Chapter 292 The talented girl Li Qingzhao of the Song Dynasty
"My dear friends, I have called you here today to discuss something."
Lu Yihao and Zhu Shengfei looked at each other, feeling confused in their hearts.
Her Royal Highness the Princess has always been resolute, but this time she did not directly get to the point. Instead, she asked about a person who seemed to have nothing to do with government affairs.
"Master Lu, how much do you know about Zhang Ruzhou?" Zhao Yingluo asked.
Lu Yihao was stunned for a moment, and then replied: "Zhang Ruzhou is from Gui'an, Zhejiang Province. He served as a minor official in the Chiyang Army in his early years. He was born in a poor family. Although he did not have great achievements after becoming an official, he did not have any major faults."
"Oh? What's so special about him?" Zhao Yingluo continued to ask.
"The special thing..." Lu Yihao pondered for a moment, "His current wife is the talented Li Qingzhao."
"Li Qingzhao?" Zhao Yingluo raised her eyebrows slightly, "So it's her."
Zhu Shengfei also looked surprised, "Your Highness the Princess also knows about Li Qingzhao?"
Zhao Yingluo smiled softly, "Who knows the name of a talented woman? I just didn't expect that she would marry Zhang Ruzhou." At this point, a trace of complicated emotions flashed through her eyes, thinking that she had made Li Qingzhao miserable in his later years. It was actually him.
Zhao Yingluo took a deep breath to calm down. She handed the list Wen Boyuan presented to her to Lu Yihao, "Master Lu, look at this."
Lu Yihao took the paper and saw a detailed list on it. The officials suspected of corruption and the scholars who bought their jobs were clearly visible. His expression suddenly became solemn, "Your Highness, this is..."
"This is the scientific examination fraud list that Wen Boyuan gave me." Zhao Yingluo's voice was cold. "The people recorded on it are all those suspected of corruption and fraud in this scientific examination."
Zhu Shengfei also came over to look at the list, and was so shocked that he was speechless.
He knew most of the names on the list, and some were even officials he had personally promoted.
After Lu Yihao read the list, his face instantly turned pale. He knelt down suddenly and said, "Your Royal Highness, my lax governance has led to such a scandal. I am willing to take the blame!"
Zhao Yingluo looked at Lu Yihao's actions. Although she was angry in her heart, she also understood that he could not be entirely blamed for this matter. She took a deep breath and said, "Master Lu, get up and speak."
Lu Yihao stood up, but still lowered his head and did not dare to look into the princess's eyes.
Zhu Shengfei also felt scared. If the princess had not discovered and dealt with the matter in time, I am afraid that the entire court would have been implicated.
"The behavior of these scholars and officials is really outrageous." Zhao Yingluo's voice revealed endless disappointment and anger, "They not only tarnished the fairness of the imperial examination, but also tarnished the reputation of the imperial court. If this matter is not taken strictly, How can the common people be so angry and upright?”
Lu Yihao and Zhu Shengfei responded in unison, "What Her Royal Highness the Princess said is absolutely true."
"When the list is released tomorrow," a trace of determination flashed in Zhao Yingluo's eyes, "all these scholars suspected of fraud will fail the list. At the same time, make this list public so that everyone in the world can see their ugly face."
"Yes!" Lu Yihao and Zhu Shengfei responded in unison.
Lu Yihao looked at the princess in front of him and couldn't help but feel respectful.
He asked in a deep voice: "Your Highness, how did you learn about Zhang Ruzhou's corruption?"
Zhao Yingluo smiled softly, with a cunning light flashing in her eyes, "You have your own way to be alone." She paused, and then said: "A few days ago, the orphan girl dressed up as a man and went to Chunfang, a brothel in the city. Garden.”
"Brother?" Lu Yihao and Zhu Shengfei exclaimed at the same time, obviously surprised by the princess's behavior. "Exactly." Zhao Yingluo nodded, "In Chunfang Garden, I accidentally ran into Zhang Ruzhou and other officials having secret conversations with the candidates. They were cheating on the candidates, and even sold the Jinshi quota at a clear price."
Zhao Yingluo briefly explained the whole process.
After hearing this, Lu Yihao's face became even paler, "I am really ashamed that my lax governance allowed such a scandal to happen under my nose."
"Master Lu, you don't have to blame yourself too much." Zhao Yingluo comforted, "This has happened. What we have to do now is to make up for it as much as possible."
Zhu Shengfei also sighed: "Her Royal Highness the Princess is really wise and powerful, and she was able to personally investigate such a major corruption case."
"It's just a coincidence." Zhao Yingluo said lightly, "Now, Gu has arranged for Wen Boyuan to deal with the relevant people involved. Mr. Lu, Mr. Zhu, you only need to eliminate the qualifications of those candidates who have cheated when the results are announced tomorrow. That’s it.”
"Yes, Your Highness Princess." Lu Yihao and Zhu Shengfei responded in unison.
After the two left, Zhao Yingluo thought for a moment, and then ordered Wang Shouen, the chamberlain, to prepare the carriage and horses, "I want to go to Zhang Ruzhou's mansion."
"Your Highness Princess, are you going to visit Zhang Ruzhou?" Wang Shouen asked in surprise.
"No," Zhao Yingluo smiled slightly, "I just want to visit his wife, Li Qingzhao."
Zhao Yingluo stood at the door of the hall, looking into the distance. She had some expectations in her heart. After all, before traveling to this era, she had only seen Li Qingzhao's name and poems in school books. Now that she had the opportunity to see this talented woman in person, how could she not be excited?
The carriages and horses were quickly prepared, and Zhao Yingluo took several guards and Wang Shouen to Zhang Ruzhou's mansion. On the way, she couldn't help but think of Li Qingzhao's popular poems, and her admiration for this talented woman became stronger in her heart.
Arriving at the door of Zhang Ruzhou's mansion, Wang Shou'en took a step forward and said to the servant guarding the door: "Her Royal Highness the Princess has arrived. Go and inform your mistress immediately."
When the servant heard that the princess was arriving, he was frightened and hurriedly knelt down and kowtowed, "I didn't know that the princess was coming, so I missed you from a distance. Please forgive me, princess." After saying this, he hurriedly got up and ran into the mansion to deliver the message.
After a while, a slightly older middle-aged woman appeared in front of Zhao Yingluo.
She was wearing a simple dress, but her unique temperament could not be concealed. After seeing Zhao Yingluo, she hurriedly saluted, "My wife, Li Qingzhao, is late to welcome you. Please forgive me, Princess."
Zhao Yingluo stared at Li Qingzhao in front of her, filled with emotions.
This was the talented woman she had read about countless times in books, the heroic woman who wrote "A hero in life, a hero in death".
Although she looks older now, she can still see her charm from back then.
Because she was so focused on looking at Li Qingzhao, Zhao Yingluo temporarily forgot to let her lie flat.
Wang Shou'en saw this and reminded in a low voice: "Your Highness, Mrs. Zhang is still saluting."
Only then did Zhao Yingluo come to her senses and hurriedly said: "Mrs. Zhang, please get up."
Li Qingzhao stood up and looked up at Zhao Yingluo. The moment the two people's eyes met, there seemed to be a tacit understanding that spanned thousands of years flowing in the air.
Zhao Yingluo smiled slightly, stretched out her hand to help Li Qingzhao up, "Mrs. Zhang, I have always admired your talent. It is a blessing to see you in person today."
Li Qingzhao also smiled and said, "Your Highness the Princess has given you too much praise. I am just a member of the female class. It is truly a blessing to be valued so much by Your Highness the Princess."
The two looked at each other and smiled as if they had been friends for many years.
Zhao Yingluo sighed secretly: This is the charm of a talented woman. Even though the years have left traces on her face, her temperament and talent are still impressive.
