My Wife is Unbeatable in the Whole World, Touch Me If You Dare!-Chapter 299 - 176: Committing Evil!

Dong!

Dong!

Dong!

With three dull bell tolls, not only was the end of the archery examination announced, but also the conclusion of this session of the Imperial Examination.

The only thing the candidates had to do was wait.

Following tradition, the list of Advanced Scholars would be posted outside the Imperial Palace walls in three days.

But what was different from past examinations was that some of the placements on this list of Advanced Scholars were already without suspense.

The top scholars in horse riding and archery were confirmed on the spot, both being the son of the Minister of Justice, Li Nuo.

Only he achieved excellent results in these two subjects.

The top scholar for the Music Department would emerge between him and one other.

As for the top scholars in the Book, Mathematics, and Ritual Departments, the court surely already knew, but would not make the announcement publicly until three days later.

Of course, the court was aware of the top scholars for these three subjects.

However, the relevant officials would prefer to be ignorant.

Ministry of Personnel.

The Ministers of Personnel and Rites, along with the Assistant Ministers from their respective departments, were all gathered, yet they struggled over a few simple lists.

The Minister of Rites looked at everyone and asked, "Gentlemen, how should we handle this?"

The Minister of Personnel said indifferently, "I don't understand Lord Du's concerns. The Imperial Examination is fair and just. Even if the same person is the top scholar in all six subjects, we should simply announce it as such. This sort of thing has happened in the past..."

The Minister of Rites cursed inwardly, calling him an old fox. This issue wasn't related to their Ministry of Personnel, but it was a big deal for the Ministry of Rites.

It concerned the selection of the Prince Consort. If all six top scholar titles really went to the same person, either His Majesty or the Imperial Family would lose face.

It would be best not to lose this face if possible.

He stood up, snorted coldly, and with a flick of his sleeves said, "Very well, if the Ministry of Personnel won't handle it, then we in the Ministry of Rites won't either. Let the Royal Family worry about their own issues!"

King You's Mansion.

Within a certain grand hall, King You put down the book in his hand, looked up, and expressed surprise, "The Minister of Rites?"

With the Imperial Examination just concluded, both the Ministry of Rites and the Ministry of Personnel should be busy with the examination matters. Why would the Minister of Rites come to King You's Mansion?

King You rose to his feet and instructed, "Let Lord Du in."

Moments later, seeing the figure that entered the hall, King You asked, "Why has Lord Du come? Could it be that there is an issue with the examination?"

The Minister of Rites answered, "There is no issue with the examination, but the Royal Family is about to have one. Your Highness King You, as this month's Prince Regent, the decision must rest with you. This matter is truly beyond the Ministry of Rites to resolve..."

Not long afterward, King You's face was full of astonishment as he muttered to himself, "How could this be?"

The Minister of Rites did not voice his thoughts, but he complained inwardly countless times.

Who had been so talkative? Choosing the Prince Consort wasn't urgent; couldn't it wait until after the examination?

It seemed it had been proposed by their Ministry of Rites.

Well, then it wasn't an issue.

The blame could only fall on His Majesty's casual remarks.

Whether he retracted them himself or thought of another solution, the Ministry of Rites would not bear the blame.

After pondering for a moment, King You spoke, "Let's not spread word of this yet. Wait until tomorrow. After I have consulted others, I will give you an answer."

The Minister of Rites responded, "Please make haste, Your Highness. We cannot delay the matter of the Imperial Examination."

King You nodded and said, "You will have my answer before 11:00 a.m. tomorrow."

March 13th.

The first day after the conclusion of the Imperial Examination.

Many things had happened the night before.

After ten years of hard study, the goal was to triumph in one attempt. With the examinations over, the students finally cast off their restraints and reveled throughout Chang'an all night.

Some forgot about the curfew in Chang'an. A group of inebriated men wandering the streets late at night were sternly reprimanded by patrolling Imperial Guards.

However, because of their status, they did not receive severe punishment.

Furthermore, last night, many women from brothels were arrested.

In recent months, with students from all over Daxia gathering in Chang'an, these entertainment venues were places where they often lingered. Some brothels, seeing that they were outsiders and would soon leave Chang'an, began to act with dishonest intentions.

They deliberately jacked up prices and used intimidation and deceit, severely violating industry norms and tarnishing Chang'an's reputation among students from other regions. The Chang'an County Government strictly punished these dishonest businesses.

Last night, the prison of the Chang'an County Government was packed with people, almost all of whom were women. It was said that after sentencing them to pay a fine the next day, the entire prison was fragrant.

Imperial Palace.

As dawn broke, all the Princes received a summons.

They were summoned by King You, the Prince Regent of the month, who held the Emperor's authority in the interim.

King Ji was the last to arrive. As soon as he entered the grand hall, he covered his mouth, yawning incessantly, and said, "Prince Regent King You, why have you called us here so early? I had just gone to sleep when your men woke me up..."

King You glanced at him. He found a place and sat down obediently.

After King Ji arrived, all the Regents were present.

Unlike King Ji, the other Princes understood that if King You summoned everyone so early, it must be for a very important matter, something so significant that he couldn't decide on his own.

Taking into account the timing, this matter was undoubtedly related to the Imperial Examination.

Sure enough, after King Ji was seated, King You spoke slowly, "I apologize for summoning you all so early, King Han and my other younger brothers. There is an urgent and important issue that I cannot decide on alone and need to discuss with you all..."

After hearing King You's words, even the princes, who had weathered many storms, showed astonishment and shock on their faces.

King Han stood up, disbelievingly said, "What? The top scholars of the Imperial Examination in all the Six Arts are Li Xuanjing's sons?"

King You spoke, "Although not all the Six Arts, there's a fifty percent chance for the sixth one."

King Chun's expression was dumbstruck, with only one thought in his mind.

He really guessed it right, Li Xuanjing's son was about to become his brother-in-law!

King Gong remembered something and said, "Father Emperor once mentioned that he wanted Anning to choose a Prince Consort among the top scholars, if that's so, won't she have only one choice? But I remember, Li Nuo seems to be married already..."

King You said, "That is exactly the issue. Anning cannot marry a man who already has a wife, and the words spoken by Father Emperor cannot be retracted."

King Gong pondered for a moment and spoke again, "Father Emperor's words cannot be taken back, but what if he divorces his wife? If he divorces his original spouse, he will no longer be a married man, right?"

Before King You could speak, King Han waved his hand and said, "What are you saying? To marry off a princess, you'd make someone divorce his sworn wife? Does the royal face matter at all?"

King Gong thought for a while and then said, "Just withdraw his top scholar status, replace him with someone who is not married, wouldn't there then be a second choice?"

Seeing that everyone, including King Ji, was looking at him, King Gong asked, "What are you all looking at me for?"

No one spoke.

Withdrawing a top scholar status, it sounded so easy...

The Imperial Examination was the foundation of the court, and it was because of it that the sons of great families could enter the power center, allowing Daxia's various states to maintain long-term stability.

The Imperial Examination was recognized by everyone because of its fairness.

Once the fairness of the Imperial Examination was publicly violated, many things would start to crumble.

His current scores in all subjects were outstanding, certified unanimously by different examiners, acknowledged by the Chief Judge, and reviewed and approved by the Chief Examiner, witnessed by many along the way.

Withdrawing a top scholar status was simply impossible.

Whoever does so among them will lose the eligibility to be Prince Regent.

That mattered even more than the royal face.

King You waved his hand, "That is absolutely not acceptable."

King Gong crossed his arms and, leaning back in his chair, said, "That won't work, this won't work, I've said enough, you can figure it out yourselves..."

At that moment, King Rui had a thought and said, "Isn't the Music Department Top Scholar not yet decided? If he doesn't become the top scholar of the Music Department, wouldn't that solve the problem?"

King You said, "Both their Music Department performances are outstanding, it's uncertain if the other candidate could best him."

King Rui smiled and said, "That's easy. The scores are determined by the examiners. If both are outstanding, who's to say how much better one is than the other? Just inform those examiners that no matter how they play, choose the other person, and wouldn't that solve the problem?"

He didn't understand why these elder brothers couldn't think of such a simple solution.

At that point, King You's gaze turned to him, smiling, he said, "Good idea, since it was you who thought of it, you shall execute it. Alright, everyone can disperse now…"

...

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King Chun Mansion.

When King Chun returned to the mansion, he was still pondering.

Truly like father like son, just like his father back in the day.

It was a pity that, due to the royal face, this time, he couldn't monopolize the top scholars in all Six Arts.

The royal family would not allow him to monopolize all six top scholar positions.

Nor would the court.

This matter had already received unanimous agreement from the regent princes, King You had even informed the three provinces, and both Prime Ministers had tacitly approved this matter.

He had just entered the mansion when a figure jumped out from the bushes.

"Elder brother!"

King Chun patted his chest, looking at that graceful figure, saying, "Anning, can you not be so abrupt every time? Your elder brother is getting old, you'll startle me into illness one of these days..."

"Okay, okay, I'll be careful next time…"

Li Anning looked at him, impatiently asking, "Elder brother, why did you enter the palace early in the morning, do you already know who the top scholar is..."

King Chun smiled and said, "You want to know who your Prince Consort is, don't you?"

Li Anning blushed, then awkwardly replied, "Nonsense, what girl doesn't care about her own lifelong affair?"

King Chun sighed, "Our little Anning has grown up…"

Li Anning urged, "Elder brother, tell me quickly..."

King Chun had to say, "Alright, alright, normally these matters shouldn't be disclosed, but since it's you, Anning, this year's top scholar of the Imperial Examination is Li Nuo, and he's also the top scholar in the Book, Mathematics, Ritual Department, Horse Riding, and Shooting departments..."

Seeing the joy she could not hide on her face, King Chun paused, asking, "You don't... want Li Nuo to be your Prince Consort, do you?"

Caught by her elder brother's direct hit, Li Anning's face turned even redder, she immediately said, "How could that be, we're just good friends..."

King Chun sighed in relief, "That's good then."

Li Anning was taken aback, "Good what?"

King Chun said, "Because he's not the Music Department Top Scholar."

Li Anning first turned pale, and then realized something, questioned, "Why, isn't the Music Department examination still unfinished?"

King Chun explained, "Even though the Music Department examination isn't finished, he cannot be the Music Department Top Scholar, otherwise, you would have to marry him, the royal family will not allow it, nor will the court..."

Li Anning trembled, feeling a wave of dizziness, she barely stood straight and angrily said, "This is not fair, it's cheating, I'm going to see Father Emperor!"

King Chun looked at her expression, his eyes thoughtful, he shook his head, "It's useless, Father Emperor is in seclusion and won't see anyone, this decision was made after discussion by all regent princes, and both Prime Ministers, as well as the three provinces, have already tacitly agreed, that Music Department genius, reportedly handsome and talented... Anning, Anning!"

King Chun hadn't finished his words, and Li Anning had already turned and left.

Looking at that dispirited figure, King Chun was finally certain about what he had been thinking, he sighed deeply and slowly said, "What a sin..."