Chapter 422 Participating in the Imperial Examination
Leng Wendong was on leave, sitting on a recliner in the courtyard drinking tea.
Leng Qingqiu very attentively massaged Leng Wendong's shoulders.
"Father! You are truly valiant! You debated with so many scholars! You held your own against so many officials. My admiration for you is as boundless as the Yellow River!"
Leng Wendong proudly placed the teacup on the small table beside him.
With just his mouth open, his voice was like a withered branch scraping the ground, extremely hoarse.
"Your father is just doing his duty as a subject."
Wei Lishu walked over with a bowl of soothing pear soup, and said with a smile, "You should talk less."
Leng Wendong stood up and took the pear soup from Wei Lishu with a smile.
"Thank you, Madam."
Wei Lishu looked at Leng Qingqiu and said, "Qiu'er, you have a brilliant idea. Nowadays, women can also participate in the imperial examinations."
Leng Qingqiu walked to Wei Lishu's side, seeing the longing in her eyes.
"Mother, I will definitely live up to your teachings. I will pass the imperial examination in two years and let them see how well I, the mistress of the Leng family, have taught my children."
Wei Lishu chuckled and patted her hand. "I've heard that the mother of the Deputy Envoy of the Thousand Birds Bureau is now a teacher at the White Crane Academy?"
Leng Qingqiu nodded, "Master Li is indeed worthy of her noble family background. She is well-read, has extraordinary insights, and has encountered many rare and strange events. Students love attending her classes."
Wei Lishu smiled after hearing this, "She finally did right by herself."
After hearing this, Leng Qingqiu asked curiously, "Mother, do you know Master Li?"
Wei Lishu said with a smile, "Xuanji, the eldest daughter of the Li family, was once famous throughout the capital. She was both talented and beautiful, and was a role model for many young ladies. Among the noble ladies in the capital at that time, her horsemanship was the best."
Leng Qingqiu looked at Wei Lishu in disbelief. The teacher who raised the most noble lady in the capital must also be extremely outstanding. However, the teacher looked so gentle and refined. It was hard to imagine that she was riding a horse.
Her mother's riding skills were among the best of all the matriarchs she had ever seen.
For her to acknowledge something as the best, it must be something extremely exquisite.
Wei Lishu said with some emotion, "She rose to prominence, and she fell to it. That cannibalistic backyard ultimately devoured Li Xuanji's pride. It was fate, it was destiny. She has a remarkable memory. If possible, you should listen to more of her experiences."
Leng Qingqiu nodded, "I understand, Mother."
The Leng family was enjoying themselves immensely, and the Wu family was even more overjoyed.
Wu Wenguang said to his wife and daughter, "My luck has really turned around, and I'm rising higher and higher!"
Madam Wu looked at her husband's rosy face with some worry, "Husband, although our Wu family has sided with the princess, is it not good to go against the crown prince like this? After all, it is the crown prince who will ascend the throne in the future."
Wu Wenguang shook his head, "
Madam, you still don't understand. Today's situation wasn't created by people in the court, but rather it's the result that His Majesty and the Empress wanted.
What my Wu family wants to do is to be loyal ministers.
His Majesty and the Empress have entrusted the opportunity to select loyal ministers to the princess, and my Wu family will naturally strive to be the best.
We'll see.
Wu Wenguang said to his daughter, Wu Lianyang, "Ayang, close the door!"
Wu Lianyang quickly closed the door.
Wu Wenguang then whispered, "Who will ascend the throne in the future will be decided by the one on the dragon throne. I don't think the Crown Prince has the bearing of a heir apparent. It's hard to say what will happen in the future."
Madam Wu nodded. "What my husband says is true, but A-Yang is already engaged to the Sixteenth Prince. If they get married, how can my Wu family remain loyal subjects?"
At Qin Ye's birthday banquet, Qin Jinzhi arranged for the Wu family to sit at the same table as the sixteenth prince, who was about the same age as Wu Lianyang.
To be honest, Wu Wenguang's skill in flattery is even better than Leng Wendong's.
Before long, they actually got involved with the sixteenth prince.
At that time, Wu Wenguang never imagined that he would rise from a minor official to the Minister of Personnel.
Every time he thought of this, Wu Wenguang felt a pang of regret, wishing he had spent the money sooner!
Wu Wenguang said with great pride, "Madam, please rest assured. I have received the princess's approval for this marriage with the Sixteenth Prince. Everything is under control. Now, as long as our Wu family follows the princess closely, she will not abandon us if anything goes wrong."
Wu Wenguang was very skilled at reading people's expressions and demeanor.
Qin Jinzhi is ruthless in her actions, but she is very generous to her own people.
Inside the Prince Zhenbei's mansion, Qin Jinzhi's courtyard was also very lively.
The Pei family, the Lu family, and the Xie family all gathered together.
Xie Yanqing looked at the small flower quilt on Qin Jinzhi's swing with a puzzled expression.
So, the reason why Daoist Changfeng didn't accept her as his disciple was because he lacked aesthetic sense?
Lu Yi was accompanied by a young man, who was none other than Lu Yingxuan, who was engaged to Xie Yanqing.
Pei Qingze brought his wife Lu Fengxi and Pei Jinnian with him.
The three families sat at the round table, forming a tripartite balance.
Upon seeing Qin Jinzhi, everyone stood up.
"Greetings, Princess!"
Qin Jinzhi waved her hand, "Please sit down. Today, I, the princess, am here to bear witness."
After everyone sat down, Lu Yi addressed Grand Tutor Xie:
"Grand Tutor Xie, now that we're in this sect, I won't hide anything anymore."
The Xie family wants to re-enter the court, and His Majesty wants to reinstate our Lu family.
The marriage between our two families should have been a perfect match, but unfortunately, our family has suffered misfortune, and Mr. Lu has failed to raise his son properly.
With such an incident, for the sake of His Majesty's reputation, the Lu family will temporarily have no place in the court.
Miss Xie is the most outstanding young lady in the Xie family. If this were to hinder the Xie family's future, I, Lu, would feel terrible.
Therefore, this time we want to discuss with the Xie family the matter of annulling the engagement. The Lu family will bear all the blame; we will not allow the Xie family's daughter to suffer any damage to her reputation.
Grand Tutor Xie helped Lu Yi up as he was about to apologize.
"Brother Lu, there's no need for this. Putting aside the fact that this marriage was bestowed by His Majesty, if the Lu family were to encounter any trouble, and my Xie family were to break off the engagement, wouldn't my Xie family be seen as sycophants?"
Lu Yi quickly replied, "My Lu family has absolutely no such intention."
Grand Tutor Xie remained calm and composed before speaking: "There must be something fishy about the Lu family's affairs, but this marriage must not be called off. However, thanks to the princess, there is something that can help us weather this storm."
Everyone looked at Qin Jinzhi, who also looked puzzled.
At this moment, Xie Yanqing stood up and bowed to everyone.
"Yan Qing will participate in the imperial examination two years from now."
Upon hearing this, Qin Jinzhi immediately understood Xie Yanqing's meaning.
The Xie family produced an imperial tutor, and their family's scholarly tradition is far superior to that of other prominent families.
The Xie family's reappearance in the imperial court requires a certain amount of public support.
The fact that Grand Tutor Xie's granddaughter was going to take the imperial examination would cause a sensation among scholars all over the country.
Even if there were families in the capital with such ideas, they would only secretly invite the master to their residence.
The news spread openly throughout the land, but very few women wanted to participate in the imperial examinations.
But Xie Yanqing is different; if she wants to participate in the imperial examination...
That is perfectly reasonable.
After all, they also wanted to know if the declining Xie family could produce a female champion.
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