NCCnovel Chapter 191 Rejected by the Duke's Mansion
Chapter 191 Rejected by the Duke's Mansion
Investigating the poison that causes the silk thread is no easy task, and King Qi is sensitive and suspicious, completely different from the impulsive and irritable King Xuan.
If the King of Qi discovers this, all the plans may fall apart.
Prince Chen lowered his eyes and pondered for a moment before saying, "There's no need to rush the matter of the 'Pulling Silk Poison.' I will send people to investigate secretly. Right now, the most important thing is..."
He looked up, his gaze gentle, a smile unconsciously playing on his lips. "The Hanlin Academy has already changed your grades back; you are now at the top."
"The Emperor attaches great importance to this imperial examination and has issued an edict that the Ministry of Rites shall be responsible for preparing the conferment banquet, which will be held at the Deer Cry Terrace in three days."
"The top ten candidates will all be invited."
A hint of surprise flashed in Yun Shang's dark eyes.
Located outside the imperial city walls, the Deer Cry Terrace was a viewing hall built by the late emperor with great effort to overlook the scenery of Shengjing.
Emperor Wenjing also enjoyed overlooking the night view of Shengjing from the Deer Cry Terrace, which could be considered a royal residence.
It was indeed unexpected that the Ministry of Rites would grant permission to hold the official conferment banquet at the Deer Cry Terrace.
Prince Chen noticed the surprise in Yun Shang's eyes and smiled gently, "Father has always valued the selection of talents. The banquet held at Luming Terrace this time is probably to show the court's emphasis on this imperial examination, and also because Prince Xuan cheated this time."
"The Emperor once again expressed to all the scholars in the land the court's eagerness to seek out talented individuals."
Yun Shang's dark eyes narrowed slightly, concealing the deep thought in them.
Emperor Wenjing was known outside the court for indulging in pleasure and being incompetent and foolish.
But over the years, the Great Zhao Dynasty was on the verge of chaos but had not yet descended into chaos, and Yun Shang always felt that something was amiss.
He noticed this as soon as he entered the capital.
Emperor Wenjing, who seemed to neglect state affairs and be incompetent, may not have been as simple as they imagined.
Yun Shang felt that he was more like a chess player who controlled all the pieces, secretly observing the whole situation and moving all the pieces at will, with a sense of playing the game of life.
Prince Chen stood up and gently patted his shoulder. "Your father will definitely notice you. You must not make any mistakes these next few days. At this official appointment banquet, you will probably be the focus of everyone's attention. This is both a good thing and a bad thing."
Being in the spotlight will bring more opportunities.
At the same time, they are also likely to become the target of public criticism.
Yun Shang nodded slightly, "Your Highness, rest assured, I understand."
It was half an hour later when we left the Prince Chen's residence.
As the carriage turned a corner, Yun Shang lifted the curtain and instructed the driver, "We're not going back to the manor; we're going to the Duke of Anguo's manor instead."
The coachman was from the Yun family, and everyone called him Uncle Fu. He was a veteran recommended by Prince Chen who had been on the battlefield and had injured his legs.
He is honest and prudent, and bold yet meticulous in his work.
After spending time together, Uncle Fu realized that Prince Chen valued Yun Shang, and that although Yun Shang appeared cold, she was sincere in her dealings with others.
Uncle Fu also became more sincere.
He knew that Yu Wan had been staying at the Duke's mansion for the past few days, and couldn't help but chuckle and tease, "Young Master must be missing his wife, right?"
A hint of tenderness appeared in Yun Shang's dark eyes, but it vanished quickly.
He did not answer Uncle Fu's question.
……
Half an hour later, Uncle Fu parked the carriage outside the Duke of Anguo's mansion.
The gatekeeper of the Duke of Anguo's mansion noticed the carriage that had stopped and saw a young gentleman get off the carriage.
He was tall and slender, like an ancient pine tree. His face was as white as jade, and his eyes were as clear and cold as distant mountains shrouded in mist. His whole body exuded a cool and aloof aura, as if he were isolated from the world.
His eyes, as black as ink, were deep and calm like an ancient pool, with the occasional glint of light like a cold star.
Wearing a moon-white robe, the hem of which swayed gently in the wind, as if moonlight were flowing over it, making her figure even more elegant.
His entire being, standing there, was like a traditional Chinese ink painting by a master, possessing both the elegance of a scholar and the ethereal grace of a celestial being, captivating all who beheld him.
The gatekeeper stared in disbelief for a moment before reacting and quickly stepped forward to inquire, "May I ask who you are, young master...?"
The city of Shengjing was full of high-ranking officials and nobles, and none of them could afford to offend the gatekeepers. Whenever they saw someone as imposing as him, they would be extremely respectful and humble.
Yun Shang's gaze was indifferent: "Yun Shang, I apologize for the intrusion and for disturbing you. Please inform them that I have come to fetch Yu Wan."
The gatekeeper was momentarily stunned when he heard the name "Yun Shang".
A flicker of realization crossed his puzzled eyes, followed by a more scrutinizing look. "So you are Yun Shang."
His tone was much worse than before.
Yun Shang frowned slightly, and then heard the gatekeeper say, "You can leave now, Miss will not see you."
Upon hearing this, Uncle Fu, who was below, instinctively asked, "Why?"
The gatekeeper glanced at Yun Shang, a hint of regret flashing in his eyes.
Such a noble person was actually just a poor scholar.
He waved his hand impatiently and said, "Our Duchess gave instructions a long time ago that if anyone named 'Yun Shang' comes looking for Miss Yun, they cannot be allowed into the manor. As for the reason, we don't know."
"We only follow orders."
Uncle Fu was anxious. "How can there be no reason? Your young lady from the Duke's mansion is my young master's wife. She has been away at her parents' home for many days. How can you turn your young master away now that he has come to pick you up?"
The gatekeeper got annoyed. "Can't you understand human language? I said you can't come in, and that means you can't come in. Go away, go away, don't block the way to the Duke's mansion."
Uncle Fu had been on the battlefield and still retained that impatience; he couldn't help but want to argue with the gatekeeper.
“Uncle Fu,” Yun Shang said in a clear and calm voice, “Since it is the Duchess’s order, there must be a reason. There is no need to make things difficult for him.”
"Let's go back first, we'll come back another day."
Uncle Fu glanced at the gate of the Duke's mansion, feeling both puzzled and annoyed.
"Why would she turn her son-in-law away for no reason?" Uncle Fu muttered under his breath. "Could it be that the Duchess of Anguo thinks her son is not good enough for the eldest daughter of the Anguo family?"
Yun Shang paused on the stairs.
A moment later, he casually stepped onto the carriage.
……
At this moment, inside the Duke's mansion, Yu Wan was completely unaware that Yun Shang had just been there.
Lady Anguo was watching her maidservant do her hair and makeup.
"Wan'er, it's rare that your cousins have invited you out shopping today, so I'm going to dress you up beautifully."
Half an incense stick later, the Duchess of Anguo instructed her maid to dress her up and said that Wan Yuru and the others had invited her to visit Biling Lake.
Since the Duchess of Anguo was willing to let her go, Yu Wan naturally did not refuse.
Lying in the yard sunbathing and playing cards is comfortable, and going out to enjoy the lake scenery and sunbathing is equally comfortable.
"Miss, it's done." Xizhu's voice rang out.
Yu Wan snapped out of her thoughts and looked at herself in the mirror.
Xizhu's craftsmanship would definitely be at the level of a royal chef in the real world.
Her jet-black hair was meticulously styled into an intricate and ornate updo, adorned with a jade hairpin inlaid with lustrous pearls, exuding an air of nobility and elegance.
Several small butterfly hairpins were also pinned to the side, the butterflies on the hairpins fluttering as if about to take flight, lifelike.
Her makeup was fresh and elegant, with her eyebrows like crescent moons, lightly outlined with dark blue, making her look even more gentle and graceful.
Yu Wan had always defined her original self as a "fresh and cute little white flower," but thanks to Xi Zhu's skillful hands, she is now almost a "dignified and elegant hibiscus flower."
Others may not know, but she was absolutely smitten.