One hundred ounces of gold?!
The ministers were shocked to hear this.
Including the emperor, but he didn't say much, but smiled and said: "Since you have won the emperor's sister's love, it's not a bad idea to reward him generously."
"Come here, reward the daughter of the prefect of Shengjing with 100 taels of gold."
After the oral order was delivered, the ministers looked at each other in bewilderment, and felt even more deeply about the emperor's infinite favor and indulgence towards the eldest princess.
If Wen Yu was not the eldest princess, not the emperor's biological sister, these ministers would definitely point at her and call her a witch concubine who was causing trouble for the emperor and whose crime was unforgivable.
However, even if the ministers had no words to say about the elder sister, who was born to the same mother as them, even if she acted outrageously and was illiterate.
Li Qingyi didn't expect to receive a reward. She was flattered and kowtowed repeatedly to express her gratitude.
"Your Highness, I, Li Qingyi, thank you for your gifts, Your Majesty and the Princess."
The prefect of Shengjing had never thought that there would be such a huge reward, and he immediately knelt down to express his gratitude.
At this time, at the table in Lin'an Marquis Mansion, Chen Xiuling looked at Li Qingyi who was in the limelight and clenched the handkerchief in her hand.
He dared to show off his skills and tricks that were not presentable in order to please the princess. He was indeed lowly.
Chen Xiuling stared at Li Qingyi with a trace of contempt in her eyes, and then she saw that the hairpin she had thrown away was actually worn on her head, and she was immediately furious.
What a courage!
How dare you pick it up!
Li Qingyi felt a malicious gaze, turned her head slightly, and met Chen Xiuling's cold eyes.
Li Qingyi pursed her lips, lowered her eyes and returned to her seat.
After the fifth-rank official presented his gift, the process was considered complete.
"Hey, brother, why didn't Lin Yuzhi send it?"
Wen Yu was surprised to find that from beginning to end Lin Yuzhi sat calmly in his seat without moving at all, and nothing seemed to arouse his interest.
The emperor smiled and said, "The Prime Minister's gift has already been presented."
Wen Yu: ...
Okay, others go through the delivery process, but Lin Yuzhi can deliver it privately.
Wen Yu thought that after the gift presentation it would be free time to eat and drink, but she didn't expect that the highlight was yet to come.
The third part is commonly known as "New Year's Literary Contest". The emperor sets the questions and the young ladies from each family answer them. The winner will be personally rewarded by the emperor. It can be said that it is extremely glorious and she can also show off in front of the emperor.
Wen Yu had a question at this time.
Why are they all young ladies from different families?
Where is the young master?
Are you guys sleeping at home?
Wen Yu realized belatedly that, yes, those sitting there were ministers and their daughters...
She poked the emperor and said, "I don't care. Next year, the sons of these ministers will also have to attend the New Year's banquet. We can't favor one over the other, don't you think?"
The emperor held the wine glass: ...
"There is no favoritism. Officials without official positions are not allowed to enter the palace, and only officials with official positions of the fifth rank are eligible to attend the New Year's banquet."
These two regulations screened out a large number of sons of officials.
Wen Yu waved her hand: "The 'this' I'm talking about is you, and the 'that' is me. I can't favor you, my royal brother, and neglect me, my royal sister."
The emperor coughed lightly and said, "My sister is right."
"Then can we arrange it for my sister next year?"
"arrange."
Wen Yu was satisfied.
emperor:……
The emperor raised his hand, not knowing whether to laugh or cry, and the crowd instantly fell silent.
"The New Year's Day coincides with the great victory at Xiqinguan Pass. The first topic I will write is a seven-character quatrain titled 'Triumphal Return' of General Lu."
After receiving the order, the young ladies fell into deep thought.
After a while, someone stood up and said, "Liu Yuyi, the daughter of the Minister of the Honglu Temple, has the audacity to embarrass herself in front of His Majesty."
"The triumphant song breaks through the sky, and the road to home is clear as the heart is eager to fly. The battle robe is taken off and replaced with brocade, and the steed gallops back to the court."
As soon as Liu Yuyi finished speaking, another young lady stood up and said, "Returning victoriously to the sound of war drums, thousands of troops and horses are full of ambition. The dust of the battle has stained their clothes and their elegance has disappeared, but loyalty remains."
Almost the next second, someone else said, "The spirit is flying under the revolving gate, and the warriors are returning to the mighty hall. The Golden Palace has granted a banquet with great grace, and they are devoted to their country."
Wen Yu: ...
Oh my god.
This is literary fighting.
There is no doubt that she is illiterate.
Have all of them eaten the Three Hundred Tang Poems?
Looking at the young ladies from official families who stood up one by one and spoke eloquently, Wen Yu took a breath and applauded.
The emperor looked at her and asked the second question with a smile: "As the saying goes, auspicious snow means a good harvest. I think the heavy snow this year is really good."
The young ladies below understood what was going on, thinking that His Majesty was going to write a poem on the subject of snow.
"I walked in the snow a few days ago and arrived at the Imperial Garden. I saw the plum trees were covered with snow. So I decided to write a five-character quatrain on the theme of plum blossoms."
Ladies: ...
Although it was somewhat unexpected, someone soon said: "The plum blossoms slant across the water, and their cold fragrance seeps into the moon. Snow flies and flowers fill the branches, while ice freezes into the water."
As soon as she finished speaking, someone immediately continued, "The plum blossoms bloom on the ancient rocks, standing proudly in the cold wind. Their hearts are pure and spotless, their minds are pure as ice and jade."
Someone else stood up and said, "The plum blossoms smile in the spring breeze, showing their delicate faces in the snow. The branches are full of spring, leading the winter wind alone."
"The plum branches are cold in the window, and the fragrance is lonely and pitiful. The heart is as clear as ice and snow, and the fragrance remains in the world."
"The plum blossoms stand by the clear stream, their rhyme is like a fairy in a poem. The frost solidifies their jade bones, and they are like a fairy from another world."
…
The poetry contest gradually became more intense.
At this time, Chen Xiuling from Lin'an Houfu stood up and suddenly said, "Your Majesty, I dare to say that the plum blossom poems written by all the young ladies are not as good as the one written by Miss Li Qingyi in the plum forest not long ago. I just don't know why Miss Li didn't stand up and write a poem to compete with her."
Li Qingyi, who was acting quietly but was suddenly called out, pinched her palms and her face turned slightly ugly.
When Chen Xiuling said this, everyone's attention was completely drawn to her.
Wen Yu narrowed her eyes, glanced at Chen Xiuling, and a hint of a smile appeared at the corner of her mouth.
My goodness, you dare to fight openly in front of the emperor?
"Miss Li, why don't you take out the poem you wrote in Meilin? It will surely amaze everyone, and you will definitely win the first prize in the literary competition at the New Year's banquet." Chen Xiuling said again.
Li Qingyi stood there in a daze, extremely nervous. If she could write poetry, she would not have lost to Chen Xiuling in Merlin, and she was even humiliated by Chen Xiuling using this as an excuse.
And wasn't the purpose of Chen Xiuling saying this to humiliate her?
How could the Shengjing prefect not know that his daughter was not good at writing poetry? He was afraid that she had offended the young lady of the Lin'an Marquis's Mansion, and his face became a little gloomy.
When everyone saw that Li Qingyi didn't answer, they probably understood what was going on. Who among those present was not a shrewd person? How could they not see the trick? It was just that no one pointed it out.
The emperor's face showed no sign of joy or anger, and everyone below was silent for a moment.
At this moment, Wen Yu suddenly looked surprised: "Why are you farting here with your eyes closed? It stinks."
emperor:……
Ministers: ...
Chen Xiuling's face suddenly changed.
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