Qingyun Weiyang

Chapter 1: Palace Examination

The morning sun was white with dew, and the sky was slightly pale. Shihan waited anxiously outside the door of the upper room of the inn.From the upstairs, you can clearly see the pedestrians starting to hurry. Today is the day of the palace exam, so you must not be late.

He paced back and forth, wanting to knock on the door but afraid of disturbing the people inside, but if he was late, he would be disqualified!No, as a confidant, he can't let the Lord take this risk, he has the duty and obligation to remind her.

He took a step forward, and just as he was about to raise his hand to knock on the door, the door opened.I saw a woman wearing a lavender butterfly costume walk out from the inside. The costume doesn't look luxurious, but it can't hide its exquisiteness. a feeling of.

"My lord, you..." Shi Han looked at her and wanted to laugh but didn't dare, so his face turned red and he didn't laugh.

"What? Is it ugly?" Nalanqing's eyes were full of serenity, and a faint fragrance wafted around her body. She changed that alluring appearance. Although it seemed that she had changed her face, she also She looks a bit like her original appearance, hiding herself just right, but she can't hide her innate nobility.

"The subordinates just think that the master still loves beauty, and he is not willing to uglify himself. Now your face is three points in appearance and seven points in temperament. You will definitely be the best." Shihan was full of praise, Nalan Qing squinted eyes, and said, "Are you a harem beauty pageant?"

"The empress dowager's selection of an official is not a beauty pageant." Shi Han covered her mouth and snickered, but felt a coldness hit her. She sneaked a glance at Nalan Qing, and couldn't help shivering.

This silence without anger was the scariest thing for Shihan. He hurriedly changed the subject, and suddenly patted his thigh, "The time is coming, my lord, we have to enter the palace quickly."

"En." When it came to entering the palace, Nalanqing's expression softened a little, she flicked her sleeves lightly, and with a slight smile on her lips, she walked towards the Jihuang Palace that she had longed for.

In the third year of Emperor Yu, the Empress Dowager Chunyi, Yunjin, publicly recruited Zhongling officials. Anyone who holds a letter of recommendation from an official of the third grade or above can sign up for the imperial examination. The imperial examination is divided into written examination, military examination, and palace examination.

As the Empress Dowager Regent, Yun Jin has power all over the world. The female officials of Yunqi Palace have become the daughters of high officials and women from official families. There is one female officer.

People outside the palace have entered one after another, and the proof of entry is the letter of recommendation. Nalan Qing stretched out his hand, "Bring the letter of recommendation."

"My lord, which adult do you want?" Shihan found more than a dozen letters of recommendation from his bag, "This is from Master Liu, the second grade, and it cost 1000 taels; this is from Master Tan, the first grade, and it cost 2000 taels." ;This belongs to Master Cui of the third grade, and it costs 800 taels, which is really expensive...."

Na Lanqing took a look around at the recommendation of the third-rank Master Cui, and then walked towards the palace gate, but Shi Han couldn't follow him into the palace.

"My lord, me? Me?" How can I settle down?Shihan complained endlessly.

"This is in Jidu, not Qingzhou. Don't call my lord again. You want to enter the palace and figure out your own way." Nalan Qing has always been used to being alone, and despite his high status, he was never used to using maids and followers. The first time she entered the palace there was a special matter, and she needed to bring someone out, so she chose this stupid Shihan.

She has always liked freedom, and there is nothing in the world that can restrain her, but ever since she glanced at Yun Jin five years ago, this prosperous three thousand years, she has never been able to catch her eyes.

The imperial examination is not easy, and those who can come to participate are the daughters of generals. The country of Ji has always been equal to men and women, and there are not a few women who are officials. The former empress Shengtian created a peaceful and prosperous world that unified the world.

For Nalan Qing, the questions of the written test were really simple.She could guess why Yunjin recruited such a female official by her side. She needed a trusted aide who was both civil and military and who could occasionally help her discuss state affairs. In recent years, those regent ministers and princes' children have often made things difficult for her. She wants to fortify the ministers. Keep three distractions for everyone.Therefore, she will definitely conduct a thorough investigation of the details of the female officer she recruited. Fortunately, Nalan Qing has already prepared everything.

The exam question is how to deal with floods, droughts, insect disasters and plagues. This kind of topic seems simple, but it is actually very complicated.It is related to the cost operation of the treasury, manpower mobilization, and even the division of functions between local officials and court officials, and even how to arrange the people, without losing the hearts of the people.If the writing is too good, it will show its sharpness, which will attract Yun Jin's suspicion. If the writing is peaceful and has no characteristics, it will be eliminated. Nalanqing must grasp this scale in order to stand out properly.

She surveyed the topic for a long time without starting to write, while the other female examiners were already scribbling, and even the invigilator was worried about her. After all, time is only a stick of incense.She was so calm, she breathed a sigh of relief, closed her eyes and rested her mind. She had never seen such a calm and relaxed person. In such a tense atmosphere, she could still relax. Is this giving up the written test or being too confident?Lin Zirui at the side also became curious about her.

After half a stick of incense passed, Nalanqing finally started to pick up the pen, but when she held the pen in her right hand, she suddenly remembered that she had written with Yun Jin in the name of Nalan's Patriarch, if all these test questions were presented to Yun Jin, Her handwriting will definitely be recognized, and her identity will be suspected. She cannot take this risk.Now her inscribed name is Lan Qing. Thinking of this, she switched to writing with her left hand to answer the questions.

Fortunately, although the writing with the left hand is not as majestic as the right hand, it is still beautiful, as long as it is not ugly.After all, Yunjin loves calligraphy very much, so I'm afraid he will judge people by their handwriting, after all, most of the time, their calligraphy is just like their own.

Na Lanqing quickly finished answering the test questions, she laid the scrolls in satisfaction, only to hear the invigilator say, "I have just received an order from the Empress Dowager to add a temporary drawing test question, the time is still a stick of incense, the title is "Empty". "

After finishing speaking, the invigilator ordered people to collect all the test scrolls, and then issued a new scroll, which caught everyone by surprise. You must know that some people are not good at drawing, let alone such a vague question.

"This makes people draw like this, empty, doesn't it mean that there is nothing?"

"I didn't like painting since I was a child. If the piano, chess and books are okay, what should I do?"

Chattering discussions came from among the referees. Today, there are 20 referees. After all, they are female officials, and there are not many talented people. These 20 referees have been carefully selected.

Nalan Qing looked at the empty scroll, his brows were full of tenderness, more distressed.The empty one has no delusions, no thoughts, no thoughts, no worries, Yunjin, when will you be able to do this?You took this as a test question, is it because you feel empty in your heart when you are under such a huge responsibility?

Na Lanqing knew that Yun Jin loved calligraphy and painting, so this question was probably a temporary idea, perhaps because he wanted to see everyone's resilience.Although Na Lanqing could barely write with her left hand, it was very difficult to paint. She had to use her right hand. Anyway, Yun Jin had never seen her paint before, so she should not be recognized.

She didn't draw much, but only outlined the lines of a palace, in which a laurel tree grew isolated.This painting is very risky, and may even offend the Queen Mother, but this is everything in Na Lanqing's eyes, because the sweet-scented osmanthus represents Yun Jin, and the meaning is not obvious.

But Na Lanqing was about to take a gamble. She bet that Yunjin would show the painting to her for the palace test, and her purpose was to draw Yunjin's attention to her.Because she won't let her grades rank first, but she must be appreciated by Yun Jin.She believed that Yunjin would not just look at the formal rankings.

The martial arts test went more smoothly. As long as she kept the top three, she would have a chance to enter the palace test. She sealed her internal strength, only used moves to compete, used skills to fight against others, and won in a low-key manner.On the same day, the invigilator will take the top ten places in the written test and the martial arts test and submit them to Yunqi Palace. The queen mother will decide which five people can enter the palace test.

The next day, Nalan Qing's quota for passing the exam arrived as scheduled, and everything was within her expectation.From the posting of the imperial list to the registration, it has been a long period of several months. In order to get the recommendation quota, it is not enough to just spend money, but also to learn from it. That is to say, all applicants have been questioned when they get the recommendation letter .Those who can enter the palace for reference are all outstanding.

Now it's finally the day of the palace examination, everyone is very excited, only Nalan Qing's expression is consistent, without too much emotional turmoil.

"Hey, what's your name?" Liu Qin asked Nalan Qing while poking his head.

Nalan Qing didn't turn his head, but replied flatly, "Lan Qing."

"My name is Liu Qin, and I'm the adopted daughter of Mr. Liu in the Household Division." Liu Qin seemed to want to make friends with Nalanqing, but Nalanqing didn't say much, and his cold eyes were always looking in the direction of Yunqi Palace, waiting for Yunjin 's arrival

The final palace examination was arranged by Li Ruo, who was the commander of the Imperial Forest Army, Yunjin's confidant minister, and was a fifth-rank official. He placed the five of them in Yuxing Garden to wait for the palace examination and the arrival of the Queen Mother.

All of Nalan Qing's emotions are focused on Yun Jin. It's been five years since I saw her. What does she look like now?But I still remember their meeting in a glimpse.Maybe Yun Jin didn't remember it anymore, but that look meant ten thousand years to Nalan Qing.

She decided that this life was all about Yunjin.

"I heard that the empress dowager is the youngest empress dowager in the thousands of years of my Daji history. She is not only proficient in all kinds of piano, chess, calligraphy and painting, but also has a superb melody." A woman spoke up.

"The little girl also wants to see the Queen Mother's demeanor." This woman is so quiet, her words are relaxed, from the written test to the palace test Nalan Qing has noticed her, taciturn but has been watching all directions, Nalan Qing cast her a glance , seeing her full atrium and deep eyes, she is Lin Zirui, the daughter of the Minister of Military Aircraft. This woman is not simple, but extremely smart. Compared with this Liu Qin, she is much calmer.

"I heard from my adoptive father that although only one person can enter Yunqi Palace, as long as the palace examination is well appreciated by the queen mother, you can still get an official position. There are still many positions in the palace, and we still have a chance." Liu Qin Innocent and lively, with no heart, such a character would be difficult to survive in the officialdom.

Nalan has a clear eye on the audience, sees through but does not point out, and never speaks too much.She just sat quietly, and she had an indescribable aura, as if she had an innate majesty. When she was silent, people dared not disturb her.

Lin Zirui has been paying attention to her since the written test, and can't help but want to look at her more. Although her appearance is not stunning at first glance, she always gives people a different feeling?The intuition was really strange, Lin Zirui sighed softly, and saw Nalan Qing's gaze head on, she hurriedly avoided it, feeling that she was really rude.

Nalan Qing pursed her lips lightly, could it be that this Lin Zirui regarded her as an opponent, and was stared at by her all the time, she shook her head helplessly.

"The Empress Dowager is here!"

I only heard the eunuch's call, and a gust of clear wind passed through my heart. The sweet-scented osmanthus was in full bloom in September, and only Yunjin could have this unique fragrance.This air is like orchid, and the faint scent of cinnamon penetrates into Nalan Qing's heart.