RWNEFE -Chapter 556 The Third-Place Scholar Volunteers to Serve at the Emperor’s Side

Zhang Ruchang’s face turned bright red. With a sudden plop, he dropped to his knees.

“Your Majesty, I do not seek the title of third-place scholar. I only wish to serve at Your Majesty’s side, always by your side!”

The officials were stunned, eyes wide in disbelief.

Shen Lanxi was equally surprised. She cast a subtle glance at Che Mingyuan, who quickly shook his head.

“It wasn’t arranged by him—don’t look at him.”

Shen Lanxi said evenly, “Constantly by my side is unnecessary. I opened the imperial exams to find capable people, not for the imperial harem.”

The officials trembled.

Although they knew the Emperor sometimes spoke bluntly, hearing it out loud was… shocking. Unacceptable. It went against tradition, disruptive to court order.

“Am I correct in saying that you are the student from the Northwest?”

Zhang Ruchang hurriedly replied, “Your Majesty is correct. I am indeed from the Northwest.”

“My family lived in Ganling,” he continued. “The land there is barren, with wind and sand year-round, and fierce bandits roam. Several years ago, the village was massacred by barbarian forces. Nine villages were wiped out, and I was the only survivor.”

A flash of recognition crossed Shen Lanxi’s mind.

“You are the little boy who dug the pit and buried the entire village?”

Zhang Ruchang, seeing the Emperor remembered, became excited. “I am indeed that boy.”

“I was saved by Your Majesty and assigned to the Northwest Army. After pacifying the region, I was sent to school and gradually earned my titles, step by step, until now.”

Shen Lanxi smiled. “I know you wish to repay me. I appreciate the sentiment. But you were not saved by me alone; the Northwest Army also helped. Your teachers guided you. As an official, if you serve diligently for the people, that will be the best repayment to me.”

Zhang Ruchang was momentarily taken aback. He began to protest that his actions weren’t about repayment, but Shen Lanxi had already made the arrangements.

“You shall be the third-place scholar. I have arranged for you as well: you may go to the Northwest, or to Qianzhou.”

Zhang Ruchang froze. Not stay in the capital?

Che Mingyuan whispered, “Hasten to receive the imperial decree and give thanks.”

Seeing he had no choice, Zhang Ruchang weighed his options and made a decision.

“I wish to return to the Northwest.”

Shen Lanxi smiled. “Advisor, see where vacancies remain in the Northwest and report back to me.”

Che Mingyuan quietly exhaled in relief.

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

Sun Daolin, naturally, became the second-place scholar. Afterwards, the three rode out through the city in procession.

Shen Lanxi then rewarded the three scholars and the officials who participated in the exams before adjourning the court.

…

“Your Majesty, I am innocent—Zhang Ruchang’s actions were truly not arranged by me!” Che Mingyuan thought he might die of injustice.

Shen Lanxi cast a cold glance at him. “I hope that’s true. In the future, you must not interfere in the affairs of my harem.”

It was both a warning and a notice.

Seeing that the Emperor wasn’t actually angry, Che Mingyuan relaxed slightly.

As for that Zhang Ruchang—daring to act recklessly on the court floor—he might as well be sent to repair river channels!

A day later, the martial exams began.

This time, Shen Lanxi did not attend, but the citizens’ enthusiasm remained high.

“Women participating in the martial exams—isn’t that asking for trouble?”

“They might get by in the civil exam, but the martial exam is men’s territory. In terms of strength, women simply cannot compete.”

“Publicity stunt, nothing but a publicity stunt!”

“Unexpectedly, quite a few women are taking the martial exams.”

“Their waists aren’t even as thick as men’s thighs. When they step onto the stage, won’t they get beaten to death?”

“Women winning the civil exam already upset certain people. The martial exam won’t be so pleasing.”

“The martial exam highlights gender differences most clearly. The women will get beaten badly—some people will lose face.”

Many men whispered mockingly to each other, eager to watch the spectacle.

Huang Yu, however, looked at them with nothing but contempt and disdain.

What of women?

The one sitting at the highest position today is a woman.

If the world could produce a Shen Lanxi, it could produce another—and perhaps someone who could surpass her, putting all men underfoot!

~

“Your Majesty, the top three of the martial exams are out: the women Huang Yu, Tian Bin, and Liu Jin.”

“That woman—she’s the Huang Yu who saved the Princess.”

Shen Lanxi took the list and scanned it carefully.

Che Mingyuan reported: “Forty from the Northwest, forty-five from Dongchuan.”

Another list was handed to her separately by Che Mingyuan.

Shen Lanxi returned the first list to him.

“Arrange these people as you see fit.”

Che Mingyuan understood. The other list required no further concern.

Huang Yu, as a woman, had taken first place in the martial exam. After paying respects at the palace, her first act was to go to the Shen family and express her gratitude.

Before long, news spread that Zhou Xinrou intended to adopt Huang Yu as her foster daughter.

Shen Lanxi received the news immediately. Soon after, a letter from the Shen family arrived.

She glanced at it and set it aside. In less than an hour, three such letters had arrived consecutively.

~

“Mother, what is Huang Yu to you? Why do you favor a stranger over your own daughter?” Shen Yuantang barged into Zhou Xinrou’s room recklessly.

This time she had learned to be smart, bringing four maids to occupy Zhou Xinrou’s two attendants, allowing her to enter smoothly.

“Mother…”

“Impudent!” Zhou Xinrou’s reprimand came with a teacup smashing at Yuantang’s feet.

“Mother…” Shen Yuantang yelled as if insane.

“Mother, am I even your child? Why would you help a stranger but not me?”

“I lost my child and was placed away by the Shen family, without any relatives to comfort me. Yet you, Mother, interfere for a stranger. Why help a stranger but not me?”

Shen Yuantang’s shouting came from the depths of a daughter’s despair—no one understood her, not even her biological mother.

“Silence!” Zhou Xinrou’s face darkened with fury.

She was now confined to bed with a broken leg, in a miserable state. Yet Yuantang barged in, questioning her instead of showing concern.

“You claim I don’t care for you, yet when you barge in, did you even ask about my injury?”

“Shen Yuantang, I gave birth to you, raised you, and never wronged you. Huang Yu saved me, willingly ruined her appearance, using her body as a shield. If it had been you, would you have dared?”

Yuantang’s eyes flickered with doubt, but soon turned resolute.

“Mother, that was because I wasn’t there. If I had been, I would have used my body to protect you too.”

“Even before this fall, when I lost my child, did you ever show concern for me?”

Zhou Xinrou’s gaze was cold as ice, dark clouds rolling in her eyes.

“Did you not want to marry Zhou Ruyuan? Your elder sister tried to stop you several times—did you ever waver?”

Tears welled in Yuantang’s eyes, her resentment turning into anger.

“Mother, your heart only belongs to Shen Lanxi. She has so many admirers, so many people around her—why can’t you care for me too?”

“Mother, I am also your daughter. You have only two daughters—why can’t you spare some care for me?”

“Back then, I was forced by circumstances to marry Zhou Ruyuan. Why couldn’t you protect me then?”

“I do not ask you to protect me as you did my elder sister. Fingers vary in length; palms differ in shape. But my elder sister and I share the same mother—we are siblings. And Huang Yu? Who is she?”