The fake daughter of a fallen ghost is reborn

At this moment, a servant came to report: "Your Highness, Mr. Jiang is here."

"Pass it on." Prince Cheng's brows relaxed slightly, and he said with a smile: "Ting Liu, this is the person you recommended to me. He is quite good and won the first place in this year's imperial examination."

The person who came in had soft facial features, clear eyebrows and eyes, and had the humility and bookish air of a scholar. Looking at him made people feel relaxed and happy, as if bathed in the spring breeze.

He just bowed and said, "Jiang Xu greets His Royal Highness Prince Cheng."

Xue Tingliu glanced at him sideways, not knowing what he was thinking.

Noticing Xue Tingliu's eyes, Jiang Xu was also a little confused.

Previously, he did suspect that Xue Tingliu and his sister were colluding to replace the policy papers, but he did not expect that everything was exactly as the woman from the Xue family said. Not long after he returned to the Imperial College, he was recruited by Prince Sheng.

It's just that at that time, His Royal Highness Prince Cheng was still in Yuzhou, and the person who met him was Xue Tingliu. What's more, he didn't expect that Xue Tingliu was also an adviser of Prince Cheng's mansion.

Perhaps Xue Tingliu's purpose in changing the policy paper was to get ahead of others so that he could recommend him to King Cheng.

It’s just… he always felt that Xue Tingliu looked at him with unfriendly eyes.

"Jiang Xu, you came here so late at night, is there something wrong?"

Gu Shimin's voice brought Jiang Xu back to his senses. He knelt down solemnly and said, "When Jiang Xu went to Beijing to take the imperial examination, I was fortunate to be recruited by His Royal Highness Prince Cheng, who also allowed me to stay in the palace temporarily. Now the court has granted me a palace, and I have to bid farewell now. Your Highness has been very kind to me, so please accept my three bows!"

After saying this, he kowtowed to Gu Shimin seriously.

Gu Shimin personally stepped forward and helped him up: "This prince is a person who cherishes talent and cannot bear to see poor students suffer. Now that you have won the top spot in the imperial examination, this prince is truly happy for you."

Jiang Xu's eyes were earnest and sincere. "Your Highness is a prince. You have guarded the border for Dayong for many years. You are also sympathetic to the poor and care about the people. You are different from others in the court. Jiang Xu is willing to establish himself for the people of the world and sacrifice his life for Your Highness. I only hope that one day, I can create a peaceful and prosperous era for Dayong."

Gu Shimin just patted him on the shoulder and said: "Dayong also needs pure people like you. If all the scholars in the world can have this heart, Dayong's foundation will be unshakable, and the people of the world will be able to enjoy peace."

But Jiang Xu's eyes were firm: "Your Highness, my father and mother were killed because they offended the powerful. My family was broken up and my relatives were separated. Since then, I have made up my mind to make achievements and seek justice for my parents and the people of the world."

"Don't worry." Gu Shimin said, "You are now the top scholar, and His Majesty will certainly use you. With me here, those noble families in the court who flatter the powerful and bully the weak will not dare to suppress you. You will definitely be able to show your skills in the officialdom, and your parents will definitely be able to avenge themselves."

Jiang Xu's eyes were clear and full of hope. He was a little excited and bowed again: "Jiang Xu thanks Your Highness!"

Prince Cheng consoled him with a few more words before he calmed down a little and bowed and left.

Looking at the direction Jiang Xu left, Xue Tingliu couldn't help but sneer: "He is a good material for studying, but not necessarily a good material for being an official."

Gu Shimin could only shake his head helplessly: "Do you know what is good and what is bad about being a poor student?"

Xue Tingliu said respectfully: "Your Highness, please teach me."

Gu Shimin said, "Among the poor candidates who pursue fame and fortune, there are also many people like Jiang Xu who care about the common people and the country."

After that, he smiled and sighed: "However, rather than saying that he is a pure person, it is better to say that he is too naive. He is so naive that he really thinks that he can rule the country and the world by reading the Four Books and Five Classics, and that he can avoid the intrigues and conspiracies in the officialdom by having a pure heart."

"Yes." Xue Tingliu agreed, "Who in the officialdom doesn't know how to read? The so-called governing a country is not about how to make the people live comfortably, but how to control the people, so that they are loyal to Dayong and dare not have the slightest intention of rebellion, and live in peace and contentment, like the dishes on a banquet."

As he spoke, he smiled contemptuously: "When the dishes are ready, the diners will have the energy to fight for the dishes on the table - the so-called power struggle has been like this in every dynasty."

Gu Shimin found it more and more interesting, and couldn't help but clapped his hands and sighed: "Ting Liu can always guess what is in my mind."

Xue Tingliu bowed: "Your Highness, thank you for your compliment."

"You're right." Gu Shimin said, "But it's precisely because of Jiang Xu's innocence that it's easier to use him. You don't even need to promise him any benefits. Just whisper a few words of these unrealistic ambitions to him and he will be willing to sacrifice his life for me without asking for anything in return. He may even think that I'm his mentor and have done him a favor."

Xue Tingliu said: "Your Highness is wise. Jiang Xu is a man who hates the powerful and wealthy. He will never join Prince Gong. We can use such a man with confidence."

……

In a few days, the Qionglin Banquet will be approaching.

The palace was already very busy preparing for this banquet, especially the Imperial Garden where the banquet was held, which was already decorated with lights and colors.

Xue Zhiyi was also busy with her work.

According to the rules, at the Qionglin Banquet, the royal family would personally bestow hairpin flowers on the students, to be pinned on their hats as a sign of special honor.

This year's hairpin was given by the Empress Dowager herself. Xue Zhiyi was getting it from the Shanggong Bureau and bringing it back to Jianzhang Palace.

In addition, she also had her own things to deal with. After all, the death of Tan Yu Niang alone was not enough. If she wanted to achieve her goal, the daughter of the Dali Temple Minister had to play a role.

Just when she was busy, she was stopped by a palace maid on her way back to Jianzhang Palace from the Shanggong Bureau.

Xue Zhiyi only put on a polite smile and said, "Which lady has an errand to ask for?"

The palace maid said, "Concubine Song has summoned you."

Xue Zhiyi just blinked lightly. After so many days, Concubine Song finally came to see her.

She said, "I am in a hurry to return to Jianzhang Palace to report to the Queen Mother. Later I will go to Cuiwei Palace to ask to see Lady Song."

The palace maid said, "Lady Song is in the Imperial Garden. It won't take long. Please go over quickly."

Xue Zhiyi's eyes jumped slightly: He was actually so impatient that he came here in person to block people. If this was the case, it would be even better.

Xue Zhiyi just pretended to be distressed and said "yes", then followed the palace maid.

When I saw Concubine Song, I found that she had changed her attire. She had been out of favor for a long time, but today she was wearing new clothes made of the latest fabrics. The head ornaments on her bun were also more gorgeous than that of a beauty. She was also wearing shiny gold bracelets on her hands. I guess it was a reward from His Majesty after she became pregnant.

Xue Zhiyi simply bowed politely and said, "This servant greets Lady Song."

I saw Lady Song being supported and slowly walking to within one step of Xue Zhiyi, her raised eyebrows showing a look of condescending disgust.

She sneered coldly and said in a deep voice: "Xue Zhiyi, stop pretending. I know it's all your doing."