Chapter 188: Palace Examination and Meeting the Emperor
"Who is that person?"
After receiving the news that Concubine Lu wanted to see her, Yun Wan took the time to come to Changchun Palace.
Yun Wan glanced around and lowered her eyes. Concubine Lu had lost her power and her custody of the third prince was taken away from her. Everyone in Changchun Palace was obviously in a panic.
Compared to the first time she came, it was much quieter, and even the dead winter grass under the eaves and corners was not cleaned up.
Following her gaze, Concubine Lu felt a flash of humiliation.
Times are different now. Who would have thought that the widow whom he once looked down upon and sympathized with would one day become his heir.
But she had important matters to attend to today, so she could only suppress the resentment in her heart.
"If I tell you who the master of Ayaka and her lover is, what will you do?" She stared at Yun Wan and asked.
Hearing the probing tone in her words, Yun Wan remained calm and said, "What I do is my business. You just need to tell me who the other party is."
Concubine Lu paused for a moment.
"It's fine if you don't tell me. I'll report this to His Majesty and tell him it's about you. Do you think you'll still be Concubine Lu then?"
Yun Wan slowly turned the jade bracelet on her wrist, her tone leisurely and not at all anxious.
The jade bracelet was an imperial green with excellent water content. It made her skin look even more delicate and radiant when it was placed around her wrist, without making her look old-fashioned.
Yun Wan didn't often wear these precious jewels, but she couldn't resist Emperor Jingxuan's love of piling all kinds of jewels on her, completely disregarding whether they were suitable or not, believing that only the best ones were worthy of her.
Concubine Lu's face was stiff. She moved her lips and uttered a few dry words: "It's Li Qingmeng."
Li Qingmeng was the maiden name of Concubine Li. The two had a bad relationship when they were still in the boudoir. As both were noble ladies from high-class families, neither of them would submit to the other and both wanted to be the most noble lady in the capital.
The two of them had different auras, and this continued even after they entered the palace, where they fought openly and covertly.
Yun Wan's eyes flickered as he looked up at her calmly, "Is it really her? Are you trying to trick me?"
Concubine Lu's face darkened. "What good would it do me to lie to you? I have evidence."
Yun Wan remained silent, waiting for the evidence from her mouth.
Concubine Lu was silent for a moment, then said with disgust, "Ayaka and her lover, the young guard, were just having a casual affair. There was no engagement. His mother was once a servant who looked after the gatehouse of the Li family, but she later fell ill and returned to her hometown."
"He is just the son of a mere doorman. No matter how capable he is, it is impossible for him to become a guard in the imperial city. So the Li family must have contributed to this." She looked at him with contempt.
"Not only that, even after being kicked out of Changchun Palace, Ayaka was able to enter your Qiyun Palace. Who else but Li Qingmeng could be capable of this?"
Yun Wan: "What about the musk beads? How do you explain it?"
Upon hearing this, Concubine Lu sneered, "Of course she doesn't want you to be pregnant. Otherwise, with His Majesty's love for you, there's no guarantee that you won't threaten her son's position."
At this point, she looked at Yun Wan and said, "I just didn't expect that you had already given birth to a dragon seed."
It's a pity that her brother became a shield. Fortunately, he died early, otherwise he would have died with regrets.
It sounds reasonable.
Yun Wan didn't comment on this, but instead questioned, "Since you've found out, why are you only telling me now? What are you planning?"
Concubine Lu paused.
Before she could speak, Yun Wan smiled and said, "Let me guess."
Her gaze lingered on the other person's face, and she observed Lu Fei's expression at her leisure, her tone calm and condensed:
"The Third Prince has moved to another palace, and His Majesty only allows you to visit him once a month. You're afraid that without someone to rely on, your position as consort will be in jeopardy, so you want to drag others into this trouble."
Her eyes flickered as she spoke succinctly, "You want me to go after the Li family, right?"
Her thoughts were ruthlessly exposed. Concubine Lu's face turned grim for a moment, but then she admitted generously, "I have no chance of becoming empress. The only one capable of competing with you now is Li Qingmeng. Why don't we put aside our past grudges and join forces to take her down?"
Yun Wan just found it funny. She stood up and said, "Your mother once tried to kill me. You've plotted against me time and time again. Why should I trust you?"
Yun Wan had doubts about whether Lingxiang gave the musk beads to Concubine Li at his behest.
Not to mention that the other party's actions will be exposed sooner or later, and even if she gives birth to another child, by the time the child grows up and remembers things in a few years, the prince will have already reached adulthood.
It doesn't make sense.
But who else in the harem can do this?
After Yun Wan left, Concubine Lu's face turned pale and blue. After thinking for a long time, she called a palace maid and said coldly, "Go tell her that Yun Wan is not a fool."
.........
One month after the results of the joint examination are posted, the palace examination will be held, and those who pass the joint examination will be called tribute scholars and take the exam.
Mid-April, Wende Hall.
A group of tribute scholars, led by Cen Yuanzhou, were waiting in the hall under the guidance of palace servants.
The palace, a symbol of imperial power, is magnificent and majestic, with palace ladies and historians on both sides looking solemn.
Before the emperor showed up, the layers of majesty and momentum made it hard to breathe, and their hearts were trembling. The tribute students who were wearing the same clothes felt varying degrees of tension in their hearts.
Only the leader stood straight with his back straight and his eyes fixed straight ahead.
Seeing this, the neighboring scholar couldn't help but ask, "Brother Cen, why don't you look nervous at all?"
Upon hearing this, Cen Yuanzhou smiled back.
To others, he seemed to be very confident and unfathomable, which made them feel even more nervous and stressed.
This is the palace examination, a chance to see the emperor!
This is an opportunity that many people would never get in their lifetime. If you perform well, even if you are last, you still have the possibility of entering the top three.
The waiting time was extremely long, and everyone gradually became restless.
"Silence, no whispering." The eunuch beside reminded
Only Cen Yuanzhou himself knew that his heart was not as calm as he appeared on the surface.
Being able to win first place in the imperial examination does not mean that you will definitely be in the top three, as there are too many uncontrollable factors.
For this reason, he had not dared to slack off for more than a month. He went to bed early and got up early, ate light meals, and practiced two sets of boxing every day. Before coming here today, he bathed and burned incense three times, for fear of misbehaving in front of the palace and leaving a bad impression on the emperor.
Now he not only represents his own face, but also the face of his cousin and nephew Asui. If something unexpected happens, others may take the opportunity to laugh at them, mother and son.
His cousin is already having a hard time in the palace, so he should try his best to do better.
Thinking of this, Cen Yuanzhou regained his spirits and became full of energy.
The first impression is extremely important. He must leave a good impression on the emperor and not hold his cousin back!
He is full of confidence.
Two quarters of an hour later, the emperor arrived and everyone knelt down to pay homage.
Emperor Jingxuan waved his hand and said, "Everyone, please stand up."
Cen Yuanzhou below stood up with everyone else, his eyebrows lowered, not allowed to look directly at the emperor's face.
He didn't know if it was an illusion, but he felt that the majesty of His Majesty's voice was somewhat familiar.
"Today's first question: The Way of Being a King."
The candidate had a cup of tea to think, and Cen Yuanzhou quickly organized his words in his mind.
After a cup of tea, Emperor Jingxuan asked in a deep voice, "Who will answer first?"
Everyone looked at each other, and no one wanted to be the first to answer.
"Your Majesty, I, Cen Yuanzhou, am willing to give it a try."
Emperor Jingxuan said: "You are the champion this year, so you will start. Come forward and raise your head."
Cen Yuanzhou calmly took a step forward, raised his lips slightly, and raised his head after adjusting his expression, ready to speak: "I think--"
“!!!”
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