Chapter 85 Better than Zhu Cici (4000 words, two chapters in one)

Before he knew it, a year had passed since Xu Ming came to the palace.

During this year, Xu Ming was by Emperor Wu's side every day.

Except when he attended the morning court, Xu Ming served by the side when Emperor Wu reviewed memorials.

Xu Ming ate three meals a day with Emperor Wu.

When hunting, Xu Ming rode a horse and followed Emperor Wu.

When he had free time, Emperor Wu wanted to teach Xu Ming the art of war.

However, Xu Ming refused on the grounds that "I only care about the strategy, not the ancient military tactics."

When Xu Ming refused, Emperor Wu laughed and scolded Xu Ming a few times, but didn't say anything else.

Emperor Wu would always pull Xu Ming up when he sat on the dragon chariot.

Xu Ming confirmed that Emperor Wu wanted to train him to be his confidant.

The more favored he was, the more cautious Xu Ming became.

Serving the king is like serving a tiger.

Never fully trust that an emperor can be faithful to you.

Emperor Wu was more and more satisfied with Xu Ming's caution.

If Xu Ming became too arrogant due to his favor, Emperor Wu would not completely abandon Xu Ming, but he might teach Xu Ming a lesson and correct his temper.

Now, Emperor Wu felt that he had saved himself a lot of trouble.

Naturally, the news of Xu Ming's favor could not be concealed from the entire court.

Some people think that His Majesty is just cherishing talents. After all, Xu Ming is both civil and military, and he is young. If he is brought up by your side since he was young, isn't he more reliable than other ministers? He will be your absolute confidant in the future!

Some people also guessed that His Majesty would most likely let Xu Ming be the princess's consort, after all, His Majesty is now unable to have children.

If Xu Ming and the princess give birth to a grandson, he will be the future ruler!

As for whether she can give birth to an imperial grandson?

If one doesn't work, then give birth to another one. With a 50% chance, you can give birth to seven or eight. Is it possible that there won't be a son? Anyway, Your Majesty is still young and can wait.

It’s the same as raising a grandson as a son.

But no matter whether Xu Ming will become a royal consort or not, it is a foregone conclusion that Xu Ming will be reused. Now His Majesty is waiting for Xu Ming to take part in the metropolitan examination and the palace examination to see what ranking Xu Ming can get.

Xu Ming's test scores were average. He needs to hone his skills for a year or two, gain some experience, and then be reused.

Xu Ming did well in the exam, and His Majesty will definitely reward him handsomely! In the future, Xu Ming will definitely be a hot figure.

During these days, various officials visited the Xu Mansion in person, or visited the Xu Mansion indirectly through the Qin Mansion, hoping to establish good relations with the Xu Mansion.

Xu Shuiya, Duke Xu of the Xu Mansion, Xu Ming's father Xu Zheng, and Qin Ruhai, Duke Qin of the Qin Mansion, have been in high spirits recently, frequently attending various banquets and being flattered to the point of being a little overconfident.

The entire Xu family was extremely proud, with a feeling that "if one person succeeds, the whole family will benefit."

Even the sixth young master of the Xu family, Xu Wang (a child born to the second wife, five years later than Xu Ming, and nine years old), had a conflict with the third son of Jingzhao Yin. He first fought and broke the other person's head, but he was still very arrogant.

The Jingzhao Yin didn't dare to say a word, and even brought his son to apologize.

After Wang Feng heard about this, he was so angry that he took out his mistress's rattan whip and was about to whip the sixth young master Xu Wang, but was stopped by everyone and failed to hit him.

The old lady even took the initiative to say, "Forget it, it's just a fight between children. It's no big deal."

Wang Feng was so angry that he threw away his mistress's rattan basket and did not leave his courtyard for ten days.

Zhao Wenshan was even more shocked when he heard this, and hurried to Xu's house and said to the old lady and Xu Zheng, his words were very straightforward: "Although the fifth son Xu Ming is both civil and military, he is favored by His Majesty.

But before the fifth son Xu Ming became famous, how the Xu and Qin mansions treated the fifth son, the old ancestor and Uncle Xu should know! Now the fifth son Xu Ming is being carefully cultivated by His Majesty.

The fifth son Xu Ming will surely be valued by His Majesty in the future.

But our Xu and Qin mansions are already powerful. How could Your Majesty let the people you carefully train be dragged down by the Xu and Qin mansions? How could Your Majesty let the Xu and Qin mansions rise to a higher level because of Xu Ming and lose the check and balance? The Sixth Young Master had a conflict with the Third Son of the Jingzhao Yin Lord. Wenshan understood what happened and knew that it was the Sixth Young Master who was at fault first.

Lord Jingzhao Yin is a righteous man who is not afraid of the powerful. He is also a confidant of His Majesty, just like Xiao Mochi. Now he is swallowing his anger. Don’t the ancestors and Uncle Xu feel strange? Our Wu Kingdom prohibits private banquets for officials exceeding ten people. Xu Zheng previously hosted twenty people at Chunfeng Tower, which was a violation of Wu Kingdom law. Could it be that the Censorate did not impeach him? Your Majesty doesn’t know? Your Majesty is giving us the last face of the Xu and Qin governments! He is also making a knife to reach out to the Xu and Qin governments when necessary!

If you want to destroy a person, you must first make him crazy! Even a five-year-old child understands this truth, so don’t the old lady and Uncle Xu know it?"

Hearing what Zhao Wenshan said, Xu Zheng and the old lady were indeed shocked, but they still said, "Wenshan, you worry too much, we have the imperial edict", "Xu Ming is from the Xu family no matter what, he will speak for us", etc.

Looking at the appearance of the old lady and Uncle Xu, Zhao Wenshan could only sigh heavily, "Finally, the birds have eaten all the food and flew back to the forest, leaving the earth clean and white."

Then he rolled his sleeves and went out.

Xu Ming in the palace was unaware of these episodes.

Xu Ming has been in the palace and is not allowed to go out. He has daily contact with Emperor Wu. Xu Ming has no idea what the officials think of him.

Two months before the imperial examination, Xu Ming paid a visit to Emperor Wu and said, "Your Majesty, I will take part in the imperial examination in two months. I would like to be temporarily transferred out of the palace to study in seclusion for two months."

Although Xu Ming did not hold any position, he just followed Emperor Wu every day.

But it is even more time consuming.

Xu Ming really wasn't confident enough that he could pass the imperial examination without reading any books.

Not to mention that the number of people participating in this imperial examination was unprecedented since the founding of the Wu State.

And Xu Ming did this to avoid suspicion.

In ten days, all officials will come to the Imperial Study to prepare examination papers with Emperor Wu.

As a candidate, I really can't stay in the palace.

"Yes, it's approved." Emperor Wu nodded. "During this period of time, you really need to avoid suspicion. There is a courtyard in the East City, which is not too big, but not too small. I have arranged two palace maids for you. You should study hard."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

After Xu Ming bowed and expressed his gratitude, Wei Xun personally took Xu Ming out of the palace and came to the courtyard in the east city.

Emperor Wu was really not modest. This courtyard was indeed not big. It was just an ordinary two-entry courtyard, but the decoration was exquisite and elegant.

Every day after that, Xu Ming spent more time reading and less time practicing boxing and swordplay.

Xu Ming actually didn't care much about fame and fortune, but he wanted to know what rewards he would get if he achieved the title of Jinshi or even the first-class grade.

At the same time, as the imperial examination approached, Wudu became lively.

In fact, many ordinary people don’t pay much attention to this kind of imperial examination.

But this time it's different.

Not only the common people of Wu State were looking forward to this imperial examination, but also the human dynasties of Qi State, Liang State and even Beimang were paying close attention to it.

One of the reasons is that this was the exam with the largest number of participants after the Wu State's imperial examination was fully liberalized.

The second reason is that Xu Ming is going to participate.

Four years ago, Xu Ming, the genius who wrote "Red face leaves the mirror, flowers leave the trees" and passed the imperial examination at the age of ten, will he become mediocre or will he make a splash again.

Everyone is waiting for a result.

Of course, many people don’t actually have high expectations for Xu Ming.

Xu Ming has been in the military camp for three or four years, and he is also the Xuefutu of Wu State. The training tasks are so heavy that he has no time to study. Even if Xu Ming is a genius, what can he do?

It would be good enough for Xu Ming to pass the joint examination and enter the palace examination and be qualified as a "Tong Jinshi".

Xu Ming more or less guessed what the outside world thought of him.

Xu Ming felt that they were not wrong. He had been cramming for two months and had no idea how he would do in the exam. He might not even pass the imperial examination.

Xu Ming just wants to do his best, that's all.

By the way, how is Xu Xiaopang? It’s been four years since we last saw him. Xu Xiaopang is sixteen years old now and has become a man. Is he still the same as before?

How are mother and the big white goose doing?

My mother doesn't fight or compete, so there shouldn't be any problem. Has the big white goose transformed? Is it a muscular woman?

Xu Ming wanted to go to the Xu Mansion to take a look, but when he thought about having to deal with the old lady and his father when he returned to the Xu Mansion, he felt it was too troublesome. At that time, the Xu Mansion might even ask him to meet other dignitaries and attend social events.

"Forget it, there are only two months left, let's go after the exam."

There is no mistake in the poem, post, content, and read the book on 6-9!

Xu Ming shook his head, opened the book and continued reading.

The Wu national examination is very open, and there are no questions such as "cloze" or "dictation" that waste time and ink.

The imperial examination in Wu State involved four major industries: scholars, farmers, workers, and merchants. There were twenty questions in each industry, and all of them were essay questions. There were no standard answers. It was entirely a test of your insights and opinions. The examination lasted four days.

So Xu Ming read a lot of different books. Anyway, he had a photographic memory, so he could read whatever was available and it could also increase some strange attribute points.

That’s right. Xu Ming hasn’t bought a copy of Little Liu Bei yet, so he doesn’t know what attribute points Little Liu Bei adds.

"Wait until after the exam before buying it, forget about it before the exam."

Xu Ming still felt that he needed to concentrate before the test. After all, giving advice before the test was a big taboo.

"Mr. Xu"

A maid came in.

These maids are all palace maids and are very well-behaved.

"What's wrong?" Xu Ming asked.

"Mr. Xu, there is a young man looking for you outside, saying he is your friend." The maid said respectfully.

"My friend? Okay, I get it."

Xu Ming put down the book and walked out of the room.

As Xu Ming walked out of the courtyard, he saw a "man" sitting in a wine stall not far away. The man was dressed in men's clothes, but looked much more handsome than the woman.

Xu Ming smiled, walked forward, and called to the waiter, "Two jars of Redwood wine, two pounds of braised beef, and a plate of fried peanuts."

"Okay, sir, please wait a moment, I'll be there soon." The waiter responded.

Xu Ming sat down in front of the "man" who was more beautiful than the woman.

The man glanced at Xu Ming and said, "You've grown a lot taller."

"That's right." Xu Ming poured a glass of wine, "At this age, men usually grow up very fast."

"Are you almost old enough to get married?" Wu Yanhan rolled his eyes at Xu Ming.

"This is a bit too fast." Xu Ming shook his head.

"Soon?" Wu Yanhan raised the corner of her mouth, her heroic spirit mixed with the charm of a young girl, "Could it be that if you pass the imperial examination this time, aren't you going to marry Miss Cici from Qi?"

"Cough, cough, cough." Xu Ming coughed a few times after taking a sip of wine. "Why did you bring this up with someone else?"

"You don't know?" Wu Yanhan looked at Xu Ming.

"Know what?" Xu Ming was a little confused.

Wu Yanhan's phoenix eyes slightly widened, staring at Xu Ming for a moment, then shook her head and drank a glass of wine: "Nothing."

"It's incomprehensible." Xu Ming took a bite of the braised beef and felt a little guilty.

Could it be that the jokes between Cici and I when we were little were known to other people?

It shouldn't be like that. And no one would take childhood jokes seriously, right? They were only a few years old, what could two little brats understand?

"Where have you been this year?" Xu Ming poured Wu Yanhan a glass of wine.

"I traveled around, visited the martial arts world, kicked out a few sects, and killed some cultivators." Wu Yanhan said casually.

"Yeah." Xu Ming nodded, "What realm?"

"Heroic Soul Realm." Wu Yanhan did not hide it.

"You have reached the level of Xiongpo in just one year. There should be no one who can compare to you." Xu Ming smiled and was truly happy for his good friend.

Wu Yanhan rolled his eyes at Xu Ming and said, "If you hadn't entered that damn palace, you could be as good as me."

"Not that fast." Xu Ming shook his head.

Xu Ming is really not modest.

Although Xu Ming had a cheat, his dual cultivation of physical and magical skills became slower and slower the further he practiced.

This is why most cultivators, although they could have taken the path of a warrior, would only cultivate to the level of the Mercury Mirror and would not go any further.

Because I don’t have that much energy anymore.

"What about you? Are you planning to return to Xuefutu?" Xu Ming asked.

Although it is basically impossible to get in after Xuefutu left, she must have a backer.

"No, I plan to go home." Wu Yanhan took a sip of wine, "If I don't go back, my father will go crazy."

"That's right." Xu Ming smiled and nodded.

Although she has the body of a martial god, she is still a girl after all.

Wu Yanhan looked at Xu Ming and blinked gently: "Do you know? There is a rumor in the imperial capital that when you take the imperial examination, you will become the son-in-law of the Wu Kingdom."

"Ah? There is such a thing?" Xu Ming was stunned.

Xu Ming really didn't know. Xu Ming didn't know much about royal affairs. Xu Ming wouldn't ask, and no one told Xu Ming.

Xu Ming had been in the palace for a year and had become extremely cautious. He did not ask questions that he should not ask and absolutely did not listen to anything that he should not listen to. He even did not know how many children Emperor Wu had.

By the way, did Emperor Wu have any children? I don't think I've ever seen any in the palace.

"Who knows?" Wu Yanhan tucked the hair behind her ears, "But the Emperor Wu has granted us the marriage, will you agree or not?"

Xu Ming thought for a moment and asked, "Does it look good?"

Wu Yan snorted coldly: "Prettier than that Zhu Cici."

(End of this chapter)