AWB Chapter 73 Gu Liuli proposes the imperial examination
Chapter 73 Gu Liuli proposes the imperial examination
Gu Liuli and Xiao Jingchuan returned to the capital after a long and arduous journey. The moment they stepped into the palace, a familiar yet slightly oppressive atmosphere enveloped them. Hand in hand, they proceeded to the inner palace to pay their respects to the Empress Dowager and Empress Mu Qingling.
The Empress Dowager sat on the phoenix throne, her face kind and her eyes revealing a majesty and gentleness that had been tempered by the passage of time.
When Gu Liuli gracefully bowed, the Empress Dowager immediately took a liking to this woman with her elegant figure and extraordinary temperament.
With a smile in her eyes, she said softly, "Get up quickly so I can take a good look at you. You are indeed a handsome child. Jingchuan is a lucky boy."
Empress Mu Qingling stood to the side, a gentle smile on her face. She already had a good impression of Gu Liuli, and now that she saw the Empress Dowager also liked her so much, she was even happier. "Your Majesty is right. Liuli is a smart and kind child, and she is very well-matched with Jingchuan."
Just as everyone was immersed in the harmonious atmosphere, a sharp voice suddenly rang out: "Oh, isn't this His Highness the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess? They're certainly enjoying themselves to the fullest."
Everyone looked in the direction of the sound and saw Consort Liang swaying her hips as she slowly walked in. Her eyes were filled with malice as she stared directly at Gu Liuli, her words full of sarcasm.
Gu Liuli was displeased, but she maintained a polite smile and ignored Consort Liang's provocation.
However, at that moment, the system's familiar notification sounded in her mind: "Ding! Explosive gossip detected. Host, do you want to receive it?"
Gu Liuli's heart skipped a beat, and she chose to accept the message. In an instant, a flood of secret information about Consort Liang rushed into her mind, shocking her—Consort Liang actually had a lover outside the palace and had been cuckolding Emperor Xiao Han for a long time.
Gu Liuli suppressed her inner shock and maintained a calm demeanor on the surface.
Seeing that Gu Liuli did not respond, Consort Liang assumed that she was scared and became even more smug. She continued, "Some people, relying on their looks, dare to stir up trouble in this palace. They don't even know their place."
The Empress Dowager frowned slightly, her face showing displeasure: "Consort Liang, what are you saying? Don't be so presumptuous in front of me."
Consort Liang panicked and quickly composed herself, curtsying and saying, "Your Majesty, please calm down. I simply cannot stand those who bewitch the Emperor and corrupt the atmosphere of the palace."
Mu Qingling couldn't help but rebuke, "Consort Liang, don't talk nonsense. Liuli is the Crown Princess, with a noble status. How can you slander her like this?"
Although Consort Liang felt resentment, she dared not openly defy her anymore, so she could only grit her teeth and lower her head.
Gu Liuli thought to herself that if Consort Liang was not punished for being so arrogant and domineering, she would probably cause more trouble in the future.
Moreover, she has committed such a treasonous act. If it is not exposed, how can we face Emperor Xiao Han? But this matter concerns the face of the royal family, so we must act with caution.
After returning to the Crown Prince's residence, Gu Liuli told Xiao Jingchuan about the matter.
Upon hearing this, Xiao Jingchuan was both shocked and furious: "This Consort Liang is simply audacious to do such a scandalous thing. If Father Emperor finds out, he will definitely not spare her."
Gu Liuli nodded and said, "This matter must not be publicized. We need to collect enough evidence before reporting to the Emperor. Otherwise, relying solely on the system's information may not be convincing enough to convince the public."
Xiao Jingchuan pondered for a moment and said, "Liuli is absolutely right. But how should we collect this evidence? Consort Liang must be extremely secretive in her actions."
Gu Liuli smiled slightly and said, "That's not difficult. Since the system knows about this matter, it should be able to help us find evidence."
With the help of the system, Gu Liuli and Xiao Jingchuan began to secretly investigate Consort Liang.
They discovered that Consort Liang frequently used the pretext of leaving the palace to pray for blessings to secretly meet with her lover outside the palace. And the location of each secret meeting was an abandoned Taoist temple on the outskirts of the capital.
To avoid alerting the enemy, Gu Liuli and Xiao Jingchuan arranged for reliable people to secretly monitor the area near the Taoist temple.
After several days, they finally obtained irrefutable evidence of Consort Liang's secret rendezvous with her lover, including their intimate correspondence and eyewitness testimonies.
With everything prepared, Gu Liuli and Xiao Jingchuan entered the palace to meet Emperor Xiao Han. Sitting on the dragon throne, Xiao Han looked at the two with serious expressions and couldn't help but wonder, "Jingchuan, Liuli, why are you in such a hurry to see me?"
Xiao Jingchuan stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said, "Father, your son and I have come here today to report an important matter. This matter concerns the face of the royal family, so I hope you will be prepared."
Xiao Han frowned slightly, a sense of foreboding rising in his heart: "Speak freely."
Gu Liuli recounted in detail the affair between Consort Liang and her lover outside the palace, and presented the evidence she had collected.
Upon hearing this, Xiao Han's face instantly turned ashen. He slammed his fist on the table and roared, "This vile woman dared to commit such a heinous act! Her crime is utterly unforgivable!"
Xiao Jingchuan quickly said, "Father, please calm down. This matter needs to be handled carefully to avoid affecting the royal reputation."
Xiao Han took a deep breath, trying to calm his anger: "You did the right thing. If you hadn't discovered it, I would still be kept in the dark. Such a shameful thing must not be let off easily."
Subsequently, Xiao Han secretly ordered the arrest of Consort Liang and her lover. When Consort Liang was brought before the Emperor, she still tried to deny it, but when she saw the irrefutable evidence, she collapsed to the ground, her face ashen.
Xiao Han looked at Consort Liang with disgust and anger in his eyes: "As my concubine, you have not only failed to uphold the virtues of womanhood, but have also committed such a scandalous act. Your crime is unforgivable. Guards, throw her into the Cold Palace to await further punishment. As for her lover, behead him immediately as a warning to others."
After the matter was resolved, Xiao Han praised Gu Liuli and Xiao Jingchuan: "Liuli, Jingchuan, I owe you both a great debt this time. If it weren't for your carefulness, I would have almost been deceived by this vile woman."
Gu Liuli curtsied and said, "Your Majesty flatters me. This is the duty of both me and the Crown Prince. However, although this matter has been resolved, the people in the palace are complicated, and I hope Your Majesty will pay close attention."
Xiao Han nodded slightly and said, "I understand. After this incident, I will strengthen the management of the harem. Liuli, you are exceptionally intelligent. If you discover similar things again in the future, do not hesitate to inform me."
After this battle, Gu Liuli's position in the palace became more secure, and the Empress Dowager and Mu Qingling grew to like and trust her even more.
And her relationship with Xiao Jingchuan deepened amidst these ups and downs.
However, the imperial palace is always a place of constant change. Beneath the calm surface, countless untold secrets and crises lurk, waiting for Gu Liuli and Xiao Jingchuan to confront and resolve. But the two of them stand shoulder to shoulder, their hearts filled with courage and confidence, fearless no matter what difficulties and obstacles lie ahead.
In the days that followed, Gu Liuli did not become arrogant or complacent after exposing Consort Liang's affair; instead, she acted with even greater caution. She knew that in this seemingly magnificent palace, every step was fraught with peril. She often discussed with Xiao Jingchuan how to assist the Emperor in governing the harem and stabilizing the court.
One day, Xiao Jingchuan said to Gu Liuli with great concern, "Liuli, the situation in the court seems stable now, but in reality, there are undercurrents. Some ministers are forming cliques and engaging in corrupt practices, attempting to seek personal gain. If this continues, it may be detrimental to the country."
Gu Liuli frowned slightly, and after thinking for a moment, said, "Jingchuan, this matter is indeed thorny. But we cannot sit idly by. We need to think of a way to weaken these forces without causing turmoil in the court."
The two fell into deep thought. After a long while, a glint of light flashed in Gu Liuli's eyes: "Jingchuan, perhaps we can start with the imperial examination system. The emperor can select some talented, honest and upright scholars from poor families to serve as officials, thereby checking those ministers who form cliques and engage in corruption."
Xiao Jingchuan's eyes lit up, and he clapped his hands in praise: "Liuli, this plan is brilliant. In this way, we can not only inject fresh blood into the court, but also break the existing balance of power."
So Gu Liuli and Xiao Jingchuan told Emperor Xiao Han about their idea. After listening, Xiao Han was very pleased: "Your ideas are excellent. I have been troubled by this matter. I will follow your suggestion and will definitely focus on selecting such talents in the next imperial examination."
At the suggestion of Gu Liuli and Xiao Jingchuan, the imperial examination was successfully held. A group of outstanding scholars from humble backgrounds emerged and entered the imperial court as officials. These newcomers to officialdom were filled with patriotic aspirations and deeply abhorred the practice of forming cliques and engaging in corrupt practices. They gradually formed a new force in the court, providing a check and balance against the old forces.
However, this move also aroused the dissatisfaction of some old forces. They secretly colluded, attempting to find opportunities to suppress these newly arrived officials, while also targeting Gu Liuli and Xiao Jingchuan.
One day, a minister named Lin Shangshu openly accused Gu Liuli of interfering in politics and disrupting the court in the imperial court. His words were strong, which drew the support of some ministers who echoed his sentiments.
Xiao Han sat on the dragon throne, his face grim. He knew this was a counterattack from the old forces, but the matter concerned the royal family's reputation and had to be handled properly.
Gu Liuli stood calmly below the court. Looking at Minister Lin, she slowly said, "Minister Lin, you accuse me of interfering in politics. What evidence do you have? I merely offered suggestions to the Emperor and the Crown Prince, and all my proposals were for the long-term stability of the country. Do you really consider offering advice to the nation a mistake?"
Minister Lin was momentarily speechless when Gu Liuli asked him a question, but he was still not giving up and argued, "Princess Consort, although you are the Princess Consort, the inner palace is not allowed to interfere in politics. This is a rule set by our ancestors. If you really care about the country, you should abide by your duty."
Xiao Jingchuan stepped forward and said righteously, "Minister Lin, all of Liuli's suggestions are beneficial to the country and its people. Moreover, she has not directly participated in court affairs; she has only offered some insights. If she is accused of interfering in politics for this, who will dare to offer advice to the country in the future?"
The court was immediately abuzz with discussion. The ministers were divided into two factions: one faction supported Minister Lin, believing that Gu Liuli's actions had indeed violated ancestral rules; the other faction supported Xiao Jingchuan and Gu Liuli, feeling that their suggestions were beneficial to the country and should not be overly criticized.
Xiao Han watched the debate in the court, pondering to himself. He knew that Gu Liuli and Xiao Jingchuan meant no harm, and their suggestions were indeed beneficial to the country. However, Minister Lin and others were using ancestral rules as an excuse, and if handled improperly, it could cause even more trouble.
Just then, the Empress Dowager learned of the debate in the court and sent a messenger with an imperial edict: "I have heard that there is a heated debate in the court over the matter of the Crown Princess. I have also heard about the suggestions made by the Crown Princess, which are all for the sake of the country and are not wrong. As for the ancestral rules, although they cannot be abolished, they should also be updated with the times. Anything that is beneficial to the country should not be easily rejected."
As soon as the Empress Dowager issued her decree, the court fell silent. Although Minister Lin and others were unwilling, they dared not openly oppose it anymore.