Madam, protect me!

"You agreed?"

Li Nuo looked at his wife with a look of astonishment.

On the day of the ceremony, traveling together by car or horseback is the exclusive privilege of the first lady.

Imagine wearing exquisite makeup and gorgeous clothes, riding a horse or sitting in a car, parading along Chang'an Avenue. The roadside is full of onlookers, whether they are women from poor families or high-ranking officials. The noble daughters all looked at him with envy and jealousy.

This kind of opportunity only comes once in a lifetime.

Even though Li Anning is a princess, she cannot enjoy this kind of treatment.

She was actually willing to give half of it to Yi Ren.

Of the two sisters, one really dared to speak and the other dared to agree.

Song Jiaren nodded and said: "They can't tell anyway. If she wants to sit for a while, let her sit for a while. Grandma said that I should give her some space."

Li Nuo's lips moved, but in the end he couldn't say anything.

Since his wife had no objections, how could he dare to have any objections.

If Song Yiren doesn't agree, she will definitely make trouble.

Li Nuo has seen too many such things with Mu'er and Ning'er.

It was better to follow her and make Song Yiren anxious. She wanted to do something to him while his wife was away, but he couldn't even resist.

It's strange to say that the twins were born just a little apart, so why is the older sister always the more sensible one?

Regardless of the sisters, Li Nuo took his wife over again, let her sit on his lap, and continued what Song Yiren had interrupted just now...

…

March twenty-first.

Before dawn, the guards had already cleaned Chang'an Street and rinsed it with clean water until it was spotless.

Today is the day when new academicians parade through the streets, and Chang'an Street will be under martial law for half a day.

During this half-day period, no pedestrians or cars are allowed to pass through the main street of Chang'an Street. Anyone who violates the order will be fined a small amount of money, and even a powerful official will be imprisoned.

Today's Chang'an belongs to the new Jinshi.

Li Mansion.

Li Nuo got up early, not only because a car from the Ministry of Etiquette would come to pick him up soon, but before leaving home, he also wanted to give his wife a beautiful make-up.

She doesn't wear much makeup on weekdays, but today she has to show her face in front of so many people, so she must show off her most beautiful side.

Song Jiaren sat in front of the bronze mirror, and Li Nuo braided her hair first.

As the first lady, she can wear the phoenix crown today.

Yesterday afternoon, the etiquette department sent their dresses.

Of course, wearing a phoenix crown cannot wear a ponytail. Li Nuo wants to give her a dignified hairstyle.

Song Yiren arrived at Li Mansion early in the morning.

She was going to take a bus for a parade today. She was so excited that she couldn't sleep all night yesterday.

When he walked into the room, he happened to see Li Nuo drawing Song Jiaren's eyebrows, and the smile on her face immediately disappeared.

He was supposed to be his husband, but he was doing eyebrows and makeup for others.

She just felt extremely sour in her heart, and she didn't even have anyone to talk to.

After a while, Li Nuo put a flower on the lady's forehead, a smile appeared on his face, and said, "Okay."

Song Yiren looked at the woman who looked exactly like herself in front of her, and felt a sense of astonishment.

She knew she was beautiful, but she didn't know she could be this beautiful.

She obviously has the same face, but standing next to Song Jiaren, she looks like her maid.

After the lady left the dressing table, Li Nuo glanced at Song Yiren who was standing at the door and said, "What are you doing standing still? Come here, it's almost time. The people from the Ministry of Etiquette will be here soon..."

Song Yiren was slightly startled. She looked back and found that there was no one behind her. She pointed at herself and said uncertainly: "Me?"

Of course Li Nuo was talking about her.

When the time comes, the carriage will set off from the palace gate and stop at Li's Mansion on the way. At that time, the lady will change with her.

They look exactly the same, have the same hair, and the same makeup. Let alone outsiders, Li Nuo himself may not be able to tell them apart.

Song Yiren sat in front of the mirror, her face slightly red, but it was not easy to see because of the rouge.

This is the first time someone has dressed her up in her entire life.

Women from the sect rarely wear makeup.

Mother wouldn't teach her this either.

She fled all the way from Sanqing Mountain to Chang'an. On the way, she came into contact with rouge and gouache for the first time. She still remembers that the first time she put on makeup, she was so ugly.

But Rouge, who didn't really listen to her words, appeared in the most suitable place every time he touched it.

It would be nice if someone would dress her up every day from now on.

Li Nuo quickly put on Song Yiren's makeup and put a flower pattern exactly like the lady's on her forehead.

Now that the two people were standing together, even Li Nuo couldn't tell them apart immediately.

His timing was perfect. As soon as he put on makeup for Yi Ren, Butler Wu walked in from the outside and said, "Master, the people from the Ministry of Etiquette are here."

New scholars must first go to the palace to see the emperor and thank him for his kindness.

Li Nuo looked at Song Jiaren and said, "Madam, please change into your dress first and wait at home for a while. Someone from the Etiquette Department will pick you up then."

After admonishing her, Li Nuo walked out of Li Mansion and got into a carriage hanging with red silk.

Within the Li Mansion.

Two sisters sat across from each other at a table.

Song Yiren glanced at Song Jiaren and felt a strange feeling in her heart.

Although she blamed Song Jiaren for stealing her husband-in-law, she had to admit that she was the most dear person to her in the world.

I haven't seen my father since I was a child, so it's hard to have too close feelings for him.

As for her mother..., she was more afraid.

Only this sister, who has the same appearance as her, can make her feel a kind of intimacy that comes from blood.

It would have been better if she hadn't robbed her husband.

Song Jiaren looked at Song Yiren, looking at this extremely familiar face, and she also felt a strange feeling in her heart.

…

Within the palace.

One hundred new scholars entered the hall neatly.

Li Nuo was wearing a red python robe, a golden flower and black gauze on his head, and a few palace flowers in his hat. He was led by the doctor of the Ministry of Etiquette and walked at the front of the crowd.

The hall was empty, not a single official.

The purpose of this arrangement is to let the new scholars who come to the palace for the first time know whose ministers they are.

Lu Sheng stood at the front, and first spoke impassionedly, probably praising the Emperor's merits. The new scholars can stand here because His Majesty cherishes talents, and they should always keep His Majesty's kindness in mind...

The opening speech lasted for a full quarter of an hour. At a certain moment, he turned to look at the one hundred new scholars and said loudly: "Thank you for your grace!"

"Thank you for your grace!"

One hundred new scholars, neatly bowed three times and kowtowed nine times to the Emperor of Daxia.

The first item of the ceremony is to thank the emperor for his kindness, and the second item is the roll call.

Roll call, as the name suggests, officials from the Ministry of Rites will read out the names of new scholars, firstly to report to the emperor, and secondly to announce to the world.

Outside the main hall, a guard stood at regular intervals. Every time the officials of the Ministry of Rites read a name, they would pass on the Jinshi's name one after another until it spread throughout Chang'an Street.

People had already gathered around Chang'an Street, and the Jinshi were very dignified by roll call in this way.

The front of the hall.

The Emperor of Daxia sat on the dragon throne and glanced at the figures standing at the front.

According to convention, those standing in those positions are the top scorers in the imperial examination and the top scorers in individual subjects.

good.

In addition to outstanding literary talent, the top picks of this year are all also beautiful in appearance.

Especially the number one scholar at the front is really a talented person, giving him a very special feeling.

No matter which one of these people is worthy of the position of Prince Consort.

Lu Sheng walked to the center of the hall and shouted: "First place in the imperial examination, Li Nuo!"

Li Nuo took a step forward and bowed to the front of the hall. Although he was curious, he did not look up.

It is disrespectful to look directly at His Majesty. This kind of stupid mistake should not be made.

Lu Sheng paused and spoke again: "Second place, Cui Jing."

Behind Li Nuo, a handsome man came out, bowed respectfully to the front, and then returned to his original position.

"Third place, Wang Lin."

"Fourth place, Pei Qian."

…

"No. 86, Zhou Yu."

"Eighty-seventh place, Du Xuan."

…

"No. 100, Lu Haoran."

After Lu Sheng finished reading the last name, he closed the book in his hand and said, "Your Majesty, the roll call of one hundred new scholars has been completed."

Emperor Xia frowned and asked, "Where are the number one students in the six subjects? Why didn't I hear their names being sung?"

Although the top scorer in the six subjects is not as important as the top scorer in the imperial examination, the Ministry of Rites should not omit their names. This is an omission that should not occur.

Lu Sheng's throat moved and he said: "Your Majesty, in this imperial examination, the number one winner in the six subjects is Li Nuo, the number one in the new subject, so the roll call was not repeated."

"What?"

Emperor Xia stood up from the dragon chair.

It was the same person who won the top prize in six subjects last time.

That time it was Li Xuanjing.

This time it was Li Nuo.

In the hundreds of years since the founding of Daxia, the only two champions in six subjects were tied to one person, both when he was the emperor.

"Li Nuo, Li Nuo..." Emperor Xia muttered the name, "Why does this name sound familiar..."

A eunuch walked up to him and whispered a few words.

Emperor Xia finally remembered something, and a hint of surprise appeared in his eyes.

At this time, Lu Sheng, the doctor of the Ministry of Rites, spoke again and asked for instructions: "Your Majesty, can we proceed with the next part of the ceremony?"

After the roll call, the new scholars must be brought to worship at the Confucian Temple. This item has a strict time limit.

Emperor Xia said solemnly: "Let's proceed in order."

After Lu Sheng led all the Jinshi out of the hall, the Minister of Rites walked in quickly, bowed to Emperor Xia, and said: "Your Majesty, Your Majesty once said at the great court meeting that one of the number one scholars will be selected as Princess An Ning. Your consort, now, the number one scholar in the six subjects is all one person, and the new champion in the new subject is already married. The Ministry of Rites doesn’t know how to deal with it, so I ask Your Majesty to make a decision..."

Emperor Xia rubbed his fingers on the armrests of the dragon chair and fell into silence.

When he made such a decision that day, he never imagined that such a situation would arise.

If a promise is made privately, there is still room for retraction.

But that was said at a great court meeting, in front of the officials of the world, so is there any reason to go back on it?

The new No. 1 scholar is already married. If he is ordered to divorce his wife and marry a princess, I don't know how the people will talk about it. I am afraid that the royal family will have to bear infamy hundreds of years later.

He thought for a while and said: "It is rare in ancient and modern times to be number one in six subjects. Marrying such a talented person is not considered as wronging An Ning. The Ministry of Rites followed the regulations and chose a good time and auspicious day to arrange the princess's marriage normally. The wife of the number one scholar's original wife was given a royal title. We are both the head wives with the princess, but we don’t bow to the princess when we see her..."

The Minister of Rites bowed again and said: "I obey the decree."

A royal princess has never been the head wife of another woman.

However, the top scorers in the six subjects are so rare that it is reasonable to make an exception.

For hundreds of years, there have been countless princesses in the royal family, but only two have won the top scorers in the six subjects.

Your Majesty's move not only fulfilled his original promise, but also did not cause criticism to the royal family.

But Princess An Ning was wronged.

Emperor Xia also sighed and said, "I was not thoughtful at the time, but you are not kidding. Now I can only arrange it this way. I hope An Ning will not blame me..."