At this moment, a servant came to announce: "Your Highness, Mr. Jiang is here."
"Tell it." Prince Cheng's brows relaxed slightly, and he smiled, "Ting Liu, this is the person you recommended to me. He's quite a good one, and he won the top prize this year."
The person who came in had soft facial features, clear eyebrows and eyes, and a limpid gaze. He had the humility and bookish air of a scholar, and looking at him made people feel relaxed and refreshed, as if basking in the spring breeze.
He just bowed and said, "Jiang Xu greets His Royal Highness Prince Cheng."
Xue Tingliu glanced at him sideways, not knowing what he was thinking.
Noticing Xue Tingliu's eyes, Jiang Xu was also a little confused.
Previously, he had suspected that Xue Tingliu and his sister had colluded to replace the policy papers, but he did not expect that everything would turn out to be just as the woman from the Xue family said. Not long after he returned to the Imperial Academy, he was recruited by Prince Sheng.
But at that time, His Royal Highness Prince Cheng was still in Yuzhou, and the person who met him was Xue Tingliu. What was even more unexpected was that Xue Tingliu was also a counselor of Prince Cheng's palace.
Perhaps Xue Tingliu's purpose in changing the policy paper was to get ahead of others and recommend him to King Cheng.
But... he always felt that Xue Tingliu looked at him with unfriendly eyes.
"Jiang Xu, you came here so late at night, is there something wrong?"
Gu Shimin's voice brought Jiang Xu back to his senses. He knelt solemnly and said, "When Jiang Xu came to the capital to take the imperial examination, I was fortunate to be recruited by His Royal Highness Prince Cheng, who also allowed me to stay temporarily in the palace. Now the court has granted me a residence, and I must bid farewell. Your Highness has been so kind to me, and I ask you to accept my three bows!"
After saying that, he kowtowed to Gu Shimin seriously.
Gu Shimin personally stepped forward and helped him up: "This prince is a person who values talent and cannot bear to see poor students suffer. Now that you have won the top spot in the imperial examination, this prince is truly happy for you."
Jiang Xu's eyes were filled with earnest sincerity. "Your Highness, as a prince, has guarded the borders of Great Yong for many years. You are compassionate to the poor and care about the people, unlike anyone else in the court. Jiang Xu is willing to uphold justice for the people of the world and sacrifice his life for Your Highness. I only hope that one day, you can create a peaceful and prosperous era for Great Yong."
Gu Shimin simply patted him on the shoulder and said, "Da Yong also needs pure people like you. If all scholars in the world can have this kind of heart, Da Yong's foundation will be unshakable, and the people of the world will be able to enjoy peace."
Jiang Xu's eyes were determined. "Your Highness, my father and mother were killed because they offended the powerful. My family was destroyed, and my loved ones were separated. Since then, I have made up my mind to achieve great things, to give justice to my parents, and to seek justice for the people of the world."
"Don't worry." Gu Shimin said, "You are now the top scholar, and His Majesty will surely use you. With me here, those noble families in the court who flatter the powerful and bully the weak will not dare to suppress you. You will definitely be able to show your talents in the officialdom, and your parents will also be able to avenge their hatred."
Jiang Xu's eyes were bright and full of hope. He was a little excited and bowed again: "Jiang Xu thanks Your Highness!"
Prince Cheng consoled him with a few more words before he calmed down a little and bowed and left.
Looking at the direction Jiang Xu left, Xue Tingliu couldn't help but sneer: "He is a good material for studying, but not necessarily a good material for being an official."
Gu Shimin could only shake his head helplessly: "Do you know what are the advantages and disadvantages of being a student from a poor family?"
Xue Tingliu said respectfully, "Your Highness, please enlighten me."
Gu Shimin only said, "Among those who come from humble backgrounds and pursue fame and fortune, there are also many people like Jiang Xu, whose minds are filled with pure concern for the common people and the country."
After saying this, he smiled and sighed, "However, rather than saying he's a pure person, it's better to say he's too naive. So naive that he truly believes he can govern the country and bring peace to the world by reading the Four Books and Five Classics, and that he can avoid the intrigues and schemes in the officialdom by having a pure heart."
"Yes," Xue Tingliu agreed. "Who in officialdom can't read? Governing a country isn't about making the people live comfortably, but about keeping them under control, making them loyal to Dayong and afraid of any rebellion, living peacefully and contentedly, like the dishes at a banquet."
As he spoke, he sneered, "Only when the dishes are ready can the diners have the energy to fight for the food on the table. This is the so-called power struggle, and it has been like this throughout the dynasties."
Gu Shimin found it increasingly amusing, and could not help but clap his hands and sigh, "Ting Liu always knows what I'm thinking."
Xue Tingliu bowed, "Your Highness, thank you for your kind words."
"You're right," Gu Shimin said. "But it's precisely because of Jiang Xu's naiveté that he's so easy to exploit. You don't even need to promise him any benefits. Just whisper a few of these unrealistic ambitions into his ear, and he'll be willing to serve me without asking for anything in return. He might even think I'm his mentor and have done him a favor."
Xue Tingliu said, "Your Highness is wise. Jiang Xu, who hates the powerful, will never surrender to Prince Gong. We can use such a person with confidence."
…
In a few days, the Qionglin Banquet will be approaching.
The palace was already very busy preparing for this banquet, especially the imperial garden where the banquet was held, which was already decorated with lights and colors.
Xue Zhiyi was also busy with her work.
According to the rules, at the Qionglin Banquet, the royal family would personally bestow hairpins with flowers on the students, which would be pinned on their hats as a sign of honor.
This year's hairpin was given by the Empress Dowager herself. Xue Zhiyi took it from the Shanggong Bureau and brought it back to Jianzhang Palace.
In addition, she also had her own matters to deal with. After all, the death of Tan Yu Niang alone was not enough. In order to achieve her goal, the daughter of the Dali Temple Minister had to play a role.
Just when she was busy, she was stopped by a palace maid on her way back to Jianzhang Palace from the Shanggong Bureau.
Xue Zhiyi only put on a polite smile and said, "I wonder which lady has an errand for you?"
The palace maid said, "Concubine Song has summoned you."
Xue Zhiyi just blinked lightly. After so many days, Concubine Song finally came to see her.
She said, "I am anxious to return to Jianzhang Palace to report to the Empress Dowager. Later I will go to Cuiwei Palace to ask to see Concubine Song."
The palace maid said, "Miss Song is in the Imperial Garden. It won't take long. Please go there quickly."
Xue Zhiyi's eyes twitched slightly: He was so impatient that he came here in person to block people. If that was the case, it would be even better.
Xue Zhiyi just said "yes" in a distressed manner and followed the palace maid.
When I saw Concubine Song, I found that she had changed her clothes. She had been out of favor for a long time, but today she was wearing new clothes made of fashionable materials. The head ornaments on her bun were more gorgeous than that of a beauty. She was wearing shiny gold bracelets on her hands. I guess it was a reward from His Majesty after she became pregnant.
Xue Zhiyi simply bowed politely and said, "This servant greets Lady Song."
I saw Lady Song being supported and slowly walking to within one step of Xue Zhiyi, her raised eyebrows showing condescending disgust.
She sneered coldly and said in a deep voice, "Xue Zhiyi, stop pretending. I know it was all your doing."
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