The young scholar snorted. “What are you talking about? I just made up a story that I answered the Imperial Exam questions for Qiao Lu, and you came to beat the Heavenly Drum?

  “Senior Brother Qiao is the most talented student in Qingming Academy. Even the renowned scholar, Mr. Xie, is very appreciative of his talent. Just because my Senior Brother is low-key doesn’t mean a jealous, wicked person like you can slander him!”


  Wu Wen glared at the young scholar. “What are you talking about? How dare you lie to me! How can a student of Qingming Academy lie?”


  The eunuch who led the young scholar in said to the young scholar, “How dare you not salute His Majesty?”


  The young scholar knelt down awkwardly and said, “Your Majesty, my name is Zhou Shihui. I’m actually a woman.”


  Emperor Huilin asked, “A woman?”


  Zhou Shihui undid her bun and let her hair fall down. “Your Majesty, I disguised myself as a man because the best school in the world, Qingming Academy, only admits men but I really wanted to study in it.

  “A few days ago, I heard that Senior Brother Qiao Lu won second place in the Imperial Examination and my mother said that I had a cousin who was going to get married, so I came to Chang’an from the academy.

  “But when my mother came to Chang’an, she said that she wasn’t accustomed to the climate of Chang’an and left, leaving me a letter and money.

  “Then I heard Wu Wen slandering Senior Brother Qiao Lu in the inn, saying that Senior Brother got second place by cheating.

  “I was so annoyed so I resorted to a little trick. I told him I was a student of Qingming Academy and that I answered the exam questions for Senior Brother, and suggested he roll over the nailed plate to sue the Crown Princess!

  “But I didn’t expect him, the second runner-up of the Imperial Examination, to be stupid enough to believe this.”


  Wu Wen glared angrily at this woman who was nearly ten years younger than him, and felt more pain all over!

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  Zhou Shihui continued, “Who is Duke Wu? I suggested he roll over the nailed board also because I wanted to find Duke Wu among the ministers.

  “I went to Duke Wu Mansion many times, but the concierge didn’t let me in. My mother has a letter for Duke Wu!”


  This girl was lively and adorable. It was the first time she came to the imperial palace and faced the Emperor, but she wasn’t scared at all.

  Everyone was looking at Duke Wu meaningfully. Duke Wu and his wife were a model couple in Chang’an.

  But this girl of fifteen or sixteen years of age was looking for Duke Wu, saying her mother left Duke Wu a letter, and her surname was also Zhou…


  Perhaps she was Duke Wu’s illegitimate daughter.

  It was against the law to have an illegitimate daughter, and Duke Wu’s reputation was going to be ruined.

  Under the meaningful gazes of other ministers, Duke Wu walked up to Zhou Shihui. “Little girl, watch your tongue. I don’t even know you.”


  Zhou Shihui handed a letter to Duke Wu. “This is the letter my mother asked me to give you. It should have been given to you two days ago. I’m afraid I’ve missed my cousin’s wedding…”


  After Duke Wu read the letter, he was overjoyed and said to Emperor Huilin with joy, “Your Majesty, this is the daughter of my eldest sister who has been traveling outside, and this girl bears her mother’s surname.”


  Emperor Huilin said, “No wonder. This child looks very like the Queen.”


  Zhou Shihui looked at Duke Wu in surprise. “So, you are my uncle, and the Crown Prince who got married yesterday is my cousin?”


  Duke Wu nodded and said, “Yes, if your grandmother sees you, she will be very happy. Follow me back to the Duke Wu Mansion later, okay?”


  Wu Wen almost vomited out a mouthful of blood. He had planned to put the blame on this girl.

  But she turned out to be Duke Wu’s niece!

  Perhaps because he was extremely annoyed, or because he lost too much blood from rolling over the nailed plate, or because his future had been completely ruined, Wu Wen passed out.

  Emperor Huilin pitied him for fainting on the spot and being tricked by Zhou Shihui, so he only deprived Wu Wen of his runner-up position in the Imperial Examination, and banned him from taking the Imperial Examination again.

  But for Wu Wen, who was born in a poor family, this meant that his future had been ruined……

  Qiao Jinniang and Lu Chen returned to the East Palace.

  Lu Chen’s secret guards had already gained all the information about Zhou Shihui.

  “Your Royal Highness, Zhou Shihui is now sixteen years old. Her mother is Duke Wu’s sister, and his father is a literati from Yin County. When she was a child, she lost her father due to a disastrous floor in Yin County and was separated from Miss Zhou.

  “Miss Zhou traveled around and earned her living by teaching, while also looking for her daughter.

  “Miss Zhou met Zhou Shihui in Yangzhou four years ago, recognized her as her daughter, and sent her to the famous Qingming Academy. ”


  When Qiao Jinniang heard about Zhou Sihui’s origin, she felt it was somewhat familiar, and said to Lu Chen,

  “Nuomi was also separated from her parents because of a flood when she was a child. She went to Yin County to find her parents several times, but got no clue. I hope her family is also looking for her.”


  Lu Chen said, “I’ll ask the officials in Yin County to pay attention and try to find the families of those people in Myriad Taste.”


  Qiao Jinniang said gratefully, “Thank you.”


  “Why do you say thank you to me? It seems that my new cousin falls for your brother?” Lu Chen said, “Perhaps, they can make a good couple.”


  Qiao Jinniang smiled and said, “Qiao Lu said he already has a girl he likes, but I don’t know if it was her? That girl was very lively and chatty. I’m afraid it will be more lively with her than with Fulu.”


  “Wu Wen is really stupid. How could he believe a strange young scholar so easily?”


  Lu Chen said, “The students of Qingming Academy are not ordinary scholars. The president of the academy is Mr. Xie, the most renowned scholar in the world.

  “Qingming is the best academy in Datang, and the students of Qingming are very popular in Chang’an.

  “At the triennial academy competition, Qingming Academy wins every year.

  “Only talented students can enter Qingming Academy, regardless of their family background. It’s even said that entering Qingming Academy is comparable to passing the Imperial Examination because as long as students of Qingming Academy come to take the Imperial Examination, they always win the top spots.”


  Qiao Jinniang said to Lu Chen, “No wonder Wu Wen believed in Zhou Shihui, but…”


  Qiao Jinniang thought for a while and reminded Lu Chen. “But Qingming Academy is so powerful. What if its president is not loyal to the royal family, I’m afraid…”


  Lu Chen smiled and said, “Its students are all true talents, and they advocate Confucianism, so they won’t be disloyal to the emperor.”
……

  Tong family.

  Tong Lei took off his official uniform and staggered home soullessly. Since he became the imperial censor, he restrained himself everywhere and followed the example of the famous Prime Minister Wei of the founding emperor.

  But he ended up losing everything. If Tong Yingying hadn’t persuaded him to seek justice for Wu Wen, how could this happen?

  When Mrs. Tong heard the news of her husband’s dismissal, she rushed out to greet Tong Lei. “Master, someone said that you were dismissed from office by His Majesty. How is this possible? Didn’t Duke Wu help you?”


  Tong Yingying came out and said, “Dad, you don’t have to be sad. History books will definitely record that you were brave enough to uphold justice for a poor young scholar, thus offended the Emperor and was dismissed from office. Those officials who were dismissed for bravely admonishing emperors will be remembered by the people forever.

  “The Qiao family are all crafty sycophants. When I marry into the East Palace, I will definitely expose their true colors and persuade His Royal Highness to restore your office.”


  Although Tong Lei hated Tong Yingying, this daughter was his last hope.

  He looked at Tong Yingying and said, “Our Tong family’s hope is all on you now.”


  Watching this scene, Tong Xuan rolled her eyes in anger. She’d better think about how to please Qiao Jinniang more. She didn’t want to be implicated by her parents and sister!……

  The next day was Lu Chen’s 21st birthday.

  Early this morning, the imperial palace had begun to prepare for his birthday banquet.

  Qiao Jinniang gave Lu Chen the birthday present she had prepared early in the morning. “Look at this. It took me a lot of time to make it.”


  Seeing it was a little tiger doll, Lu Chen smiled. “Jin’er, do you think I’m a kid?”


  Qiao Jinniang smiled. “You were born in the year of the tiger, right? I originally wanted to make a wolf dog doll for you after those wolf dogs in the Duke Mansion.

  “But then I decided to make a little tiger for you, so that you won’t grab the dolls of Xi’er!”


  Lu Chen said, “What I want to grab from him is not his dolls.”


  Qiao Jinniang took the little tiger doll and said, “If you don’t like it, I’ll give it to Xi’er.”


  It happened that Lu Xi came in, and Lu Chen quickly hid the little tiger for fear of being seen by Xi’er.

  Seeing this, Qiao Jinniang smiled softly, “Childish.”


  Lu Xi walked up to Lu Chen and took out a small purse. “Dad, this is your birthday present!”