What Bad Intentions can the Yandere Crown Prince have?-Chapter 369 - 365: Why Are You So Good to Me

On the afternoon of March 2nd, the results of the Ministry of Personnel exam were sent separately to the Taiji Palace and the Eastern Palace, with various officials coming and going.

On March 3rd, the official list was released.

The imperial examinations here were quite different from what Tang Xiaobai had seen in ancient costume dramas.

Firstly, there was no palace exam; secondly, only thirty-three people were selected in total.

In the past, at least half of these thirty-three came from the Imperial College.

However, in this session, the Imperial College’s dominance was lost.

Huntian Academy had ten participants, with seven making the list, while the Imperial College only had twelve.

This huge disparity caused a stir both in the court and among the public.

On March 15th, during a court assembly, Gu Bing of the Secretariat presented a memorial stating that the Imperial College students performed poorly in the provincial exams and those who taught them could not shirk responsibility. As a former Imperial College Sacrificial Officer, he volunteered for a salary penalty and requested an evaluation of all teaching Doctors and Assistant Teachers at the Imperial College.

The attack on the Imperial College’s official system was planned for the second of that month, something Tang Xiaobai was already aware of.

What she didn’t know was that it would be revealed by Second Uncle Gu.

Second Uncle Gu was the emperor’s brother-in-law.

Before the Crown Prince moved into the Eastern Palace, he was always favored.

But now, it could be said that His Majesty the Emperor had ultimately misplaced his trust over the years.

"It was Gu Jian’s own request," Li Mu explained, "if he didn’t take this step, who knows how long Gu Yuan would be suppressed."

Gu Yuan was the legitimate eldest son of Second Uncle Gu and also Li Mu’s cousin.

Due to this relationship, after entering the civil service, Gu Yuan only held a leisurely position at the Imperial Sacrificial Worship Temple.

Second Uncle Gu and Princess Puan also had a son and a daughter, and now for the sake of the legitimate elder son, he reversed his stance, what a misplacement of trust!

"So this time Fourth Cousin Gu can enter the Imperial College?" Tang Xiaobai asked happily.

Gu Yuan and Li Mu had a mutual uncle named Yu Nanfeng, a scholar from the previous emperor’s reign who annotated the book "Xunzi."

This "Xunzi Annotation" was later passed down to Gu Yuan and his siblings; Pei Xuan had a handwritten copy, which Tang Xiaobai and Li Mu had both studied.

Thus, in terms of intellectual lineage, Gu Yuan and Pei Xuan were considered part of the same school, both talents that Tang Xiaobai and Li Mu wanted to promote materialist philosophy at the Imperial College.

But when she asked, Li Mu shook his head: "Pei Xuan has no interest in competing for gains, while Gu Yuan is ambitious; I want him to enter the Ministry of Rites."

Tang Xiaobai remained silent.

When it came to just the Imperial College, she could still make sense of the relationships.

But when talking about all departments together, she felt a bit confused.

So she focused on her own territory of the Imperial College: "What about Senior Brother Pei?"

Pei Xuan was someone suited for scholarly work.

"Along with Pei Xuan, Mr. Zhang, and a few newly promoted scholars from the academy, will all be added to the Imperial College."

Tang Xiaobai’s heart skipped a beat: "Is Luo Xiong among them?"

Among the seven people from the academy who made the list, Luo Xiong was one of them.

Li Mu nodded and suddenly asked, "Has Luo Xiong and Cheng Zi’s wedding date been set?"

"Not yet," Tang Xiaobai was somewhat surprised that he even cared about this. 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

"I want a few people by your side to enter the palace half a month early to be appointed as ladies."

The Eastern Palace Lady establishment had three ministries, each with one chief officer and three subordinates.

When Li Mu lived in the Crown Prince Mansion, he also had them, but after moving into the Eastern Palace, he had half of them dismissed, saying it was to leave positions for people by her side.

Now to have them enter the palace half a month early for training, it was simply—

Tang Xiaobai looked at him for a while and couldn’t help but laugh: "Why are you..." she said three words, then just laughed.

Li Mu urged with his gaze.

By the smoke willow, near the painted bridge, a palace attendant stood quietly in the distance.

The girl tiptoed and gently kissed the boy’s face.

The snow-like coldness between the boy’s eyebrows instantly turned into spring water, and the reflection of golden fragments on the lake surface persisted stubbornly as he asked, "Why am I?"

Tang Xiaobai smiled, looping her arm around his, and whispered, "Why are you so good?"

His eyes were sparkling, looking extremely joyful, he moved his lips but didn’t say anything.

Suddenly, he tightened his embrace around her waist and spun her in a small circle.

When Tang Xiaobai’s feet touched the ground, she felt a little dizzy, leaning against his chest, and heard him laugh heartily.

It was not the usual low laugh or light laugh.

The laughter was clear and bright, like the brilliant spring sunshine, full of youthful energy.

Tang Xiaobai couldn’t help but laugh too, hugging him tightly...

...

Appointing ladies early was indeed extraordinarily considerate for Tang Xiaobai.

Tao Zi and Ah Song should have no issues, but regarding Cheng Zi, Tang Xiaobai thought it needed further discussion.

Because Cheng Zi and Luo Xiong were already following the wedding process.

The day after the examination results were posted, Luo Xiong agreed to send an official matchmaker to propose to Cheng Zi.

Luo Xiong had indeed made an effort; on the day of the proposal, he came in person.

Since the new scholars had just paraded through the Imperial Street, many people recognized him, causing quite a commotion and discussion.

Tang Xiaobai also quietly joined in the crowd to watch and happened to hear some comments.

Most were saying that Cheng Zi was lucky to have found a talented and handsome young man who was both affectionate and righteous, soon to become a scholar’s wife from a maidservant’s status.

Tang Xiaobai didn’t really like hearing such words.

Why was it Cheng Zi’s good fortune? Why wasn’t it Luo Xiong’s good fortune?

Wasn’t her Cheng Zi also talented and beautiful, as well as affectionate and righteous?

Moreover, several years ago, Cheng Zi had already emancipated from slavery through her own efforts; how was her status inferior to Luo Xiong’s?

Furthermore, Cheng Zi was soon going to enter the palace as a lady, starting at the eighth rank at least, which Luo Xiong was not assured of yet!

From this perspective, Tang Xiaobai quite supported the early appointment of ladies.

Having the title of a lady before marriage would make it more prestigious.

But Cheng Zi didn’t see it that way: "Upon first entering the Eastern Palace, there will inevitably be some time spent busy with palace affairs, but Second Miss should be more concerned with the affairs of Chongwen Hall and Chongren Hall, so I want to get married soon to focus on sharing palace duties for Second Miss without distractions."

Cheng Zi spoke very calmly, as if she had given it much thought.

"Luo Lang has also agreed," she said.

"But this soon, it’s too rushed," Tang Xiaobai frowned, "I’m getting married on April 2nd, if you want to be ahead, do you mean you’ll need to marry by the end of March?"

It’s already mid-March now.

"Or... wait another two months, how much palace affairs can there be with so few people in the Eastern Palace? In three or four months, then marry grandly as an Eastern Palace Lady, how about it?" Tang Xiaobai asked.

"Yes, yes!" Tao Zi agreed, "Luo Xiong hasn’t received an official position yet, you’ll be a lady first and be ahead of him as soon as you marry!" She said, inexplicably excitedly shaking her fist.

"But I don’t want to be ahead of him," Cheng Zi smiled gently, "Actually, Luo Lang and I discussed the wedding date long before the New Year, and all the wedding arrangements have been prepared. It is just the rituals left, so a little hurry is no harm."

Tang Xiaobai suddenly recalled the times Li Mu had repeatedly pulled her to discuss their wedding date, felt a softness in her heart, and swallowed her words of persuasion.

As long as the young couple had an agreement, what difference did the timing of the wedding make?

...

Spring seemed quite suitable for hosting weddings.

Just when Tang Xiaobai was busy preparing to send Cheng Zi off, another unexpected marriage emerged.

Gu Yulan was getting married.