Chapter 342 Thunderous Fury
"In that case, let's take a good look." Pei Siyan said calmly, his expression unchanged.
The winning girls stood in two rows, each one graceful and shy, hoping to catch the emperor's eye at first glance.
Pei Siyan glanced at their faces indifferently, not caring much.
Seeing that he was losing interest, Consort Zhang tactfully asked a few questions, with Dou Wenyi occasionally interjecting to add her own comments.
When it was Lin Zhiyi's turn, Pei Siyan seemed to become interested. "Lin Zhiyi, your father is the Censor-in-Chief Lin Wenkai? The Censorate is a place where it is easy to offend people. What is your opinion on this matter?"
Dou Wenyi gave her a reassuring look, and Lin Zhiyi said loudly, "He who receives the emperor's salary should share his burdens. The Censor-in-Chief is responsible for supervising all officials, and it is Father's duty to offer sincere advice. If he cannot fulfill his duties and contribute his meager strength to the court, he would be better off retiring to his hometown as soon as possible and becoming a teacher at an academy. Or perhaps he could become an old man who lives a secluded life in the countryside."
"Well said!" Pei Siyan nodded in satisfaction.
Standing behind Lin Zhiyi, Xu Yujiao felt disdain. Lin Zhiyi was dignified, composed, and talented, but what kind of beauties hadn't the emperor seen? Didn't they choose their concubines based on figure and beauty?
She was confident that if Pei Siyan took a good look at her, he would be captivated by her beauty.
Thinking this, Xu Yuqiao glanced up and saw that handsome and dashing face, elegant and refined, with a strong and powerful waist and abdomen. If she were to hold him in her arms...
Suddenly, Pei Siyan, who exuded a chilling aura, turned his eyes and shot his gaze straight at her with a dagger-like look.
Xu Yujiao's heart tightened, and she hurriedly looked away.
Her little trick naturally couldn't be hidden from the people on the high platform.
Consort Zhang frowned slightly, but showed no other emotion. Dou Wenyi curled her lips into a mocking smile. The greater the hope, the greater the disappointment. With Xu Yujiao's personality, even if she really entered the palace, she would only bring disaster to her family, not wealth!
Pei Siyan looked down at her condescendingly, "You're the daughter of the Minister of Personnel?"
Xu Yujiao's back tensed up involuntarily. "Yes, Your Majesty."
Pei Siyan's gaze lingered on Xu Yujiao, a half-smile playing on his lips. "Minister Xu has done a good job of educating his daughter."
His voice was steady, devoid of emotion. "I remember that Minister Xu served in the Ministry of Personnel for many years, devoting himself wholeheartedly to the cause and making great contributions. He was a model for all court officials."
Xu Yujiao was overjoyed and was about to express her gratitude when he suddenly changed the subject: "The Ministry of Personnel is in charge of evaluating all officials. Minister Xu, in evaluating officials and recognizing people, besides the standards of the national laws, do you have any unique insights?"
Xu Yujiao was caught off guard and was speechless for a moment.
She usually only cared about cosmetics, clothes and jewelry, and never inquired about her father's affairs in the court.
"This humble woman...this humble woman does not know." Her voice grew softer and softer, her previous confidence completely gone.
Dou Wenyi glanced at her indifferently, amused. This was clearly an easy question; all she had to do was praise her father to pass smoothly.
This shows that she knew very little about her father's way of being an official and his conduct in society, or perhaps Madam Xu protected her too well and raised her to be too stupid.
She really has the desire but not the courage; her skills are far too shallow!
Pei Siyan tapped his fingertips lightly on the armrest and asked again, "Enough. Let me ask you one more question. There are many kinds of assessments in the country. If someone abuses their power for personal gain and accepts bribes, what would you do if you knew about it?"
This question is even more tricky!
Xu Yujiao's face turned slightly pale. She wrung out the handkerchief in her hand, thinking of her paintings and the poems she had prepared in advance. A thin layer of sweat appeared on her forehead.
Impossible, they couldn't possibly have discovered it.
Under the emperor's overwhelming pressure, her heart pounded and her lips trembled. "This humble woman... is merely a woman confined to her chambers and dares not concern herself with state affairs."
"Oh?" Pei Siyan raised his phoenix eyes slightly, his tone remaining calm.
"Just now I asked Miss Lin about her job at the Censorate, and she didn't say that she dared not interfere in state affairs."
Seeing this, Consort Zhang was about to smooth things over when the Emperor raised his hand to stop her.
He looked down at the trembling Xu Yujiao and said slowly, "One last question—if you enter the palace as a concubine, and Minister Xu is reported for corruption, will you plead for your father, and how will you handle the situation?"
This is a very pointed question!
Xu Yujiao panicked completely. If she said she wouldn't plead for her father, she would appear unfilial and hypocritical. If she said she would "help as appropriate," it would be a major taboo for an emperor.
She opened her mouth, but couldn't utter a single word.
Pei Siyan coldly watched her embarrassed appearance, a hint of mockery flashing in his eyes.
"It seems Miss Xu isn't ready yet."
He turned to Consort Zhang and said casually, "The court is currently going through a turbulent time. I do not want the person beside me to be unable to distinguish right from wrong or good from evil. Miss Xu should read more books in her spare time!"
These words were polite, but the meaning was crystal clear: they implied that she was ignorant and lacked knowledge, which was why she couldn't answer the emperor's question.
Xu Yujiao's eyes were filled with undisguised despair, her heart aching as if it were being torn apart. Could it be that the Emperor could not see her beauty and virtues?
Pei Siyan asked several more questions to the noble ladies. Some could answer, while others, like Xu Yujiao, lost their composure after only a few words.
Pei Siyan patiently said, "Didn't you also paint and compose a poem today? Bring them up for us to see."
The paintings were placed one by one on the table.
Pei Siyan rose from his throne, the yellow dragon robe sweeping past his eyes, his deep gaze settling on the double lotus blossoms.
"Who made this?"
Xu Yujiao's confidence, which had plummeted to rock bottom, was restored somewhat. "It is I, your subject."
Pei Siyan's expression suddenly changed, and he roared in fury, "Don't tell me you don't even know the meaning of twin lotus blossoms?"
Xu Yujiao was terrified and knelt down with a thud. She hurriedly explained, "Your Majesty, please forgive me. I know that twin lotus flowers symbolize a loving and devoted couple who support each other and grow old together."
"This humble woman is foolish and does not know if there is anything wrong with this painting?"
Dou Wenyi stood up, stared intently for a moment, and murmured, "The lotus blossoms in pairs, yet their flowers are colorless; the plum blossoms, symbolizing unity, are fragrant like jade..." (1)
She immediately realized that whether it was twin blossoms or hearts united, it was an allusion to a married couple.
Xu Yujiao has really broken a taboo this time!
Pei Siyan asked in a deep voice, "Did you write this poem yourself?"
A chill ran down Xu Yujiao's spine, making her hair stand on end. She trembled and said, "Yes."
She must never let anyone know that she spent a lot of money to buy poems.
Pei Siyan shouted angrily, "How dare you! Xu Yujiao, even if you enter the palace, you will only be a concubine. Who gave you the audacity to dream of becoming my empress?"
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