For the royal family, this matter was simply ‘my daughter, I’m 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 wouldn’t be able to enter the court. Moreover, they wouldn’t 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 weren’t 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 don’t want to become a fuma, then you’ll 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 didn’t 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 Princess’s biological mother died young, and naturally, no official’s son who would want to marry her.
Thus, the Emperor’s 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 wouldn’t dare to underestimate him.
As for the Eldest Princess, anyone who was well-informed would know that she was not favored.
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 didn’t 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 Princess’s 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 Scholar’s Pavilion that day. He should also be a juren. Although she couldn’t 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.
Even if her Emperor Father was going to choose a humble scholar for her, he would never choose someone with a poor ranking. The top scholar was usually reserved for the children of officials, so it was possible that the second place or Tanhualang to be selected. While the late Emperor preferred the Tanhualang when choosing a fuma, after all, everyone inherently believes that the Tanhualang was the best-looking one. Therefore, this fuma should also be the Tanhualang.
She just didn’t know if they would get along well, and if he wouldn’t think highly of her as she was a princess who wasn’t favored.
Shen Huyang tapped on the table. Right now, she should be rational about what she should do if this fuma was a difficult person to get along with. Yet in her mind, she would still think back to that young scholar who sat quietly sipping tea in the Scholar’s Pavilion that day.
He shouldn’t be very healthy as his best friend mentioned that he was ill for a long time and never participated in the meetings between scholars.
His best friend was called Zhao He. Shen Huyang was also a little impressed by him. Zhao He had good grades and should be able to pass the exam, but he was a merchant’s son, so her Emperor Father wouldn’t choose him.
She didn’t look into that young scholar who was a good friend of Zhao He. After all, she already knew the result, so what was the use of looking into it, may as well not know his name at all.
It was just that… Even though she believed this, Shen Huyang still couldn’t help but recall that day in her mind.
The other was quiet and full of tolerance, such that even when he saw his friend play a prank, he would only helplessly smile… She just didn’t know why such a pure gentleman would be friends with someone like Zhao He, who was so full of ideas and personality.
Having heard their conversation that day, she knew he was from Ming County… And the eyes of Princess Huyang, who was sitting by the window, became dim.
The list and drawing album that her brother had brought didn’t contain any Ming County scholars.
In other words, that person must have failed the exam.
“Close the window. I imagine the Second and Third Princesses will be here in less than a minute.”
Shen Huyang got up and stopped looking at the scenery outside.
She had no maternal family, so although she was the Eldest Sister, she had always been neglected among her sisters. Her days in the palace were mundane. The concubines would fight, thus led the Princesses to follow suit, and they all happily fought all day long. Although Shen Huyang had never mixed into it, as a princess, she would be marrying a son of common birth, she also wasn’t like the princess of the previous dynasty, favored by her Emperor Father, so they would definitely come to ‘congratulate’ her.
Watching the palace maid close the window, Shen Huyang lowered her eyes with indifference, then picked up a book to read, completely dissipating the scene of that day in her mind.
And so be it.
In the end, it just wasn’t meant to be.
***
“Throughout the ages, there have been three types of great, joyous events: meeting an old friend while away from home, winning the first prize on the night of the examination, and one’s wedding night.”
Zhao He ranked second place, and he was joyfully sitting on his horse at the moment. He then turned to excitedly look at his friend, who had a light smile, as the people on the streets around him looked on, “Even though we’re from different counties, we’re neighbors now. Today you’ve been bestowed marriage by His Majesty, and you’ve also been selected as the Tanhualang. Is this not as if you’ve gained all three of these joyous events in your pocket?”
Lin Shiheng’s smile deepened a bit, “If I were to follow Brother Zhao’s words, then that would be correct.”
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 Shiheng’s 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 didn’t 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, I’m 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 children’s 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 aren’t 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 didn’t 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 couldn’t get enough of it each time and generally came to watch the fun during the Top Three Procession.
This year’s 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 didn’t 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 year’s 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 wasn’t 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 year’s Tanhua was too good-looking. In ancient times, myopia was much less prevalent, so many people could get a good look at the Tanhualang’s 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 weren’t 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.