Chapter 704 - 482: Consort Ming, Flushed with Success

Chapter 704: Chapter 482: Consort Ming, Flushed with Success

"The Imperial Physician said that although her life is not in danger, her constitution has been damaged. She’ll need a lot of rest to recover," Feng Yunjin said, shaking her head.

Song Yunzhao nodded slightly. "Have the Imperial Hospital give her the best treatment. She must make a full recovery."

Feng Yunjin acknowledged the order and departed.

Noble Lady Qin didn’t wake for a full two days. When she finally opened her eyes, she saw someone sitting by her bed, leaning against the bed curtains and dozing with half-closed eyes.

A gentle breeze rustled the curtains, brushing a strand of hair across the sleeping woman’s face. Du Wanneng reached up to brush her forehead, sweeping the hair aside.

The tickling sensation woke Du Wanneng. She opened her eyes and found herself looking right into Qin Xiaoyin’s. She jumped up in a flash of delight. "Xiao Yin, you’re awake?"

Du Wanneng’s face was overflowing with joy. A pang of emotion hit Qin Xiaoyin as she looked at her. "How long have you been here? You even fell asleep."

"Not long," Du Wanneng replied, then quickly asked, "Are you feeling uncomfortable anywhere?"

Qin Xiaoyin said, a little embarrassed, "I’m a bit hungry."

Du Wanneng said, "You’ve been asleep for two days, it’d be strange if you weren’t hungry. I’ll have someone bring you the congee. It’s been kept warm on the stove, just in case you were hungry when you woke up."

Du Wanneng hurried out, and Qin Xiaoyin stared blankly at the canopy of her bed.

News of Noble Lady Qin’s awakening reached Yun Zhao. She asked Nanny Yu, "Now that she’s awake, is it clear how she was poisoned?"

Consort Shu and Princess Consort Zhuang had previously questioned her attendants, but they couldn’t get any useful information. The palace attendants knew nothing, each one clueless about what had happened.

With the Palace Justice Department overseeing the questioning, it was clear the attendants weren’t lying.

The only way to find out was to ask Qin Xiaoyin herself once she woke up.

"Noble Lady Qin said she saw a plant in the Imperial Garden with berries that looked like black pearls. She found it interesting, so she picked the berries and brought them back. They looked delicious, so she ate a few."

"Have they found the plant?"

"They have. It wasn’t planted by the gardeners. It’s some kind of wildflower that was growing amidst a patch of Dragon Hollyhock. It looked like Dragon Hollyhock, which is why the gardeners didn’t notice it."

"So you’re saying it was an accident?" Song Yunzhao asked.

Nanny Yu nodded. "It seems so for now. The steward of the Imperial Garden has been implicated and ordered to begin clearing out the garden’s plants to ensure nothing like this ever happens again."

Song Yunzhao furrowed her brow slightly. ’If that’s what Qin Xiaoyin says, then it seems it really was an accident.’

Since it was an accident, Song Yunzhao didn’t pursue the matter further. She simply had Nanny Yu send some restorative medicinal herbs to Noble Lady Qin and left it at that.

The metropolitan examination was imminent, and she couldn’t be bothered with the affairs of an Honorable Lady. Now that it was confirmed to be an accident, the matter was closed.

However, Song Yunzhao’s years of experience as a ’supporting female character’ made her cautious. She had Zhang Maoquan secretly keep an eye on any developments related to Noble Lady Qin.

This year’s chief examiner was from the Hanlin Academy; neither the faction of the Left Minister nor the Right Minister managed to secure the position.

The Song Family first sent Song Bu Yue to the examination hall. The exam lasted for three consecutive days, and Song Yunzhao waited for news in the palace, unsure of the outcome.

When the examination hall posted the list of successful candidates, the Song Family couldn’t find Song Bu Yue’s name on it. He had failed again.

When Song Yunzhao heard the news, she was silent for a moment, but she didn’t seem too surprised.

What did surprise Song Yunzhao was that after seeing the other Song Family candidates off to the metropolitan examination, Song Bu Yue immediately went south to continue his studies, not even planning to stay in the Capital City for the new year.

The First Madam sighed and said, "The boy left in such a hurry. Third Sister-in-law was so angry she fell ill. She wanted him to get married before going back to his studies, but Bu Yue is acting as if he’s possessed. He won’t listen to a single word."

Song Yunzhao asked, "What was Father’s opinion?"

"Of course, Third Brother is happy that his son is ambitious. Since he made his decision, he had someone escort him back to the academy." The First Madam looked at Yun Zhao, hesitating, but finally said, "Regarding this, your Eldest Uncle also thinks he should get married before continuing his studies."

"Since Father agreed, and Song Bu Yue is no longer a child, he must bear the consequences of his own decisions. With such determination, he’ll likely achieve a good result next time." Song Yunzhao now saw Song Bu Yue in a new, more impressive light.

Hearing no objection from Yun Zhao, the First Madam added, "I hope that this time when he goes back, he’ll learn his lesson and gain more experience. He’ll surely pass next time."

In ancient times, it wasn’t uncommon for people to spend their entire lives trying to become an Advanced Scholar and never succeed.

However, Song Bu Yue’s teacher was a renowned scholar, and he himself was willing to study hard. Perhaps he really would succeed next time.

With Song Bu Yue’s failure, many of the Song Family’s rivals in the Capital City were delighted. Everyone’s attention then turned back to the metropolitan examination.

In the blink of an eye, it was the day the results of the metropolitan examination were announced. Of the three Song Family members who participated, Song Buchang and Song Buming were on the list. Their names were ranked quite high, indicating excellent results. However, Song Boqian had failed. Second Madam Song was deeply disappointed, and this time, Second Young Master Song took a firm stance, packing his son off to join Song Bu Yue.

He was to study hard for another three years. If he failed again, he would have to help manage the family’s affairs and would not be allowed to take the exam again.

After the metropolitan examination came the palace examination.

This time, no Song descendant placed in the top three. However, both Song Buchang and Song Buming were ranked within the top twenty, which was still an outstanding achievement.

Song Yunzhao did the mental calculation. ’They didn’t win first, second, or third place in the imperial examination, but they placed in the top twenty nationwide. Isn’t that good enough?’

In particular, Song Buming made it into the top ten, performing exceptionally well—even better than Song Buchang.

Aunt Che was so happy she nearly went mad. Upon hearing the good news, her eyes rolled back and she fainted.

Aunt Che’s fainting was the complete opposite of Mrs. Cai’s. Human joys and sorrows are truly different; one fainted from joy, the other from anger.

But if you had to say who was the proudest, it was undoubtedly Song Jinxuan.

Her younger brother had placed in the nation’s top ten, and her husband had also just barely passed to become an Advanced Scholar, narrowly avoiding the lesser rank of Presented Scholar. It was a close call.

She was practically beaming, looking utterly triumphant.

Next came the assignment of official posts. Song Buming decided to take the examination to become a scholar at the Hanlin Academy, while Song Buchang chose the same path as his eldest brother: an appointment outside the capital.

The examination for the academy scholar position was not easy, but Song Buming’s results were formidable, and he passed.

Song Yunzhao was also beaming. With the Song Family producing one talented person after another, her and her son’s positions would become increasingly secure. As long as she kept the Song Family from getting complacent or making a misstep, their standing would be stable for decades to come.

Seeing Song Yunzhao looking so animated and delighted, Feng Yi chuckled. "You’re that happy?"

"Of course I am." Song Yunzhao leaned against Feng Yi, looking up at him and speaking with great sincerity. "If not for you, Your Majesty, the Song Family would never be where they are today."

"They forged this path themselves through their studies. What does it have to do with me?"

"How could it have nothing to do with you? It is precisely because of the confidence you give me, the confidence you give the Song Family, that they are able to press forward without fear." Song Yunzhao hugged Feng Yi tightly and said softly.

Although their feelings for each other were already very deep, she could never pass up an opportunity to curry favor.

Her words clearly pleased Feng Yi. The look he gave Yun Zhao was so full of adoration it could drown a person.