Jiuzhu soon discovered that Lu Zhaoyi was deliberately trying to please her, but her flattering attitude was not annoying.
It feels like Princess An, enthusiastic and just the right amount, pleasant and comfortable.
What she didn't expect was that when she was about to reach Mingyue Palace, she met Prince Huai's biological mother, Concubine Xu again.
Concubine Xu looked pale and frail, and was supported by two palace maids when she walked.
"Why don't you take a sedan chair?" Lu Zhaoyi said quickly, "How can your body bear to walk here like this?"
"I've come to pay my respects to Her Majesty. If I were to ride in a sedan chair, wouldn't it seem insincere?" Concubine Xu covered her mouth with a handkerchief, coughed twice, and knelt down to bow slightly to Jiuzhu.
Jiuzhu returned the greeting: "Empress Xu, my mother is tolerant and generous. If you are not feeling well, you will not blame me even if you come here by foot. If you fainted on the way, not only would my father and mother be worried about you, but if someone who doesn't know the situation saw you, they would suspect that my mother is mistreating the concubines."
Concubine Xu's coughing stopped abruptly, and the atmosphere became a little awkward: "Princess, you are right. It was I who didn't think it through."
Lu Zhaoyi and Wei Zhaoyi did not speak, because they recalled the terrible memories of copying the scriptures and Ming Jiuzhu teaching them to burn incense to the gods.
Princess Chen is like a sharp blade beside the Empress. When she stabs people, it is accurate and painful.
Even before she married Prince Chen, they were already afraid of her.
It was just that when they were copying scriptures, the Queen took pity on her frail body and did not ask her to come along, so she was not familiar with the princess' speaking style.
After taking a look at the stiff smile on Concubine Xu's face, Lu Zhaoyi silently looked away. She still had a long time to live in the palace, and Concubine Xu would slowly understand.
"Sister Chunfen, please go to our mother's palace and ask Aunt Xiangjun to arrange a sedan chair to carry Concubine Xu to Mingyue Palace." Jiuzhu really felt sorry for such a delicate beauty.
"No, that's not necessary..."
"Yes." Jiuzhu supported Concubine Xu and said, "Your Majesty is weak, so don't overwork yourself. You don't have to worry about your mother scolding you. She is a very gentle person and will definitely not be dissatisfied with you because of these things."
Concubine Xu: “…”
Of course she knew that Su Meidai would not mind these things with her, but she had walked all the way from Zhaoxiang Palace to here, but Mingyue Palace arranged a sedan chair to pick her up. Wasn't all her journey in vain?
"Your Majesty, don't be too moved. Mother is such a good person." Seeing that Concubine Xu was so moved that she couldn't speak, Jiuzhu smiled and said, "Don't worry, when you go back later, Mother will also arrange a sedan chair to send you off."
"Yes, Concubine Xu." Lu Zhaoyi knew that the time had come to please Princess Chen, so she quickly spoke to Jiuzhu and the Queen: "The Queen has always been kind and gentle. If you insist on walking to Mingyue Palace, how distressed the Queen will be."
Concubine Xu looked at the powerful eunuch who was running towards her with a sedan chair in his hand. She knew that it was pointless to refuse at this moment. She smiled on her sick face and said, "Thank you, Her Majesty, and thank you, Princess Chen, for your consideration."
Jiuzhu stared at the smile on Concubine Xu's face and sighed inwardly, "The sick beauty looks so beautiful when she smiles."
I have lent a helping hand to a sick beauty. Today is another day of doing good deeds and accumulating virtue, and I am happy.
"Hahahaha." Empress Su sat on the Phoenix Throne, patting her belly and laughing: "Do you think that if a strong sick beauty like Concubine Xu meets Jiuzhu, will she be so angry that all her illness will disappear?"
"Your Highness." Xiangshen helped her put on her makeup and said, "The princess said that you sent the sedan chair to pick her up because you felt sorry for Concubine Xu."
"Yes, yes, yes, I am the one who loves her." Empress Su almost laughed out loud: "When Concubine Xu comes later, I must take a good look at her complexion to see if it is rosier than usual."
As it turned out, Concubine Xu's complexion was indeed much rosier, but it was only because she was angry.
Because they were delayed for a while waiting for the sedan chair from Mingyue Palace, when they arrived, the other concubines had already arrived. When they saw her sitting alone on the sedan chair, their eyes were more sour than the fruits on the lemon tree.
What could Concubine Xu say? Could she say in front of everyone that it was Princess Chen who forced her to sit there?
I never thought that Ming Jiuzhu, at such a young age, has already mastered the art of flattery!
Jiuzhu noticed that Concubine Xu was secretly looking at her, and she smiled and nodded at her.
I know that the other person must be thanking me, but these are just small things that I do easily and are not worth mentioning.
In the main hall of Taiyang Palace, several officials from the six ministries were arguing fiercely over the issue of the amnesty order.
Some thought that taxes should be reduced, while others thought that a general amnesty should be granted. However, although they argued happily on the surface, what they wanted most in their hearts was for the court to open more special examinations.
Among those present here, who doesn’t have a few educated children or nephews? By holding another special examination, the younger generations will have one more chance to pass the imperial examination.
But precisely because of this, they cannot open their mouths easily.
Those who were arguing understood it in their hearts, and those who didn't speak also understood it: everyone was hoping that someone would take the initiative, but they didn't want to be the one to start.
"Your Majesty, I think what you all said makes sense." Ming Jingzhou stood up: "But I think there is another way to grant amnesty."
Coming, coming.
The officials who were arguing stopped talking one after another. They looked at Ming Jingzhou with encouraging eyes and said, "Speak up quickly."
"Oh?" Emperor Longfeng looked up at Ming Jingzhou: "My dear Ming, what good ideas do you have?"
It was so quiet in the hall that you could hear a pin drop.
"I, your humble servant, am here to ask Your Majesty to hold a special examination to recruit talented people from all over the world." Ming Jingzhou bowed and said, "Having more talented officials will be a good thing for our Dacheng."
Emperor Longfeng frowned, seemingly not very satisfied with the proposal. He turned to look at other officials and asked, "What do you think, my dear ministers?"
He was asking about the officials who had been arguing just now.
"Your Majesty, I think... what Lord Ming said makes a lot of sense."
"I second the motion."
"Didn't you want to reduce taxes or grant amnesty to prisoners?" Emperor Longfeng shook his head. "Although your intentions are good, it is already February. It is too tiring for students to rush to the capital from all directions to take the imperial examination. I think this is inappropriate."
Ministers: “…”
What's wrong?
If the imperial court could really open up special examinations, students from all over the world would be able to reach the capital even if they had to crawl.
After decades of studying, isn't it just to become a member of the imperial family?
What does hard work matter? After studying so hard for so many years, which student would be willing to give up one more honorary exam?
"Your Majesty, I think..."
"No need to say more." Emperor Longfeng interrupted Ming Jingzhou and said, "Minister Ming, please think of other ideas."
The officials from the six ministries present were disheartened. It seemed that there was no hope for the matter of Jia Enke.
"Your Majesty, His Royal Highness Prince Chen requests an audience."
Emperor Longfeng glanced at several ministers and said, "Announce."
"Your son greets you, father." Prince Chen walked into the main hall in his princely robes. He glanced at the people in the hall and asked, "Are you all here too?"
The officials of the six ministries felt very complicated when they thought of the memorials whose handwriting seemed to be from His Royal Highness Prince Chen.
"I have seen the prince."
"You are too polite, my Lords." Prince Chen noticed that the atmosphere in the palace was a little solemn and asked, "What is my father discussing with you, my Lords?"
"You've come at the right time. I've been discussing the issue of amnesty with a few adults. You are the blood of me and the Empress. How do you think you should be pardoned?" Emperor Longfeng took a sip of tea, glanced at the expressions of his ministers, and finally turned his gaze to his son with a smile.
"Since it is a pardon, we must choose the one that is most beneficial to our success." Prince Chen thought for a while and said, "Father, what do you think of holding an additional special examination?"
All the ministers breathed a sigh of relief and cheered for the King silently in their hearts.
Your Highness, please show your usual stubbornness and stick to this suggestion to the end. The hopes of all the scholars in the world rest on you.
"An additional special examination?" Emperor Longfeng frowned slightly. "Why did you choose this method? I remember that you didn't like studying when you were a child."
"Father, it is because I know how hard it is to study that I understand how difficult it is for those adults who passed the imperial examinations." The Prince of Chen bowed and said, "In previous years, when the results of the imperial examinations were announced, I saw with my own eyes those strong scholars either crying sadly or crying with joy. I felt very complicated."
All the civil officials: So His Royal Highness the Prince thinks that scholars have strong character?
Although Prince Chen is a bit arrogant, he actually has a good vision.
"If we can hold an additional special examination, it will give them another opportunity to show their talents." Prince Chen said, "Anyway, I can't study as hard as they do."
All the civil officials suddenly felt that the Prince's honest look was also pleasing to the eye.
"I thought you didn't like studying and hated scholars, but it turns out you think studying is hard." Emperor Longfeng said angrily, "Look at the adults around you. They have studied hard for many years and are well-versed in classics. How dare you say in front of them that studying is hard and tiring?!"
"Your Majesty, calm down!" A minister stood up and said, "Your Highness is young and ignorant, but he has an upright character and dares to act and speak. Even if he has some shortcomings, his merits outweigh his flaws."
This gentleman, half a year ago, impeached the Prince of Chen for spending hundreds of gold coins to buy crickets and fight chickens, but now it has become a case of the merits outweighing the flaws.
"Your Majesty, although Your Highness does not like to read, I have seen that Your Highness's words and deeds are better than others in every aspect. Please do not criticize him too harshly."
"Your Majesty, Your Highness has donated several thousand taels of silver to the Hongwen Academy. This kind of pure heart has moved us."
"Forget it." Under the persuasion of many ministers, Emperor Longfeng tried hard to suppress the anger in his heart: "For the sake of the adults, I will spare you this time today."
"Father, do you mean to agree to hold an additional special examination?"
"What does the imperial examination have to do with whether I spare you?" Emperor Longfeng was so angry that he laughed: "You are such a person who doesn't even study hard, how dare you hold an imperial examination?"
"You can ask me to agree." Emperor Longfeng loved his son and could not bear to reject him directly, but he made a very excessive request: "You can ask me to agree to hold an additional special examination, as long as you can recite the "Nongsangji" within five days, and I will do as you say."
This is a book about agriculture, and the whole book is as thick as a brick.
All the civil officials were immediately filled with despair. It was obvious that His Majesty did not want to agree to this matter, which was why he proposed such harsh conditions to the Prince.
"Okay." The Prince of Chen bowed and said, "I have several ministers to testify that I will be able to recite the entire "Nongsangji" in five days."
The officials touched their sleeves and began to think seriously about whether there was any good shorthand method they could provide to the King.
"Forget it, everyone, leave now." Emperor Longfeng smiled nonchalantly, "Five days later, I will call a few gentlemen and ask you to carry me on your back in front of them."
Several officials from the six ministries walked out of the Taiyang Palace together with Prince Chen. At this moment, the officials looked at Prince Chen not as a prince, but as the hope of all the young students in the entire Dacheng Dynasty.
"Aunt Xiangshen." Jiuzhu saw from afar that several officials were surrounding His Highness, their eyes were particularly hot, and she was worried in her heart: "What do these adults want to do to His Highness?"
She lifted her skirt and hurried towards the Prince.
As he ran closer, he heard one of the adults say, "Your Highness, I have a recipe for nourishing the brain and refreshing the mind. It was passed down from my ancestors. It is very useful. Would you like to try it?"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
