The three female officials walked side by side and bowed to the Crown Prince.
"We have disturbed the Crown Prince's reading, please punish us!”said Female Official Chen.
"Don't punish me. If you have something to say, say it quickly!”Jin Yuqi was too lazy to be polite with them.
The female official said,"Your Highness, the female teacher has finished teaching today. The test will be held in three days. Please give your instructions."”
"Test? Alright, what do you need this prince to say?”Jin Yuqi asked lazily. This seemed interesting.
"Your Highness, the test for the selected women is nothing more than the four arts. However, this test requires Your Highness to personally set the questions, and the rewards and punishments should be decided by Your Highness.”The female official said.
"Oh? It sounds interesting!" "Any punishment?" asked Jin Yuqi.”
"This…" The female official couldn't answer for a moment.
"Your Highness, according to the historical records of the Jinliu Country, whenever the Crown Prince sets a test to select a woman, it's just a test of painting and calligraphy. If you're satisfied, you can stay. If you're not satisfied, you can leave the palace.”
Jin Yuqi thought for a moment and said,""Alright, listen to this prince."
"I'm all ears!" The three female officials said in unison.
"Each candidate must draw a bamboo stick in order to write a variety of questions, such as singing, zither, dance, and so on. If the three female officials were satisfied, they would stay behind and wait for the Crown Prince's appointment. If the three female officials were not satisfied, they would be punished according to the bamboo stick. However, this prince will have Yuming send the questions and punishments to the female officials after thinking it through!”
"Yes, thank you, Your Highness." "We will take our leave!" said Female Official Chen.”
"Go ahead."
After the three of them left, the exhibition hall regained its peace. Yuming waited outside the courtyard.
Jin Yuqi paced back and forth, thinking about the test questions. Looking at the books in his eyes, he suddenly had an idea."Men, serve the bamboo sticks."
When Yuming heard this, he acted according to his orders.
Two hours later, Yuming handed the bamboo stick that the Crown Prince had personally written to the female official. Because the bamboo stick was sealed, Yuming and the female official were very curious. What did the Crown Prince write?
Because Changrui Palace had received too much honey from the princess, Qingcheng suddenly had a childlike heart. She actually made a sugar figurine according to the description in the book, and Jin Yuting also came to join in the fun when she heard about it.
"Sister, you really know how to find fun.”Jin Yuting looked at the busy figure beside the fire."The other candidates are all preparing for tomorrow's test, but you're good, playing with sugar figurines. Mother said that I'm just thinking of something, so this sentence is just right for you.”
"In any case, I'm not the candidate for the crown prince consort, so there's no need to polish the spear at the last minute.”
Jin Yuting said," It's good to sharpen your spear at the last minute. Let's go. I'll accompany you to play the piano."”
"Yuting, come and smell it. Don't you think it smells good?”Qingcheng tried to tempt her. I even added osmanthus."
"Really?" Jin Yuting asked.”
"Of course, why would I lie to you? Let me tell you, being a sugar figurine is much more fun than learning the four arts.”
Jin Yuting was a little tempted, but she was also hindered by her status as a princess.
"Alright, I won't tell anyone. Don't tell anyone, or else the female official will scold you.”
"Elder sister, I won't hide it from you. I asked mother for a favor and wanted you to stay. Even if you don't become the crown prince consort, you can accompany me, but mother didn't agree.”
"If you have time in the future, you can come to Murong Manor to find me. I can also ask my father to bring you some new things from outside the palace.”
Jin Yuting was all smiles." Sister knows my intentions. I'm already tired of playing with those things in the palace, but I can't leave the palace at will."”
The two of them chatted and made sugar figurines, having a lot of fun.
In the largest imperial garden of Wanhua Garden, all the candidates were seated according to their positions. The blue sky, the chirping of birds, the fragrance of flowers, and the gentle breeze should have been a good time to visit the garden, but they were uneasy.
Ji Minmin sat beside Qingcheng and whispered to her,""Sister, my heart is beating very fast.”
"Don't be afraid. Treat her like a normal person." Out of all the candidates, Murong Qingcheng was probably the only one who had the determination to "retreat".
In the imperial garden, the zither, chess set, calligraphy, painting, and other items had already been prepared. According to the Crown Prince's instructions, even swords, halberds, and other weapons had been prepared.
Seeing such a weapon, Ji Minmin was puzzled."Sister, why would this test use a weapon? Could it be that he would be beheaded if he failed the test?”
Qingcheng smiled." Don't let your imagination run wild. How can there be fighting and killing in broad daylight?"”
"Sister is right!" Ji Minmin felt much more at ease. She sniffed again."How can I smell the fragrance of osmanthus in such a situation?”
Qingcheng sniffed herself. There were high-quality osmanthus flowers on it.”
"No wonder I smelled osmanthus. It's the smell of osmanthus on my sister's clothes." Ji Minmin smiled.”
"I've made a fool of myself again. Are you not nervous now?" Qingcheng said.
"Thank you for your relief, sister.”Ji Minmin said.
A palace maid rang a gong at the side. With three clangs, it instantly quieted down.
Female Official Chen, Female Official Wei, and Female Official Gong had changed into new female official uniforms today, which showed how much importance they placed on the female candidates.
"Today's test is entirely in accordance with the Crown Prince's wishes. The three of us will be the final judges." Those who were satisfied would stay behind to participate in the Crown Princess 'appointment ceremony, while those who were dissatisfied would receive the corresponding punishment. The examination questions and corresponding content were written on these bamboo sticks, and each person drew a bamboo stick. The female guard will report the number plate later and proceed according to the order.”
" Everything you need for reference has been prepared here," said Female Official Gong." Don't panic. Take your time and perform well."”
"Number five, Yan Yifei."”
Yan Yifei stood up and drew the bamboo stick in front of Female Official Gong. She opened it nervously and saw the words written on the front of the bamboo stick: He improvised a poem with the theme of winter. On the back of the bamboo stick was written,"Those who are satisfied will stay, those who are dissatisfied will retreat, and those who are dissatisfied will be beaten with twenty big boards."
When Female Official Gong finished reading the contents of the bamboo stick, there was a wave of whispers. Some were glad that they didn't draw this lot, some were worried for themselves, some were secretly praying, and some were whispering to each other.
"Silence!" Female Official Chen shouted.
"Miss Yan, please answer the question!"
Because of her nervousness, Yan Yifei stuttered for a long time, but she couldn't finish her sentence. She only managed to say two sentences before she got stuck.
"Yan Yifei, do you want to quit or do you want to be hit by the 20-point board? You can choose either."
Qingcheng was a little angry. This Crown Prince really knew how to make things difficult for people. They were all slender women, so how could they bear the punishment of twenty strokes? If she was the young lady of the Yan family, she would definitely choose to retreat.
As expected, Yan Yifei had no choice but to retreat.
Seeing her sit down with tears in her eyes, the women present did not even dare to breathe loudly, afraid that they would be the next one to be chosen.
"Number 10, Han Jiaren, please draw lots!”
The beautiful Han Jiaren was lucky. She was able to play the pipa. The three female officials were very satisfied and stayed. She was also very happy.
Following that, all the female candidates went up to draw lots to answer the questions. Some drew a drumming song, some drew a dance, and some drew calligraphy. As long as the three female officials were satisfied, they were all kept. As for those who were punished, other than choosing to withdraw, the rest could be described as a variety of things.
Some wanted to bark like a dog, some wanted to crawl like a turtle, some wanted to hit ten or twenty boards, and some even chose to jump into the water from a high place.
Hearing these punishments that varied in severity, Qingcheng could clearly sense that the crown prince was deliberately toying with the chosen girl. He was treating her like a monkey and toying with her. She looked around, wondering if the crown prince was watching them from somewhere.
"Number 80, Ji Minmin!" The female official shouted.
"It's your turn, Minmin. Don't panic." Qingcheng reminded softly.
Ji Minmin walked up to Female Official Gong in fear. She hesitated and chose a bamboo stick, but she was not in a hurry to read the contents.
"Miss Ji, why are you so hesitant?”"The other candidates have all accepted the test. Now it's your turn!" said Maid Gong.”
Ji Minmin prayed in her heart as she opened the bamboo stick to take a closer look. Sword dance. On the back, it was written,"Those who are satisfied will stay, and those who are dissatisfied will have two choices: One retreated, and the other was beaten twenty-five times.
Ji Minmin was stunned on the spot. He had worked so hard for so long, and this was the answer? No, she couldn't accept it. Why did this happen?! What about mother's illness? How was she going to explain this to her family?
Seeing her stunned expression, Female Official Gong took the bamboo stick and read the contents.
Qingcheng was worried for Minmin. This lot was probably the worst out of all the lots.
"Lady Official, I don't know how to wield the sword!”Ji Minmin looked like she was about to cry.
"Not at all?" asked Female Official Gong. Can I at least make a few gestures? Let's give it a try."
In fact, from the expressions of the three female officials, it could be seen that they were full of sympathy for Ji Minmin, who had drawn this lot. However, sympathy was useless. This was fate.
Ji Minmin's thin body swayed. She seemed to have used up all her strength to walk to the place where the sword was placed. Her hands trembled as she went to pick up the sword. The sword should be very heavy, so she did not lift it up at once.
Seeing her like this, Qingcheng, who had been with her for so long, finally couldn't hold it in anymore and stood up.""Lady Official, this official's daughter has something to say!”
"Miss Mu Rong, it's not your turn yet. Please calm down.”said Female Official Chen.
"This official's daughter hopes to answer the question together with Miss Ji.”Qingcheng said.
"Answer the question together?" "There's…there's no such rule."”
"As long as I can answer the question together with Miss Ji, any punishment will be borne by me alone. It has nothing to do with Miss Ji!”
The three female officials walked to a corner to discuss.
Ji Minmin looked at Qingcheng and said," Sister, you can't do this. This will harm you. Although Minmin is unwilling, this is my own fate. It has nothing to do with others."”
"Min Min, I know your purpose for entering the palace. I will definitely help you.”Qingcheng had already made up her mind.
"Sister, why are you doing this?”Ji Minmin was touched.
At this moment, Jin Yuqi happened to pass by the imperial garden and could not help but ask Yuming, who was behind him,""Why are there so many people there?”
Yuming craned his neck to take a look and replied,""Your Highness, it's the female examination.”
"Oh, this prince almost forgot." " Let's go," Jin Yuqi said." Let's go to the balcony to take a look. You can only see further if you stand high."”
"Yes, Your Highness." Yuming led the Crown Prince up to the high tower.
#Insight Review Passed: Daguan Time:111420183: 44PM #Cancel Review All: wdd201302 Time:111420185:56PM
This book is provided by FunNovel Novel Book | Fan Fiction Novel [Beautiful Free Novel Book]