Chapter 124 Queen Mother, have you heard of a girl?
Chapter 124 Queen Mother, have you heard of a girl?
Zhao Ying turned around and went to find a stick. Using royal etiquette? What? Is it you, Yin Zhengnan, who wants to rebel, or the Yong'an Marquis' Mansion? You are not getting married, you are planning to go to hell together!
Yin Zhengnan smiled and said, "Take care, mother. Your son is waiting for your good news at home!"
“…”
Zhao Yingqiao covered her chest with her hands. She had to endure the anger of her own son. She could only glare at her son and turn away.
In the palace, Zhao Jingcheng was also looking through the results of the imperial examination, and he focused on Xie Huaiguang's.
The young man had left a deep impression on him, and now looking at his paper again, he felt even more pleased.
"well!"
Zhao Jingcheng praised him twice in a row, saying that his handwriting was good and his article was good, and he was indeed a knowledgeable and talented young man.
"I heard that no one could get close to Xie Huaiguang in the list of sons-in-law. From my perspective, this guy is also a character!"
Zhou Ruihai couldn't help but mention the interesting things he just heard, which made Zhao Jingcheng laugh: "I heard that he was the first place in the provincial examination, and now he is the first place in the imperial examination. I wonder if he can get the first place in the palace examination."
Zhou Ruihai said happily: "This is the first person to pass the imperial examinations under the Emperor's rule. Looking back at the previous dynasties, there have not been many such people who passed the imperial examinations!"
There are only a handful of people who can pass the six top honors in the imperial examination, and even fewer who can pass the three top honors in the imperial examination. If one happens, wouldn't it prove that the current emperor is capable?
This is a good thing to gild the emperor's image.
Zhao Jingcheng nodded happily and couldn't help but have higher expectations for Xie Huaiguang. As long as the young man didn't make any big mistakes in the palace examination and maintained his current results, Zhao Jingcheng would work hard to achieve a top three scorer even for his own sake.
"Your Majesty, the Grand Princess requests an audience."
Zhao Jingcheng was in a good mood. He ordered his men to collect the papers and invite Zhao Yingqiao in.
"Your Highness!"
Zhao Yingqiao bowed and Zhao Jingcheng stood up and looked for a seat. The aunt and nephew smiled at each other. The tension and solemnity in the court were less, and there was more ease and intimacy.
Zhao Yingqiao and Zhao Jingcheng have a relatively close relationship. Although they are aunt and niece, the age difference between them is not that big. In addition, the daughters of the late emperor either died or married far away, so among those who stayed by his side, Zhao Yingqiao became the closest one.
Zhao Jingcheng has always respected this aunt, and even the marriage between Zhao Yingqiao and Yin Qing was arranged by him.
Especially in this final exam, Yin Zhengnan was also on the list. When Zhao Jingcheng saw it, he couldn't help but feel happy.
"Zhengnan is also on the list this time. I think Auntie can rest assured now."
Zhao Yingqiao had two sons. The eldest son had always performed steadily. Although he did not stand out, he was doing well because he was a royal relative. However, the younger son was naughty since he was young and hated studying the most. Zhao Yingqiao was always troubled by this child's studies.
At that time, Gu Zixuan, who was still a student in Yong'an Marquis Mansion, insisted on taking part in the provincial examination. Yin Zhengnan had a good relationship with Gu Zixuan, and studied with him for a while, and insisted on going with him, and only then did he barely pass the exam. Now, it is said that he was able to pass the metropolitan examination with the help of Gu Zixuan.
Even if I'm the second to last, I'm still on the list, so my parents won't have to worry about me in the future.
Zhao Yingqiao was happy about passing the exam. She nodded and then couldn't help but sigh.
"Why is Auntie sighing?"
Zhao Jingcheng was puzzled. His son had passed the exam. Was there anything to sigh about?
"Your Majesty, I have an unreasonable request, but I don't know if I should say it."
"But it's okay to talk."
Zhao Yingqiao thought for a moment and said, "Can we make Zhengnan fail the palace examination?"
The hall suddenly became so quiet that you could almost hear a pin drop.
Not to mention Zhao Jingcheng, even Zhou Ruihai looked at Zhao Yingqiao with a strange look.
Yin Zhengnan finally passed the imperial examination, but now he failed the palace examination? What was she thinking? Is this still her biological mother?
Zhao Yingqiao said awkwardly: "This child insisted on marrying the fourth daughter of Yong'an Marquis's Mansion. I thought he wouldn't pass the exam, so I agreed to wait until he passed..."
Zhao Jingcheng suddenly realized and thought for a while before saying, "Aunt, it's not that I don't want to help, but something happened when my father was in power, and I don't know if you still remember it."
When the previous emperor was in power, there was a practice of failing the palace examination. One year, there was a young man who failed the examination, and it was the previous emperor who personally declared that he had failed. The young man felt that he was talented and was unwilling to accept the result, so he turned around and defected to the Huns. He even became the prime minister, causing considerable trouble to the Great Zhou.
From then on, the late emperor changed the system, and there was no such thing as failing the palace examination anymore.
Zhao Yingqiao sighed, knowing that there was no possibility of changing the situation.
"I heard that the eldest son of the Yong'an Marquis's mansion scored 76th in the imperial examination. It was thanks to Zhengnan's notes that he made it to the list. The Yong'an Marquis is old, but the younger generation may have a different situation. Don't worry, aunt."
Since the emperor had said so, Zhao Yingqiao had nothing more to say, so she stayed and talked for a while, and then went into the harem to see the empress dowager.
The Empress Dowager was in good health and still paid attention to matters inside and outside the court. She was very happy that Yin Zhengnan passed the exam and even comforted Zhao Yingqiao.
"Marry her if you want. The emperor is wise now. If you want to rely on us to get in the way, forget it. If you want to live a stable life, you can do it yourself with the help of Yong'an Marquis Mansion. We won't lose out."
Having said that, Zhao Yingqiao still felt uncomfortable.
What good was Gu Suiyu? None of his skills in music, chess, calligraphy and painting were amazing, and he had also been involved in some scandalous rumors with certain people. Now that time has passed, people have stopped spreading rumors, but that doesn't mean that this incident never happened.
Besides, the younger generation in the Marquis’ Mansion have not made any progress. What’s the point of getting 76th place in the imperial examination?
Now, these more than one hundred people have entered the palace examination, and they will all become officials in the future, but the officials are still divided into different levels and distances.
Although they are both marquises, the Yong'an Marquis's Mansion is still on the verge of collapse.
"Call Zhengnan in later. I got two bunches of lychees from the south. Ask Zhengnan to try some too. The queen can only get ten."
The Empress Dowager also liked Yin Zhengnan, mainly because this boy was interesting and much more lively than those dull old city kids in the room. The Empress Dowager was old and now liked lively things.
Zhao Ying smiled cleverly and could only put the matter aside for the time being. She turned around and called Yin Zhengnan into the palace.
As soon as he entered the palace, Yin Zhengnan asked his mother quietly, "Mother, what did the emperor say?"
Zhao Yingqiao: ...
Oh, I feel so upset!
She frowned and said, "Let's talk about it after the palace examination!"
She said this herself, not the emperor, but Yin Zhengnan thought it meant he agreed and would propose marriage after she passed the palace examination.
So he happily ran to the Empress Dowager and acted like a sweet-mouthed, sunny and cheerful nephew.
"Have you heard of a girl, Queen?"