Starting from a thatched cottage, the farmer embarked on the road to wealth through imperial examina

The King of England and three princes in the center of the stands were also eating watermelons.

"This Imperial College is really full of talented people. They can produce watermelons of this quality at this time of year."

After eating a piece of watermelon, the King of England took the handkerchief from his attendant, wiped his hands, and praised sincerely.

"Reporting to the prince, these watermelons were specially prepared for this competition by the former Imperial College Priest Cai Zhengqing for all the nobles to taste. These watermelons were all picked from the farm this morning."

The maid holding the tray beside her reported to the King of England respectfully.

For a moment, the King of England, the three princes and the three princesses all looked at the maid who responded with some curiosity.

"This is quite interesting. Cai Zhengqing has retired for so many years and has become a leisurely farmer. If I have the chance, I will go and ask him how Cai Zhengqing can grow such high-quality watermelons in this season."

Today is the Dragon Boat Festival, and the emperor has a rare day of relaxation. The emperor and his concubines are accompanying the empress dowager to appreciate the flowers in the imperial garden. As May comes, the most beautiful flowers in bloom in the imperial garden are the pomegranate flowers.

"Today's weather is really nice. This year's pomegranate flowers seem to have bloomed a few days earlier than in previous years. Your Majesty, look at that pomegranate flower. It is so gorgeous!"

The Queen Mother pointed to a bright red pomegranate flower high on a branch and spoke to the crowd.

"You have a very good eye, mother. That pomegranate flower is really in full bloom. How about I ask someone to pick it and wear it on your hairpin?"

"Hahaha... You only know how to make fun of me. I am an old woman, wearing such a gorgeous pomegranate flower in my hair, I will definitely be laughed at."

Although the empress dowager's temples were covered with silver hair, she looked energetic. When she heard the emperor's filial words, she laughed heartily.

"Mother, I think your Majesty is right. You are full of vitality. Wearing this bright red pomegranate flower in your hair is like the morning sun, shining brightly and warming people's hearts!"

A beautiful middle-aged woman looked at the Queen Mother with a smile as beautiful as a flower, and the words she spoke were as sweet as honey.

"Concubine Li is so sweet. It makes me feel as sweet as drinking honey."

The other concubines also followed suit, and the Queen Mother then laughed.

"Okay, okay, I can't ignore your filial piety."

"Hahaha, come here, pick the most beautiful pomegranate flower for the Queen Mother."

The emperor also laughed and ordered someone to pick the bright red pomegranate flower.

"Then please help me put it on, Concubine Li. I know you are sweet-talking and skillful. The cape you embroidered for me at the beginning of the year was very exquisite!"

Concubine Li took the pomegranate flower from the maid with a smile, came to the Queen Mother, carefully pinned it on her head, then tilted her head to look around before praising her.

"Your Majesty has good taste. When my mother put on this pomegranate flower, she looked more energetic and vigorous, as if she was ten years younger."

"Hahaha, you have such a mouth!"

Everyone at the scene laughed along.

At this moment, Zuo Wenxing, the chief eunuch of the Qinzheng Hall beside the emperor, came up to the emperor and handed him a small note. The emperor unfolded the note, read the contents on it, and his face immediately showed great joy and he laughed out loud.

"Great job! Go tell Qiu Bao that I will give rewards to all the ten students with outstanding archery skills who enter the finals!"

The chief eunuch Zuo Wenxing bowed in agreement and quickly stepped back.

The Empress Dowager and the concubines saw that the Emperor was very pleased and looked at him curiously. The Emperor laughed and then spoke to the Empress Dowager.

"Mother, today at the East Suburbs Horse Farm, archery and polo competitions are being held. The three brothers Jingze, Jinghuan, and Jinglun have all gone to watch the games. The long-unseen King of England has also gone to the East Suburbs Horse Farm. Just now, my son received a report saying that more than a thousand students participated in the archery competition. After two rounds of competition, ten students with outstanding archery skills have been selected. Seven of them are from military families, and the other two are foreign students. The most valuable thing is that in such a fierce competition, the sixth disciple of Cai Zhengqing, the former chief priest of the Imperial College, who grew up in a civil servant family, actually made it to the finals. Moreover, this student defeated Zhu Shuo's grandson to make it to the finals!"

Seeing the emperor laughing so happily, all the concubines pricked up their ears, listened carefully to what the emperor said, and tried to guess the deeper meaning that might be hidden in it.

When the Queen Mother heard that Cai Zhengqing's sixth disciple had entered the finals, the corners of her mouth curled up and she revealed a kind smile.

"This Cai Zhengqing is indeed worthy of being the person who served as the chief priest of the Imperial College. His disciples are really talented. It is really rare that these six disciples can defeat Zhu Shuo's grandson!"

The emperor was very happy to see the empress dowager's kind smile.

"Cai Zhengqing and his wife loved each other all their lives. Although they had no children, they taught all they had learned throughout their lives to their disciples. Duke Yan came to me and wanted to marry his granddaughter to Cai Zhengqing's fourth disciple Wang Xinkuan, but my son was reluctant to let her go."

Everyone listened carefully, afraid of missing any details.

"Originally, my son had considered letting Wang Xinkuan be the consort of my precious daughter, Princess Zhenyue. However, after thinking it over, I realized that the age difference between Wang Xinkuan and Zhenyue is quite large, so I agreed to marry the granddaughter of Duke Yan to Wang Xinkuan."

The concubines standing by were all thinking about something when they heard the emperor's words.

The biological mothers of several princes all knew that Wang Xinkuan was appreciated by His Majesty, but they did not expect that His Majesty would consider betrothing Princess Zhenyue to Wang Xinkuan. Princess Zhenyue was His Majesty's most favored princess, who had just come of age last year.

Although it did not come true in the end, if Wang Xinkuan had married the granddaughter of Duke Yan, it would have been a very good marriage. It seems that Wang Xinkuan's future is really limitless.

Princess Zhenyue's biological mother, Concubine Hui, heard the emperor's thoughts and was also thinking in her heart that Wang Xinkuan was a branch of the Wang family, a large family in Hexi. Although Wang Xinkuan's grandfather split from the Hexi Wang family and established his own clan, Wang Xinkuan's grandfather, uncle and Wang Xinkuan were all Jinshi graduates and had all entered the Hanlin Academy.

Moreover, Wang Xinkuan is a disciple of Cai Zhengqing, and now he is a close minister to His Majesty. Apart from being a little older, Wang Xinkuan is really an excellent candidate for a son-in-law.

It's a pity that His Majesty has already issued an edict to grant Wang Xinkuan a marriage. However, Huipin changed her mind and after listening to what the emperor said just now, it seemed that she was quite impressed with Cai Zhengqing's sixth disciple.

Huipin planned to have someone investigate carefully about the origins of this sixth disciple of Cai Zhengqing that His Majesty had just mentioned. If he was really a good candidate for the prince consort, then she couldn't let anyone get there first this time.

Just as Huipin was thinking in her heart, she heard the Emperor asking the Empress Dowager.

"Mother, yesterday my son sent you a watermelon. I heard it was planted by Cai Zhengqing and his two disciples. I wonder how you like it?"