Before the imperial examination, the capital was bustling with activity.
This is a major event that happens once every three years, and many candidates focus their efforts on it.
If you pass the exam, you will be very successful and become a rare talent. Maybe even your family tree will be rewritten.
Every three years at this time, people in Beijing either talk about examples from previous years or discuss who will make the list this year:
"It's good to be able to read. You can rise from an ordinary citizen to an official overnight!"
"Becoming an official isn't uncommon. If you ask me, the best thing is that new number one scholar that year. He became an official and even married a princess. He got a beautiful woman!"
"Well, Wei Shaoqing was a well-known figure in the capital back then. I heard from a friend of mine who is an official in the court that he was recently promoted again!"
"Of course not. He is now the Crown Prince's brother-in-law, and His Majesty loves Princess Showa. Isn't he going to be very successful?"
"I heard that this prince consort originally only had a few acres of good farmland at home, but now he's eating swan meat!"
"Eh? Have you heard? This year there's a very talented young man. I heard he has the demeanor of Wei Shaoqing back then. His name is... Wei..."
"Wei Tianci! I heard he was a top scorer in the imperial examinations and came from Yangzhou. He's quite famous!"
"Wei Tianci? They both have the surname Wei, so what's his relationship with Wei Shaoqing? Wasn't Wei Shaoqing also an official in Yangzhou before?"
"I don't know... maybe it's a coincidence. There are so many people with the last name Wei. Maybe the Wei family's ancestors are doing well."
"But I've met Wei Tianci and Master Wei. To be honest, I think they look a bit alike..."
"How so? Tell me more."
"The style, figure, and even appearance are somewhat similar... Wei Tianci looks a bit like a younger version of Wei Shaoqing..."
"Ah... Could it be..."
"Don't talk nonsense, it's impossible! Maybe it's a relative? Some time ago, there was a fire at Wei Tianci's house, and it was said that Her Royal Highness the Princess was kind enough to take the whole family to the Wei Mansion for resettlement."
"Yes, yes, yes. The princess said they all came from Yangzhou. Wei Tianci will take the exam soon, so let him study with peace of mind."
"The princess has done this, so it's definitely not true. Don't you know? The princess and her husband are in love!"
"The princess is so kind? Is it too late for me to change my surname to Wei now? Hahahahaha..."
"It's no use changing your surname to Wei. The princess must think this young man has a promising future!"
"That's right. I heard that Wei Tianci is a talent favored by Prime Minister Dou, and his future is limitless!"
…
Mo Xue's recent task is to take the ten newly trained secret guards and mingle in the teahouses and restaurants in the capital to make Wei Tianci's reputation more and more famous.
People have always been curious and gossipy about these things.
Mo Xue and the others just need to throw out a topic and guide it, and then someone will use their imagination to continue talking.
Therefore, before the imperial examination, Wei Tianci's reputation had already spread throughout the capital.
Whether ordinary people or high-ranking officials, they have all heard of the name of this talented young man to some extent.
Wei Shaoqing naturally heard about it, and he was so happy that one day after the court session, a colleague asked him:
"Your Majesty, I heard that the talented writer is staying at your house recently?"
Wei Shaoqing nodded with some pride, "Yes, their house caught fire a few days ago, so Zhao'er and I discussed bringing their whole family to our house."
"After all, we are all from Yangzhou, so we should take care of each other."
The colleague cupped his hands and said, "The princess and the prince consort really value talent!"
"It's a pity that your daughter's hundred-day banquet coincides with the imperial examination. Otherwise, I could ask the Prince Consort to introduce me to someone."
Wei Shaoqing waved his hand. "No, no, I dare not. But that young man has two younger brothers and sisters, who are also very good. Especially his younger sister, who could compose poems at the age of three. She is quite talented..."
When talking about his three children, Wei Shaoqing's face was full of pride.
At this time, Dou Shoufu happened to be walking down the stairs and overheard their conversation.
"Lord Wei," Prime Minister Dou stopped and glanced at Wei Shaoqing.
Wei Shaoqing was a little flattered. This was Prime Minister Dou, a veteran minister of three dynasties, a person whom both His Majesty and the Crown Prince had to give some face to.
"That young man named Wei Tianci writes really well..." Dou Shoufu said only this and then left.
Wei Shaoqing was excited, and his colleagues around him also said:
"It seems the rumors are true. Prime Minister Dou really did read that article."
"If Wei Tianci can win another prize, Prime Minister Dou will most likely accept him as his disciple!"
"Your Highness has a really good eye for people!"
At this time, someone said softly: "I remember that the princess and her husband's eldest son was also very talented back then..."
As soon as these words were spoken, there was silence for a moment.
Wei Shaoqing's smiling face became a little stiff.
How can that paralytic be compared with Tianci?
What other use is there for him besides being born in Yuan Zhao's belly and having the surname Yuan?
Fortunately, he has self-awareness. After doing such a shameful thing, he now knows to lock himself up indoors and not go out to avoid embarrassing himself.
The person next to him nudged the person who was speaking and asked, "Why are you bringing this up?"
…
Wei Shaoqing quickly put Yuan Musheng out of his mind. When he returned to the mansion, the smile on his face never faded.
After returning home, he went straight to Bai's yard and told her the good news as soon as he entered.
"Yue Niang, as long as Tianci works hard and passes this time, and becomes a disciple of Prime Minister Dou, I can openly accept you as my disciple!"
"By then, Yuan Zhao will probably be speechless. After all, such a talented child like Tianci is a descendant of my Wei family!"
"Yue Niang, you can be confident now!"
Bai Ruyue was also very happy when she knew about it. She patted her chest and promised Wei Shaoqing:
"Qinglang, you know Tianci's talent. He will definitely be able to pass the high school entrance examination."
"Of course he is. Tianci is my son, so he must have inherited my talent!"
"Yue Niang, you've worked so hard these years..." Wei Shaoqing hugged Bai Ruyue, their hands tightly clasped together, "If we can bring Yuan Zhao to ruin by the Hundred Days Banquet, Tianci can pass the imperial examination and become a disciple of Prime Minister Dou..."
"Now that I have been promoted, if Yuan Zhao does anything wrong to me again, I am sure that His Majesty will compensate me. By then, I can be promoted to the second or even first rank, which will provide a good future for Tianci Tianen."
"By then, our Wei family's position in the capital will be unbreakable!"
Wei Jiaojiao outside the door also heard this and was extremely excited.
That’s right! That’s right! That’s it!
Mother will enter the Wei family, Yuan Zhao will be firmly controlled by them, the eldest brother will become the prime minister, the second brother will become the imperial merchant, and she, Wei Jiaojiao, will become the most noble woman in the world.
This is the same ending as in her dream!
Her dream is about to come true!
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