Chapter 414 The woman's disguise as a man is completely exposed.
Shen Chu had been standing outside the hall for a long time, and had just finished writing an article. He was cold and tired at the moment.
She finally got the chance to hear the Longqing Emperor ask her to go back.
She breathed a sigh of relief and was eager to go back, but was stopped by Prince Jing.
She frowned slightly, but still smiled gently.
"Please speak, Your Highness."
King Jing pointed to the last type of script on the paper and asked impatiently:
"You said this was based on your master's writing habits. I wonder if your master is still alive?"
"I am very interested in this font and would like to ask you about it in person."
Shen Chu found him somewhat inexplicable.
I already said that I summarized it based on my master's writing habits. Shouldn't I ask her for advice if I want to ask her?
Why seek out her master?
She bowed slightly, "I'm so sorry, my master has gone traveling around and I haven't seen her for almost two years."
We don't know where she went now.
Two years ago, my master suddenly left a letter saying that he wanted to continue his travels and then left Medicine King Valley.
Later, my senior sister said she wanted to expand the business of Medicine King Valley and also look for our master, so she left as well.
Only the eldest brother, the third brother, and she remained in Medicine King Valley.
In the past two years, they have tried to contact their master through various means, but have received no response.
It was as if Master had vanished from the world.
When she missed her master, she took out his old calligraphy manuscripts and looked at them again and again. Her master liked to write in a simple and casual style, and he would never write more than one stroke if he could write something in a simple style.
She drew inspiration from her master's handwriting and gradually figured out a font.
This is the first time I've written it out in public for everyone to see.
“How could a disciple not know where her master is?” King Jing frowned as he looked at her, as if trying to determine the truthfulness of her words.
Shen Chu smiled bitterly; she really didn't know.
"Or should I wait until I contact my master and then try to let you know?"
King Jing's face suddenly darkened.
It wasn't the kind of cold indignation that comes with anger, but rather a cold indignation that comes with extreme frustration and despair, a cold indignation that makes you unsure of what expression to wear.
He stared at Shen Chu for a moment, then turned to look at the snow outside and murmured something under his breath.
Seeing that he was still blocking her way, Shen Chu went over and could only ask helplessly:
"What did Your Highness just say?"
King Jing stared blankly at the snow outside, a deep sadness enveloping him, but a slight smile appeared on his lips.
"Two hearts yearning for each other, yet both drenched in snow; may we grow old together in this life."
This time, Shen Chu heard him clearly and felt even more confused.
She was freezing cold and had no mood to share her feelings about the snow with him.
He blurted out, "Oh, this snow won't turn your hair white, but it can freeze you to a crisp."
The implication was that it was too cold and I was leaving.
Unexpectedly, Prince Jing trembled, grabbed her arm, and his eyes suddenly flashed with a burning light.
"What did you just say? Say it again."
Shen Chu was startled by his sudden action and instinctively struggled.
"What is Your Highness doing?"
The Prince of Jing gripped his shoulders tightly, his eyes filled with urgency and anxiety, and even his voice rose involuntarily.
“Say what you just said again.”
Shen Chu didn't understand why he had suddenly gone mad and tried hard to break free from his grasp.
"Your Highness, please let me go."
"I'll make you say it again."
King Jing's eyes were filled with madness and cruelty. Chen Chu had no choice but to stomp on his foot hard.
King Jing released his grip in pain, but just then, Shen Chu suddenly felt a piercing pain in her calf.
She lost her balance and fell straight backward.
Behind me were more than a dozen bluestone steps.
Startled, she instinctively screamed and grabbed at the air with both hands, trying to steady herself.
“A-Chu”.
“A-Chu”.
Several terrified shouts rang out simultaneously, and along with the shouts, several figures rushed towards Shen Chu.
Pei Yuan was faster; he slid his legs forward and knelt on the steps.
A large hand steadily supported Shen Chu's waist, stopping her from falling.
His official hat fell off, and his long black hair fell down to his waist.
When Luo Heng lunged forward, he only managed to grab Shen Chu's bright red cloak.
Whether intentionally or unintentionally, he ripped the bright red cloak off to the ground.
Shen Chu's protruding belly was instantly exposed to everyone's view.
The air suddenly became quiet for a moment.
Everyone was stunned by this sudden scene, and all eyes fell on Shen Chu's belly.
What did they see?
Why is the belly of the newly appointed top scholar, Imperial Censor Xiao Shen, so big?
It's like a woman who is six or seven months pregnant.
Even King Jing was stunned by this scene, and his gaze toward Shen Chu showed obvious astonishment.
Pei Yuan endured the pain in his knees and got up to help Shen Chu up.
Shen Chu sighed, knowing that he had been completely exposed this time.
After returning to the capital, she discussed with Pei Yuan that Pei Yuan should win the competition against the Southern Yue delegation and ask the emperor for a decree to spare his life.
Then they will reveal their identities to the emperor, and with the help of Li Chengxuan, Zhou Jun and others pleading for them.
With the support of the Marquis of Ning'an's family, there's at least an 80% chance I can protect myself.
This is why she revealed her identity to Li Chengxuan and Zhou Jun in advance.
Unfortunately, plans can't keep up with changes.
Pei Yuan gripped her hand, took the bright red cloak Ling Ce handed him, and draped it over her again.
He helped her fasten her cloak, squeezed her cold palms, and whispered, "I'm here for you, don't be afraid."
Shen Chu nodded gently.
Pei Yuan took her hand and led her step by step into the hall.
Inside the hall, an underfloor heating system made it as warm as spring, and Shen Chu's body, which had been almost frozen solid, gradually regained sensation.
As the two strode in, the crowd inside the hall, after an initial calm, quickly erupted into excitement.
"Young Master Shen is clearly a woman, and a woman who is ten months pregnant at that."
"My God, for a woman to serve as an official in the court is a serious crime of deceiving the emperor."
"And whose child is she carrying?"
Emperor Longqing looked at Shen Chu as she walked towards him step by step, his gaze slightly darkening.
"Chen Chu, what's wrong with you?"
Shen Chu knelt on the ground and said in a deep voice:
"Your Majesty, my original name was Shen Chuchu. I am the legitimate daughter of Shen Zhixing. I was fortunate enough to escape from Beirong City back then."
I entered the court under the alias Shen Chu to seek justice for the Marquis of Ning'an's family; it was a last resort, and I beg Your Majesty's forgiveness.
The Longqing Emperor frowned. "Shen Chuchu? She's actually Shen Zhixing's daughter."
As Prince Heng listened to the surrounding discussions, a smug smile flashed across his eyes.
He secretly winked at the official he had already arranged.
So, someone stepped forward first.
"Your Majesty, as everyone has seen, Shen Chu is clearly a woman. She disguised herself as a man to participate in the imperial examination and become an official in the court."
Such evil deeds disrupt the imperial examination system, wreak havoc on the government, and corrupt the imperial order; they constitute the grave crime of deceiving the emperor.
One after another, many ministers stepped forward to echo this sentiment.
"A woman serving as an official in the court—such an absurd thing is unheard of!"
"A woman's virtue lies in her lack of talent; women should stay at home to support their husbands and raise their children. How can she be allowed to act like a hen crowing at dawn in the court?"
"I beg Your Majesty to grant Shen Chu the death penalty."
"I second that proposal."
In an instant, a large number of people knelt in the court, all requesting His Majesty to severely punish Shen Chu.
Among them, the most vehement words came from Yang, the Right Vice Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate.
"Your Majesty, if we do not execute Shen Chu today, it would be to condone and tolerate such unhealthy practices."
If all women in the world were like her, each disguising themselves as a man, taking the imperial examinations, and entering the imperial court.
Wouldn't the imperial court be thrown into chaos? And if all the women went to become officials, who would bear children and manage the household?
Wouldn't this plunge the world into chaos? Your Majesty, this trend must not be encouraged.
Your Majesty, I believe that Shen Chu should not only be punished, but severely punished, in order to deter such misconduct... Ouch, who hit me?
Before Lord Yang could finish his impassioned speech, a fine wolf-hair brush was slammed into his mouth.
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