The Tang Dynasty: Wu Zetian made me her imperial tutor

At the second quarter of Chen hour, inside the south gate of Luoyang.

Dozens of scholars were dressed in new clothes, their hair neatly combed, and their turbans and limp feet were comfortably draped over the back of their necks.

Everyone's face was beaming with smiles. They greeted each other with clasped hands, addressed each other as fellow students of the same age, and exchanged congratulations.

In particular, more than twenty poor scholars, who had not held out any hope, were overjoyed to have passed the imperial examination in one fell swoop.

According to the system, after passing the regular examinations, one can only obtain a degree and must remain in the civil service for several years before being appointed to a position, unless one participates in the Ministry of Personnel's examinations or the special examinations.

Those who pass the imperial examination today, as long as they don't perform too poorly in the palace examination, will have the opportunity to be directly appointed to official positions.

Three of the candidates already held official positions, and based on their palace examination results, their ranks would be directly promoted by one to four levels.

Several others had previously been granted the titles of Jinshi or Mingjing, and if they performed well today, their rank could also be improved.

In short, they have already stepped one foot into officialdom, while the other half is hanging in the air.

While they were joyfully waiting to ascend the throne, they counted and counted, but there was always one person missing.

Is Lu Jun here?

Is Lu Chuyu here?

"Has Lu Jun arrived?"

Shen Quanqi walked around the line of candidates for the imperial examination several times, and it was already the tenth time the names had been called, but he still hadn't seen Lu Jun.

In his hand was a roll of yellow hemp paper, the same as the one pasted on the city wall outside Duanmen, listing the list of those who passed the imperial examination this time, that is, the list of those who passed the palace examination, totaling forty-six people.

The list is not in any particular order; the final order will be determined by the palace examination. However, the Empress Dowager instructed that the top spot on the list should be reserved for one person.

This person has not yet appeared.

"This Lu Chuyu is being far too frivolous. How can she be late for such a grand ceremony?"

Shen Quanqi was both anxious and angry. Thinking of the Empress Dowager's furious appearance, he secretly broke out in a cold sweat.

The list of successful candidates in this imperial examination has produced many outstanding talents, and the overall quality is high. As the chief examiner, he was excited for several days.

Especially Lu Jun, whose brilliant essay of over ten thousand words was a treasure to the Empress Dowager, who cherished it dearly.

If it weren't for the fear of being accused of favoritism, corruption, or illicit dealings, Shen Quanqi would have visited him long ago.

I thought that with his talent, good looks, and youthful charm, he would surely be looking forward to riding across the Tianjin Bridge, but who knew...

They didn't even show up on the day the results were released!

What's going on here?

We are to be in the palace in a quarter of an hour. If Lu Jun comes, canceling the results is a minor matter, but the crime of deceiving the emperor is a major one!

Shen Quanqi was at a loss when he saw a slender figure approaching from the west. He quickly went to greet her: "My lady, something's happened. Lu Chuyu hasn't arrived yet..."

"Ah? The Empress Dowager has been waiting to see him for days, how could he not come?" Shangguan Wan'er frowned.

The Empress Dowager was preparing to visit Luocheng Palace, and she was ordered to check the situation, only to find that there really was a problem.

She remembered Lu Jun's height and appearance clearly, and after scanning the ranks of tribute students, she found that he was indeed not there.

We must tell the Empress Dowager the truth...

Wan'er's eyes flickered, and she decided not to speak for the time being.

Based on her intuition, Lu Jun was not someone who didn't know what was important; she might have encountered something unexpected.

She asked Shen Quanqi, "The results were posted at dawn, an hour has passed, has anyone been sent to the Imperial Academy to inquire?"

"I asked, and his classmate said that Lu Chuyu got up as soon as the morning drum sounded, and after washing up, he set off to check the results."

"The gatekeeper of Sungkyunkwan confirmed that a tall, thin student did indeed come out of the gate shortly after it opened, and it should be him."

The imperial examination was a major event in a scholar's life. The other forty-five people had all arrived by 5:45 AM, so Shen Quanqi had already sent someone to urge Lu Jun to find out the details.

"Oh no." Shangguan Wan'er frowned.

A resolute glint flashed in his eyes:

"Lu Chuyu was supposed to come to see the list, but she didn't. She must have encountered trouble on the way."

"I suggested to the Empress Dowager that he be allowed to answer the final questions, to buy him some time."

"Scholar Shangshu, send someone to inquire with his classmates to see if he has recently made any enemies!"

Shen Quanqi was slightly surprised to see Wan'er willing to mediate for Lu Jun; this meant taking responsibility...

He began:

"The junior official I sent is quite capable; he has already asked his classmate many questions."

"They said that Lu Chuyu usually devoted herself to her studies and rarely made friends with others, let alone had any enemies."

"However, in the past few days, news has spread that the Empress Dowager admires his writing, and several people have met with him privately..."

"Who?" Wan'er immediately became alert.

Shen Quanqi hesitated for a moment, several names hovering on his lips, before finally uttering: "Princess Taiping, Vice Minister of the Ministry of War, and Chancellor of the Imperial Academy."

"Princess? Minister Li? Prince of Nan'an?" Wan'er lowered her eyes and pondered.

The surprise and doubt between his brows grew heavier and heavier, and when he uttered the last name, it was finally locked away in a deep shade of dark blue.

It is still unknown what connection Princess Taiping, Li Zhaode, and Lu Jun have, but they are aware of the situation and know that the Empress Dowager values ​​today's ceremony and would not stop people from leaving.

The Grand Master of Ceremonies is the Prince of Nan'an, and Lu Jun is his student. Logically, he wouldn't act recklessly, but…

He himself may get into trouble.

Shangguan Wan'er often stayed by the Empress Dowager's side and inadvertently overheard some secrets, knowing that the Li family members of the imperial clan were being secretly monitored.

The people they met and the guests they had business with were all secretly recorded as evidence for the future.

The Prince of Nan'an was one of them.

As the grandson of Emperor Gaozu and a high-ranking official in the capital, he received special care and was personally followed up by Zhou Xing, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice.

Zhou Xing was a leader among cruel officials, renowned for his military exploits; thousands died at his hands, including…

King Li Yuanjia of Han

Prince Lu, Li Lingkui

Huang Guogong Li Zhuan

Princess Chang Le and her husband Zhao Gui,

Chancellor Wei Xuantong

Duke Heichi Changzhi of Yan, and others.

To quickly extract confessions, he invented various forms of torture. Whenever he found someone suspicious, he would call in the prison authorities to torture them and extract confessions. It was all too easy to fabricate charges against them.

It's no secret that the Empress Dowager intends to reform the system, and Prince Li Ying of Nan'an will definitely be on the next purge list.

Zhou Xing, eager for credit, had long targeted Li Ying. Wan'er had seen this, and he had asked the Empress Dowager to take action against her several times.

The Empress Dowager believes that his evidence is insufficient and the time is not right, and has not yet agreed, which Zhou Xing still resents.

If Lu Jun gets involved in this...

Shangguan Wan'er glanced southwest and a chill suddenly ran through her.

To the west of the Imperial City is Shangyang Palace, connected by Lijing Gate. Recently, a prison has been set up inside the gate, specifically for trying traitors.

From princes and nobles to commoners, anyone arrested by cruel officials was treated equally and received with great hospitality.

It is said that those who enter this prison will not escape unless they die.

It is known as the "Example Gate".

Wan'er came from the Yeting (a type of imperial harem), and was naturally afraid of prisons. Just one glance from her sent chills down her spine.

The cruel officials were extremely efficient in their arrests. Lu Jun's sudden disappearance without any apparent reason could very well be the work of these cruel officials. As far as she knew, this kind of thing had happened many times before.

"Talented lady, is something on your mind?" Shen Quanqi noticed her deep thought.

Wan'er shook her head: "I'm just guessing. Would the Minister be willing to verify it?"

He revealed the cruel official's idea of ​​arresting people.

Shen Quanqi's face turned pale instantly, and he stammered, "How could this humble official dare to provoke a cruel official... Let alone just guessing, even if I were certain the person was there, I wouldn't dare to bring him up."

Wan'er said, "There's no need for you to mention anyone. Just find a way to confirm that they're inside, and then I'll go find the Empress Dowager."

The situation is still unclear, and I cannot tell the Empress Dowager, otherwise she will punish me for questioning the handling of the case by the Lijing Gate.

If they come up empty-handed, Lu Jun's crime of deceiving the emperor will be immediately confirmed, which would be counterproductive.

Shen Quanqi pondered for a moment, then gritted his teeth: "Fine! Since Lady Lu is willing to risk her life to protect Lu Chuyu, I will do the same!"

There were still 25 minutes until the ceremony, and Lijing Gate was not far away, so he turned around and rushed over.

"Hey! Don't talk nonsense!"

"How could I risk my life to protect him..."

Wan'er's face suddenly flushed with a rosy glow, reflecting the morning sun and appearing even more radiant than the scarlet silk dress she wore.

She wanted to scold Shen Quanqi, but he had already run far away, leaving her alone to sulk.

She was a concubine appointed by Emperor Gaozong, nominally a concubine in the harem. If such words were to spread, the Empress Dowager would punish her severely.

What nonsense is Shen Yunqing spouting...?

"Has anyone seen Shen Yunqing? I want to ask him why Lu Chuyu didn't come?"

Accompanied by the sound of his official boots, Li Zhaode walked straight toward the palace gate and asked Wan'er a question.

Wan'er held the position of Inner Attendant. During banquets and poetry gatherings in the palace, she often wrote poems for the Empress Dowager. Therefore, in the outer court, many high-ranking officials called her Attendant, which was a sign of their respect for her excellent poetic talent. She was assigned to any of the Phoenix Pavilion Attendants.

"Your Excellency, Lu Chuyu has disappeared. She might be inside the Lijing Gate..." Wan'er's eyes flashed.

She recalled that Li Zhaode had once met with Lu Jun, guessing that he admired Lu Jun's talent and wanted to get to know her privately.

This Vice Minister of the Ministry of War was known for not being afraid of cruel officials and had repeatedly rebuked Zhou Xing in court, making him a reliable ally.

So, the whole story was revealed.

Sure enough, Li Zhaode was enraged upon hearing this, his beard trembling with rage. He roared, "Outrageous! Arresting people in broad daylight! Where is the law? Where is justice? I'm going to see for myself!"

With a flick of his official robe, he turned and strode out of the palace gate in an instant, heading directly west.

Shangguan Wan'er knew that Li Zhaode was upright and trusted by the Empress Dowager, so she finally felt relieved.

Wait... what are you worried about?

It had nothing to do with me in the first place, didn't it?

Wan'er recalled Shen Quanqi's words, and anger welled up on her face again: "Nonsense..."

She calmed herself down and restored her complexion before reporting back to the Empress Dowager.

Just as he was about to take a step, he suddenly noticed a red figure beside the procession of tribute students, craning its neck and looking around anxiously.

She wore a pomegranate red brocade dress with beaded patterns, the red background shimmering with gold thread, swirling like flames in the morning light, exuding an air of nobility.

The high-waisted skirt accentuated her slender figure, and a gauze shawl draped over it fluttered in the wind, revealing her alabaster skin.

Seeing Shangguan Wan'er approaching, he stepped forward and asked, "Wan'er, why isn't Lu Chuyu here? Didn't she pass the imperial examination?"

Her eyebrows were raised, giving her a touch of heroism, and her oval face resembled that of the Empress Dowager in her youth.

It was Princess Taiping, Li Lingyue.

Wan'er blinked: "Princess, he might have been arrested and imprisoned at Lijing Gate..."

She noticed the princess's concern for Lu Jun and, having found a group of helpers, recounted the events.

He simply omitted his own analysis, saying it was Shen Quanqi's guess.

Li Lingyue's brows furrowed like swords as she angrily shouted, "Outrageous! Lu Chuyu is my honored guest, yet she dares to offend me! Zhou Xing is going too far!"

Like a fireball, it hurtled towards Lijing Gate, with servants and maids following closely behind, creating a magnificent spectacle.

Wan'er was completely relieved this time. No matter how ruthless Zhou Xing was, he couldn't possibly stop the Empress Dowager's own daughter.

and many more……

What are you worried about?