The layout of the royal city

Li Zhouying took the gift list and scanned it. Last year's gift list was full of rare treasures and prizes, with almost no medicinal materials, food, or anything that could cause poisoning.

The monarch's serious illness has nothing to do with the Li family.

Didn't really find any issues. The Li family has no close contacts with the princes and grandchildren, so they should not be affected by this palace incident.

"Hao'er, you have to remember. No matter which prince becomes the new king, our Li family is one of the few big families in Donglai County and has a place in Donglai County. There is no need to get involved!"

Li Zhouying felt a little relieved and warned.

"Yes! I understand, kid!"

Li Hao lowered his eyebrows and said, but he didn't think so.

Only Wuhou who gained the monarch's trust would be given the important task of being the princess of the ten major counties. Otherwise, there are so many Wuhou in Canglan, how can it be so easy to get the position of princess. When the new monarch takes over, it is estimated that the owner of Donglai County will also have to be replaced. Once the full-time job was changed, the Li family's power was not as powerful as before.

The rise and fall of the Wuhou family depended entirely on the monarch.

If the monarch takes a liking to him and entrusts him with important responsibilities, the family will gain control over a county and immediately prosper.

The monarch looked down upon him and rewarded him for any idle official position. The family's power immediately declined and was replaced by other Wuhou families.

Unless the family of King Wu is truly prosperous for four to five hundred years. As long as King Wu is alive, no matter which king is in power, King Wu's family can enjoy the most noble treatment, occupy the treasure lands and important mines in the princes' countries, and have no worries about financial resources. The Wuwang family does not need to look at the monarch's face or get involved in court disputes.

However, becoming a Martial King is not that easy.

There is no trace of the heart of martial arts.

It all depends on chance...or a little bit of luck.

For all the Wu Hous, becoming a Wu King is a luxurious and unrealistic idea, and they can't grasp it even if they try hard.

The peak of Wu Houqi is the limit they can reach.

The most practical idea is to pass the palace examination, be valued by the king, and become a minister of the border. In this way, the family can obtain a large amount of resources and prosper for at least twenty years.

The Li family was just a Wuhou family, and their status was not secure. If we don't seize the opportunity to join the new king in the future, we will only have prosperity in the past twenty years.

"Leave today to celebrate your birthday in the royal city!"

Li Zhouying ordered.

The next day. A team from Donglai County set off, including the princess Li Zhouying, General Pan Dahai of Zhenhai, Cao Hao, the dean of Donglai Mansion, and other ministers of the feudal lords, as well as some local aristocratic families from Donglai County who came to congratulate the monarch on his birthday. , about a hundred people, set off for the royal city.

The heir of the Gu family, Gu Hanjian, is also among them, preparing to accompany him to the Imperial College to enroll.

"Han Jian, go to the Imperial Academy of the Royal City and practice with peace of mind. Don't get involved in any court disputes! You are different from other Wuhou. You have a natural martial arts heart. Now you have broken through the realm of Wuhou and become a King of Wu in just a short time. Other Wuhou need Go fight, you don't need to fight, no matter how the situation changes, it will not affect you. Every month, the family will send you a sum of money, and you don't need to worry about money. Just practice wholeheartedly to break through King Wu, and the entire Gu family My fate rests on you!"

The head of the Gu clan came to see him off and warned him.

"Clan leader! I understand, you know that I don't like worldly affairs, and I won't meddle in other people's affairs."

Gu Han Jianfei mounted his horse and said indifferently.

Not to mention the affairs of the Canglan court, he didn't even pay much attention to the affairs of the Gu family.

To him, it was more like a deal. The Gu family gave him enough training materials, and his reward was to become the King of Martial Arts. Fortunately, the Gu family only had one requirement for him, and that was to become King Wu, without any other excessive restrictions.

"Don't worry, brother Gu! I will take more care of you when you go to the royal city. Gu Hanjian is the genius of our Donglai Mansion. How can I not take more care of you, the dean?"

Cao Hao smiled.

"It's all thanks to Dean Cao!"

The ancient patriarch cupped his hands and thanked him, feeling quite relieved.

Cao Hao is one of the top ten players in the "Canglan Haoyue Ranking". With him here, there really won't be any problems.

Because of the tight time, this birthday celebration team from Donglai County did not have many followers. They all traveled in light vehicles and rode horses and beasts, rushing to the royal city day and night.

…

Empire.

As soon as the royal edict in the palace was announced, the news reached the Imperial College, and the Imperial College was filled with joy.

All the supervisors and Wuhou originally thought that this year's palace examination would be cancelled. I don't know what year it will be held until Ma Yue. People's hearts are in turmoil, and almost all the supervisors have no intention of taking the palace examination.

Unexpectedly, the queen actually announced that the palace examination would proceed as usual.

The entire Imperial College couldn't help but be very excited when they heard the news.

A group of supervisors in the royal city invited each other in small groups to go to the best restaurant in the royal city. Dozens of Wuhou booked a restaurant to celebrate.

"It seems that God is helping me! If this palace examination is passed for another five or eight years, I don't know what changes will happen, and some powerful new Wuhou emerges to compete for this palace examination list, I am afraid that my hope will become worse and worse. The younger I am. But for this palace examination, I dare not say anything else. I am at least expected to be in the top ten!"

Hao Ziming couldn't help being happy, poured a glass of wine, and raised his glass to the supervisors.

"Brother Qingshan, Brother Hao, and Brother Bao are all expected to enter the top ten in the palace examination, or even the top three! In the future, you will show off your skills in the court, so please take care of us classmates."

"We will all serve the imperial court in the future, so of course we must support each other!"

Many Wuhou raised their glasses and complimented him.

The students in the Imperial College are very wise, and few of them will immerse themselves in the realm of King Wu. After reaching the realm of Wuhou Realm, it is difficult to climb higher in the martial arts. The strongest one is only the ninth level of Wuhou Realm.

Their focus gradually shifted to the power of the imperial court.

Only with power can you have the resources to practice and make your family prosper.

Because of this, the palace examination is extremely important.

All the supervisors know that only the top ten supervisors who pass the palace examination can hope to be reused by the imperial court. Anyone outside the ten positions is a candidate, occupying idle official positions, and the chance of being reused is very slim.

"You have one less person to mention, and there is Brother Ye who is new to the Imperial College! If he can't even make it into the top ten, then I'm afraid there is no hope! Brother Ye's strength is far superior to mine!"

Hao Ziming immediately waved his hand and said.

Others may not know. But he and Ling Qingshan knew very well that Ye Fan had a close relationship with Princess Jiaojiao.

The monarch has not seen his foreign ministers since he fell ill. Now few people can enter the palace, and even the court ministers are not allowed to visit.

Queen Zhou supervises the country, and Princess Zhou and Princess Ling Jiaojiao do not trust these court ministers, and are worried that the court ministers will collude with the princes to seek the throne. Their worries do not come out of thin air. Many ministers have long been uninterested in government affairs, and they have complained A certain prince ascends the throne as crown prince. I can't wait to hug my future new king's lap.

But Ye Fan has a close relationship with Princess Jiaojiao, and he gains the princess's trust and is able to enter the palace to meet the princess and the queen.

Hao Ziming knew that Ye Fan entered the palace the day before yesterday.

This morning, Queen Zhou issued two edicts with murderous intent as sharp as a sword: The monarch's birthday banquet and palace examination will continue as usual.

Hao Ziming felt that it was Ye Fan who was interfering in court affairs and giving advice to Queen Zhou and the princess behind their backs. Otherwise, how could Queen Zhou suddenly resort to such drastic measures to force the culprit to come out, given that she had done nothing since the monarch became seriously ill.

Ye Fan had only been the Marquis of Wu for more than a year, and through Princess Jiaojiao, he was controlling the situation of the Canglan court behind the scenes.

This shocked him.

"Brother Ye should be able to compete for the top three. I can compete for the top ten! Brother Ye, what do you think?"

Hao Ziming wisely placed himself behind Mark.

Ye Fan took a sip of wine, glanced at all the supervisors, and said calmly: "Actually, the top three and the top ten are the same, and even the top twenty in this palace examination also have good positions! I think most of the people here will have a chance. Get reused."

"Oh, Brother Ye, what do you say?"

Bao Hua suddenly felt something in his heart.

He is self-aware and may not be able to make it into the top ten in the palace examination. If the top twenty people can also have good official positions, it will undoubtedly be of great benefit to him.

When it comes to being well-informed, no one can compare to Ye Fan, who can enter and leave the palace freely.

"Brother Ye, speak directly if you have anything to say!"

Ling Qingshan and dozens of other princes from the Imperial Academy were also very interested.

"At this monarch's birthday banquet, the culprit will have to pay a price, and a large number of people who follow him will also be unlucky. Naturally, there will be a lot more vacant seats. There will be a lot more than in previous years. Except for the top ten in the palace examination, there will be enough seats. , the twenty candidates who come after the palace examination can also fill the vacancies! Even the first thirty in the palace examination can have a good position! ... Of course, you must first stand in the right position and follow the right people! Who are you all following? The king, or the two, Three or five princes?"

Ye Fan looked at them one by one with burning eyes and said directly and calmly.

He needs some power from the Wuhou realm to help him suppress the rebellion at the monarch's birthday banquet.

Except for a few of the Wuhou who cultivated themselves in the Imperial Academy and were in cahoots with courtiers and princes, most of them were relatively innocent and most suitable to be his helpers.

When the supervisors heard this, their expressions suddenly changed slightly.

The supervisors of the Imperial College generally do not choose anyone other than the monarch easily. But if the king is about to die, a few supervisors will bet in advance to follow the future new king.

But I won't say this directly.

Unexpectedly, Mark asked them to express their stance in person.

"Brother Ye, whoever you follow! I will follow! I will risk my life and take a gamble!"

Hao Ziming's eyes hardened and he said in a deep voice.

Now the one who can enter and leave the palace, make arrangements and make moves inside and outside the court, is Ye Fan. Only Ye Fan can clearly see the chaos and confusion in the entire court.

Although the other princes are powerful, they are far away from the royal palace and cannot see clearly.

Through the hands of Princess Jiaojiao and the Queen, Ye Fan can constantly make moves, step by step, and seize the opportunity. A young genius like Ye Fan and a far-sighted Marquis Wu would definitely make the best choice.

He was not blind, so of course he followed Mark.

"Those of us who are practicing in the Imperial College have almost never followed anyone! It's not too late to make a choice now!"

"That's right! Whoever Brother Ye follows, we will follow too!"

All the supervisors, students and Wuhou suddenly woke up.

Although they couldn't clearly see the chaotic court situation in front of them, it would be fine as long as someone could see it clearly, they couldn't help but say.

"Okay! I just want to tell you something. The situation has been set, and we are just waiting for you to enter the urn. On the day of the monarch's birthday banquet in half a month, you will follow me to help the queen, princess and monarch suppress the rebellion at the birthday banquet! The three of you Among the most powerful princes, at least one lineage will be uprooted. There are countless vacancies inside and outside the court, waiting for everyone. After the birthday banquet, and the palace examination a month later, the monarch will naturally treat you favorably! If there are still people who can't see clearly, If you chose the wrong team, don't blame me for not reminding you beforehand."

Ye Fan's eyes exuded an incomparable coldness as he swept across all the Martial Lord Supervisors.

All the princes and supervisors were awe-inspiring.

I was even more secretly frightened by the depth of Ye Fan's Ice Martial Soul cultivation.

It has only been a year since he entered the Imperial Academy, plus three years in the Star Tower, and Ye Fan's cultivation in the Wuhou Realm has already reached such a depth that one look at him will send chills all over their bodies.