Chapter 190 No Coquettishness
Within a day, Cen Yuanzhou's reputation as the top scholar spread throughout the streets and alleys of the capital, and people rushed to the streets to see the top scholar.
He was a handsome and elegant young man. Before the parade was over, the threshold of the Cen family courtyard in Xinghua Lane was almost broken by people stepping on it. They were all matchmakers who came to propose marriage and housekeepers from officials' houses.
When had Xinghua Lane ever been so lively? The neighbors came out to see the excitement. After a little inquiry, they learned that the young man from the neighboring Cen family had actually passed the imperial examination! And he had even won the top spot!
For a moment, some people sighed and some felt regretful. When they saw this family of orphans and widows, the son was unlucky, the mother was sick, and they came from other places, they thought that they were just here to make up the numbers in this spring examination.
Who would have thought that he was so hidden and could suddenly become a big hit.
I'm afraid that before long, this place will be renamed "Zhuangyuan Lane".
At the same time, the former court and the harem were more concerned about the identity of the new number one scholar - Concubine Zhao's cousin.
The position of empress was already undecided, but now Cen Yuanzhou has become the emperor's disciple, the top scorer in this special examination, and a role model for scholars all over the world. Unless he makes a big mistake in the future, he will have a smooth career in the officialdom.
For Concubine Zhao and her son, who were already favored but had a cold relationship with their mother's family, the Yun family, this was like adding wings to a tiger.
Your Majesty's intentions are clear as day.
Among all the officials of the previous dynasty, the Li family had the greatest sense of crisis.
.......
At Qiyun Palace, Yun Wan patiently listened to Xiao Dezi's description of the scene when Cen Yuanzhou was parading through the streets:
"Your Majesty, you may not know that Lord Cen is a handsome man. Along the way, I don't know how many noble ladies have received silk handkerchiefs from them, all of whom have expressed their desire to marry Lord Cen..."
Xiao Dezi has some talent as a storyteller, and his descriptions are vivid and colorful, with gestures and laughter.
Yun Wan and Asui listened with great interest.
When he stopped, Emperor Jingxuan waved his hand impatiently: "That's enough. With such eloquence, why not go to the flower and bird room another day and train a parrot and send it to Madam to amuse her."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Dezi was horrified. "Your Majesty, please forgive me. I have never been close to birds or dogs since I was a child. If I go to the flower and bird room, I will only be pecked."
He had a sad face and was as fat and pale as his master, which was very funny and made everyone else laugh instantly.
Before Emperor Jingxuan could say anything, Asui spoke first and refused: "You can't let Eunuch De go to the Flower and Bird Room. If he goes there, there will be no one to take me to the Hongwen Hall."
Emperor Jingxuan squinted at him and said, "Aren't you very brave? You dare to run from Hongwenguan to Wende Hall alone?"
He only found out later that Asui had rushed over as soon as he left Wende Hall.
Ah Sui knew he was in the wrong. He glanced at Yun Wan, then decisively jumped off the stool and ran to hug Emperor Jingxuan's legs: "I don't care. Father can't send him away. I want him to go."
Asui naturally didn't insist on Xiao Dezi sending him off, but after staying in the palace for nearly a year, he knew that for a palace servant, not being needed by the master was a terrible situation.
Palace ladies are valuable only when they are needed.
Emperor Jingxuan was just joking and waved his hand to let Xiao Dezi go out.
Looking down at the soft and smiling face, he reached out and pinched it, saying sternly, "A man should not act like a spoiled child."
"oh."
Asui put away his smile, let go of his legs, turned around and ran to find Yun Wan, leaving no mercy.
"Mother." He moved closer to Yun Wan, stood on tiptoe to look at the rice paper on the table, and asked curiously, "What are you writing?"
He couldn't see what was on the paper, and Yun Wan couldn't hold him up, so she handed the paper to Asui.
"A gift for your uncle."
Emperor Jingxuan snatched the rice paper first, glanced at the gift list on it, and couldn't help but say sarcastically: "Madam really cares about your cousin. Are you so happy?"
After reading it, he threw it away casually, and the rice paper floated in the air. Asui raised his hands to catch it.
After catching him, he stomped his feet in anger.
Father is so evil!
Yun Wan patted his head to comfort him, and at the same time, she said to Emperor Jingxuan, "My cousin has won the first place in the imperial examination. Your Majesty has a keen eye for talent and has found a capable general. This is a double blessing. Isn't it natural for me to be happy?"
"It's just that I didn't expect my cousin to be the top scholar. I thought His Majesty would avoid suspicion, after all, he is my cousin."
She knew that since Asui's life story was made public, she was no longer just a favorite concubine in the eyes of the world.
With a child, she has more qualifications to climb up the social ladder, at least in the eyes of outsiders.
"He's eloquent, has substance, and possesses genuine talent and knowledge. He's the best. I'm fair and impartial, so why should I be so cautious?"
Emperor Jingxuan looked calm and said, "The contents of the palace examination are all recorded in the book. It is clear who answered the best. If there are any evil people in your heart, you must avoid suspicion."
"Of course, I'm not saying that Madam has something to hide," he hastened to add.
If Cen Yuanzhou was a fool with only a false reputation, Emperor Jingxuan would naturally not have chosen him as the top scholar. Putting aside minor prejudices, he was indeed the best performer in all aspects in the palace examination.
In that case, why wouldn't he be able to build momentum for his wife? With the exception of Ah Sui, all the other children had support from their maternal family and had lived a life of luxury in the palace since childhood.
On the contrary, Asui is the smartest, most worry-free, most well-behaved, most sensible, most considerate, and most like himself... He and his wife and mother and son have suffered a lot in the Lu family.
For this reason, he always felt that he owed the mother and son and wanted to give them more compensation.
"Don't worry, Madam. Leave everything to me."
Suppressing his emotions, he said firmly.
Yun Wan smiled and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty."
She paused, then stood on tiptoe and kissed him on the lips, touching and leaving as quickly as a dragonfly skimming the water, while at the same time reaching out to cover Asui's eyes.
Asui’s eyes suddenly turned dark:?
Even though he couldn't see, Asui still didn't move.
A Niang must have her own reasons for covering her eyes.
Seeing this, the palace maids retreated quietly.
His Adam's apple rolled up and down, and Emperor Jingxuan suppressed the urge to deepen the kiss and forced a change of subject: "Madam, since you miss your cousin so much, why don't I arrange a marriage for him?"
He called him "cousin" all the time, sounding very familiar.
"A granted marriage?" Yun Wan was stunned.
Emperor Jingxuan: "After all, my cousin is already quite old and single. If he delays this any longer, he will become an older bachelor, which will make my aunt worry again."
Last year Yunwan celebrated his 24th birthday, so this year, my cousin is almost 26 years old.
In an ordinary family where people get married early, a 26-year-old boy would become a grandfather in a few years.
Yun Wan's brows relaxed slightly. "It's not that I can't. Right now, my aunt is probably most concerned about my cousin's marriage."
She and Asui were safe in the palace. Her cousin passed the imperial examination and became an official in the court. The only thing left was his lifelong affairs.
"However, this matter still requires my cousin's consent. Your Majesty, please do not match them up haphazardly, lest we both dislike each other and be forced into a pair of unhappy couples because of you and me."
If that's the case, this marriage is better off not happening.
Emperor Jingxuan pecked her hair lightly and said, "Don't worry, Madam. I know what's going on."
After hearing this, Asui suddenly realized: Is he going to have an aunt?
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