Lord Li smiled and said, "You are Sheng Jingheng, right?"
"Yes."
Lord Liu and Lord Li smiled at each other and said, "We've found the person, that's right!"
Sheng Jingheng was completely confused. What did two high-ranking officials want from him?
Lord Liu said with a pleasant face, "Sheng Jingheng, this official and Lord Li have come to inform you to take part in this year's Autumn Examination."
"What....?"
Sheng Jingheng and Yue Niang were so shocked that they were speechless.
Sheng Jingheng said, "I was disqualified from the imperial examination a few years ago. Are you sure you're not mistaken?"
Lord Li whispered mysteriously, "There's no mistake. The Emperor has spoken with great authority, personally approving your admission to the Autumn Examination."
The Emperor? Sheng Jingheng and Yue Niang opened their mouths wide in disbelief.
Sheng Jingheng remained there in a daze until the two adults left the pharmacy. What he had dreamed of had actually become a reality at this moment.
"Yue Niang, is this true? I can't believe it."
Sheng Jingheng lost control of his emotions for a moment, squatting on the ground with his hands covering his face and crying bitterly.
He loved reading since childhood, but his dream was shattered at the age of sixteen, which was exactly six years ago. He almost became depressed into an old man because of this. He was originally a young man in his early twenties, but he had half a head of white hair due to worry.
"Xi Yan must have asked the Emperor for help. This is a great joyous occasion. Let's go home and tell Mother that we need to celebrate tonight."
"Okay, close the shop and go home right away."
At nightfall, in the Yangxin Palace.
The Imperial Household brought a plate and said respectfully, "Your Majesty, please turn over the green card."
Xuan Ling drank half a cup of ginseng tea, stood up from the throne, and walked around the hall playing with antique ornaments.
After a long while, he said, "Go get Sheng Xiuyuan to sleep with you."
Zhang, the chief steward of the Jingshifang, looked at Eunuch Fu and hesitated before giving advice, because the eunuchs of the Jingshifang had the responsibility to advise the emperor to prevent him from favoring the same concubine repeatedly, which would cause the harem to lose harmony and be detrimental to the continuation of his offspring.
"Your Majesty, you have already slept with Lady Sheng for five nights in the past fortnight. Do you think you could look at other ladies?"
Xuan Ling put down the small vase with a sky-blue glaze and dragon pattern on the golden nanmu stand and said coldly, "You little dog slave, are you teaching me how to do things?"
Zhang Zongguan, Eunuch Fu, and several palace servants knelt hurriedly, "Your Majesty, please calm down. This servant dared not do this. It is really the ancestral rule. This servant..."
Xuan Ling said angrily, "Zhang Yuquan, go and get your twenty lashes."
"Yes, I will go and get the punishment immediately. Your Majesty, please calm down."
Chief Eunuch Zhang ran out of the Yangxin Palace, and the other eunuch was still holding the green-headed plate.
Eunuch Fu observed the emperor's words and expressions and asked carefully after a long moment, "Your Majesty, shall I go and fetch Young Master Sheng?"
Xuan Ling walked to the green card, glanced at it casually, and said, "Let's go to Concubine Min. There's no need to roll up the quilt. Let her bring the pipa over."
The eunuch in the Jingshifang immediately opened the book of favors and recorded the date of tonight and the fact that the person sleeping with him was Concubine Min.
Half an hour later, Concubine Min, wearing a lilac brocade skirt and holding a pipa, arrived at the West Hall of the Hall of Mental Cultivation.
Her eyebrows were dark and her eyes were delicate. She bowed and said in a sweet voice, "Your Majesty, your concubine greets you."
Xuan Ling sat cross-legged on the dragon couch, with a chessboard on the low kang table, playing chess by himself.
After a long while, he said, "Noble Lady Min is here. Please sit down and play two songs for me to listen to."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Concubine Min deliberately chose a soft chair closer to the dragon bed. After sitting down, she gazed at Xuan Ling with affection.
She said softly, "I have recently practiced 'Spring River Moon Night' and 'High Mountains and Flowing Water'. Please appreciate it, Your Majesty."
Her fingers glided gently across the pipa strings, the sound was crisp and melodious, touching the heart.
It took about half an hour after the two songs were played.
Concubine Min said tenderly, "Your Majesty, please guide me on my shortcomings."
Xuan Ling held the black piece between his long fingers and looked at the chessboard.
"It lacks emotion. The emotion in 'Spring River Moonlit Night' is mournful but not sorrowful. There's a sense of melancholy about the brevity of life, but it doesn't sink into decadence or despair. Your performance only conveys sorrow, failing to express the poet's pursuit and love for life."
Concubine Min put down her pipa, walked over with lotus steps, and said softly, "It was I who didn't understand the meaning. Your Majesty's explanation has enlightened me."
She originally thought that after playing the pipa well, she would serve in the bed, but she didn't expect Xuan Ling to say solemnly, "Alright, go back."
In an instant, she went from being full of joy when she first arrived to being filled with loss, and she walked out of the Yangxin Palace holding her pipa.
According to the rules of the imperial concubine's stay in the Hall of Mental Cultivation, the concubine should stay in the Hall of Mental Cultivation for half an hour, and the time she just spent playing the two pieces of music was exactly half an hour.
The next day, after noon, Sheng Xiyan was grinding medicinal herbs on the couch, using a small saucer to weigh the amount.
Hua Xia brought in papaya and snow frog and placed them on the low kang table.
"My lady, let me grind some for you to make a nourishing soup."
Sheng Xiyan washed her hands in the white glazed basin brought by Meixiang, then took the brocade handkerchief presented by Shanhu, wiped her hands, and picked up the jade spoon.
The master and his servants chatted together.
"My lady, I understand that the Emperor asked Concubine Min to sleep with him last night."
Sheng Xiyan took a bite of the snow clam and said, "The emperor is exhausted from state affairs and needs to relax. Could it be that they are just chatting under the quilt?"
Hua Xia heard this and said, "My dear, you haven't taken the first step yet?"
"I've taken a step forward. Look how anxious you are." Sheng Xiyan comforted and coaxed.
Meixiang whispered, "My lady, you must hold the emperor tightly, so that you can quickly conceive an heir."
"The emperor is not a butterfly, how can I catch him? Don't worry, I know what I'm doing."
Xiao Zhuozi was playing with Jiang Jiang in the yard when he suddenly cleared his throat loudly. Shanhu stood on tiptoe and saw a master and servant entering the palace.
"My lady, Miss Min is here."
Concubine Min was smiling, and the palace maid behind her was holding a brocade box.
My dear, there is more to this chapter. Please click on the next page to continue reading. It will be even more exciting later!
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