"Your son congratulates Your Majesty!"
Gu Qingyan's voice rang out, and Jiang Yu quickly wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes, "Ayan is here."
"Yesterday, I almost couldn't help but tell Mother the good news. Mother, these women are truly amazing." Gu Qingyan's eyes sparkled. "Now that the results have been announced, I think everyone will be convinced by the outcome."
"It should be the Empress Dowager who congratulates you."
Jiang Yu let out a deep breath, "These are all valuable talents for Da Yu, a blessing for our Da Yu."
Upon hearing this, Gu Qingyan's smile grew even brighter. "Mother, I've come here today not just to congratulate you, but also to show you my exam paper."
The elegant small regular script caught Jiang Yu's eye, and the more she looked at it, the brighter her eyes became.
Where is this person?
"I had long guessed that Mother wanted to see her, so I summoned her to the palace long ago, and she is waiting at the palace gate now."
Gu Qingyan waved his hand at Yingzhi, "Go, bring the person in."
Fifteen minutes later, Jiang Yu looked at the woman kneeling in front of her, and for a moment her expression was somewhat stunned.
"You're Guo Siyuan?"
"It is indeed I, the commoner, who pays respects to Your Majesty the Empress Dowager."
Guo Siyuan was dressed in hemp clothing, and there was an indescribable calmness in her eyes.
"I have seen your exam paper. You answered very well, especially your description of flood control," Jiang Yu said slowly. "Do you live nearby?"
"Your Majesty, my father and mother are both fishermen who make a living by fishing all year round, so they know more about floods."
"You have beautiful handwriting."
Jiang Yu glanced at Guo Siyuan's exam paper again, "It looks much better than the carefully raised young ladies of wealthy families."
Guo Siyuan smiled slightly upon hearing this, the calluses on her hands feeling a little warm.
"I hope to see you at the Deer Cry Banquet after the Spring Examination."
Jiang Yu personally helped Guo Siyuan up. "I know it hasn't been easy for you to get to where you are today, and you carry the fate of many women on your shoulders. Do you have any wishes?"
"Your Majesty the Empress Dowager..."
Guo Siyuan looked visibly hesitant, and Jiang Yu laughed when she saw this. "No need for formalities, I want to grant your wish."
"Your Majesty, I have a wish."
Guo Siyuan knelt down again, "If I am fortunate enough to pass the imperial examination, I will inform the Empress Dowager."
"good!"
Guo Siyuan clearly caught Jiang Yu's eye, and Jiang Yu even kept Guo Siyuan for a meal at Zhaoning Palace until sunset before letting her go home.
"Prime Minister, His Majesty is waiting for you at Zhaoning Palace."
At the palace gate, Guo Siyuan stopped abruptly upon hearing Wei Ruo's name, but her gaze remained fixed straight ahead.
"I'm sorry to trouble you, Eunuch Yingzhi, to wait for me here." Kui Ruo's voice rang out, and then quickly disappeared.
Guo Siyuan's hands clenched into fists beneath her sleeves. "Father-in-law, was that Prime Minister Kui Ruokui who just passed by?"
Upon hearing this, Wanji nodded repeatedly with a smile, "Indeed, Miss Guo also knows Prime Minister Kui?"
"Reporting to Eunuch Wan, anyone who has studied should know about this exceptionally intelligent top scholar."
She knew that, of course.
......
The Hall of Supreme Harmony.
"Your subject pays respects to Your Majesty."
Seeing the barely suppressed smile on Gu Qingyan's face, Wei Ruo had a few guesses in her mind.
"Your Majesty summoned me here, surely it was for the sake of those thirty female scholars who passed the imperial examinations?" Kui Ruo said with a smile. "Just now when I entered the palace, I saw Eunuch Wan escorting a woman out of the palace."
"Her name is Guo Siyuan. The Empress Dowager liked her very much after seeing her exam paper, so she summoned her to the palace."
As soon as Gu Qingyan finished speaking, Yingzhi immediately handed Guo Siyuan's test paper to Wei Ruo.
“Tomorrow is the Empress Dowager’s birthday. Although she has ordered that there not be a grand celebration, this good news is still a very good birthday gift.” Gu Qingyan said while watching Kui Ruo’s expression.
But after seeing it, the smile on Kui Ruo's face gradually froze.
"Does my dear minister find anything amiss?"
Seeing that Wei Ruo remained silent, Gu Qingyan's expression became more serious.
"Your Majesty, do you really think that you can write down such detailed methods for flood control simply by fishing?"
Nowadays, there are very few officials in the court who can write such policy essays.
"You mean, there's something strange about this person?" Gu Qingyan's eyes also deepened.
"Your Majesty, perhaps you should wait until the spring imperial examinations to examine this candidate's paper again." Kui Ruo put the paper away. "If there are no oddities, this person is a rare talent."
"Just as you said."
The next day, Gu Qingyan got up just as dawn was breaking.
"Today is the Empress Dowager's birthday, so I will wear this dress."
Yingzhi helped Gu Qingyan change his clothes, and Gu Qingyan couldn't stop smiling. "I will personally reward Lingyun Garden at the morning court today and celebrate the Empress Dowager's birthday!"
But as soon as Gu Qingyan stepped out of the Taihe Hall, a palace attendant rushed over in a panic.
"What kind of behavior is this, all flustered and in such a hurry!"
Yingzhi stepped forward and kicked the little eunuch hard. Gu Qingyan waved his hand and asked, "What's the matter that you're in such a panic?"
"Your Majesty, it's being said outside...it's being said outside that the thirty female candidates cheated."
"What?"
Gu Qingyan was furious upon hearing this, and his aura began to press outwards. How dare someone cause trouble on the Empress Dowager's birthday!
"The rumors started this morning and have become increasingly outrageous. Now everyone on the streets is talking about it, and some people have even gone to... to cause trouble outside Lingyun Garden."
"presumptuous!"
Gu Qingyan strode forward, "Investigate this thoroughly for me. Let Kui Ruo investigate personally. I want to see who has the audacity to spread rumors about the autumn examination."
Because this was the first autumn imperial examination with women participating, Gu Qingyan personally oversaw the entire process.
They even invited Master Mencius to come out and grade the exam papers.
To cause trouble at this time would undoubtedly be a slap in the face to Gu Qingyan.
The atmosphere in the imperial court was unusually quiet.
"Why are none of you ministers speaking?" Gu Qingyan's voice still carried a hint of anger. "How dare someone be so audacious as to spread rumors that the candidates cheated!"
"Your Majesty, please calm your anger."
Seeing that everyone could only say those four words, Gu Qingyan was so angry he laughed.
"So, deep down, all of you ministers also feel that there's something wrong with these thirty female candidates, is that right?" Gu Qingyan's question left the court officials speechless. "So, the court of Dayu can't even accept thirty female candidates!"
He had mistakenly believed that these people could understand his and his mother's good intentions.
"Your Majesty, I believe this matter should be thoroughly investigated."
Kui Ruo sighed inwardly, "It's good to clear the names of those thirty female candidates."
"A thorough investigation?"
When Gu Qingyan saw that Wei Ruo had spoken, his expression softened. "What solution does Prime Minister Wei have?"
"I believe that the first thing to be thoroughly investigated is not these thirty female candidates, but the people who spread rumors and caused trouble."
“If this person cannot provide a reasonable explanation, then he is guilty of a heinous crime.” Kui Ruo glanced around. “If we have to prove ourselves even when we are falsely accused, wouldn’t our Great Yu become a laughing stock?”
"This matter will be entrusted to Prime Minister Kui."
Gu Qingyan stood up, his voice sounding exceptionally authoritative, "In my court, if you don't even have this much tolerance, you should retire and go home as soon as possible."
Don't stay here and get in the way!
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