Women dressed as men: powerful officials

Chapter 272: Wenhua Palace Assessment

On the day of the assessment in Wenhua Palace, Wu Shiming specially found a carriage to send Xu Yuan into the palace.

There are many assessments in Wenhua Palace, but not many important ones.

Especially when it comes to national examinations, the assessment is extremely strict.

Students who have not registered for the exam are not allowed to stay in Wenhua Palace on the day of the exam.

Therefore, when Xu Yuan saw Shen Yichuan in Wenhua Palace, he was very surprised.

Seeing Xu Yuan, Shen Yichuan was not surprised at all. He just smiled and said to her, "Why, are you worried that you can't pass the exam as well as me?"

After the Lantern Festival, Xu Yuan never saw Shen Yichuan again.

When I saw him today, I realized that Shen Yichuan had lost a lot of weight. His thin spring clothes made him look even thinner.

It was very different from his previous gentle and elegant appearance.

"Mr. Shen is extremely talented, so Xu Yuan naturally doesn't dare to compete with him."

Despite saying so, Xuyuan was not worried.

After all, it’s not just the top scorer in Wenhua Palace who can take part in the national exam.

Although she had some knowledge, she was definitely showing off her skills in front of Shen Yichuan and bringing humiliation upon herself.

"Mr. Xu is too modest." Shen Yichuan smiled.

The two walked side by side into the palace, and Xu Yuan asked, "How are you these days? I feel like you've lost a lot of weight."

"Fortunately, I have figured out some things and my heart is clear. I have gained something." Shen Yichuan spoke politely and reminded: "Xu Yuan, I am not the only one taking the exam this year. Qi Shengxin is also taking the exam. If you want to take the national exam, you must do your best. The two of us will not let you go."

"That's natural. I know that."

After crossing a threshold and seeing that there was no one around, Xu Yuan whispered, "I have already made it clear to the Third Prince. From now on, we will draw a line. The same goes for you. As for your father, I will explain it to him."

Shen Yichuan's smile paused for a moment, then returned to normal, saying calmly, "The Third Master has already looked for my father."

That day, the two talked for a long time in the study.

When Beiyao left, his father looked worried.

He thought something happened to Xu Yuan, but Shen Yijie's first words were: "Don't look for Xu Yuan again in the future. From now on, the Shen family will sever ties with Xu Yuan."

He didn't understand why and kept asking, but still got no answer. He wanted to leave the house but was confined to his room. If he hadn't come to take the test, Shen Yijie still wouldn't let him leave the house.

Before, he had tried every possible means to ask Xu Yuan what had happened.

But when he really saw the wish, he hesitated again.

Shen Yichuan didn't know how to ask, nor did he know how to tell Xu Yuan that the Shen family had to choose to keep to themselves from now on.

What he really didn't expect was that Xu Yuan himself proposed to draw a clear line.

"Is that so?" Xu Yuan was stunned for a moment, then she smiled and said, "That's good, I don't need to explain anything."

Shen Yiji is a stubborn person.

If she were to ask Shen Yijie, he would definitely not agree, and would even help her to clear her name.

Beiyao solved her most difficult problem now.

"Yeah." Shen Yichuan nodded.

The two stopped talking and walked in silence.

In the distance, Qi Shengzhu stopped and saw the two people over there, his slender eyebrows slightly frowned.

Qi Shengxin said: "The relationship between the two of them is already good."

"But don't you find it strange?" Qi Shengzhu murmured, "Shen Yichuan is on good terms with the Third Prince, Xu Yuan is on good terms with the Crown Prince, and these two people can actually coexist peacefully."

"Why not? Do you think anyone is like a child, showing anger and unhappiness on their face?" Qi Shengxin asked back.

He thought that it was normal for strong people to respect each other.

"I still feel like something is wrong. Even Song Xiujing seems weird."

Qi Shengzhu has been suspicious about these things for some time.

It has only been the past few months since Bei Yuan distanced himself from her and became close to Song Xiujing. Just as she had guessed, the reason why Bei Yuan gave up on him and chose Song Xiujing must be that Song Xiujing's identity would make it more helpful for him to seize power.

At first Qi Shengzhu didn’t guess what it was, but now he knows.

A princess is naturally better than her.

So, the Third Prince's cancellation of the engagement was also the Crown Prince's doing.

But if Song Xiujing knew her identity long ago, why did she reveal such a killer move so late?

If Song Xiujing didn't know at first, then who told her later?

Song Xiujing has no friends in the capital, and has even been targeted by Song Xiuyue’s close friends, except... Xu Yuan.

These two people are both from Sishui County, and Qi Shengzhu doesn't believe that they don't know each other.

After all, Xu Yuan has helped Song Xiujing out of trouble more than once.

Thinking of this, Qi Shengzhu hurriedly said: "Brother, you go in first, I have something else to do, so I'll go back first."

Qi Shengzhu was about to say "OK" when he turned around and left.

Seeing this, Qi Shengxin didn't say anything, turned around and went in to prepare for the test.

There are not many people participating in the assessment today, only a dozen or so.

Because it is an assessment prepared for the national civil service exam, the content of the assessment is more inclined towards literary examinations, including calligraphy, essays, policy questions, poems, etc., examining the response to national policies and current affairs, as well as literary creation ability.

The assessment lasted from morning to dusk and ended at dusk.

As for the rankings, they will be posted at the entrance of Wenhua Palace three days later.

After coming out of Wenhua Palace, Xu Yuan didn't see Shen Yichuan anymore.

Instead, it was Qi Shengxin who came over to ask when he saw Xu Yuan.

The others wanted to discuss something with Qi Shengxin, but when they saw Qi Shengxin talking to Xu Yuan, they dispersed in twos and threes.

After discussing the test questions, it was completely dark when we left the palace.

Seeing this, Qi Shengxin said, "It's getting late. I didn't have lunch. I heard that the food at Wuji Restaurant is good. Why don't we go have dinner together?"

Qi Shengxin knew that Xu Yuan and Wu Shiming had a very good relationship.

Therefore, he did not say any other place but chose Wu Ji Restaurant.

"No, there are a few things in today's assessment that I don't remember clearly, so I want to go home and take a look."

"That doesn't matter a little bit. After dinner, you and Wu Shiming can go home together, right?"

Hearing this, Xu Yuan couldn't refuse and could only respond: "Okay, but I'll pay for the meal."

"Okay." Qi Shengxin nodded.

The carriage headed towards Wu Ji Restaurant. Xu Yuan also discussed with Qi Shengxin a few points that he was unsure about. After the discussion, his mind became clear and he smiled more often.

Qi Shengxin had never eaten at Wu Ji Restaurant, but the owner of the restaurant knew Xu Yuan. When he saw Xu Yuan coming, he immediately invited him into the upper room and asked people to serve the food.

At the same time, outside the restaurant, Qi Shengzhu stopped, looked up at the restaurant in front of him, and whispered: "Go, be careful, don't get discovered."

"Don't worry, Miss. Money talks. Besides, Xuyuan is just a scholar. How can he understand these twists and turns?"

After the maid finished speaking, she took the sachet and walked into the restaurant. After looking around, she found a waiter, whispered a few words to him, handed the sachet to him, then clapped her hands and left the restaurant.