#85 - Better than Zhu Cici (4000 words, two chapters in one)

Chapter 85: More Beautiful Than That Zhu Ci Ci (4000 words, two chapters combined)

Unknowingly, Xu Ming had already spent a year in the palace.

During this year, Xu Ming was always by Emperor Wu's side.

Except for the morning court and when Emperor Wu reviewed memorials, Xu Ming was there to serve him.

Xu Ming ate every meal with Emperor Wu.

During hunts, Xu Ming rode his horse beside Emperor Wu.

When he had free time, Emperor Wu wanted to teach Xu Ming military strategy.

However, Xu Ming refused on the grounds that "Knowing the general strategy is enough; there's no need to study ancient military tactics."

When Xu Ming refused, Emperor Wu scolded Xu Ming a few times with a smile, but didn't say anything more.

Emperor Wu would even pull Xu Ming onto the dragon palanquin with him.

Xu Ming was certain that Emperor Wu wanted to cultivate him into a confidant.

Under such great favor, Xu Ming became even more cautious.

Serving a ruler is like living with a tiger.

Never completely trust that an emperor will always treat you the same.

Xu Ming's caution, however, made Emperor Wu even more satisfied.

If Xu Ming had become arrogant after receiving favor, Emperor Wu wouldn't have completely abandoned Xu Ming, but he might have given Xu Ming some lessons to correct his character.

Now, Emperor Wu felt that he had saved himself a lot of trouble.

The news of Xu Ming's favor naturally couldn't be hidden from the entire court.

Some people believed that His Majesty was simply cherishing talent, after all, Xu Ming was both civil and martial, and young. Cultivating him from a young age was more reliable than other ministers, right? He would definitely be a confidant in the future!

Others guessed that His Majesty might want Xu Ming to become the Princess's consort, after all, His Majesty was currently unable to have children.

If Xu Ming and the Princess gave birth to a royal grandson, he would be the future ruler!

As for whether they could have a royal grandson?

If one wasn't enough, then have another. With a 50% chance, if they had seven or eight, wouldn't there be a son among them?

Anyway, His Majesty was still young and could afford to wait.

Raising a grandson as a son was the same.

But regardless of whether Xu Ming would become a consort, it was a certainty that Xu Ming would be given important positions. Now, His Majesty was waiting for Xu Ming to participate in the Metropolitan Examination and the Palace Examination to see what rank Xu Ming could achieve.

If Xu Ming didn't do well in the exam, he would be tempered for a year or two, his qualifications would be increased, and then he would be given an important position.

If Xu Ming did well in the exam, His Majesty would definitely reward him handsomely!

In the future, Xu Ming would definitely be a hot commodity.

In recent days, various officials had been visiting the Xu residence or indirectly visiting the Xu residence through the Qin residence, wanting to build a good relationship with the Xu family.

Duke Xu of the Xu residence, Xu Shuiya, Xu Ming's father, Xu Zheng, and Duke Qin of the Qin residence, Qin Ruhai, had been in high spirits recently, often attending various banquets and being flattered, to the point of being somewhat carried away.

The entire Xu residence was extremely proud, with a sense of "when one achieves the Dao, even one's pets ascend to heaven."

Even the Sixth Young Master of the Xu residence—Xu Wang (a child born to the Second Madam, five years younger than Xu Ming, nine years old)—had a conflict with the Third Son of the Capital Magistrate, first starting a fight and breaking the other's head, but was still very arrogant.

The Capital Magistrate didn't dare say a word, and even brought his son to apologize.

When Wang Feng heard about this, she angrily took out the Main Consort's rattan whip, wanting to lash it at the Sixth Young Master Xu Wang, but was stopped by the crowd, and Wang Feng didn't hit him.

Even the Old Madam took the initiative to say, "Forget it, forget it, isn't it just a fight between children? It's nothing serious."

Wang Feng angrily threw the Main Consort's rattan whip away and didn't leave her courtyard for ten days.

Zhao Wenshan was even more frightened after hearing about this and hurried to the Xu residence, saying to the Old Madam and Xu Zheng in a very direct tone:

"Although Fifth Young Master Xu Ming is both civil and martial and favored by His Majesty.

But how the Xu and Qin residences treated Fifth Young Master Xu Ming before he became famous, the Old Ancestor and Uncle Xu should know!

Now Fifth Young Master Xu Ming is being carefully cultivated by His Majesty.

Fifth Young Master Xu Ming will definitely be given important positions by His Majesty in the future.

But our Xu and Qin residences are already powerful and influential, how could His Majesty allow the person he carefully cultivated to be burdened by the Xu and Qin families?

How could His Majesty allow the Xu and Qin families to rise to a higher level because of Xu Ming, losing their balance?

The Sixth Young Master had a conflict with the Capital Magistrate's Third Young Master, Wenshan understands the process, it was originally the Sixth Young Master's fault first.

The Capital Magistrate is upright and not afraid of powerful people, and is also a confidant of His Majesty like Xiao Mo Chi. Now he is enduring humiliation, doesn't the Old Ancestor and Uncle Xu feel strange?

Our Wu Kingdom prohibits private banquets for officials exceeding ten people. Xu Zheng previously held a banquet for twenty people at Chunfeng Tower, which was already a violation of the Wu Kingdom's laws. Didn't the Censorate impeach him? Wouldn't His Majesty know?

His Majesty is giving our Xu and Qin families one last bit of face! He is also making a knife to extend to the Xu and Qin families when necessary!

If you want to destroy a person, you must first make them crazy!

Even a five-year-old child understands this principle, doesn't the Old Madam and Uncle Xu know?"

Listening to Zhao Wenshan's words, Xu Zheng and the Old Madam were indeed frightened, but they still said things like "Wenshan, you are overthinking it, we have the Iron Certificate of Allegiance" and "No matter what, Xu Ming is a member of our Xu family and will speak for us."

Looking at the Old Madam and Uncle Xu's appearance, Zhao Wenshan could only sigh heavily, "In the end, the birds scatter when the food is gone, leaving behind a vast expanse of white earth."

Then he flung his sleeves and left.

As for these episodes, Xu Ming in the palace didn't know.

Xu Ming had been in the palace all along, unable to go out. He was in contact with Emperor Wu every day, and Xu Ming didn't even know what the officials thought of him.

When there were two months left before the Metropolitan Examination, Xu Ming met with Emperor Wu once: "Your Majesty, Ming will participate in the Metropolitan Examination in two months. Ming requests to be temporarily transferred from the palace to study behind closed doors for two months."

Although Xu Ming didn't hold any position and just followed Emperor Wu around every day.

But this took even more time.

Xu Ming wasn't confident enough to not read any books and still pass the Jinshi examination.

Not to mention that this Metropolitan Examination had more people than ever before since the founding of the Wu Kingdom.

Moreover, Xu Ming did this to avoid suspicion.

In ten days, various officials would come to the Imperial Study to create the examination papers with Emperor Wu.

As a candidate, he really couldn't stay in the palace.

"Yes, granted." Emperor Wu nodded, "During this time, you do need to avoid suspicion. There is a courtyard in the east of the city, not too big, not too small. I'll arrange two palace maids for you, so you can study hard."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

After Xu Ming bowed and thanked him, Wei Xun personally took Xu Ming out of the palace and came to that courtyard in the east of the city.

Emperor Wu really wasn't being modest, this courtyard was indeed not big. It was just an ordinary two-entry courtyard, but the decoration was exquisite and elegant.

After that, every day, Xu Ming spent more time reading and less time practicing boxing and swordsmanship.

Xu Ming didn't really care about fame and fortune, but Xu Ming wanted to know what rewards he would get if he achieved the Jinshi or even the first rank.

At the same time, as the Metropolitan Examination approached, Wudu also became lively.

In fact, many ordinary people didn't pay much attention to this kind of Metropolitan Examination.

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But this time was different.

This Metropolitan Examination was not only eagerly awaited by every commoner in the Wu Kingdom, but also closely watched by the Qi Kingdom, Liang Kingdom, and other human dynasties, and even the Northern Mang.

Reason one—this was the most numerous examination since the Wu Kingdom fully opened the imperial examination.

Reason two—Xu Ming was going to participate.

Four years ago, the genius who wrote "Rosy cheeks bid farewell to the mirror, flowers bid farewell to the trees" and passed the provincial examination at the age of ten—Xu Ming, would he fade into obscurity, or would he surprise everyone again?

Everyone was waiting for a result.

Of course, many people didn't have high expectations for Xu Ming.

Xu Ming had been in the military camp for three or four years, and was still a Blood Floating Corpse of the Wu Kingdom. The training tasks were so heavy, how could he have time to read? Even if Xu Ming was a genius, what could he do?

It would be good if Xu Ming could pass the Metropolitan Examination, enter the Palace Examination, and get a "Same Jinshi Background."

Xu Ming more or less guessed what the outside world thought of him.

Xu Ming felt that they were right. He was temporarily cramming for two months, and he didn't know how well he would do in the exam. He might not even pass the Metropolitan Examination.

Xu Ming only asked for his best effort, nothing more.

Speaking of which, how was Xu Xiaopang?

Four years had passed, and Xu Xiaopang was also sixteen years old and had become a man. Was he still the same as before?

How were his mother and the big white goose doing?

His mother didn't compete or snatch, so there shouldn't be anything wrong. Had the big white goose transformed?

Was she a muscular woman?

Xu Ming wanted to go to the Xu residence to take a look, but when he thought about having to deal with the Old Madam and his father when he returned to the Xu residence, he felt troubled in his heart. At that time, the Xu residence might even make him meet other dignitaries and go to social gatherings.

"Forget it, there are only two months left, I'll go after the exam."

Xu Ming shook his head, opened the book and continued reading.

The Wu Kingdom's Metropolitan Examination was very open and didn't have "fill in the blanks", "dictation" and other time-wasting and ink-wasting questions.

The Wu Kingdom's Metropolitan Examination involved four major industries: scholars, farmers, workers, and merchants. Each industry had twenty questions, all of which were essays. There were no standard answers, and it completely tested your insights and views. The examination lasted for four days.

So Xu Ming read a variety of books. Anyway, he had a photographic memory, so he read whatever he could, which could also increase some strange attribute points.

It was just that, to this day, Xu Ming hadn't bought a copy of Little Liu Bei to read. He didn't know what attribute points Little Liu Bei added.

"I'll buy it after the exam, I'll skip it before the exam."

Xu Ming still felt that he needed to concentrate his mind before the exam. After all, enlightenment before the exam was a big taboo.

"Young Master Xu."

A maid walked in.

These maids were all palace servants and very particular about etiquette.

"What is it?" Xu Ming asked.

"Young Master Xu, there is a young master outside looking for you, saying he is your friend," the maid said respectfully.

"My friend? Okay, I understand."

Xu Ming put down his book and walked out of the room.

As soon as Xu Ming walked out of the courtyard, he saw a "man" sitting in a wine stall not far away, dressed in men's clothing, but looking much more beautiful than a woman.

Xu Ming smiled, walked forward, and called out to the waiter: "Two jars of Red Cedar Wine, two pounds of soy sauce beef, and a plate of fried peanuts."

"Okay, guest, please wait a moment, it will be right here," the waiter responded.

Xu Ming sat down in front of the "man" who was even more beautiful than a woman.

The "man" glanced at Xu Ming: "You've grown a lot taller."

"That's right," Xu Ming poured a glass of wine, "At this age, men generally grow very fast."

"Fast enough to get married?" Wu Yanhan rolled her eyes at Xu Ming.

"That's a bit too fast," Xu Ming shook his head.

"Fast?" Wu Yanhan's lips curled up, her heroic spirit mixed with a young girl's charm, "Could it be that after passing the imperial examination this time, you are not going to marry that Miss Ci Ci from Qi?"

"Cough, cough, cough," Xu Ming, who had taken a sip of wine, coughed a few times, "Why are you suddenly bringing her up?"

"Don't you know?" Wu Yanhan looked at Xu Ming.

"Know what?" Xu Ming was a little confused.

Wu Yanhan's phoenix eyes narrowed slightly, staring at Xu Ming for a moment, then shook her head and drank a glass of wine: "It's nothing."

"Weird," Xu Ming ate a piece of soy sauce beef, actually feeling a little guilty.

Could it be that his childhood jokes with Ci Ci were known by others?

That shouldn't be.

Besides, no one would take childhood jokes seriously, right? They were only a few years old back then, what could two little kids understand?

"Where have you been this year?" Xu Ming poured a glass of wine for Wu Yanhan.

"Traveling around, wandering the pugilistic world, kicking a few sects, and killing some cultivators," Wu Yanhan said casually.

"Mm," Xu Ming nodded, "What realm are you in now?"

"Heroic Soul Realm," Wu Yanhan didn't hide it.

"Entering the Heroic Soul Realm in one year, no one should be able to compare to you," Xu Ming smiled, genuinely happy for his friend.

Wu Yanhan rolled her eyes at Xu Ming: "If you hadn't entered that damn imperial palace, you could have compared to me."

"Not that fast," Xu Ming shook his head.

Xu Ming wasn't really being humble.

Although Xu Ming had a cheat, he cultivated both body and technique, and the further he cultivated, the slower it became.

This is why most cultivators, even though they can also walk the path of martial artists, at most cultivate to the Quicksilver Mirror Realm and then stop.

Because they don't have that much energy anymore.

"What about you? Do you plan to return to the Blood Floating Pagoda?" Xu Ming asked.

Although once you leave the Blood Floating Pagoda, you basically can't get back in, she definitely has a background.

"No, I plan to go home," Wu Yanhan took a sip of wine, "If I don't go back, my father... my father will go crazy."

"That's true," Xu Ming nodded with a smile.

Although she is the Martial God Body, in the end, she is still a girl.

Wu Yanhan looked at Xu Ming, her eyes blinking lightly: "Do you know? Rumor has it in the Imperial Capital that after you participate in the provincial examination, you will become the驸马爷 (imperial son-in-law) of Wu."

"Ah? There's such a thing?" Xu Ming was stunned.

Xu Ming really didn't know. Xu Ming didn't know much about royal affairs, and Xu Ming wouldn't ask. No one told Xu Ming either.

Xu Ming had been in the palace for a year, and he was extremely cautious. He didn't ask what he shouldn't ask, and he definitely didn't listen to what he shouldn't hear. He didn't even know how many children the Martial Emperor had.

Speaking of which, does the Martial Emperor have children?

He seemed to have never seen them in the palace.

"Who knows?" Wu Yanhan brushed a strand of hair behind her ear, "But if the Martial Emperor bestows a marriage, will you agree or not?"

Xu Ming thought for a moment: "Is she pretty?"

Wu Yanhan snorted coldly: "Prettier than that Zhu Ci Ci."