Chapter 329 Shen Lanxi was appointed as both the martial arts examiner and the chief examiner for the civil service examination!
When Emperor Renxiao heard from Zhou Ruyuan about Shen Lanxi's serious illness and the misunderstanding caused by many people going to offer condolences, his mind went completely blank.
Didn't they say it was under control? How did it suddenly worsen?
"Could it be that the people serving him didn't take good care of him?" Otherwise, with so many imperial physicians looking after him, how could his condition have worsened?
The green silkworm's poison is most potent in the last few days, and Shen Lanxi has only been poisoned for a few days now.
Could it be that someone else has targeted Shen Lanxi, exacerbating the poisoning?
Emperor Renxiao became increasingly convinced of this, and he had already discovered that the mastermind behind it was several ministers, which even implicated the harem.
Emperor Renxiao was shocked to find that so many people wanted to kill Shen Lanxi. His thoughts had wandered, and he connected the poisoning incident with a plot to usurp the throne.
Thinking of this, Emperor Renxiao's face turned so dark he could hardly bear to look at it.
They all saw Shen Lanxi as a thorn in their side and wanted to get rid of her as soon as possible. They wanted Shen Lanxi dead, but he insisted on letting her live.
Not only should she live, but she should also become a great general, so that she can protect her country!
After Emperor Renxiao came to his senses, the gloom on his face disappeared, and he appeared peaceful.
"Wang Bao, bring out the things!"
Wang Bao carried out a box from behind, and Emperor Renxiao took out a porcelain bottle from it.
"This is the antidote that I ordered to be sent from Medicine King Valley by express courier. Take it to Shen Lanxi as soon as possible!"
Zhou Ruyuan was overjoyed upon hearing this; there really was an antidote, and Lan Xi was saved.
Before he could be happy for long, Emperor Renxiao's thoughtful gaze fell on him again.
"Ruyuan, as you've seen, our Great Zhou is now surrounded by wolves. Shen Lanxi's accident has already had far-reaching consequences. It seems the arranged marriage between her and you will have to be postponed."
Zhou Ruyuan's lips stiffened, and the hand holding the antidote involuntarily clenched tighter.
Emperor Renxiao sighed deeply: "After six years of war, it is already a miracle that we were able to preserve the Great Zhou. Haste makes waste, and we must not be too hasty now!"
To appease his son, Emperor Renxiao said, "I will not harm that woman. Make her move out of the palace!"
A bitter feeling welled up in Zhou Ruyuan's heart, but he still managed to say, "Thank you for your great kindness, Father Emperor!"
...
Two hours later, news that Shen Lanxi had successfully taken the antidote and was cured of the poison quietly spread throughout the capital.
Legend has it that after Shen Lanxi woke up, she immediately put on her armor, picked up her weapon, and declared that she would go to the northwest to kill the barbarians.
Upon hearing this, Emperor Renxiao was deeply moved and, in his excitement, gave Shen Lanxi two tasks in succession.
One was an examiner for the military examination, and the other was the chief examiner for the civil examination.
The entire court was in an uproar.
The ministers immediately submitted a joint petition, requesting Emperor Renxiao to rescind his order, but were instead reprimanded by the emperor in court.
They even demoted the official with the loudest voice in the court to the northwest to fight against the enemy, and his whole family was also demoted.
This was tantamount to exile, and the official immediately stumbled and fainted.
Furthermore, all the officials who had previously compiled fifty charges against Shen Lanxi were imprisoned.
The fifty charges against him were overturned in court by Wei Jie of the Dali Temple.
Wei Jie, filled with righteous indignation and passionate fervor, declared: "The incident in Mosang Town had a cause. The investigators I sent reported that Mosang Town was burned down by the descendants of the Li King, their purpose being to frame General Shen Lanxi and plunge the Northwest into chaos. The descendants of the Li King are truly treacherous and wicked..."
"The descendants of the tyrannical king are not only cruel and vicious, but they also sow discord between the people of the northwest and the soldiers guarding the border, spreading rumors and causing the people's hearts to be scattered..."
"I suspect that the ministers who previously gathered evidence against Lord Shen have been bribed by the King of Li. The King of Li's descendants aim to overthrow the Great Zhou and usurp the throne. I urge a thorough investigation into those officials who impeached Lord Shen!"
In an instant, the entire court fell silent.
Emperor Renxiao glanced at Wei Jie with satisfaction, never expecting that this usually impartial person could read his expression and understand his hints.
A subject's duty is to alleviate the emperor's worries, which brings him great comfort!
During her convalescence, Shen Lanxi was very high-profile. Emperor Renxiao sent imperial chefs and physicians to take care of her around the clock.
The moment the imperial physician left, news spread among the common people that Shen Lanxi had recovered and could lift a 300-pound stone with one hand.
Every time the imperial chef went shopping, he would mutter to himself that General Shen could eat six large bowls of food in one meal.
From court officials to commoners, everyone in the capital was astonished by Shen Lanxi's rapid recovery.
The news also spread to all directions.
After receiving the secret report, Emperor Renxiao was pleased to see that the three northwestern tribes had settled down.
"Lanxi has a great deterrent effect on the Northwest!" Emperor Renxiao said something cryptic.
Wang Bao immediately chuckled and said, "That's right, the female butcher from the Northwest! She's rumored to be as ruthless as a butcher. Even this old servant's legs went weak from the smell of blood..."
Emperor Renxiao smiled upon hearing this. Indeed, those barbarians and common people were only afraid of Shen Lanxi's tyrannical appearance. A vicious person is equivalent to a sharp blade.
But he is the one who wields the sharp blade!
There was also something else that greatly pleased Emperor Renxiao.
Although he personally appointed Shen Lanxi as the examiner for the martial arts examination, the chief examiner was Zhou Ruyuan. If Shen Lanxi were to take the opportunity to plant a few people in the process, it would be incredibly easy.
Unexpectedly, Shen Lanxi claimed to be ill and did not attend; the examiner was merely a figurehead.
So what if she's skilled in martial arts? This kind of good-for-nothing woman is nothing to fear.
Shen Lanxi, who had been labeled a fool by Emperor Renxiao, was currently confronting her father.
"You should quickly ask His Majesty to cancel your position as the chief examiner for the civil service examination!" Shen Congwen's face turned red with anger as he recalled how he had been attacked by the civil officials during court that day.
That assignment wasn't something he asked His Majesty for. It was just something His Majesty arranged haphazardly when he was in a good mood.
If they don't want to, they should go to His Majesty. Why are they making things difficult for him?
In particular, the two factions led by the Grand Tutor and the Grand Secretary were all jumping up and down in the court to impeach him.
Even the squabbles between his concubines and illegitimate children were used to attack him. Shen Congwen was so ashamed and indignant that he wished he could spill blood in the court to prove his innocence.
Shen Lanxi drank the nourishing soup prepared by the imperial physician without changing her expression.
"Both thunder and rain are expressions of the Emperor's favor. I am deeply grateful for His Majesty's high regard. If I were to refuse, I would be disrespecting His Majesty."
For the sake of his sons, Shen Congwen went to great lengths to invite Mr. Ruohua to come.
It wasn't meant to be commented on by a woman with a different level of literary knowledge.
How could the great Zhou Dynasty, a powerful and prosperous nation, allow a woman to be an examiner? What would the scholars of the world think?
If she were to actually become an examiner, countless well-read students would be ruined by an ignorant woman.
If we don't stop him, Shen Congwen will be a sinner against all scholars in the world!
"Lanxi, your father was a bit strict with you before, but that was because he was afraid you would go astray!" Shen Congwen changed his tone and began to earnestly persuade you.
"Your father is afraid that you will be criticized by scholars all over the world!"
Shen Lanxi put down the medicine bowl and calmly said, "Does Father want me to disobey the imperial decree?"
Shen Congwen froze.
"How can this be considered disobeying the imperial decree? You are a woman, illiterate, so it is perfectly reasonable for you to decline the civil service examination!"
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