My Lord, my wife said she doesn't have time to talk to you.

A few days later, at the Shen Mansion in the capital.

After careful consideration, Huaying decided to go to her father today to discuss the imperial examination.

With his father's important position in the court, if he could get his support, Fu Shiyan's trip to Beijing for the imperial examination would be much smoother.

In the evening, Huaying figured out that it was time for her father to leave the court, so she brought a bowl of chicken soup to her father's study and knocked on the door.

After hearing his father's consent, he slowly stepped into the study.

Put the chicken soup on the table and put the spoon aside. "Since father didn't eat much for dinner, your daughter specially made a bowl of chicken soup for you. Father, try it while it's hot."

Father Shen, who was reading a book, looked up and looked at Huaying with a kind gaze, "It is said that daughters are caring, and it is absolutely true."

Smiling, she picked up the spoon and tasted the chicken soup carefully. It was fresh but not greasy, and just the right amount of saltiness. She nodded slightly, "Ning'er's chicken soup tastes great."

Huaying smiled and sat back opposite her father, and explained the annual system of the imperial examination to her father. Before Huaying finished speaking, she saw a look of surprise on Shen's father's face, and looked at Huaying in surprise, "Ning'er, did you know that His Royal Highness Prince Rui had already reported this matter to the emperor the day before yesterday? How did you know this?"

Hua Ying was shocked when she heard this, "Prince Rui? Is he the father of Wu Zijin?"

I can't help but think of some rumors about King Rui. It is said that he is idle, likes mountains and water, and grows flowers and plants. Why is he participating in the scientific expedition now?

Father Shen saw the surprise on his daughter's face and her inappropriate words, so he gently reminded her, "Don't say the princess's name so casually in public, lest you be accused of being rude and have a bad reputation."

Huaying bowed quickly, "My daughter will remember your father's teachings." Then she asked, "Then will the emperor agree to this?"

Father Shen slowly put down the spoon and sighed, "Of course I agree. The court has been in urgent need of talents in the past two years. Those old ministers of the previous dynasty have been imprisoned or demobilized. Taking this opportunity, those who have been secretly cultivated by the emperor can also take the position."

Then he asked, "How did you know about this?"

Huaying glanced at her father and said, "I dare not hide it from you, father. Fu Shiyan, who saved my daughter in Taohua Town, is the son of the Right Prime Minister that you are looking for. He was also the one who mentioned this idea. He is quite talented."

After hearing what Huaying said, Father Shen quickly stood up and stared at Huaying to confirm again, "This is serious."

No wonder when I asked the painter for Fu Shiyan's portrait the day before yesterday, the painter hesitantly said that the young lady would tell the adults the truth in person.

Seeing Huaying nod, Father Shen took a step forward thoughtfully, slowly walked to the window, and looked up at the twinkling stars in the night sky. "Since he is the son of an old friend and he once saved you, I should help him. Tomorrow, I will discuss the imperial examinations and the development of agriculture and commerce with the old officials in the court again."

Wu State was in a state of disrepair and needed to be rebuilt in countless ways. As the Prime Minister of a country, Shen's father knew that he had a heavy responsibility and was worried every day and could not sleep well.

Huaying looked at her father standing in front of the window. His gray hair was particularly dazzling under the light. She felt an inexplicable sadness in her heart. Seeing that her father was still in deep thought, she bowed and quietly left the study.

At the same time, beside the ancient and quiet stone bridge in Taohua Town, Li Yuan, who walked out of the tavern, tightly grasped the sharp blade in his hand, lurking quietly on the side of the bridge like a dormant beast.

He was burning with rage, filled with hatred and anger towards Fu Shiyan.

Just the day before, he went to Mingde Academy for morning classes as usual, but received shocking news - he had been expelled from the academy!

The cowardly father went to the teacher again with gifts and money, but the teacher was tough and refused their request.

After some investigation, they found out that every student in the college had jointly reported him for bullying, insulting and beating his classmates. There was evidence of every incident, and if the college continued to tolerate his behavior, they would report it to the authorities.

What’s even more infuriating is that among those who participated in the report were Zhao Ke and others whom he considered to be his good friends.

Whenever Li Yuan thought of this, he felt burning with anger. This must be a conspiracy by that Fu guy.

He had to get rid of Fu Shiyan no matter what to vent his hatred.

So, he secretly followed Fu Shiyan for a long time and finally found out the route he must take when returning home late.

Today, he must die. Li Yuan stared into the distance with a murderous look in his eyes.

Time passed little by little, until the roosters crowed, and then Fu Shiyan was seen walking towards this side alone from afar.

Li Yuan clenched the sword in his hand tightly, and when Fu Shiyan got closer, he rushed towards him like a tiger.

At this moment, Fu Shiyan had already keenly sensed the change in the surrounding atmosphere, and caught a glimpse of approaching cold light in his peripheral vision.

He moved swiftly and dodged the opponent's attack easily.

Then, he quickly counterattacked with lightning speed and captured Li Yuan in the blink of an eye.

Fu Shiyan's eyes revealed a trace of contempt and disdain: "With your strength, are you worthy enough to fight with me?"

Before he finished speaking, he pushed Li Yuan into the river with great force.

Li Yuan was caught off guard and fell into the icy river before he even had time to react.

He struggled desperately in the water, trying to call for help or scold Fu Shiyan, but before he could open his mouth, he was poured into by gulps of river water.

Fu Shiyan calmly brushed off the non-existent dust on his body and continued walking towards Zui Jiangyue.

The next morning, an old lady who was washing clothes by the stone bridge accidentally looked up and saw a figure floating in the river. She stepped back in fear and muttered, "Someone's drowned, someone's drowned."

As the aunt shouted, more and more people gathered around, until a waiter from Hongyun Restaurant passed by. Seeing people pointing and talking, he followed the crowd to look into the river. When he could see the faces of the people in the river clearly, he suddenly collapsed to the ground, staggered out of the crowd and ran towards the restaurant.

"Shopkeeper, Master, Master...He..." Shopkeeper Li, who had just come down from upstairs, heard that it was about that rebellious son again. He held his slightly aching head helplessly. It was okay that the business was not good, but what did this rebellious son do so early in the morning? He asked angrily, "What happened to him again?"

The waiter replied tremblingly, "The young master has drowned."

"What?" Upon hearing this, Shopkeeper Li collapsed to the ground, his mind going blank. The waiter hurried over to help him up, and the two of them quickly walked towards the stone bridge.

People who knew them along the way looked at the two people running with various eyes. When they reached the river, Manager Li squeezed through the crowd and saw the rebellious son lying on the shore. The government officials were evacuating the crowd.

The shopkeeper ran over quickly, looking at the scene in front of him in disbelief. He doted on his son when he was old, and he often got into trouble when he grew up. He had no choice but to clean up the mess his son threw at him. Now, he is dead.

Shopkeeper Li slowly squatted down, looked at his son who was white from blisters, and burst into tears.