Chapter 812: Luming Banquet
Bai Shuxiang noticed Bai Shuyu's panic, and a happy expression instantly appeared on her face.
"Mother, since she thinks she's useful to the Bai family, why not send her to Prince Cheng'en's mansion in the capital and see if she can give birth to a son for Prince Cheng'en!" Bai Shuxiang said loudly, "Prince Cheng'en said that as long as she can give him a son, he will ask the Emperor to grant her the title of Princess, regardless of whether she's a concubine or a maid!"
Bai Shuyu's face turned pale when he heard what Bai Shuxiang said.
Prince Cheng'en is the emperor's uncle. He is almost sixty years old and has no children.
There are a lot of concubines and maids in the palace, all for the purpose of giving birth to a son as the heir to the palace.
Families in the capital who wanted to climb up the social ladder often tried every possible means to send their unfavored daughters to Prince Cheng'en's palace.
What if you can give birth to a son?
After hearing what Bai Shuxiang said, the eldest lady looked thoughtful.
Bai Shuyu's heart skipped a beat.
Then, as if he were about to burn his boats, he shouted, "Mother, if you're not afraid of offending the Cheng'en Palace and ultimately making enemies, then go ahead and do it! I'm just a worthless life after all, so the worst that can happen is I'll just give it up!"
After Bai Shuyu finished speaking, he turned around and rushed out.
Then, when I opened the door, I saw Bai Shuqing right in front of me.
"Fifth, Fifth Sister..." Bai Shuyu felt panicked.
Bai Shuqing: "...So, I treated you as my sister, but you treated me as a fool."
Bai Shuyu: “…”
Bai Shuqing rarely got angry, but turned and left.
Bai Shuyu looked at Bai Shuqing's back, bit her lip, and said loudly, "You talk nicely, what do you mean by treating me as your sister? In your heart, I'm just a tool for you to show off your status as a legitimate daughter! You have never treated me as a sister!"
Bai Shuqing suddenly turned around, looked at Bai Shuyu, and said, "If I didn't treat you as my sister, I wouldn't have rushed over here, fearing that you would be angered by your aunt. If I didn't treat you as my sister, I wouldn't have secretly begged my grandmother to find you a good marriage."
After Bai Shuqing finished speaking, he looked at Bai Shuyu with disappointment and shook his head.
"I was stupid. I was sold and still helped people count the money. From now on, I will no longer treat you as my sister."
Bai Shuyu: “…”
I opened my mouth, but no words came out.
At the same time, I couldn't help but feel panic in my heart.
Today she offended the eldest lady, offended the second sister, and now offended the fifth sister. How will she survive in the Bai Mansion in the future?
**
The day after the results were announced was the Lu Ming Banquet.
All new candidates who stay in Qingzhou Prefecture can participate.
Naturally, many people were not in a hurry to return home just to attend the Luming Banquet.
As the first in the case, Su Laowu naturally had to attend the Luming Banquet before leaving.
However, Bai Shuzhi, the third son of the Bai family, who did not leave Qingzhou Prefecture, did not participate.
Because as a son, he was kneeling in the ancestral hall with his father.
As the official who hosted the Lu Ming Banquet, Prefect Xia was very surprised that his future son-in-law did not come.
But if the other person doesn't come, he can't force him, right?
Magistrate Xia had no idea what had happened to the Bai family.
The Bai family will not spread the news themselves, and Xuanyuan Jin, Tang Bao and others are not the kind of people who like to talk too much.
What's more, the Empress Dowager is also involved.
After all, the Bai family is the Empress Dowager's family.
It is not uncommon for the Empress Dowager to be able to achieve this.
As the chief examiner, Bo Yongqing naturally had to attend the Luming Banquet.
He roughly guessed the reason why Bai Shuzhi didn't come, but even if he had a hundred times the courage, he wouldn't dare to say it out loud.
"Master Bo, why are you still... holding a cat?" Prefect Xia's mouth twitched as he glanced at the orange cat in Bo Yongqing's arms.
The orange cat glanced at Magistrate Xia lazily, with disdain in its eyes.
“…Meow… Meow…”
Discriminating against me? I even look down on you!
Prefect Xia: “…”
Is this cat despising itself?
Magistrate Xia couldn't help but think of Dabai and Caishu, the rats raised by Tang Bao.
Could it be that... this cat has also become a spirit?
"Hehehe... little darling, I'll give you a chicken leg later." Bo Yongqing quickly petted the cat with a flattering smile on his face.
Magistrate Xia couldn't help but rub the goose bumps on his arms.
Mr. Bo's expression is simply too... vulgar...
This word couldn't help but pop up in Magistrate Xia's mind.
Bo Yongqing calmed the cat in his arms, then looked at Prefect Xia and explained, "There's nothing I can do. This little thing is too clingy."
There was a hint of pride in his tone.
Prefect Xia: “…”
Wasn't this Mr. Bo quite normal a few days ago?
At this time, Su Laowu brought the scholars from Fude Academy over and saluted Prefect Xia.
"I greet the prefect."
"Hahaha... Su Jieyuan, there's no need to be so polite." Prefect Xia laughed very happily.
Although it was Su Laowu who won the first place in the case, not his future son-in-law Bai Shuzhi, for some reason, Prefect Xia was even happier.
It is said that in Dayan, the first place in the provincial examination is commonly known as the "Anshou", but the more official name is "Jieyuan".
As for the imperial examination, the first place is commonly known as the "Anshou", but the more official name is "Huiyuan".
It’s just that most people are accustomed to calling it the first case, which is more intuitive and down-to-earth.
Just like people prefer to call the provincial examination the Autumn Examination according to the season.
The imperial examination is usually called the Spring Examination.
Magistrate Xia smiled and pulled Su Laowu over to introduce Bo Yongqing to him.
"This is the chief examiner, Mr. Bo."
"I have met Master Bo."
Su Laowu quickly bowed to Bo Yongqing.
Bo Yongqing naturally knew Su Laowu and was deeply impressed by him.
——The soulmate in my heart!
——In the Imperial Examination Hall, the examinee who made him smell the fragrance for nine days and drool silently for nine days.
——The “culprit” who almost caused him to lose his official position.
Bo Yongqing looked at Su Laowu with a complicated expression.
A young man actually offended the Empress Dowager and Lord Bai, turning aunt and nephew into a rift...
This kid is definitely not an ordinary person!
Must make good friends!
Bo Yongqing hugged the orange cat in one hand and made a gesture of supporting Su Laowu with the other hand.
"Su Jieyuan, there's no need to be so polite."
“Meow… meow…”
The orange cat felt uncomfortable being held and immediately became dissatisfied.
Bo Yongqing quickly lifted the cat up, then took his hand back and stroked its neck.
“Snoring… snore…”
The orange cat purred comfortably.
Su Laowu: “…”
This Mr. Bo... is so loving.
Since it is a Luming Banquet, there must be venison.
When the Su family came a few days ago, they specially sent two live deer to Prefect Xia.
Magistrate Xia has been staying here, waiting to host the Lu Ming Banquet.
In the past, the Luming Banquet was mostly held indoors.
The newly-elected candidates would pay their respects to local officials and examiners, and then display their talents, compose poems and songs, and eat and drink at the same time.
However, when Su Laowu and others were parading through the streets, young girls threw osmanthus flowers at them.
Magistrate Xia had an idea and decided to hold the Lu Ming Banquet outdoors.
All the people in Qingzhou Prefecture could watch the newly elected scholars compose poems from a distance.
Moreover, it is not limited to the successful candidates; even the failed scholars can write poems with the same topic.
Not only that, a special place was set aside to entertain the women of wealthy families.
As a result, this Lu Ming Banquet caused a huge sensation.
Tang Bao excitedly pulled Xuanyuan Jin over to join in the fun.
"Brother, it's time for you to try your hand at this!"
Tang Bao patted Xuanyuan Jin's shoulder as if to encourage him.
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