Gao Zhijun and Huo Jinqian lived in Anyang Marquis's mansion. They went out to inspect shops during the day and returned to the mansion to rest at night. They seldom met anyone in the mansion.
This was Gao Zhijun's intention to confuse Anyang Hou and others. In fact, she sent Tianlang, Polang and Huolang to secretly monitor everything in the Marquis' Mansion.
Huo Jinqian rarely left the courtyard of the Marquis's mansion. Except when Wei Mingxuan came to discuss academic matters with him, or when the Marquis of Anyang showed him false concern.
Madam Wei, the Marquis' wife, and the Crown Prince's conspiracy could not escape Canglang's eyes. He told the conspiracy to Gao Zhijun. Gao Zhijun asked Tianlang and others to prepare, and then found an excuse to take Huo Jinqian out of the Marquis's Mansion to buy clothes to attend the family recognition banquet.
When Madam Wei and Madam Hou saw Huo Jinqian leave, they immediately ordered people to take action.
As expected, Huo Jinqian was assassinated while trying on clothes in the cloth shop. The assassin was captured by the lurking Canglang and his men, and Huo Jinqian was sent back to the Marquis' Mansion with serious injuries.
The Marquis's Mansion began to be in chaos, and the imperial physician was called in to treat Huo Jinqian.
Gao Zhijun entered the palace and quietly brought those people into the palace.
After being tortured by the clan officials, they confessed the truth. The emperor was furious and ordered the clan officials to keep them under strict supervision and ensure that no mistakes were made.
Gao Zhijun told the emperor her plan, and the emperor was very happy and told her to go ahead and do it.
Gao Zhijun gave the emperor a list, saying that the people on the list were the families of ministers who had falsely accused her of having an affair with the emperor.
The emperor was furious and said he would punish them severely.
The imperial physician gave Huo Jinqian a critical illness notice, saying that Huo Jinqian might not wake up.
This news made the Marquis's wife and the old lady very happy. They cried falsely and expressed their love for Huo Jinqian.
The news that Huo Jinqian couldn't wake up spread like wildfire in the capital. Every household knew about it and felt sorry for him.
Marquis Anyang said that even if Huo Jinqian couldn't wake up, he was still his son, the eldest son of the Marquisate, and they would not give up on him. The family recognition banquet would be held as usual.
Soon, the Prime Minister of Tatar arrived in the capital and went to the palace to meet the Emperor. The Emperor kept his promise and said that he would hold a banquet in the palace in three days to choose a husband for the ninth princess.
As soon as the imperial edict was issued, the ministers in the court became active and went to the inn with gifts to curry favor with the Ninth Princess.
Ever since the Ninth Princess learned that Huo Jinqian had become a vegetable and was in a coma, she did not believe it at first. She sent guards to Anyang Hou to inquire about the truth. Only after the guards came back and told her that Huo Jinqian was really in a coma did she give up on marrying Huo Jinqian.
Gao Zhijun secretly manipulated the situation to allow the Ninth Princess and Wei Mingchen to meet.
After Wei Mingchen's sweet talk and persistence, he finally won the favor of the Ninth Princess and she agreed to marry him.
Everything was going according to plan, and Gao Zhijun was in a good mood.
During the day, she would either go to the clinic to treat the people or go to shops to look after them.
At night, he returned to the Marquis' Mansion to take care of Huo Jinqian, but in fact, he was telling him about the progress of the plan.
The day for the Ninth Princess to choose her husband has arrived!
Palace!
The Wenhua Hall was extremely lively. Many ministers' legitimate sons were there, and even merchants' legitimate sons came to participate.
"Today is the auspicious day for the Ninth Princess to choose a husband. I am very happy to meet the talented people of Daliang. This time, there will be three competitions: a literary test, a talent test, and a martial arts test. The winner will marry the Ninth Princess!"
The Emperor looked at the rows of talented young men standing before his Highness, all of whom wanted to marry the Ninth Princess.
In order to avoid embarrassing the Tatars, candidates for the competition were between thirteen and thirty years old.
"As you wish!"
The young talents below said.
The ninth princess sat on the left, separated by a screen.
"First round, the literary test! Whoever writes the best poem wins!"
The emperor has stated the rules.
The talented young people below began to come forward and recite their poems enthusiastically. Some of them were rubbish, while others were quite good.
"There is a cloud in the sky and a pile of shit on the ground. You are the cloud and I am the shit."
………
"Geese, geese, geese, their necks sing to the sky. Their white feathers float on the green water, their red feet lift the clear waves."
…………
"Don't laugh at the muddy wine of the farmers; in a good year there are enough chickens and pigs to entertain guests. Mountains and rivers are so steep that you may think there is no way out, but when you bend the willows and see the flowers, you will find another village. Flutes and drums follow the spring, and the clothes are simple and ancient. From now on, if you are allowed to ride the moon at your leisure, I will knock on your door at any time of the night with my staff."
Wei Mingchen, the son of Anyang Marquis, recited the poem.
"What a wonderful line! Mountains and rivers, after seemingly no way out, suddenly, willows and flowers appear, another village is revealed. What a poem! What a poem! Your Highness is truly talented!"
The emperor praised Wei Mingchen. He knew of course that the poem was written by the princess and had someone copy it for Wei Mingchen in order to let him marry the ninth princess.
"The prince is so talented, I admire him!"
"Brother Wei is truly talented and has created such a masterpiece. I admire him!"
…………
The young talents in the hall all praised Wei Mingchen's talent and were willing to admit defeat.
All of this was arranged by Gao Zhijun. Gao Zhijun also had someone secretly give the poem to Wei Mingchen, with the purpose of helping him win the first place in the first competition.
How could this poem be bad? It was written by Lu You during the Song Dynasty.
The Ninth Princess also liked this poem very much and felt that Wei Mingchen was a talented and intelligent young man.
The prime minister was also very satisfied with Wei Mingchen. He felt that such a young man was a perfect match for the princess.
"Since everyone feels inferior to him, this literary examination is won by Wei Mingchen, the Prince of Wei!"
The emperor gave the final word on the result.
"Round 2, talent show!"
"Start now!"
The emperor was talking about the second round of the competition.
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