PFC Chapter 735 Phoenix Returns to Its Nest (21)
Chapter 735 Phoenix Returns to Its Nest (21)
Xiong Bufan ignored their lodgings; his eyes were now filled with satisfaction at having found a successor to nurture.
She was born to be an emperor.
Wang Shijun lived his own little life in his Tingfeng Palace, occasionally sneaking a peek at His Majesty from afar dressed as a palace servant, and he was content with that.
His Majesty neither stripped him of his title nor banished him from the palace; His Majesty must love him.
After a series of knocks, Cong Li opened the door, and the palace servants filed in.
Congwen: "Where are you from, and what do you want?"
"His Majesty has arranged for the second-ranked scholar to reside in Tingfeng Palace; you should not interfere."
The fact that the second-place finisher lives in Tingfeng Palace is quite intriguing.
Cong Li glanced at Cong Wen, then quickly ran back to report that they were His Majesty's only man, but His Majesty preferred women.
The palace servants who were tidying up the palace pushed Congwen aside; they needed to hurry up and finish.
Lord Shangguan is still waiting over there. If they do well, Lord Shangguan will be pleased and might even promote them.
They no longer wanted to give money as a reward; His Majesty had long ago curbed the practice of giving money arbitrarily in the palace, saying it was to save on expenditures.
A frugal lifestyle is now prevalent in the palace, and many people haven't had new clothes in a long time.
Wang Shijun was making children's clothes. He always felt that he would have his own child, so he was making preparations in advance.
"My lord, my lord, something terrible has happened! Someone is going to take over Tingfeng Palace!"
Wang Shijun: "Congli, what kind of panicked state is this? What happened?"
Congli: "My lord, someone is coming to Tingfeng Palace. It is said to be a second-place scholar in the imperial examination."
Wang Shijun: "Is His Majesty aware of this matter?"
"They said it was His Majesty who ordered it."
Upon hearing this, Wang Shijun collapsed to the ground. How could His Majesty be so heartless? He was going to find His Majesty and demand an explanation. If anyone was spreading the imperial edict, he would not let them off the hook.
After deciding to leave, Wang Shijun was in a great hurry to leave the palace.
Congli: "My lord, where are you going?"
"I am going to see His Majesty."
Cong Li silently stepped back, not daring to speak, fearing that Wang Shijun might hit him if he was displeased.
While the two were talking, the palace servants who were tidying up the rooms had already arrived at the main hall.
"Lord Wang, His Majesty has arranged for the newly promoted second-place scholar to reside in a side hall of Tingfeng Palace. What do you think?"
At first, she thought it was the entire Tingfeng Palace, but it turned out to be a side hall. Wang Shijun felt a little better. "The second-place scholar is a woman, and I am a man. How can I share a room with her?"
"Your Excellency need not worry, this second-place scholar is a man."
Just as Shangguan Yi had predicted, Wang Shijun now felt even more threatened, feeling that there were always shameless men trying to seduce His Majesty.
Wang Shijun: "Yes, let him stay here. I'll help keep an eye on him."
Although he said that on the surface, he had already issued a challenge to Chen Dengmei in his heart.
He didn't know what the second-place finisher's rank was, but he couldn't possibly be higher than himself.
After the palace servants who were tidying up the palace reported their findings, they went to tidy up the side hall. They had already reported, and the rest was left to Wang Shijun.
After exchanging a few words with the top two scholars, Chen Dengmei was led by palace servants to the palace that had been arranged for her.
Looking at the magnificent palace, a thought arose in his mind: it's no good for a woman to be an emperor. The palace is resplendent with gold and jade, while in his hometown, people with brick houses are all wealthy.
The emperor was extravagant and unreasonable; he was unworthy to be emperor.
As soon as Chen Dengmei stepped inside, she saw a man sitting in a chair, staring blankly at her.
Before the pageboy could say anything, the servant of the man in the main seat began to speak, "Why don't you bow when you see the Lord? Are you waiting for the Lord to invite you?"
Once you enter Tingfeng Palace, you must abide by its rules.
Chen Dengmei's eyes darted around, and she realized she had been tricked.
Having just arrived at the palace, he knew that a small act of impatience could ruin a great plan, so he stopped the pageboy who was about to speak, and respectfully clasped his hands in greeting, saying, "Greetings, Your Majesty."
Wang Shijun nodded and said with satisfaction, "Hmm, your room is in the side hall, go there."
"Thank you."
Wang Shijun: "Don't covet what doesn't belong to you. If I find out you have any improper thoughts, you'll have to face the consequences yourself."
"Yes"
The men in the imperial harem had nothing to do but compete for the emperor's favor.
Chen Dengmei genuinely despised these people. It would be so much better for men to study and become officials; why did they have to be subservient to women?
Seeing that Chen Dengmei was honest and had established her authority enough, Wang Shijun returned to her main hall satisfied and continued making children's clothes.
He had a premonition that he would regain the emperor's favor, because the emperor loved him.
Xiong Bufan loved the people like his own children, even resorting to cannibalism.
The next day, when the top three students in the examination officially appeared in the court, they stood to one side.
They were not wearing formal court attire; they were still dressed as female officials.
The ministers had some objections, mainly because they disagreed with Xiong Bufan bringing a man into the court.
Imperial Censor Li, a staunch supporter of the laws of the Feng Dynasty, spoke first, "Your Majesty, didn't this Chen Bangyan enter the harem?"
There is no precedent in this dynasty for officials attending court to serve the emperor. Is there anything inappropriate about what you are doing?"
Xiong Bufan dropped a bombshell in the court, "I have already decided that the successor will be chosen from among these three."
Lao Tzu practiced a system of abdication.
The ministers didn't understand the abdication system, but they could understand what Xiong Bufan was saying.
In an instant, all the ministers knelt in the court, their voices of refusal rising and falling.
"Your Majesty, you mustn't! Your Majesty!"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
.....
Imperial Censor Li knelt on the ground and said, "Your Majesty, you are in the prime of your life. Why do you need to find an heir so early? Can you give Feng Chaosheng an heir?"
Xiong Bufan: "I don't like children."
"Your Majesty, it is too early to search for a successor now."
Xiong Bufan: "I'm only interested in these three for now. I need to test them out."
When the top scholar Zhou Ying and the third-ranked scholar Wu Xinran heard this, they were also surprised. Yesterday, they almost thought that the emperor was going to take them into his service. They did not expect that he was going to train them like heirs. This was really too good to be true.
However, Chen Dengmei is even less deserving.
Since ancient times, no man has ever been the heir, so they would never let Chen Dengmei surpass them.
Imperial Censor Li knelt on the ground and said, "Your Majesty, an heir can be cultivated from within the clan. There is no need to find a man."
Xiong Bufan: "I am the emperor, what I say goes, don't worry about it."
Upon hearing this, Imperial Censor Li pointed at Xiong Bufan, stammering, "You, you, you," unable to utter a single word for a long time. Then, he rolled his eyes and fainted.
This emperor was infuriating! If he liked someone, he should just bestow the title of queen; why give him the throne in the first place?
Xiong Bufan simply disliked being contradicted; he didn't truly want Imperial Censor Li to die. He shouted, "Summon the imperial physician!"
"Summon the imperial physician!"