"Wu Wu Kai?"

Biao Biao blinked her bright eyes in surprise and said, "You're quite confident, dog slave."

Then, her charming peach blossom eyes glanced at Huai Qing and hummed, "If you want to enter the palace, just come to me. Why bring along some irrelevant people?"

"You've become quite bold recently," Huai Qing nodded and walked towards her.

Normally, at this point, Lin An would be startled, hop away like a little rabbit, and then slip away. But this time, she didn't leave. She proudly puffed out her chest, put her hands on her hips, and chose to confront Huai Qing, saying in a crisp voice, "What's wrong? Did I say something wrong?"

Xu Qi'an calmly stood between the two of them and said with a wry smile, "Your Highnesses, please don't make a scene. There are outsiders around, don't let them laugh at us."

"Are you not an outsider?" Huai Qing glanced at him lightly.

Huai Qing, with a well-developed figure and an aura like that of an ice goddess, frowned slightly. She realized the growing relationship between Xu Ningyan and Lin An in a short period of time.

For example, Xu Qi'an stood between them, with his back to Lin An and facing her. This was a subconscious move to protect the former.

Another example was when they arrived together, Lin An and Xu Ningyan were very close, exceeding the etiquette range between a courtier and a princess.

It was obvious that Xu Ningyan was gradually getting closer to Lin An. This discovery made Huai Qing inexplicably annoyed and uncomfortable.

"Your Highness asked me before how I planned to handle this case. I didn't answer at the time because I wasn't sure. But now, everything that needs to be done has been done. We can only plan, but the outcome is in the hands of fate."

Xu Qi'an guided the conversation, not giving the two princesses a chance to argue. Seeing that he had indeed caught the attention of Huai Qing and Lin An, he continued with a smile:

"At first, I was troubled by how to prove Xu Erlang's innocence and that he didn't cheat. I racked my brains over it. But later, I realized that whether he cheated or not was irrelevant."

Xu Xinnian was just a reason for the political maneuvering of the civil officials, just a reason, or just a tool.

In simple terms, Xu Erlang was a sacrifice in the political struggle.

Therefore, the crux of the matter, the key to the solution, lies in the "political struggle." Only by winning this battle can Xu Erlang receive a fair trial.

Otherwise, for someone without a powerful backer in the court, does it really matter if he's innocent or not?

Huai Qing nodded slightly and said, "What you need to do is find him a helper who can win the situation in the court. The difficulty lies here.

"As a student of Yunlu Academy, he is destined to be a rootless duckweed. It would be lucky if the officials don't make things difficult for him, but it's impossible for them to take his side.

"If Lord Wei takes action, then those neutral civil officials will also be affected. No one wants to see Lord Wei and Yunlu Academy form an alliance, and Prime Minister Wang is unlikely to turn a blind eye."

Huai Qing understood the intricacies of the situation herself. What troubled her was the word "helper."

To read the uncut version, go to pawread dot com.

Without Wei Yuan, how could Xu Qi'an find a force in the court that could counter the power of the Left Censor, the Minister of Personnel, the Duke of Cao, and the Deputy Minister of War?

His only confidence lay in Wei Yuan.

In this game, Emperor Yuan Jing was just the judge... as long as he doesn't actively target Xu Erlang, I can still try... Xu Qi'an thought to himself.

...

The officials entered the Golden Luang Hall and remained silent, waiting for Emperor Yuan Jing to arrive.

The old emperor, whose black hair had turned black, was dressed in a simple Daoist robe, with his sleeves fluttering, looking more like a Daoist than an emperor.

After the normal court proceedings, the Minister of Justice, Sun, suddenly stepped forward and said loudly, "I have something to report."

In an instant, all eyes turned to the figure in the crimson official robe, and the slightly silent atmosphere of the court seemed to stir up a surging undercurrent at that moment.

A whirlpool of emotions passed between the various officials in the court.

The prelude was over, and the curtain was slowly drawn open.

The Left Censor, Yuan Xiong, and the Deputy Minister of War, Qin Yuandao, straightened their backs and showed strong determination and confidence.

The officials of the Dali Temple and other factions involved in this matter were both waiting for the show to begin and eager to retaliate against Xu Qi'an and Wei Yuan.

The Grand Academician Zhao Tingfang was alone, with a furrowed brow.

Normally, he wouldn't be afraid of provocation between factions or the Deputy Minister of War. However, now that the Deputy Minister of War had come with the "momentum" to tie the Grand Academician of the Eastern Pavilion and the student of Yunlu Academy together, to clear the Grand Academician's name was equivalent to clearing Xu Xinnian's name, there were too many enemies.

Inside and outside the hall, the other neutral factions tacitly watched the show, waiting to see how things would unfold. In terms of position, they naturally leaned towards the Minister of Justice and were unlikely to support Yunlu Academy.

"Your Excellency, please speak," Emperor Yuan Jing said from his high seat with a majestic air.

"I have been ordered to investigate the case of the Grand Academician Zhao Tingfang accepting bribes and leaking exam questions to the candidate Xu Xinnian. The truth has now come to light, and the three people involved are the student of Yunlu Academy, Xu Xinnian; the Grand Academician Zhao Tingfang; and his steward who acted as an intermediary.

"In addition, according to Xu Xinnian's confession, he was introduced to the Grand Academician through his brother, Xu Qi'an."

The Minister of Justice finished his report.

The corresponding testimonies had already been submitted to the Emperor for review in advance, as was customary for matters discussed in court meetings.

The Left Censor, Yuan Xiong, turned to look at Wei Yuan with an expressionless face.

The other officials also looked at Wei Yuan, waiting for his response and counterattack. The Minister of Justice's move was to forcibly drag Wei Yuan into the matter and not give him the chance to stand by idly.

"Your Majesty, I have something to say," a white-haired old censor stepped forward. It was Zhang Xingying, who had made great contributions in Yunzhou.

Emperor Yuan Jing's response remained unchanged as he said in a deep voice, "Please speak, Your Excellency."

Zhang Xingying glanced at the Minister of Justice and said loudly, "I want to accuse the Minister of Justice, Sun Min, of abusing his power and using torture to extract confessions. I request that Your Majesty order the Three Departments to investigate and re-examine the case of exam fraud."

This was a common tactic in officialdom: dragging out the case!

The effectiveness of this tactic ultimately depended on the Emperor's decision.

"Is that all?" Sun Min sneered and retorted, "This case was personally ordered by Your Majesty, and the Ministry of Justice and the local yamen jointly handled it, supervising each other. Where does the claim of using torture to extract confessions come from? The three suspects are in prison. If there was any torture, Your Majesty could send someone to investigate."Emperor Yuan Jing nodded slowly, no longer looking at Zhang Yushi, and asked, "Gentlemen, how do you think this case should be handled?"

Zhang Xingying stood there, disappointed.

Minister Sun glanced at Governor Zhang with a hint of disdain in his eyes. Such a weak counterattack, is he planning to give up?

At the same time, Minister Sun couldn't help but feel disappointed. The Emperor's attitude was clear, and dragging out the case was useless, but he also didn't immediately classify the case.

The Emperor was giving Wei Yuan and Zhao Tingfang's faction a chance to counterattack.

But Yuan Xiong, who wanted to drag Wei Yuan into the water, brightened his eyes and immediately stepped forward, bowing and saying, "Your Majesty, I believe that this case is extremely serious. After fermenting for many days, everyone in the capital knows about it. The students are resentful, and the people are indignant. If it is not handled strictly, it will not be enough to calm the people's anger."

At this time, the Minister of the Ministry of Justice stepped forward and shook his head, saying, "Xu Qi'an represented the Bureau of Heavenly Masters in the trial and made a great contribution. He cannot be punished."

The Minister of the Ministry of Justice's words were meant to incite, to establish an arrogant image of "Xu Qi'an taking advantage of his achievements" for Emperor Yuan Jing and the officials in the court.

Once these words were spoken, Emperor Yuan Jing had to deal with him, otherwise it would confirm the claim of "taking advantage of his achievements" and set a very bad example.

Zhao Tingfang's faction members stepped forward to refute.

The officials in the court waited for a moment, and were surprised to find that Wei Yuan did not speak, and the officials under his command also remained silent.

Could it be that he was going to abandon his close subordinate Xu Qi'an?

Various thoughts flashed through the minds of the officials in the court, and the wind quietly began to change. The officials of the Ministry of Personnel stepped forward tentatively and said, "The Minister of the Ministry of Justice is absolutely right. This case must be handled strictly and cannot be tolerated. Otherwise, the court will lose its authority and Your Majesty will lose your prestige."

For a moment, the officials of the six ministries stepped forward to support the view of the Minister of the Ministry of Justice.

The Assistant Minister of War, who had not remained silent as one of the instigators, turned to look at the Duke of Cao.

Now that the civil officials had spoken, the Duke of Cao, a first-class duke, would add fuel to the fire, and a strong force would be formed in the court. There was no reason for His Majesty to engage in a confrontation with this force for the sake of a Grand Secretary.

The Duke of Cao, with an expressionless face, stepped forward and attracted the attention of the surrounding ministers and nobles.

The Duke of Cao also played a role in the "examination fraud case"...... If he represented the nobles and missed the opportunity, Wei Yuan, who had lost the initiative, would find it difficult to reverse the situation. For him, Xu Xinnian might not be important. But this would create an irreparable rift between him and his close subordinate Xu Qi'an... the officials thought.

After the Duke of Cao stepped forward, he stood side by side with Minister Sun and bowed, saying, "Your Majesty, I believe that the Ministry of Justice and the local yamen have been too hasty in handling this case. The Grand Academician Zhao Tingfang has always been honest and has an excellent reputation. How could he have accepted bribes?

"In addition, although Xu Xinnian is just a student, the Yunlu Academy has not produced a top scholar for many years. It would be too hasty to make a decision. The scholars of the academy will not let it go easily."

The Duke of Cao's words, in essence, were very simple: Xu Xinnian is a key student of the Yunlu Academy, and when dealing with him, the attitude of the academy must be considered, and it cannot be too heavy-handed.

Minister Sun stiffened his neck and turned his head a little, staring at the Duke of Cao in disbelief.

The Left Censor and the Assistant Minister of War's faces changed slightly. Before they submitted their accusations, the two had a secret discussion. Then the Duke of Cao took the initiative to add fuel to the fire and unite with the nobles to support them.

An alliance formed by tacit understanding, working together.

At this moment, Yuan Xiong and Qin Yuandao felt a sense of betrayal as if their "revolution" had been betrayed.

What's going on?!

The officials in the court could not conceal their astonishment. The Duke of Cao had switched sides? Then what was the point of his previous actions to add fuel to the fire......

Suddenly, the officials were shocked and looked at Wei Yuan.

When did Wei Yuan persuade the Duke of Cao, and what benefits did he promise?

Just as the officials were guessing, Wei Yuan came to his senses and looked at the Duke of Cao with great surprise.

Wei Yuan seemed extremely surprised, as if he didn't know... This detail caught the eyes of the crowd, making the ministers even more puzzled.

For a moment, the situation in the court suddenly became mysterious.

The officials fell into silence and did not immediately come forward to refute, choosing to observe the situation.

The Assistant Minister of War, however, could not remain silent. He took three steps forward and said in a deep voice, "Your Majesty, the Duke of Cao's words are inciting. Just think, if Xu Xinnian is a student of the Yunlu Academy, and he is treated leniently, how would the students of the Imperial College feel? How would scholars across the country feel?

"When Emperor Wenzu established the Imperial College and expelled the scholars of the Yunlu Academy from the court, what was it for? It was because the scholars of the Yunlu Academy disregarded the emperor and used their literary skills to distort the law.

"Cheng Yasheng inscribed on the monument at the Yunlu Academy: 'Dying for righteousness and repaying the emperor's grace, leaving an eternal name for thousands of generations.' This was to tell future generations how to be loyal to the emperor and love the country.

"Do you want to let the helplessness of Emperor Wenzu happen again?"

Emperor Yuan Jing narrowed his eyes in an instant, no longer showing a calm and indifferent demeanor, but switching to that of a powerful monarch.

Impressive!

Minister Sun and the Minister of the Ministry of Justice's lips twitched slightly. This move of changing the concept was extremely clever, as if drawing a line in the court, with one side being the students from the Imperial College and the other being the scholars of the Yunlu Academy.

In the struggle for orthodoxy, how would they choose?

If the civil officials wanted to speak for Xu Xinnian, they had to consider their own position and whether their words would cause them to deviate from the court and the other officials.

The Left Censor, Yuan Xiong, almost wanted to laugh out loud. In this way, Wei Yuan would have to step down, because there were some things that the students could not say. But as the leader of the eunuch faction, he could, because he was not a student who had passed the imperial examination.

If Wei Yuan stepped down, how would Prime Minister Wang respond? How would the other neutral civil officials react?

Dragging Wei Yuan into the water, and then using the momentum to defeat him, making him compromise and give up control of the Bureau of Censors, was an important plan of the Left Censor in recent times.

"Hmph!"

At this moment, a cold snort filled with boundless anger echoed in the court.

Everyone turned to see that it was the previously inconspicuous Prince Yu, who stepped forward in his dark yellow dragon robe, his face pale and his temples frosty. His eyes were deeply wrinkled at the corners, making him look extremely old.

Seeing him step forward, Qin Yuandao, who had just been impassioned, felt a sudden sinking in his heart."Two hundred years ago, I have never heard of the scholars from Yunlu Academy plotting against the princess. Is this what your scholars from the National University call loyalty and patriotism?" Prince Yu shouted angrily, "Hypocrites!"

Then, he turned to Emperor Yuan Jing and bowed, saying, "Your Majesty, I don't care about the truth of the examination fraud case. I just feel that the officials of the Ministry of Punishments are incompetent and useless. If they were capable, my pitiful Pingyang would not have died unjustly. If it weren't for Nightwatcher Xu Qi'an's thorough investigation of this case, the injustice would not have been rectified."

"The examination fraud case is of great importance. I hope Your Majesty will reconsider this case and have it jointly reviewed by the Three Departments and the Nightwatcher."

Emperor Yuan Jing frowned and remained silent.

Prince Yu immediately burst into tears, "Your Majesty, my poor Pingyang..."

Shameless!

The Minister of Personnel, the Minister of Justice, the Left Censor, and the Minister of War all had their faces changed drastically. The case of Princess Pingyang was a thorn between the civil officials and Emperor Yuan Jing.

The Minister of War told Emperor Yuan Jing that the scholars from Yunlu Academy were uncontrollable. And now, Prince Yu was telling Emperor Yuan Jing that the scholars from the National University also had intentions to harm the royal family and were willing to act on it.

Wei Yuan secretly sneered. He had expected that the boy would seek Prince Yu's help, but he couldn't verify why the Marquis of Cao had turned against him.

Xu Ningyan was not good at political struggles, but he had a keen sense of the situation.

At this time, the Marquis of Cao and other nobles began to follow suit, forming a subtle confrontation with the civil officials.

Prime Minister Wang watched coldly, feeling quite surprised in his heart. The current situation of the confrontation between the nobles and the civil officials was something he had not expected.

The Marquis of Cao and Prince Yu were not on the same side, and neither were they on the same side as Wei Yuan, but the fact that they joined forces was indisputable.

Who was manipulating everything behind the scenes?

The person behind the manipulation clearly knew who his enemies were and had developed a strategy to find a force that could counter the "enemy."

Prince Yu... the case of Princess Pingyang... was it him?! A guess flashed through Prime Minister Wang's mind, his face paused slightly, then returned to normal.

The situation took a sudden turn, and the Minister of Personnel and others were taken aback. If this case were to be retried and the Nightwatcher's office were to get involved, all their plans would be in vain.

It would eventually lead to a stalemate with multiple parties involved.

Although Xu Xinnian would not be able to participate in the palace examination, who would care whether a top scholar could participate in the palace examination?

As an important member of the royal party, the Minister of Personnel frequently signaled to Prime Minister Wang.

What's wrong with you, big brother? We are fighting at the front, and you are not saying a word in the rear?

Prime Minister Wang noticed the Minister of Personnel's gaze, frowned slightly, and from his standpoint, he didn't care who won or lost in this case. First, Wei Yuan had not been punished, and second, Xu Xinnian could not represent the entire Yunlu Academy.

If he really found it unpleasant, he could find a reason to send him to a remote corner.

However, as an important member of the royal party, the Minister of Personnel's inaction at this time would chill people's hearts. This was the downside of party politics.

Many times, one is not in control.

"Your Majesty, I do have a way to quickly resolve this case," Prime Minister Wang stepped forward and bowed, saying slowly, "If Zhao Tingfang, the Grand Academician of the East Pavilion, has leaked the exam questions, we only need to test Xu Xinnian. Your Majesty can summon him to the palace, personally set the questions, and let him compose a poem in front of the officials."

"Whether the poem 'The Hard Road' was ghostwritten by someone else, we will know after a test. As for the interpretation of the classics and the discussion of policies, with the palace examination imminent, after Your Majesty has read his essays, you can make the decision yourself."

"If he is really a talentless person, it means the leak of the exam questions is true, and the fraud is true. He should be severely punished."

Emperor Yuan Jing looked at Prime Minister Wang for a moment and smiled, "Your words make sense. We will follow your advice."

The Minister of Personnel and others showed joy on their faces. At first glance, Prime Minister Wang's words seemed conciliatory, but the bias was quite obvious.

By setting the questions personally and testing the poetry, Emperor Yuan Jing was the only one in the entire Great Feng who could do it, other than the poetry champion Xu Qi'an.

If he couldn't pass this, how could he pass the palace examination?

Prince Yu immediately said, "Your Majesty, this method is too hasty. A masterpiece of poetry can be written by anyone."

Zhang Xingying immediately echoed.

The Left Censor Yuan Xiong smiled and said, "Time is also limited in the examination hall. If Xu Xinnian can compose one poem, why can't he compose a second one?"

"Prince Yu, you are mistaken. If Xu Xinnian can produce an enduring masterpiece, it shows that he is extremely skilled in poetry. If he composes another one, the comparison will make everything clear."

"Your Majesty, this method is wonderful."

The Assistant Ministers of the Six Departments were the first to support it, and the other civil officials followed suit.

The Marquis of Cao watched from the sidelines. He only agreed to help Xu Xinnian receive a lighter punishment and had no intention of letting him off the hook.

Prince Yu's face darkened, and he was about to continue persuading, but Emperor Yuan Jing waved his hand and said, "I have made up my mind, Prince Yu, there is no need to say more."

............

After the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the heavily armed eunuchs entered the Golden Luang Hall and respectfully said, "Your Majesty, Xu Xinnian has been brought here."

The originally stagnant atmosphere suddenly became lively, and the officials in the court were instantly invigorated.

Emperor Yuan Jing nodded, his voice stern, "Bring him in."

The eunuchs retired, and a few minutes later, Xu Xinnian, the handsome top scholar of the Spring Examination, arrived in prison clothes.

He slowly walked through the crimson carpeted passage, passed the officials on both sides, and came before Emperor Yuan Jing.

Is this the legendary Golden Luang Hall?!

Is this where the officials hold court?!

Why was I brought to the Golden Luang Hall...? Xu Xinnian's mind was filled with a series of question marks. He was excited, and his hands and feet were trembling uncontrollably.

He whispered to himself in a low voice, "I will remain calm in the face of adversity!"

In an instant, Xu Xinnian's heart became as calm as still water, his eyes clear and bright, as if he didn't care about the officials on both sides.

Bowing, he said, "I am Xu Xinnian, paying my respects to Your Majesty."

The eunuch immediately said, "Your Majesty, his identity has been verified."

Emperor Yuan Jing looked at the young man, who was so good-looking that it was almost outrageous, and nodded slightly, saying in a deep voice, "I ask you, did the Grand Academician of the East Pavilion accept bribes and leak the exam questions to you?"

Xu Xinnian shouted, "Your Majesty, I am innocent."No one paid attention to his defense. Emperor Yuan Jing interrupted lightly: "I'll give you a chance. If you want to prove your innocence, then compose a poem here in the Golden Luang Hall. I will personally give you the topic. Xu Xinnian, do you dare?"

I dare not, I dare not... Xu Xinnian's face turned slightly pale.

He never expected to be brought to the Golden Luang Hall and face such a situation.

"Traveling is Difficult" was written by my elder brother, not by me. Although I made a few changes to the words, I can swear that I wrote this poem.

But to ask me to write another one, and to do it on the spot, I simply can't do it.

To accomplish this, one would need the guidance of a sage... Xu Xinnian felt a sense of despair in his heart. He even considered confessing everything and pleading for leniency from the court.

But reason told him that once he admitted that "Traveling is Difficult" was not his own work, the outcome awaiting him would be a plunge into the abyss.

No one would care if it was my elder brother who wrote the poem.

What should I do, what should I do? I never thought that my first visit to the Golden Luang Hall would also be my last. He deeply experienced the difficulties and dangers of the officialdom.

Elder brother, what should I do...

Xu Xinnian's expression and complexion were observed by the courtiers and Emperor Yuan Jing.

Minister Sun's eyes flashed with satisfaction. When Xu Qian'an composed the poem, it brought him shame, and now the tables had turned. It was his turn to suffer.

Qin Yuandao, the assistant minister of the Ministry of War, sighed silently, feeling that the situation was already decided. After toppling Zhao Tingfang, his next step would be to plan for the position of the East Pavilion University.

The Cabinet was the territory of Prime Minister Wang, and Minister Sun was a key member of the Wang faction, so it was almost a foregone conclusion.

Yuan Xiong, the censor-in-chief, looked at Wei Yuan. He was in a very bad mood because Wei Yuan had not taken any action, which meant that his plan had failed.

However, it was not a loss to make Wei Yuan lose a capable assistant.

It seems that it has come to this... Wei Yuan sighed silently. When he first learned that Xu Xinnian was involved in the examination fraud case, Wei Yuan thought it was not a big deal. But after Xu Qian'an confessed to ghostwriting the poem, Wei Yuan's advice to him was:

Try to get a lighter punishment.

This was a fatal flaw.

Xu Ningyan seemed to have another reliance. He didn't say it, but I could feel it... Wei Yuan had a rough guess about Duke Cao's sudden betrayal, but when it came to solving the problem of composing poetry, Wei Yuan was completely clueless.

Emperor Yuan Jing looked down at Xu Xinnian, his voice stern and low: "You dare not?"

Gulp... Xu Xinnian swallowed hard, feeling as if he was on the edge of a knife. He gritted his teeth and said, "Your Majesty, please give me the topic."

Emperor Yuan Jing smiled and said leisurely, "Dying for righteousness and loyalty to the sovereign. Yes, that will be the topic. Compose a poem with this theme. You have the time it takes for an incense stick to burn."

Upon hearing the topic given by Emperor Yuan Jing, Minister Sun and the others couldn't help but chuckle.

His Majesty knew that Xu Xinnian was a student of the Yunlu Academy, yet he deliberately gave such a difficult topic.

Moreover, since ancient times, most of the enduring poems on the theme of loyalty and patriotism were written in times of national destruction and family ruin. There were very few excellent works on this theme in times of peace and prosperity.

This topic is extremely difficult!

Loyalty and patriotism as the theme... Xu Xinnian felt stiff all over, standing still in place.

On that day, my elder brother drew lots and got two exam topics: one was to compose an inspirational poem, and the other was about patriotism. The inspirational poem had already served its purpose in the Spring Examinations, helping him become the top scholar of the current dynasty.

So, the remaining patriotic poem was naturally useless.

He never expected that the topic given by Emperor Yuan Jing would be a poem on the theme of loyalty and patriotism.

Could it be... Could it be that His Majesty and my elder brother are in cahoots? Otherwise, how can this coincidence be explained?

Emperor Yuan Jing looked expressionlessly at the top scholar in the hall. Observing and understanding people's words and expressions was a skill that an emperor had mastered since his childhood.

The various expressions and gazes of this top scholar were all expressing his inner panic and despair, to the point of being dumbfounded.

The Crown Prince, who had also come from the ranks of the princes, coughed and said in a deep voice, "Your Majesty..."

"Crown Prince!"

The assistant minister of the Ministry of War raised his voice to interrupt, saying, "The time for an incense stick is limited. You must not disturb the top scholar Xu from composing his poem. All the court officials are waiting."

The Crown Prince's face darkened.

The courtiers had different expressions, some worried, some satisfied, some with a cold smile, and some watching coldly.

In the midst of silence, Xu Xinnian spoke loudly, "I don't need the time for an incense stick. I thank Your Majesty for giving me the opportunity. My elder brother, Xu Qian'an, is the poetry champion of the Great Feng. Composing poetry is as easy as pie for him.

"I cannot let him lose face."

Huh?!

Such sudden confidence?

The court officials, the Crown Prince, and Emperor Yuan Jing were all stunned at the same time.

Then, a voice with a rhythmic tone and a rising and falling pitch sounded in the inner hall:

"Dark clouds press down on the city, threatening to destroy it. The light of the armor shines like the sun, and the golden scales open."

With just a short sentence, a vivid picture of a siege was painted in the hearts of the audience. The enemy was coming in waves, like dark clouds pressing down. On the city walls, the armor of the defenders shimmered in the sunlight, standing ready.

As Xu Xinnian turned around, his gaze swept slowly over the court officials, and he recited, "The sound of horns fills the autumn sky, and the vermilion on the border congeals into a night purple."

The nobles in the court looked at him in astonishment. This scholar had never been on the battlefield, so why did he describe the scene of the battlefield so vividly and so deeply?

"Half-rolled red flags stand by the Yi River, and the cold sound of the drum does not rise under the heavy frost."

"What a great line, 'the cold sound of the drum does not rise under the heavy frost.' It's as if I'm back in the old days, wrapped in horsehide, guarding the border." The Marquis of Weihe was enraptured, praising loudly.

The other nobles were also immersed in the charm of the poetry.

The civil officials frowned, displeased at the sudden interruption by the rough warriors. Minister Sun looked at the censor-in-chief Yuan Xiong, who looked bewildered, and the assistant minister of the Ministry of War, Qin Yuandao, looked at the Minister of Justice with a grim face.

The four of them exchanged silent glances, feeling a sinking sensation in their hearts.

The Minister of Justice said in a deep voice, "This poem... is indeed good, but what does it have to do with loyalty to the sovereign? You have written nothing more than a description of the battlefield. As the top scholar, you cannot even match the theme of the poem.

"If this is not cheating, then what is it?"

"Exactly!" Qin Yuandao said loudly.

Xu Xinnian turned a deaf ear, suddenly turned around, bowed to Emperor Yuan Jing, and said in a louder voice, echoing through the hall:

"I report to Your Majesty the intention of the Golden Platform, and I am willing to die for Your Majesty."

The Minister of Justice's breath hitched, and he stared at Xu Xinnian, feeling as if an invisible slap had fiercely struck his face, a surge of anger rising to his heart.

Sun Shangshu and the others also had ashen faces, veins on their foreheads bulging.

"To express my loyalty on the golden platform, I'd lead a jade dragon to its death for my Emperor..." Emperor Yuan Jing savored the words, then revealed a smile, his dragon-like countenance greatly pleased:

"Excellent poetry, truly excellent. Worthy of being the top scholar, and indeed the talent who could write 'The Hardships of Travel.'"

His tone and demeanor made it clear to anyone that His Majesty was in a very good mood.

After a pause, Emperor Yuan Jing asked, "But what is the meaning of this golden platform?"

The golden platform should be a high platform cast in gold... Xu Xinnian bowed deeply, offering his interpretation: "To be loyal to Your Majesty, to face death for Your Majesty, not to mention a platform cast in gold, even a jade platform would be within easy reach."

Emperor Yuan Jing slowly nodded, his smile deepening: "Correct, the court has always been clear in its rewards and punishments, never failing to compensate its meritorious officials. I am the same."

He continued, "Xu Xinnian, your poetic talent is no less than your elder brother's, and 'The Hardships of Travel' must indeed be your work. As for the classics and policy discussions, I will personally review them during the palace examination. Do not disappoint me.

"As long as you can place in the upper second class, I can promise you a position in the Hanlin Academy as an Imperial Scholar."

The Hanlin Academy, also known as the repository of potential chancellors, was a prestigious position. Although an Imperial Scholar was not as high as the top class, it still qualified one to enter the cabinet, making it one of the most noble ranks in the court.

Wei Yuan and Prime Minister Wang, one tilting his head to the left and the other to the right, glanced at Xu Xinnian simultaneously.

Xu Xinnian, relieved, suppressed the joy in his heart: "Thank you, Your Majesty."

Emperor Yuan Jing declared, "I am tired, the court is dismissed."

It was over, the imperial examination fraud case was nearly concluded.

Unless Xu Xinnian performed abnormally during the palace examination, writing a terrible essay—which was highly unlikely given that he was a student of the Yunlu Academy and the top scholar of his time—his talent was definitely among the best of the scholars.

The most crucial point was that His Majesty seemed to have a high regard for this young man, which was of utmost importance.

The court officials had strange expressions on their faces, not expecting the case to end in such a manner.

The attempt to steal a chicken only to lose the rice... Sun Shangshu's face was ugly. After the palace examination and the end of the examination fraud case, there would surely be those who would take the opportunity to attack, accusing him of abusing his power and framing others.

The Censorate officials and other high-ranking officials of the third rank all felt a mix of disappointment and dissatisfaction.

This dissatisfaction almost peaked upon hearing Emperor Yuan Jing's promise to admit Xu Xinnian into the Hanlin Academy.

A student from Yunlu Academy, what right did he have to enter the Hanlin Academy? In the two hundred years since the establishment of the Imperial Academy, there had never been such a precedent.

The court officials, both inside and outside the hall, dispersed with complex emotions. As they crossed the grand square, they saw a Nightwatcher standing with a saber.

Facing the Meridian Gate, facing the court officials.

Princess Huai Qing and Princess Lin'an stood in the distance, not shoulder to shoulder with Xu Qi'an.

On one side were hundreds of well-dressed officials, holding real power in the capital.

On the other, a solitary and crude warrior, the Nightwatcher with a silver gong.

One man stood in the way of the most powerful group in the Great Feng.

The court officials noticed this small Nightwatcher making a blocking gesture and recognized his identity; there was no official in the capital who did not know him.

What did he want to do?

Was this crude warrior trying to show off triumphantly?

The ministers, vice-ministers, Censorate officials, royal family members, and nobles... pairs of eyes fell on Xu Qi'an, scrutinizing him.

A mere warrior dared to block our path?

One man, one saber, standing at the Meridian Gate, alone against the court officials.

Xu Qi'an faced the officials, slowly sweeping his gaze over everyone, then suddenly let out a cold laugh, his voice resonating from his core, slowly saying:

"Your bodies and names shall perish together, yet the rivers will flow eternally... Pah!"

He spat fiercely, carrying his saber, and walked away slowly.

A collective mockery!

Inside and outside the Meridian Gate, there was a moment of dead silence.

...

PS: Writing this chapter was like constipation, squeezed out bit by bit, chewing over every word.