After marrying the heirless prince, I gave birth to three children

Chapter 402 Assassin!

He was quite willing.

Xie Yao nodded again, clearly agreeing with him. "Your Majesty is right, but... I find it hard to bear to see them both hesitating and hesitating even though they seem to be in love."

Xie Yao smiled brightly at Xiao Ji and said, "Perhaps it's because I have such a good husband like Your Majesty that I feel that all lovers in the world should be together."

Xuan Yue is not an impulsive and willful person, and he will not change his inner thoughts because of her actions.

She just pushed.

You will be happy sooner or later, so why can't you be happy earlier?

Xuan Yue had a very difficult life in the past, and she still had to do a lot of things for him in the future. Now, he was being scolded to death by people from all walks of life in the court, as well as ordinary people and scholars.

Even the Xuan family and Grand Tutor Xuan were implicated.

In this case, what's wrong with giving Xuan Yue some sweetness?

Xiao Ji naturally listened to Xie Yao in everything. He had no objection to this matter in the first place, and now after listening to Xie Yao's clear and logical explanation, he had even less objection.

Instead, he praised her, "Yaoyao is wise and virtuous. Yaoyao is truly worthy of being the most virtuous queen in the world."

When Xie Yao heard this, she couldn't help but glare at Xiao Ji again. Can he speak?

The New Year holiday was over, but the festive atmosphere was still there, and Xie Yao, Xiao Ji, and the court officials all started to get busy.

Some preparatory work for the election of female officials was done before the New Year, and the grassroots selection has also been completed.

In fact, the selection at the grassroots level is somewhat redundant.

After all, there are not many families who can afford to send their daughters to school, and even fewer families who are willing to teach their daughters to study more.

The female officials selected this time were either daughters of civil officials or daughters of wealthy businessmen. Some were teachers, great scholars, and the like.

There are not many people.

After the New Year, these people arrived in the capital one after another to take part in the final examination. The already bustling capital became even more lively because of this.

This was the first time in the world that a female official was elected. It had been discussed since the beginning of the year. The only time the popularity dropped slightly was before the New Year when news came that the Zhenbei Army had won another victory.

Xie Yao and Xiao Ji were listening to Xuan Yue and Xuan Shu's report on this matter.

Xie Yao naturally entrusted the selection of female officials to these two people. Needless to say, Xuan Yue and Xuan Shu were both capable and did their job properly and steadily.

"Your Majesty, the students on the roster have arrived in the capital one after another and have checked into the inn as you instructed."

Since they were all women, Xie Yao naturally had to consider more, such as preparing an inn for them. Of course, they still had to pay for the room themselves.

However, these candidates all come from wealthy families and naturally have no shortage of this money.

If someone really has no money, Xie Yao also told Xuan Yue that he could borrow it first.

After all, these candidates are people with real talents and knowledge.

Because it was the Queen Mother's personal order, even if some of the candidates were spoiled and felt that the inn was too small, they did not dare to make a fuss and were all very well behaved.

Xie Yao was very satisfied.

She instructed: "Have someone guard these inns and don't let any accidents happen!" There are many people who want to make trouble in the selection of female officials this time, and she must not let these people get the chance.

This selection of female officials, just like the Xuan Yue and Xuan Shu incidents, is a milestone.

As long as you succeed this time, the next time will be a natural progression.

If something goes wrong this time, whatever you want to do next time... will only be more difficult.

Xie Yao is not interested in challenging the limits; she wants everything to be settled smoothly and smoothly.

"Yes."

Xuan Yue and Xuan Shu responded at the same time, "Please rest assured, Your Majesty."

Xuan Shu added, "Your Majesty, Lord Xuan has moved to the inn these days!"

When Xuan Shu spoke, she was naturally not talking about herself, but Xuan Yue.

Xie Yao hadn't expected Xuan Yue to achieve such a feat, and she was immediately relieved. Xuan Yue's status was vastly different from that of the other examinees.

When those candidates go out now, the most common addresses they receive are "daughter of so-and-so" or "sister of so-and-so".

But Xuan Yue is Lord Xuan, an official appointed by the court.

With Xuan Yue around, the people below will definitely pay more attention to those inns.

Xie Yao looked at Xuan Yue with admiration in her eyes, "Thank you for your hard work, Master Xuan. You have done a great job."

"But there are many people in the inn, so Lord Xuan should be careful."

However, Xuan Yue was not an examiner this time, nor was he responsible for setting the questions, so he was able to stay in the inn. Otherwise, he would have to keep a sufficient distance or even be isolated.

Xuan Yue originally just wanted to do things quietly and didn't want to "show off" in front of the Queen Mother. Now that Xuan Shu had exposed her, he felt a little embarrassed.

But she soon returned to normal, "I will follow the Queen's orders."

The Spring Examination in previous years was scheduled for February, and this year's female official examination will also be held in February. As for the venue, the examination hall used for the Spring Examination in previous years was used.

Xuan Shu is responsible for inspection and maintenance.

After reporting on Xuan Yue's situation, it was Xuan Shu's turn to talk about the examination hall. She had pondered this on the way here, and now she said, "Your Majesty, the examination hall conditions are difficult, and it's a cold snap in February. Every year, there are candidates who fall seriously ill after taking the exam."

But if the examination hall cannot be opened before the time comes, even if he dies of illness inside, that is his fate.

Those who can pass the imperial examination rarely study hard in seclusion. They have to travel around and understand current affairs before they can cope with the imperial examination.

Those people couldn't hold on, let alone the little girl who usually never leaves the house?

It would be fine if it was a sunny day, but if it unfortunately rained, Xuanshu was worried that something serious would happen.

Xie Yao had also thought about this, but she had already done a lot for this. If she continued to give female officials convenience in assessment, it would probably make people even more dissatisfied.

Fortunately, during the special examination last year, Xie Yao and Xiao Ji had paid attention to the requirements of the imperial examination.

We have made some improvements under the previous conditions, and it is not surprising to make some improvements now.

Xie Yao discussed this matter with Xuan Shu for a while, and then sighed: "A good body is very important."

Even if you have a lot of knowledge, what good will it be if you can’t pass the exam?

All she can do is try to improve the conditions, but it has always been the Spring Examination, she can't change it, right?

Every season has its own problems.

Xuan Yue said: "Your Majesty has already done a lot, and these still need to be done step by step."

One bite won't make you fat.

Being able to take this step now is a great encouragement for them.

Xie Yao nodded and said, "Go and arrange it."

Xuan Yue and Xuan Shu then withdrew.

In the blink of an eye, it was February and the time for the female official examination had arrived. On the day of the examination, Xie Yao went to the examination room in person.

In fact, not many people took part in the female official examination this time.

Xie Yao had already looked at the list in advance. There weren't many people coming to see them off for the exam today, but there were many people coming to watch the fun.

Amidst the hustle and bustle, the clear singing and chorus instantly quieted the originally noisy environment.

"The Queen has arrived——"

Everyone knelt down immediately, not daring to look up. They could only vaguely see the bright yellow phoenix chariot coming towards them.

The road was cleared, and Xie Yao arrived at the entrance of the Imperial Examination Hall without any obstruction.

At this moment, everything is ready, including the female general who has verified her identity, the candidates who have taken the examination, and their families who have sent them to the examination... They are just waiting for the time to come to officially enter the Imperial Examination Hall.

But at this moment everyone was a little excited.

No one expected that the Queen would come in person, and no one had heard any news about it beforehand.

"No gift."

Everyone felt that the Queen's voice was majestic yet also somewhat friendly, "I am not the protagonist today."

"Today is the day for the female official examination. I believe that all candidates have made sufficient preparations over the past few days. Now is the time to verify it."

"I hope all the candidates will calm down, exert their full strength, and submit satisfactory answers."

"After the exam, your papers will be reviewed by me and His Majesty. I hope you all will live up to yourselves."

There wasn't much truth in Xie Yao's words; they were just pure encouragement. However, the examinees present were so excited after hearing them that they wanted to write ten masterpieces right away!

"Thank you, Queen." Everyone thanked her in unison, their voices filled with an indomitable and vigorous momentum.

Momentum is very important, and Xie Yao's presence today and her words today are tantamount to boosting the morale of today's candidates.

Not only the candidates taking the exam came today, but also many scholars in Beijing came, naturally to watch the fun.

Especially those who participated in the protest a few days ago, naturally came today to see what the female official examination that the Queen insisted on holding was like.

They were jealous when the Queen came in person.

After all, His Majesty has never been present in person at any of the previous imperial examinations.

The Queen Mother's encouragement made them even more jealous.

The Queen then said that the Emperor and Empress would personally review the answer sheets of today's candidates, and these people were almost jealous to death.

How could the imperial examinations of the past have been treated like this? With thousands upon thousands of examination papers, how could the emperor and empress have the time to review them all?

In other words, only the test papers that have been selected by the chief examiner can appear before Your Majesty.

The Queen is so kind to these people.

Boom!

At this moment, the sound of the bell rang, telling everyone that the time had come and they could enter the Imperial Examination Hall.

Xie Yao raised her lips and said, "Go ahead."

She did not leave in a hurry, but waited for the candidates to enter the examination hall one by one.

In the past, the imperial examinations required public body searches, and all belongings were checked to see if anyone was carrying anything to cheat.

Since they were all women, it was impossible to search them in public, so several tents were set up at the entrance of the Imperial Examination Hall.

The tents were filled with female generals who had served under the eldest princess in the past. As for which tent to enter for a body search, it was a random check on the spot, and every time ten people were searched, the female generals in the tent would be replaced.

Eliminate all possibilities of cheating.

Xie Yao sat on the phoenix chariot, waiting until the last candidate entered the gate of the Imperial Examination Hall and the gate was closed.

Only then did he order his men to return to the palace.

"Arise!" As soon as the eunuch spoke, the surrounding students and common people knelt down again, "Respectfully send off the Empress."

The phoenix chariot traveled for a while, and a figure appeared on it. He sat next to Xie Yao through layers of gauze curtains.

Xie Yao bent down and held the chin of the person in front of her with her hand, as if she was looking at his appearance.

Finally, he said with satisfaction: "Not bad, you will stay by my side and serve me from now on."

Xiao Ji let Xie Yao do what she wanted, and said with a smile, "Thank you, Madam, for your kindness."

Xiao Ji wanted to come along today, but he didn't want to steal Xie Yao's limelight, so he disguised himself as a guard and hid among the accompanying guards.

Firstly, he was reluctant to be separated from Xie Yao for such a long time, and secondly, he was worried that someone would take this opportunity to harm Xie Yao.

Xie Yao said, "Your Majesty, I told you, there will be no danger."

Of course, she would not act rashly. Her trip today was sudden and the news had not been leaked. Naturally, no one would have expected her to show up and make any preparations in advance.

In addition, she also made arrangements around her, so there were definitely enough people to protect her.

Xiao Ji said: "Drive carefully--"

Before he could finish his words, he suddenly pounced on Xie Yao, hugged her and rolled around on the soft carpet in the sedan.

call out--

There was a sound of breaking through the air, and a feather arrow was shot to the place where Xie Yao had just sat. The arrow head sank into the chair, and the tail feathers were still trembling.

The crowd outside the sedan chair was already in an uproar.

"assassin!"

"Escort!"

Everyone started to move, in a chaotic yet orderly manner. Some people guarded the sedan chair, while others chased in the direction from which the arrow came.

But there was only one arrow, no other movement.

Si Nan led the team personally and quickly caught the person.

After a narrow escape, the sedan continued to move towards the palace. Xiao Ji stepped forward, pulled out the feather arrow from the chair, threw it out, and someone picked it up immediately.

"Investigate, investigate thoroughly." Xiao Ji's voice was extremely cold. "I want to see who dares to assassinate me right under my nose!"

The target of the assassination was the queen.

But Xiao Ji took the matter over directly.

He couldn't bear to be criticized, saying that his queen acted improperly and that was why she was hunted down. If anyone wanted to say anything, just say it, he didn't care!

Although everyone didn't know why the emperor suddenly appeared in the empress's sedan chair, they all agreed and immediately made arrangements.

Back at the Yangxin Palace, Si Nan had already interrogated the man and was reporting back.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, this man must be the assassin from Northern Frontier. He said all this was for Northern Frontier."

Xiao Ji sneered, "It seems that those people not only murdered the two Xuan Lords and assassinated the Queen, but also colluded with the Northern Frontier."

For the northern border?

If he is really from Northern Frontier, he should be the one to be assassinated.

He was sure that the one who took action... was the Xia people!

Xiao Ji raised his hand and frowned, then asked, "Has the assassination attempt on the two Xuan Lords not been investigated yet?"

Si Nan said, "There has been no progress yet." He was not responsible for this matter. If there was any news, Lord Zhao and Lord Wu would have come to report it long ago.

Xiao Ji said, "Let's investigate it together with today's incident."

"Also," Xiao Ji reminded, "check the post station to see if there has been any unusual contact recently."

When Xiao Ning left the capital, coupled with the incident with Hu Yanyuan... the Northern Frontier assassins in the capital had already suffered a fatal blow, and there should be very few left.

He didn't think that the officials of Xia State who had a grudge against Xie Yao could command these people.

These people must have had connections with Northern Xinjiang or people from Northern Xinjiang, which is why they contacted these undercover assassins.

Even if there is no evidence, he must investigate thoroughly!

Today's assassination happened in broad daylight, and Xie Yao stayed outside the palace long enough, so many people came to see the queen.

Seeing the assassination, many people were talking about it. However, the assassin was caught on the spot, which was a great relief to everyone.

Xiao Ji was furious. Many people came in and out of the Yangxin Palace at once, making the entire imperial palace look more majestic and solemn.

The servants below didn't dare to breathe, for fear of angering the emperor and empress and causing their wrath to be taken out on them.

After all the instructions were given, only Xie Yao and Xiao Ji were left in the Yangxin Palace. Xie Yao then looked at Xiao Ji and said softly, "Your Majesty is wise. I was not thoughtful enough today..."