Madam, protect me!

Li Nuo took a book sent by Li An Ning and flipped it open.

This is indeed the essay of the top scholar in the imperial examination.

However, this thing should be a confidential document, at least Li Nuo can't get it.

As for the court painters, they are not officials, nor do they belong to any department in the court. They are under the jurisdiction of the inner court, and only the royal family can mobilize them.

In the spring examination, Li Nuo's essays and paintings were the few that did not get excellent in the six subjects and nine items.

Li An Ning was really worried about his exam.

She had never been so concerned before.

Li Nuo knew her so well, how could he not see through her little calculations?

He put down the book in his hand and asked, "The Ministry of Justice should have a lot of files recently?"

He hadn't been to the Ministry of Justice for a long time.

Li Anning frowned and said, "There are only 20 days left before the imperial examination. You still have the energy to read the files. You should prepare for the imperial examination first. I will keep those files for you. You can read them after you finish the exam..."

Li Nuo stood up and said, "Even if you are preparing for the imperial examination, you must combine work and rest. I just finished the spring exam. It is beneficial to read some files to change my mind..."

Of course, combining work and rest is an excuse. In fact, he has consumed too much life in the past few days for the exam. He wants to go to the Ministry of Justice to recover.

Seeing this, Li Anning didn't say anything and went to the Ministry of Justice with Li Nuo.

Along the way, she hesitated for a long time, and finally couldn't help asking: "Do you think you can get the first place in all six subjects in the imperial examination like in the spring examination?"

Li Nuo shook his head and said: "Impossible."

Li An Ning's face changed, and then asked: "Why?"

Li Nuo said honestly: "The difficulty of the spring examination is not even half of that of the imperial examination, but the people who take the imperial examination are much better than those who take the spring examination. Is it so easy to get the first place in six subjects?"

This is the truth. Li Nuo now does not have the strength to get the first place in six subjects.

The fire of hope that had just ignited in Li An Ning's heart was ruthlessly extinguished again.

Six subject champions, missing any subject will not solve her troubles.

Li Nuo was silent for a moment, and also couldn't help asking: "Tell me honestly, if I become the champion of six subjects, will His Majesty let me marry you?"

Li An Ning glanced at him, and her heart moved slightly.

She rolled her eyes at Li Nuo and asked, "The princess can't be a concubine. Are you willing to bear the infamy and divorce your wife for me?"

Li Nuo said, "Of course not."

Li An Ning asked again, "Then do you think the court will let the princess marry a married man?"

Li Nuo thought for a while and said, "No."

He scored full marks in the etiquette department. There is no precedent for this kind of thing in Da Xia.

Li An Ning lowered his head and kicked his feet, saying, "That's it. Hey, if the top scorers in the six departments are already married, it would be unkind and unjust to divorce the original wife in order to become a son-in-law. Father will not let the royal family bear this infamy. They all have families. The princess cannot be a concubine, and it is not considered that father is unfaithful. In this way, my marriage can be delayed for a while..."

Li Nuo murmured, "Is that so..."

In fact, he has never made a decision in his heart.

If being the first in the six departments means divorcing his wife, then this six-department top scorer is fine.

But in his heart, Li An Ning is different from others after all.

He was also in a mess.

Let's get through this hurdle first.

There were so many experts in the imperial examination, and he couldn't let them go on purpose.

What if he let them go too much and let himself out of the top ten, and either be sent out or stay in a government office in Chang'an to run errands and look after the warehouse? Wouldn't his practice be wasted?

Li Nuo found a reason for himself, then looked at Li An Ning and said, "Although it's a bit difficult to be the first in six subjects, I will try my best..."

Li An Ning waved his hand and said, "It's okay, don't be too stressed. If it doesn't work, I can still run away. If my father really wants me to marry someone he doesn't like, I will escape from Chang'an and never come back..."

Compared to his wife, Li An Ning obviously has his own ideas about his marriage.

Li Nuo stayed in the Ministry of Justice for a while and finished processing the files that Li An Ning had saved for him during this period. He basically made up for the lifespan he had consumed in the past few days.

The next morning, Li An Ning actually invited three court painters to come.

Among the three, one was good at painting people, one was good at painting objects, and the other was good at painting landscapes.

The painting in the imperial examination usually tests these three types.

It seems that she understands it very well.

In fact, Li Nuo doesn't need them to teach him at all. He can just find a legitimate reason to arrest them.

He has thought about it before, but the status of court painters is special. They are not considered as outsiders. As long as they don't commit any criminal cases, the Ministry of Justice and the Dali Temple can't intervene, and he can't do anything about them.

Li Nuo has other arrangements for how to improve his painting skills.

However, he can't let Li An Ning down.

Li Nuo took out the painting he had given to his wife before, and painted a landscape painting and a still life painting.

The three old men with gray beards each looked at a painting.

Li An Ning paced in place, and before he could speak, he couldn't wait to ask: "How is his painting, is there anything that can be improved?"

Not far away, Song Jiaren leaned against the door with a sword in her arms, looking at her thoughtfully.

The three painters communicated quietly for a while, and one of them nodded slightly, stroked his beard, and said: "This little friend's painting skills and use of colors can be said to be superb. He is only one step away from the masters of painting. One step away. What he lacks is the accumulation of time and his own understanding. We can't teach him much. Whether he can take this step depends on him..."

It is very rare to have such painting skills at such a young age.

Even the disciples they taught carefully were not as good as him.

You can't teach the art of painting. If you give him enough time to practice and accumulate, he will always be able to take that step.

Li Anning nodded and said, "Teach as many as you can..."

The princess spoke, and the three of them dared not to obey. They taught each other their best painting skills one by one. Then, the long-bearded painter said: "Little friends, please slowly understand these things first. If there is anything you don't understand, Please ask me again..."

Li Anning said: "You go back first and come back at this time tomorrow."

The three painters said goodbye and left. Li Anning wanted to stay a little longer, but seemed to notice something. He slowly turned his head and met a line of sight not far away.

When she found Song Jiaren looking at her, she felt a little guilty and did not dare to look at her. She said, "I, I won't bother you anymore. Just prepare for the imperial examination. I'm leaving..."

As soon as she finished speaking, she turned around and left in a hurry.

Li Nuo looked at the three paintings and carefully understood the instructions of the three painters just now.

However, this kind of artistic thing cannot be improved quickly with just a few words of advice.

These pointers apply to these paintings, but may not apply to another scene.

In the final analysis, you still have to raise your level.

After a while, Li Nuo put away the paintings and walked into the room.

The lady was sitting in the room, carefully wiping the sword in her hand.

Li Nuo sat down opposite her, and at a certain moment, he suddenly said: "Madam?"

Song Jiaren whispered: "Huh?"

Li Nuo thought for a moment and asked, "Do you hope I get the top prize?"

Song Jiaren stopped wiping her sword, was silent for a moment, and asked: "I hope you will pass the exam, can you pass the exam?"

Li Nuo said: "If you want me to take the first prize, I can work hard. Maybe there is hope. After all, there are still twenty days and more than two hundred hours. Everything is possible..."

Song Jiaren's eyelashes trembled slightly and she said, "It doesn't matter whether you win the top prize or not, just do your best."

Li Nuo paused for a moment and then said: "But His Majesty said that he wants to choose a number one scholar as his consort. If I accidentally win the number one prize, what if I am chosen then?"

"Aren't there other top picks?"

"What if I accidentally get top marks in all six subjects?"

…

Song Jiaren put away her sword and said simply: "If you want to make peace, I agree."

Li Nuo said decisively: "Then I won't take the exam."

The condition for helping Li Anning is to give up his wife.

Then let her run.

With her cultivation, no one could catch her if she ran away.

It took a lot of effort to reach this stage with my wife from strangers, and it was impossible for him to give up on her.

Li Nuo answered decisively, and Song Jiaren's hand holding the sword trembled slightly.

When she raised her head again, her eyes softened and she said softly: "Just try your best. It's good to get the top score in the exam. It doesn't matter if you fail. Even if you get the top score in six subjects, it's still your ability..."

How could she not want her husband to get the top prize?

Aunt Song Zhen has always been worried about not becoming the first lady.

She has been reading it since she was a child.

I heard from my aunt that the wife of the number one scholar was the only woman who could ride on horseback with her husband on the day the results were released.

By then, almost everyone in Chang'an will see this scene.

Growing up, I don't know how many people said that she couldn't get married, and I don't know how many people laughed at her husband for being a fool.

She wanted them to see it with their own eyes.

Look at what kind of person she married.

Li Nuo was not sure whether the lady was speaking sarcastically, so he asked tentatively: "You really hope that I will get the top score in the exam, and it doesn't matter if I get the top score in six subjects?"

Song Jiaren nodded.

What he said just now is enough.

Li Nuo looked at her, thought for a moment, and said, "I don't believe it, unless..."

…

After a while, Li Nuo walked out of the room.

Reconciliation is impossible.

You must do your best in every subject of the imperial examination, and strive to be a sixth-rank official from the beginning.

As for what should be done if he finally wins the top prize in six subjects, that is something for the court to consider.

The lady said to do her best.

Then do your best.

When Li Nuo walked to the concierge of Song Mansion, Butler Wu looked up at him and pointed at one side of his face.

Ignoring the lip print matter for now, Li Nuo asked: "How did the investigation go when I asked you to check it last time?"

Butler Wu smiled and said: "Old servant is doing something, don't worry, young master. We have found evidence of minor crimes of more than a dozen painters. We are just waiting for the young master's order..."

Li Nuo nodded and said: "Then close the Internet cafe..."