Chapter 108 Palace Examination
The sky is getting dark.
The people in front of the examination stage had almost all left. A young man in brocade clothes stood in the audience and looked at Song Shiwei's test paper.
He looked at the test paper for a long time, then sneered and said, "Even if you have talent and fame, it will still ruin your life."
Having said this, he turned and got on the carriage.
The carriage with the sign of Yongning Marquis Mansion swayed and disappeared into the night.
When we returned to the mansion, it was already dark.
Gu Yucheng came to the study and saw the painting of his father hanging on the wall.
It was the painting "Bank Reeds and Orchids" that Song Shiwei presented to the banquet at the Marquis' Mansion.
He retracted his gaze, bowed and called, "Father."
"Ah."
Yongning Hou held a letter in his hand and asked, "I went to see it, how is it?"
Gu Yucheng has always been proud and wanted to say that it was just so-so.
However, he couldn't say such a thing against his will, so he just replied truthfully: "It is indeed amazing."
Yongning Hou looked up at his son and said, "It's really rare to get a compliment from you."
Gu Yucheng still had a cold face. He asked, "Who wrote the letter to you?"
"Miss Song."
Yongning Hou handed the letter to Gu Yucheng and said, "Take a look."
Gu Yucheng took it and saw only a few words written on the letter: "The palace examination will be held in three days. I have something to ask His Majesty. I would like to ask the Marquis to help me. Shi Wei will be very grateful."
He asked suspiciously, "What is she going to do?"
"Good question."
Yongning Hou stood up and said, "I also want to know what she is going to do?
When she gave the painting to me, I thought she was doing it for Shen Linchuan's career.
However, she said it was for her own sake, and hoped that I would be able to help her when she needed help in the future. "
Gu Yucheng's eyebrows sank: "In other words, she had already been planning when she gave the painting to me?
If she wanted to become famous, she would have amazed the world with her song that attracted hundreds of birds to sing at the banquet that day. She would not have needed to take part in the women's examination.
But not only did she go, she also won first place with her outstanding performance and got the opportunity to meet the emperor and ask for grace. What exactly did she ask for?"
He seemed to never see through Song Shiwei. Sometimes he felt that she was as calculating and deceitful as ordinary noble ladies.
Sometimes he felt that she was a mystery from head to toe.
"No matter what she wants, since I promised her, I will naturally help her."
Yongning Hou looked up at the painting on the wall and said, "Even for this painting, I can't refuse her request."
Gu Yucheng looked at the painting. His father had told him the origin of this painting when he was a child.
This painting means a lot not only to his father but also to him.
This was also the reason why he stood up for Song Shiwei.
He took a deep breath, suppressed the heavy thoughts in his heart, and asked, "Zhao Yi is dead. Was it you, father, who did this?"
Yongning Hou raised his eyebrows and asked him, "Do you think I did it?"
Gu Yucheng said: "The prince sent someone to assassinate Tao Wenyuan last night, but failed. He wanted to use Tao Wenyuan to threaten Han Qingyan.
If he had any other way, he wouldn't have acted in such a stupid way.
But Zhao Yi died in the end. Who else but my father could have such means to kill people in the Dali Temple without anyone noticing?"
"I did not do that."
Yongning Hou said: "The Queen sent a letter asking me to help the Crown Prince get through this disaster, but I haven't done anything yet."
"Who could that be?"
Gu Yucheng felt strange. Since it wasn't his father who did it, how did Zhao Yi die?
Is it possible that apart from their Yongning Marquis Mansion, there is someone else behind the prince?
He thought for a moment and said, "Could it be the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion?"
Although the Duke of Zhenguo lives in seclusion and does not care about state affairs, his daughter is engaged to the prince, so they are in the same boat.
"No matter who he is, even if Zhao Yi doesn't die, Prince Ling can't overthrow the Crown Prince.
Even if the imperial examination cheating case is related to the crown prince, the crown prince's position as the Eastern Palace cannot be abolished so easily.
His Royal Highness Prince Ling has not been in the capital for these years. Now that he has returned to the capital, his foundation is unstable. Even if His Majesty favors him, he will not hand over the throne to him just like that, not to mention..."
When Marquis Yongning reached this point, he suddenly paused and did not continue.
He shook his head and sighed, "Forget it, let's not talk about this anymore. Come and burn some incense for your mother."
Marquis Yongning opened the dark room in the study, and Gu Yucheng followed him in.
……
Three days later.
Emperor Hui held the imperial examination in the Yong'an Hall. He looked at the successful candidates in the hall.
The Ministry of Rites had previously sent him the examination papers of several outstanding students for his review.
However, their test papers were still somewhat inferior to Song Shiwei's.
Before the palace examination began, Emperor Hui asked the eunuch Li Defu beside him: "Has Miss Song Shiwei of the Song family arrived?"
Li Defu replied: "Miss Song is already waiting outside the palace."
Emperor Hui raised his eyebrows and said in a deep voice, "Add a table and let Miss Song come to the palace to take part in the palace examination."
Li Defu was a little surprised when he heard this. He said hurriedly: "Your Majesty, this... this seems to be against the rules."
Throughout history, no woman has ever taken part in the palace examination. Even Tao Wenyuan, who had passed the high school entrance examination, was not summoned by His Majesty until after the palace examination.
Emperor Hui said, "Go if I tell you to."
Li Defu was shocked and dared not say anything more. He quickly added another table and personally invited Song Shiwei to the hall.
Today Song Shiwei was dressed simply, without fancy clothes or flashy jewelry.
As soon as she entered the hall, the students in the hall looked at her sideways.
Song Shiwei remained calm and polite as she bowed to His Majesty.
Emperor Hui looked at her. Although she lowered her head, it was not difficult to see that she was a beauty.
He nodded and said, "I have seen your examination paper, and it is better than all the talented people in the palace.
Although there is no precedent for women to participate in the palace examination in Nanli, I will set a precedent for you today. Show me your true ability and let me see your talent. "
"Yes."
Song Shiwei simply responded with a "yes" without any extra words.
With the word "start", everyone sat down at the table.
Li Defu personally opened the palace examination paper and saw that it said: The Way between the Ruler and His Subjects.
After reading the test questions, everyone started answering them on paper.
This palace examination tests policy essays, which requires candidates to write an essay based on the relationship between the ruler and his subjects.
Song Shiwei did not start writing immediately. She closed her eyes and recalled in her mind the old drunkard who taught her to read and write.
When she was a child, she once asked him why he didn't become an official.
How did the old drunkard answer? He sneered, took a sip of wine and said, "The king is not a king, and the minister is not a minister. If there is no wise master, what is the use of having talents?"
She was too young at the time and couldn't understand what the old drunkard said, but now she seems to understand.
Song Shiwei took a deep breath, opened her eyes, picked up the pen and began to write on the paper.