pappabearbooks Chapter 655: Yan Shu Enters the Palace
Chapter 655: Yan Shu Enters the Palace
"Oh, by the way, here are some food I prepared for you." Yan Shu lifted a piece of fine cotton cloth on the basket, which contained some dried meat, date cakes and rose cakes that she had made herself, as well as a few scallion pancakes wrapped in butter paper. She also prepared three apples and three oranges to supplement proper vitamins. This amount was just enough for three days.
Seeing what Yan Shu had carefully prepared, Jiang Ci's eyes were always filled with smiles.
"I'm sorry to trouble you to prepare all these things."
When he was taking part in the provincial examination in Xinyang Prefecture, she also came to the gate of the Imperial Examination Hall early in the morning to see him off, but the person she saw off was Wen Yutang instead of him.
Although he hadn't remembered her at that time, he felt inexplicably jealous when he saw her carefully preparing things for another man.
"Little sister, Yutang is here."
Yan Shu and Jiang Ci looked at Yan Wu, Er Zhu and Wen Yutang at the same time.
Wen Yutang smiled and nodded at Yan Shu, then glanced at Jiang Ci.
"Miss Yan, Mr. Jiang."
Yan Wu whispered, "Yutang, from now on when you see my little sister, you must call her Miss Cui."
There are many people in the capital city and there are many eyes. Since I come to the capital as the eldest daughter of the Cui family, I have to be more careful when there are outsiders around in the future.
Wen Yutang nodded in understanding: "I'll remember that."
Yan Shu looked at Wen Yutang: "Yutang, when did you arrive in the capital?"
"It's not long after the New Year. When did you come?"
Yan Shu said, "We have only been here for a short time. By the way, I have prepared some food for you. Second brother, please help me get it."
Yan Wu patted Wen Yutang on the shoulder and said, "It is said that the environment of the examination room is not a place for people to stay. We should try to be nicer to ourselves under limited conditions. Only when we eat well can we have the energy to write articles, right? Wait, I will get it for you."
Wen Yutang said somewhat embarrassedly: "I have brought some food."
Yan Shu looked at him and joked, "Did you bring some hard biscuits?"
"As long as there's food."
Yan Shu and Yan Wu both knew that Wen Yutang lived a very frugal life. Apart from the money Jiang Ci left for Er Zhu Niang to take care of her younger sister, he used the rest of the 1,200 taels of silver he gave him to buy pens, ink, paper, and books.
He has always tried to save as much as possible. The clothes he wore were two sets made for him by Liu Wen Niang before he went to Beijing. Even during the Chinese New Year, he was reluctant to buy himself a piece of clothing, but when it comes to his sister, he wants to do his best to satisfy her. Therefore, the Yan brothers and sisters usually take extra care of Wen Yutang. It is not easy for him to get to where he is today.
Yan Wu took out the bamboo basket from the carriage and handed it to Wen Yutang: "Do your best in the Imperial Examination Hall. With your ability, you will definitely be able to pass the examination and become a tribute scholar."
Wen Yutang looked at the Yan brothers and sisters gratefully: "I will definitely do my best."
Jiang Ci reached out and pulled Yan Shu to his side: "We should go in now, you should go back earlier too. If you need any help, go to Hongyue Tower and find Manager Jin."
Yan Shu nodded: "I understand."
Jiang Ci looked at her quietly for a while before calling Wen Yutang to walk towards the Tribute Hall.
When they walked into the team heading to the Imperial Examination Hall, they met Liu Yunzhao and two other students from the Bailu Academy. Cai Wenjie had failed the provincial examination, so he stayed in the Bailu Academy to study and prepare for the next provincial examination in three years. This time, Liu Yunzhao came to Beijing with Wen Yutang and two other students from the same academy who had passed the examination.
Liu Yunzhao was particularly excited to see Jiang Ci.
"I have been looking for news about you in various places. I have been to several inns but have not seen you. Even Yutang doesn't know where you are. I am worried that something has happened to you."
Jiang Ci said: "I have some personal matters to deal with, so I just got here recently."
Liu Yunzhao pleaded, "I was able to get the last strategist's help thanks to you. You must help me this time."
"Come to Hongyue Tower to find me after the first game is over."
"Okay, let's make it a deal. I heard that Hongyue Tower's southern cuisine is superb. I'll treat you and Yutang can come too."
Wen Yutang smiled and said, "Then I'd better obey your command."
-
After sending Jiang Ci to the Imperial Examination Hall, Yan Shu, Yan Wu and Er Zhu returned to Cui's mansion.
The maid who had just returned to the courtyard to serve hurried over.
"Miss, the master wants you to come over. It seems someone is coming from the palace."
Someone from the palace?
After a while, Yan Shu came to Mr. Cui's study.
"grandfather."
Old Cui was sitting on the first chair. Also sitting in the room was a middle-aged man in eunuch's clothes. The man had a fair complexion and no beard. It was obvious at first glance that he was a eunuch in the palace.
"You Ran, this is Eunuch Yang, the chief steward of the imperial palace. Come and meet Eunuch Yang."
Yan Shu walked into the house and bowed to Yang Zhong.
"This humble lady has met Eunuch Yang."
"Miss Cui, there's no need to be so polite." Yang Zhong smiled kindly and stared at Yan Shu with his shrewd eyes for a while.
"It is said that Qinghe is home to beautiful women. Miss Cui has skin as white as cream and a face as beautiful as a peach. She is truly a rare beauty. Mr. Cui is so lucky."
Elder Cui laughed out loud: "You are too kind, sir. My granddaughter is just a humble girl, far inferior to the nobles in the palace."
"Don't be so modest, Mr. Cui. I am not praised by everyone. It is because I am used to seeing beauties in the palace that I will not make a mistake. It has been a long time since we last met. His Majesty misses you very much. Take Miss Cui with you. As His Majesty gets older, he likes talking to the younger generations more and more."
Elder Cui glanced at Yan Shu, then smiled and said, "I feel honored to be remembered by your majesty."
Yang Zhong chuckled and couldn't help but glance at Yan Shu again.
He has been with His Majesty for half his life and knows His Majesty's aesthetic taste very well. If His Majesty had not been ill in the past two years, he would be in his prime now. He has always liked women with clean and elegant temperaments, and this girl from the Cui family really suits His Majesty's aesthetic taste.
Although His Majesty is not in good health now, as a man, who can resist the temptation of a beauty before he dies? Moreover, His Majesty has been recovering after taking the elixir given by the Wuji Immortal. Maybe if the girl from the Cui family is sent to His Majesty, His Majesty will be in a good mood and his health will get better and better?
Yan Shu wanted to check on Yuan An, and this visit to the palace was a good opportunity. Yuan An and Taoist Wuji clearly died in Kumu, so why did they come back alive a year later?
It is naturally impossible for the dead to be resurrected, so she suspected that the two who came back were fake. If the other party was fake, then what was their purpose in doing this?
The three of them got on the royal carriage to the palace, each with their own thoughts. An hour later, the carriage slowly stopped outside the palace gate. The towering entrance to the palace was a majestic and huge city gate, with several guards in black and red uniforms standing at the door.
"Mr. Cui, Miss Cui, the palace gate is ahead. Carriages cannot enter the inner court. You will have to walk with me for a while."
Yan Shu supported Cui Lao and walked to Yang Zhong. Cui Lao said politely, "Thank you for leading the way."
"please."