Chapter 49.2

Chapter 49.2

For the royal family, this matter was simply my daughter, Im the strongest backer, so no one can bully her, but for those powerful people, they just think of it as whoever marries a princess is just unlucky. After all, no matter how promising their children were, if they married a princess, they wouldnt be able to enter the court. Moreover, they wouldnt be able to tour the brothels or keep a woman on the side. Therefore, once there was a princess of a similar age in the palace, these children of power would get quickly have their engagements settled in advance to avoid being chosen as fuma and become miserable, unable to do this or that. Lest they be exiled a thousand miles away once they werent careful!

An Emperor could not be so stupid. So when he saw the aristocrats avoiding his daughter so adamantly, he too was angry. So, when he chose a fuma, he would specially select a child of common birth that was to his liking. And after he became fuma, he lifted the rule that a fuma is not allowed to become an official, then wantonly favored him to express the meaning of If you dont want to become a fuma, then youll regret it.

Thus being a fuma was no longer a bad thing with no benefits, some officials became interested and no longer ran away. Unfortunately, both the late Emperor and the Emperor of this dynasty held grudges, and they still remembered how their daughters and sisters had been rejected. Thus, the more they wanted to marry the princess, the more adamant the Emperor was against it. Of course, if the Princess herself chose someone she wanted, the Emperor would usually agree to it as long as it didnt affect the court.

The Emperor of this dynasty has yet to marry off a Princess, but the Eldest Princess was without the protection of her maternal family while also being unfavored. Her only younger brother looked plain with no hope of seizing the throne. So unlike the princesses, who still have their Consort Mothers in the harem and so have a fuma planned for them by their maternal family, the First Princesss biological mother died young, and naturally, no officials son who would want to marry her.

Thus, the Emperors choice of a fuma among the humble was a good result for everyone.

So apart from her golden branches and jade leaves, the Eldest Princess could only marry someone from a humble family.

(TNote: golden branch and jade leaves = refers to daughters of either wealth or power, key traits would be spoiled, pampered, high birth.)

After all, the Eldest Princess was different from Princess Yuhe of the previous dynasty. Princess Yuhe chose a humble fuma because she was loved by her father and he feared that she would be bullied. After Princess Yuhe married, he even rewarded her fuma extravagantly, so that others wouldnt dare to underestimate him.

As for the Eldest Princess, anyone who was well-informed would know that she was not favored.Visit no(v)eLb(i)n.com for the best novel reading experience

Not favored, mother passed away, a brother who was mediocre, and marrying a humble scholar.

Those who learned the news all sympathized in their hearts for the Eldest Princess.

It was simply tragic.

But it didnt implicate their side anyway, so they were just watching the drama.

***

When the decision was made to select the Tanghualang as fuma, Shen Huyang was looking out the window at the imperial servants walking back and forth outside.

Right now, Emperor Father should have chosen a fuma.

The maidservant, who waited on the side also knew that the Princesss husband would be chosen from the group of scholars, replied, His Majesty will certainly choose a good husband for the Princess.

But Shen Huyang, who had already investigated the age-appropriate jurens who came to the capital to take the exam, did not react.

She suddenly remembered the young scholar she met at the Scholars Pavilion that day. He should also be a juren. Although she couldnt see his talent through his appearance, every move he made was clearly of a person with a foundation.

Like Grandpa, he could be calm no matter what happened.

But there was no such person among the ones her brother had identified for her.

This smile, handsome and elegant, coupled with the clothes he wore that represented a Tanhualang, attracted the excitement of the surrounding women who were watching the excitement, and they threw over flowers and handkerchiefs one after another.

There were even people, who had weaved flowers into large baskets, that threw them from the second floor directly at the handsome Tanhualang.

Lin Shihengs eyes looked ahead, but could still agilely raise his reins and dodged. However, Zhao He, on his side, was completely unprepared and was directly hit by a flower basket.

Aiya!

The flower basket didnt hit him in the face, but it was enough to hurt him when it hit his back as he waved around excitedly. Zhao He looked at the flower basket on the ground and became even more excited. He proudly shouted at Lin Shiheng to show off, Brother Lin, you see, Im more popular than you all.

Lin Shiheng smiled and said nothing.

On the other side was the Champion, who was about to turn 30 and whose temperament was relatively stable. Although he was the son of an official, his gaze towards the two was gentle. One could tell that his family had an excellent upbringing.

Some children from a humble family would always believe that second generations of officials would look down on themselves because of their status, but if they were scholars who had put aside the obvious shortcuts and relied on themselves to get into the imperial court, their knowledge is generally quite excelled.

Moreover, aristocratic families attached great importance to their childrens education and would never allow their children to become the kind that would use their family name to bully. Therefore, except for a few who have been spoiled by their parents, whose brains arent too bright, most of the children of court officials were gentle and polite.

Even if they looked down on the humble in their heart, they would never show it on the surface or aim at each other. At worst, it was just a matter of avoiding each other from a distance.

But this top scholar apparently didnt have any ill will towards the common people. The three of them had a conversation after they mounted their horses together and learned that his father was the Minister of Revenue. He became juren at the age of 25. Unfortunately, his Grandfather passed, and he had to observe mourning. When the filial piety was finally completed, he had to wait for the triennial examinations, which was why he had been delayed until now.

The three of them discussed the prospects of where they would be employed in the future, and as they rode, they greeted the lively people who came out to see them and get thrown flowers from all around.

Even though the examination was held once every three years, the people of the capital still couldnt get enough of it each time and generally came to watch the fun during the Top Three Procession.

This years Champion was even more unexpected than they had though. They were all young scholars compared with the previous years, which also made some bystanders even more excited. After all, people didnt care what was outstanding within you, most of them were illiterate, so they would only look at the appearance. So right now, they were impressed to see this years Top Three.

Although the Champion Scholar was older, he still looked decent while he appeared steady. It was just that, they just heard that he was already married. While the Second Place had a bright smile, obviously hinting that his personality was more active. His appearance also had a little bit of juvenile innocence, commonly known as baby face. As he excitedly waved around, he wasnt very popular with the women who came to see the fun.

So only the Tanhualang greatly surprised the onlookers.

Although everyone knew that the Tanhua was usually the one with the good looks, this years Tanhua was too good-looking. In ancient times, myopia was much less prevalent, so many people could get a good look at the Tanhualangs face from the second floor.

(TNote: Tanhua is the same thing as Tanhualang)

His pair of eyes were slightly narrow, but they were not overtly alluring. The ends of his eyes were slightly raised, and the angle of the upper lip was shallow and evocative, revealing an elegant smile. Although his face was pale, the transparent temperament and the warmth when he looked at people made some young women hiding on the second floor watching the scene blush and throw their flowers over to him.

Unfortunately, not knowing if it was the lack of accuracy, but there werent many flowers that reached the Tanhua, instead, Zhao He who was next to him suffered a lot! Lin Shiheng leaned slightly, Zhao he was smashed with a flower. Lin Shicheng Slightly paused his horse, Zhao He was smashed with a flower. Although those petals would lightly scatter, and it was quite artistic, a whole basket of flowers still had some weight, not to mention so many fell on his body all at once.

Zhao excited He immediately wilted. He never considered that he was shielding his best friend from disaster, but only thought that it was his display of enthusiasm that had attracted so many flowers. So in the next section of the road which could be considered as quiet as a chicken, he just continued listlessly forward.