Chapter 65 Shen Zhiwei: King Bei, please be quiet...
The speed of marking the test papers is not fast. Although there are many people, there are more test papers. Moreover, the test papers need to be reviewed by everyone, not just one person. This is also to prevent cheating.
Because everyone has to review it, the process is even slower.
It was not until the third day that all the test papers were marked. The officials took the test papers away and went to calculate the results.
Several ministers who had been busy for several days left the palace listlessly. After returning home, they washed up and lay down, feeling exhausted.
Only Wen Tao not only did not leave, but also ran to Shen Zhiwei to report other things.
The dark circles under Wen Tao's eyes seemed to have faded a little. The workload of marking exam papers every day was much less than her usual workload. These days, she probably just regarded herself as taking a rest in the palace.
"Your Majesty, the commercial street has been completely built, and so have all the schools. Only the residential area will take some time to complete, and it's estimated to be finished by the end of summer."
Wen Tao said this, frowning slightly in embarrassment.
Shen Zhiwei saw that she was worried and asked with concern, "But is there anything wrong?"
"No, it's just that the Northern Kingdom's troops will be withdrawn soon, and Yunzi and others will also go to Jingchang. Now that the imperial examination is over, they will probably have to study in the academy for the time being. Jingchang's academy is short of good teachers, so I would like to ask Yunzi's students to serve as teachers."
Shen Zhiwei was puzzled. What was there to be embarrassed about? He could just talk to Yunzi about it when the time came.
Just as Shen Zhiwei was about to speak, she saw Wen Tao's brows locked, and the expression on her face was no longer one of embarrassment, but rather of ugliness.
She suddenly realized that Yunzi and others were invited by Wen Tao's teacher Changzi. After this incident, the names of Yunzi and others spread throughout the world. Everyone knew that the King of the Northern Kingdom was afraid that Yunzi would enter Jingchang, so he did not hesitate to go to war with Jingchang. Therefore, everyone in the world felt that Yunzi and others were rare geniuses, and that if they got Yunzi and others, they could unify the world.
Such a good reputation is what all scholars dream of, but for Wen Tao, this reputation has no benefits at all, only disadvantages.
The greater his reputation, the more careful he had to be with Yunzi and others after they entered the palace. Otherwise, if he neglected them, the whole world would criticize Shen Zhiwei and think that he did not treat talents well.
But how should we treat them with care? Should we immediately grant them an official position after bringing them back?
But in this case, the people we bring back are not talents at all, they are just ancestors.
It is not a good idea to disperse Yunzi's students to schools to serve as lecturers. Those students have not yet learned Mandarin and simplified Chinese characters, and they still have to continue to be students. How can we teach them?
Moreover, the ordinary school had just been built and had no reputation to the outside world. Letting Yunzi and others teach there would be seen as a kind of neglect by outsiders.
"You can do whatever you want. Yunzi and the others didn't make it to the first imperial examination, so they'll have to wait until the next one to decide based on their abilities. This is fair. Jingchang's war with the Northern Kingdom is ostensibly for Yunzi and the others, but the real reason is clear to everyone in the world. There's no need to deify Yunzi and the others."
Shen Zhiwei slowed down his tone and spoke softly to Wen Tao.
Wen Tao has been under great physical and mental pressure recently. Currently, he is the only all-rounder under his command, and Shen Zhiwei doesn't want anything to happen to him.
"Well, the king is right. Tao is overthinking it."
Shen Zhiwei sighed, stood up, walked over to Wen Tao, patted her shoulder, and said earnestly: "A Tao, you are the Prime Minister, just like my Prime Minister. The burden on your shoulders is very heavy. The heavier the burden, the more important you are in my heart. For the Great Zhou, you are an unparalleled existence. If it weren't for the chaos caused by the princes, I would definitely make you a king to guard the area for me. So don't think too much. No matter what you want to do, I will support you."
Shen Zhiwei rarely said such caring words. She always felt that such words were empty and sounded unnecessary.
But when she met Wen Tao's slightly tired eyes, Shen Zhiwei suddenly realized that it was necessary to say this. There were no psychologists in this era, and Wen Tao was so busy that she didn't have much time for entertainment. If she didn't cheer her up, she was worried that Wen Tao would become depressed.
After hearing what Shen Zhiwei said, Wen Tao felt a surge of warmth in her heart. She only realized at this moment that the weather was sunny today, with a breeze blowing. The tender buds on the treetops outside the window were swaying slightly, and the hem of the king's clothes was also blown into a small arc by the breeze.
The weight that weighed on her heart, like a huge rock, was now removed under the king's gentle gaze.
The king and his minister smiled at each other and were very confident about the future of the Great Zhou.
At the same time, two people were drinking and eating in the hostel. They had just washed up, washing away all the fatigue they had brought back from the examination hall. Only the confidence in their own abilities remained, emitting the unrestrained and free-spirited spirit of youth from the inside out.
"Qiong Yu, when you enter the court, what kind of official position do you want to hold? Where do you want to be an official?"
Xia Qing drank two bottles of wine and was a little tipsy. The wine was slightly sweet and not very intoxicating, but she had an average alcohol tolerance. Fortunately, she would not get drunk and crazy if she drank too much. She would just become a chatterbox and talk about random things.
Qiong Yu sat opposite her, lowered her eyes to look at the slightly turbid wine in the glass in her hand, and shook her head.
"I don't know. I'll go wherever Senior Sister tells me to go."
"Your senior sister is extremely busy right now and may not have the time to take care of you. Since you respect your senior sister so much, why don't you stay in Jingchang and share her worries?"
"Senior Sister is indeed too tired."
Qiong Yu did not refute Xia Qing's words. After she came to Jingchang, she spent most of her time reading at home. She lived in Wen Mansion and lived under the same roof with Wen Tao.
But even if they were in the same place, she rarely saw Wen Tao. Wen Tao would go out before dawn and return under the stars and the moon. Unless Qiong Yu waited for Wen Tao specifically, she could never be in the same time period as Wen Tao.
Qiong Yu was still asleep in the morning and already asleep in the evening.
After living like this for a long time, Qiong Yu got used to it. When there was something going on, she would wait for Wen Tao a little longer. When there was nothing going on, she would just live according to her own habits.
It was not until the news of the imperial examination came out that Wen Tao took half a day to chat with Qiong Yu and persuade her to take part in this imperial examination.
In fact, Qiong Yu would have attended the event without the senior sister's reminder.
The specialness of this imperial examination is obvious to everyone. This is the first imperial examination and certainly not the last, but it is definitely the only imperial examination in which all candidates will be granted official positions. In the future, some people will fail the imperial examinations.
As long as one can pass the examination, no one will refuse to be appointed as an official.
"When we serve in the same court in the future, I'm afraid we won't be able to sit and drink together."
Xia Qing's mood suddenly became low. She actually liked Qiong Yu very much. Ever since she and Qiong Yu gave lectures in the lecture hall, she and Qiong Yu became close friends.
The two had different ideas but similar personalities, so they got along very well and never had any quarrels.
Xia Qing has been a genius admired by the world since she was a child. Perhaps geniuses have to endure loneliness. She has never met a close friend who can get along with her. Now that she has Qiong Yu, she cherishes her very much.
But now the Wen Tao family is the only one in power in the court, and Xia Qing and others must not be on good terms with the Wen Tao family anymore.
Qiong Yu had no choice. She had such a close relationship with her senior sister that no one would believe her if she said she was not on good terms with her.
Qiong Yu became much more depressed after hearing this. She sighed and drank the wine in the glass in one gulp.
Today we drink together at the same table, perhaps for the last time, before the imperial examination results are announced and before the world has heard of their names.
After today, we will be strangers, or even enemies of the same dynasty.
Qiong Yu's gaze fell on the street outside the window. The street was bustling with people. There were families traveling, groups of friends walking together, and people traveling alone. There were all kinds of people in the world, each with its own interesting side.
Perhaps these people also have their troubles and sorrows, but at this moment, everyone is happy.
What happens tomorrow? We’ll talk about it tomorrow.
It is not easy for people to live a good life now, so why think so much.
Some people can let it go, while others can't. For example, Bei Wangyue at this moment, he really can't let it go.
When did Jingchang become so strong?
Looking at the military report on Jingchang's withdrawal in his hand, King Yue of the North sat alone on the throne. The dim twilight shone in from outside the door, shining on him and casting a layer of blood.
He is really young, and is only in his twenties this year. Wearing the royal robe, he should be the most dazzling one. But now there is a layer of haze in his heart, which makes him look lifeless.
He scoffed at the insulting poem sent by Jingchang. He killed his brother, the king, who once loved him. He was dismissive of his relatives who talked about benevolence, righteousness and morality.
But now, facing a piece of brocade with a few lines of words on it, he bent down as if he was crushed by something.
"Your Majesty."
An elegant scholar with white hair on his temples came from outside and brought some good news. However, the smile that he had finally managed to put on his face weakened a little after he noticed the decadent aura of his own king.
"Prime Minister, am I wrong?"
Bei Wangyue really didn’t understand how things had developed to this point?
How did Jingchang become so powerful?
From the moment he agreed to Jingchang to send Yunzi and others out of Fengbao City, Bei Wangyue has been asking himself these questions. There is no answer. He doesn't know what the answer is, and he is unwilling to face reality.
Perhaps he was really wrong. The consequence of killing his brother to ascend to the throne was that he would never be able to reach the pinnacle of kingship, lead the Northern Kingdom, and unify the world in this lifetime.
"Your Majesty, we have only lost a game. There is no right or wrong between countries, only strong or weak." Ever since Su Wang chose Gongzi Yue, he knew that they would not necessarily win all the time, and they would lose sooner or later.
Su Wang is not afraid of losing. He has lost too many times in his life. As long as he is given a chance to win, he will turn the tables. As long as the enemy loses once, he can make the enemy fail completely.
"Your Majesty, do not be discouraged. The Northern Kingdom has not completely lost. If Jingchang shows even the slightest sign of weakness, the princes of the world will all rise up to attack it. The fact that An, Yun, Ning and other countries have come to our aid proves that Zhou has lost its power and the world is chasing it. It is impossible for the Zhou emperor to continue to rule the world."
"But Jingchang is getting stronger day by day, like a person climbing a mountain, only advancing and never retreating. When will the Northern Kingdom have a chance to counterattack? This time, the Northern Kingdom has lost ten cities. Prime Minister, that is half of the Northern Kingdom's territory!"
Bei Wangyue felt a little breathless when he said this.
The ten big cities actually occupy less than one-third of the Northern Kingdom's territory, but they are all important places and almost constitute all the defense lines against Jingchang. Once Jingchang completely controls the ten cities, the Northern Kingdom will be wide open for Jingchang, and Jingchang's troops can enter and exit the Northern Kingdom at any time.
Especially Tonggu City, which was the most important natural barrier, was actually captured by Jingchang!
"Hu Youan! Hu Youan is really going too far in bullying me!"
The more he spoke, the angrier he became. With a wave of his arm, the bamboo slips, brocade cloth, candlesticks and inkstone on the table were all swept to the ground.
The loud noise lessened the anger in his chest. King Bei took a few more deep breaths before he calmed down a little.
"Your Majesty, calm down. Hu Youan is only in her early twenties, yet she has already been promoted to General of the Central Army. She was born a convicted slave, yet she is so trusted by the Emperor. Doesn't she want to redress her family's case? Doesn't she want to find her living relatives?"
After the Northern King calmed down, Su Wang said coldly.
It is impossible for a person to live in this world without desires. There is always something he wants.
What did Hu Youan want? She fought for the emperor on the battlefield, and what she wanted must be something more important than her own life.
A look of understanding gradually emerged in the eyes of the Northern King. He grasped Su Wang's hand and said repeatedly, "Please speak frankly, Prime Minister. Please help me and the Northern Kingdom! For the sake of the Northern Kingdom's future, Hu Youan must not be allowed to survive!"
"Your Majesty, please do not be anxious. I need to investigate further. A convicted slave has become a general. I'm sure there are more people in Jingchang who dislike her than in the Northern Kingdom."
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