Chapter 464: She Lost Another Game of Chess
The weeping willows by the river had sprouted and were hanging on the banks with a myriad of twinkling lights blowing gently against the river breeze.
On the river, decorated with fire and starlight, sparkling and refracted, it looked like an underground river full of stars.
Feng Qingbai led Liu Yusheng out of the carriage. Along with the surrounding pairs of young men and women, they strolled on the river bank, enjoying the spring night breeze and watching the spring night river scene.
Relishing on that feeling that only each other could understand.
”The Beauty General Election will be in a few days.” Liu Yusheng hooked his finger and bit her lip. “Feng Qingbai, do you already have a way to deal with it?”
Her name was also on the roster of beauties of Consort Liu.
Feng Qingbai looked sideways and smiled. “Don’t worry, your name won’t appear on there again.”
”Why?” Feng Qingbai hadn’t done anything yet, so how could Dowager Consort Liu give up on her schemes?
”Because you’re now the Disaster Relief Ambassador in Yunzhou, and you have gathered countless gifts from the people.”
Liu Yusheng immediately said, “Prestige?”
”Fame.” He clasped her unruly fingers and interlocked them with his. “A divine doctor who has saved countless people; a good person who has relieved the worries of the affected people; if such a woman is trapped in the harem, the people of the world won’t agree.”
”That’s why you and Xiao Feng’er drafted that imperial decree from the very start. Are you creating momentum for me?”
Feng Qingbai nodded. “Although I haven’t achieved what I wanted for the time being, it’s enough to deal with Consort Liu.”
”Consort Liu is the person who presides over the Beauty General Election. If she is bent on having me enter the palace, the people will hate the Liu family and deem them shameless. The most fearful thing for a ruler is to lose the hearts of the people. If she thinks about the big picture, she will definitely not dare to make things difficult for me again.” Liu Yusheng understood everything.
”Shengsheng’s smart,” he praised her.
Liu Yusheng wrinkled her small nose. “How can I compare to Your Highness in cleverness? You’ve devised strategies under your tent, and everything is all under your control.”
When she was just starting out, he had already calculated the next ten steps.
She was akin to an insignificant witch in the presence of a great sage.
She dared not show her incompetence, ah.
The man chuckled, accepting her sour compliment completely.
The lake breeze blew occasionally, swinging the weeping willow, and messing up the hair on the girl’s cheeks.
On the spring night in the capital, there was still a slight chill, and he noticed the girl shivering slightly. He took her into his arms, opened his robe and covered her in it.
Ignoring the sideways glances cast by men and women passing by, they embraced each other like this, quietly looking at the river, looking at the lights on the other side of the river, and savoring the tranquility that belonged to them alone.
The Qingning Palace, a dozen miles away, was extremely restless at this time.
”What did you say?” Consort Liu was reclining indolently inside the room, but when she heard the shadow guard in front of her, she abruptly sat up, and her indifferent face turned gloomy in an instant.
”Public opinion has reached the skies, and it will reach the Emperor’s ears in at most two days. Ruyi County Lady, Liu Yusheng, is a kind and benevolent doctor. During the disaster in Yunzhou, she saved countless people with her own strength, and she did not use a single cent from the court to solve the worries of the people’s woes. Supported by all the people, we collectively express our gratitude and urge His Majesty to commend her. Ruyi County Lady fully deserves the titles benevolent and righteous. “
The man who spoke was tall, with a black cloak wrapped around him. The corner of his chin that was exposed under the brim of his wide hat was a mask.
”Public opinion? What public opinion! What people’s support! How ridiculous!” Dowager Consort Liu gritted her teeth with cold glints in her eyes. “Find a way to cut off the petition for me!”
”I can’t stop it. The King of Nanling’s men and soldiers escorted the petition in three directions. I don’t know which way the petition has taken. Moreover, His Highness has been waiting for us to move. The moment we make a move, our secret forces are bound to be exposed.”
”Feng Qingbai! It’s Feng Qingbai again! If this continues, how are we going to devise Liu Yusheng to enter the palace ——” Consort Liu’s words were followed by the gnashing of her teeth. “No wonder he proposed to canonize Ruyi County Lady as Disaster Relief Ambassador. When the ministers objected, he used the bait of not moving a single penny of the court to induce the support of the officials. It turns out that his real purpose is this!”
Feng Qingbai’s goal was to create momentum for Liu Yusheng!
The Emperor personally drafted a decree to appoint a Disaster Relief Ambassador, but no one among the officials dared to facilitate it without funds.
The door of convenience had been opened. Liu Yusheng possessed medical skills, wine shops, and brewing skills! She also had the Qians behind her!
With these alone, she could do anything she wanted to do!
With the east wind in place, her momentum was rising!
It was impossible for her to trap Liu Yusheng with the palace’s selection anymore!
Unless she was willing to abandon all prospects for the future Liu family lineage!
When Consort Liu held the booklet that recorded the names of the girls in the election and flipped a page. The two words, Liu Yusheng, written in lowercase were now a great irony in her eyes!
”Sha-sha!” In a blink, the page was torn to shreds and was dumped into the ground.
Consort Liu’s chest fluctuated violently, and a glimmer of insidiousness glowed in her eyes. “Well done Feng Qingbai! Well done Liu Yusheng!”
She lost another game of chess!
Even before she even took a chess piece, she was left with no alternative and lost miserably!
”Your Highness, don’t be angry. If this method isn’t feasible, then find another way. Calm your anger. I’ll be withdrawing for now.” The black-clad man’s voice fell flat and emotionless. There was no trace of respect or disrespect.
Consort Liu remained seated on the soft couch, trying to suppress her raging anger.
The man in black turned and retreated.
That night, a young maid in Qingning Palace was caned to death for accidentally causing a noise while serving Concubine Dowager Liu to sleep.
In the next few days, all the servants in Qingning Palace trembled and dared not provoke Consort Liu’s ire.
Three days later, the Beauty General Election began.
The list containing all the candidates’ names was posted on the city gates, but without Liu Yusheng’s name.
Later, the ladies’ who passed the screening entered the palace and were advised to wait for the screening in the harem.
The whole process lasted for three days, and within those three days, the Liu family elders and Liu Yusheng stayed in the royal residence without stepping a foot outside.
Even though Liu Yusheng was sure that Consort Liu wouldn’t entertain the idea of letting her run for the beauty selection, she didn’t dare to relax until the curtains were closed.
What she feared the most were the consequences.
Three days later, more than two hundred ladies who lost the election were sent back to their homes one after another.
More than 20 people successfully passed.
At this point, the draft that had worried the Liu family for months was finally settled.
Liu Yusheng successfully avoided a reckoning.
After the election, Liu Zhixia’s letter of appointment also arrived. He was temporarily appointed as Bianxiu at the Imperial Hanlin Academy editor with a sixth official rank.
It was an idle position. Except for the compiling records, he held no real power.
But the Imperial Hanlin Academy had been known as the ‘reservoir’. Once people there were reappointed, their promotions were particularly fast.
The court also allocated Liu Zhixia a residence. Liu Zhixia was considered to have gained a foothold in the capital.
At this juncture, it was nearly a month since Fu Yuzheng left the King’s Manor.
In one of the treasury rooms of the King’s Manor, there were piles of items for the wedding ceremony that Grandma Liu and Chen Xiulan had purchased during this period.
Everything from trinkets, fabrics, wedding garments, to large tables, chairs, cabinets, etc.
Peek-Aboo 
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