But the saying that a woman becomes stupid for three years after pregnancy is true. Yan Shiyue had just reminded him that he must tell him as soon as the results of the imperial examination were announced. However, when the person who brought the good news came and announced that Huo Qiyang had won the first place in the imperial examination, she was stunned for a moment before she remembered that she had already passed the imperial examination.

Ren Zenan got seventh place, which was not a bad ranking. As long as there were no major problems in the palace examination, he should have some confidence in getting the Tanhua Lang. At worst, he could at least get the Chuanlu, which is the first place in the second class.

During the time when she was pregnant, "The Trader" had already been sung everywhere. The higher Ren Zenan's ranking, the more people would think of him, and the more popular the play would become.

Everyone heard about it in the evening and teased her. Qu Sinian laughed and said, "Then has the Prime Minister forgotten the Simao business that I told him about recently?"

Yan Shiyue asked, "Do you mean that glass sold in large quantities before the New Year? Or do you mean that many wealthy families started buying cement to pave their yards and houses?"

Qu Sinian laughed, but before he could finish laughing, Yan Shiyue pointed at him and said, "Come to think of it, you've been very free lately!"

"No!" Qu Sinian's smile disappeared instantly, and he said vigilantly: "I'm busy, I'm very busy!"

Yan Shiyue said: "I have a greenhouse outside the city, where I planted a lot of rubber grass. Ask Xiaoyan to take you there to have a look. I think there should be a lot..." She paused and hesitated for a long time: "Forget it, I'll go and have a look too."

Then she suddenly got angry and said, "Why are you so annoying!" She turned around and left.

Qu Sinian held his forehead and looked at Huo Qijing silently: "..."

...

...

Huo Qijing has been in a really good mood recently, and joked: "It's indeed a bit far outside the city. This matter is not something I hate, but others hate it. This time, just think of it as something I owe you."

Okay... Qu Sinian could only take the blame silently.

The rubber grass has been planted for several years regardless of the season, and has now grown to a considerable scale. Initially, Yan Shiyue asked someone to make it into shoe soles, which are available in both large and small sizes, with patterns on the bottom and a circle of tiny pinholes on the edge, so that the surface can be replaced when the time comes.

But when it comes to selling shoe soles, Qu Sinian's expression becomes a little weird: "Really?"

"Um?"

Qu Sinian said: "I think you should ask the emperor. After all, Simao belongs to the imperial court. Is it not too bad to sell shoe soles?"

She asked, "Aren't you wearing shoes?"

"I will wear it," Qu Sinian said, "but it's no use telling me this!"

All right, Yan Shiyue strolled into the palace, and as expected, Emperor Ming Yan did not agree.

Yan Shiyue complained in his heart, now that he has money in his hands, he is starting to talk about his status again... But rubber is said to be very useful, but for example, tires? Most of it is used in Yuwen's car, the soles are not allowed to be sold, and the hoses are not used for the time being. Yan Shiyue said: "How about this, entrust someone else to sell it."

Emperor Mingyan said, "Yes."

So a good and profitable project was handed over to someone else. Yan Shiyue asked someone to call Meng Dansui and signed a confidentiality contract. The rubber soles were fully authorized to be sold by Mengji. At the same time, this product was listed as a tribute. A part of it was made first and Emperor Ming Yan gave it to others as a reward. Then he started making tires and reinforced the emperor's carriage.

Amidst the hustle and bustle, the palace examination was over. It was not known whether Emperor Ming Yan was partial to either of them, but as the father and daughter had secretly decided before, Huo Qiyang became the top scorer and Ren Zenan was chosen as the third place.

The top scholar was destined to join the Ministry of Commerce, but Emperor Ming Yan was somewhat hesitant about the arrangement for Huo Qiyang. Although it was cool to say that he was the top scholar at the age of ten, he was still too young.

Emperor Ming Yan summoned Xu Wenqu and asked him, "Where do you think Huo Qiyang should be assigned?"

Xu Wenqu replied calmly, "Since Your Majesty has asked, I will recommend the most virtuous person regardless of his relationship with you. Although Ayang is young, he has a mature mind and solid knowledge, but he is not a scholar, so the Hanlin Academy is not suitable for him. He was tortured and killed when he was young, so his mind is more indifferent than ordinary people and he is taciturn. He is also not suitable for the emperor. Your Majesty can assign him to one of the six ministries... Now he will be your eyes, and in the future he will be your hands, and he will be as good as your arm in the future."

Emperor Ming Yan pondered in silence.

One day later, when the list of successful candidates was announced in the Golden Palace, Ren Zenan came to the emperor and told him that he came from a merchant family and wanted to join the Ministry of Commerce. Emperor Mingyan agreed in court.

Afterwards, an edict was issued.

The Ministry of Commerce was renamed as the Ministry of Commerce and was placed on par with the Six Ministries. It was still managed by Yan Shiyue, who reported directly to the emperor.

In other words, this became the department that has always belonged to the emperor after the Dragon Guard. In name, it is on par with the six ministries, but in fact it is higher than the six ministries.

Qu Sinian was promoted to Shangshu, Ren Zenan became a Yuanwailang of the Ministry of Commerce, and the rest of the "special recruits of the Ministry of Commerce" were changed to "trade directors", and their ranks were raised by one level. In addition, each of them was rewarded with a certain amount of silver.

At the same time, Gu Hengsha, who stayed in the Ministry of Revenue, was also appointed as a Langzhong of the Ministry of Revenue, but he still taught at the Imperial College.

Yan Shiyue was quite happy.

Rather than chatting and scheming with that bunch of old men, she prefers to do business and be free.

Afterwards, she asked Emperor Ming Yan why it was suddenly changed to the Ministry of Commerce.

Emperor Ming Yan said calmly: "I see that you need people from the Ministry of Rites and the Ministry of Works from time to time when you do those things, so I simply promote you to a higher level to make things easier."

In addition, Huo Qiyang was placed in the Ministry of Personnel and served as a doctor.

As for the runner-up, I don’t know if he was influenced by Tang Wanbi, but Emperor Ming Yandi didn’t pay much attention to him. He still entered the Hanlin Academy according to the procedures and served as an editor in the Hanlin Academy.

Qu Sinian climbed the ladder to a higher position and became the most sought-after wealthy son-in-law in the capital.

Two days later, when he returned home, Tong said to him, "You are not young anymore, it's time to get married."

Qu Sinian said calmly: "No hurry."

"How can I not be anxious!" Tong said, "There are three kinds of unfilial behavior, and the worst is to have no offspring! You are almost thirty years old, how can you not get married!"

Qu Sinian remained silent.

Tong said, "This time, mother can no longer go along with you. The matchmaker came today and recommended a woman. Mother thought she was good, so she accepted the offer."

Qu Sinian frowned and asked, "Who is it?"

Tong said: "The young lady from the Yao family, I have seen her before. She is really pretty, with round and smooth skin. You can tell at a glance that she is good at giving birth..."

Qu Sinian interrupted her: "Which Yao family?"

Tong hesitated for a long time before saying, "Her father is the Shaoqing of the Dali Temple."

She glanced at him and said, "The rich marry their daughters, the poor marry their wives. Although the Yao family's official position is not high, the young lady is really a good..."

Qu Sinian couldn't believe it for a moment. He slowly raised his head and looked at her: "This Yao Qiang is Jin Heqiao's nephew. Don't you know this?"

Tong's face was uncomfortable for a moment: "So... so what? My son, don't be stubborn. This marriage was decided by our parents and the matchmaker..."

Qu Sinian looked at her for a long while before he sneered, "Parents' orders? Then call my father out and ask him! Does he want me to marry this Yao family girl? Does he want me to have anything to do with the murderer of my father?"

Tong's expression changed all of a sudden.

He stared at her, "Do I have to tell you clearly so that you won't play dumb? You colluded with outsiders to murder your own husband... Mother, please don't force me to kill my own family for the sake of justice!!!"