Chapter 127 The Blessing of All People
"Your Highness, I'm really not sure." Qi Heng said with a wry smile.
Sheng Changbai said expressionlessly: "I am not sure either."
He had a blank expression on his face, not because he was disrespectful to Zhao Xing, but because he had always been like this.
Sheng Changbai's face is naturally suitable for being an official. He is serious and intimidating without even getting angry.
"Your Highness, the essay questions you set are really too difficult. Fortunately, I have no intention of taking the imperial examination, otherwise I would have pulled all my hair out." Gu Tingye said.
During the imperial examination, he led the team to take over the patrol and defense of the Imperial Examination Hall.
As the commander, he naturally didn't have to do everything himself, and he also tried to do the test in his spare time.
In the end, I was stumped by the policy essay question.
"Haha, I just want to make the questions more relaxed so that the candidates can have fewer constraints and better display their strengths." Zhao Xing said with a smile.
Sheng Changbai said he was not sure, which was probably because he was being modest, but Qi Heng was not sure either.
However, regardless of whether the two of them pass the exam or not, Zhao Xing intends to help them pass.
After all, I am the chief examiner, and as long as the two of them don't perform too badly, there is plenty of room for maneuver.
After passing the imperial examination, I will take over the position of prefect of Kaifeng, and I can try to implement some of my ideas.
However, he did not intend to tell the two of them about this idea.
The scholars were all somewhat arrogant. If they knew that it was Zhao Xing who arranged for them to pass the exam, they would definitely be unhappy.
…………
Zhang Guifen brought Yu Yanran and others to the third floor of the viewing platform.
The third floor is a hall with windows all around, so it is very bright.
This is a place used for banquets and viewing the scenery with ministers.
There are tables on both sides of the hall, and facing south is a high platform where the main seat is.
As a place for banquets with ministers, the system of separate meals was naturally implemented.
Zhang Guifen did not stay in the hall, but led a few people to the north terrace.
The terrace has a wide view, offering a panoramic view of the entire Jinming Lake and the polo field in the distance.
There is a Ruyi table on the terrace, surrounded by several round stools.
This was specially arranged by Zhao Xing. The separate dining system creates too much of a sense of distance. If it is used to entertain ministers, it is naturally acceptable.
But what's the point of bringing a girl here when they're so far away?
And you can enjoy the view while dining here.
"sit down."
Zhang Guifen said as she sat down on the left side of the main seat facing Jinming Lake.
"Fifth sister, sixth sister, please sit down."
Yu Yanran and Minglan were close friends. They had been to the Sheng family several times and knew Ruolan. Seeing that the two of them were a little restrained, she sat down on the right and greeted them.
"Yes!"
Rulan and Minglan looked at each other, then nervously sat down opposite each other.
At this moment, they were like concubines meeting the wife.
For a moment, the atmosphere between the four of them was a little awkward.
Although Yu Yanran and Zhang Guifen had met several times, they were not very familiar with each other due to their personalities.
She is more familiar with Minglan and Rulan, but Zhang Guifen is the real boss now.
Although Zhang Guifen is open-minded, she is only a sixteen-year-old girl.
She hasn't even gotten married yet, but already she's seeing the scene of the wife meeting the concubine. For a moment, no one knows what to say.
But she was born into a noble family and was well-educated, so she quickly calmed down and said, "We have met Sister Yanran several times, but this is the first time I have met you two sisters. I'm sure you all know who I am, so I won't introduce myself. You two sisters, please introduce yourself."
Rulan was somewhat intimidated by Zhang Guifen's aura. She stood up and stammered, "I... I am... the fifth daughter of the Sheng family, my name is Sheng Rulan."
"Fifth Miss, don't be nervous, just sit down and talk." Zhang Guifen said with a smile.
"Yes." Rulan breathed a sigh of relief and sat down.
Minglan stood up, bowed, and said, "I am Sheng Minglan, the sixth daughter of the Sheng family."
"Both sisters have very good names. You are worthy of being the granddaughters of a scholarly family and a top scholar in the imperial examination." Zhang Guifen praised and asked Minglan to sit down.
Next, Zhang Guifen took complete control and started chatting with several people.
Although in the original drama, Zhang Guifen was self-pitying and a bit of a jerk after marriage, that was because it was a political marriage, and Shen Congxing didn't like her, so she was arrogant and naturally wouldn't lower herself to please him.
Although it is still a political marriage, Zhao Xing attaches great importance to her. After years of getting to know her, her heart has been tied to Zhao Xing.
Some people may think it is too fake, but in fact this is also caused by the education received by women in ancient times.
For women in ancient times, marriages were all blind. No matter whether they liked each other or not, they had to try to like each other after getting married.
For ancient women, free love was even rarer than blind marriages as is heard in later generations.
Zhao Xing didn't do anything, he just asked her to come over and talk to him at the polo match and gave her a horse.
Another thing was that during the holidays, people would send some cloth, jewelry, and snacks from the palace over.
Women in later generations would not care about these things at all, and might even call you a bootlicker in their hearts, but in the minds of ancient women, it was already a very romantic thing.
Therefore, she has a very positive attitude towards this marriage.
Zhao Xing wanted her to live in peace with the concubines in the future harem, and she would not humble herself to accommodate them. It all depends on their personalities.
Zhang Guifen's marriage was a mess in the original drama, but that doesn't mean she has no means.
In fact, Zhang Guifen is very similar to Old Lady Sheng and Madam Wu.
They are proud by nature, and even though they have the means, they just disdain to use them.
At this time, Zhang Guifen was not negative. The good education she received since childhood was reflected in her. She took the lead in the topic, and after a short conversation, she had a general understanding of Rulan and Minglan's personalities.
Of course, this is just a rough estimate. Whether the two people are disguising themselves cannot be tested with just a few words.
"I heard from Your Highness that the two girls are very good at playing polo?" Zhang Guifen said with a smile.
"To reply Miss Zhang, my fighting skill is average, but my sixth sister is very good." Rulan said.
Although many things have changed due to the appearance of Zhao Xing.
But because Zhao Xing often went to watch polo, many people thought that Zhao Xing liked polo.
Therefore, when Mrs. Sheng was teaching Rulan and Minglan, she also taught them to play polo.
Rulan is not interested in this thing, she can only be considered to know how to do it.
Minglan, on the other hand, is very talented in polo and can learn some techniques quickly.
"Oh?" Zhang Guifen looked at Minglan and said, "His Highness said that he would not go to the polo field this afternoon, so he will play here. There is also a polo field in Jinmingchi. Let's play a game together this afternoon."
Although they had only met for a short time and chatted for a while, among the three, Zhang Guifen had the best impression of Minglan.
Yu Yanran has a gentle and weak personality. With Zhang Guifen's personality, although she doesn't hate her, she can't like her.
Although Rulan seems carefree, she is somewhat restrained when facing her.
Minglan, on the other hand, was respectful and spoke logically without being restrained.
"Since Miss Zhang is interested in playing tennis, I am willing to accompany her. I am just afraid that my skills are not good enough and may ruin her interest," said Minglan.
She didn't want to show too much of herself, but Rulan had already said it, and she couldn't refuse.
She still remained wary of Zhang Guifen.
Although Zhang Guifen appears to be approachable, who knows how much of it is true or false.
The environment she grew up in made her doubt that her wife and concubine could live in peace.
What's more, she is not even a concubine.
"What are you guys talking about? You seem so happy."
Just then, Zhao Xing's voice came.
"Greetings, Your Highness!" The four of them quickly stood up and saluted.
"No need to be polite."
Zhao Xing came to sit between Zhang Guifen and Yu Yanran with a smile on his face and said, "Don't stand, sit down. Are you starving? The food will be here soon."
Looking at the four young beauties, Zhao Xing was delighted.
Only in ancient times could people openly embrace women left and right and enjoy the blessing of having many wives.
Even if we can enjoy it in the future, we have to hide it secretly.
Of course, this is caused by the personalities of these four people. If they were replaced by someone with more thoughts, it wouldn't be so peaceful.
"I just made an appointment with Sixth Miss to play polo together this afternoon." Zhang Guifen said with a smile.
(End of this chapter)