Chapter 183 Old branches entangled

Twelve vermilion lacquer screens unfolded one after another, and the moon-viewing platform in the back garden suddenly appeared before our eyes.

On a nine-meter-square white jade platform, an octagonal pavilion is covered with peacock blue glazed tiles.

The scorching midday sun penetrated the triple layers of silk gauze curtains, leaving flowing diamond patterns on the floor tiles.

I saw the Third Prince and the Fourth Prince sitting in the courtyard, drinking tea and chatting calmly.

Qin Zhaoyue put her hands in her pockets and said, "Oh, you two sisters are quite steady. It seems that you have a good grasp of the situation."

The housekeeper was ashamed. His Highness had actually met with several talented women individually, but the results... were not ideal.

Of course, I can't mention this to others, so I can only pretend I didn't hear it.

"Third sister, fourth sister."

The housekeeper led the person to the pavilion and greeted him naturally.

The third princess, Qin Zhaowan, smiled and said, "You've arrived just in time. Let's take a rest. Dinner will be served soon."

Qin Zhaoyue readily accepted the advice and smiled sweetly, "Okay."

After sitting for a while and drinking half a cup of ice drink, everyone moved to the main hall.

The six royal heirs attended together, and although there were four unimportant additions, it also showed the importance they attached to this literary gathering.

Everyone knew what was going on, and everyone at home received instructions yesterday.

At the top were naturally the two older princesses, sitting side by side, with the third princess on the left.

Then the left and right deputy cases are Xiaoliu, Xiaojiu, Xiaoqi and Xiaoba, separated by gender.

Qin Zhaoyue took a quick glance and saw about thirty or forty seats in the hall, which were all the "talented women" in Fengjing.

Of course, it is impossible for everyone to be outstanding. We need to take care of the nobles, officials, nobles, and scholars.

Before the imperial examination was introduced, women’s literary talent was limited to comparisons among boudoir members or to increase their chances of marriage. But things are different now.

If all these people passed the imperial examination and became officials, they would probably be able to usher in a new chapter of reform.

It would be fine if my family stopped me from taking the imperial examination, but once I did...

Would you feel unwilling if others passed the imperial examination but you didn’t?

Would a concubine want to break away from the mistress's marriage arrangements and make her own decisions?

After passing the imperial examination and becoming an official, will you really ignore your family?

…

Once it starts, many things become uncontrollable and the room for maneuver is greatly increased.

A side glance revealed that he had been taken advantage of.

The skirt was of azure blue, and the cross-necked blouse made of plain satin was embroidered with a layer of frosty curling grass patterns, which should be a dark embroidery made of silver silk.

The mutton-fat jade pendant hanging around the waist looks ordinary, but upon closer inspection one will find that the jade pendant is as thin as a cicada's wing and is carved with flying eaves and gargoyle patterns.

The moon-white shawl looks plain and without any patterns, but it is actually made of light yarn contributed by the Suzaku South Road. The yarn corners are woven into double warp and weft using a secret method.

Tsk…it’s like spending an hour meticulously applying my natural makeup.

Behind the straight man's words "You are so beautiful without makeup" is hard work and exquisite craftsmanship. Is it that easy?

Zheng Huiyin put a lot of effort into this time, with details everywhere, but the overall color is plain, and there is no sense of luxury at first glance.

Apart from the gold filigree and jewel-inlaid garuda hairpin, there are no other hairpins or rings, which instead highlights the uniqueness of the hairpin.

According to Qin Zhaoyue's observation, there were many people looking at Zheng Huiyin, both openly and covertly.

Tsk... Fourteen thousand taels, that's a bargain for her.

Soon, lunch was served.

After all, it is under the name of a literary gathering, not a real dinner party, and the main focus is on pastries.

Cold Toad Soup, Orchid Dew Fragrant Cake, Snow Mist Fresh, Ice Marrow Crisp Mountain, Seven-Return Green Essence, Exquisite Stone Fat...

Qin Zhaoyue’s favorite song is “Autumn Sounds Broken”.

Hollow out the fresh lotus pods, fill them with beaten mandarin fish paste and chopped water chestnuts, steam them and pour crab soup over them.

In one word: fresh, with a crispy and tender texture... the sinful little hand reached out.

"Sixth sister, how could you steal my things!"

"Hey~~~ You're young, eating so much will easily cause indigestion, I'll help you."

"don't want!"

The third princess, who was extremely worried: ...

She was so worried about the writing that she couldn't sleep, but suddenly she felt very tired. At this moment, she couldn't help but think of what Xiaoliu said in the imperial study.

"Xiao Liu, I'll ask the butler to serve you another one."

"Okay, thank you, Third Sister."

Eat and drink your fill, and you'll be satisfied!

Qin Zhaoyue held her belly and glanced towards the hall.

There are not many people who eat and drink as freely as she does. Either they eat in an elegant manner and take a few bites, or they look preoccupied and distracted.

At this moment, the third princess raised her cup and said, "Please drink from this cup together."

Naturally, no one refused, and Qin Zhaoyue was quite cooperative.

After putting down their cups, everyone knew that the main event was about to begin.

"Do you know why the old branches of the sycamore trees in Liuyuan Garden have to be chopped off?" The voice of the third princess Qin Zhaowan was as clear as a bronze bell on the eaves.

The fourth daughter of the Shaosi family of Wanminsi rubbed the rim of the cup with her fingers, and her fingertips trembled slightly when she heard the words.

The hall was silent, and she was not the type to like to be in the spotlight.

But thinking of his father's instructions, he sighed imperceptibly and chose to speak: "Will the tangled old branches hinder the new buds?"

"Yes," Qin Zhaowan gave her an encouraging look, and her wide sleeves brushed across the table, revealing a nine-section gold bracelet with jade bamboo patterns on her wrist.

“Just like in the second year of Taiwei, when the Queen Mother cut down twelve hundred-year-old wisteria trees in the Southern Court.

Those vines entangled three Western Region Bodhi trees and killed them, only to discover that their roots had long been eaten away."

Everyone in the room remained expressionless and completely indifferent to this metaphor.

Qin Zhaowan was not disappointed. It was just an introduction. His tone was light and without any ups and downs.

"I heard some rumors two days ago..."

"This time, His Majesty has agreed to allow the participation of the Second Princess Shuofeng and the daughters of nobles from the border courts."

"Do you want to hear what others think of us Fengjing women?"

He dragged out the last word and glanced at the people in the hall, finally noticing some emotional fluctuations.

These talented women had not heard of this news, but some of them knew that the border court would submit petitions every year.

What does it mean? Why did you suddenly agree to it this year? What does it have to do with the Shuofeng Dynasty?

Among the forty-one people, only a few were invited for face-saving reasons, and most of the rest had real talents and skills.

Qin Zhaoyue acted lazy, but was actually secretly watching the changes in their expressions.

The moment this information appeared, some people were stunned and some fell into deep thought.

Interesting... there are more than one or two talented people.

Qin Zhaowan gave everyone some time to react before continuing:

"They said that the girls of Fengjing could only apply makeup and embroider their hair, and were not as good as the girls of the grassland who could tame the Saker Falcon.

If we really compare their talents and learning…they are not necessarily inferior.”

After these words were spoken, there was inevitably some commotion in the room.

"Oh, Your Highness, don't take the barbarian nation's provocative words to heart."

"Miss Liu, be careful with your words. The way of education in the border court is for the people of our great territory."

"You can boost other people's morale..."

They are all talented women, and most of them are arrogant.

What's more, there are many old grudges among them, so it is inevitable that some verbal attacks will be involved in their conversation.

It’s just that having debates is a good thing, and Qin Zhaowan has no intention of stepping forward to resolve the conflict.

After everyone had finished arguing, he spoke again, but his eyes were a little sharper.

"If they pass the imperial examinations and become high-ranking officials, suppressing all of us great students, what do you think?"