Chapter 112: Grandma Kong's Advice
"Your Highness, what you said makes sense. In that case, why not just leave it without a topic and let the scholars express themselves freely?" Hai Wenyou said.
Zhao Xing shook his head slightly and said, "It's naturally not okay to have no topic at all. This circle is used to interfere."
After all, the imperial examination is a way to select officials, and this circle itself is also a test question.
It can be understood within the rules or outside the rules. How to understand it specifically depends on the scholar's own thinking ability.
Hai Wenyou thought about it carefully and understood what Zhao Xing meant. He was silent for a while and said, "Your Highness, this kind of question has never been asked before. This matter needs to be reported to the emperor for a decision."
"Yes." Zhao Xing nodded and said, "I will report this to my father."
Upon hearing this, Hai Wenyou said goodbye and left.
After seeing Hai Wenyou off, Zhao Xing went to the palace and told his father the test questions and their purpose.
The official pondered for a moment after hearing this, but did not object.
Although Zhao Xing's question has never appeared before, it has some merits.
He asked Zhao Xing to preside over the imperial examination in order to let him select some useful talents, so naturally he would not stop him.
……
"Greetings to Your Highness!"
After school that day, Zhao Xing kept Sheng Changbai.
"No need to be polite." Zhao Xing waved his hand and said, "Is Madam Kong doing well at your house?"
"Madame Kong and my grandmother are old friends. Everyone in my family regards her as an elder and we dare not neglect her," said Sheng Changbai.
Zhao Xing nodded slightly and smiled, "Madame Kong has served in the Eastern Palace for many years. I am not used to her leaving so suddenly. I want to go see her while she is still in Bianjing. Tomorrow is a day off, and I will go to Zecheng's house for a visit. I wonder if you will welcome me?"
"It is an honor for the entire Sheng family that Your Highness has condescended to come to my house. How can we not welcome you?" Sheng Changbai bowed.
"Haha, then I will go and talk to you tomorrow." Zhao Xing said.
When Sheng Changbai left the Eastern Palace, he was still thinking about Zhao Xing's purpose of going to the Sheng family.
Zhao Xing said he wanted to visit Nanny Kong, but it was obviously an excuse.
The Sheng family is in Bian Jing City. If you really can't bear to leave Nanny Kong, you can just send someone to summon her to the Eastern Palace. Why bother making the trip in person?
However, no matter how much he thought about it, he still couldn't figure out Zhao Xing's intention.
When he returned home and learned that his father had not returned yet, Sheng Changbai thought about it and went to Shou'an Hall.
……
After finishing a day's classes, Madam Kong came to the main hall of Shou'an Hall.
When Mrs. Sheng saw her come in, she quickly asked her to sit down and had someone serve her tea.
Madam Kong took a sip, put down the teacup, and said, "I thought I had trained my eyes to be sharp and sharp after so many years in the palace, and I was very good at judging people, but I fell into trouble with your Sixth Miss."
"What do you mean?" Old Madam Sheng asked with interest.
"From the look of you, you already knew it."
Madam Kong glared at Madam Sheng in a reproachful manner and said, "I originally thought she was honest and kind, but also dull. I didn't expect that I was wrong. She is actually very wise but appears to be foolish. She seems to learn the slowest, but in fact, she is the fastest learner."
"Alas." Old Madam Sheng sighed and said, "This girl has not been favored since she was young. She has two legitimate sisters, so how could she dare to stand out?"
"You have trained her so well, she will definitely be good in the future." Nanny Kong comforted.
Old Madam Sheng's expression darkened, and she changed the subject, "What do you think of my Fifth Miss?" "Although the Fifth Miss is a little bit arrogant, she is straightforward and has no ulterior motives. With the Crown Prince's personality, even if he doesn't like her, he won't be annoyed. But you should understand the palace even if I don't tell you. There are too many right and wrong things. With her personality, I'm afraid she won't have an easy time."
Nanny Kong naturally knew what Old Madam Sheng was asking, and given their relationship, she did not hide it.
She has been in the palace for many years and has seen too many dirty things.
Many concubines who did not fight for anything died in unclear circumstances.
"She used to be quite spoiled, but after I disciplined her over the years, she's become much better." Old Madam Sheng sighed.
"Okay, don't worry too much. I know a little about the temperament of the Duke of England's daughter. She is similar to the Queen Jing'an back then. She won't make things difficult for the fifth lady." said Madam Kong.
Old Madam Sheng was not relieved after hearing this. The struggles in the palace were not limited to those between the Crown Princess and the imperial concubines. There were also many struggles between the imperial concubines.
Even if the Duke of England's daughter is easy to get along with, what about the other concubines?
After so many years of training by her, Rulan is not as willful as before. However, she still has the explosive temper inherited from Madam Wang and gets angry at the slightest provocation.
"What do you think about letting Ming girl go with the dowry?" asked Old Lady Sheng.
"Can you bear to do that?" Grandma Kong exclaimed.
Although she had only been in the Sheng family for a few days, she could see that Old Madam Sheng liked Minglan very much.
If you are lucky enough, you may even be able to have a legitimate status if you marry into the palace.
If you are unlucky, you may be a palace maid for the rest of your life.
Moreover, this situation is different from that of normal palace maids. They will not be allowed to leave the palace even when they reach the age.
In the end, she might have to stay in the palace until she is old, just like her, before being released.
"Of course I don't want to let her go, but you know how dangerous the palace is. Back then, Queen Jing'an... Even if Rulan doesn't have a good life in the palace, it's her fate. But with her temper, I'm really afraid that she will cause trouble and implicate the entire Sheng family." said Old Lady Sheng.
After spending all these years together, she has grown to like Minglan more and more.
If she had a choice, she naturally would not want Minglan to marry into the palace.
Madam Kong was silent for a while after hearing this, and then she said with regret: "You have been smart all your life, but you always make mistakes. You could have remarried and lived happily. But you chose to adopt the illegitimate son and raise him to be a talent? Now you have to worry about this for the Sheng family."
"Okay, this is all in the past, there's nothing to say. You said I was confused, but how was I confused?" asked Old Lady Sheng.
"Although His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is young, he has a lot of ideas in his mind. His Highness thinks highly of your grandson, so why don't you ask your grandson to ask His Royal Highness the Crown Prince?" said Madam Kong.
"What do you want to ask?" Old Madam Sheng didn't quite understand what Madam Kong meant.
"Let him tell His Highness that the Fifth Miss is straightforward and wants to marry a concubine's sister as a dowry. His Highness is smart and will know that he is worried that the Fifth Miss will be bullied after entering the palace. Given how much His Highness values your grandson, he will definitely protect her, so you don't have to worry." said Madam Kong.
"Wouldn't that make people jealous?" said Old Lady Sheng.
"Don't worry, His Highness will not tolerate any sand in his eyes. If His Highness does not express anything, he will not care about some small tricks. But if His Highness speaks up and someone still makes small tricks, His Highness will definitely not show mercy." said Nanny Kong.
Upon hearing this, Mrs. Sheng said nothing and felt a little hesitant.
Just then, Mother Cui came in and bowed, "Madam, the second young master is here."
After Mother Cui finished speaking, Sheng Changbai walked in.
"Grandma Ci'an, Madam Ci'an." Sheng Changbai bowed.
Old Madam Sheng smiled and waved her hand, saying, "Didn't I tell you that the imperial examination is approaching, so you can read more books when you have time. You don't need to come and pay your respects."
"Grandma, I came here to tell you something. After school today, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince found me and said he would come to visit our home tomorrow." Sheng Changbai said.
(End of this chapter)