As soon as I saw the bright red rays coming slowly in the snow, he and I fell silent. For a moment, only the sound of falling snow was left, and Pei Yuanzhen's footsteps, each step seemed to be stepping on my heart.

She walked up to us and said to Liu Qinghan with a smile: "Have you finished talking to the emperor?"

"I have met the eldest princess."

"Qinghan, you haven't forgotten what the emperor's order just now."

"……yes."

In fact, I was standing beside him, and even the wind blew my clothes and brushed over the corner of his clothes. But at this moment, looking at the warm smile on Pei Yuanzhen's face, as if he was carved with ice and snow, he felt a sense of being far away from them, and he couldn't even catch them even if he stretched out his hand. Pei Yuanzhen completely ignored my existence and smiled at him wholeheartedly: "But the snow is so heavy, it's not enough to go to the horse farm now."

When Qinghan heard this, he immediately said, "That Wei minister—"

"I'll take you to another place."

"ah?"

"Anyway, the emperor said, let you accompany me, right?"

“…”

"Qinghan!"

"yes."

Pei Yuanzhen smiled softly at him, her cheeks still had a faint pink color. At this time, she turned to look at me and smiled: "Mr. Yue, your face doesn't seem to be very good."

I forced a little smile: "Princess Xie is concerned."

"Let's go back to Jingren Palace soon. I'll come back in Nianshen later and look for you everywhere."

After saying that, she put the umbrella in her hand to Qinghan's head and said with a smile: "Let's go."

Liu Qinghan looked at her cold-blooded hands, hesitated for a moment, and finally said softly: "I'll do it."

After saying that, he reached out to take the umbrella. Pei Yuanzhen smiled sweeter and turned around with him to walk to the side. And I stood there, letting the cold wind blow the snow foam and make me cold, and I didn't shake it, just looking at their backs.

As if I felt my gaze, the man holding the umbrella hesitated for a moment, as if he wanted to turn his head, but faster, Pei Yuanzhen smiled and turned around and held his sleeve: "Qinghan, go quickly."

“…”

"Hurry up, it's so cold!"

He said nothing and left in silence.

.

Until the sky was dark and the snow gradually stopped, I slowly walked back to Jingren Palace. When I walked into the palace gate, I felt that my back was heavy, and my steps could hardly pass the threshold. Kuoer, who happened to pass by, saw me at a glance and immediately walked over: "Master Yue."

I raised my head and forced a smile at her.

She looked at me with a strange look, but immediately said, "Why have you been there for so long? The Queen has asked several times."

I was a little numb: "Ah, what's the matter?"

"I don't know, she asked you to come back, so I'll go to the studio."

"good."

I nodded, turned around and walked towards the studio.

There was still a warm incense burning there, which was once familiar smell. Chang Qing stood by the table, with rice paper spreading on the table with a few freehand strokes, and her hand holding the pen was placed beside her lips and breathed gently.

I walked over: "Empress."

She smiled and turned her head. When she saw me, the smile on her face frosted, with almost the same expression as she had just been buttoned. I was a little surprised by this expression. When I lowered my head, I realized in surprise that I was still wearing Pei Yuanhao's fur coat.

I don’t know how many people saw it from the Imperial Study Room.

Thinking of this, I just feel that the warmth in the studio is not so warm.

Chang Qing quickly regained her calmness, curled the corners of her lips, and smiled, "I just came here to give winter clothes. I want to tell you that your part will come out of Jingren Palace in the future, and there is no need to use Jixian Palace. It seems that it will be saved."

The less I feel like talking.

She looked at me again, but did not blame her, but reached for another pen. I hurried over and saw that the ink in the inkstone had frozen a little, so she gently grind the ink for her. She dipped the pen in some ink and continued to outline it on the drawing paper. While putting the pen down, she said softly: "The emperor asked you to discuss the matter of the scientific examination. Have you set the test questions?"

It should be considered certain, but I remembered the expression in Pei Yuanhao's eyes when he saw the test questions given by Qinghan. He hesitated for a moment and said, "It seems that it hasn't."

Chang Qing frowned slightly and said, "This scientific examination is not ordinary."

"Hmm?" I looked up at her with some confusion.

Chang Qing pondered for a while before saying softly: "The officials of the six ministries are all served every three years. Although some old ministers have been in power for many years, it is time to change. This time the emperor was originally determined to promote talents from the new officials, but if the people selected are all--"

She only said halfway and didn't say it, but I probably understood.

Not only did Pei Yuanhao need the help of new officials, but in fact, Taifu Shen also needs it. People cannot escape birth, old age, sickness and death. What's more, the flow of talents in the court is faster than water. Only by constantly cultivating new forces can he always control the government. So this time, their eyes are all on this year's imperial examination. But if the people selected are disciples of Taifu Shen, then the situation will be greatly detrimental to Fu Badai and Liu Qinghan.

"And," Chang Qing said while holding a pen to draw lines: "Officers are appointed every three years, and they have won over this group of officials. In the three years, the princes are all older."

"…!" I froze my fingertips holding the ink strip and looked up at her.

She nodded to me: "My father asked someone to tell me that Taifu Shen has made great moves recently and must be on guard."

After hearing her words, I was a little surprised. It was not because she said something about Shen Gongyi, but because it was the first time Chang Qing mentioned Grand Master Chang while talking.

She has always been in the harem and Taishi Chang in the previous dynasty, and it seems that she is cold-eyed and watching, but now it seems that she is not. Even Taishi Chang asked someone to tell her a message, which means... the Taishi is going to move?

It seems that Shen Gongyi's power is too great, and even Grand Master Chang has his concerns. In the previous state banquet in the hall, the Shen family originally wanted to get rid of me and weaken the power of Jixian Hall, so as to facilitate the dealings of Nian Shen. Their plan failed, but instead saw that in front of Nian Shen there was not only Jingren Palace, but Jixian Hall, but also a princess who could not move even the emperor.

In this way, their direction changes.

The firewood was removed from the bottom of the pot, and the prince became bigger three years later. If Shin Gongyi's power was more stable, he would be able to say something like the early establishment of a prince.

I was confused and saw Chang Qing put down his pen, turned around and looked at me solemnly, and said, "You are the official character in Jixian Palace. You must be more cautious this time."

I nodded: "Yes."

Even Chang Qing said this. It seems that this imperial examination is not that simple.

.

After the New Year was rushing, the days of the exam were getting closer. After the examination was completed, the students from all over the country gathered in the capital.

This year's capital is particularly lively, but it is also particularly cold. After the heavy snow fell before the New Year, it did not clear for five consecutive days, and the whole world turned into a white patch, leaving only the biting cold wind and cold snow.

Early in the morning, someone came out on the street to sweep the snow.

The sound of the broom falling on the ground completely broke the tranquility of the day. I sat in the carriage and left the palace gate and headed all the way to the tribute courtyard. Because the road was slippery in the snow and the carriage was not moving fast. Sometimes a gust of wind lifted the curtain and I could see the figures of people around me.

It's the Shadow Guard.

I smiled faintly and Pei Yuanhao couldn't relax at all when he was at me.

The Ministry of Rites had already settled the Gongyuan. After the hour of Mao, the candidates who were referring to it came to the Gongyuan one by one. After the examination, the Gongyuan would be closed for three days to prevent cheating. As soon as my carriage was parked at the door, I saw that there were already many guards in front of me, which was very strict, and the air here made the cold and solemn.

I got off the carriage and immediately a cold air came. I couldn't help but tremble. Zhu Hua, the Minister of Rites who was standing at the gate of the Gongyuan, came over and bowed to me: "Mr. Yue."

"My wishes, sir." I also greeted respectfully and said: "I thank you for your hard work in this exam."

"Where is it. This time I really worked hard, but Mr. Fu."

"Mr. Fu has arrived?"

"It's arrived early in the morning and is inside. Lord Yue wants to go in?"

"Oh, no hurry. Xiaguan still has to do what the Queen has assigned to do."

He raised his gray eyebrows and saw several carriages following me, shaking and looking extremely heavy. I was wondering, and I smiled and said, "This time it's heavy snow, and the students coming from all over the country must have been frozen. The Empress ordered the officials to come to the Gongyuan to distribute clothes to all the students in the cold, so that they can be more able to bear these three days."

When Zhu Hua heard this, he immediately said, "The Empress is so kind-hearted!"

I smiled, and waved my hand and someone immediately followed me and took out the trucks of cold clothes from the back. Zhu Hua went up to talk to the candidates who were about to go to the tribute school. The candidates immediately said gratefully: "Thank you for the gift of the Empress!"

"The Empress is a thousand years old."

So, two groups were divided into the gate of the Gongyuan. On one side, Zhu Hua brought other officials from the Ministry of Rites to check the candidates. After the inspection was clear, he came to me to get a piece of cold-proof clothes and then entered the Gongyuan.

While handing them the cotton coat in my hand, I smiled, looking a little nervous, and comforted and encouraged me. These candidates were still young, some of whom were only in their teens, with a childish look on their faces. It was the first time I had arrived at the foot of the emperor, and were a little dull by the majesty and momentum here; but some of them had obviously experienced great events and were calm in their expressions. They disdained the cotton cherry in my hand, but for the sake of the queen's gift, they took it over.

Zhu Hua had always been standing next to him, but at this time he couldn't help but sigh softly.

I looked back at him and said softly, "Sir, are those who just now the Jieyuan from several provinces this year...?"

He nodded silently, stroked his gray beard and sighed silently.

I glanced at the people and said nothing. I continued what I had. Although there were many people at the entrance of the Gongyuan, it was still orderly.
Chapter completed!