Chapter 60 Concubine Cui (Subscription Request)
Jiaofang Hall.

This is where the imperial concubine Cui lives, but strangely, there are very few eunuchs and palace maids coming and going, making it look a bit deserted.

At this time, the eunuch who was delivering the message came quickly and quietly, and after being reported by the palace servants, he was quickly brought in.

"Your servant greets Imperial Concubine Cui!"

Behind the light gauze veil, there was a pretty girl sitting, holding a book in one hand as if she was deep in thought.

After a few breaths, a faint questioning voice came: "What's the matter?"

"To reply to Concubine Cui, today is the day of the martial arts examination and the number one scholar banquet."

"Your Majesty has issued an order that Concubine Cui's two brothers, Cui Xia Zhao and Cui Xia Wu, have won the first place in the civil and military examinations respectively. This is a major event for the country. A banquet will be held tonight for all the ministers. Concubine Cui is invited to attend the banquet."

"The top scholar in the civil examination or the top scholar in the military examination?"

Concubine Cui's voice was also somewhat surprised at this time, and she asked in confusion: "It is true that Cui Xiazhao is my eldest brother, but who is this Cui Xiawu?"

"Wu Zi, which uncle's son is this?"

"This……"

The young eunuch hesitated for a moment and then said, "I don't know."

"But I heard from the ministers in the court that the Cui family has two top scorers in the imperial examinations. This is a great event. I don't know how many people went to the Cui Mansion to congratulate them. Mr. Cui was also smiling from ear to ear."

The young eunuch knelt on the ground with his heart beating fast. He had finally managed to get this opportunity to come to the Pepper Palace to pass on the imperial decree from his godfather Liu Chengen. If...

"What's your name?"

Imperial Concubine Cui suddenly asked, and the young eunuch quickly said, "My name is Ma Bao."

"Ma Bao, right? Look at the reward."

"No~"

Behind the white curtain, a little maid came out respectfully and handed Ma Bao a piece of silver.

Ma Bao's face lit up with joy, and he quickly said, "Thank you, my lady, thank you, my lady!"

"Go down and tell His Majesty that I will go to the banquet myself."

"promise!"

Ma Bao quickly got up and retreated.

Behind the white veil, Concubine Cui also slowly stood up.

The sunlight shone through the paper window, revealing the true face of Concubine Cui.

She was wearing a light green palace dress. She was not very tall, but rather petite.

His eyes were as bright as stars, his face was a delicate oval shape, his complexion was slightly pale, and he exuded a friendly scholarly aura.

"My Lady, the Cui family has two number one scholars in the imperial examination. This is truly a blessing for the family."

The little maid walked in quickly and congratulated Concubine Cui, "Congratulations, Your Majesty, congratulations, Your Majesty."

"What's the good news?"

Concubine Cui asked back.

"This... that's the top scholar. Young Master Xia Zhao studied hard for ten years and finally got what he wanted."

"And there is Master Cui Xiawu. Although we don't know him, he is also a member of the Cui family after all."

"Two top scholars in one family, this is something that many families would beg for but cannot achieve~"

"Ugh……"

Concubine Cui shook her head, her face full of worry.

"If Brother Xia Zhao won the first place, that would be a good thing, but who is this Brother Xia Wu?"

"Two top scholars in one family, your majesty is putting my Cui family on the spot."

"In this way, my Cui family has attracted the attention of most officials in the court. I wonder how many people who curry favor with the powerful will gather here and become vassals of my Cui family."

"If this continues, my Cui family may become prominent for a while, but we will definitely offend countless family officials."

"Just like the...Lu family!"

The maid was also startled: "What should we do? I heard that the old man is very happy~"

Concubine Cui could only helplessly say: "Xiao'er, help me wash and change clothes."

"The future of our Cui family depends entirely on your majesty."

"We must not follow Yang Ni's old path."

"My Pepper Room Palace cannot become the second Yonghe Palace."

“Yes~!”

In the misty bathing room, Concubine Cui sank into the hot spring with only her jade-white shoulders exposed, closing her eyes in deep thought.

Two maids slowly bathed and wiped it.

Under the hot spring, Concubine Cui still had a frown on her face.

"Alas, if you want to protect my Cui family, you must befriend His Majesty."

"But before Master left, he strictly ordered me not to have sex with him until I had reached the third level of Qi training. Otherwise, if I lose my virginity, at best my power would be lost, or at worst I would be seriously injured."

"What should I do?"

The rippling water of the hot spring clearly indicated that Concubine Cui was in a state of panic.

"In the past, I could use the excuse of falling into the water and being seriously ill to avoid being listed in the Jingshifang, but today..."

"It's been more than four years. If I don't sleep with Your Majesty, not only Your Majesty, but even the old master will be so angry that he will beat his chest and stamp his feet."

"Alas... the secular world really does not allow cultivators to practice."

"No wonder she wanted to leave even though I begged Master to stay."

"Now, it's my turn."

She sighed deeply and slowly stretched out her two arms, which were as tender and white as green onions.

"Miss?"

"Okay, wipe and change my clothes for me."

“Yes~!”

The pink palace dress was gradually put on her delicate body, and her whole temperament changed in an instant.

From the elegant orchid in the valley, it then transforms into the delicate plum blossom as delicate as snow, which is indescribably tender.

"Fortunately, Master had anticipated this before he left, and left me the Bewitching Incense. This incense is most effective at confusing people and making them fall into a coma and sleep. Even a Xiantian Realm warrior cannot stop it."

"It's a pity that there are only three. I have to use them sparingly next time."

After putting on the palace dress, a woman with a delicate face but aloof temperament appeared outside the Pepper Room.

The sedan chair had been waiting outside the palace for a long time. Concubine Cui got on the sedan chair, and at a command, the team moved towards the Hall of Supreme Harmony.

The starlight was sparse, and as the team approached the Hall of Supreme Harmony, they actually ran into another team.

Concubine Cui's team slowly stopped, and after recognizing the other party's sedan chair, the people who were still standing immediately said respectfully: "Your servants greet the Queen!"

This sedan chair is actually the sedan chair of the current queen, Lu Lin'er!

On the sedan chair, Lu Lin'er was also dressed elegantly, but her face looked a little lost.

After giving birth to a daughter, her brother the emperor no longer trusted her.

In these few months, I haven’t been to Kunning Palace once!
Fortunately, today is the No. 1 Scholar Banquet, and according to ancestral rules, she, the queen, must attend, so she dressed up and came.

Tonight, I must make the emperor change his mind!
Concubine Cui also got off the sedan chair and said respectfully, "Your Highness, I greet you."

"It's you. The No. 1 Scholar Banquet is about to begin. I'll be there first. Concubine Cui, please hurry up."

"Oh, by the way, your Cui family actually has two top scorers in this imperial examination. Congratulations in advance~"

After saying this, he ignored Concubine Cui who was standing beside him and hurriedly urged the sedan bearers to go to the Hall of Supreme Harmony.

"Empress~"

Xiao Er came over and asked curiously, "Why is the Queen so anxious today? She even ignored etiquette..."

Concubine Cui shook her head and said, "I don't know why His Majesty has ignored the Empress. She may be anxious to win back His Majesty's heart today."

"Empress~"

Xiao Er whispered again: "I heard that the Queen gave birth to a daughter and seemed to want to replace the prince with the grandson of the Lu family. Even the Queen Mother confined herself to her room, so..."

"Silence!"

Concubine Cui frowned and said, "This matter concerns the reputation of the royal family. You cannot gossip about it casually. Do you understand?"

“Yes~!”

The maid hurriedly said, and then Concubine Cui's team gradually arrived at the Hall of Supreme Harmony.

At this time, the Hall of Supreme Harmony was already bustling with activity. On the steps, court officials were drinking by themselves and talking in pairs of twos and threes.

Offstage, the situation was even more chaotic.

The scholars who passed the civil examination and the warriors who passed the military examination were placed on both sides, belonging to each other and not disturbing each other.

The scholars in the Wenju area were all reserved and self-controlled, speaking in a low and respectful voice, and the whole atmosphere was peaceful.

On the other hand, the martial arts candidates were all carefree and shouting. Some of them even stood on the table and played rock-paper-scissors, which scared the eunuchs next to them and kept pulling them down.

The main dragon throne was empty, but several important seats nearby were already occupied.

Her Majesty, worshiping Buddha for several months has made her look much calmer.

But for some reason, the empress dowager looked pale today, her eyes were tired, and no amount of rouge she put on her face could hide that tired look.

The queen standing by was also saying something cautiously, her eyes constantly looking in the direction of the Qiankun Palace.

As for the other seats, Concubine Cui, Concubine Duan, Concubine De, Concubine Bi, and Concubine Zhen also sat on both sides.

Behind them, there were wet nurses holding babies.

"Aunt, why do you look so tired? Didn't you get enough rest?"

The Queen Mother shook her head and said, "I don't know why, but I often dream about the late emperor these days. Maybe I'm getting old."

"Aunt, you are in your prime, how could you possibly be old~"

The queen smiled sweetly and said, "I don't know when the emperor brother will come back~"

"emperor……"

The Queen Mother murmured, her eyes looking somewhat unpleasant.

At this moment, a eunuch in the distance shouted, "Your Majesty has arrived~!"

"Wow~~"

As soon as he finished speaking, hundreds of ministers, scholars, warriors, eunuchs, palace maids, etc. present all stood up.

When Zheng Yi's guard of honor slowly approached, hundreds of people knelt down and shouted:

"See my emperor, long live my emperor!"

Inside and outside the Hall of Supreme Harmony, only the eunuchs and palace maids who served Zheng Yi, and the guards who protected the emperor's safety were still standing.

Zheng Yi slowly raised his hand and said, "Gentlemen, please stand up!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

"Today's state banquet is to celebrate the favorable weather and good harvests in Dayu, the longevity of civil and military officials, and the peace and prosperity of the country. Therefore, I rejoice with the heavens and the people."

"Today, everyone can relax and have fun." "Gentlemen, follow me in raising your glasses!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

There were countless compliments, and hundreds of people raised their glasses and shouted "Long live the emperor".

Accompanied by the clear sound of chimes, more than a dozen dancers quickly swam out from both sides, dancing the court dance taught by someone from the Ministry of Rites.

This dance was specially designed to sing the emperor's praises or celebrate the prosperity and peace. It was neat and gorgeous in form and had a relatively rigorous structure.

However, each of the dozen or so young palace maids was very pretty and had charming figures. Zheng Yi watched them with great interest and nodded continuously.

"Brother Emperor~"

Just then, Lu Lin'er came over with a charming voice, holding a pot of fine wine in her hand.

"You haven't come to Lin'er Palace for a long time. Lin'er misses you so much~"

Zheng Yi glanced at Lu Lin'er who had carefully interrupted him. Although Lu Lin'er was also wearing a bright red phoenix robe today, her figure was extremely plump, perhaps because she had just given birth to a child.

The originally delicate face now has some baby fat, and the eyes are greedy and gentle like water.

Especially since she was at the bottom at the moment, Zheng Yi could see the deep ravines between her breasts from his perspective, and his eyes were almost glued to her.

He finally managed to get rid of the knife and noticed the light of success on Lu Lin'er's face. He immediately frowned and said, "Lin'er, you still don't know your mistake?"

"Lin'er knows she was wrong, Lin'er really knows she was wrong!"

Lu Lin'er said quickly: "That, that thing was done by Aunt Fangcao alone, Lin, Lin'er really doesn't know about it."

"If your subordinates do something wrong, you, as the master, cannot escape the blame!"

Lu Lin'er quickly said, "Lin'er understands. Brother Emperor is right."

Seeing Lu Lin'er sincerely admitting her mistake, Zheng Yi nodded and said, "I have something else to do these days. I'll go to your place later."

Lu Lin'er's eyes lit up immediately, and she said quickly, "Yes, Brother Emperor, then Lin'er will wait for you in Kunning Palace."

After the queen left, Zheng Yi looked at Concubine Cui on the right, who had a calm face.

This girl's name is Cui Xiabing. She is the granddaughter of Cui Jinghao, the current cabinet minister in the court, and she comes from a prominent family.

Her appearance is not that of a delicate and beautiful one, but rather has a gentle and calm feeling.

I heard that this girl particularly likes reading. She was also a famous talented woman in the capital and has a strong bookish air.

In Zheng Yi's opinion, this girl is a beautiful girl who is a top student.

If she wears glasses...it would be even more amazing.

"Concubine Cui."

Concubine Cui was obviously stunned for a moment, then she quickly stood up and said, "Your Majesty."

"Are you feeling better?"

"Your Majesty, I am almost fully recovered."

"That's good. I was thinking that the doctors in the palace were not very skilled and could not treat my beloved concubine's illness."

"Your Majesty is serious."

"I heard that there are many rare books hidden in the palace of my beloved concubine. I wonder if I can go and see them?"

Concubine Cui looked helpless and could only say, "If Your Majesty wants to see it, I will open the bed to welcome you."

Zheng Yi said with satisfaction: "As expected of my beloved concubine..."

As soon as he finished speaking, he felt several jealous eyes directed at him.

Especially the Queen and Concubine Duan, Zheng Yi could sense a sour taste even from such a distance.

Zheng Yi just smiled indifferently. He was the emperor. He could go to whichever palace he wanted and sleep with whichever concubine he wanted.

Who can control him, and who dares to control him?

Oh, by the way, Concubine Duan also said that she would give Jianyu to me, but I wonder if Jianyu...

His eyes subconsciously looked behind Concubine Duan, where Jian Yu was standing prettily.

He had previously granted Jian Yu the status of a noble lady, hoping that they would enter the palace together during the selection.

If I had known earlier, I wouldn’t have said that and I could have tasted the flavor of sword rain in advance.

But there is no rush. He still has plenty of time and will be able to spend a night with Jian Yu sooner or later.

Perhaps feeling Zheng Yi's fiery gaze, Jian Yu also looked over subconsciously.

Then her face turned red and she lowered her head quickly.

The emperor promised to give her a noble status, and his words were golden. She was often laughed at by many sisters.

Now feeling the emperor's burning gaze, she became even more nervous.

The dancers danced gracefully and the guests clinked glasses.

The emperor's disciples were all smiling and toasting.

Zheng Yi accepted everyone who came and soon became a little drunk.

But he was a first-grade warrior after all, and he recovered quickly.

"Announce...the top three candidates in the civil and military examinations to come to the emperor's court!"

As soon as the words fell, six people came forward.

The top scorer in the imperial examination was Cui Xiazhao, the second place was Li Ziyang, and the third place was Wang Anshi.

The top scorer in the martial arts examination was Cui Xiawu, the second place was Chen Hongxiu, and the third place was Zhao Tieshan.

After the top scorer in the martial arts examination was decided, Zhao Tieshan and Tian Yiguang competed again.

The winner was Zhao Tieshan, who was immediately chosen as the third place in the martial arts examination!
Poor Tian Yiguang, he was playing rock-paper-scissors and drinking with a few friends outside the hall, and he was drunk.

Liu Chengen, who was standing by, had already taken out the eunuch he had prepared and announced loudly, "The Emperor, by the order of Heaven and Mandate, decrees: The number one scholar in the literary examination, Cui Xiazhao, is appointed as an editor in the Hanlin Academy."

"I appoint Li Ziyang, the runner-up in the imperial examination, as an editor in the Hanlin Academy."

"Appoint Wang Anshi, the third place winner in the imperial examination, as an editor in the Hanlin Academy."

"I hope the three of you, my dear ministers, can be selfless and dedicated to serving the country and the people. I hereby decree this!"

The three of them immediately knelt down and said respectfully: "Students obey your orders!"

In every imperial examination, the top scorer was awarded the title of editor in the Hanlin Academy, a sixth-rank official.

The second and third place winners were appointed editors of the Hanlin Academy, a seventh-rank official.

However, these are just reliable conventions. After staying in the Hanlin Academy for a period of time, everyone will have their own arrangements.

After the civil examination was arranged, it was the turn of the military examination.

The three men stepped forward, and Zheng Yi said with a smile: "You three are the first place winners of the martial arts examination since the founding of the Great Yu Dynasty, and there is no convention to confer titles."

"I would like to ask you three what you think at this time."

As soon as he finished speaking, the officials around him looked grim.

The emperor asked this, does this mean he is going to give it directly to the powerful officials?

An official immediately stood up to advise, "Your Majesty! It is against the ancestral system to directly appoint the top scholar without any examination."

"And there is no precedent for women serving as officials..."

Although there are cultivators in this world, there are also powerful warriors.

But there were still no women serving as officials in the court.

"ancestral system?"

Zheng Yi asked in return: "Is there a military examination in the ancestral system?"

"Now that Wu State is blocking the border and the six northern states are in turmoil, I am doing this for the sake of Dayu. What's wrong with adapting to the circumstances?"

"Or do you have a better way to deal with the Wu Kingdom's blockade and the mob's riots?"

The official's face immediately turned red, and he said in shame: "Your servant is incompetent."

"Go down!"

"Yes Yes Yes Yes……"

The man quickly retreated, and Zheng Yi continued, "Have you three thought about it?"

Cui Xiawu immediately said: "Your Majesty, I am willing to go to the northern border to join the army. I will take the honor and wealth immediately!"

"Prelude!"

Zheng Yi immediately said: "I hereby appoint you as the Lieutenant General of Binzhou and send you to serve in the Binzhou Border Army!"

"But you must know that the Binzhou border army has long since collapsed due to the invasion of the Wu Kingdom and civil unrest."

"After you go there, you will need to set up the team yourself. Do you have any complaints?"

"I...have no complaints!"

"Okay! I believe you!"

Zheng Yi laughed and said, "If you can rebuild the Binzhou border army, I can give you the title of general or commander!"

"Well, I will assign you a thousand imperial guards and a team of Jinyiwei, and you will be the chief officer to go to Binzhou!"

"Your Majesty, I kneel down to thank you!"

Cui Xiawu was so excited that tears welled up in his eyes. He said loudly: "Your Majesty trusts me, and I am terrified."

"I swear today that I will be loyal to Your Majesty until my death!"

"I will fight bravely on the battlefield and return home wrapped in my horse's hide!"

"If there is even the slightest disrespect, both humans and gods will condemn you!"

As soon as these words were spoken, the faces of the officials around changed and they began to talk about it.

Some were jealous of Cui Xiawu's easy achievement of the position of lieutenant general, while others were jealous of His Majesty's trust in them.

The lieutenant general is a third-rank military officer!

Although it is a military position and certainly not as good as a civil position, it is also the third rank.

This is what it means to reach the top overnight!
Moreover, many people looked at Cui Xiawu's oath with dismay.

Especially officials belonging to the Cui family, such as Cui Jinghao, had even uglier looks in their eyes.

Zheng Yi knew that at this time there was no change in the Sima family's oath at Luoshui, so people in this world attached great importance to the oath.

Once the oath is not kept, it will inevitably cause countless people to despise it.

Zheng Yi said with satisfaction: "I believe you."

"Chen Hongxiu, what about you?"

　The first order result is a little over 2,000, which is already the result I hoped for. Thank you all brothers for your support.

　　Let me talk about the conflict between farming and cultivating immortals raised by a friend. Because the editor asked the book to be put on the shelves early, the author had to rush the later content.

　　Under normal circumstances, when the game is put on the shelves, it is the time when the protagonist comes into contact with the world of cultivation. However, I, Lao Qing, am obviously slow and am still farming. The pace is a bit slow. I will pay attention to it later.

　　It's difficult to satisfy everyone. Some brothers like farming, some brothers like to watch content about cultivating immortals. Lao Qing can't choose between them all. He can only follow his own pace, and the plot will proceed smoothly.

　　Let me also talk about the update time. From now on, there will be one chapter at 0:12 am and one chapter at : noon every day. Each chapter will have words, for a total of words.

　　If there are any changes later, I will let you know in advance.

　　Finally, I still beg for support and monthly tickets, thank you.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)