Chapter 556 The Third-Rank Scholar Offers Himself a Bedchamber!
Zhang Ruchang blushed deeply and knelt down with a thud: "This student does not aspire to be a top scholar, but only wishes to serve Your Majesty and stay by your side!"
The officials stared in shock.
Shen Lanxi was equally surprised. She glanced at Che Mingyuan without making a sound, and the latter quickly shook his head.
It really wasn't him who arranged it, don't look at him.
"There's no need for constant companionship. I'm recruiting talented individuals through the imperial examinations, not for the harem."
The officials shuddered.
Although I know His Majesty can be very direct at times, actually hearing it still... is unacceptable, truly unacceptable.
This is utterly contrary to ancestral rules and will disrupt the imperial court.
"If I'm not mistaken, you are a scholar from the Northwest, right?"
Zhang Ruchang quickly replied, "Your Majesty is right, I am indeed a student from the Northwest."
"The student's home is in Ganling, where the land is barren, sandstorms are frequent, and bandits roam. Several years ago, the village was massacred by barbarians, and the student was the only one to survive out of nine villages."
Suddenly, a person flashed through Shen Lanxi's mind.
"Are you the little boy who dug a hole and buried the whole village?"
Upon seeing that His Majesty had remembered, Zhang Rujian immediately exclaimed excitedly, "It is indeed you, student!"
"I was rescued by His Majesty and assigned to the Northwest Army. After the Northwest was pacified, I was sent to school. I then gradually passed the imperial examinations and earned my official rank until now."
Shen Lanxi smiled and said, "I know you want to repay me, and I appreciate that. However, I wasn't the only one who saved you; the Northwest Army did too. Your teachers are from the Northwest. In the future, as an official, your diligence in serving the people will be the best way to repay me."
Zhang Ruchang was taken aback. Just as he was about to explain that it wasn't a repayment, he heard His Majesty had already made arrangements for him.
"You shall be the third-ranked scholar. I have also made arrangements for you. You may go to the Northwest or to Ganzhou."
Zhang Ruchang was lost in thought. Wasn't he supposed to stay in the capital?
Che Mingyuan reminded him in a low voice, "Why haven't you accepted the imperial decree and expressed your gratitude?"
Zhang Ruchang often had no choice, but after weighing the options, she made a choice.
"I wish to return to the Northwest."
Shen Lanxi smiled and said, "Strategist, see where there are any vacancies in the Northwest, and then report to me."
Che Mingyuan silently breathed a sigh of relief.
"yes!"
Sun Daolin naturally became the second-place finisher, and then the three of them rode through the streets in a procession.
Shen Lanxi then bestowed rewards upon the three individuals and the officials who had participated in the imperial examination before adjourning the court session.
...
"Your Majesty, I am innocent! Zhang Ruchang was not arranged by me!" Che Mingyuan was terrified.
Shen Lanxi gave him a chilling look: "It had better not be. From now on, you are not allowed to interfere in my harem."
This is both a notification and a warning.
Seeing that His Majesty was not truly angry, Che Mingyuan breathed a sigh of relief.
That Zhang Ruchang dared to act recklessly in the main hall, so let's assign him to repair the river!
Another day passed, and the martial arts examination also arrived.
Even though Shen Lanxi did not attend in person, the people remained enthusiastic.
"Isn't a woman asking for a beating if she participates in the martial arts examination?"
"They can get away with the civil service exams, but the military exams are a man's domain. In terms of physical strength, women are no match for men."
"A cheap trick, utterly a cheap trick!"
"I didn't expect there to be so many women participating in the martial arts examination this time."
"Those women's waists aren't even as thick as a man's thigh. I hope they won't get beaten to death when they go on stage!"
"The women's championship in the civil service examination pleased some people. But the military examination was not so satisfactory."
"The martial arts examination is the place where the differences between men and women can be best distinguished. If the women are beaten so badly, someone will lose face."
A group of men gathered together, making sarcastic remarks and watching the spectacle.
Huang Yu looked at the men with nothing but disdain and contempt.
What's wrong with the woman?
The one sitting in the high position today is a woman.
If there is one Shen Lanxi in the world, there will be a second, and they will be able to surpass Shen Lanxi and trample all the men in the world under their feet!
~
"Your Majesty, the top three winners of the martial arts examination have been announced. They are Huang Yu, Tian Bin, and Liu Jin (all female candidates)."
"That woman is Huang Yu, who saved the princess."
Shen Lanxi took the list and looked at it one by one.
Che Mingyuan: "Forty people passed the military examination in the Northwest, and forty-five people passed in the Eastern Sichuan."
There was another list, which Che Mingyuan handed over separately.
Shen Lanxi returned the first list to Che Mingyuan.
"You can arrange things for these people."
Che Mingyuan understood; he didn't need to worry about the other list.
Huang Yu, a woman, won first place. After expressing her gratitude in front of the palace, the first thing she did was to go to the Shen family to thank them.
Before long, the news that Zhou Xinrou was going to adopt Huang Yu as her goddaughter spread.
Shen Lanxi received the news immediately, and soon she received a letter from the Shen family.
After reading it, she put the letter aside. In less than an hour, she had read three such letters.
~
"Mother, what is Huang Yu? Why do you side with an outsider instead of your own daughter?" Shen Yuantang barged into Zhou Xinrou's room without a care.
This time she was smarter. She brought four maids to distract the two old women around Zhou Xinrou, which allowed her to enter the room smoothly.
"Mother…"
"Insolence!" In addition to the stern rebuke, a teacup was smashed at Shen Yuantang's feet.
"Mother..." Shen Yuantang screamed as if she had gone mad.
"Mother, am I really your child? Why would you rather help outsiders than help me?"
"I lost my child and was arranged by the Shen family to live outside. No relatives comforted me or cared about me. My mother, on the other hand, interfered in the affairs of the household for an outsider. Mother, you would rather help an outsider than help me. Why?"
Shen Yuantang yelled and screamed, "If others don't understand me, why can't even my own mother understand me?"
"Shut up!" Zhou Xinrou snapped angrily, her face darkening.
Now that she has broken her leg and is in a sorry state, Shen Yuantang not only doesn't care, but also rushes in to question her.
"You say I don't care about you? You barged in, did you even ask about my injuries?"
"Shen Yuantang, I gave birth to you and raised you, and I have never wronged you. Huang Yu was willing to disfigure herself and use her own body as a human shield to save me. If it were you, would you dare to do that?"
Shen Yuantang's eyes flickered for a moment, then quickly hardened.
"Mother, that's because I wasn't there. If I were there, I would definitely protect you with my body."
"Putting aside this fall from the horse, even after I lost my child, did my mother ever care about me?"
Dark clouds rolled in Zhou Xinrou's eyes, and her gaze towards Shen Yuantang was as cold as ice.
"Didn't you want to marry Zhou Ruyuan yourself? Your older sister tried to stop you several times, but did you waver even a little?"
Tears welled in Shen Yuantang's eyes, and all her grievances turned into anger.
"Mother, you only have Chen Lanxi in your heart. So many people like her, so many people revolve around her, why can't you care about me?"
"Mother, I am also your daughter. You only have two daughters, so why can't you spare a little more energy to care for me?"
"I was forced to marry Zhou Ruyuan by circumstances back then. Why couldn't you have stood up for me then?"
"I don't ask you to protect me like you protect your older sister. Even ten fingers aren't the same length, and the palms and backs of our hands aren't the same. But my older sister and I are siblings from the same mother, we're family. What is Huang Yu compared to me?"
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