248. I Am a Good Emperor (9) (1/2)

The news that Rongcheng was captured was quickly spread to the capital, and the officials in the court rushed to tell each other, all with a smile on their faces.

To be honest, when they decided to fight the Huns, they were actually very nervous, not only because they had been beaten by the Huns and almost lost their country, but also because in everyone's impression, the Huns were all brave and warlike. It was said that a Hun had half of his head chopped off on the battlefield, blood was all over the ground, and he killed more than a dozen people from the Liu country with red eyes before he died.

No one knows whether these rumors are true or false, but for the Huns who almost destroyed the Liu country, every Liu countryman has a deep fear in his heart.

Under such rumors that are becoming more and more demonized, they are unwilling to face the Huns directly, which seems to have become a common thing.

It can be said that if the sons of the nobles in the capital were not almost assassinated during that period, the officials in the court who were still hesitating would not be furious and would not be full of anger.

And now, Rongcheng has been recaptured.

What the previous emperor could not do, your majesty has done.

In the cold winter, this news spread throughout the capital and was still spreading outward.

In such a joyous celebration, their emperor was staying in the prime minister's mansion, dragging Zhao Shuqing to make money.

"I have spent most of the silver in the treasury to attack the Xiongnu, and the Ministry of Revenue has lost its minister. Now I am really in a headache. If there is no income, I can't even support the flowers."

Zhao Shuqing frowned again and again. Thanks to the emperor who kept talking, the most skilled facial expression he made now was frowning.

Although Zhao Shuqing was born good-looking, he had a paralyzed face since childhood. When he frowned, people would think he was angry. If the servants saw him, they would be shocked and guessed anxiously that they might have done something wrong to anger him. But who could blame Wei Mingyan for frowning at him?

He also noticed Zhao Shuqing's frown, but laughed, "Shuqing, your eyebrows are too delicate. When you frown, you don't look angry, but like you are acting like a spoiled child to someone."

Zhao Shuqing: "...Don't bother me anymore, I can't help it."

"Why are you reading these books?"

Wei Mingyan was very shameless and pretended not to hear anything. He picked up the books on the side and flipped through them. "You are not taking the imperial examination, so these are useless."

Zhao Shuqing gritted his teeth, "Why don't I take the imperial examination?"

"You want to take the imperial examination?"

The emperor seemed very surprised, and then looked at Zhao Shuqing with a look of pity, and said while shaking his head, "Won't Shuqing become full of nonsense in the future?"

Zhao Shuqing took back his books expressionlessly, and kept brainwashing himself in his heart: this is ancient times, this is ancient times, that is the emperor, that is the emperor, so he didn't turn his face and drive him away directly.

He stopped talking, but Wei Mingyan still didn't give up. He seemed to have come to his senses and continued to urge him, "Go ahead and take the exam. If you really make it to the palace exam, I will appoint you as the top scholar."

"By the way, what is your current title?"

Seeing that he was talking about business, Zhao Shuqing's face was not as cold as before. He held the book and replied, "Just wait for the imperial examination in three years."

Although he still had a headache for the obscure knowledge, fortunately, he had a photographic memory, and he could make a last-minute effort. In addition, with the help of his father, the prime minister, to help him with his homework, he had successfully passed the imperial examination.

Now, he just had to wait for the imperial examination in three years.

Although it was a bit far away, Zhao Shuqing was not in a hurry. Anyway, Jiuer had just passed her eleventh birthday this year, and there were still seven years left, enough for him to slowly pass the exam.

Just thinking about having to kowtow to the ancient emperor in front of him when he took the palace exam made him a little bit of a toothache.

After Zhao Shuqing answered, the handsome emperor, who was wearing a green cloak today, calmed down. He picked up the book that Zhao Shuqing had left on the table, flipped through it for a while, and then stood up to say goodbye.

Before leaving, Wei Mingyan paused as he looked at the various flowers that had been moved to the corridor because of the snow.

The weather is so cold now, these flowers have naturally withered a long time ago, but they will surely bloom again in the spring of next year.

"Shuqing, look at this pot of flowers..."

Before he finished speaking, Zhao Shuqing, who was just looking at the sky and didn't know what he was thinking, immediately interrupted him, "This flower didn't get cold..."

The emperor paused, then joked, "Of course I know, these flowers have been moved to the corridor, how could they get cold."

After Zhao Shuqing nodded with satisfaction, he said, "This flower pot doesn't look good, how about I help you get a new one?"

Change to a new one?

He glanced at the flowerpot and saw that it was indeed a bit dusty. With the mentality of not taking advantage of opportunities, he nodded and said, "Thank you very much."

"No thanks, no thanks."

Wei Mingyan picked up the flowerpot and left, leaving Zhao Shuqing alone to continue reading with his head down, not thinking there was anything wrong.

The servant who had been serving him watched His Majesty leave, and then he carefully went to the corridor and moved the flowers around the flowerpot to the middle.

His movements were very skillful, and he did not disturb Zhao Shuqing who was reading from beginning to end.

Zhao Shuqing had no time to think about how many pots of flowers he had lost.

Because of Rongcheng's victory, His Majesty was very pleased and opened a special examination. The three-yearly examination was advanced. The scholars who got the news began to rush to Kyoto, and Zhao Shuqing also had to prepare for the examination.

Although he had a photographic memory, he was determined to study hard in seclusion, which made Prime Minister Zhao nod his head.

He only said that if he was lucky, he would pass, and if he was unlucky, he would come next time.

Zhao Shuqing was still a little dissatisfied, but Prime Minister Zhao was quite happy. Originally, Zhao Shuqing was considered young to take the exam at his age, not to mention that he had only started to study for a short time and had never been carefully taught before. It was a pleasant surprise that he could pass the provincial examination.

And now, this child is going to take the examination. Whether he passes or not, it is not a bad thing for him at his age.

He learned from the last lesson and did not spread the word that he was optimistic about his son. Fan Yuancai seemed to have learned some truths after going to Lang's house. He even came with Lang Su to apologize.

Prime Minister Zhao and Madam Zhao were both of this age, so it was not easy to argue with a child, especially Madam Zhao. When Fan Yuancai's biological mother was still alive, she had met that Qiu a few times. Although they were not close friends, she had a deep affection for her.

At that time, Qiu's father failed to defend the city, Rongcheng was broken, and the late emperor was furious and blamed Qiu. Lord Fan was also a person who did not care about the old relationship. He did not care at all that his father-in-law had arranged for him to ask his old friends to take care of him, so that he could have what he is today. After Qiu committed suicide, he quickly erased her name and married her as his successor, saying that it was for a mistress to take care of the child. But look at what Fan Yuancai has become after being taken care of for more than ten years.

At the time, he was still younger. If someone hadn't preached behind his back, how could he have known those rumors that were not in the market? Later, Prime Minister Zhao came to cancel the engagement. From Lord Fan's reaction, we can know that he also acquiesced in this matter.

The two families stopped communicating from then on. Mrs. Zhao was angry that her son was canceled and there were rumors about him, while Prime Minister Zhao was unwilling to associate with the Fan family because they pushed a child out to bear all the infamy.

Although after Fan Yuancai came to apologize, both of them sighed a few times and didn't care about the child, but in the end they still remembered the grudge against the Fan family.

Even now, even if he calculated that his Qing'er would pass the imperial examination, Prime Minister Zhao still kept his mouth shut. He would not say a few more words when he was drunk, so as not to provoke anyone again.

He didn't say it, but it didn't mean that people outside wouldn't say it.

Zhao Shuqing, the son of the prime minister who first had a strange disease for ten years and saw no hope, then suddenly recovered and learned everything very quickly, and finally suddenly became silent, was rumored to be a weirdo. Some people still paid attention to him.

After his sister Zhao Shujiu was selected as the queen of the central palace, he attracted more attention.

And none of these people thought that he actually passed the exam all the way, and his grades were quite good.

Because of Zhao Shuqing's rise, the rumors about him in Beijing gradually changed.

What? Is there something wrong with your brain? If you are not mentally ill, go and take the exam to become a scholar and show it to everyone.

Have a strange disease? Isn't it said that the miracle doctor cured people?

If he was not cured, how could he pass the exam so smoothly?

As for the Zhao family and the Fan family breaking off the engagement, everyone said that it was because Fan Yuancai, a playboy, was ignorant and heard some rumors and made a scene at the Prime Minister's Mansion. The Prime Minister was angry and broke off the engagement. Since Fan Yuancai had been frequently in and out of the Prime Minister's Mansion with Lang Su before, the rumors became a little muddy.

Now Zhao Shuqing is also going to take the imperial examination, and immediately, the reason why Fan Yuancai became close to the Prime Minister's Mansion seems to have been found.

The second young lady of the Fan family has reached her prime, but she has not yet been engaged. Mrs. Fan has never revealed in the capital that she is looking for a good son-in-law. Presumably, the two families have reconciled long ago and the marriage is still as usual.

No one knows where this rumor came from. By the time the Fan family found out, the rumor had already spread all over the capital.

Some say that the second son of Prime Minister Zhao was because his engagement was broken off before, so he worked hard and passed the exam all the way.

It is said that the second daughter of the Fan family has a noble character. Although her father broke off the engagement, she still considers herself as a wife of the Zhao family.

These words seem to be a compliment, but if the Fan family really agrees, the second daughter of the Fan family will really have no one to marry except Zhao Shuqing.

When Lord Fan knew about it, he really had the idea.

When he broke off the engagement, His Majesty ignored the government affairs, and the Queen Mother was somewhat dissatisfied with Prime Minister Zhao, the minister left by the previous emperor. The eldest son of the Zhao family was sent far away from the capital, and his political achievements were neither good nor bad. Although he was the prime minister, there were turmoil in the court. Who knows if he will still sit in this position in the future.

Because, after his eldest son was instigated to make a scene in the prime minister's mansion, he seemed to be furious and beat him with a stick, but when Prime Minister Zhao came to break off the engagement, he did not insist.

After all, the little girl has grown up gradually, her appearance is beautiful, even more beautiful than her mother, and she is also very scheming, so Lord Fan has some thoughts of sending his daughter to the palace to win favor.

Unfortunately, seeing that His Majesty has reached the age, the Queen Mother passed away. When the mourning period was just over, His Majesty suddenly announced that the daughter of the Zhao family would be the queen.

Prime Minister Zhao has recently been favored by His Majesty, but he himself has always been tepid. Although the Queen Mother had no opinion about him when she was around, she didn't like to use him. When His Majesty was left, His Majesty didn't think of him when he wasn't in court, and never looked at him when he was in court.

Before, when the Minister of Revenue was confiscated, Lord Fan was quite uneasy because he was close to him. He had prepared how to respond when His Majesty asked about it, but from beginning to end, there was no news in the palace.

Lord Fan was not afraid of waves, but was afraid of too plain. If he really left the court in such a plain way when he reached the age, the eldest son in the family was useless, and the second son was too young to see anything. Wouldn't the Fan family decline in the future?

But if at this time, he remarried with the Prime Minister's mansion, everything would be different.

He became the Prime Minister's in-law, and if the second son of the Zhao family passed the imperial examination, entered the palace examination, and took an official position, the daughter would not lose out in marriage.

Moreover, the rumors outside are all favorable to the Fan family. It would be great if they could take advantage of the situation at this time.

Lord Fan had a good plan, but unfortunately, he just revealed some information to his wife at home, and she pushed it back with a gentle word.

"Master only thinks that the Prime Minister is loved by His Majesty now, but has he ever thought that no matter how much he is loved, he is just His Majesty's minister. Master also sees clearly what our daughter is like. If she is sent to the palace and has one or two more princes, our Fan family will be royal relatives in the future."

Mrs. Fan is still favored at this age because of her beautiful appearance. No matter what happens, she always tells Master Fan and never loses her temper. Even if she feels uncomfortable at this moment, she still continues gently, "How can you continue the marriage as if nothing happened after canceling the engagement? Yuancai offended the Zhao family before. Even if we bring up the marriage again, they may not agree. Instead, they will laugh at us for sending our daughter to their doorstep and no one wants her."

Master Fan was still a little hesitant, "But Yuancai went in and out of the Prime Minister's Mansion before, and I didn't see the Prime Minister say anything. What. "

"Yuancai is so young, even if the prime minister doesn't like it, he won't show it, otherwise it will make people think he is narrow-minded."

Mrs. Fan secretly hated her stepson for being so shameless, and advised, "We have specially invited a retired nanny to teach our daughter. Now she is far better than the noble ladies in Beijing in terms of appearance, figure, chess, calligraphy and painting. If she enters the palace, she will always be able to win a little favor from His Majesty..."

Although she has given birth to a son and a daughter, her face is still beautiful. Even if there are a few more wrinkles at the corners of her eyes, it does not hide her beauty at all. As she spoke, she leaned into Mr. Fan's arms and said coquettishly, "Master, don't you want to be the prince's in-laws? Maybe, I can think about it in the future..."

Mrs. Fan stretched out her slender jade finger and pointed upward, her eyes full of coquettishness.

With a beautiful woman in his arms and a big promise, Lord Fan finally gave up the idea of ​​continuing to marry into the Prime Minister's Mansion and embraced Madam Fan to make a fuss.

The next morning, Lord Fan went to the morning court. Madam Fan changed her clothes leisurely with the help of the maid and went to the daughter's courtyard.

Miss Fan sneered after hearing her mother's words, "It must be that Zhao Shuqing felt that he could not pass the exam, so he spread these rumors outside, just to get married with our Fan family."

She looked beautiful, but the expression she made at this moment made her look aggressive, and her crisp voice was full of sarcasm, "If you really have such ability, why didn't you take the exam a few years ago? I think it's hard to get married when you are old enough, so you were forced by your family to pass the exam and become a scholar."

Mrs. Fan and her daughter had the same idea, "The rumor is strange. Mother guessed that it was mostly spread by the Prime Minister's Mansion. We broke off the engagement with his son before, and there were rumors in Beijing. Families who love their daughters will definitely not marry into his family. I guess the Prime Minister's wife is anxious."

Why did Fan Yuancai go to the Prime Minister's Mansion and say such a thing, and why did so many storms emerge in Beijing overnight? The mother and daughter knew it very well. Even today, they still don't regret it.

If he didn't step on Zhao Shuqing, the cancellation of the engagement would damage the reputation of the Fan family. Anyway, as the son of the Prime Minister's Mansion, he would definitely get married if he really wanted to. It's just that the girl's family background may not be that good, so what.

As they talked, the mother and daughter started talking about Fan Yuancai again, "I don't know how long he will be locked up in the Lang Mansion. I thought I would marry my niece to him this year, but it's been a year and he hasn't left the mansion yet."

Miss Fan has always despised this half-brother, and her expression is not as gentle as in front of Fan Yuancai. She said sarcastically, "With his personality, he must not be serious about practicing martial arts, but it's good this way. If he is really locked up in the Lang Mansion for a lifetime, my father will only have my brother as his son."

Mrs. Fan thought about it and smiled. Looking at her daughter's beautiful face, her eyes were full of pride, "My son is so beautiful, maybe he can really win a concubine position for me in the future."

"Okay, don't think about it anymore, I will help you solve it."

Although she knew that Mrs. Fan would quietly reveal outside that the Fan family had no intention of marrying into the Prime Minister's Mansion again, Miss Fan still couldn't help it. She was also spoiled by her family. When she was attending a poetry gathering with a few young ladies outside, a young lady asked a few questions out of curiosity, and she expressed with a cold face that she would not marry into the Prime Minister's Mansion.

She was also afraid that these rumors would spread to the palace and make His Majesty unhappy. After hearing what the young lady said, she said firmly, "Since we have already called off the engagement, we will not mention it again."

The young lady seemed to be unaware that her friends around her kept pulling her to stop talking, and she kept asking, "What if the young master of the Zhao family passed the imperial examination?"

Miss Fan's face had completely turned dark, but she still had to maintain her dignity and replied, "Even if he passed the imperial examination, our two families would not get married again."

The pretty young lady smiled with satisfaction, "Thank you, sister Fan."

She left happily, and her friends hurriedly followed her, "What are you doing? Didn't you see that her face was so ugly?"

"I just want to ask clearly." The young lady's fair face blushed, and she refused to say anything more.

Mrs. Fan and Miss Fan both said in public that they would not marry into the Zhao family, and the rumors subsided. However, Mrs. Zhao was full of anger after attending the banquet.

Originally, the Fan family had wronged them, but now, they acted as if Qing'er was a plaster stuck on them, and they couldn't wait to get rid of her. It would be fine if they got rid of her, but the superiority on the faces of the mother and daughter seemed to be obvious to everyone.

She was just a little prettier, why did she look down on Qing'er like this?

Mrs. Zhao, who originally only wanted her child to be safe, was very angry this time. When she returned to the mansion, she asked the kitchen to stew a nourishing soup and sent it to Zhao Shuqing's yard.

Her Qing'er was so smart that she would definitely do well in the exam and slap the Fan family in the face!

Zhao Shuqing didn't know about this from beginning to end. He was now preparing for the exam.

What? The fiancée who broke off the engagement? Who was that?

Zhao Shuqing was a bit aloof, but when he really got serious, even Wei Mingyan, who sneaked out of the palace to watch, had to sigh at his efforts. Prime Minister Zhao also specially asked his friends to teach him. After a torturous exam, the capital calmed down and everyone quietly waited for the ranking.

When Wei Mingyan took Zhao Shujiu out to watch the acrobatics again, he saw Zhao Shuqing at the back door. His familiar expressionless face and his eyes looked at them quietly.

The way he looked at Wei Mingyan was like an old father looking at the bad boy who kidnapped his daughter.

The happy smile on Zhao Shujiu's fair face was timidly retracted after seeing him, and she whispered, "Second brother..."

She also knew that her second brother didn't like her and His Majesty to go out to play together before they got married, but for Zhao Shujiu, who had lived in the yard since she was a child and never left the house, His Majesty, who could always take her to see all kinds of fun and make her happy, was too tempting.

Compared with her future husband, Zhao Shujiu felt that His Majesty was more like her brother.

At least now the two of them have never acted in a presumptuous manner.

Compared to the future young queen, Wei Mingyan was much more shameless. He stepped forward and patted Zhao Shuqing on the shoulder skillfully, laughing, "Shuqing, are you blaming us for not inviting you to play? Don't be angry, we will invite you next time."

Zhao Shuqing looked at them silently and hummed.

Anyway, he couldn't stop this shameless man from kidnapping his sister, so he might as well go with him and treat it as exercise.

"How about it, am I considerate this time? Considering the cold winter, I specially sent cotton quilts, and put pots and water in each room. Those scholars are about to praise me to the sky."

Zhao Shuqing nodded, "Yes."

Compared to the exams in previous years where people were frozen to death, this year's exams were much more humane. At least even the old scholars were not frozen to death, and there were almost no people who were carried out because of illness. All of this made those scholars praise the emperor in front of them to the sky.

As the saying goes, the pen is power.

Wei Mingyan, who had gained a lot of pens, suddenly became a wise ruler who cared about the people's opinions.

Just thinking of this, the emperor on the side said complacently, "I did this all for you. I froze you. Who can get me something fun? Shuqing, don't worry. When you enter the court, I will let you come to the Ministry of Revenue. You can get more money-making things in the future."

Zhao Shuqing:... They actually think this person is a wise ruler. Ancient people are so easy to fool.

The second day after the examination

While the whole capital was waiting for the results to be announced tomorrow, the soldiers who went to Rongcheng returned to the court.

And they also brought a piece of news that shocked the whole capital.

They snatched back the princess of Liuguo who married the Xiongnu! !

The author has something to say: The first ten little angels sent red envelopes, good night everyone