The Minister of Justice was just thinking about whether he should start a discussion on the matter of the three courts' joint trial, when he heard Gu Jue's cold and calm voice coming from the front: "The Prince of Nanyang just returned to the capital from Hao Kingdom last night, and Emperor Hao Wuhaduluo has agreed to cede Shuzhou to Da Qi."

Gu Jue's words shocked the entire court into silence.

“…”

“…”

“…”

The King of Nanyang went to the Kingdom of Hao and actually took over a state of the Kingdom of Hao without bloodshed?! All the ministers were shocked and speechless for a long time.

There was silence in the Golden Palace for a long while.

After a moment, a middle-aged official with a goatee stepped out from the line of civil officials and bowed, saying, "Your Majesty, since Emperor Hao has ceded land to show goodwill to our Great Qi, he must be interested in making friends with our Great Qi. Should our Great Qi take advantage of the situation to form an alliance with Emperor Hao?"

Several officials nodded slightly, thinking that what he said made sense.

An alliance between the two countries is a good thing. Even if it only buys a few years of peace, it is worth it.

Some people also shook their heads, thinking that the Second Prince of Hao Kingdom almost led a pack of wolves to injure the new emperor. This must be the intention of Emperor Hao. They believed that Emperor Hao had no good intentions towards Da Qi and should not be befriended.

Most of the court officials remained silent, guessing that the new emperor must have already made his own opinion.

Everyone was waiting for Gu Jue's decision.

"Qi and Hao should form an alliance." Gu Jue looked around at the ministers and said bluntly, "I have formed an alliance with Wuhejialou. Great Qi will help Wuhejialou regain the throne of Hao."

"After Uhagaru ascends the throne, the two countries will sign a peace agreement, open up trade, and promote cultural exchanges. Both countries will set up embassies in each other's capitals, and envoys from both countries will be stationed in the embassies..."

Gu Jue roughly talked about his and Wuhajialou’s plans for the future of the two countries. As for the specific details, they would have to wait until Wuhajialou was restored and then be negotiated and worked out by the two countries.

This was also the first time that Gu Jue announced his alliance with Wuhejialou in the court.

All the civil and military officials in the court were shocked again, and could not help but be in an uproar again, whispering to each other in twos and threes.

After all, the person sitting on the throne of Hao Kingdom now is Uhadula, not Uhagaluo, the eldest son of the previous emperor of Hao Kingdom.

Most people couldn’t understand why Gu Jue chose to cooperate with Wuhejialou.

But some people also thought of the fact that the late emperor Gu Lang had suspected whether Gu Jue and Wu Hejia Lou were secretly colluding with each other. It seems that the late emperor was not wrong about Gu Jue. Gu Jue and Wu Hejia Lou should have reached a willingness to cooperate when the late emperor asked Gu Jue to send Wu Hejia Lou back to Nan Hao last year. Judging from Gu Jue's style of doing things, he must have his reasons for choosing Wu Hejia Lou.

No matter what they thought in their hearts, the court officials present did not dare to question Gu Jue. In just over three months, they had gradually adapted to Gu Jue's decisive and ruthless style.

Thirty percent of the military officers in the court have been dismissed, and soon the civil officials will also follow the same path. At this time, who would find fault with the new emperor? Isn't this just putting your neck on the edge of the new emperor's knife? ! Several officials became more and more uneasy, especially those who had guilty consciences. They were in a trance. They almost didn't sleep all night last night, and there was a deep blue shadow in their eye sockets at this moment.

Since they didn't say anything, Gu Jue took it as their agreement and moved on to the next topic: "There were two leaks of questions in this year's joint examination. The cheating case must be thoroughly investigated. I have already handed it over to the three courts to preside over the trial."

Representatives from the Ministry of Justice, the Supreme Court and the Censorate immediately stepped forward and expressed their willingness to live up to the trust placed in them.

Gu Jue continued, "The imperial examination is a major national event, and there must not be any omissions. The Ministry of Rites should re-check the omissions and standardize the imperial examination process. There must be no more leaks of questions."

Gu Jue also knew that no matter how standardized the process of setting examination questions was, there would still be the possibility of leaking the questions. He hoped that the Ministry of Rites would continuously reduce this possibility, and it would be best if they could quickly identify the source of the leak after discovering it.

Yang Xuanshan, the Minister of Rites, also stepped out and responded respectfully: "I obey your order."

His forehead was covered with sweat. This was a troublesome and arduous task. It was foreseeable that he would pass by his home three times without returning for the next few days.

He thought this matter was already troublesome enough, but Gu Jue hadn't finished his words yet: "Also, ask the Ministry of Works to discuss with the Ministry of Rites to improve the examination hall before the re-examination of the imperial examination."

What?! Yang Xuanshan's jaw dropped in shock.

This Gongyuan examination hall has been like this for thousands of years. At most, the size of the rooms is slightly different, and other aspects are similar. The new emperor is really impulsive. How exactly does he want to change it? ! Gu Jue didn't seem to see Yang Xuanshan's embarrassment and put forward several suggestions for improvement: for example, the rooms in the Gongyuan are too small, only three feet wide, and the two rooms can be changed to one room so that candidates don't have to sleep at night; for example, improve the clean rooms in the Gongyuan; for example, three meals a day should be provided by the Gongyuan, especially because the provincial examination is usually held in August, which is very hot. If candidates use stoves to cook, it will inevitably make the examination alley even more stuffy and candidates will be more likely to get sick;

For example, allowing candidates to submit their papers early, etc.

"..." Yang Xuanshan frowned even more tightly, feeling that something was not going well.

Since the founding of the Great Qi Dynasty, there have been three sessions of provincial and metropolitan examinations, each lasting three days, for a total of nine days and six nights. The conditions in the Imperial Examination Hall have always been the same, which was also meant to test the candidates.

According to the new emperor's suggestion, the environment in the examination room would be too comfortable, as if the examinees were being treated as idols.

Gu Jue said: "Yang Xuanshan, your Ministry of Rites must draft a set of rules within three days."

What Gu Jue meant was that in addition to the suggestions he had put forward, he should ask Yang Xuanshan and other officials from the Ministry of Rites to also put forward some appropriate suggestions.

So, Yang Xuanshan couldn't say a single "no" and felt even more confused.

The sun was rising slowly and the morning court was in full swing. The court officials had different thoughts, most of them were wondering how much trouble this fraud case would cause in the court.

On the other side, Shen Qianchen left the palace in plain clothes and took a carriage to the Shen residence.

As soon as she entered the gate of the Shen residence and got off the carriage, she saw Shen Qianhuang, who was wearing a green lotus-colored skirt, coming over after hearing the news with a gentle smile on her lips.

Next to her was a little white puppy. The puppy was growing fast. It was a lot bigger than the last time I saw it. Its temperament was also more lively. It was wagging its tail madly and barking non-stop.

After their last frank conversation, the two sisters have gradually become closer recently.

"How is mother?" Shen Qianchen held Shen Qianhuang's arm and asked in a low voice, blinking.

The meaning of these five words was ambiguous and unclear, but as soon as Shen Qianhuang heard them, she knew that Shen Qianchen was asking Shen Zhi whether she agreed to Pei Linye's proposal.

However, Shen Qianhuang shook her head: "Not yet."

"Then I'll wait a little longer." Shen Qianchen sighed.

Shen Qianhuang: "..."

Shen Qianhuang blinked in confusion, feeling that Shen Qianchen seemed to have something else to say.

The two sisters walked towards the main room hand in hand.

The puppy continued to play around the two of them, sometimes chasing the flying flowers and leaves in the courtyard, sometimes circling around the two sisters madly, looking as if it was about to fly.

The sound of "woof woof" could be heard all around.

Shen Qianhuang looked at the lively little puppy and couldn't help but smile with her eyes curved and gentle.

Shen Qianchen looked back and forth at Shen Qianhuang and the little puppy, and felt that Shen Yunmu had made a great success this time. For Shen Qianhuang now, raising a cat and a dog has made her mind more open.

Well, the little brat should be credited! Shen Qianchen was thinking in his heart that he might as well give the other bright moon bead given by Qin Yao to Shen Yunmu.

Seeing Shen Qianchen's eyes fall on the little puppy, Shen Qianhuang smiled and said, "Shuangying is too noisy. When Mu Ge'er went to study with Mr. Feng, Mr. Feng thought it was noisy, so Mu Ge'er gave it to me."

Shen Yunmu is young, but he has to study both literature and martial arts, and is busy with his homework every day. Therefore, Shen Qianhuang spends half of her time taking care of this little puppy, and the dog is close to her because of this.

"Woof woof!" The little puppy that looked like a glutinous rice ball became even more excited when he heard his owner calling his name, and his fluffy tail wagged even harder.

Shen Qianchen was not an outsider anyway, so Shen Qianhuang didn't care about her manners and squatted down to pick up the puppy. She stroked its round head and said with a smile, "Mu Ge'er always said sourly that Shuangying likes me more now!"

Shen Qianhuang smiled.

Shen Qianchen laughed even louder than her, and his cheerful laughter like a silver bell spread out with the wind.

The two sisters came to the main hall, chatting and laughing with the dog. Before they sat down, a little maid came to report that Aunt Xu, who was with the wife of Duke Mu, had arrived.

So, after a cup of tea, Aunt Xu came in with a happy smile on her face.

When Aunt Xu saw Shen Qianchen, she was startled and her eyes flashed, but she still reported to Shen Zhi honestly: "Aunt, Commander Pei went to the Duke's Mansion to propose marriage, and the lady wants you to meet him."

"..." Shen Zhi lowered her eyes slightly, and an undercurrent passed under her thick eyelashes.

Shen Qianchen winked imperceptibly at Shen Qianhuang, who was holding the puppy on his right, with a meaningful look.

Shen Qianchen has always been well-informed. She had heard Gu Jue mention this matter early in the morning, so she deliberately left the palace just to give Shen Zhi a push.

The two sisters exchanged a tacit look and said in unison: "Mom, let's go."

Shen Zhi: “…”

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Facing the smiling faces of her two daughters, Shen Zhi pursed her lips, nodded, her eyes clear.

Then go ahead.

So, the mother and her two daughters went to Duke Mu's mansion together again.

The little puppy refused to leave Shen Qianhuang, so he followed her to Duke Mu's mansion, leaving Dongmei alone at the Shen residence to take care of Shen Yunmu.

Seeing that Shen Qianchen and Shen Qianhuang were accompanying Shen Zhi, Lady Mu was also very happy. She smiled so much that wrinkles appeared on the corners of her eyes and greeted them:

"Azhi, Sister Huang, Sister Chen, please sit down."

"I asked the kitchen to prepare lunch and add your favorite dishes, so you all stay here for lunch today."

Shen Qianchen and Shen Qianhuang both responded with a smile.

Looking at Shen Qianhuang again now, Lady Mu Guogong's mood is still somewhat conflicted.

At the end of April, when Lady Mu of Duke Mu learned that Shen Zhi brought Shen Qianhuang back to her side, she was a little confused. Later, when she heard Shen Zhi talk about the twins, she almost fainted from anger.

She scolded Jiang Minshan, but she hated Chu Lingxiao even more. This man was so despicable and sinister that he deserved to be killed.

In the past three months, Lady Mu of Duke Mu had seen Shen Qianhuang several times. She saw that she had become well-behaved again and was no longer as possessed as she was last year. Gradually, Lady Mu of Duke Mu let it go and no longer had any grudge against Shen Qianhuang. After all, she was her own granddaughter, so there was no way she would hold a grudge overnight.

She felt that Shen Qianhuang became estranged from Shen Zhi during that period because she was led astray by Jiang Minshan and Chu Lingxiao. After all, she was just a teenage girl, so it was no wonder that she felt at a loss when faced with such a drastic change.

Now that the truth has come to light, Shen Qianhuang has sincerely repented. From now on, they, as the elders, will slowly teach the children.

Now that Lady Mu saw that the relationship between the sisters Shen Qianhuang and Shen Qianchen had become closer, she felt relieved.

Good times will come after bad times, and my daughter's situation has really turned around.

Lady Mu, the Duke's wife, was truly happy for her daughter.

Nanny Xu whispered something in the ear of Lady Mu, and Lady Mu then realized that the two sisters came for Shen Zhi's marriage, and her smile deepened.

Lady Mu Guogong of course hoped that this marriage would be successful. The only thing she was worried about was whether her granddaughter Shen Qianchen, as the queen, would be criticized for her mother remarrying. Her granddaughter had suffered too much in the past ten years, and she was the one who suffered the most injustice in the whole thing.

As soon as Shen Zhi sat down, she asked straight to the point: "Mom, where is my cousin?"

Over the past few months, Shen Zhi has thought about a lot, been entangled, struggled, hesitated, and tossed and turned. Now the dust has finally settled.

The wife of Duke Mu nervously put her fists into her sleeves and wanted to ask her daughter what she was thinking, but she didn't say it in the end.

So, the wife of Duke Mu called a maid to lead Shen Zhi, and told herself in her heart: Children and grandchildren have their own blessings, and marriage between men and women requires mutual consent, so the daughter must be willing herself.

Pei Linye is a man from outside the family, so it is inconvenient for him to stay in the inner courtyard of the Shen family. He is now waiting in the Moon-Stepping Hall in the front yard.

Pei Linye was holding a teacup in his hand and drinking tea with his eyes lowered.

Noticing the movement outside, he immediately raised his head and looked accurately in the direction where Shen Zhi was coming.

The maid of the Shen family tactfully withdrew. Pei Linye had come to the house several times to propose marriage, so the servants all knew why he came today.

"..."Shen Zhi also saw Pei Linye in the hall.

When their eyes met, the passage of time seemed to slow down.

Shen Zhi slowed down her steps and continued to move forward, her steps steady and elegant.

Ever since her two daughters advised her last month, Shen Zhi listened and no longer deliberately avoided Pei Linye.

In recent days, the two of them have actually come into contact from time to time. For example, when they went to Wanlinyuan Hunting Ground for autumn hunting at the beginning of this month, Pei Linye took Shen Zhi and Shen Yunmu into the mountains to hunt. He also hunted rabbits for the mother and son and Shen Qianhuang, and dug up a few wild chrysanthemums with roots from the mountains for Shen Zhi.

He remembered that she liked to grow flowers, and he also knew that Mu Ge'er liked rabbits.

Thinking about every detail of this period of time, Shen Zhi's phoenix eyes, which were very similar to Shen Qianchen's, became a little softer.

Seeing Shen Zhi coming, Pei Linye put down the teacup in his hand and stood up.

His eyes first lit up, as bright as the sun, and then became complicated, with anticipation, nervousness, entanglement, uneasiness, etc.

At this moment, there was only Shen Zhi in his eyes.

When he was seven years old, his father married Lady Xia, the cousin of Duke Mu's wife, as his second wife. He also met Shen Zhi in that year. They grew up together and were childhood sweethearts. He liked her since he was a child and wanted to marry her, have children with her, and spend his life with her.

But he knew that with his status, he was not worthy of her.

Father Pei Tingyang was only a third-rank General Zhaowu, but Shen Zhi's father was a first-class duke. The difference in identity and status between the two families was too great.

Even if he had the blessing of his father, he could only get a sixth-rank military post in the army. In the army, seniority is determined by military merit, so he went to the north, hoping to earn some military merit, so that he would have enough confidence to propose marriage to the Shen family.

But he did not tell Shen Zhi his feelings, nor did he dare to let her wait for him. After all, he was fighting for his life on the battlefield, and he didn't know whether he could come back alive, so there was no need to cause her trouble.

Three years after he went to the North, he heard the news that Shen Zhi and Chu Lingxiao were engaged. That night, he got drunk and pretended nothing had happened and continued to go to the battlefield.

He hid his feelings for her deep in his heart and didn't tell anyone, just hoping that she would be happy in her life.

He had stayed in the north for more than ten years, and was only sent back to the capital by Gu Langxuan the year before last. At that time, he thought Shen Zhi and Chu Lingxiao were living in harmony, and he never thought of getting close to her... It was not until the mystery of Shen Qianchen's life experience was revealed, and Shen Zhi decided to divorce Chu Lingxiao, that his long-frozen heart began to beat again.

He told himself that this time, he must seize the opportunity.

He wanted to tell her his feelings.

He is no longer the young man he was a dozen years ago. He is now confident that he can make her happy! (End of this chapter)