My Wife Turns Out to be an Empress of the Dynasty

The news of the head of Tianji Pavilion incapacitating the second emperor of the Demon Realm was explicitly stated in the memorial of the Yunzhou Governor.

Although it had not spread among the common people, the female Emperor was, of course, the first to know.

However, at that time, she did not rush to express her gratitude.

Firstly, because she was in the mortal world and could not leave. Sending subordinates would seem insincere!

Secondly, Tianji Pavilion always valued karmic affinity, and she wanted to personally ask the Pavilion Master why he assisted the Great Jing.

After all, if the Pavilion Master had not intervened, Jade Gate Pass and the unprotected Great Jing would have fallen into the mouths of demonic beasts!

The consequences would have been unimaginable.

Since there was this karmic affinity, even if Tianji Pavilion had no intention of befriending the Jing Nation in the future, it was only right to thank the Pavilion Master properly.

...

The autumn wind began to rise.

The streets and alleys gradually became lively. Especially outside the city, the City God Temple and the Wenchang Pavilion, places where immortals were worshiped, were frequented by scholars who were about to take the imperial examination this year, seeking blessings.

On this day, with the autumn examination event approaching, Gu Lan finished his breakfast, brought Old Yang, who was carrying luggage, and left the Gu Residence. Mu Yuyan and Liu Yexi followed, bidding farewell reluctantly.

"Young Master, did you bring the examination card?" Liu Yexi, somewhat worried, deliberately teased.

"Yexi, am I such a careless person?"

Gu Lan shrugged and smiled, glancing at Old Yang.

Old Yang deftly took out the shiny card with the number 295 from his pocket and waved it in front of the young girl and the female Emperor. "Everything is ready. Madam, Yexi, rest assured, Young Master, I will take care of him!"

The autumn examination was held at the Langzhou Circuit, lasting seven or eight days. So, they needed to go there first and rent an inn to stay.

"Master Gu, come back soon. This lady is waiting for you at home," Mu Yuyan approached, straightened his clothes, and whispered with reluctance in her eyes.

Since they got married, they had never been apart for so long.

Although there were secret guards secretly protecting Gu Lan, and there would be no accidents casually, she was still worried because she had to go to Tianji Mountain for worship.

"Don't worry, Madam. I won't cause trouble this time," Gu Lan understood her concerns, raised his hand to touch her delicate face, and smiled, "I heard that after the autumn examination, the whole city will have a fireworks festival... Madam, do you remember? We met around this time last year. After I finish the exam this year, I'll play in Langzhou City with you. How about that?"

"How could I forget..." Mu Yuyan pursed her lips, revealing a breathtakingly beautiful smile, lightly nodding her head, "Okay, I'll be waiting, my lord."

"Goodbye."

Gu Lan bid farewell to his wife, beckoned to Old Yang, and brought two old horses. The two of them walked towards the city gate, with the sound of hooves stepping on fallen leaves fading away.

"Young Master, we're out of the city, and we're about thirty miles from the Circuit. Shall we go directly?"

"No hurry, let's go to the nearby Wenchang Pavilion first, pay respects to the immortals, and take a look at the scholars of our Great Jing of this generation."

"Then... shall we buy two jars of wine?"

"Haha, I knew you are carving it. Fine! After leaving the city, I'll treat you to the best yellow rice wine there!"

"The Young Master understands me!"

"..."

The voices grew smaller.

After a while, in front of Gu Residence, Mu Yuyan came to her senses, turned to Liu Yexi, and whispered, "Is everything ready? Let's go."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

...

At the same time!

South of the city, on the mountain.

As the autumn wind swept over the cliff, two figures on horseback halted, simultaneously gazing down at the distant Langzhou city.

"So, this is the capital city of the Great Jing. It's splendidly built and magnificent!" exclaimed a young man dressed in white scholar's robes involuntarily. He was handsome and dressed like a scholar.

Although he was currently wearing plain clothes, there was an inherent nobility in his demeanor.

"Your Highness, this will be yours in the future. No need to envy them," said an old man in black robes beside him, his voice hoarse. "The Grand Master has predicted that the fate of the Great Jing has come to an end, and now the Demon Realm has launched a massive invasion..."

Before he could finish, the young scholar shook his head, stopping his words. "Elder Dragon, we must not underestimate them! As the saying goes, 'A centipede dies but does not stiffen.' This vast nation of the Great Jing still has some vitality left. Didn't you see the victory at Jade Gate Pass?

Thirty thousand soldiers of the Great Jing killed nearly a hundred thousand demonic soldiers, pushing them back a hundred miles. Such achievements... how terrifying!"

"Your Highness speaks the truth," the black-robed old man, now called Elder Dragon, seemed very convinced, not refuting. He nodded as if being taught.

"However... what you said is not wrong."

The young scholar looked again at Langzhou city below his feet, a gleam of arrogance flashing in his eyes, and a slow smile curled on his lips.

"Even if there is still a trace of the Jing Nation's fate remaining, sooner or later, this will be the territory of my Great Yu! Not only here, but all twelve Zhou of the Jing Nation, I want them all... including their lofty female Emperor!"

"Haha, Your Highness, you have great aspirations. This old man is delighted to hear it!"

The old man in the black robe praised.

"Let's go, Elder Dragon!"

The young scholar casually flicked the reins, changed direction, and headed down the mountain.

"To conquer the Great Jing, let's start with this Autumn Examination. Let me see the scholars of the Great Jing, whether they have true talents and learning, and whether they are worthy of being used by me!"

...

"Old Yang, did you bring money?"

"Young Master, you said you would... cough... treat me"

Old Yang seemed to be quite fond of the yellow wine bought at the city gate, even drinking while speaking, causing him to choke a few times.

"..."

The shopkeeper's gaze at the two of them gradually turned unfriendly! When Gu Lan didn't notice, Old Yang took several pots and started to drink them, as if he was a drunk.

This kind of wine wasn't expensive, but logically, after tasting the finest celestial wine, it should be hard to swallow this inferior one. Gu Lan was like that, picking up the wine bowl and just taking a sip, accompanying Old Yang.

"Young Master, actually... a few years ago, when I was fleeing in Huangzhou, the thing I craved the most was this kind of wine."

Old Yang hugged the wine jar, feeling a bit embarrassed, and smiled. If he had had a bowl of this wine back then, he probably wouldn't have come to Langzhou.

Gu Lan was stunned for a moment, then gently patted his shoulder.

"It's okay. I'm just asking if you paid first. You can drink as much as you want. I've got it covered!"

Gu Lan pushed his own jar to the opposite side.

"Thank you, Young Master!"

Old Yang drank while looking around, slightly intoxicated. He leaned over, chuckled softly, and said, "Young Master, this time, your success in the imperial examination is certain... Look at these scholars who came out of Langzhou city. I haven't seen one with a better temperament than Young Master!"

"Not even in appearance!"

He added, looking at those passing scholars.

"Drink your wine!" Gu Lan's eyelids jumped sharply. "As for fame and fortune, I consider them as dung. How can I be eager for success in the imperial examination?"

Not to mention!

In this world's imperial examination, sometimes appearances really matter.

He was afraid that Old Yang's big mouth would bring him success in the examination just because of his handsome face!

After all, the current female Emperor is ruling, and it is said that she hasn't married yet... What if she sets her sights on him later?

After Old Yang finished flattering, he smirked and didn't say anything more.

At this time, a beggar walked by outside the tavern. His face was pale yellow, his eyes slightly sunken, showing signs of not having eaten well for a long time. The beggar's clothes were dirty, but you could vaguely see the remnants of scholar's clothing.

He hesitated outside the tavern but never came in.

"Where did this beggar come from? Hurry up and leave; don't delay our business!" The shopkeeper's shouting made some customers glance over.

Most of them just passed by with an indifferent look.

However, when Gu Lan saw the beggar's face, he was slightly stunned.

Lin Lu?