81 Chapter 81
◎ Fierce competition ◎
Xuan Pingbo Mansion.
Young people recover quickly. After taking medicine for a few days, Wei Zheng was fully recovered, but his complexion was still pale. He planned to stay at home for a few days before going out.
While staying at home, he did not forget to inquire about the princess's news.
"What? The princess agreed to recruit a prince consort?!" After hearing the report from his long-time attendant, Wei Zheng suddenly knocked over the teacup and didn't care even though the boiling hot tea splashed onto his clothes.
The attendant said respectfully, "At the court this morning, with the exception of Lord Chang, several other ministers requested that the princess select a consort, and both His Majesty and the princess agreed."
"Did they mention when and how the recruitment would be conducted?"
"I don't know." Seeing Wei Zheng's disappointment, he immediately tried to make amends, "But I heard that the requirements for the selection of a prince consort will be posted at that time. Anyone who thinks they meet the requirements can sign up."
"ah?"
Not only Wei Zheng asked in surprise, but the several ministers who received the princess's request were also completely clueless.
"Sir Yuan, what should we do?" The Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue was so anxious that he accidentally pulled out a few strands of his beard, then held the strands in his hands and sighed with heartache.
Yuan Guande was also very annoyed. He knew that Her Royal Highness the Princess was not a pushover, but he still insisted on testing her bottom line. Now, the trouble fell on his head.
Selecting a husband for the princess was originally the eunuchs' responsibility, but after they made a request at the court meeting, the princess handed the matter over to them.
Is this something that a Shangshu needs to take care of?
But the princess confidently stated at the court meeting: "Whoever raises the problem should solve it. If you have any objections, just make the problem disappear."
Everyone: “…”
Therefore, the task of selecting a son-in-law was jointly undertaken by the five ministers.
All in all, it turns out that Lao Chang was cunning and never thought of getting involved from the beginning.
The princess's request was neither simple nor easy, but it was difficult enough to make people give up.
The requirements are abbreviated as "three musts and four don'ts".
You must go to Wenhua Hall to accompany your studies every morning; you must go to the martial arts field to practice with your students every afternoon; you must go home every night and write a study report of no less than 500 words.
No lateness; no early leaving; no absenteeism; no delegating tasks to others.
In addition, the princess said that there are different additional questions for different people, but the additional questions will be discussed after the meeting.
To be honest, these requirements are not difficult to fulfill, but those who are willing to compete for the position of prince consort are all people who have no ambition. Princess Shang originally wanted to take a shortcut, but now if she wants to take this shortcut, she needs to read books, practice martial arts and write policy papers.
It persuaded many people to quit at once.
But is the princess's request excessive? Not at all.
When ordinary people get married, they have to make various demands on each other. The princess just wants someone to accompany her wholeheartedly. Is there anything wrong with that?
Even though the five ministers were eloquent, they were unable to refute it.
Yuan Guande hung his head and said weakly, "Just post it like this. I don't believe there won't be a decent one in the whole capital."
The others: “…”
If my expression could be more sincere, maybe they would believe it.
As soon as the notice was released, the capital city instantly became lively.
All the men of marriageable age who meet the family background requirements stayed at home to examine and reflect on themselves.
In the cold winter, can you really withstand the severe cold, brave the biting northwest wind before dawn every day, go to Wenhua Hall to attend classes for a morning, then go to the martial arts field to practice riding and archery for an afternoon, and come back at night to continue fighting under the lights?
If he has this kind of perseverance, why can't he succeed?
Moreover, the notice did not specify the time at all. If he had to live like this for the rest of his life, he would rather not have the title of the Imperial Concubine's Captain!
As expected, after this notice was posted, most of the men who were originally eager to try gave up.
Wei Zheng sat in the room, feeling conflicted.
The reason why he could get along well in Beijing was not because of his outstanding abilities, but because he had a good mouth to flatter people.
Everyone likes to hear nice words, especially young ladies who are naive to the ways of the world. Just a few sweet words can make them happy.
Wei Zheng relied on his handsome appearance and clever words to gain success in the circle of nobles.
Of course, except for that weird guy Lu Er.
I originally thought that the princess was no different from those noble ladies, and that as long as I spoke a few words, she would look at me differently.
But whether in the enclosure or at Prince Jin's birthday banquet, he didn't find any opportunity to perform.
This is undoubtedly an excellent opportunity.
But if he gets up early and goes to bed late every day, it will definitely affect his appearance and figure. What if he meets the requirement but is still disliked by the princess?
"Why is Sanlang sighing?" A fragrant breeze came from afar.
Wei Zheng stood up to greet her, "Why is mother here?"
"Are you worried that you won't be selected?"
Wei Zheng smiled uncomfortably, revealing a bit of pity, as he pleaded, "Mom, please stop teasing me."
"Okay, no more jokes." Tong Qinniang pulled out a small round jar like a magician. "I'm here to help you. This contains a kind of scented powder. If you apply it to your sleeves and collar every day, over time, the princess will naturally favor you."
"Really?" Wei Zheng took it with surprise.
He didn't ask what the powder was or what it was used for. Anyway, his mother must have used some tricks to be favored by his father for so many years.
As long as you can catch the princess's eye, why bother about the means used?
Even though the "three musts and four don'ts" scared off many people, there were still thousands of people who signed up to participate in the selection of the imperial son-in-law.
Under the orders of the emperor and the princess, Yuan Guande and four others were personally responsible for the screening.
The first screening is to eliminate those with improper appearance.
The five people looked at young men of all kinds for several days in a row. In the end, they became numb and felt as if they had aged several years.
They used to be the chief examiners of the imperial examinations! They had never done such an unseemly job!
The princess is really troublesome. If something like this happens again, I will never get involved no matter what.
Wouldn’t it be nice to live a peaceful and stable life and preserve your dignity in your later years?
After the initial screening, there were 500 participants left, and the second written test was selected.
Some people think they can win the heart of a princess with their looks, but it turns out they can’t even write common words. Cross out all these people!
You never know until you take the test. I was shocked. I didn't expect so many descendants of nobles to be so ignorant and unskilled.
Of course, the selection of a son-in-law does not restrict family background, but it is more acceptable for a man from an ordinary family who is not good at writing.
The five people were disappointed with their son.
After this assessment, only one hundred people were left to participate in the third round of screening.
I still remember that at the birthday banquet of Prince Jin, the princess said "It's a pity that he is so weak" after Wei Sanlang fainted, so the son-in-law must not be a weak person.
One hundred people set out from the South Bridge of Yuhe River at the same time and ran along the main street of the city. The first fifty men who arrived at Xuanwu Gate first would be selected for the finals.
Wei Zheng is among these one hundred people.
His good reputation is not all exaggerated. Whether in appearance or written examinations, he is always the best.
This activity of selecting a prince consort was held with great fanfare and became a topic of conversation among the people of the capital.
They also made a ranking privately, and Wei Zheng was among the top five.
The reason why it didn’t rank first is entirely because of the word “weak”.
At the last screening, Wei Zheng vowed in his heart that he must wash away this bad reputation.
It was winter, and the capital was shrouded in a biting cold north wind. Most people chose to stay at home to avoid excessive activity, sweating, and catching a cold.
But who doesn’t like to watch the “Prince Consort Competition”?
Both sides of the street were crowded with people, all huddled together with their hands in their pockets, waiting for the final result.
One hundred men took off their heavy clothes and rubbed their hands at the starting line, ready to run forward for the sake of men's face.
Wei Zheng's chest was burning with a strong desire to win. As soon as he heard the sound of the gong, his body subconsciously rushed forward like an arrow.
When the final results were presented to the palace, Xie Mingzhuo was listening to Wei Zhen's report on mining tax reform.
As the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, Wei Zhen has been working day and night to come up with new mining tax regulations before the New Year.
To formulate new regulations, one must have a deep understanding of the mining industry, and the effort required is beyond the comprehension of ordinary people.
"Minister Wei looks much thinner. He must have worked hard these days." Xie Mingzhuo instructed Feng Caiyu, "Send some supplements to Minister Wei's residence later."
"yes."
Wei Zhen was touched and said, "I thank you for your gift, Princess. It is my duty to share your worries."
"It's my duty. It's rare to find someone like Minister Wei who dedicates himself to the country and the people." Xie Mingzhuo closed the draft of the new regulations and nodded in satisfaction. "It's rigorous and thorough. Once the cabinet discusses and approves it tomorrow, we can officially implement it."
The official implementation will have to wait until after the Chinese New Year.
It seems that there will be a lot of things waiting to be implemented after the spring of next year.
Instead of feeling tired, Xie Mingzhuo became even more motivated. He was not afraid of having too much work to do, but was afraid of having nothing to do.
After Wei Zhen respectfully took his leave, Feng Caiyu presented the screening list.
There were fifty people in total, and Wei Zheng ranked among the top.
She only glanced at it and put it down, her expression indifferent: "Wait until they enter Wenhua Hall tomorrow and act according to the plan."
"yes."
After the court meeting the next day, the cabinet ministers were summoned by the emperor and held a heated discussion on the new mining tax regulations in the Qianqing Palace.
At the same time, fifty young men dressed up and marched into the palace, heading for Wenhua Hall.
This is where the final battle will take place.
Before entering the Wenhua Hall, palace servants suddenly stopped them and led them to a back room where all the students' uniforms were displayed.
"Excuse me, sir, what does this mean?" Wei Zheng asked calmly.
Palace attendant: "The princess has stipulated that students entering Wenhua Palace must wear the uniform of a student. If you do not wish to do so, you may abandon your studies and leave the palace."
The gentlemen: "..."
They spent a lot of effort at home to dress up as handsome as possible. If they were to change into the same clothes, how could they "outshine all the other girls"?
But now that I'm here, I can't be denied access to the princess just because of a piece of clothing.
Most people have already started changing their clothes, but a few are still hesitating.
Wei Zheng was extremely depressed. Why was he always so unlucky?
He was assigned to the Jin Wang team during the hunting trip, and fainted due to fever at the birthday banquet. After finally getting to this point, the perfume and powder given by his mother was of no use.
No matter how depressed you are, you still need to change your clothes.
Everyone changed into identical student uniforms and awkwardly entered the Wenhua Hall, sitting down in the order corresponding to their names on the desks.
When will the princess come?
Just as everyone was eagerly waiting, the palace attendant spoke again: "The princess is discussing matters with the ministers and will not be in Wenhua Hall today. Please listen carefully and submit your thoughts tomorrow. Those who do not meet the requirements will return home."
Everyone: “…”
It’s okay to just write, but why is there an exam?!
Wei Zheng was somewhat literate, but his literary talent was not outstanding. He was just considering whether to go back and ask for advice from others when he heard the palace attendant say, "If it is discovered that you have used someone else to write this, you will be charged with deceiving the emperor."
He immediately broke out in a cold sweat.
The teacher who was giving a lecture walked in at the right time.
Everyone's eyes widened instantly. Isn't this the third place winner, Song You?!
Oh, that’s not right. He is now a sixth-rank Hanlin lecturer, specializing in explaining the classics to the emperor. Isn’t it a waste of his talent to be their teacher?
What's more, this will really hit their self-confidence.
She cannot compare with you in appearance, and she cannot compare with you in talent. Apart from her slightly impressive family background, no matter how high the family background of those present is, can it be higher than that of Her Royal Highness the Princess?
The princess doesn't even like someone like Song You, so how could she like them?
Many people realized their mistake and started to back down.
Wei Zheng felt bitter on the back of his tongue, and felt that this road was full of thorns and setbacks. He was always optimistic, but he lost confidence after several blows.
After listening to the heavenly book for a whole morning, ten of the fifty people expressed their intention to quit, and the remaining forty people ate the inedible food provided by the Guanglu Temple and went to the martial arts field to practice.
When they saw the tall and beautiful figure in the martial arts arena, their originally dull eyes instantly ignited with passion.
It’s Her Royal Highness the Princess!
Oh my God, after all this suffering, I finally get to see Her Royal Highness the Princess.
Wei Zheng suppressed his excitement and regretted again that he had not put on the powdered clothes.
Xie Mingzhuo wore a golden and red yisa and held a longbow made by the emperor. His every move was graceful and composed, which impressed people from the bottom of their hearts.
Even if it is not for the position of prince consort, they are willing to serve the princess.
"Everyone, today's sparring event is archery. Each person will shoot fifty arrows, and the scores will be calculated and ranked."
Wei Zheng couldn't help but ask: "Princess, what is the purpose of ranking?"
"You are..." Xie Mingzhuo frowned.
"I am Wei Zheng, the third son of the Marquis of Xuanping." Wei Zheng felt sad because the princess had forgotten him.
"You're quite brave," Xie Mingzhuo praised with a smile. "Of course, ranking is used as a selection criterion."
These people have always been spoiled and have been lying low under the protection of their ancestors. They must be made to roll up their sleeves.
Wei Zheng was so delighted by the compliment that he didn't even realize how hard it was to study and shoot archery. He immediately wanted to step out and take the lead.
The others snorted inwardly, you are the only one who knows how to show off.
Wei Zheng's archery skills were indeed average, but Xie Mingzhuo still praised him with a smile, and his eyes lingered on his face for a moment. It was hard to tell whether he was satisfied or not, but the sharpness in his eyebrows had softened a little.
The other gentlemen were anxious, wondering if the princess really fell in love with Wei Sanlang?
They all stepped forward to shoot arrows, showing off their well-proportioned and powerful arms, but all they got was a faint "not bad" from the princess.
Wei Sanlang, you deserve to die!
After a period of time, fewer and fewer people persisted, and only ten people were still dreaming of becoming a prince consort.
Among them, Wei Zheng is the most conspicuous. It is not so much that he performed outstandingly, but rather that he was the most favored by the princess.
Because of this "exclusive favor", Wei Sanlang regained his former confidence and would chat with Xie Mingzhuo whenever he got the chance.
With more praise, he really felt that he had captured the princess's heart, and he became more and more unscrupulous in his words and deeds. He even knelt down in front of Xie Mingzhuo's knees and tried to touch her hand, but Feng Caiyu stopped him sternly.
Seeing how favored he was, the other gentlemen became disheartened and gave up their interest in Princess Shang and voluntarily withdrew.
Only three people remain on the list.
Except for Wei Zheng, the other two were sons of minor officials. They were not as good-looking as Wei Sanlang, but they were also handsome. They always worked hard, never came late or left early, were not overly flattering, and were mostly respectful to Xie Mingzhuo.
Xie Mingzhuo asked someone to check their background.
Someone came here simply because he thought the teachers in Wenhua Hall were better at teaching than those in the county school and wanted to take the class for free.
Another reason is that the father in the family might face demotion or dismissal because he had offended his superiors, so he came up with the bad idea of clinging to the princess.
Neither of them was good at socializing, and they were worried about being fired if they didn't rank high enough, so they worked diligently to complete their tasks, and ended up ranking in the top two.
The princess's selection of a prince consort has been a grand event for such a long time that everyone is waiting for the final result, and there are even bookmakers setting up betting games.
Wei Sanlang has the highest winning rate.
After dinner at the Palace of Heavenly Purity, Xie Changfeng asked mysteriously, "Shao Shao, you're not really attracted to Wei Sanlang, are you? What about the Lin family kid?"
"How could Tiezhu possibly fall for that pretty boy?" Xie Mingshuo sneered. "If you want to destroy him, you must first drive him crazy. That Wei fellow will soon reveal his true colors. Right, Tiezhu?"
Xie Mingzhuo nodded: "Let's end this recruitment with the additional questions."
At the same time, the three of them received the princess's decree, which included one final additional question. Whoever answered the best would receive the princess's grace.
From tomorrow on, the three of them no longer have to go to the palace to learn martial arts. Whoever can truly make the princess happy within three days will be the winner.
Isn't it pleasing the princess to make her happy?
Wei Zheng is full of confidence, and pleasing girls is his forte!
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