In the spacious and grand reception hall of the The Palace of the State of Liang, a special gathering is being prepared.
Empress Zhao Qinglan has decided to seek a suitable candidate from the top scholars of the imperial examination, including the champion, second place, and third place, hoping to find a talented and virtuous match for her daughter Xiao Yuelan.
The spring sunlight shines through the window lattice, sprinkling onto the exquisite carpet. The entire reception room is decorated extremely magnificently, with not only rare floral arrangements, but also exquisite paintings and scrolls. Every detail displays the grandeur of the palace.
On that day, the top three young talent of the imperial examination arrived at the palace one after another. Some wore official robes, while others were dressed as scholars, each exuding an air of dignity and possessing profound knowledge.
Chao Qinglan and Xiao Yuelan sat in the high seats, ready to witness the talent of these young talent firsthand.
The top scholar is a young student named Chen Ming, who presented an academic report on ancient philosophy.
His words are sharp, and his understanding of Confucianism and Daoist philosophy has left every listener in awe.
The second-place winner is a talented poet named Liu Yun, who chose to recite his poetry on the spot. As his verses echoed through the hall with his voice, every word and every line was filled with profound imagery and intense emotions, allowing people to experience the poet's unique worldview.
Third place, also known as Wang Yi, is an artist skilled in calligraphy and painting. He showcased a landscape painting on site, accompanied by his own calligraphy. His fluent and powerful brushstrokes, as well as his unique understanding of natural beauty, moved everyone present.
Xiao Yuelan sat quietly on the side, observing. She admired the talent of these young people, but still felt some hesitation and uncertainty in her heart.
Although these young men each have their own strengths, she still couldn't find that feeling similar to Li Yu that could touch her deeply in their hearts.
After the performance, Chao Qinglan carefully observed her daughter's expression and found that although Xiao Yuelan expressed polite admiration for these talented young men, there was a lack of a certain radiance in her eyes. Chao Qinglan understood in her heart that this attempt seemed to have failed to touch her daughter's heartstrings.
That evening, Chao Qinglan had a deep conversation with Xiao Yuelan. Xiao Yuelan confessed her thoughts, saying, "Mother, these imperial examination scholars are undoubtedly talented individuals, but I don't feel a spark for any of them or Li Yu."
After hearing her daughter's confession, Chao Qinglan felt a mix of emotions but mostly felt relieved by her daughter's mature thoughts. She gently held Xiao Yuelan's hand and softly said, " Yuelan, I am glad to hear your thoughts. Life is a long journey, and having a true understanding and supportive partner is far more important than external achievements. I will support your choice, whoever you ultimately choose, as long as it comes from your true feelings."
Under the encouragement of Chao Qinglan, Xiao Yuelan decided to follow her heart and search for her true love. She began to delve deeper into understanding each young talent, not just their talents and achievements, but more importantly, their character and inner world.
As time passed, Xiao Yuelan had more in-depth interactions with several young talents. She found that although each of them had their own strengths and characteristics, there was always a voice in her heart telling her that the person she was looking for, the one who could touch her soul deeply, seemed to not be among these people.
In the depths of the palace in Liang Kindom, a spacious and magnificent hall is illuminated by dazzling golden lights. Intricate carvings and embroidery intertwine, showcasing the royal wealth and dignity.
The hall was filled with the fragrance of incense, and exquisite porcelain and ancient books were placed on several tables, showcasing the profound and vast culture of Liang Kindom.
At this moment, Xiao Yan was sitting on the dragon throne, with a slight frown on his brow, gazing intensely at the several ministers in front of him. He was handsome and extraordinary, and the dragon robe he wore was embroidered with nine golden dragons, majestic and sacred.
Xiao Hong stands before His Majesty, though only thirty-six years old, he has already shown extraordinary temperament and wisdom. His face carries a cautious smile, and his eyes sparkle with intelligence and vigilance. Last year, due to his exposure of the palace conspiracy, Xiao Yan has shown him special favor, rewarding him generously and greatly increasing his position in the court.
Xiao Yan speaks, " Xiao Hong, you have achieved merit once again this time, and naturally, I will not be stingy with rewards. However, you should also know that the court is not a child's play. Every decision is related to the rise and fall of Liang Kindom. What are your plans for the future?"
Xiao Hong respectfully replied, "I thank His Majesty for his favor. I am aware of my shortcomings in the court and am willing to study deeply and continuously strive to contribute my strength to the prosperity and strength of Liang Kindom."
Xiao Yan nodded, a hint of satisfaction in his eyes, then changed the subject, "There have been rumors in the court recently that your actions are becoming increasingly arrogant. What is the reason for this?"
Xiao Hong was surprised in her heart, but her expression remained unchanged: "Your Majesty, I know that as a member of the royal family, I should be more cautious in my actions. If there is any wrongdoing, I will correct it immediately."
Xiao Yan looked deeply at Xiao Hong, as if trying to see through her thoughts: "I hope you remember that members of the royal family are the standard bearers of the country. Your every word and action represents the image of Liang Kindom. I have high expectations for you, so do not disappoint me."
Xiao Hong felt great pressure and quickly kowtowed, saying, "I will always remember the Emperor's teachings and will not disappoint the Emperor's high expectations."
At this moment, a palace maid hurriedly entered and whispered to Xiao Yan, "Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager requests an audience."
Xiao Yan smiled slightly and said, " Xiao Hong, you may leave first. I will go see your queen sister now."
After Xiao Hong left, she turned away with a hint of loneliness in her eyes.
When he was still young, Chao Qinglan often visited their the Xiao Family, at that time he still came as a man and got along well with them.
He has always gotten along well with these younger brothers of the Xiao Family, until later when Chao Qinglan changed back to a daughter's identity and married the elder brother Xiao Yan, although it is still the same person, there is still some distance, unlike before.
On the other side, Xiao Yan entered the warm fragrance room connected to Chao Qinglan, which felt warmer and more intimate compared to the cold imperial study.
Chao Qinglan sat in front of the exquisite rosewood dressing table. When Xiao Yan entered, she smiled gently, radiating a beautiful glow.
"Your Majesty, you're here," Chao Qinglan spoke with a gentle voice like water, setting down the comb in her hand and walking towards Xiao Yan.
Xiao Yan took a step forward and gently asked, " Lan'er, what brings you to me today?"
Chao Qinglan showed a hint of concern on her pretty face: "It's about Yuelan and Li Yu. You know, since that gathering, they have been spending more time together. But I've noticed that Yuelan only sees Li Yu as a friend and hasn't developed any deeper feelings for him."
Xiao Yan pondered for a moment before slowly speaking, " Lan'er, I also have some insight into Yuelan's feelings. Li Yu is indeed a talented and virtuous young man, but love cannot be forced. Perhaps we should give Yuelan more time and space to feel and choose for herself."
Chao Qinglan nodded, a hint of gratitude flashing in her eyes. "Your Majesty, you are right. I also believe that Yuelan should seek her own happiness. But as a mother, I always worry about her future."
" Lan'er, Yuelan is exceptionally intelligent and will surely find her happiness. As parents, the most important thing is to give her support and trust," Xiao Yan comforted gently.
Chao Qinglan spoke with a hint of satisfaction in her tone, "Shouldn't we give them more opportunities to let this affection develop naturally?"
Xiao Yan fell silent for a moment, then nodded: "In that case, let's make some arrangements to give them more opportunities to interact. But everything should be natural, without being too forceful."
Chao Qinglan smiled and agreed. She knew that Xiao Yan was always cautious, especially when it came to family matters. Getting his approval was the best outcome.
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