Confidante Saisuke

two years later.Luoyang Gongyuan.

The imperial examination in Dazhou is held in the first month.It is still cold.Scholars have to finish answering the questions in the cold wind, but also keep the scrolls clean and neat.Fortunately, the family is well-off, and the family has already prepared thick clothes and dry food.Pity those from poor families, especially those who are rushing to take the exam from other places, shivering in the cold wind, and finally have hot water in the exam room, which is used to dissolve the ink, and the dry food is as hard as a rock, which is too heavy I want to knock my teeth out.However, this is a golden opportunity for life to rise to the top. Who has the leisure to complain about the cold weather?

Wu Zhao came to the Gongyuan with the support of his followers.During the first imperial examination in Dazhou, she was poisoned and was waiting for the ruling of heaven in Sichuan; in the second imperial examination, because she was greedy for the beauty of the plum blossoms in Shanglinyuan, she contracted the cold and stayed in bed for several days; It's okay, come and have a look.Wu Zhao passed by rows of desks and saw that the scholars were too busy thinking and answering papers to look up to see who was walking around.A few curious ones sneaked a few glances, but because Wu Zhao was dressed in casual clothes, they didn't know that what they were seeing was the current emperor of Great Zhou.

After walking a few rows, Wu Zhao saw that most of the people in the tribute courtyard were men, and there were only three or four women. She sighed slightly in her heart. However, there are really a few women who can really take the road of imperial examinations regardless of secular prejudices.Even if they really won the Jinshi and became officials, most of them just entered the Hanlin, and wrote poems and compiled historical manuscripts for a lifetime.All women in the world look forward to is to look up to a lifelong lover, and there are too few ambitious ones.

Wu Zhao didn't want to think about it anymore, so he casually asked the examiner behind him: "How many women are taking the Jinshi examination this year?" The examiner carefully replied: "There are more than 20." How many of them are well-written?" The examiner thought for a while, and said carefully: "There are a few people who are quite proficient in writing and ink, and can be admitted to the Imperial Academy. There is another one. I think that the answer paper of the scholar's department is proficient in literature, thoughtful and far-sighted. The answer sheet of the law department knows the laws and regulations of the Great Zhou very well, and she is a talent. But I feel that this woman takes things very seriously and is a bit unreasonable after reading her article." Wu Zhao laughed and said: "It seems that the Great Zhou is going to There is a female censor." Asked casually, "Where did you come from?" The examiner replied: "It's from Shu." Wu Zhao stopped and turned to look at the examiner: "What's your name?" The examiner coughed She nodded, lowered her head and replied, "She is a self-recommended candidate. I saw that her name is Shangguan Jing'er written on her certificate." Wu Zhao was startled, and shouted, "What did you say?" The chief examiner said bravely, " She said her name is Shangguan Jinger." Wu Zhao suppressed the excitement in his heart, took a light breath, and said slowly: "You lead the way ahead, I will go and see the talent you mentioned."

The chief examiner led the way anxiously, while Wu Zhao walked behind, walking steadily, but his heart was full of turmoil.Two years ago, after Song Zhaohua reported that Shangguan Wan'er was missing, she immediately asked Cheng Kejin to secretly send someone to look for Shangguan Wan'er.However, after searching for several months, I still found nothing.It wasn't until Song Zhaohua caught a group of rebels hiding in Shu who were running around and making trouble, that he learned from a few people that Shangguan Wan'er had indeed fallen off the cliff that day.Later, people were sent to search along the river under the cliff, but no one was alive or dead.I also thought about treating her as if she was dead, but she didn't see her dead body, how could she give up.A heart is like being pulled by a thread, and when the word Wan'er is thought of, it is pulled.Who knew that he had already returned to Luoyang without anyone noticing.He changed his name again, and took the imperial examination again. It seems that he is over 30 years old, and he is still so naughty.Do you just want to prove that you are not a worthless person?foolish.

The chief examiner who was walking in front suddenly stopped, pointed to a cubicle and said, "Your Majesty, that woman is over there." Wu Zhao's heart was beating violently again, and he forced himself to walk slowly as if nothing had happened.A man wearing a fringe and a white gown is bowing his head and writing quickly.This is a man.Wu Zhao was a little puzzled, and took two steps closer.The scholar who was writing with his head down felt that someone was staring at her and looked up.Wu Zhao couldn't help gasping when he saw this person's face. It was clearly Wan'er's face. He walked over quickly and held her hand, bursting out with ecstasy, "Wan'er."

Unexpectedly, the other party frowned and glanced at Wu Zhao, turned his wrist, and the palm slipped out of Wu Zhao's hand, then stood up and said, "My lord, Shangguan Wan'er is the sister of the student, and the student is her sister, Shangguan Jing Son." He smiled slightly and said, "My sister and I are twin sisters, we look very similar, so it's no wonder the adults would recognize the wrong person." Wu Zhao said with a smile: "Nonsense. You are from Shangguan's family. The only descendant, a younger sister appeared out of nowhere. Well, stop messing around and go back with me." As he said that, he was about to grab Guan Jing'er's hand.Shangguan Jing'er dodged Wu Zhao's hand, and smiled slightly: "My lord and my sister must be old acquaintances. I still have a roll of paper here that I haven't finished answering. Why don't we talk about it after I finish answering?" Wu Zhao was a little suspicious for a while. , she identified that the other party was Shangguan Wan'er, but she didn't know if she was angry with herself, or if something happened to her and she forgot herself.Thinking about how many people talk here, it is really not allowed to elaborate, so he nodded and said: "Okay, then you can continue to write yours."

Wu Zhao turned his head and walked out of the examination room, with the chief examiner still following behind.Wu Zhao saw a scholar writing while coughing, frowned, and said, "Go and get thick clothes for each candidate, and change the hot water more diligently. Scholars are weak, don't freeze." The examiner responded repeatedly. .At the door, Wu Zhao stopped, thinking about Shangguan Wan'er's stubborn temper, she might not be willing to obediently follow others back to the palace. Anyway, there is no urgent business in the palace, so it is better to take her back to the palace by himself.After thinking about it, Wu Zhao turned around again, smiled and said to the examiner, "I'm going to see the hall of the Gongyuan." The examiner was nervous for a while, and immediately led the way without hesitation.After entering the room, Wu Zhao took a quick glance and saw the rows of books neatly arranged on the shelves, and praised: "Scholar's place is indeed noble." The examiner carefully apologized: "It's very cramped here, please Your Majesty. Forgive me." Wu Zhao went to the table and sat down, said with a smile, "What is the crime? Go get Shangguan Jing'er's genealogy and records." The examiner took the order to leave.

Wu Zhao was the only one left in the room.At this time, she began to think about all kinds of things just now.Judging from Wan'er's face just now, it doesn't look like she deliberately denied herself, but she may have accidentally knocked her head when she fell off the cliff and forgot about the past.Just, who was rescued?Where have you been for two years?How did you come to Luoyang?Still taking the imperial examination?Questions jumped out one by one.Wu Zhao didn't like this feeling of being out of control.However, no matter what, her Wan'er was still alive and well, and came back to her.What else is there to complain about?

Not long after, the examiner came in with a stack of papers and presented them to Wu Zhao.Wu Zhao put her hand on it with a smile, and suddenly remembered that she was still in the examination room, so she ordered: "Let someone watch her, and wait for her to finish writing the scroll and bring it to me. Well, the person who will follow me is at the door. Quickly go to the palace to find Imperial Physician Zhang." Seeing that Wu Zhao looked down at Shangguan Jing'er's article, the examiner quietly withdrew.

Wu Zhao flipped through the stack of articles, feeling more and more suspicious.These articles either criticize the current malpractices, or worship the sages and virtuous persons, or look down on the world, but none of them expresses the emotions of young children’s sorrow for spring and autumn.In the past, even if Wan'er didn't write love poems, she couldn't get rid of the breeze, bright moon, flowers, grass and trees. How could she worry about the country and the people?Besides, Wan'er has always written in a gentle and indifferent tone, why did she ever speak so violently?How did it become like this?Wu Zhao took the family tree casually, and read it line by line, all the previous ones were correct, except for the names of Shangguan Wan'er and Shangguan Jing'er in the last line.Wu Zhao was a little puzzled, but also a little funny, he must have been fooled by others again.The mood that was slowly calming down suddenly became excited again, Wu Zhao put down the certificate, got up and walked to the window.It's good to be alive, Wu Zhao looked at the bare trees outside and smiled.

Here, Shangguan Jing'er handed the paper to the examiner, and just about to turn around, someone came over: "Miss Shangguan, Your Majesty ordered the villain to wait here, and take the girl to see His Majesty after Miss Shangguan finishes answering the paper." Shangguan Jing'er was taken aback, and then guessed that the woman must have reported the news to Wu Zhao just now, thinking she was Shangguan Wan'er.Shangguan Jing'er smiled faintly, you are all about flattering and petting, but unfortunately this time you are about to miscalculate.

The person who brought Guan Jinger to the past went in to report first, and came out after a while to invite her in.We are about to meet the extermination enemy of the Shangguan family.Shangguan Jing'er raised her head slightly, took a light breath, and stretched out her hand to push open the door of the hall.Walking in unhurriedly, the people outside immediately closed the door again, and Shangguan Jing'er didn't care about it.Sitting at the desk was the woman who just held her hand and called her Wan'er.This... Shangguan Jing'er suddenly realized that she is the current Emperor of Great Zhou, Wu Zhao.

Shangguan Jing'er secretly warned herself that if she couldn't bear it, she would make a big mess, and whether the Shangguan family could restore the glory of the past was entirely up to her.However, in the face of the people who wiped out Shangguan's family, how could she act as if nothing had happened.He clenched his fist tightly to prevent himself from rushing out, but the resentful expression on his face still betrayed her.Seeing Shangguan Jing'er coming in, Wu Zhao got up and smiled, "Have you finished writing? It's freezing cold, why bother to make trouble for yourself outside? Sit down and drink some tea to warm yourself up." However, when he approached Seeing Shangguan Jinger's expression as if she was about to kill her, she was startled, paused and asked, "Wan'er, what's wrong with you?" Shangguan Jinger said coldly, "I'm not Shangguan Waner. You misunderstood the person." Wu Zhao has never seen such a Shangguan Wan'er, and after looking at her for a few times, he said, "Who told you that you are not Shangguan Wan'er?" Shangguan Jing'er said indifferently: "I know it myself, why bother?" Someone told me. If I were Shangguan Wan'er, I would never do anything to tarnish the century-old reputation of the Shangguan family, and let the ancestors of the Shangguan family suffer shame because of me." Wu Zhao was speechless, she never thought Shangguan Wan'er would say such things to her.Wu Zhao tried to suppress the anger in his heart, and said in a gentle voice, "Have you been busy with the exam these days? Sit down and have a cup of tea first." Shangguan Jing'er turned her head and glanced at Wu Zhao, neither speaking nor sitting down. .Wu Zhao knew that Shangguan Jing'er was cold and tired these few days and should let her go back to rest, but how could she let her go just because she was full of hatred for him.

Wu Zhao turned and walked to the desk, picked up the teacup and took a sip slowly, taking the opportunity to soothe his emotions, then turned around and said, "You said that you and Wan'er are twin sisters, so tell me that when your mother gave birth that day, There are heavy guards outside the door, if you gave birth to two daughters, how were you taken out, and how did you grow up?" Shangguan Jing'er said slowly: "I can't remember the past. However, My master told me that it was my mother’s maid who took me to escape, and then settled down in Sichuan. My master happened to pass by my house to see if I could give me some pointers, so he accepted me as an apprentice. From then on, I followed my master Studying and doing exercises, I accidentally went into a rut two years ago, and forgot what happened in the past." Wu Zhao sighed with a smile, shook his head and said, "You really believe what your master says?" Shangguan Jing'er sneered, "You don't believe my master. Yes, do you believe someone who killed my whole family?" Wu Zhao fell silent for a moment, then suddenly became angry, and asked coldly, "Who is your master? Let him come and talk to me face to face." Shangguan Jing'er chuckled: "Does Your Majesty want to kill my master? I didn't intend to go back alive when I came to Luoyang this time. I won't tell you my master's whereabouts. Just kill me." Son a temper.Wu Zhao's anger suddenly turned into helplessness, and he said softly, "Okay, then let the imperial doctor give you a pulse and see how your body is doing. You have suffered a lot outside these two years, and now you have come back to take care of your body. Alright, let’s talk about the rest later.”

Wu Zhao saw that Shangguan Jing'er didn't speak, fearing that her stubborn temper would come up again, so she didn't say much, so she immediately called Doctor Zhang to come in and feel her pulse.Unexpectedly, the imperial physician reported that everything was fine.Wu Zhao frowned and said, "She has forgotten all about the past, so how can everything be fine?" Imperial physician Zhang pondered for a moment, and said, "Miss Shangguan's pulse is neither floating nor sinking, soft and powerful, it is indeed a good pulse. As for Forgetting the past events may not necessarily be caused by physical injuries. If the Shangguan girl has been greatly frightened, she will also forget the past events. If this is the case, the minister is incompetent, and the pulse cannot be diagnosed, so it is impossible to prescribe the right medicine." Wu Zhao Squinting her eyes: "You mean she can't remember the past anymore?" Doctor Zhang shook her head: "That's not necessarily the case. If it's a coincidence, it's unknown if Miss Shangguan suddenly regained her memory." That depends on God's will up.

Physician Zhang stepped back.Wu Zhao looked at Shangguan Jing'er who was silent all the time, reluctant to let her go, and unwilling to force her to stay.What if you never remember?Wu Zhao shook his head lightly, pushed the thought out, and said with a relaxed smile, "Wan'er came to take part in the imperial examination because she wanted to be an official?" Shangguan Jing'er replied solemnly, "The Shangguan family's reputation is based on integrity. But be praised by the world. Jing'er is not talented, and I can't think of any other better way to restore the reputation of the Shangguan family." Listening to Shangguan Jing'er's constant insistence on the reputation of the Shangguan family, Wu Zhao felt a little headache, but also a little secretly happy.As long as I still have what Wan'er wants in my hand, I'm not afraid of her running away.Fortunately, Wan'er chose family reputation. If she wanted to travel around the world, it would be difficult.So Wu Zhao nodded in agreement with Shangguan Jinger's words: "You are right. The Shangguan family's reputation for uprightness was obtained from the court. If you want to restore the Shangguan family to its former glory, you can only enter the court again."

There was another silence.Wu Zhao was afraid that Shangguan Jing'er would be thinking about her feud with Shangguan's family, so she laughed again, "What ranking does Wan'er want? No. 1, No. 1 or Tanhua? No. [-] is certainly the top prize, but Tanhua's name sounds better." Shangguan Jing'er raised her head and said, "Naturally, it is No. [-] in Toad Palace." Wu Zhao teased her with a smile: "The relationship between you and me is well known in the world, so you are not afraid of others saying that your No. [-] is not worthy of the name? "Shangguan Jing'er smiled slightly: "If you are not convinced, you can use his and my examination papers for the scholars of the world to judge." Looking at Shangguan Jing'er standing there in high spirits, Wu Zhao sighed slightly, not knowing what happened in the past two years, It's quite different from the past.

Wu Zhao tapped lightly on the table a few times, and said, "Even so, you should know that it's not uncommon to be unappreciated. Being on the list and failing is just a thought of the examiner." Shangguan Jing'er sneered: "Do you want me to bow down to you like my sister for this champion? I really don't care about it. Even if you put a knife on my neck, you don't want me to let go of the Shangguan family's genocide." Wu Zhao She frowned slightly, then said with a smile: "It's up to you. I just want you to admit that you are Shangguan Wan'er." Want me to be that sister who is tactful and happy under the enemy?Shangguan Jing'er was about to veto it, when she suddenly thought, wouldn't this be the best way to restore the Shangguan family's reputation?Since it was Shangguan Wan'er's behavior that was spurned by the world, it is natural for Shangguan Wan'er to clean up all this in person to win the world's forgiveness and approval.Thinking of this, Shangguan Jing'er nodded: "Okay, then I will be my sister."

Little ghost, forgive your ever-changing changes, and you can never escape from my palm.Wu Zhao laughed from the bottom of his heart for the first time since seeing Shangguan Jing'er.Shangguan Jing'er glanced at Wu Zhao before turning around.Wu Zhao hurriedly called to her: "Where does Wan'er live now?" Shangguan Jing'er was impatient for a while, and without looking back, she replied coldly, "It's an inn outside the Shangdong Gate." Shangguan Jing'er moved back to the palace, but her eagerness would only backfire, she thought about it, and proposed a compromise: "There are too many people in the inn, no good, how about Wan'er staying in Xuancheng for a few days? You used to like her the most." Li Sujie's sister?Remembering Li Sujie's request before leaving, Shangguan Jing'er nodded: "Okay."

A few days later, the main examiner posted the list.All the scholars were in an uproar when they saw the rankings. Some of them were very angry and threw bricks at the gate of the Gongyuan, and some clamored to sue for imperial court.The main examiner had already prepared, and after a while, an official came out with the paste, painted it on the wall, and then pasted several pieces of paper on the wall.Everyone rushed up to see that it was Shangguan Jing'er's scroll, of course the name had been changed to Shangguan Wan'er at this time.All the scholars watched all the way, the noise became smaller and smaller, and finally most of them dispersed in silence.Naturally, some people whispered that someone had caught a knife, but few people agreed.

There was an uproar in Luoyang City for a while, and there were rumors that the emperor's female favorite won the first prize in the imperial examination.Fortunately, the scholars said that they were convinced after reading the scroll.Ordinary people don't think so, they only know that Shangguan Wan'er is Wu Zhao's female favorite, and guess that Wu Zhao must have made her the top of the list in order to please Shangguan Wan'er.These street talk naturally also spread to Shangguan Jing'er's mouth, which made her very angry. With a wave of her hand, the teapots and cups on the table were blown to the ground and smashed to pieces.

Li Xuancheng, who heard the sound, looked at Shangguan Jing'er with raised eyebrows and eyes, and gently advised: "It's all gossip from ignorant people, Wan'er don't be angry. They can't read, and they can't understand Wan'er's articles." , I can’t tell the truth. Those scholars are still very fair, and they didn’t say that Wan’er got her name by relying on His Majesty.” Shangguan Jing’er clenched her right hand into a fist and said bitterly: “My sister did those things before. No wonder people say that. If she walks upright and sits upright, who would dare to say that. It’s not because she ruined the Shangguan family’s reputation before.”

When Shangguan Jing'er first arrived at Li Xuancheng's house, she confessed her life experience and told her that she and Li Sujie conspired to come up with this plan.Li Xuancheng just didn't believe it, she insisted that Shangguan Jing'er was Shangguan Wan'er, and that Li Sujie lied to Shangguan Jing'er, instead she advised Shangguan Jing'er not to do anything that hurt Wu Zhao, so as not to regret it later.Shangguan Jing'er couldn't laugh or cry when she heard this.At this time, Li Xuancheng was amused and sighed at the same time when he heard Shangguan Jinger's words.Not only did Wan'er forget the past, she even lost her true nature.Never before did Wan'er take other people's comments so seriously.

Seeing Shangguan Jing'er tightly pursing her lips, as if strangers should not enter, Li Xuancheng didn't bother her in the past, and gently packed up the teapot and teacup fragments, closed the door and walked away.

Wu Tuan'er heard Wu Zhao's words, and he also had mixed feelings: "Your Majesty and Wan'er had too many twists and turns. It was so easy to cure the poison, and this happened again. Your Majesty, there is nothing the imperial physician can do. Remind Wan'er of the past?" Wu Zhao shook his head: "These people are not needed at critical times. I'm used to it." He said with a smile, "I've figured out what Wan'er likes a long time ago. Even if she never remembers, I will let her come back to my side. But, her straight temper will definitely not make me look good, on the contrary, I have to find a way to make her happy."

While stirring the sweet porridge, Wu Zhao said, "Wan'er always told me that she wanted to enter the court. Hmph, she forgot about everything with me, but she remembered to take the imperial examination to become a high official." Really happy.Originally, Shangguan Wan'er had been clamoring to enter the imperial court all those years ago just because she wanted to be worthy of her.It's not because of her.That's fine, she went back and forth over the past two years to think about things with Wan'er, and she was surprised to find that she never gave Wan'er anything, and instead made her slander all over the world and her life was in danger several times.She clearly has the power of life and death in her hands, she likes Wan'er more and more, and she thinks she cares about Wan'er, but when she really recalls it, she finds that she has been enjoying Wan'er's devotion all along.Presumably, this time Wan'er's amnesia is also God can't see it, let her do something for Wan'er.Then give Wan'er what she wants.Wu Zhao smiled softly.