Chapter 64: Plotting

  The Kangxi Emperor received the memorial from Zhiyuan's eldest son and thought it was a plea for the emperor to search for the missing Zhiyuan. However, after reading the well-written and clearly reasoned memorial, the normally stoic Kangxi Emperor exclaimed: "Zhiyuan's eldest son is indeed talented in writing! Since Nalan's passing, there has been no one among the Eight Banners' young men with such exceptional talent."

  "Wan Sui Ye said that Shu Mu Lu's Xuan is really a top three in the imperial examination, if not for his young age, he might have already been a champion."

  Li Dequan remembered the situation of Shu Mu Lu's family clearly. Seeing that Emperor Kangxi's gloomy face had cleared up for several days, Li Dequan knew that it was a serious matter for Nalan Rongruo to be compared with Shu Mu Lu. Knowing the emperor's intention, Li Dequan praised Shu Mu Lu, "I heard that during the examination in Guangzhou, the examiner chose Shu Mu Lu as the top candidate, but the other candidates were dissatisfied and surrounded the examiner, saying it was a case of officials protecting each other."

  "Really?" Kangxi sipped his tea and said with great interest: "I haven't heard of this matter, tell me about it."

  "Magistrate Li is a fair and impartial man, with considerable prestige among the scholars. If it were someone else, they would probably have been condemned without being given a chance to defend themselves. But Magistrate Li publicly posted the examination papers and announced that whoever wrote an essay better than Zhang's would be awarded first place in the prefectural examination, and he acknowledged that he himself had been blind to talent."

  Kangxi smiled, "I'm sure no one can compare to Shuxuan?" Kangxi had seen many memorials over the years, but rarely saw anyone like Shuxuan. Shuxuan's handwriting was upright and straightforward, revealing his honest character. He quoted classics and precedents without being verbose, embodying the emperor's mind and investigating the people's feelings. His words were clear and to the point. Kangxi was quite satisfied with Shuxuan and silently read his name twice, committing it to memory.

  "It's not just that, I heard from Mr. Li that scholars who write articles can't compare to Shu Xuan, but they think they will surpass Shu Xuan elsewhere, the result... "Li Dequan smiled: "The scholars who besieged Shu Xuan were all refuted by Shu Xuan and left with their tails between their legs, Shu Xuan has some reputation in the southern scholarly circles."

  "Southern Scholars?" Emperor Kangxi looked far away and suddenly asked: "How old is Shu Xuan now? In what year was he born?"

  Li Dequan calculated and replied: "He was born fifteen years ago, and is now fourteen by Chinese age reckoning."

  Kangxi felt somewhat relieved and also somewhat regretful. He was relieved that Shuxuan had won honor for the Eight Banners, but he regretted that Shuxuan was too young to enter the imperial court as an official at this time. Kangxi thought about the next civil service examination, hoping that Shuxuan would pass with high honors and become a jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest level of the imperial examination). If Shuxuan became a zhuangyuan (the top scorer in the palace examination), Kangxi would personally appoint him as the first place winner. The three yuan (top three places) were rare in the world, and six yuan (winning all six places) was unprecedented. It would be a good omen, a sign of heaven's favor. With Shuxuan's success, Han Chinese scholars would also become more honest. Generally speaking, Eight Banners children did not understand poetry or writing, but Kangxi had an even deeper impression of Shuxuan.

  The Kangxi Emperor is now busy collecting grain and relief supplies, resettling refugees, and Zhiyuan's life or death is unknown. The Kangxi Emperor has no mood to see Shu Mu Lu, "Pass the edict, reward Zhiyuan for his loyalty to the emperor and the country."

  Emperor Kangxi's golden words and jade teeth, Zhiyuan was defined as loyal to the emperor and the country, and received a generous reward. The imperial historians heard the news and looked at the impeachment papers against Zhiyuan, finally burning them in frustration, they didn't have the guts to go against Emperor Kangxi.

  The crisis of Zhiyuan not being in the capital city was resolved due to the clever arrangement of Guwalgiya, as Kangxi's edict arrived at the Duke's mansion. Shuxian replaced Ama Zhiyuan to receive the edict and thank the emperor, kneeling beside Guwalgiya. Shuyao, who had been quietly lowering her head, admired Guwalgiya's arrangement even more. Shuyao was pulled up by Guwalgiya and felt that her three uncles and four aunts were speechless with envy, while her aunt Tongjiashi was about to tear her handkerchief apart, trying to maintain a smile, which was really difficult for her. Shuyao thought that Tongjiashi must have been furious, but in order to save face, she actively responded to the old lady's call to set up a porridge shed, contributing both silver and grain. Perhaps thinking that Zhiyuan would not return, Shuyao heard that Tongjiashi had taken out 1,500 taels of silver to set up the porridge shed.

  Now... Xiu Yao felt that Tuo Jia's heart was bleeding, and her body was full of resentment towards Lao Da. Tuo Jia regretted not thinking of Gua Er Jia's move earlier. All the benefits and glory had been taken by Gua Er Jia. Shu Xuan received the imperial edict, even if Zhi Yuan got into trouble, Shu Xuan was already an adult, and it was possible that the title of the Duke's mansion would bypass his son and be passed directly to Shu Xuan.

  Shu Yao furrowed her brow, can a title be passed down to a grandson but not a son? Has the anomaly occurred again? Shu Yao thought she had used her anomaly too much, it would be good to take a break for two days. Shu Yao had sensed too many ugly human hearts and the goodness or evil of human nature, Shu Yao would rather rely on her mother, by Guwalgiya's side she was absolutely safe.

  The Kangxi Emperor's edict was given to Shu Xuan, but everyone in the Duke's mansion had to go to the hall to receive it. The old master and mistress were no exception. When the old mistress saw that the second wife had gained an advantage, she thought of Tong Jia Shi and wondered why she hadn't thought of this trick? She was even more dissatisfied with Guwalgiya, why couldn't they be included together? Eating alone, the old lady's face didn't look good, and she hummed a sentence: "Is she the good daughter-in-law you lost?" In her heart, she doesn't care about the Duke's mansion at all.

  The old man understood the deep meaning of Gualjia's move, she wasn't just doing it for a good reputation. Everything has risks, what if Gualjia miscalculated and provoked the emperor's displeasure? It would only affect the Zhiyuan family and wouldn't implicate the Duke's mansion. The old lady only saw the benefits but not the danger. The old man found the unclear old lady extremely frustrating. "Isn't Zhiyuan getting the emperor's reward a glory for the Duke's mansion?"

  The old lady said, "Zhiqing, help me back to Rongshou Hall. Hmph, I just can't stand her... Let's go." The old lady saw that Guwalgiya was smiling and couldn't say anything, feeling a lot of pressure from the elder Guwalgiya. Li Zhiqing helped the old lady back to Rongshou Hall, and she couldn't help but admire Guwalgiya's tactics. Was it that ancient women had such high standards? Or was Guwalgiya special? Li Zhiqing was completely bewildered.

  The old man and Shu Xuan said a couple of words about being loyal to the emperor and filial to Guwalgiya, then left, fearing that if he said more, he would be entangled by Shu Xuan again.

  Gua Lian's eyes swept the room, a smile playing on her lips as if everything was under her control. You want to see the joke of the second house? You've miscalculated. Even if my husband is not by my side, I, a noble lady of the Tang Dynasty, am not someone you can bully, and my children are not people you can look down on.

  Xiu Yao's feet stumbled, and her powers were restored. Xiu Yao particularly liked the phrase "How could a dignified Tang noblewoman like me..." which her mother could only say to herself for the rest of her life. Xiu Yao felt sorry for Gual Jia Shi, what a magnificent phrase it was, but unfortunately, no one else got to hear it.

  "Xiao Yao?" Guajia pulled Xiu Yao tight, walking to where she could still get a glimpse of her, really not letting people feel at ease.

  After returning to the house, Kangxi's rewards were placed on the table, including several ancient books, various colored lake pens, and tribute paper. Shu Xuan held onto the ancient book tightly, Shu Yi narrowed his eyes, picked up a lake pen, and said: "Mother, I admire you, I admire you."

  Gua Erjia smiled with relief, comparing the bookworm Shu Xuan to the tea-sipping, clueless Shu Yao. Only then did Shu Yi seem like her own son. Fortunately, there was a clever one among them. Gua Erjia pursed her lips, "This is nothing, in the future it will still depend on Shu Xuan himself. If he truly has talent and real learning, the Emperor will recognize him; otherwise, no matter how much I do, it will be in vain."

  "What's the point? What's the point?" Shu Yao asked with curved eyes, "Mother, what's the point?"

  It hasn't been long since then, the bookworm buried in ancient books suddenly jumped up, "Good, good, it's written too well, teacher...teacher...disciple understands...understands..."

  Shu Xuan went to ask Master for advice, while Guajia and Shuyi's mouth corners twitched slightly. Shu Yao muttered, "Big brother understood something? Is it related to the dot?"

  Shu Yao was self-deprecating, thinking of her big brother, but she couldn't think of it herself, and she was really stupid. Shu Yi tapped on the small face that was scrunched up like a bun, "The younger sister of the top scholar can't not know even one poem, Second Brother will teach you Li Bai's 'Quiet Night Thoughts'."

  "This poem I understand, no need for Second Brother to teach." The moonlight in front of the bed was bright, Shu Yao absolutely remembered, "Huh? Zhuangyuan Gong? Little Sister? Are they talking about me? Or is someone else as clueless about poetry as I am?"

  Guarjia turned her face away, and Shu Yi relied on you. Mother was tired, so teach Yao'er. Shu Yao blinked curiously and asked: "Second brother, is there really someone like me? Who is it? Tell me quickly."

  The tone rose, Shu Yi wiped the sweat on his mother's forehead, "I thought our Qing Dynasty only had one Shu Mu Lu Shu Yao." How many more people would be harmed if there were another?

  "Is the sister of the zhuangyuan referring to me? But... but my brother didn't pass the imperial examination, and now he's not even a juren. Did the emperor confer the title of zhuangyuan on him as a gift? Second Brother, what are you talking about? Have you gone senile?"

  Shu Yi's mouth twitched, "Yes, yes, I was confused, little sister, don't tell anyone what I just said." It was Shu Yi who was confused, that's why he said those things to Shu Yao. Little sister's brain is different from his, Shu Yao nodded: "Hmm, second brother, rest assured, I won't tell anyone, second brother, everyone gets confused sometimes, it'll be fine after this period, or one day I'll make you a nourishing brain soup..."

  "No need, no need, don't bother Xiaomei." Shu Xuan still had a lingering fear of Shu Yao's cooking skills. No matter how good something was, once it fell into her hands, she could make it deadly poisonous.

  Gual Jia's smile was all over her face as she looked at her second son, who had been beaten. Shu Yit, who was clever and wise beyond his years, had met his match in his daughter this time. It was hard to imagine that the current bitter melon-like expression was the usually suave and sociable Shu Yit. Gual Jia advised: "Shu Yit, it's good that Shu Yao still knows how to behave like a human being, isn't that progress?"

  Shu Yi hung her head in grief, "E Niang, you are just like Xiao Mei." Gua Er Jia's smile grew thicker, Shu Yao leaned close to Gua Er Jia and hugged her arm tightly: "Of course we're the same, I'm E Niang's daughter, who does E Niang look like? Second Brother is being foolish again, he must drink the pig brain soup."

  Shu Yi regretted not being able to pull Shu Yaocai out of Gua Erjia's arms, after all, who wants to drink pig brain soup to supplement their brain? Gua Erjia hugged her daughter, who was making a ghostly face at Shu Yi, and her heart, which had been troubled for many days, felt much lighter. Zhiyuan, you should also return to the capital now. As the father of the number one scholar, you will feel happy and satisfied. This is also why Gua Erjia asked Shu Xuan to write a memorial to the emperor. In the imperial court, it was the emperor who awarded the title of number one scholar in the palace examination. Gua Erjia not only paved the way for her husband but also arranged everything well for her children.

  Xiao Zui thinks Guajia is the real mistress of the house, today there are double updates, asking for pink, all kinds of requests.