Chapter 5
Chapter 5
Before long, the Metropolitan Examination began, and Gu Qinglan emerged victorious, taking the top spot as the Huiyuan.
Everyone was buzzing with excitement.
If Gu Qinglan were to be personally selected by the Emperor as the Zhuangyuan during the Palace Examination, it would be a rare occurrence of the ‘Triple First’-a feat seen only once in a century.
In history, the number of people who achieved the Triple First could be counted on one’s fingers: three in the Tang Dynasty and six in the Song Dynasties. Each of them attained high office, great wealth, and a place in the history books.
If Gu Qinglan achieved the Triple First, it would be a source of immense pride and comfort for Prince Anyang and the Princess Consort of Anyang.
Furthermore, his future would be secured.
Become the Zhuangyuan, enter the Hanlin Academy, become a Grand Secretary, and eventually a powerful minister. This was the ‘path to the blue clouds’ that every scholar yearned for.
In the original plot, Gu Qinglan attained this supreme honor for scholars, gaining the recognition of all literati. He subsequently became famous throughout the land, easily befriending many great scholars, civil officials, and military generals, thereby laying the groundwork for his future rebellion.
But now, I will not let him have his way.
The day before the Palace Examination, I went to seek an audience with my Imperial Father and told him directly about Gu Qinglan’s origins.
My Empress Mother once told me that when one can borrow power, one should use it. Only a fool fails to fight for or protect their own interests.
The Palace Examination was my Imperial Father’s domain. If he were to choose the son of his enemy as the Zhuangyuan, it would be a true laughingstock.
My Imperial Father was furious. “This is absolutely impossible.”
His men had been strictly monitoring Prince Anyang and his wife. If they didn’t even know about the couple having a secret son, it meant his people had either defected or grown complacent long ago.
The corners of my mouth curled slightly into a mocking smile. “Gu Qinglan bears a striking resemblance to the Princess Consort of Anyang. If you compare them carefully, you will see.”
My Imperial Father’s expression turned somber. “I understand.”
“Imperial Father, since I have brought you this news, what reward will you give me?”
“Lingnan can be your appanage, but it absolutely cannot be your fief.”
He waved his hand, signaling for me to withdraw.
As I walked out of Qinzheng Hall, I wasn’t satisfied.
There was a massive difference between an appanage and a fief.
A fief would be a place that belonged solely to me. I would be its master, able to collect taxes, conscript soldiers, open mines, and even nominate officials.
An appanage, however, merely gave me a bit more money-it was better than nothing, but barely.
Moreover, Lingnan was a desolate place. If it weren’t for the fact that Gu Qinglan’s parents were there-making it convenient for me to hold them hostage once he became successful-I wouldn’t have wanted that place even as an appanage.
The next day, while the Palace Examination proceeded in tense silence, I went to the most prosperous jewelry shop in the capital, arriving just in time to watch a great drama unfold.
Su Mengyao, Su Qianyu’s younger sister, shook her head with a look of regret.
“Sister, they are running a business; why would they wrong you for no reason? It’s clear you broke the jade bracelet, yet you refuse to admit it. Our Su family has always maintained a clean reputation and never resorts to fraud. Though you are my elder sister, I cannot take your side today. Please pay the money so you don’t tarnish the reputation of our Su family.”
What a sharp tongue.
Su Qianyu frowned. She could see that this was a trap specifically designed for her.
Suppressing her anger, she asked softly, “Manager, do you feel the same way?”
The manager’s eyes flickered as he smiled. “Eldest Miss Su, if it were my own item, if it broke, it broke-I would consider it the price of befriending you. But this item was left in my shop by someone else on consignment. If I don’t seek compensation, I truly cannot face the owner. How about this? I’ll give you a discount. You pay three thousand taels of silver, and we’ll call it even.”
Su Qianyu’s beautiful face turned cold. “Manager, according to the laws of the Great Xia Dynasty, falsely accusing others carries a penalty two degrees higher than the crime itself, including a hundred strokes of the cane and three years in prison. Your business is large and established; why involve yourself in such matters?”
The manager’s expression shifted slightly. He glanced at Su Mengyao but quickly made up his mind and stuck to his story.
“Eldest Miss Su, if you truly cannot afford to pay, it’s fine. I’ll sacrifice my old face and go with you to the owner of the bracelet to apologize. At most, we’ll just have to kneel. The owner is kind-hearted and surely won’t make things difficult for you.”