The reborn prince can't be pushed down

Chapter 177 Competing and jealous?

Just as these families were thinking about each other, finally ushered in the day of the palace examination.

On April 21, the first year of Zhengxing, the empress tried the tributes of the world in the Wensi Palace.

This year, a total of more than [-] female tribute scholars and more than [-] Enke tribute scholars have been recruited.Because of Enke's relationship, this year's palace exam will no longer be divided into men and women, and they will take the exam together.

At dawn, all the tributes were waiting outside the Wensi Hall, waiting for the emperor to test himself.

When the time came, the palace people outside the hall struck the gong, and all the tributes filed in, and found their own seats according to the number plates issued to them earlier.

On Majesty Dan, in front of the big golden dragon screen, Ning Yuezhao and Jiang Nian sat side by side on the throne, looking at this group of tributes calmly.

This is Ning Yuezhao's first imperial examination since he came to the throne. After passing this examination, the following people will be the emperor's disciples.She has been on the throne for less than a year, and the forces in the DPRK and China are intertwined. If she wants to choose her confidants, most of them will be selected from this group of people.

Qingchi was also extraordinarily calm today, because of her special status, since entering the hall, apart from prostrating to Ning Yue Zhaoxing according to the ritual, the two of them didn't even make unnecessary eye contact.

Xu Miaoyun also had a serious face and did not move extraneously.

After all the tribute scholars were seated, special officials issued policy questions.When the gong is struck again, the exam begins.The palace examination will take one day, and the papers will be handed in at dusk. Every gongshi has dry food and water on his table, and he can take it by himself when he is hungry.

The emperor and the reviewers took the opportunity to observe the process of the tribute scholars answering the questions. In addition to the content of the policy, the performance of the tribute scholars in front of the emperor was also very important.

Therefore, this exam has extremely high requirements for both physical strength and mentality. In the past, some Gongshi couldn't bear the pressure and gave up on the spot.

In addition to the fact that the examinees cannot take a stand, the emperor, who is the pro-tester, cannot be absent.

The topic this time was decided by Ning Yuezhao and Jiang Nian together. The test was a current affairs policy, requiring candidates to consider how to deal with the current relationship with Beiqi from the perspective of the king.

Almost all the tributes took a deep breath after opening the question booklet.

From your majesty's point of view, this is a requirement that has never appeared in the palace examination before, and if one fails to answer it carelessly, it will be ransacking the family and exterminating the family.

Seeing the trembling tributes off the court, it was already a quarter of an hour before the gong hit, and most of them were still thinking hard, and they hadn't even picked up their pens.

When this question was set, all the examiners asked to remove the previous assumption, but Jiang Nian insisted on keeping it.

Ning Yuezhao silently picked up the pen and paper in front of her, and wrote lightly, "Look, just tell me the question you asked, it's too embarrassing."

Jiang Nian also picked up a pen and wrote frantically, "I don't even have the courage to do so, so I don't need it."

When Ning Yuezhao saw what he wrote, she couldn't help laughing.This is his style, employing eclectic people.Thinking about those people whom he valued, all of them are bold and cautious, and they are not afraid of imperial power.Thinking about it, what's the use of such a timid person?
It was noon soon, and most of the people had already picked up their pens, while some were still staring at the test book in a daze.Some people even gave up on answering the questions, and picked up dry food early on, as if they thought it would be great to have a free lunch.

Seeing these people, Ning Yuezhao secretly shook her head.Surrender before a fight, and those who hand in blank papers will be removed from the Jinshi list at that time!
Jiang Nian glanced at the male tributes off the field. Except for Ming Han, who committed suicide, the rest of the Enke candidates who participated in Enke this year were all older and ordinary-looking.Looking at it this way, he felt relieved a lot, and left for the school grounds in the afternoon.

Ning Yuezhao glanced at Qingchi from time to time, and saw that she had been writing vigorously since the gong sounded, and she didn't even have time to touch the water and food on the table.

The same is true for Xu Miaoyun, Song Yiyi is much worse in comparison, her brows are barely visible, she bites her lower lip lightly, writing and writing stop and go, it seems that her answers are not smooth.

After seeing the reactions of several people, Ning Yuezhao sighed softly.

Soon, twilight fell, and the palace gong sounded the gong, announcing the end of the exam, collecting and sealing the exam papers, and handing over the exam papers to eight examiners for evaluation.

No matter what the answer is, this session of the imperial examination is over here.

A few days later, the Ministry of Rites presented the results of the palace examination.According to the usual practice, the top three must be decided by the emperor himself, they can only tentatively draw up the rankings, and the final decision is still up to the emperor.

In view of the lessons learned from the last time the papers were graded in Chunwei, this time the graders were careful and cautious, and Dong Yunrui, the minister of rites, checked from beginning to end, for fear of repeating the same mistakes.

After the seal was unsealed, everyone breathed a sigh of relief when they saw that "Yan Qingchi" was on the list of the top three first-class Jinshi they had drawn up.

When Ning Yuezhao saw the list, she still couldn't bear to frown slightly. The top three they proposed were Qingchi, Xu Miaoyun and another female tribute who was still ranked before the exam.

"I remember that Song Yiyi's performance in Chunwei was not bad before, why is she ranked so low this time?" Song Yiyi was only barely in the second class this time, and she didn't even have the qualifications to participate in the additional examination of Shujishi.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, there is nothing outstanding about Miss Song's answer to the questions this time. It can only be regarded as quite satisfactory, so I did not include her in the qualification for the additional examination." Speaking of this, the examiner hesitated, " Does Your Majesty want to read the original volume?"

Ning Yuezhao waved her hand, "No need, it's just that I think this girl is a talent, so I'll add her to the list for the Shu Jishi's additional examination this year."

What happened at the Qushui Banquet earlier had always wronged her, so give her one more chance, and it's up to her to see how well she can perform.

The examiner hesitated for a moment, but finally lowered his head and said respectfully, "Yes, Your Majesty."

Now that the ranking has been finalized, people from the Ministry of Rites will fill in the list and prepare to announce it at the next day's Chuanlu Ceremony.

After these people retreated, Jiang Nian, dressed in strong clothes and sweaty on his forehead, stepped into the Hall of Political Affairs.

"Look at your face full of joy, but Qingchi has been selected as the number one scholar?"

Ning Yuezhao leaned on the gold case and looked at him with one hand on his head, "Yes."

Jiang Nian walked to her side with a smile, gently rubbed her hair, "I got my wish."

Ning Yuezhao pushed him with a little disgust, "I smell of sweat, go take a bath and change clothes, and I will be leaving the palace soon."

Hearing that she hated the smell of sweat on her body, Jiang Nian held her shoulders with one hand, lifted her delicate chin with the other, and bowed his head for a kiss.The palace people who were serving in the palace all bowed their heads tacitly, watching their noses, noses, noses, and hearts. They always treat these two people with intimacy like no one else, and those who often serve in front of the imperial court are used to it.

Jiang Nian just pointed to the surface and let her go. He was really afraid that the smell on his body would suffocate her.

But Ning Yuezhao still twisted his waist angrily to vent his anger.

Jiang Nian smiled and took her hand, "Let's go back to the bedroom together."

Ning Yuezhao just sent someone to Yan's mansion to pass the word, saying that she will leave the palace in a low-clothes and invite Qingchi to Zuijin to gather together.Of course, considering that Lu Ji also contributed a lot to the last incident, he was also invited this time.

The two went back to the bedroom together, changed into their regular clothes, and boarded the carriage to leave the palace.

Because the palace examination is over now, those students who have nothing to do while waiting for the results of the palace examination like to get together in twos and threes, and this is the number one restaurant in the imperial capital.

But with Jiang Nian's arrangement, their private room has already been booked.

When Jiang Nian and Ning Yuezhao stepped into the private room, Lu Ji was already waiting there, and Qingchi had not yet arrived.

Seeing the two coming in together, Lu Ji was about to stand up and salute, but they blocked him.

"You don't have to stick to these etiquette outside."

"Yes."

Ning Yuezhao was a little strange, "It's strange, a person who usually acts very neatly, why hasn't he come today when the time comes?"

Jiang Nian didn't care, "It's still early, it doesn't hurt to wait for her."

Lu Ji poured tea for the two of them, "Miss Yan told me earlier that she would arrive later today, and she has a gift for you two."

Ning Yuezhao raised her eyebrows when she heard this, "I found out that Qingchi is much more familiar with you than me!"

Naturally, she also heard rumors from the ruling and opposition parties that Lu Ji and Qingchi were in love with each other.She really doesn't want to see Qingchi wasting his good years on Yan Mo, it would be nice if he could have a good relationship with Lu Ji.

Lu Ji paused, and said with a smile: "Your Majesty's words sound a little bitter and jealous. Miss Yan will tell the minister, but it's just because the minister and her are outside the palace, how can I send a message to the Shuntian Mansion?" It’s easier than delivering a message to the palace.”

This explanation sounds reasonable, and Ning Yuezhao doesn't intend to delve too deeply into this issue. After all, feelings are just wishful thinking, and based on her understanding of Qingchi, even if she and Lu Ji have been away for a long time Nearly, it is absolutely impossible to let go of Yan Mo so soon.So in the future, if the two parties have no intentions, I will not do this kind of marriage referral.

At this time, the cold dishes before the banquet were served one after another.

Jiang Nian carefully prepared the dishes for Ning Yuezhao, while she enjoyed them with peace of mind.

Seeing the intimacy between the two people who were unaware of the presence of others, Lu Ji tightened his grip on the chopsticks, "Your Majesty seemed to have a guard named Yan Mo by his side, why haven't I seen him since I returned to court?"

Jiang Nian paused for a moment while holding the vegetables, and looked at him narrowly, "You care about him?"

Lu Ji thought about Qingchi's misunderstanding of him and Ning Yuezhao earlier, and was afraid that Jiang Nian would think the same way, so he hurriedly explained: "The minister is overstepping."

Ning Yuezhao put down her chopsticks and said with a smile, "Give me a reason, and if it's reasonable, I'll tell you."

Lu Ji hesitated for a moment, and finally said calmly: "My minister has a crush on Miss Yan, but Miss Yan seems to have another love in her heart, so I dared to ask."

Qingchi has been accompanying the Empress in the palace since he was a child, and the only man of similar age who may appear by his side is the Empress' former guard Yanmo.But after he came back from Linzhao, he found that the guard next to the Empress had changed, and he was also a father-in-law.The colleagues of the Imperial Academy joked at the time that it was because the imperial husband couldn't tolerate other men around the empress, so he found an excuse to get rid of Yan Mo, and his whereabouts have been unknown since then.

Lu Ji naturally didn't believe this kind of inexplicable statement, Jiang Nian was not such a person.

Hearing his confession, Jiang Nian and Ning Yuezhao couldn't help but exchanged glances.

Ning Yuezhao sighed softly, "Lu Ji, from the perspective of selfishness, I also hope to achieve a marriage between you and Qingchi, but the relationship is about mutual gratification, I hope you understand."

Lu Ji nodded, and said earnestly: "I understand, but I also want to fight for it. If Miss Ruoyan really has no intentions for me, I will never pester you endlessly."

Ning Yuezhao sized him up and saw that he didn't look like a fake, so he could only say calmly: "I can't tell you about Yan Mo's whereabouts yet, but I can tell you about Qingchi's preferences. Fate."

Lu Ji raised his wine glass and respected Ning Yuezhao, "Thank you, Your Majesty."

Ning Yuezhao also raised his glass, which was regarded as his gratitude.

But before she opened her mouth to tell about Qingchi's preferences, someone knocked on the door of the private room hurriedly, "My lord, it's too bad, the Green Bamboo Pavilion on the west side of the city caught fire, and the reporter said it was because of the fight over the young lady." If there is a conflict, the one who doesn't grab it will set it on fire."

"What!" Hearing what the yamen servant said, Lu Ji immediately stood up, "Your Majesty, Your Highness, I will deal with it first, excuse me."

"Go."

"My minister retire."

After Lu Ji left for a long time, Qingchi still didn't come, Ning Yuezhao always felt restless.

Jiang Nian gently held her hand, "Don't worry."

Ning Yuezhao looked sideways at him, "I always feel like something is going to happen, shall we go to the west of the city to have a look?"

Before Jiang Nian could respond, someone came to report in a hurry, "My lord, madam, it's not good! The person who set fire to the west of the city is said to be Miss Yan. Master Lu sent a villain to inform you two!"

(End of this chapter)