Chapter 154: July Coming of Age, Examination for the Crowning of King
Not only did Xiao Qinggu receive gifts secretly, but Xiao Qingxu also received a lot of gifts.
After Shang Yuwan looked at the list of gift givers, she asked, "What is the princess doing?"
There are spies everywhere in Kyoto, so they can't stay with Xiao Qinggu to discuss many matters.
Lu Heying took over the conversation, "I heard that all those things have been registered. Most of the people who were originally in the princess's mansion have been cleared out, and the remaining servants have been personally punished by the princess. Our people have already infiltrated. The princess's mansion is bustling with activity now. The princess ordered everyone to take all those things out and exchange them for silver notes. After receiving the silver notes, they rushed to the rice shop and the clinic."
When Shang Yuwan and Xiao Qingxu heard this, they immediately understood what Xiao Qinggu was going to do.
Xiao Qingxu smiled and said, "Not bad, you know how to deal with it."
He and Shang Yuwan had only told Xiao Qinggu that someone would secretly come to give gifts after the celebration banquet, but they did not tell Xiao Qinggu the solution clearly, in order to test her ability to adapt to changes.
If Xiao Qing accepted all these gifts, wouldn't he care about being accused of forming a clique for personal gain by Bailipu? The Zongzheng Temple hadn't yet publicly announced the exact date for the princess's coronation. If something went wrong at this point and they were accused of something, all their previous efforts would be in vain.
Shang Yuwan's face also broke into a smile. "Okay, stop nagging. We can't fall behind."
Lu Heying nodded, "Then I'll go."
"Yes." Xiao Qingxu replied calmly, "Call Chief Steward Li and his son. They are more familiar with the recent situation in Kyoto than we are. It will be more convenient to bring them and the sign of Prince Qi's Mansion."
Xiao Qingxu left the Prince Qi Mansion after Shang Yuwan's death, and after she was reborn, he traveled around for a long time. Although they received a lot of news, without any personal contact, it was still just talk.
When Lu Heying was about to leave, Shang Yuwan reminded him, "Do it openly and honestly, so you don't have to worry about being seen."
Lu Heying nodded, turned around and left, closing the door when he left.
Shang Yuwan and Xiao Qingxu were about to continue discussing something in the study when they heard footsteps.
Ji Suxian held the food tray in one hand and pushed the door open with the other. "You two want to be immortals? You don't want to eat breakfast?"
They were both stunned, and then they remembered that they were hungry.
Twelve followed Ji Suxian with a food tray in his hand. On the tray were the medicinal food and steaming hot medicine made by Ji Suxian.
What Ji Suxian was holding in her hands were honey and sweet fruits that could relieve the bitterness.
"Go away." Ji Suxian pushed aside the miscellaneous things on the table and put twelve handfuls of medicinal food and soup on it.
"If you don't eat it, Shang Yuwan will want to eat it." Ji Suxian glared at Xiao Qingxu.
Xiao Qingxu: “…” My younger sister’s attitude towards him has changed. It seems that it started when she and Yao Lao took Wanwan away for a secret talk.
What did they talk about that day? On the way back to Beijing, he looked at Yao Lao and Xiao Mei's behavior, and it seemed that neither of them intended to tell him.
Shang Yuwan smiled and came out to smooth things over: "Did you do all this?"
Ji Suxian turned to Shang Yuwan, his domineering demeanor weakened, and he nodded, "If you don't like it, just tell me, I can make it for you in a different way."
After all, Shang Yuwan had suffered fractures and stitches covering half her body. Having been jostled around for so long, it was already a relief that she hadn't experienced any unexpected problems. Now that she was finally able to relax a bit, Ji Suxian didn't want her to strain herself any further, aside from using her brain.
Women have their periods every month, and sometimes they are weaker than men. If Shang Yuwan continues to do that, even the best body won't be able to bear it.
"Your cooking skills have always been excellent, no need to change." Shang Yuwan smiled and shook his head, then looked at Twelve, "Have you eaten yet?"
Twelve shook her head honestly, and Ji Suxian spoke for her: "I was thinking about you. I said you forgot to eat when you were busy. You and Brother Xiao are the same in this respect."
When they are busy, they ignore their own temperament.
Shang Yuwan smiled slightly and said, "Let's go and have our meal. There are guards outside the door. We'll have them send it to the kitchen after we finish eating."
Ji Suxian nodded and pulled Twelve away.
The people in the Princess's Mansion were busy, while Prince Qi's Mansion and Baijialou were also operating in secret. However, at this time, the court was completely silent.
Baili Pu knelt in the center of the hall, and Yuan Ji also knelt beside him.
Emperor Chengming was wearing a dragon robe, sitting upright on the dragon throne, looking down at them.
His face at this moment looked awe-inspiring without even getting angry, and there was none of the gentleness he had at the celebration party last night.
"It seems my Imperial Censor is determined that I slap myself in the face."
As soon as these words were spoken, all the officials knelt down.
"I am terrified—"
"Fearful?" Emperor Chengming snorted coldly.
The atmosphere remained deadlocked. Emperor Chengming had been reviewing memorials all night and felt a little sleepy.
In order to save time, he directly ordered Yuan Ji.
"Central Minister Yuan, tell me, what should we do about this?"
Yuan Ji lowered his head and rolled his eyes, "Your Majesty, I do have a solution."
Emperor Chengming's tone revealed a hint of impatience. "Speak, no one here dares to shut you up."
Yuan Ji was the person he chose as an exception despite the pressure from all the civil and military officials in the court. If he couldn't say anything useful at this time, Yuan Ji would not have to wear this official uniform.
Yuan Ji straightened up slightly, but his posture was still very low, his head was still hanging, and there was a gleam in his eyes.
"I have heard that the Zongzheng Temple has initially set the date for the coronation ceremony for Her Highness the Princess after her coming-of-age ceremony in July. I, therefore, would like to ask Your Majesty to have my teacher give Her Highness three tests for the coronation ceremony before her coming-of-age ceremony."
Bailipu knelt quietly without saying a word.
This was the idea he had come up with last night. Since the emperor had already given his permission for the princess to be crowned king, he could also find another way and set three tests for Xiao Qinggu.
Firstly, it would make Xiao Qinggu, that ignorant girl, give up; secondly, it would save the emperor's face because by then, if the princess had not passed the assessment, he could take back her permission to be crowned king as he wished; thirdly, Xiao Qinggu would not be able to obtain the same power as the prince, and Dayu's country would not fall into a more chaotic situation.
It is unprecedented for a princess to be crowned a king. If this exception is broken, I wonder what kind of impact it will have on future generations!
Baili Pu went to Yuan Ji last night to discuss this matter in a rage. For the first time, he used the grace of raising him to threaten Yuan Ji. After several arguments, Yuan Ji finally agreed.
Bailipu didn't say a word now. He was happy in his heart, but he didn't know that he had stepped into the trap set by Shang Yuwan, Xiao Qingxu and others.
Yuan Ji raised the corners of his lips quietly.
What they wanted was for Xiao Qinggu to be Bailipu's student for a period of time.
Baili Pu was indeed pedantic and stubborn, but his profound knowledge and reputation as a strict teacher were well-deserved. When Yuan Ji proposed this method, Shang Yuwan and Xiao Qingxu had carefully considered it. The benefits outweighed the disadvantages. Xiao Qingxu's hard work would bring greater benefits than the two of them teaching slowly, and it would also be faster.
Xiao Qingji is definitely not as stupid as he appears, and Xiao Tong will not blindly tolerate them just because of Xiao Qinggu. Shang Yuwan and Xiao Qingxu don't have much time left.
Emperor Chengming's eyebrows moved slightly. He saw through Yuan Ji's thoughts at a glance and sighed that these kids were really good at planning.
It seems that he did not make a wrong move when he suppressed the doubts of civil and military officials and allowed the young man Yuan Ji to enter the court.
Emperor Chengming did not say anything, but his aura became increasingly heavy, which frightened the officials below so much that they remained silent and even subconsciously slowed down their breathing, for fear that their names would come out of Emperor Chengming's mouth.
After a moment's hesitation, he said, "What do you think, Your Excellency the Censor?"
Baili Pu was the head of the civil officials after all, so it was not an exaggeration for Emperor Chengming to say this politely.
Bailipu immediately said loudly: "I will obey the imperial edict."
The implication is that it is feasible.
Emperor Chengming: “…”
He was old after all, and he didn't even realize that he was being fooled by Yuan Ji, whom he raised as his grandson.
Bailipu had already used his methods to obstruct the process, so the other officials stopped submitting memorials.
Shortly after the court session ended, the news of the examination for the title of king flew to Xiao Qinggu's ears as if it had wings.
Xiao Qinggu, who was distributing porridge in the porridge stall with his sleeves rolled up and his shoulder straps draped over his shoulders, asked: "......?"
Was this part of the original plan?
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