Chapter 161 Empathy
The grand court meeting on the first day of the new year ended and all officials went home.
Not long after, a piece of news shook Chang'an.
At today's court meeting, His Majesty has made it clear that he will choose one of the top scorers in this year's imperial examination as the consort of Princess An Ning.
Princess An Ning is only eighteen years old and is the youngest princess in the royal family.
Not only is she of noble birth and beautiful, she also has the cultivation level of the fourth realm of Legalism.
"She looks charming with just a smile, and all the beauties in the palace pale in comparison." This famous line, which is known to almost everyone in Chang'an, describes Princess An Ning.
Being able to marry a woman like this is a blessing earned in eight lifetimes.
Not only that, becoming a royal consort also means that his career is destined to be smooth sailing.
Unlike some countries, the son-in-law of a royal family in Daxia could become an official. Moreover, as a royal relative, he could be promoted faster than ordinary officials.
If he could become one of the top scorers in this imperial examination and be chosen by Princess An Ning as her husband, it would be a double harvest for family and career, and he would reach the pinnacle of life in an instant.
This is naturally good news for students who are about to take part in this imperial examination, especially those who hope to win the top spot in each subject.
I don't know how many people have worked hard, dreaming of finally getting the beauty...
When Li Nuo learned about this from Butler Wu, he was also surprised for a while.
Although he took the imperial examination just to obtain an official position, he would be happy even if he ranked just above the top 100.
But who wouldn’t want to be the top scholar?
Not to mention becoming the top scholar and enjoying unlimited glory, the start of his official career was also different from others.
The top scholar was of the sixth rank, the second and third were of the sixth rank, the fourth to tenth were of the seventh rank, and after the fortieth place, there was not much difference, and they all had to start as minor officials of the ninth rank.
The higher the imperial examination ranking, the faster the promotion will be in the future.
If Li Nuo wants to enter the Ministry of Justice and hold a certain amount of real power, he must at least be in the top ten.
Although he told Li Anning that he was unsure, told Prince Chun that he would try his best, and told his father-in-law that the spring exam would not be a problem, but that was just to keep a low profile. In his heart, he was aiming for the top spot.
Li Nuo looked at Butler Wu and asked, "If, I mean if, if those top scorers already have families, An Ning will not marry a married man, right?"
Steward Wu shook his head and said, "Of course it's impossible. A princess of the royal family cannot be a concubine of someone else, unless the other party divorces his original wife. But if he divorces his original wife in order to marry the princess, the guy will definitely be cursed by the people, and the royal family will not allow such a thing to happen. If a champion in a subject has a family, we can just replace him with another champion..."
Li Nuo continued to ask: "What if all the top scorers have families?"
Steward Wu waved his hands and said, "That's impossible. Anyone who has a chance of winning the top prize must have already shown extraordinary talent. They can't possibly get married so early because after the imperial examination, countless wealthy families will offer them red strings. Are they still afraid of not being able to marry the woman they desire?"
Li Nuo said unhappily, "I've already said it. What if, what if all the top scorers have families?"
Butler Wu was stunned.
This was indeed a result he had never imagined.
But it is indeed a problem.
Your Majesty's words are not joking. What you said at the grand court, in front of all the civil and military officials, no, in front of almost all the officials of Daxia, is no different from an imperial edict and cannot be taken back.
Moreover, no officials objected at that time.
If His Majesty regrets this matter later, he will become a joke.
Compared with the princess's marriage and the emperor's majesty, the latter is more important.
By then, Princess An Ning will definitely get married.
As for how to properly settle the original wife, that is something the court should consider.
However, he still felt that such a thing was impossible.
If you don't do anything random.
He shook his head and said, "I don't know. When the time comes, I will probably ask His Majesty to make the decision..."
Li Nuo did not get an answer from Butler Wu, and Butler Wu himself did not know the answer.
The grand court meeting lasted for another two days.
His Majesty did not appear at the grand court meetings the next two days.
His first appearance seemed to be just to let the officials of Daxia know that there was such an emperor in Daxia.
On the fourth day of the first lunar month, all major government offices reopened.
When Li Nuo arrived at the Ministry of Justice, he saw Li An Ning sitting there listlessly. After not seeing her for a few days, her face looked much more haggard.
Even when Li Nuo came in, she just glanced at him indifferently and then looked away.
Li Nuo sat down opposite her. After an unknown amount of time, Li An Ning finally raised her head and said, "Can you ask your father to arrest all the top scorers in this imperial examination?"
Li Nuo didn't say anything.
Of course this is impossible.
The imperial examination is of great significance to the imperial court and the people.
The newly-appointed Jinshi who has just passed the imperial examination has some kind of buff on him.
For most Jinshi, this is the only highlight in their lives.
Everyone's eyes were focused on the list. Not to mention the newly crowned top scholar, even an ordinary Jinshi could not be caught casually.
What's more, His Majesty has made a solemn promise to choose a prince consort from among the top scorers in the imperial examination. If all the top scorers are arrested after the imperial examination, it would be a direct blow to His Majesty the Emperor. We might as well just rebel.
Li Anning naturally knew the answer as well, and also did not speak any more. He leaned back in his chair, his eyes devoid of any color.
Li Nuo had never seen her like this before. In his memory, Li An Ning was always active, lively and full of youth.
He couldn't help but feel distressed, and he comforted her, "You have to think positively. What if all the top scholars have families? The court can't force you to marry a married man."
Li Anning glanced at him indifferently.
It is better to hope that he can become the top scorer than to hope that all the top scorers have families.
This imperial examination was filled with geniuses, and it was more difficult to pass the exam than twenty years ago. He was intermittent, immersed in love affairs all day long. Let alone passing the top spot, it was probably difficult for him to even make the list.
Even if he won the top prize, I would not choose him.
The imperial court would not allow her to marry a married man, so they would definitely let her choose from the top scorers in other subjects.
Unless he gets the top score in six subjects.
Li Nuo poured her a cup of tea and asked, "By the way, if the top scholars really have families, what should we do?"
Li Anning was in a bad mood and spoke rudely, saying unhappily, "How should I know?"
She got angry when she looked at Li Nuo.
After they got married, Song Jiaren refused to sleep with him and did not fulfill her responsibilities as a wife at all. If he had been more ambitious, he would have divorced her decisively, and things would not have turned out like this!
She knew she shouldn't have such thoughts, but she just couldn't control it.
At this moment, she seemed to understand how Song Jiaren felt when she got married.
She felt extremely conflicted and aggrieved, but she couldn't blame anyone. She stood up angrily and said, "I'm going back!"
She was obviously in a bad mood, and Li Nuo had no idea what to do for the time being.
He walked to a table inside and asked Gu Yanran, "How's your calligraphy practice going recently?"
Gu Yanran lowered her head and said with some shame: "Master, although I haven't practiced well yet, I will continue to work hard..."
Li Nuo didn't know whether the hairpin-flowered small regular script would be recognized when used in the imperial examination. He had previously thought that even if his calligraphy was weak, it would still be easy to be on the list based on his overall score.
Now, he might have to make full preparations.
At least we have to help Li Anning get through this hurdle.
After leaving the Ministry of Justice, Li Nuo looked at Butler Wu and said, "Help me check something..."
Butler Wu nodded and didn't ask any more questions.
After returning to the Li family, Li Nuo walked into the room and looked at Song Jiaren who was painting. He suddenly asked, "My wife, when you first married me, did you feel the same as the princess does now..."
Song Jiaren glanced at him and said nothing.
Li Nuo smiled and said, "It's all in the past. You can tell me. I won't be angry."
Song Jiaren looked at him and nodded slightly.
After a moment, she looked at the finished painting and asked Li Nuo, "How does this one turn out?"
Li Nuo shook his head and said, "Not good, it's not as good as the last one!"
(End of this chapter)
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