bookcurios Chapter 2 The third-ranking scholar has quite the airs of an official!
Chapter 2 The third-ranking scholar has quite the airs of an official!
Yo!
Zhou Wei was somewhat surprised.
With such eloquence and quick wit, no wonder he was the third-ranked scholar!
No... it should be said that he was the top scholar.
Chu Tianze was chosen as the third-ranked scholar entirely due to the Emperor of Zhou's personal favoritism.
He chose Chu Tiance as his son-in-law for his beloved daughter, Jiang Yueli.
Since he was the prince consort, he was naturally handsome.
To let the world know that Jiang Yueli's husband was a handsome man, the Great Zhou Emperor appointed Chu Tiance as the third-ranking scholar.
In fact, with his talent and learning, he was more than qualified to be the top scholar in the imperial examination.
This also sowed the seeds of future problems for the marriage.
Although Chu Tiance came from a poor family, he had great ambitions and wanted to become an official in the imperial court and return home in glory.
However, he was chosen to be the princess's consort, and from then on, he could only serve as her subordinate.
Being barred from politics and official positions was tantamount to cutting off Chu Tiance's future.
Knowing he had no hope in this life, Chu Tianze, under the instigation of the heroine Hu Youniang, was determined to succeed.
They chose the most radical, and also the most lose-lose, approach.
They went directly to the princess's residence and demanded that Jiang Yueli annul the engagement!
This is tantamount to rubbing Jiang Yueli's face on the ground, and it truly shows a complete disregard for the Great Zhou royal family.
If Jiang Yueli hadn't been so enraged that she made a foolish move.
She drew her sword to strike Chu Tianze, but accidentally injured Hu Youniang instead. She should have been in an unassailable position in terms of public opinion!
But because she injured the other party, and Chu Tianze was a third-place scholar, he naturally belonged to the civil official lineage.
Jiang Yueli was then relentlessly impeached by the civil officials!
She wished the Emperor of the Great Zhou would kill the eldest princess before she would be satisfied.
This foreshadowed the eventual downfall of Princess Jiang Yueli's reputation in the court and among the public.
Civil officials were originally the most ruthless group in the world.
A person who can spout nonsense with just a pen cannot stand in this world.
It was precisely because the civil officials collectively exerted their efforts that they realized the fault lay with Chu Tiance and Hu Youniang for provoking the incident.
However, it was later rumored among the common people that Princess Jiang Yueli had forced him into marriage.
To win the heart of the third-ranked scholar, she didn't hesitate to kill his fiancée. She was simply the most arrogant and domineering poisonous woman in the Great Zhou Dynasty!
Jiang Yueli was being questioned by Chu Tiance at this moment.
Anger flashed across his face, and he was about to retort when the little palace maid spoke up again.
"Your words are incorrect, Scholar!"
Chu Tianze looked at Zhou Wei with disdain. He wanted to see what kind of logic this lowly servant girl could come up with.
Zhou Wei then cupped her hands towards the sky and said, "The Princess Protector's Residence was bestowed by His Majesty. If officials in the court wish to pay their respects to the princess, they must submit their visiting cards three days in advance."
"I ask you, how did you get in today?"
Chu Tianze froze, realizing he was in the wrong, and couldn't utter a word.
Zhou Wei sneered, "While the third-ranked scholar may not say it, I, a mere palace maid, do know."
"You and your illegitimate little wife only got to see the Princess because you were introduced as the Prince Consort."
"Otherwise, even if you, a mere third-ranking scholar and compiler at the Hanlin Academy, were to wait in line, you probably wouldn't be able to see the princess until next year."
"What? You used the title of prince consort to meet the princess, but now you're complaining about this marriage..."
"To put down one's bowl and then curse one's mother—isn't that exactly what describes someone like you, the third-ranked scholar?"
Chu Tianze was furious, clenching his fists so tightly he wished he could tear Zhou Wei's mouth apart.
He had never met anyone more eloquent than him.
Who is this palace maid?
Jiang Yueli was extremely excited at this moment. This little palace maid is really amazing!
In both her past and present lives, Jiang Yueli has rarely met anyone who could verbally humiliate Chu Tiance.
The Third Prince frowned as he looked at Zhou Wei, clearly displeased.
“Your Highness, this palace maid is too sharp-tongued. I think it’s not appropriate for her to stay in the Princess’s residence to serve you.”
"Why don't I take her with me when I leave later?"
Zhou Wei glanced sideways at the Third Prince, thinking about his character.
As someone who knows the original plot very well, she knows it all too well!
That guy is a complete scoundrel.
Don't rush me. I'll deal with you after I've dealt with those two scoundrels.
Zhou Wei began to secretly wiggle her ankles.
She is waiting—
Waiting for an opportunity—
An opportunity for her to make a move.
This is not enough!
Although Chu Tianze was angry after being verbally humiliated by Zhou Wei, he still retained his rationality.
He ignored Zhou Wei and continued to pressure Princess Jiang Yueli.
"Your Highness, I hope you will carefully consider what I just said."
"I have been through thick and thin with Youniang, and I have long promised her that I will never betray her in this life!"
"I appreciate the princess's kindness, but I am unworthy of it. I hope the princess will inform His Majesty to choose another suitable husband."
Jiang Yueli sat at the head of the table, clenching her fists, feeling both angry and disgusted.
Does Chu Tianze really think he's some kind of perfect gentleman?
She, a dignified princess, is indispensable to him?
If it weren't for the Emperor of Great Zhou bestowing a marriage upon her, Jiang Yueli wouldn't have given Chu Tianze a second glance.
Now, he's making it sound like I'm the one who's been relentlessly pursuing him.
The Third Prince, Jiang Yuelin, never one to shy away from a good show, burst into laughter.
"Your Majesty, haven't you heard about the story between the third-ranked scholar and this Miss Hu? It's all over the capital."
"Miss Hu met the third-ranked scholar when they were both poor. She wholeheartedly supported him to go to the capital to take the imperial examination. The third-ranked scholar promised Miss Hu that if he passed the examination, he would marry her."
"This was supposed to be a beautiful story, but because of your interference, my elder sister, the young couple is forced to separate. It's really not right!"
Zhou Wei and Jiang Yueli both glared at the Third Prince.
It's a password, it can't speak, can you sew its mouth shut?
Zhou Wei had never seen a younger brother as despicable as the Third Prince.
His own sister was being bullied at his door, and instead of helping her, he kicked her while she was down.
If we don't give him a good beating soon, he'll really forget who he is!
"You're such a failure as a person, you're a complete failure."
Zhou Wei shook her head regretfully, looking at Chu Tianze and sighing repeatedly.
Chu Tianze prided himself on being a person of superior character and elegant demeanor, so how could he tolerate Zhou Wei's evaluation of him?
He immediately retorted, "You lowly servant, what right do you have to judge me?"
Zhou Wei, however, didn't seem to care and said, "Did I say something wrong?"
“As a subject of the Great Zhou, you speak to the Princess in a loud and disrespectful manner, which is disloyal.”
"You promised to marry Hu Youniang after she passed the imperial examination, but you haven't taken any action until the Emperor bestowed the marriage upon you. Suddenly, you remembered that you already have a beautiful bride?"
"You clearly looked down on Miss Hu's background after high school, but because of the Emperor's arranged marriage, you have no chance of becoming a high-ranking official in this life, so you want to use Miss Hu as a shield. This is unjust."
"His Majesty is the sovereign and father. The marriage bestowed by the sovereign and father is a blessing from the imperial family. It is one thing for you not to kneel and thank the heavens for this grace, but to be picky and choosy is unfilial."
"You lack the courage to directly defy the imperial decree, yet you dare to enter the princess's residence and force the princess, a weak woman, to defy the decree, putting her in a difficult position. This is inhumane."
"You are an unfaithful, unfilial, inhumane, and unjust person. What's wrong with me saying you've failed as a human being?"
Chu Tianze trembled with rage, his lips turning deathly pale.
As a scholar, he cared most about his reputation, yet Zhou Wei called him disloyal, unfilial, and unjust!
Upon hearing such praise, Chu Tianze felt his blood surge and almost couldn't breathe.
Jiang Yueli, however, wished she could applaud Zhou Wei!
Damn it, finally someone can out-talk Chu Tian Ce.
In my past life, I suffered countless losses in this regard.
No matter how reasonable one is, as long as Chu Tiance comes out to debate, he can immediately reverse right and wrong!
Although Zhou Wei was arguing with Chu Tianze, her eyes were always on Hu Youniang.
She was familiar with the original plot and knew that Hu Youniang was strange.
This is a woman with a somewhat bewitching aura!
Don't let her current youthful, innocent, and adorable appearance fool you.
In fact, she is naturally alluring, captivating, and possesses some skills that are difficult for ordinary people to understand.
For example, Jiang Yueli locked her up in jail, but she could still appear in Jiang Yueli's room at night.
Stroking her bright red nail polish, she mocked Jiang Yueli with an incredibly seductive air!
When the eldest princess sent someone to check on Hu Youniang in the prison, she was found to be safely in her cell.
This happened repeatedly, driving Jiang Yueli to the brink of nervous breakdown, yet she was powerless to do anything about it.
Just when Zhou Wei thought that Hu Youniang would continue to endure it.
She suddenly spoke up: "Auntie, my husband is a first-rate man in the world, don't slander him with baseless accusations..."
Zhou Wei's eyes lit up when Hu Youniang spoke.
I've been waiting for you, you bitch!
boom--
Before Hu Youniang could finish speaking, Zhou Wei flew forward and kicked her in the chest.
Hu Youniang was kicked into the air and crashed heavily to the ground!
This sudden kick startled everyone.
Jiang Yueli was startled at first, then felt as refreshed as if she were bathing in ice on a summer day!
The alluring Hu Youniang was actually kicked away by this little palace maid?
Cool!
So cool!
If it weren't for maintaining proper decorum, Jiang Yueli would have already burst into laughter and applauded.
However, after calming down, Jiang Yueli became somewhat worried.
Wasn't she planning to bide her time and accumulate strength first?
Zhou Wei's kick completely offended Hu Youniang.
My plan to survive by playing it safe is doomed to fail!
If Zhou Wei knew what Jiang Yueli was thinking, she would definitely disagree.
Humiliation? Humiliation what!
She's bound to the [Malluto Promotion Device]. As a Malluto, if she wants to get promoted, she naturally has to fight against heaven and earth.
Going slack is not in line with the system's style!
She's been playing soccer since she was a child, from kindergarten to university. Who isn't afraid of her golden right foot?
Someone like Hu Youniang could kick ten people away with one kick!
After being kicked away, Hu Youniang could no longer maintain her innocent and childlike state.
Her eyes suddenly narrowed, appearing long and alluring, with a dangerous glint in them.
His right hand gradually clenched, as if he wanted to make a move.
But Chu Tianze, looking worried, hugged her: "You Niang, are you alright?"
As Chu Tiance approached, Hu Youniang finally suppressed her sharp edge, her small mouth pursed, and she began to cry.
"My love, I only wish to stay with you forever. Why does Your Highness have to make things difficult for me?"
"My chest hurts so much, my love, am I going to die?"
Seeing Hu Youniang on the verge of tears and looking utterly pitiful, Chu Tianze felt a pang of pity.
He turned his head and glared angrily at Zhou Wei.
"You vile servant, why did you beat You Niang? Do you have no respect for the law?"
Zhou Wei crossed her arms and said disdainfully, "What an arrogant official you are, sir!"
"But don't forget, my esteemed scholar, you are an official, but is your beautiful little wife also an official?"
Chu Tianze's expression changed after being reminded.
Zhou Wei continued with a cold laugh: "For a common woman like her, to be able to see the princess of the imperial family is already the greatest fortune of her life."
"But he didn't understand any of the palace etiquette. When he saw the princess, he neither knelt down to pay his respects nor humbly lowered his head."
"They're incredibly bold, not only daring to look directly at the princess's face but also daring to speak casually. Who gave them the guts?"
Chu Tianze felt a surge of anger and an unprecedented sense of humiliation.
"Even so, you shouldn't..."
boom!
Before Chu Tianze could continue rambling, Zhou Wei stepped forward and kicked him again.
He kicked Chu Tianze away too!