Nangong Xin had admired Su Rong’s magnanimity more than once. She sat down and sighed.
Smiling, Su Rong asked, "What are you sighing about?"
Nangong Xin said, "Nangong Zheng has been favored and nurtured by my older brother since he was a child. All the people in the Nangong family combined could not match the heart and soul my brother devoted to him. Since Master Xie killed my brother, Nangong Zheng couldn’t possibly ally with someone who’s at your mercy." 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮
She nodded, "Ah, it’s true. This is a deeply rooted enmity, others in the Nangong family can let it go, but Nangong Zheng can’t."
Nangong Xin agreed, "Yes, I can, but he can’t. In my brother’s heart, I am just a daughter in the family who is willing to marry into the Imperial Court among all his siblings. But Nangong Zheng is different, he is irreplaceable."
She sighed, "If my elder brother were not dead, by now Nanchu would have been swallowed up by Dawei."
Su Rong grasped Nangong Xin’s hand, "I didn’t annihilate them, not because I am overly kind-hearted, but because as long as they are citizens of Nanchu and have no disloyalty, I can treat everyone equally. I do not fear employing talent."
Nangong Xin laughed at her, "I’m overthinking things."
She squeezed Su Rong’s hand, "Well, I’m going. You should rest!"
Su Rong waved her hand.
As Nangong Xin exited the Council Hall, she encountered Ye Xiang coming in. Ye Xiang paused and greeted her reverently, "Your Majesty the Queen."
Nangong Xin glanced at him and didn’t respond, she turned around and walked away.
Ye Xiang rubbed his nose.
Su Rong saw and asked curiously, "Oh dear, Ye Xiang, are you getting the cold shoulder?"
Ye Xiang cleared his throat, "I serve your Majesty, naturally the Queen would shun me."
Su Rong laughed, thinking how at their age, no one would be interested in them. She also thought about Ye Xiang, who probably had been avoiding people like the plague these past years. Hence, the queen had never treated him kindly upon seeing him. She found it strange that the queen hadn’t cooperated with the Nangong family to punish him and her father while they were on the rise.
On the day the results were posted, Qin Luan also went to check the list, with various maids accompanying her. Although she already knew she had failed, she still wanted to see who got on the list.
When she saw that the first surname was Nangong, she was equally shocked.
Looking from the top of the list to the bottom, she spent a long time staring at the name of Nangong Ya, the only female scholar in the second class category. Only then did she look down, paused at the names of the two female scholars in the third class category, then left with the help of her maids.
The maid looked at her face all the way and saw that Qin Luan was calm after seeing the list, but her tightly pursed lips betrayed her mood. She didn’t speak a word on the way back. After returning to the residence, she locked herself in her room and didn’t eat lunch.
Not until the evening, when Qin Ruo came back from work and went to see Qin Luan, did the maids tell him about what happened when their young lady went to check the list.
Upon hearing this, Qin Ruo sighed and knocked on the door, "Little Sister."
Qin Luan didn’t make him wait too long. A moment later, she opened the door. Looking at Qin Ruo, she was the first to speak, "Big Brother, I’m fine."
Qin Ruo nodded, "Every female scholar on this year’s list comes from a prominent family background. Nangong Ya has grown up in a private school with her father, the other two scholars also come from literate families and have been thoroughly influenced. None of the daughters of the large residences in the capital who attempted the exam got on the list. You should study for another year and try again next year, surely you will make the list."
Qin Luan nodded, "Big Brother, I know."
Qin Ruo sighed, "You clearly understand everything, but you let your mood affect you. This is bad for your health. Remember what the doctor said? Don’t forget. If you don’t have a good body, how can you achieve your ambitions?"
Qin Luan took a deep breath, "Big brother, don’t worry. I’m sorry for making you worry. Are mother and second uncle also coming soon?"
"Yes, they should arrive soon." Qin Ruo said, "Thanks to the princess, when the Crown Prince of Daliang received a letter from the princess, he graciously agreed to let mother and second uncle come to Nanchu."
Qin Luan nodded, "I heard that the princess is going to establish a school for girls?"
"Yes, she’s already ordered people to take care of it. In a couple of months, schools for female scholars in the capital should be set up properly. I’ll submit your name." Qin Ruo said.
At last, Qin Luan smiled, "Thank you, Big Brother."
Qin Ruo patted her head, "Shall we eat? I heard you haven’t eaten since noon."
Qin Luan nodded.
Seven days later, it was time for the Palace Examination.
On the day of the Palace Examination, the Nanchu king carried himself with the stillness of a Buddha statue, sitting high on the Dragon Throne, with full authority delegated to Princess Su Rong.
Su Rong presented three examination questions, and eunuchs distributed the papers. Before the distribution of the question papers, except for him and Zhou Gu, no one knew what the questions were. Even Master Xie Yuan and Mister Cui were unaware. After reviewing the papers, the two of them went to rest. After all, they had been working hard for two or three months, and they were both very tired. It was time to have a good rest.
Nangong Che was a somewhat thin young man, his brow and eyes were handsome, firm and somewhat scholarly. But at first glance, one could tell he was not a man who only read books. After digesting his thoughts for seven days, he had calmed down. Now standing in the Golden Hall, he felt like he was dreaming. This feeling however, reminded him to maintain his composure. This was his final hurdle. This final hurdle, personally administered by the Princess, was his hardest battle.
Like all the scholars, as he stepped into the Golden Hall and bowed his head, he heard Su Rong’s casual dismissal of formalities. As they stood up, they all quietly lifted their heads to take a glance at Su Rong, then dropped their heads, startled by the striking beauty of the Princess.
While forcing himself to stay calm, Nangong Che briefly recalled the moment he glanced at Su Rong. From that glance, he observed the Princess dressed splendidly. She wore a woman’s traditional dress embroidered with golden serpentine motifs, instead of the usual male attire. She wore no crown on her head but adorned it with hairpins and vermilion hairpins. Apart from her specially made clothes, she was no different from ordinary women.
No, there was a difference. Ordinary women did not possess the Princess’s composure and grace, nor did they have the ability to see through people’s hearts with just a glance.
She did not have the force or arrogance of those in high positions, but exactly because of that, people felt an invisible pressure and did not dare to belittle her.
This was their Princess of Nanchu, who had once led the army to defend Heiya Pass against Dawei’s 800,000 invading troops, then later led a counterattack against Dawei, and for the first time in Nanchu’s history, it made Dawei cede territories and pay reparation.
This was the Princess of Nanchu, who made the officials pledge loyalty, and received praise from the court and people. She generously did not associate the distant relation of Nangong family with them, giving them a fair and just opportunity.
Nangong Che thought in his heart, for ambitious officials like himself, serving such a princess should be a privilege, right?
Nangong Ya shared the same sentiments as Nangong Che, but her emotions were much more intense. Because she was a woman, she never thought that women could one day stand in this Golden Hall, alongside men, to receive equal treatment.
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