Chapter 1248: 23 Things About the Fake Emperor and the Powerful Officials
Yuan Chizhi pretended to be oblivious to Shi Li's worries and calmly reported to her the results of the first special examination. He also brought along a few essays that had been reviewed by the examiners and were considered very insightful.
Shi Li picked up an article, and as luck would have it, the focus of the policy paper was the situation in the north, and it also mentioned a battle that made Yuan Chizhi famous several years ago.
After that battle, the Rong tribe in the north became much more obedient, submitted to the Jing Dynasty, and sent envoys to pay tribute of cattle, sheep, and jewelry every year.
After reading the article, Shi Li remembered that the day when the envoys from the northern country would pay tribute was approaching.
"This article is really well written. It doesn't use fancy words, but every word is precious."
Shi Li gave the article a thumbs-up, then picked up another article. After reading only the first few columns of text, she couldn't help but frown.
The contrast between this article and the previous one is very stark and tragic.
The whole article is written in parallel prose with gorgeous and dazzling rhetoric, but other than that, it has no other merits. The policy papers are empty and have no opinions of their own. They only mechanically apply past allusions without considering the present at all.
Shi Li was a little unhappy and put down the article with a sullen face.
“Can this be chosen?”
Since only Yuan Chizhi was present, she simply didn't restrain her emotions and expressed her dissatisfaction directly.
"The article Your Majesty just read was highly recommended by Cui Lang. And this one..."
Yuan Chizhi glanced at the article that Shi Li disliked and smiled slightly, "Zhang Dong just finished reading it and praised it repeatedly."
Shi Li: ...
Okay, okay, these two people really know how to cause trouble.
There is no absolute right or wrong between aristocratic families and poor families. There are also disciples from aristocratic families who can sympathize with the suffering of the people; and there are also officials from poor families who are flashy but not practical.
Cui Lang and Zhang Dongcai were taught a solid lesson by Shi Li.
Taking a deep breath, Shi Li looked at Yuan Chizhi with a complicated expression.
"My dear, you must do a good job in the imperial examination and don't bury the talents who can do practical work." She spoke so earnestly that she didn't even realize that she had gradually begun to trust Yuan Chizhi.
Yuan Chizhi heard it clearly, and after a moment of silence, he replied, "I will certainly help your majesty to share your worries."
With these words, Shi Li felt extremely relieved. She glanced at his face and said with concern, "You should also take care to rest and don't make yourself sick. You don't look well."
Yuan Chizhi could tell whether other people's words were false or sincere. He glanced at Shi Li quickly and said "OK" again.
Shi Li knew that he had a lot of work to do, so she didn't say any unnecessary nonsense and gradually learned how to handle some small matters.
For example, how to deal with the little palace maid who always tried to scam her outside the cold palace.
The maidens in Jing Dynasty had different backgrounds. At first glance, this little maid who dared to commit fraud seemed to have an ordinary family background, but her confidant had found out that her father was once a retainer of the Cui family.
The aristocratic family that seems to be always aloof and self-respecting to outsiders is actually not that aloof. Like many ordinary people, they are greedy for power and status, otherwise they would not have extended their hands into the palace.
Shi Li habitually tapped her fingers on the table, which was her usual action when she was thinking.
I didn't have this habit originally, but once I saw Yuan Chizhi doing this, I learned it unconsciously, and now it has become a habit of mine.
There is a saying that goes, "When the water is too clear, there will be no fish."
It is normal to have spies planted in the palace by outsiders. As long as they don't stretch their hands too far, she can turn a blind eye. But it is really annoying that they always think about asking her to have a harem.
Just as I was thinking about it, Xie Qingyun came in with tea.
She was wearing a green dress. She placed the teacup next to Shi Li's hand, quietly observed her expression, suddenly took two steps back, and knelt solemnly in front of Shi Li.
"I am willing to share your worries."
"What did you say?" Shi Li was startled and looked straight at Xie Qingyun.
Xie Qingyun knelt on the ground with his back straight, speaking in a clear and neither humble nor arrogant voice, "Your Majesty is getting older, and the voices for the previous dynasty to establish a queen will surely become louder and louder. Your Majesty does not want to be bothered by the harem, so you need someone to stabilize the harem. I am the best candidate, and I will definitely be able to manage the harem in an orderly manner, so that Your Majesty will not have any worries."
Shi Li was confused.