A crown princess who doesn't do infrastructure construction isn't a good doctor.

Before the three rounds were even over, many people began to congratulate Grand Commandant Gu on having such an outstanding daughter.

Knowing the result, Helian Qianli showed no anger. She knew her own strength and could not use anything more powerful. However, the way she looked at Gu Zhixi was a little strange.

At this moment, Beitang Zhen and Tuoba Yue returned to Linde Hall.

"What's going on here? It's so lively."

Consort Duan briefly recounted how Helian Qianli wanted to see Qin Suiyou demonstrate his skills, but ended up competing with Gu Zhixi in archery. After listening, Beitang Zhen smiled.

"These are all remarkable women who are just as capable as any man! Reward them!"

Without saying much, Beitang Zhen directly rewarded the two people.

After expressing their gratitude, the two returned to their seats. The atmosphere in the hall became somewhat quiet, and Consort Duan gave Duan Wei a meaningful look.

After receiving a look from Consort Duan, Duan Wei got up and walked to the front.

"Your Majesty, my beloved Consort has cared for me since childhood, and I am deeply grateful. I have always wanted to repay her kindness. However, I have not read enough of the classics and am not very learned. I have pondered for many days before I composed a poem, which I would like to present to my beloved Consort and Your Majesty today."

"Oh, so there's a portion for me too?"

Duan Wei lowered her head slightly and said, "Before I composed this poem, I couldn't find a good theme. Then I suddenly thought of the deep friendship between Your Majesty and Consort Gui, so this humble work is about you and Consort Gui."

Beitang Zhen nodded and said, "It just so happens that the top three candidates in today's palace examination are also in front of the palace. You can also learn a thing or two from them."

After lowering her eyes and saying a few humble words, Duan Wei slowly recited the poem.

The poem is not long, but the language is very ornate. One line praises Beitang Zhen's great achievements, another praises Consort Duan's gentle and beautiful nature, and the last line says that the two are a perfect match and have a deep and loving relationship.

As soon as the poem was finished, a smile appeared on Consort Duan's beautiful face.

"What do you think, Your Majesty?"

Hearing praise for his achievements, Beitang Zhen was pleased, but as an emperor, he was expected to keep his emotions hidden. He then looked at the three young men sitting in the front seats.

"What do you think?"

As the top scholar, Chu Huan was allowed to speak first by the three of them, but he said, "My skill in composing poetry is inferior to that of Young Master Su Yu, so I am not qualified to comment."

Seeing that the ball had been kicked directly to him, Su Yu smiled and said self-deprecatingly, "Your Majesty personally selected me as the third-ranked scholar, but there is a second-ranked scholar ahead of me. The one with better results should be chosen."

The ball was kicked around and around until it finally landed on Yu Hang. He had run out of options, so he stood up in front of everyone.

"Your Majesty's achievements are timeless and praiseworthy, and Your Majesty's grace and beauty are beyond compare."

When Yu Hang finished speaking, everyone thought he was just being polite in praising Duan Wei's poem. Duan Wei thought so too, and even thought that what he was saying was meaningless. But what Yu Hang said next made the whole hall quiet down.

"However, the phrase '鹣鲽' and '鼉俪' refer to husband and wife. The late Empress has passed away, and the current Empress has not yet ascended the throne as the successor. Therefore, using this as a metaphor is somewhat inappropriate."

"..."

The hall, which had previously been filled with some conversation, was now completely silent.

Consort Duan's expression suddenly turned ugly, but since Yu Hang's words were perfectly worded and he hadn't said anything false or disrespectful, she couldn't confront him.

Suppressing her anger, Consort Duan looked at Beitang Zhen and nodded, saying, "Indeed, my dear consort, your niece is still young and lacks manners. You should arrange for some palace maids to teach her."

Consort Duan managed to force a smile.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Duan Wei, who had been full of confidence, was now flustered. Instead of the expected joy from the emperor, she was being lectured. When she was waved back to her seat, Duan Wei looked at Yu Hang with some resentment in her eyes. However, after thinking for a while, Duan Wei suddenly laughed.

Today, Yu Hang has indirectly embarrassed Consort Duan, so Consort Duan will definitely not allow her to marry Yu Hang again. This is excellent news for Duan Wei, and she even ignores the hushed mocking laughter around her.

The banquet was only halfway through when Huang Ming leaned down and whispered something in Beitang Zhen's ear. Beitang Zhen then said he had urgent business to attend to and left the banquet. It seemed he wouldn't be coming back. After that, things became much more relaxed, and people would occasionally leave their seats to get some fresh air without seeming impolite.

Seeing that Beitang Yan was sitting there bored, Qin Suiyou asked him, "Would you like to go out for a walk?"

Beitang Yan remembered his persona, his expression remained unchanged, and he asked softly, "Are you going?"

Qin Suiyou nodded slightly.

"I'll go out with you."

"it is good."

After exchanging a few words with Jiang Peier, Beitang Xinyue's brother and sister-in-law disappeared. She asked Princess An and learned that the two had gone out for some fresh air, so she took Jiang Peier with her to look for them.

"It's too boring inside, and the singing and dancing aren't very interesting. I'll take you to find your sister-in-law and the others."

Jiang Peier also felt bored, and she was also thinking about Yunduo at home.

"The young master and his sister-in-law probably don't want to be disturbed."

"Ok?"

Hearing Jiang Peier's absent-minded words, Beitang Xinyue pondered for a moment.

"Right, let them be alone. Let's not bother them. Let's just wander around the neighborhood. We can't go too far anyway."

Jiang Peier did not object. Although she had attended several palace banquets, she was still not familiar with the palace. It was better to wander around than to stay cooped up inside.

The two walked along the shadows under the eaves, and just as they were about to reach a corner, a figure suddenly appeared from the opposite side.

"You must be Prince Yan's sister."

Looking at Helian Qianli, who was standing with his arms crossed, Beitang Xinyue frowned. This man had just tried to make things difficult for her sister-in-law, so she had no good feelings towards him at all.

"Yes, it is. What's wrong? Is there a problem?"

Jiang Peier had witnessed Helian Qianli's words and actions, so she and Beitang Xinyue stood on the same side, looking at Helian Qianli with some wariness in their eyes.

Helian Qianli seemed oblivious to their dislike of her, and said with a gentle smile, "You should already know who I am. My biggest purpose in coming to Beiqian is for your brother. I am the adopted sister of the former leader of the Northern Region. Now that the Northern Region has been incorporated into Beiqian, my adopted brother is about to be enfeoffed as a vassal king. My identity is beneficial to your brother in any way, so you have to help me get together with your brother."

Beitang Xinyue and Jiang Peier had no idea how the person in front of them could say such things, and they were even more astonished that he thought he was very important and wanted Beitang Xinyue to match him with Beitang Yan.

Beitang Xinyue was so angry she laughed.

"You idiot shouldn't try to be a laughing stock in front of others. You're not even as good as a single hair on my sister-in-law's head."

After leaving behind a passage that Helian Qianli didn't understand half of, Beitang Xinyue pulled Jiang Peier and bumped Helian Qianli's shoulder before leaving.

After walking a short distance, Jiang Peier turned around, made a face under Helian Qianli's puzzled and somewhat angry gaze, and said, "Conspicuous bag, hehehe."