Emperor Qinghe: "…………"
He finished reading in silence, then gave Qiu Lanxi a deep look. No wonder Shao Guang hadn't had any other women around him for so long except Qiu Lanxi. With that mouth of hers, she could even revive a dead person.
not bad.
Emperor Qinghe was now truly tempted.
It's not because Qiu Lanxi's strategies are particularly good. Although she is excellent, she is not the only one in the entire Da Ning who is so excellent. What Emperor Qinghe values is her eloquence. It's not hard to imagine how muddy the waters would be if she were put into the court.
Emperor Qinghe wanted to implement reforms, but throughout history, reformists have always ended their efforts hastily. Why? Because too many vested interests were involved, and no one wanted to give up their own interests, not even the emperor they served.
Therefore, someone was needed to stir up trouble. To be honest, Emperor Qinghe initially considered the Crown Prince and Shaoguang as candidates. The Crown Prince needed political achievements to ascend to the throne, while Shaoguang's failure would at most mean him leaving the court, which would not be a great loss for Emperor Qinghe.
However, people have different degrees of closeness and distance, and Emperor Qinghe was somewhat reluctant to involve Shaoguang. The Crown Prince was also easily swayed and might not be able to remain unmoved. But apart from them, Emperor Qinghe could not find a suitable candidate in the vast court.
Su Wu was good at fighting, but his political acumen was not as good as that of a student who had just entered the court. Fortunately, he was self-aware and knew that he should not be jumping around after the war was over. Emperor Qinghe was quite satisfied with him, so he did not intend to let him get involved in this mess. The main reason was that although his stance would not be swayed by outsiders, he did not have the brains to avoid being schemed against by the court officials.
The position of prime minister is as secure as Mount Tai. There is no need for him to take risks by standing with the reformists. Even if his subordinates wanted to take risks, they would be suppressed. After all, as long as the prime minister does not make any major mistakes, he is unlikely to fall from power. The highest promotion channel for civil officials is blocked, and many civil officials are unable to step into the vortex of the reformists.
Do you really think that many officials who strongly support reform genuinely believe that the policy will benefit the country and its people? Not at all. More often than not, they want to use it to make a name for themselves and climb the ranks, just like officials who place bets in advance during every succession struggle.
Emperor Qinghe had been struggling to find the right person, but now he felt that Qiu Lanxi was a good candidate.
There's no other reason than that once she enters the court, she's destined not to oppose him and can only support him with a clear stance. Moreover, whether she's well-behaved or reckless, no one can possibly approve of her. This is different from Shaoguang. After all, she still has the status of a princess and is the catalyst for the war between Da Ning and Teng Guo, which is one of relentless pursuit and a fight to the death. These halos ensure that she won't suffer too much targeting after entering the court, because Emperor Qinghe will be displeased.
If Emperor Qinghe is displeased, who will be the unlucky one?
Having made up his mind, Emperor Qinghe calmly flipped back to look at the previous policy essays, looking for one that he was particularly satisfied with and could use to show off.
Looking back this time, Emperor Qinghe's mindset was quite different. Even the calligraphy that he thought was a bit too sharp now seemed quite elegant. He even shamelessly wondered if there was a famous scholar who had retired to the mountains to cultivate immortality whose handwriting resembled Qiu Lanxi's. He wondered if he could ask the scholar to be his teacher, since the influence of being from a prestigious family was very different from that of someone from a humble background.
As he read on, he nodded from time to time, which made the court officials who had been secretly observing him increasingly anxious. It was already annoying enough that Princess Shaoguang was sitting in the court, especially since some unscrupulous enemies would insult people by saying that they were "not even as good as a woman." This had already made some people very dissatisfied with the presence of women in the court.
However, Yan Qingli was ultimately Emperor Qinghe's woman, and until Emperor Qinghe abdicated, her fate was not something that others could decide.
But what about Qiu Lanxi?!
Emperor Qinghe didn't care what others thought and pretended to be quite serious, but soon he suddenly stood up and lost his composure, asking, "Is the waterwheel you mentioned really real?"
Qiu Lanxi was prepared for this question, and smiled slightly, saying, "Of course, there is. This item is currently in the princess's residence, and a model has already been made by a craftsman. I wonder if Your Majesty would like to take a look?"
In order to succeed, Qiu Lanxi racked her brains for a long time, trying to figure out what she could use in the present era. After thinking for a while, she finally remembered the waterwheel.
She learned this from the water conservancy chapter of "Tiangong Kaiwu" specifically to get a patient to open up to her. The waterwheel originated in the Sui Dynasty and flourished in the Tang Dynasty, but it does not yet exist today, and the method of drawing water to irrigate farmland is quite primitive.
When Emperor Qinghe set this question, he didn't have high hopes. The only suggestions people could come up with were digging canals and ditches to divert river water. What new ideas could they come up with?
But if what Qiu Lanxi said is true, then the waterwheel is undoubtedly a benefit for generations to come.
The mechanical structure of the waterwheel is not difficult. Qiu Lanxi was able to draw it because she had learned about it. She not only drew it, but also drew several kinds: waterwheels that rely on flowing water for irrigation, waterwheels that rely on oxen to operate and can transport water from the lake without relying on flowing water, waterwheels that are a few feet in size that can be hand-cranked to draw water from small ponds, and high-speed waterwheels.
Qiu Lanxi couldn't help but marvel at the creativity of the artisans of this era. They made it based solely on the blueprints, even though she couldn't provide the dimensions. However, for the sake of secrecy, these artisans were temporarily kept under Yan Qingli's watch. Yan Qingli had only used the waterwheel to irrigate the small garden in the princess's mansion, and judging from the results, the outcome was quite pleasing.
Even with this item, Yan Qingli was still worried that if the emperor wanted to punish someone, all he needed to do was ask why they didn't present it to the emperor immediately after creating it.
Emperor Qinghe had not expected Qiu Lanxi to bring him such a surprise. He waved his hand, signaling the eunuch to go and get it. With a bucket cart hanging it, he lost interest in the other people's policy essays. Regardless of the feelings of the remaining students who had not finished writing, he directly threw this policy essay to the ministers for circulation.
It was a completely different matter if the document passed through Emperor Qinghe's hands first and then to the officials, versus if the officials reviewed it and then presented it to Emperor Qinghe. They looked at each other and then silently began to examine it.
The reason why he didn't jump out immediately when Qiu Lanxi entered was naturally to save face for Emperor Qinghe. Otherwise, he would lose face and if he really objected, he would have to wait until after the exam to make his case.
So for a moment, no one spoke in the hall; everyone was reading Qiu Lanxi's policy essays, and then they all fell silent.
Emperor Qinghe was in a good mood: "What do you all think, my dear ministers?"
He felt that he had already been generous enough by not directly asking whether this essay was worthy of the top scholar title.
However, everyone looked at each other, and no one dared to speak.
When it comes to lying, Emperor Qinghe is an expert. Back then, his red dress forced all the ministers who supported the marriage alliance to shut up. Now they also believe that as long as they dare to praise her, Emperor Qinghe can immediately grant Qiu Lanxi an official position. However, the waterwheel she brought out really makes it impossible for people to lie through their teeth.
Everyone knows that if the other party dared to write it, then the product must have already been made.
So even if they object, no one dares to be the first to speak out.
As the one in charge of the game, Emperor Qinghe was not in a hurry. He knew someone would eventually be unable to contain themselves and speak up. Sure enough, not long after, someone impatiently said:
"May I ask... who your teacher is?" Seemingly unsure of how to address him, the other person simply skipped the question and went straight to the point, "Judging from his spirit, there seem to be traces of a semi-saint?"
These words immediately drew the attention of the courtiers who had been focused on the waterwheel and the bonus questions, causing them to look down. The more they looked, the more they felt that it did indeed seem somewhat similar...
Only Emperor Qinghe felt a bit of a sore throat and couldn't help but glare at Yan Qingli. How dare he boast like that? Did he think he didn't know whose people this was?
He was a semi-saint, excelling in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, and was also a divine physician. During the turbulent times of the Great Ning Dynasty, he offered several strategies and successfully guided many battles. However, he later became disillusioned with the Great Ning Dynasty, resigned from his post, and indulged in the beauty of nature, disappearing without a trace. The reason he was called a semi-saint rather than a saint was not because he was unworthy, but because he refused, believing that his virtue was not worthy of his position. That is why he was called a semi-saint.
It's no exaggeration to say that the several schools of thought that are now opposing each other in the academies all originated from the ideas of the semi-saints, if this claim is indeed true...
Qiu Lanxi blinked and shook her head in denial, saying, "You may be mistaken, sir. The teacher who taught me how to use a pen was just an unknown schoolteacher named Zhao Ji."
Someone murmured, "I remember, the Half-Holy Mother Clan's surname is Zhao?"
The half-sage said that he was unworthy of his position because he had refused to accept his father's mantle and said that his greatest regret in life was that he could not take his mother's surname. The first thing he did after becoming famous was to write a poem to scold his father.
In this era where filial piety is of paramount importance, the half-saint's career was quite difficult in his youth because of this matter, but it was precisely because of this that he gained some credibility.
In particular, the philosophy of the half-saint was different from that of most people. He was a staunch supporter of monogamy and abhorred arranged marriages. He sought out his wife himself.
Well... the reason his teacher had him as a student was because he had taken a liking to the other person's daughter...
Later, deeply moved by the difficulty his wife faced during childbirth, he took an infertility drug and had only one daughter in his lifetime.
The more she thought about it, the more strange the way they looked at Qiu Lanxi seemed.
The Half-Saint is erudite and talented. If Qiu Lanxi had thought of everything herself, they might have refused to believe it. But if her teacher was the Half-Saint, then everything seemed to make sense.
The last time the demigod appeared, rumors seemed to indicate that he had gone to the Kingdom of Teng.
Chapter 51
Many people in the court claimed to be disciples of a semi-saint, and this title immediately silenced some people.
It's impossible that Qiu Lanxi created this handwriting, right?
Such a highly individualistic, slender yet full-bodied font must have been created by a master calligrapher or painter.
Qiu Lanxi wasn't afraid of being exposed. There have been many cases of people trying to elevate themselves by using someone else's name. Even without the figure of a half-saint, she could still use someone else, such as Xue Yao, who is known as the ancestor of the Slender Gold style. If she wanted to claim kinship, how could she not find a way to make it up?
Since she's gone, she can say whatever she wants.
However, after discussing it with Yan Qingli, she ultimately chose the Half-Saint. Firstly, he had a great reputation, and secondly, he must have passed away by now. Even if his descendants heard about this, they might have doubts and wonder if he had really taken on disciples outside.
Yan Qingli didn't want to do this, since someone else did create the font. But Qiu Lanxi didn't hide the truth; it was just that others misunderstood, so she couldn't be blamed.
If this controversial practice of the Slender Gold style of calligraphy is passed down in the future, Qiu Lanxi believes it will likely remain an unsolved mystery. However, it's not necessarily true, because while the semi-saint himself might have the pride not to usurp someone else's fame, his descendants might be misled.
But for Qiu Lanxi, none of that mattered. The controversy generated by the semi-saint's name was enough to make the Slender Gold style of calligraphy spread rapidly. At that time, it wouldn't matter whether it was created by the semi-saint or not.
In any case, there will definitely be no shortage of doubts.
Many people would find it hard to believe that the person who created this type of font would be an unknown woman.
Because of his reputation as a semi-saint, some people's attention was inevitably diverted, and they began to ask more detailed questions.
Emperor Qinghe watched quietly. The court of Da Ning was staffed with a group of officials who didn't pay much attention to practical matters. Their greatest ability was their literary talent. Well... their role was simple. After all, the emperor always needed flatterers around him, and many decrees needed them to polish them. So, as soon as they opened their mouths, some people would fall silent.
After all, if these talented civil officials were to write a poem or song specifically to curse someone, it would truly be remembered for all time.
Emperor Qinghe kept them around because he was annoyed by certain officials who kept nagging in front of him. After suffering a few losses, the officials had basically reached a tacit understanding.
He observed Qiu Lanxi and found her eloquence to be truly enchanting. After arguing with the civil officials, she actually made many of the skeptics begin to waver in their judgment. Based on her eloquence alone, Emperor Qinghe believed that if she wanted to reform anything, she could definitely win over a lot of people.
He shifted his gaze slightly to observe the others. When the two groups started arguing, it was the silent third party who was more likely to slip up, because subconsciously they felt that no one would be watching them at such times, so they would let their guard down.
Emperor Qinghe's gaze swept over the various expressions below the platform, finally landing on Yan Qingli, before he looked away in annoyance.
When she looked at Qiu Lanxi, her eyes were filled with pride and self-satisfaction, as if seeing the other person shine brightly made everything she had done worthwhile.
That's all the ambition you've got!
...
…………
Once the bamboo cart made its appearance before the court officials, Qiu Lanxi's entry into the court was no longer in doubt. The only dispute was about what ranking to give her. In the end, Emperor Qinghe made the final decision and made her the top scholar.
There were indeed no particularly outstanding talents in this imperial examination, not to mention that Qiu Lanxi had brought out the powerful weapon of the waterwheel. Therefore, Emperor Qinghe did not mind elevating her a bit. Even if she was not a disciple of a half-saint, the teacher who taught her must have been extraordinary. Under these circumstances, he did not mind paying a price first.
In particular, public opinion today is not particularly resistant to female officials.
Although Emperor Qinghe personally appointed her as the top scholar, he did not send her to the Hanlin Academy. Generally speaking, the top three in the palace examination usually had to go to the Hanlin Academy before leaving, but Emperor Qinghe made her an imperial censor.
The so-called censor, to put it bluntly, is an official who speaks out, admonishing the emperor and also responsible for investigating the words and deeds of officials. This completely put her on the opposite side of everyone.
If she wants to get promoted, she has to find fault with others. If she were placed in another position, Emperor Qinghe would have no doubt that she could get along well with others, and then her existence would lose its value.
But for Emperor Qinghe, this was the role she was meant to play. His affection for Yan Qingli and his appreciation for the knowledge in Qiu Lanxi's mind were not enough to sway him.
The palace examination ended there. When Qiu Lanxi came out of the palace, she soon saw Yan Qingli walk out as well.
She gazed at Qiu Lanxi and finally said only, "Congratulations."
Beneath the congratulations lay hidden sorrow. Passing the palace examination was just the beginning. Emperor Qinghe's purpose was quite obvious. Not to mention Yan Qingli, many seasoned ministers might not have failed to see it. But how many of those who have made a big splash in the court have had a good ending?
Qiu Lanxi replied, "I'm happy for you too."
She could not possibly be unaware of Emperor Qinghe's intentions, but she was not Yan Qingli. It was normal for her to be targeted, at least she had value to be used. And given that value still existed, she had no doubt that Emperor Qinghe would even try to save her life.
With the most powerful person in the world protecting us, what is there to be afraid of?
Yan Qingli pursed her lips, then frowned and said, "You're walking on thin ice right now, so you don't need to care about me."
When she sent Qiu Lanxi to the capital, she had no intention of asking for her help, so how could there be any talk of sharing joy?
Qiu Lanxi looked at her in surprise, not understanding why she had suddenly become less intelligent. After a pause, she said, "I was born with your mark on me. Even if I wanted to rely on someone else, they would still suspect that I was a spy sent by you. It is precisely because I am walking on thin ice that I need to cling to Your Highness's coattails. This is called mutual benefit."
Yan Qingli was speechless. Whether she liked it or not, they were natural allies, so she could only nod silently, but she couldn't help feeling a little uncomfortable.
Her attitude was too frank and calm, making it difficult for Yan Qingli to discern her true intentions. Her past self-righteousness made it difficult for her to analyze objectively anymore, so Yan Qingli could not determine whether the other party viewed her as someone with various identities.
For a friend? For a ruler and his subject? Or for a lover?
Yan Qingli found it difficult to make a judgment.
She paused for a moment before saying, "Let me put the flower in your hair."