Since the Great Li Dynasty established the imperial examination system, the competition between humble and aristocratic families has long been fierce and bloody.
Powerful and influential families controlled the government and enjoyed a dictatorship over knowledge, while children from poor families were suppressed at every turn.
After all, the imperial examination was the exclusive domain of aristocratic families, and no one else was allowed to interfere.
However, since I've come all this way, wouldn't it be a waste not to make a mess of things?
"Please convey to His Majesty, Eunuch Cao, that I will certainly not fail His Majesty's trust in this matter!"
Eunuch Cao had a bright smile on his face.
“I admire Duke Mu’s courage. I will certainly report his determination to His Majesty.”
After saying this, Eunuch Cao bowed and then retreated from the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion.
"Ding-dong! Congratulations, host, on making your decision!"
"Would you like to summon a mysterious figure?"
Upon hearing this, Mu Zi'an immediately rubbed his hands together!
The previous two summons resulted in the summoning of Jia Xu and Zhao Yun.
Mu Zian was incredibly excited about this summons.
"Begin the summoning!"
"Ding! The system is summoning you, please wait!"
Under Mu Zian's expectant gaze, the system's voice sounded again.
"Ding dong! Congratulations to the host for summoning 'Liu Rushi, one of the Eight Beauties of Qinhuai in the late Ming Dynasty and one of the Four Great Courtesans in Chinese History.'"
Upon hearing the name Liu Rushi, Mu Zian stood there stunned.
Alright, alright! System, is this how you play it?!
As the system describes, Liu Rushi was definitely a legend among women of her generation.
She was not only a talented woman in the late Ming and early Qing dynasties, but also possessed a strong nationalistic spirit.
Simply saying that might not adequately highlight Liu Rushi's national integrity.
Her husband was Qian Qianyi, the leader of the Donglin Party at the time.
Those two famous replies that have been passed down through the ages: "The water was too cold, so I turned around and surrendered to the Qing Dynasty; my head was too itchy, so I immediately shaved my head and grew the Qing Dynasty's money-rat tail braid."
He can be described as a representative figure among spineless cowards.
Just as Mu Zian was lamenting that a great Confucian scholar couldn't compare to the integrity of a courtesan,
A servant came to announce their arrival.
"Reporting to your Excellency, a woman has come to see you, saying... saying..."
The servant hesitated, which puzzled Mu Zi'an.
"What do you mean?"
The servant swallowed hard before speaking.
"She said she was your wife, young master."
Mu Zian was stunned on the spot; the system had gone a bit too far this time.
A moment later, Liu Rushi, dressed in a pale yellow goose skirt, appeared in front of Mu Zian.
If Xiao Xiuning's beauty is described as noble and ethereal, it is like a celestial being descended to the moonlight.
Liu Rushi's beauty was that of a delicate and refined young lady, gentle yet strong, just like the white moonlight of yesteryear.
Liu Rushi's makeup was very simple. Her long hair was carefully tied into a bun, with only two plain hairpins as decoration.
Although simple, it is elegant and sophisticated, with a refined and charming beauty.
Mu Zian was sizing up Liu Rushi, while Liu Rushi was also curiously sizing up Mu Zian.
Before Mu Zian could ask any questions, Liu Rushi took out a document from her sleeve.
"I, Liu Rushi, have come to fulfill my promise on my father's orders."
Mu Zian took the letter from Liu Rushi and read it, feeling both amused and exasperated.
It turns out that many years ago, when Mu Zhanying was still a soldier, he saved a fellow villager surnamed Liu on the battlefield.
To repay Mu Zhanying, the fellow villager promised that if he had a daughter in the future, he would marry Mu Zhanying's son.
At that time, the world was in chaos, and Mu Zhanying didn't know if he could survive, so he agreed.
The two made a vow with a letter as proof, but later Mu Zhanying soared to great heights and became the Duke of Dali.
He had long since forgotten about this matter.
However, no one expected that what was once a joke would now become a reality.
Mu Zian could only say, "System, you're really something! If you're so good at making up stories, why don't you write novels?"
Looking at Liu Rushi in front of him, Mu Zian felt a headache coming on.
After all, the emperor had just promised to marry the princess to him not long ago.
He suddenly found himself with a wife who appeared out of nowhere.
Seeing the expression on Mu Zian's face, Liu Rushi remained calm.
"This is my father's dying wish. If the Duke doesn't think much of me, just treat it as a joke. I will not pester him."
After saying this, Liu Rushi turned to leave.
Upon seeing this, Mu Zian quickly called out.
Where are you going?
Liu Rushi turned her head to the side.
"My parents are dead, and my promise has been fulfilled. I am all alone. Why should I linger in this world?"
Mu Zian felt a chill run down his spine upon hearing this!
She truly deserves the title of a loyal and virtuous woman who "could not suppress her pride despite her vast wealth, nor could she bear the hatred for her country and family despite her tender feelings."
Mu Zian had no choice but to obediently invite Liu Rushi into the mansion.
Upon entering the mansion, Liu Rushi immediately got into character.
In just a few days, she managed the entire Zhenguo Duke's Mansion in perfect order, giving off the air of a true mistress of the mansion.
Previously, Jia Xu had been the one helping with management, and he was also the one who offered advice on military campaigns.
Jia Xu truly deserves the title of someone who can strategize and win battles from afar.
However, when it came to managing the inner quarters, Jia Xu was truly no match for Liu Rushi.
The matter of Liu Rushi can only be explained to Xiao Xiuning later; the imperial examination is the most important thing right now.
In the dead of night, candlelight flickered in the study as Mu Zi'an pondered how to complete his supervisory mission.
Moreover, Mu Zian obtained a lot of information from the Imperial City Guard through Li Jiuxuan in the past few days.
In recent years, nearly half of the successful candidates in the imperial examinations have had some connection with the Pei family.
The closer the relationship, the higher the ranking in the imperial examination.
Lu Yunxue wouldn't believe there wasn't something fishy going on here.
Moreover, Mu Zi'an was not the only examiner for the imperial examination in Dali this time.
There is one chief examiner and two assistant examiners.
They are Sun Ning, the current Minister of Justice; Li Ping, the Left Vice Minister of Revenue; and Zhao Anguo, the Right Vice Minister of Rites.
According to the information Jia Xu gathered, Sun Ning, the Minister of Justice, was the son-in-law of the Pei family, while the other two had received favors from the Pei family.
The more Mu Zi'an looked at the information, the more surprised he became.
I never imagined that the Pei family wielded such immense power in the imperial court.
Just as Mu Zian was deep in thought, a faint smell of blood suddenly filled the air.
Mu Zian's eyes sharpened, and he stood up and stepped into the darkness.
The next moment, a soft moan came from the darkness.
As the candlelight flickered, Mu Zi'an looked closely and saw that the person she was strangling was none other than Ning Hongchen, the assassin from Luzhou's One Night Burial Ground.
Just as Mu Zian was puzzled, blood trickled from the corner of Ning Hongchen's mouth, and the blood overflowing from his abdomen stained his white clothes red.
At this moment, Ning Hongchen looked at Mu Zian with a listless expression and said softly.
"Help me..."
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