Lady Zhao

Chapter 54

The competition of the leaders of the four arts of "Qinqi, Calligraphy and Painting" soon came to an end. Li Shanggong presented the brocade silk cloth to the Queen Mother Dou on the white jade steps. The Queen Mother looked at the leaders one by one, nodded with satisfaction, and praised with a smile Said: "There are many newcomers this year."

The queen empress smiled and agreed, "Blue is better than blue, does the queen mother have a fancy? The daughter-in-law thinks that the eldest daughter of Zhao's family in the Dingguo family is very good. Not to mention the beauty of life, even the piano is so outstanding that it can make the noble concubine It must be Zhou Zheng who chose the younger sister as the leader. I heard earlier that this girl grew up beside Mrs. Zhao, and she is really different from other girls."

While speaking, he glanced meaningfully at Concubine Yue next to him, who didn't know that the queen's question was definitely about the candidate for the sixth prince's concubine, and the intention of what she said was obvious.Zhao Wenwan's previous notoriety, the empress seemed to be completely unaware of it and kept praising her. Everyone now knows how dissatisfied Concubine Yue was with Zhao Wenwan last year, and even this year they are very displeased.

Concubine Yue's face was slightly unhappy, she only said in a clear tone: "Sister Empress is too impatient, there is still a chance to win the championship later."

Empress Dowager Dou has been in the deep palace for decades, and when she came to her current position, her heart is like a mirror, and she didn't care about the two people who usually love to compete for favor. , announced the names of the four leaders.

After a while, the desks on both sides were filled with people again. The girls were either sighing with disappointment, or with a happy face. Some people cared, some didn't care, some were nervous, some were casual...

As soon as Lishang Palace stood on the steps, everyone knew that the number of leaders would be announced. Some of the ladies who felt that they performed well were excited, wondering who would get it this year?

"The leader of Princess Jinping's chess skills, the leader of Princess Yongping's painting skills, the leader of Yipin Hou Wang's noble daughter Xue Yuan's poetry skills..." A clear voice gurgled.

When talking about the final leader of Qin Yi, Zhao Wenxi was short of breath, nervous and excited at the same time, with a cute little face full of anticipation, concentrating on Li Shanggong's voice!

Zhao Wenxuan was already quietly congratulating her. Zhao Wenxi pursed her lips and smiled, feeling that her piano skills had won the approval of the noble concubine Yue. The matter of the leader was probably out of suspense. Both of them glanced at Zhao Wenwan in unison. Sure to lose?Zhao Wenxuan was slandering in her heart, and in this way, Zhao Wenwan had to be dissatisfied today to relieve the resentment in her heart for several days.

When the two looked over, Zhao Wenwan happened to turn his head, his eyes were as bright as the spring sun among the flowers, full of a sharp and confident look, and happened to meet the two of them, Zhao Wenxi and Zhao Wenxuan were startled, feeling inexplicably anxious.

I heard Li Shanggong slowly say: "The leader of the piano art—the noble daughter of the Zhao family in Dingguo—"

Zhao Wenxuan clenched her fists with excitement, and Zhao Wenxi raised her skirt and moved her body uncontrollably...

Just waiting for the word "Wen Wan" to sound, Zhao Wenxuan was stupid, how could it be that idiot? !

Zhao Wenxi was even worse, his entire face turned pale in an instant, his breath was suffocated, his fingers were curled up under his wide sleeves and he couldn't help shaking, as if he had lost his strength, his slightly tilted body also fell back on the cattail mat.

This time it was Zhao Wenwan who leaned over to look at her, and smiled brightly, "Thank you for my second sister's acceptance, if the Queen Mother rewards her later, it should be given to my younger sister."

"What did sister say?" Zhao Wenxi forced a smile, the fingers under the sleeves were curled up and embedded in the white flesh, the pain ached to the apex of the heart, the jealousy rolled in the bottom of the eyes and turned into a moment of cruelty.

Princess Yongping looked at Zhao Wenwan with admiration, "I didn't expect that Sister Wan really lived up to her reputation, with outstanding piano skills."

"Princess is also a phoenix among men, congratulations for being the best painting artist."

Princess Yongping grinned, Qingling's black eyes were stained with mystery, she whispered to Zhao Wenwan, "I will tell you the truth, my sister, I worked so hard yesterday to get the concubine Xian to choose me as the leader of painting art. Yes, I also want to make my father happy. If it doesn’t count, you know that I secretly asked you about a young master than Yiqian. By chance, it happened to be sister Wan’s elder brother. .”

Zhao Wenwan already understood a little bit when he heard this, and Yongping blushed and asked who was the young man who entered the male guest table just now.She looked along and saw that it was the elder brother who was sitting next to Zhao Yuanjin, so she reported the name of her family, and got a smile from Princess Yongping, and she had nothing to say.And she saw the princess's shy and big girl appearance, so she didn't dare to ask any more questions, but she was secretly happy for her elder brother, could it be that the lateness at the dinner just now had something to do with the princess?

"I asked my sixth brother to draw a painting for me to hide secretly in the skirt of my shirt, but I lost it in a hurry while walking halfway. I was in a hurry, and I happened to bump into Brother Yuan Li. At that time, I saw him as gentle and gentle ... just made the princess's temperament force him to draw a picture for me, and even threatened me." The little princess lost her voice as she spoke.

"Then... what?" Zhao Wenwan must have followed up with Yongping's behavior.

"Later...later...I forgot..." The little princess Yongping directly found the most unlikely reason in the world.

Zhao Wenwan couldn't laugh or cry, Yongping pouted and finally added, "But in the end Brother Yuanli said I was cute."

Zhao Wenwan nodded and understood instantly. It seems that our cute little princess must have done something uncute before. With the gentle temperament of the eldest brother, it is not surprising to say such words.

After the results of the contest were announced, the four chiefs stood up and walked into the center of the two sides after being signaled, and walked slowly to the Queen Mother and the empresses of the palaces to receive the rewards first. She walked out with her tail shining brightly, wishing to compare everyone, but the reality is that with the honorable Princess Yongping and Zhao Wenwan, who is crowned the most beautiful woman, if there is no comparison between these two, Jinping It is also considered the upper class, but Yibi has instantly dimmed a lot in terms of status and appearance.

Wang Xueyuan was still ashamed of falling to the ground before. She originally wanted to win the leader and make Zhao Wenwan look bad, but unexpectedly, she would also be among the top four, and then she saw the goal she had set early in the morning. The sixth prince watched It was also Zhao Wenwan's direction, and his chest was even more stuffy.She was high-minded, she looked down on Zhao Yuanli's sick body back then, so she planned to retire, and she wanted to find a husband who was worthy of her. Looking at the whole capital, no one can compare with the Sixth Prince!

Yongping couldn't wait to pull Zhao Wenwan up, but when he passed by Zhao Yuanli on the way, he restrained his naughty temper, dragging his skirt to be dignified and elegant, just like a princess should be elegant, and he looked like two different people.Needless to say, Zhao Wenwan has already developed a bluffing aura through the experience accumulated in filming.

The Empress concluded her speech, and ordered the ladies in the palaces to bring out the treasures given to the leaders by the palaces. Zhao Wenwan glanced over slightly, her eyes were bright, and the rewards were very generous. Among them was a jade embossed lotus mandarin fish pendant. Interesting, I can give it to Rui Geer to play with at that time, he likes to tease little fish the most on weekdays, and he will definitely jump for a long time when he sees this.

After all the rewarding ceremonies were completed, Empress Dowager Dou ordered people to move four pear wood desks and place them in the center, complete with ink, pens and inkstones, and the four chiefs sat on the desks for the final battle for the chief.

The atmosphere became more and more tense, like an invisible flame, blazing like a thunderbolt, and two of the flames directly burned on Zhao Wenwan.Princess Yongping touched the writing brush, feeling very funny. The exam questions written by His Majesty, Li Shanggong, were taken out of the box. In the past, the Holy Majesty liked to publish current affairs policy, and most of them were in the superficial range. Daliang valued the talents of women. After one or two heroines, besides, most of the sons of the nobles will enter the court and be in power. Women must know how to manage the family and care about some state affairs. However, this year's exam questions for His Majesty seem to be a bit more difficult. When they came out, not only most of the noble ladies sighed, but said it was too difficult.

Even the male guests frowned, thinking hard.

"When a stick of incense burns, please write the answer on the brocade step by the four leaders."

When Zhao Wenxuan heard His Majesty's test questions again, she secretly breathed a sigh of relief. It's so difficult, how can a girl like Zhao Wenwan know a thing or two, but Wang Xueyuan has read the poems of sages and countless classics. If other people are strong, the Holy One will definitely choose Wang Xueyuan as the leader. Thinking about it, he relaxed, pinched a piece of Linglong snack, and ate it with peace of mind.

A wisp of white smoke curled up, and the fragrant body became less and less, and everyone's hearts were also tense. Princess Yongping was playing with a brush during the period, and only wrote on the silk cloth, "Father, who said that my son can't Have you won the leader?" Such a sentence, and then seeing Zhao Wenwan at the side also presenting the silk cloth, he felt bored and hurriedly presented it together.

Princess Jinping and Wang Xueyuan were still biting their pens and burying their heads in thought. Everyone saw that Zhao Wenwan had got up, and calmly handed in the brocade letter and sealed it in the box.

The two went back side by side, Zhao Wenwan asked, "How did the princess answer?"

Yongping grinned, and suddenly said: "I handed in a blank paper, and this leader is just me begging to fool my father, so he can't be serious."

Zhao Wenwan felt that the princess's character was very frank, and she admired it for a moment, and sat back in her seat without saying anything.

While talking, the incense burnt out, Princess Jinping and Wang Xueyuan presented the brocade book, Jinping's face turned black when he saw it, obviously he couldn't perform well, Wang Xueyuan seemed to be much better, as if he was very satisfied with his answer sheet Satisfied, he inadvertently glanced over the empty seat of the first six princes, and flashed a touch of disappointment, but when he caught a glimpse of Zhao Yuanli who was not far away, his eyes were dimly lit.

The solemn atmosphere gradually faded, and everyone speculated about the leader, and there were not a few people who voted for Wang Xueyuan.

But within an hour, Eunuch Gao, the servant next to Shengshang, came to Lanyuexuan at the right time, and sang that the leader was... Zhao Wenwan.

The emperor also personally issued an edict, enfeoffing Zhao Wenwan as the head of the third-rank county, rewarding him with a hundred taels of gold and ten thousand dou of rice.

When everyone was surprised, someone immediately jumped out to express their dissatisfaction. That person was the proud Princess Jinping. It would be fine if she lost to Wang Xueyuan, but it was Zhao Wenwan, who was used to being pampered. How can I be familiar with political affairs and policy theory, and win the sacred heart, and be named the third-rank county master.

That's not the Zhao Wenwan she knew!There must be something strange in this!

It's just that she didn't dare to refute the emperor's judgment, but she couldn't hide her dissatisfaction, "Empress Dowager, Jinping lost the position of leader today, and I feel that I have little talent and learning. Jinping has a wish, and I wonder if Empress Dowager can agree?"

"What's the request? Let's just talk about it." Empress Dowager Dou said with a smile.

Princess Jinping stretched out his sleeves, and continued impatiently: "Your Majesty's strategy test question for this year's Qionghua Banquet is to let us talk about our thoughts on the floods in the south of the Yangtze River. In one fell swoop, he became the leader among all the sisters and became the third-rank county magistrate, Jinping is really curious, why not make Miss Zhao's brocade book public, and let all the sisters and I learn a thing or two."

Empress Dowager Dou hesitated for a moment because of Princess Jinping's sudden proposal, met Zhao Wenwan's open eyes, and immediately felt at ease. Before the Queen Mother could answer, Zhao Wenwan stood up by herself, "Jin Shu can give you whatever you want." Everyone read it, but you have to trouble Eunuch Gao to get it, wouldn’t it be troublesome, it’s better for me to dictate it to everyone, if the princess thinks there’s something wrong, she can point it out.”

Eunuch Gao is a celebrity around the emperor, he is not young, he has served two generations of monarchs, bowed his body and nodded slightly to express his gratitude to Zhao Wenwan for his compassion, the queen mother nodded in agreement.

"Jin Ping also said just now that he has little talent and learning, and he dare not make a fool of himself, so it is just right to let the well-known Ms. Wang come to ask Ms. Zhao for advice."

Wang Xueyuan, who was named, had been dissatisfied with the answer since she announced the answer, but now she stood up and agreed, and the princess sitting on the seat glared slightly, sweating secretly for Wang Xueyuan in her heart, the cousin is also stupid, the emperor has already After appointing the leader, what does it mean for her to come out to refute one or two? Is she questioning the emperor's vision?
People became gunmen without knowing it, and they didn't even have the intention to shirk, and they stood up on their own. It was too late for the princess to stop it, and the situation of riding a tiger was over. I just hope that the cousin will not lose face of the Wang family. Just accept it.

Then the Crown Princess looked slightly sideways, and then glanced at Zhao Wenwan's indifferent face, she was really smart, and deliberately led Jinping into the circle with her words.

Zhao Wenwan did it on purpose, but she didn't expect that the leader of Jinping County was much more sensitive, and poured all the muddy water she drew on Wang Xueyuan. Zhao Wenwan smiled. Rather than letting Jinping slap her face, she wanted Wang Xueyuan was ugly, so she pushed the boat along the water, taking advantage of Princess Jinping's wish.

Zhao Wenwan said: "according to my little girl's opinion, there is a flood, but the root is the dirty officials. If you don't remove it, the flood will be endless."

Everyone is savoring the meaning of it carefully. Such a unique insight is very novel. Noble girls are kept in the boudoir, and there are many young men from aristocratic families. Occasionally, those who are good at learning are only the sound of wind, rain, and reading. What is Zhao Wenwan's opinion on family and state affairs?

Of course, there are those who understand it, and they can't help but secretly admire and praise, it's a good opinion.

Wang Xueyuan was slightly taken aback, it was the first time she heard about flood control, but officials were punished, she quickly said: "Treatment of flood should not build waterways to appease the refugees, why bother to deal with corrupt officials, you are just talking nonsense ?”

The concubine's heart skipped a beat when she heard this, and she secretly winked at Wang Xueyuan, telling her to pay attention to her words and stop talking nonsense, but Wang Xueyuan was getting angry, and seemed to feel that she was right, and even forgot that Zhao Wenwan was The newly appointed leader.

"Where are there refugees? Where are there floods?" Zhao Wenwan asked with a sneer, with a sneer at the corner of his mouth, with obvious provocation.

"Why not? Jiangnan has many rivers and a small population. The floods are unmanaged, and the rivers have no fixed embankments. Although water conservancy has been built and some canals have been dug over the years, the floods have never stopped. It can be said that there are many natural disasters and man-made disasters." These are all she read from books, how can there be any mistakes?

"My little girl also heard from my father this year that there have been many rains in the south of the Yangtze River for several days, and the floods have flooded, and the refugees are everywhere. The Holy One also broadcast relief money for the relief of the people for the second prince to appease. My father sighed repeatedly because of this. Day. How can you say no?"

Zhao Wenwan was not in a hurry at all, she looked leisurely and leisurely, staring at Wang Xueyuan, who became more and more excited as she talked, her cheeks were slightly red, and she spoke generously, the more self-confident and talented she was, the more she would criticize the losing woman Not to be reconciled, she must have held a lot of suffocation in her heart, no matter, let her feel at ease now, and she will feel better in a while.

"Some refugees travel all the way from the south of the Yangtze River to the north..."

With a "pop", a teacup rolled down to the ground and fell to Wang Xueyuan's feet. After a glimmer of cold light, Wang Xueyuan flinched and frowned, not knowing what was wrong?Want to make the princess like this?

It was obvious that Zhao Wenwan had already lost the wind, but she didn't even refute a word.

Wang Xueyuan had no choice but to keep silent, Zhao Wenwan condensed her expression, and suddenly said sternly: "Miss Wang is so courageous? How dare you slander the Holy Majesty."

"I... I didn't... What nonsense are you talking about?" Wang Xueyuan was shocked by Zhao Wenwan's fierce aura.

"You said that the people in the south of the Yangtze River are suffering from floods?"

"That's the truth, even my father once lamented that!"

The crown prince's face was completely darkened, Wang Xueyuan really broke her head from reading!I don't want to say that I am ashamed now, I guess I will also implicate my uncle, but I can't break the rules.

Zhao Wenwan sneered, and then said seriously: "The Holy Lord Xuande has been on the throne for three years. In the past 20 years, he has worked hard, worked hard, made great efforts to govern, lightly paid and paid little money, and recuperated with the people. Now it is the great Liang that is singing and dancing, and it is a peaceful and prosperous age. Otherwise, you and I Why are you here so leisurely to have a banquet, and why is it such a natural and man-made disaster as Miss Wang said? Tell me, are you slandering the Holy One? My father often said that Daliang has such a monarch, and we are lucky in our three lives."

Look, people often speak well for their father, but Wang Xueyuan... hey...

"But..." She wanted to talk about the floods in the south of the Yangtze River, and the refugees are well known to everyone.

Zhao Wenwan seemed to see what she wanted to say, and suppressed it directly, "Although floods in the south happen from time to time, the damage to good farmland every year is not too much. It can be seen that the places with serious floods are only a few places near the embankment."

"Then why are there still so many refugees in the southern land, and the reported memorials are all serious." The male visitor couldn't help asking curiously,
Zhao Wenwan glanced at the crowd, "It's because of greed."

"Every time the disaster relief is over, some officials' mansions can always be renovated..." Zhao Wenwan's eyes lit up, and when she clicked, everyone understood what she meant, and immediately sighed. In this way, the money for disaster relief will be corrupted, and the people will not receive relief, resulting in more and more refugees.

"The temple is high and far away, so it is difficult to see the hardships of the people." Zhao Wenwan sighed from the perspective of the emperor. After the emperor's flattery, although he was a little more obedient, his majesty is indeed wise now. Corrupt officials and corrupt officials in the south of the Yangtze River have many problems. If it is not rectified, there will be endless troubles.

His Majesty now agrees with Zhao Wenwan's proposal, he must have already noticed it, and Gu Jingxing wrote all the topics of Qionghua Banquet this time. Gu Jingxing was listening to Zhao Wenwan's point of view at the Qionghua Banquet, which was actually the same as his own, his eyes became deeper and deeper, as if he could no longer take his eyes off, that slender figure gradually became clear in the overlapping sparse shadows stand up.

Zhao Wenwan continued: "I didn't know that my daughter is not talented. I heard my father and elder brother talking about it a few times, and I kept it in my heart. Unfortunately, the Holy Majesty chose this as the title. It can be said that I borrow flowers to offer Buddha. Your Majesty's rewards should be given to me. My big brother is."

The Empress Dowager suddenly asked and answered: "Yuan Li has been a genius since he was a child, is this banquet coming?"

"It's right there." Zhao Wenwan cast his gaze over there, and Zhao Yuanli respectfully got up and saluted.

So that's the end of the story, how can a daughter who has never been to Jiangnan know such details, the Queen Mother nodded in satisfaction.

The crown prince's face was dull, and she quickly reprimanded: "Xueyuan kneels down quickly."

Wang Xueyuan was startled when she heard this, but was brought back to her senses by the scolding from the Crown Princess, and hurriedly knelt on the ground to beg the Queen Mother for mercy, and the Crown Princess echoed her, saying that Wang Xueyuan was young and ignorant.

Empress Dowager Dou was generous and asked Wang Xueyuan to retreat. Wang Xueyuan walked in the two rows, and all the male guests who listened were sighing. Such a woman would not dare to marry, and would dare to say that the Holy One was wrong. What she said would definitely affect her official career and harm her family. She sat back in her seat in disgrace, weeping secretly.

After the banquet, Zhao Wenwan asked Zhao Wenxuan to carry her skirt all the way to the gate of the palace. Along the way, the noble ladies looked and pointed, and secretly covered their lips and sneered. Zhao Wenxuan was not prone to seizures. Then, Zhao Wenwan walked fast for a while, and strolled for a while, stomping Zhao Wenxuan angrily.

Suddenly seeing a familiar tall figure at the gate of the palace, Zhao Wenwan waved her hand to make Zhao Wenxuan step aside, such a casual attitude fell into Zhao Wenxuan's eyes, she felt that she was being played around like a servant, wishing to rush Going up, as soon as I lifted my body, there seemed to be a click on my waist, and tears burst out of pain.

Not far away, red plum blossoms are waiting to bloom. Standing under the plum tree in an inky black brocade suit, against the backdrop of sparse shadows, Zhao Wenwan is fascinated by the sight for a moment. Xin Dao, the third young master of the capital, should be the number one of this person It is, not Gu Jingxing.

"Mr. Feng." Zhao Wenwan smiled and greeted Yanyan.

Gu Jingxing's eyes dimmed, and there was a very shallow smile on the corner of his mouth, and he said in a low voice, "Congratulations, Miss Zhao, for being named county lord."

Looking at those eyes, Zhao Wenwan felt that she was falling into the deep abyss and intoxicating. She, who was already generous, did not hide the satisfaction in her eyes. With a thought, she blurted out and asked, "Your Majesty promised me for a lifetime. Can a couple still count?"

Gu Jingxing paused when he heard the words, and then raised his pretty brows slightly, only to remember that he kept this idea in his heart, but Feng Yuxiu, after learning about it, announced it to the world with his own pen and ink.At this time, the person Zhao Wenwan asked was that person...

Facing Zhao Wenwan's bright and expectant eyes, Gu Jingxing only felt that the suffocated breath in his heart became more and more uncomfortable. After looking at her deeply for a long time, he finally realized what he had been unwilling to admit for a long time, his complexion suddenly sank, and he said nothing left.

"..." Zhao Wenwan, who was left in a daze, felt a chill on his back for no reason.

(End of this chapter)