Sheng Xiyan glanced at the "Zizhi Tongjian" and could only talk about the imperial examination another day.
Serving the emperor is like serving a tiger. When asking the emperor to do something, one cannot be stiff in the way one does it. One has to be very natural, otherwise it will appear that she is a scheming woman. Emperor Xuanwu would definitely not like such a concubine.
I sighed inwardly and lay down.
There was a quilt between the two of them, holding hands.
"Yanyan, why did you sigh just now?"
Hmm? How did he know she sighed? Was the emperor so perceptive and intelligent?
Sheng Xiyan made up his mind. Since he asked, I would just give it a try.
"Today, I read the historical materials in the book about the imperial courts of various dynasties holding special examinations, and I felt a little touched."
"Yanyan, tell me. I really want to hear your opinion."
"The imperial court's opening of the special examination system not only demonstrates the emperor's great favor, but also selects useful talents. Furthermore, it aims to alleviate the contradictions of centralized power. Scholars across the country have studied diligently for ten years, reading the same eight-part essays. With unified thought, those restive forces will have no chance to exploit the situation."
Xuan Ling's eyes lit up, and he stroked her face in surprise and said, "Yan Yan, you have impressed me again. As a woman, you can actually have such insight."
I couldn't help but lean over and kiss her forehead.
In a blink of an eye, Sheng Xiyan frowned slightly and sighed softly.
"Why is Yanyan sad?"
Sheng Xiyan took his hand and spoke slowly, "My brother has loved reading since he was young. He studied hard for many years. During the year of the imperial examination, he stood up for a woman who was bullied by a bully. Unexpectedly, the bully was a relative of the prefect. He accused my brother of molesting a commoner girl and had him imprisoned for three months.
My father used all his connections to help my brother get out, but he died of a stroke. That same year, I moved from Jiangnan to the capital with my mother, brother, and sister-in-law.
After hearing this, Xuan Ling patted her head lovingly, "You left your hometown because you were afraid of retaliation, and your brother was disqualified from the imperial examination by the local authorities, right?"
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