyes widened again.

Three matchmakers and six engagements?

To be honest, what is happening now is beyond Gui Niang's understanding.

She was still a little dazed when she went to bed at night.

It took me a long time to come to my senses and realize what had happened.

She was chatting about the engagement gift list with the family member whom she thought was a guard, but in fact, it was a court official who was helping the emperor to finalize the gift list and calculate the birth dates of the two.

Thinking of the official's politeness to her, Gui Niang's heart sank.

Because the gift list was really too exaggerated, and coupled with the message spread in Beijing, I asked someone to talk to my daughter.

Then you will know this great truth.

In fact, she still hasn't figured out how this happened.

But she is very clear about her daughter's intelligence. If her daughter says it's okay, then it's okay?

Gui Niang really just wants her daughter to marry into an ordinary family and to keep a good grasp on the other party.

Who could have imagined this happening now?

Because she had something on her mind, she took a day off at home yesterday. When she arrived at the store, many people noticed that Gui Niang looked strange and asked curiously, "Gui Niang, what's wrong with you? You look so sad."

"Yes, a few days ago, I was praising my future son-in-law's family for being gentle, polite, and thorough. What happened today?"

"Not only that, she has been praising him since the New Year, saying that her future son-in-law is tall and will be good to her daughter."

Ever since Su Wan brought Xie Pei home, Gui Niang has been happy. All the clerks in the two shops knew about it. By the way, they also knew that Gui Niang was also the owner of the two shops.

But the boss is usually very gentle and everyone is used to joking around.

Since the New Year, Gui Niang has often talked about her future son-in-law, and she often sends gifts over, regardless of any festival.

People in both stores were very envious.

Wei Jun's mother also said that it would be great if her daughter could find a husband like this.

Wei Jun's sister is already thirteen or fourteen this year, and is almost at the age to get married, so she naturally pays attention to such things.

But what happened today?

Gui Niang sighed. Even if she said it out loud, it felt unreal. Besides, she and Wan Wan agreed that it was better not to say it for the time being.

It is only the end of February now. Wanwan will not leave the palace until May, and the marriage proposal will be made later. Talking about it now will only cause more trouble. At this moment, I can only say: "The husband's family is a little different from what I imagined."

"What's the difference? I think it's pretty good. The things delivered every day are very good, and the servants are all polite." Wei Jun's mother asked doubtfully, "It can't be that bad, right?"

Gui Niang was a little breathless, and finally could only whisper: "It's not bad, it's too good, so good that people like us can't even get close to it."

Wei Jun's mother was speechless for a moment.

Is this also called worry?

This is not a worry at all!

Who wouldn’t want to marry their daughter to a good man?

However, the huge gap in status is indeed a problem. Wei Jun's mother comforted him: "You also said that he has no father and no mother, so that's good."

"And I heard from Wei Jun that the basic qualifications for being a guard in the palace are all very good."

"He also knew a palace maid named Yu Shu, and that palace maid was also in love with a guard, and they might get engaged after leaving the palace. It's okay, this is not an isolated case."

I wish he was a guard.

Gui Niang sighed again and could only go do something to relieve her emotions.

Jiao Yong watched from the side, hesitated for a long time, and then went to the street to buy a candy man.

He has always been frugal and seldom spends money on this, but seeing that many women in Kyoto would be happy after eating candy figures, he clumsily bought one.

My previous debts are almost paid off, so it shouldn’t be a big deal to spend some money now.

When Gui Niang saw the sugar man, she looked at Jiao Yong who was busy working. She didn't know what to say in her heart, but her face turned red with shame.

never mind.

Days like this seem to be okay.

When Gui Niang found out about this, the next people to discuss the marriage would be the royal relatives.

Xie Pei deliberately picked a distant relative who was smooth-talking and easy-going, and Gui Niang sent people from the Ministry of Rites to help.

After a while, they were all Xie Pei's own people.

After that, Xie Pei was taken back by Su Wan to have meals several times.

Only then did Gui Niang's heart calm down.

But Su Wan was afraid that her mother would say something at any time, otherwise she would not get married.

She didn’t know how Xie Pei would react, it would definitely be exciting!

The marriage has come to this stage, and anyone in the court who doesn’t know this is blind.

Unfortunately, March is here and it will be April soon, and the imperial examination will be of top priority again.

This is the first imperial examination since His Majesty ascended the throne. These people will definitely be given important positions. After all, so many officials have been removed before, and there are many positions waiting for them.

Your Majesty selected the best talents when he ascended the throne, and he has confidence in using them.

The Ministry of Rites wished they had more hands, and the Shangshu wanted to say, "Your Majesty, can't you wait a little longer?"

Let’s talk about getting married after the imperial examination is over!

Fortunately, I didn’t dare say this out loud, I just thought about it in my mind.

The eighth day of the fourth month in the fourth year of Tianwan.

The imperial examination officially began.

There were two examination rooms, one for men and the other for women.

Both sides have gone through layers of selection, but the base is too small, so the number of people selected is different. There are about 3,000 candidates on the male side and only 100 on the female side. After all, it's just the beginning. If we do it well now, the number of people will definitely increase in the future.

Not to mention anything else, just because of this women's imperial examination, women's academies have been established in various parts of Tianxiang Country.

Even if I can’t catch up this time, I can definitely catch up with the next one, right?

Originally, large families have attached great importance to women's education, and now it is even more important. This is also the custom among the people. If a girl in the family can become a female official, it seems like it would not be bad, right?

What a scientific expedition brings may have an impact for ten or twenty years.

As one of the invigilators, Su Wan often attracted attention.

The chief examiner was the head of the Imperial Food Department, and Princess Zhi was also present. Princess Zhi was there solely to bring honor to the imperial examination.

Commonly known as a mascot, her good manners made everyone feel that the imperial court attached great importance to this imperial examination.

At the same time, I was secretly grateful to Su Wan.

It was the success of Su Wan and the chief of the Imperial Kitchen that gave them this opportunity.

They will definitely seize this opportunity!

The imperial examination officially began, and Su Wan also looked at the test papers of several people. The women who were able to take the imperial examination for the first time basically all had a family background in imperial examinations, and their handwriting was indeed similar to the answers on the test papers.

However, Su Wan has read more documents than the average official, and can accurately tell who is a person with flowery words but no ideas, and who is someone who truly has his own thoughts.

But Su Wan has always managed her facial expressions very well and basically doesn't show anything.

But wherever she goes, the noble ladies there will get nervous. When the invigilator stands next to you and looks at your test paper, won’t you be nervous?

It must be very nervous!

Some people are also curious about what ranking Su Wan would get if she wrote it.

In fact, when the questions came out, Su Wan had already written them, and her test paper was circulated among her superiors and several ministers.

It's not that she wanted everyone to see it. She was just writing it for fun at Xie Pei's place. But Xie Pei insisted on showing off, and there was nothing anyone could do about it.

Su Wan was smart and had studied in the Ministry of Rites for five years. She had followed Xie Pei to read various official documents since before he became the crown prince, and the same was true when he accompanied the emperor.

The test paper she wrote can be used as a model and reference. It is not only well-organized but also meaningful.

She is not inferior to others in the men's imperial examinations.

Even if they were forced by His Majesty to show off how amazing their future wives were, everyone could only nod their heads, saying they were indeed amazing!

They all admitted this.

Before leaving, the Grand Secretary of Wenyuan Pavilion specially thanked Su Wan, saying that the egg and tomato stew she made was delicious, and if she made cakes in the future, she should not forget him.

Su Wan didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

"I will definitely not forget it, don't worry."

She cooked food and sent it to Xie Pei, the Grand Secretary of Wenyuan Pavilion, and the old man in the Ministry of Rites Library, no, now he is the dean of the official academy.

Others just looked on with envy.

Look, these thick-skinned old guys are good. They also want to eat, but it is difficult for them to open their mouths in front of His Majesty.

A day later, when the meat floss rolls made by Su Wan and her people were handed to everyone, everyone was grateful that the future queen had a really good temper.

And he also missed his ministers.

It is indeed not a big deal for Su Wan, as long as everyone enjoys the meal.

On April 18th, the imperial examination officially ended, and all the candidates went home exhausted, as if each of them had lost half his life.

Scientific examinations are really difficult!

However, after the scientific examination, some people looked tired, excited, and annoyed. Now that the exam is over, what else is there to say!

The Grand Secretaries of the Hanlin Academy and the Ministry of Rites began a new round of busy work, and they still had to mark the papers.

Su Wan was also in the team marking the women's imperial examination papers.

But when she was marking the papers, the test paper she had written previously had already been quietly circulated.

Many tea vendors in tea shops carried printed papers in their arms and asked everyone they met: "The future queen has also written the test questions for the women's imperial examination. Do you want to see them?"

"This is a good thing secretly taken from the palace."

"Do you want to see it?"

These tea bearers actually did not have many papers in their hands, and they only asked the servants in their families who had passed the imperial examinations.

After all, the matter is too secret to say more.

The servants of these households would naturally buy it and take it back to show their young ladies, so that they would feel more confident?

Among the hundreds of households, some people even from the men's imperial examination group bought the books to take home and read them. Most of them opened them with a mocking attitude.

After all, the future queen is just a palace maid now. The position of a female official is not high. She must be favored by His Majesty to become the future queen.

Besides, she is really regarded as the future queen.

There is no sign of my fate now. It's just that His Majesty favors me. When the favor is gone, I will still be an ordinary person.

Isn't it just that he cooks delicious dishes? I heard that he also makes cakes for the ministers. Is this enough to please people? Not really.

But when you look at the test paper, let alone the clearly legible handwriting on it, look at the content of the article.

The content of the article is profound and magnificent. If you don’t say it was written by the future queen, you would think it was written by some great scholar.

Many of the ideas in it are both practical and interesting, and reading them is simply enlightening and amazing.

Besides, the article contains quotations from classics, which makes it quite interesting to read. It is not at all boring like ordinary articles, and one will feel like he wants more after finishing it.

Is this an imperial examination article?

Are they seeing things?

The woman, who had never taken an imperial examination, had carefully spread out the examination papers, and wished to observe them every day in order to reach such a level.

Some men just felt frustrated. Their family background was better than the future queen's, and they had studied longer than the future queen, but if other women took part in the same imperial examination as them, they would definitely be outdone.

I heard that the dean of a government-run academy would analyze articles in class, and in the end he would pick out a few harmless flaws in a serious manner. It seemed like he was picking faults, but in fact he was just showing off.

After all, he is a good student taught by him.

When Su Wan found out about this, she had more than two thousand coins in her hands, all in copper coins.

Xie Pei handed her the heavy copper coins and explained innocently, "These are the money from selling the test papers. I bought more than 200 copies, and each copy costs ten cents. Would you like to count them?"

Dot?

What is this?

Neither of them is short of the two taels of silver now.

Is this about money?

Su Wan asked, "Is it fun to secretly sell my test papers?"

"Okay." Xie Pei said seriously, "It's the most fun to see them praise you."

Once this article comes out, who dares to say anything?

Even if there are sour people who say that it must have taken a long time to polish it, but if you are given time, can you polish it out?

Not to mention that someone has pointed out that this article was completed in one go and there are no signs of polishing, so don't make any comments.

Xie Pei asked the guards to inquire about the news and came back to hear it, so he was naturally in a very good mood.

Seeing his expression, Su Wan didn't know what to say. She weighed the heavy copper coin and felt a little strange.

Are her articles still selling?

Xie Peiqiao was no longer angry, and she leaned over and said, "We are still keeping them for sale. If we sell them freely, we will definitely make more money."

"Don't. Too much is as bad as too little. I know what you're thinking. I'm leaving the palace soon, and this matter will be settled soon. You're doing this for my own good. But this is enough."

How could Su Wan not know what Xie Pei was thinking?

As soon as she leaves the palace, the marriage proposal will be exposed, and there will definitely be more rumors at that time. Even if the important officials in the court can keep calm, it is hard to say for the people.

Xie Pei did this not just to show off, but also to make her life more comfortable and her path more open.

When it comes to Su Wan leaving the palace,