Xiang Yang winced in pain, his arm throbbing, and said through gritted teeth, "How could I have lied? From ancient times to the present, who has ever dared to lay a finger on the Emperor's woman?"
"If you keep babbling, I think you'll have a place in the Imperial Stud's horse-breeding officer position."
Xiang Song wasn't just trying to scare him; he had personally heard the Minister of the Imperial Stud report to the Emperor that the Imperial Stud was short of people who could raise and treat horses.
Xiangyang shrank back and muttered, "I'm just speaking up for my master! Don't try to scare me with the horse-raising tactic all the time. Not just anyone can be a horse-raising official in the Imperial Stud."
Footsteps sounded, and Qiuju approached with several maids carrying trays. Xiangyang and Xiangsong both shut up and stopped arguing.
In the flower hall.
Xiao Jingzhao took his seat at the head of the table, and Jiang Shuyue said to Nangong Zeyue, "It is rare for the Emperor to leave the palace, so let's sit down and chat."
Nangong Zeyue had no choice but to bite the bullet and sit down in the seat furthest away from the two of them.
"Sui Sui, would you like to go to the palace to study?"
Xiao Jingzhao had not forgotten that Jiang Shuyue had said that she would respect Sui Sui's wishes as long as Sui Sui was willing.
"Great! Sui Sui is willing to go to the palace. Our teacher said today that Brother Jing Xiu will go to the palace to study tomorrow."
Zhen Jingxiu is very good to Sui Sui. Nangong Zeyue once corrected her way of addressing Zhen Jingxiu, but Sui Sui still felt that calling him "Brother Zhen Jingxiu" was the most natural.
"The child is willing, you have no objection, right?" Xiao Jingzhao's eyes lit up with happiness.
Jiang Shuyue frowned slightly, forcing a faint smile. She said to Qiuju, "It's time for Suisui to take a bath. Take her down to bathe first."
"Mother, Sui Sui wants to talk to Father for a while longer."
The little guy pouted, looking unwilling.
Seeing that her mother didn't nod, Sui Sui could only obediently wave her little hand at Xiao Jingzhao, "Daddy, see you later."
Seeing Qiuju lead Suisui out of the flower hall, Jiang Shuyue said calmly, "I will naturally keep my word, but Suisui... how are you going to announce this to the public?"
“What’s so difficult about that? Of course, I’ll just say that Sui Sui is my first child. If you’re willing, I’ll make sure you have a grand wedding procession to welcome you into my boudoir.”
Jiang Shuyue shook her head, "Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty, but I am used to the free and easy life in the city, and entering the palace is not my wish."
With three thousand beauties in the imperial harem, asking her to enter the palace would be worse than killing her.
She paused and said, "Times have changed. You are now the Emperor, and you will have many children in the future. I do not wish to be involved in the struggle for the throne every year."
Jiang Shuyue's beautiful eyes darkened slightly as she continued, "I don't want him to become a thorn in someone else's side."
"No, I will definitely protect him for life." Xiao Jingzhao suppressed his displeasure at being rejected and spoke with a firm tone.
Nangong Zeyue sat quietly to the side, drinking tea, as if she were invisible.
His fox-like eyes revealed no emotion, only occasionally glancing at Jiang Shuyue.
"I hope you keep your word." Jiang Shuyue knew that nothing she said now would make a difference.
"After the coronation ceremony, we will immediately begin preparing the questions for the autumn examinations. I will need your help for a while."
"Yes, I understand. Selecting talented people is the priority. There's no need for Sui Sui to rush into the palace."
Jiang Shuyue had a question in her mind: Sui Sui agreed to go to the palace because she was happy to see Xiao Jingzhao, but if he knew that she would not go with him, perhaps he would change his mind again.
No one knows a son better than his mother, and Jiang Shuyue had a pretty good grasp of her son's thoughts.
She made up her mind to talk to Sui Sui later and make it clear that he had entered the Imperial Academy and might not be able to come home every day.
"Young Master Nangong, you don't plan to return to Black Dragon Pool?" Nangong Zeyue was listening intently when Xiao Jingzhao suddenly asked him.
"Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. I have no plans to return at the moment."
Xiao Jingzhao carefully examined Nangong Zeyue.
Wearing a light blue straight-cut shirt, beneath her neither too thick nor too thin, sword-like eyebrows, a pair of fox-like eyes like flowing spring water, gentle and warm like a spring breeze.
His nose was as straight as a distant mountain, and his thin lips were slightly upturned, exuding a subtle and unrestrained air. Upon closer inspection, the man possessed an air of nobility that was not common among ordinary people, completely devoid of the stench of money typical of businessmen.
Xiao Jingzhao had to admit that this man had a handsome appearance.
Compared to the men in the military, they lacked a certain heroic spirit.
Could this person come from an extraordinary family?
Recalling the information Xiang Yang had gathered, Xiao Jingzhao dismissed his suspicions.
"Are Young Master Nangong's parents from Yannan?" Xiao Jingzhao asked, almost as if possessed.
"Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. I am an orphan and my master raised me."
Nangong Zeyue answered every question respectfully, and Jiang Shuyue, standing to the side, could hear that respect tinged with distance.
Xiao Jingzhao nodded slightly after hearing this, realizing he had inadvertently touched on the other person's sore spot, and quickly changed the subject.
"A letter from Yan Nan says that the seeds you sent to the refugee village have yielded a bumper harvest. The cotton bolls are as big as peonies. With such good cotton, the soldiers in the north will have cotton-padded clothes to keep warm."
Xiao Jingzhao paused for a moment, then asked, "What reward do you want?"
"Nothing is needed. I just hope that the people can live in peace and prosperity, and enjoy good health year after year."
“That’s right. Only when the people are well-fed and clothed will bandits not spring up.” Xiao Jingzhao said, looking at Nangong Zeyue.
"Thank you for your help. Thanks to you, Sui Sui and her child were able to reach the capital safely."
Nangong Zeyue smiled faintly, "Your Majesty is too kind. Shuyue and I hit it off immediately, and she treats me better than family. She is lovely and precious. As long as I am here, I will risk my life to ensure the safety of her and her child."
Despite hearing these seemingly harmless words, Xiao Jingzhao felt a tightness in his chest.
"The autumn examinations are just around the corner. Young Master Nangong, would you like to take the exam?"
"Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty, but my knowledge is insufficient, so I will not participate in the imperial examination."
Xiao Jingzhao sincerely said that Nangong Zeyue's mind was not on this, and he would not force her to do so.
Speaking of the autumn examinations, Jiang Shuyue thought of Su Jin and Su Nan.
I don't know if they passed the county examination or not. They are still young in southern Jiangsu, so it would be good for them to pass the preliminary examination.
One must eat one bite at a time; there are plenty of opportunities in southern Jiangsu.
Su Jin was already quite old, and it was the perfect time for him to participate in the imperial examinations.
The journey was long, and she had not yet received a reply to the letter she sent.
Just as she was lost in thought, Xiao Jingzhao said, "Su Jin will arrive in the capital soon. It was the headmaster who recommended him to go to the capital for the imperial examination."
The recommendation system has been abolished, but it is still possible to recommend candidates for the imperial examinations, since the examinations rely on one's own abilities.
Jiang Shuyue was overjoyed, "Does His Majesty mean that Ajin can go to the capital to take the imperial examination this year?"
"Yes, the headmaster recommended him because he must have the ability to participate in the imperial examination. The court is currently short of talent, so we can recruit talents without being bound by convention. Besides, Young Master Su is also talented."
Hearing Xiao Jingzhao praise Su Jin, Jiang Shuyue was genuinely happy.
Aunt Su and Uncle Su finally made it through.
It is only proper to reciprocate, so Jiang Shuyue returned the favor by telling Xiao Jingzhao all the information and connections she had gathered in the capital.
After listening to Jiang Shuyue's words, Xiao Jing showed an approving look.
“Miss Jiang’s suggestion coincides with my own. Emperor Renzong once enfeoffed several noble families, but they have now declined. I also have the idea of reviving them.”
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