readytorunbook Chapter 358: Rotten Peach Blossom
Chapter 358: Rotten Peach Blossom
"Generally speaking, the top scholars of each year would not be given a very high official position, starting from the sixth or seventh rank."
When Xin Che heard the good news that Xue Wei had won the first place in the imperial examination, he was also happy for Li Li's friends.
"I wonder if Second Master Xue will receive special treatment for his contribution in saving the emperor?"
Jiang Lili and the others all looked eagerly expectant when they heard this: "Let's wait and see!"
Everyone congratulated the study committee member in the group chat.
However, the student council member did not come out for a long time.
Master Liao couldn't help but ask curiously, "Where is Xue Weiren? Is he so happy that he disappeared?"
Jiang Lili also found it strange. Now that the results of the joint examination have been announced, the academic committee members have been preparing for the imperial examination for so long. Even if they have to prepare for the palace examination later, they can at least relax today, right?
Jiang Lili thought for a moment and said, "Maybe he won first place in the Student Committee exam, and there were too many people coming to congratulate him, so he didn't have time to reply?"
Everyone suddenly realized: "That's possible! The student council will become famous again!"
*
The capital city, the residence of the Grand Tutor.
Xue Wei fell into deep thought as he looked at the gifts sent by royal relatives, powerful ministers and high-ranking officials, his face clearly showing an unhappy expression.
Xue Wei's father, Master Xue, was sitting on the armchair next to him, also lost in thought.
After a long while, he finally sighed and said, "Son, it's fine for other royal relatives and officials to send gifts and ask about your marriage, but what does it mean for Princess Roujia to send you a pair of double crane pendants?"
It would have been fine if they were just cranes, but they were a pair!
Look at the postures of the two cranes. Oh, it's unbearable to watch!
On the eight-immortals table between the two of them, there was a mahogany gift box, and inside the gift box was a layer of bright red silk, which looked very festive. The most wonderful thing was that on the silk was a pair of green jade crane pendants. The two cranes were facing each other with their hind legs bent and powerful as if they were ready to take off at any time. The two cranes lived and flew together, which was so affectionate.
Xue Wei looked at the pair of jade pendants for a long time, and said, "Maybe father is just overthinking. Look at the pine trees on the back of the jade pendants, they are tenacious. Maybe Princess Roujia just gave them to her son to wish him a firm ambition and a successful career."
Master Xue glanced at him and asked, "Do you think Princess Roujia is so kind to make friends?"
Xue Wei stopped talking.
Emperor Qingning did not pay much attention to his three daughters, but Princess Roujia was the only one who was given the title of princess. Speaking of which, she was also a ruthless person, weak in body but ruthless in heart.
Her mother was of low status and died during childbirth. Roujia was a sickly woman since she was a child.
One winter day four years ago, the Emperor and the Empress Dowager took their concubines and children to the Yu'an Temple to pray for blessings. Suddenly, heavy snow fell on the road on the mountain, blocking the road and making it inconvenient to travel. Emperor Qingning and the Empress Dowager both caught a cold.
The medicinal materials brought by the imperial physician are in short supply. Only Roujia, who is a medicine jar, relies on decoctions to survive every day. Roujia still has medicine available, but those medicinal materials are for her to stay alive. If she doesn't take them for one day, her physical condition will deteriorate significantly.
Roujia took the initiative to donate her share of the medicine to Emperor Qingning. From then on, her health deteriorated, and the imperial physician diagnosed that Princess Roujia would not live more than five years.
This approach preserved the dignity of the royal family. After all, her medicine would be given to the Emperor and the Empress Dowager sooner or later, so it was better for her to take it out and offer it voluntarily to gain a reputation for filial piety.
Perhaps it was because Emperor Qingning felt guilty that he conferred the title of princess on Roujia, granted her a luxurious mansion to live in, and selected a son-in-law for her according to Princess Roujia's preferences.
Master Xue muttered to himself: "The princess's consort must be the last year's top scholar, right?"
Xue Wei nodded: "Yes, but the prince consort didn't fall off his horse and die in an accident..."
Halfway through the conversation, Xue Wei showed a shocked expression on his face, and suddenly felt a little cold: "It has only been a short time since the prince consort passed away, less than two months, right?"
"Probably not?"
Xue Wei said this, but his heart skipped a beat. He was shocked: "The prince consort's body is still warm. Besides, isn't it a pity for a talent like me to be a prince consort?"
The hidden rules regarding imperial consorts in the Da Sheng Dynasty were the same as those in many dynasties in history. In order to prevent external relatives from gaining power, imperial consorts could not become high-ranking officials.
In Xue Wei's ear, Master Xue couldn't help but start analyzing.
"There is no rule in the Great Sheng Dynasty for a princess to observe mourning for her husband, and you forgot that the first husband married Princess Roujia in the name of bringing good luck."
"You have indeed written good theoretical strategies, and you have also made contributions to conquering the epidemic, but you lack experience in political affairs."
"Princess Roujia is weak, and the imperial physician said she won't live for many years. You are new to the official career, so your position won't be too high at the beginning, and His Majesty won't give you too much power. He will definitely let you gain some experience."
Xue Taifu had a sullen face at this time. As the teacher of Emperor Qingning, he had some understanding of what the emperor was thinking: "The position of the Royal Concubine's Commandant is usually given the honorary title of a third-rank official. It looks glorious and noble, which is worthy of your grace in saving the emperor, but it has no real power. And you can accept His Majesty's orders and work for him."
"After a year or two, when the princess dies and your performance is recognized by His Majesty, you will be able to return to the court and continue to climb up the career ladder."
When Xue Wei met Master Xue's gaze again, he felt even colder.
"Dad, when the emperor chose Princess Roujia, the top scholar, as his consort, was he thinking the same thing you just said?"
Emperor Qingning first followed Princess Roujia's wishes and allowed her to marry her lover to end her regrets in life. After Princess Roujia passed away, Tanhualang could continue to serve as an official in the court.
Unexpectedly, the third place winner died even younger than the princess.
Xue Wei was terrified when he thought about it.
When Hou Xiaoxiao was chatting with him about gossip before, they happened to talk about this Tanhua scholar. The servants in the princess's mansion all said that the Tanhua scholar's death was suspicious.
Has anyone considered his feelings?
When Master Xue heard Xue Wei's words, he was also shocked. Looking at his son's expression, he comforted him, "There is nothing to be said for now. The most urgent thing is to prepare well for the palace examination."
Xue Wei wanted to cry but had no tears: "I'm afraid you will have to prepare my funeral, Dad."
Master Xue glared at him and said, "What unlucky words are you saying, kid?"
Xue Wei collapsed and held her head in her hands: "What if His Majesty arranges a marriage for me right on the spot during the palace examination?"
Xue Wei wondered if he should go to Master Liao for a fortune-teller. Why did he always end up with bad relationships?
After finally getting rid of Jiang Wanyue, Princess Roujia popped up again.
If it were someone like Zhou Jushan, a sea king, it would be easy for him to deal with such bad love affairs. He really wanted to exchange identities with Zhou Jushan at this moment... Forget it, let's not exchange.
Old ginger is still wise. Master Xue said in a deep voice: "Don't worry, the palace examination will be held in two months. We still have two months to come up with a solution."