Chapter 357 Palace Examination
Chen Ran's face froze for a moment when she heard this, but soon returned to normal.
She whispered, "I'm sorry, brother..."
Shang Xi said: "You haven't wronged me. Shen Zhiyi has been very good to you. You should pay tribute to him."
What's more, he saved his life.
The moment he blocked the arrow for him, he had already paid off what he owed him...
Instead, he killed him with his own hands.
Shang Xi felt that he should also go to pay tribute to Shen Zhiyi, but he didn't dare to face him.
The murderer went to honor the murdered...
Xiao Ning held Shang Xi's hand tightly, and the hot temperature passed from her palm to his palm, all the way up, warming his cold heart.
He heard her smile and say to Chen Ran: "Please help us worship him, we won't go."
Shen Ran also heard about what happened that night.
She smiled and placed her hand on the back of Shang Xi's hand.
"Brother, you don't have to blame yourself. He chose the path of death himself. I think he wants you to be happy."
Shang Xi's eyelashes trembled, and he looked up at Chen Ran.
Chen Ran smiled at him, her smile warm and bright.
Shang Xi felt a little uncomfortable when he felt the care from his relatives.
The corners of his lips curled up involuntarily.
After parting with Shen Ran, they went to Xiangji Temple, burned incense at the original owner's spirit tablet, and donated some incense money to the temple.
On the way back, Shang Xi looked at the scenery along the way, with the corners of his lips slightly raised.
"Aning, spring is here."
Xiao Ning glanced out the car window and said with a smile, "Yes, spring is here. After I finish my work on the imperial examination, I'll take you for an outing."
Shang Xi: "Come on, there's no such thing as a life without work. Once you become emperor, you're destined to have no freedom."
Xiao Ning held his hand and said, "That's okay. I'm too busy. I can ask someone to take you out to play. I can't be free, so you can be free for me."
Shang Xi lowered the curtains and turned around to hug Xiao Ning.
"Aning, I want to be with you more than that moment of freedom."
Xiao Ning smiled and said, "Why are you so clingy? If you want to play, go ahead and play. I won't run away."
Shang Xi: "Being with you is called playing, being with others is called socializing."
Xiao Ning hooked his hair, which was half draped behind his back, with his fingertips and played with it nonchalantly, but his eyes looked at the green mountains outside through the curtains lifted by the wind.
The green mountains are the same as when she first came.
But she has been in this world for six years.
Xiao Ning thought, with such beautiful scenery, she must take him out for a walk.
The world is important.
The people are important.
Her emblem is also very important.
Although he was willing to be trapped in the deep palace with her, she couldn't bear to see him always putting himself in a difficult position.
…
In the blink of an eye, it was the day of the palace examination.
Xiao Ning was dressed in a royal robe with tassels swaying gently, sitting high on a bright platform.
The tribute scholars went up to the palace one after another.
But Xiao Ning saw someone she didn't expect.
When everyone entered the hall with their heads bowed and respectfully, that man looked up, met her eyes, and smiled at her.
Xiao Ning: “…”
The tribute scholars came to the hall and saluted her.
"Your Majesty, long live your Majesty!"
Xiao Ning collected his thoughts and raised his hand calmly.
"No need to be polite!"
The tribute scholars stood up one after another.
Men and women stood separately.
Xiao Ning only took a glance and knew which of these people came from aristocratic families and which came from humble backgrounds.
The contrast is very obvious.
But it doesn’t matter, the aristocratic families will soon disappear completely in the Xin Dynasty.
Xiao Ning lowered her eyes, picked up the essay topic that she and Shang Xi had prepared together, and asked the tribute students.
"I want to eradicate the evils of official corruption. In your opinion, what should I do first?"
As soon as these words were spoken, the faces of everyone in the officialdom turned ugly.
What's the meaning?
Are the officials selected by the imperial examination system just for the purpose of messing with them?
Xiao Ning said nonchalantly, "With the establishment of the new dynasty, the past will be written off and never mentioned again. My Lords, there is no need to worry."
"From now on, our ruler and ministers will join hands to govern our vast country. Wouldn't that be wonderful?"
Officials: “…”
Most of the candidates came from aristocratic families, and when they heard this question, they did not dare to answer for a moment.
Including women.
Xiao Ning raised his eyebrows and shouted, "Where is Qiu Minghuan?"
"I am here."
A tribute scholar stepped out and knelt in response.
Xiao Ning looked at him and was really shocked this time.
Who would have thought that the little male lover she once had in her room would actually be the top scholar...
Yu Qing looked up at Xiao Ning, the corners of his lips curled slightly, "Your Majesty, why are you so shocked to see me?"
Xiao Ning: “…”
The tribute students looked at Yu Qing, their pupils trembling.
Not only did he dare to look the emperor in the eye, he also dared to question His Majesty in such a treasonous manner.
No, why did he ask if His Majesty was shocked to see him?
Do they know each other?
On the high platform, Xiao Ning said calmly: "You bear some resemblance to an old friend of mine."
Yu Qing seemed to smile when he heard this.
Xiao Ning said, "Stand up. Tell me what you think about what I just asked you."
Yu Qing raised his eyes, said to stand up, and then talked about Xiao Ning's question.
Xiao Ning was very satisfied after hearing this.
The ministers listened with cold eyes.
Just a grassroots person with no background, how could he really think that the imperial examination is the dragon gate and that one can become a god by jumping over the dragon gate?
After Yu Qing finished speaking, several scholars from poor families came out one after another and expressed their own views.
Not as good as Yu Qing’s incisive answer.
But there are also some good points.
Next is a question about people’s livelihood.
Everyone spoke freely about this question, and the women also had their own unique insights.
Xiao Ning listened and nodded with satisfaction from time to time.
After that, a few more questions were asked and all the candidates answered them.
After listening to everyone's answers, she would lower her head and write and draw on the paper on the dragon desk.
Finally, everyone was given a score.
Based on Yu Qing's demeanor, he should have been chosen as the third place winner.
But Xiao Ning also felt that if he became the third place in the imperial examination and someone who was not as good as him became the first place, not to mention Yu Qing, she would feel uncomfortable.
Therefore, the emperor personally appointed Yu Qing as the top scholar.
After careful selection, they named the second and third place winners.
On the women's side, Xue Qingrong was a good writer and eloquent speaker, followed by Chen Ran and a girl named Xu Fuyu.
Xiao Ning selected the rankings one by one.
When the palace examination ended and everyone was leaving, Xiao Ning said, "Qiu Minghuan, stay a moment."
Yu Qing raised the corner of his lips, "Yes, Your Majesty."
Soon, only Xiao Ning and Yu Qing were left in the hall.
Xiao Ning walked down from the platform, looked at Yu Qing and said, "Qiu Minghuan?"
Yu Qing responded, "I'm here."
Xiao Ning asked, "What's going on?"
Yu Qing sighed and recounted that past event: "Twelve years ago, the Qiu family was implicated in a corruption case, and my father became a scapegoat. Everyone in the family, from the age of fifteen onward, was executed. Those under fifteen were exiled, and the women...were consigned to slavery."
Xiao Ning looked at Yu Qing, waiting for him to tell him what happened next.
After all, according to the punishment, he should be in exile, not Shengjing City.
Yu Qing continued, "That year I was fourteen years old. Because of my good looks... I was noticed by the officer escorting us. He dragged me into the woods and tried to rape me..."
Having said that, Yu Qing paused, seeming a little embarrassed.
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