Deep Palace Pet Peach Blossom Flawless

Lan Shuren was chosen by Emperor Shenwu as the top scholar and was awarded the sixth-rank position as a compiler in the Hanlin Academy. The second and third place winners were awarded the seventh-rank position as editors and took office immediately.

In the Golden Palace, Shi Qingyuan's eyes, which had always been expressionless, couldn't help but turn cold.

In the solemn hall, civil and military officials stood in a row. One official bowed and stepped forward: "Your Majesty, I heard that Lan Zhuangyuan's sister passed away recently. Is it inappropriate for Lan Zhuangyuan to take up the position of Hanlin Editor immediately? The mourning period for a sister must be one year."

Emperor Shenwu surveyed the expressions of the ministers in the hall, then cast a nearly imperceptible glance at Censor Yan. Censor Yan immediately stepped forward and said, "Lord Lin, you're referring to Lan Shuren, not Wang Shuren from the Wang family! Number One Scholar Lan was adopted into the Lan family over ten years ago. Requiring him to observe a year of mourning is far too harsh. Furthermore, Number One Scholar has already dedicated himself to his sister's funeral, and it's time for him to pledge his loyalty to His Majesty for Dasheng."

Wei Yanting also said in a loud voice: "That's right! It's you pedantic Confucian scholars who are so strict with the rules!"

Lin Xuehai's eyes darkened. "Your Majesty, I think..."

The blue tree man's eyes were calm and bright: "Your Majesty, I second the motion!"

Emperor Shenwu looked at the man who looked like the bright moon and asked in confusion, "Oh! Do you agree with this proposal?"

"Yes, Your Majesty! But the person I'm referring to who needs to observe mourning is someone else!"

The Emperor Shenwu was quite interested. He tapped the handle of the dragon throne with his bony fingers. "Tell me, who is it?"

Lan Shuren said word by word, "I heard that Master Lin Xuehai secured admission for his future son-in-law, Wang Haiyang, to the Hanlin Academy, where he became a Hanlin scholar. But this Wang Haiyang is clearly my brother-in-law. The Wang family falsely accused my sister and sent her to the women's prison, which is a grave mistake. Now Wang Haiyang should observe a year of mourning for my sister!"

Lin Xuehai was so angry that his beard stood up: "You say it's a false accusation? It's clearly your sister..."

"Master Lin, be careful with your words!"

Lan Shuren said solemnly, "Your Majesty, I have found evidence. The two people who originally attempted to bully my sister have been found by me. These two most important witnesses can prove my sister's innocence. This means that the Wang family has committed the crime of false accusation. Moreover, Wang Haiyang is still my sister's husband. Therefore, as a husband, he must observe a year of mourning for my sister!"

After saying the last word, Lan Shuren folded his sleeves and bowed.

Lin Xuehai's face turned even darker. He never expected that such a change would occur. It seemed that he had to reconsider the marriage with the Wang family.

Lin Xuehai immediately protested: "Your Majesty, I have absolutely no connection with the Wang family. Please investigate!"

Lan Shuren said calmly, "So my good brother-in-law Wang Haiyang lied to me?"

Lin Xuehai frowned and said nothing, but the master narrowed his eyes and glanced at Lan Shuren. It seemed that the number one scholar from the Lan family was not a simple person. He had registered with the emperor when he was just a small scholar, and participated in the flood in Quzhou City as a small scholar. I am afraid that the emperor has already wanted to use him. If Lan Shuren cannot be suppressed from the beginning, then in the future, Concubine Wen will not be able to be compared with Concubine Yi in the harem!

The Emperor, observing the various expressions and looks of the civil and military officials, saw a thousand schemes and plots. He couldn't help but grow bored. "Since that's the case, Wang Haiyang shouldn't rush into the Imperial Academy. Let's observe the full mourning period for his deceased wife first!"

Emperor Shenwu made the final decision and left the Golden Palace with a flick of his sleeves.

Wang Haiyang's life became increasingly difficult. First, he was unable to enter the Imperial Academy and become a scholar-official. Then, the marriage he had agreed to with the Lin family fell through. His future and marriage prospects plummeted to the bottom.

Lan Shuren cut someone with a blunt knife and sent Butler Lan to supervise Wang Haiyang's mourning, forcing him to stay indoors. Butler Lan even prepared vegetarian meals for the Wang family, which made Wang Haiyang's face pale. Furthermore, his mother Zhang's wounds from the imperial caning had not healed, making his situation even worse!

Imperial City, Qianzheng Palace. Phantom Guards brought news from the far southwest: Prince Shen maintained a very regular routine in his fiefdom, eating, reading, and going to bed almost every day.

Emperor Shenwu raised his sword-like eyebrows slightly. Pattern? This is the biggest problem. Since he was a child, Prince Shen has relied on being the legitimate son of his father, the emperor, and his mother, the empress, to act arrogantly and tyrannically. When has there ever been a pattern?

"So how's the secret line in Southwest County?"

Huanfeng lowered his head: "It's all useless."

Emperor Shenwu's fingers tapped on the imperial desk again and again: "Since he has been abolished, let Huanyu leave a few people behind and let him come back!"

"Your Majesty, you suspect..."

"I'm not sure yet. Send a message to Huanyu, asking him to investigate along the way back to the Imperial City to see if there are any clues. It seems that the letter from my mother should come in handy."

At this time, a young eunuch walked quickly into the hall, bowed and said, "Your Majesty, Imperial Physician Zhao Wubing is outside the hall requesting to see you!"

"Xuan!"

Imperial Physician Zhao hurried into the Qianzheng Hall. He knelt on the ground and kowtowed. "Your Majesty, I pay my respects to you. I have an important matter to report. Imperial Physician Yang from the Imperial Hospital returned to his hometown of Ningzhou City a few days ago and stumbled upon several people being poisoned there. He initially thought it was just a few civilians who had been poisoned accidentally, but unexpectedly, he discovered that the nearby Jianing River had been deliberately poisoned. This means that over 90% of the people in the city may have been poisoned! What's worse is that these people who have been poisoned are contagious. They have spread and infected countless people in the city!"

Emperor Shenwu suddenly stood up and said, "What?! This is really happening!"

Emperor Shenwu continued without even pausing, "Send the Imperial Physician to Ningzhou City to first detoxify the water source. I will send troops to blockade Ningzhou City and the two cities close to it to completely eliminate the poison from these poisoners!"

Doctor Zhao smiled bitterly and said, "Your Majesty, Doctor Yang brought back two poisoners from the Imperial Hospital. The entire Imperial Hospital is unable to develop an antidote for the poison in a short period of time. This old minister is incompetent."

Huanfeng, kneeling beside him, slowly raised his head and looked at the Shenwu Emperor. The Shenwu Emperor gently rubbed his brows and said, "Huanfeng, then send Yingmeng to the Imperial Hospital. He's an expert in poisons, so have him create an antidote as soon as possible. Also, designate the two cities near Ningzhou City as key defense cities. I suspect someone is deliberately poisoning these cities! Huanyu can't come back. Once the antidote is prepared, send Huanmeng and Yingmeng with a few imperial physicians to secretly go to Ningjiashuiliu to detoxify, and then go to Ningzhou City! Have Huanmeng and Yingmeng search for clues near Ningzhou City! Report back at any time!"

Doctor Zhao and Huanfeng understood the seriousness of the matter and nodded their heads in agreement.

Yingmeng indeed concocted the antidote two days later. He and Huanmeng secretly entered Ningzhou City with several imperial doctors.