God favors the troublemaker, and the protagonist is forced to become evil

The rankings that followed were sung out one by one by the messenger at the bottom, and the sound echoed throughout the entire imperial city.

Chang Lingjie was ranked third in the imperial examination, Wu Kaiyang was ranked third in the second class, and Ouyang Fu was ranked sixth in the second class. In general, the students who went to Beijing to take the exam together had very good results.

When Zi Ning heard his name, he walked towards the eunuch and stood at the front. After that, the people whose names were called stood behind Zi Ning one by one.

After the rankings were announced, the golden list was held by the Minister of Rites and taken out of the palace to post it.

Zi Ning led everyone to thank the emperor for his grace.

After that comes the horse-riding parade.

The officials from the Ministry of Rites led Zining to the colorful tent, where he changed into the top scholar's attire, a bright red robe and black gauze hat that belonged exclusively to the top scholar. On the hat was a pair of bright red hairpins that were exclusive to the new top scholar.

The parade of the top scholar was grand, with the Imperial Guards leading the way and music playing. The new scholar walked around the entire inner city before returning home.

Zi Ning rode a tall horse and paraded in the crowded streets. Because of his handsome appearance, many young women blushed and threw a lot of flowers to him.

After leaving Baohe Gate, Zining saw Jiang Suining, who had also come to watch the ceremony.

Zining waved at him happily.

Jiang Suining didn't move. He quietly watched the highlight moment of Zining's life, but he couldn't suppress a smile in the corner of his eyes.

This should be the proudest moment of his life.

The spring breeze is proud of horseshoe disease, seeing Chang'an flowers in one day.

When they walked into the city, Zi Ning heard someone calling her. She looked up and saw it was Xie Yi.

After receiving the good news that Zi Ning had won the imperial examination, the Xie family went to Beijing. At this moment, they were all standing on the second floor of the teahouse, waving happily at Zi Ning, with proud expressions on their faces.

Zining hadn't seen his family for a long time and missed home very much. At this time, seeing his family members who had always supported him all the time come to Beijing to witness the most glorious moment of his life, he was so moved that tears came out.

Zining waved his arms vigorously in the direction of the Xie family, and used his other arm to wipe away his tears.

Perhaps the original owner's emotions were still there, Zining felt the heaviness that had been lingering in his heart quietly rising up, and a large rusty lock fell to the ground, and there was nothing left to bind Zining anymore.

After that was the Qionglin Banquet, where Zining led a group of new scholars to toast the examiners.

Although the table was prepared according to palace banquet standards, the drinks and food were quite ordinary and all cold.

But eating and drinking were secondary, the main purpose was to make connections. The newly crowned champion was naturally the focus of everyone's flattery and friendship, and Zining was not shy, and after the banquet, he made friends with many well-known people.

After that came the imperial edict to appoint Zining as the new top scholar, and he was appointed as a compiler in the Hanlin Academy with the sixth rank.

After Zi Ning returned home, he discussed with Xie Yi and moved his family to the capital. Zhaixing Tower was handed over to a trustworthy person to run, and if no one was competent, it would simply be closed.

Xie Yi had thought about this problem a long time ago and had made some preparations. In the past few years, Zhaixing Tower had been well managed and had a good income. The Xie family had also accumulated a lot of wealth, which was more than enough to buy a four-story house in Beijing.

Zi Ning got a month's vacation, which was just right for him to go back to his hometown to worship his ancestors, comfort his parents' spirits in heaven, and move at the same time.

It takes about eight days to get from Wujiang to the capital, and with women and children, it takes about twenty days to go back and forth. Zining can stay in Wujiang for about ten days.

Xie Yi plans to let her apprentice run Zhaixinglou, and she plans to open another Zhaixinglou in Beijing, and also expand other projects. She is getting more and more adept at doing business, and it doesn't matter if she doesn't do well, because she has the cost of trial and error.

A month later, Zining was going to work. However, he was working as a compiler in the Hanlin Academy and did not need to attend court, so he did not have to go to work at four in the morning. His main job was to compile national history, conferences and other classics, and he was not qualified to attend court.

Only when he enters the cabinet will he have the opportunity to attend court.

Zining's life was quite leisurely, but her elder sister was already arranging a partner for him and even asked him what kind of person he liked.

God, this is such a big problem. Although Zining is a man, he has a girl's heart. He can't find a wife if you ask him to.

Zining smiled and said that he would find and marry someone he liked, but he didn't have one yet, so there was no need to rush.

After hearing what his brother said, Xie Yi stopped forcing him. After all, his brother was still young and there was no need to rush.

On the third day of Zi Ning's work, he was summoned by the emperor. Zi Ning did not dare to delay and followed the eunuch.

"Your Majesty." Although it was not the first time for Zi Ning to meet the emperor, it was the first time for her to be summoned by the emperor alone. Zi Ning tried to make herself look less nervous, but her hands were still shaking slightly.

"Thank you, my dear. Please stand up and answer me."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Emperor Mingde had been secretly observing Zining at the Qionglin Banquet. Although the young man was proud, he was not impolite, and there was nothing wrong with his dealings with others. Moreover, he was well-educated, performed very well in the palace examination, and he personally selected him as the top scholar.

"Thank you, my dear minister. I called you here today because I want to tell you that I want to grant a marriage between the Seventh Princess and you." Emperor Mingde meant to ask Zining to go home and prepare to marry the princess. This matter was not negotiable.

"Your Highness..." Zining didn't know what to say. She didn't want to marry the princess. In the Li Dynasty, the prince consort and his family for three generations were not allowed to serve as officials in the court.

Zi Ning was sweating profusely. He really wanted to refuse, but he had to choose his words carefully so as not to displease Emperor Mingde.

"Father! I won't marry! I am willing to go to the marriage alliance!" Chu Yueheng heard that her father had summoned Xie Ling to the palace, and she hurried over. She rushed in regardless of the eunuchs' attempts to stop her.

"Heng'er, don't be rude! How can you go to the marriage?" Emperor Mingde was furious. Chu Yueheng was the only child of him and Concubine Tong, how could he bear to let her go to the marriage.

But the prince of Wala loved Yueheng and wanted to take her back to Wala. But he had heard that the second prince of Wala was undoubtedly the most favored prince, but he had married last year, so if he took Yueheng back, he would only be a concubine!

How could she, a princess of a country, be a concubine? However, the border war was tense, and in just one year, five cities were ceded. If this continued, I'm afraid I would have to move the capital.

Even so, he could not sacrifice his daughter in exchange for a brief peace. Therefore, he planned to have someone marry Yueheng as soon as possible, so that the second prince of Oirat would give up the idea.

Xie Ling has not married yet, nor is he engaged, and Heng'er still likes him. Who could be more suitable than him?

"Father, I am willing to marry. The people on the border are displaced and in mourning. If my marriage to a distant place can bring peace to the Li Dynasty, I am willing to sacrifice myself. Moreover, this is my responsibility as a princess, and I do not want to evade it and disappoint the people."

"Heng'er..."