[Imperial Palace · Taiji Hall · 5-7 AM]
"This minister requests permission to personally serve as Chief Examiner for this session's imperial examinations."
Xie Qingyan's voice echoed through Taiji Hall. Every official's expression changed.
The Regent personally serving as Chief Examiner? This was unprecedented! Throughout history, the imperial examinations had always been overseen by the Minister of Rites or a Grand Secretary from the Hanlin Academy. The Regent may have held power over all the court, but he had never before touched the examinations.
The young Emperor blinked and looked toward the Regent beside him, asking in a small voice, "Why does Imperial Uncle wish to serve as Chief Examiner?"
"The imperial examinations are the foundation of our nation; the selection of talent determines the fate of our dynasty." Xie Qingyan's expression remained impassive. "This minister has heard that examination fraud has become rampant in recent years. Many scholars who studied diligently for a decade have been pushed off the rankings by children of the privileged. This minister wishes to personally oversee the examinations and restore fairness to all scholars under heaven."
The moment these words left his mouth, murmurs erupted throughout the court.
Standing among the civil officials, Prime Minister Zhou Yanling's face had turned so dark it could drip ink. The examinations were territory he had cultivated for years. At least thirty percent of each year's new jinshi scholars were his people. The Regent's move was clearly aimed directly at him!
"The Regent's words are misguided." Zhou Yanling stepped forward, forcing a thin smile onto his face. "The examinations have always been managed by the Ministry of Rites. The Regent handles ten thousand matters daily—why trouble yourself with such a minor affair?"
"Minor affair?" Xie Qingyan cast him a cool glance. "Is the Prime Minister saying that selecting talent for the nation is a minor affair?"
Zhou Yanling's face stiffened. He hastily corrected himself: "That is not what this old minister meant..."
"If that's not what you meant, then what exactly is the Prime Minister worried about?" The corner of Xie Qingyan's mouth curved upward. "Could it be that the Prime Minister has some... unspeakable dealings in the examination halls?"
At these words, cold sweat broke out on Zhou Yanling's forehead.
"The Regent sees clearly—this old minister has absolutely no such intentions!" He dropped to his knees in haste. "This old minister was merely concerned that the Regent might overexert himself and damage his... dragon body... no, his esteemed body..."
"The Prime Minister need not worry." Xie Qingyan's tone was mild. "This King's health is quite robust."
He turned to face the young Emperor and bowed. "Your Majesty, this minister requests your decree."
The young Emperor looked at the Regent, then at the Prime Minister kneeling on the ground. His small hands gripped the armrests of the dragon throne as he weighed the situation. On one side, his powerful Imperial Uncle who handled everything. On the other, the elderly Prime Minister who always smiled at him but somehow made him uneasy.
After a moment's hesitation, he finally nodded: "P-Permission granted."
"This minister thanks Your Majesty for your grace."
Xie Qingyan straightened, his gaze sweeping across the assembled officials before settling on the Prime Minister. Those eyes were cold as frost, sending a chill down Zhou Yanling's spine.
Yin Wuwang stood among the military officials, his face expressionless as he observed this scene. Inwardly, however, he was cheering.
Fuguang's move strikes directly at the Prime Minister's lifeline. He calculated silently. The examinations are the foundation of that old fox's power network. Now that Fuguang has severed it with one stroke, he must be going mad.
He watched the Prime Minister struggle to maintain composure, sweat visibly beading on the old man's temples. The contrast with Fuguang's icy calm was almost comical. Here was a man who had manipulated court politics for forty years, reduced to stammering excuses by a few well-placed words.
This is what happens when you try to play games with Fuguang. Yin Wuwang thought with satisfaction. You get crushed.
Little Deer Assistant 9527's voice crackled in his mind: "Suggestion: Just cancel the imperial examinations entirely! Save the trouble!"
Yin Wuwang sneered internally. Cancel the examinations? Every scholar in the realm would tear the court apart! Does this broken system have holes in its brain?
He ignored the Little Deer's suggestion and continued playing the uninvolved military official. But his eyes never left the Prime Minister's face, memorizing every flicker of emotion, every twitch of suppressed rage.
Remember this, old fox. Remember what it feels like to lose.
When court concluded, officials departed in small clusters, their whispers filling the halls like buzzing insects. Everyone was discussing the unprecedented move—the Regent personally overseeing the examinations. Some were worried, some curious, and more than a few were already calculating how this shift in power would affect their own positions.
Yin Wuwang was about to leave when he suddenly felt a gaze land upon him.
He turned his head. It was Xie Qingyan.
Their eyes met. Xie Qingyan gave a slight nod, then turned and departed.
Yin Wuwang understood immediately—tonight, the study.
[Ministry of Rites · 9-11 AM]
After leaving Taiji Hall, Xie Qingyan headed straight for the Ministry of Rites.
Minister Qian had already received word and was waiting nervously at the entrance. He was the Prime Minister's man. He had assumed this examination session was securely in hand, never expecting the Regent to appear halfway through.
"This humble official greets the Regent." Minister Qian bowed deeply, sweat beading on his forehead.
"Rise." Xie Qingyan's voice was level. "This King has come to review the preparations for this session. Have the examination questions been drafted? What about the list of examiners?"
"Well..." Minister Qian stammered. "The questions are still being deliberated. The examiner list... is also still being selected..."
"Let this King see them."
Minister Qian didn't dare refuse. He hurriedly ordered someone to fetch the documents.
Xie Qingyan leafed through them for a moment, his brow furrowing. More than half the names on the examiner list were the Prime Minister's cronies. And the proposed examination questions were all tired, unoriginal topics that had been recycled for decades.
No wonder the examinations in this world are such a disaster. He mused. The original author clearly had no understanding of the examination system when he wrote this section. He just threw in some random names and called it done.
It was the same problem they kept encountering—lazy writing, plot holes, characters who existed only to serve obvious functions. The Prime Minister's examiner picks weren't chosen for competence or even loyalty; they were just... names. Placeholders. The author had needed "corrupt examiners" for the plot, so he'd created them without any thought to how an actual examination system worked.
Well, this King will show you how it's done properly.
He closed the documents, his voice cool: "The examiner list is hereby invalidated. This King will personally select new examiners. The examination questions will also be changed—this King has other arrangements."
Minister Qian's face drained of color. "Regent, this... this is against protocol! The examination questions have always been drafted by the Ministry of Rites..."
"Protocols are rigid; people are flexible." Xie Qingyan cut him off. "Since this King is personally serving as Chief Examiner, these matters are naturally this King's to decide. If Minister Qian has objections, he may petition His Majesty."
He paused, letting the words sink in. Minister Qian's face had gone from pale to ashen. The man knew exactly what "petition His Majesty" meant—it meant going over the Regent's head, which was tantamount to political suicide.
How would Minister Qian dare? He could only nod meekly in agreement.
Xie Qingyan paid him no further attention and turned to leave. His shadow guards fell into step behind him, silent as ghosts.
As he stepped through the Ministry gates, his personal shadow guard appeared silently at his side: "Your Highness, the Prime Minister has sent someone to the Imperial Academy."
"As expected." Xie Qingyan's tone remained calm. The Prime Minister was nothing if not predictable. "Have them watched closely. I want to know every word they exchange, every person they contact. See what tricks they're trying to play."
The shadow guard acknowledged the order and departed, melting into the shadows as if he had never been there.
[Prime Minister's Residence · Study · Noon]
Zhou Yanling returned to his residence and immediately smashed a tea set the moment he entered his study.
"Xie Lan!" He ground his teeth. "That whelp wants to fight me to the death!"
His advisor stood trembling nearby: "My lord, please calm yourself. Though the Regent has seized the Chief Examiner position, the examinations are still a month away. We still have time..."
"Time?" Zhou Yanling let out a cold laugh. "He's personally serving as Chief Examiner—how are the people I've arranged supposed to get in now? He'll certainly replace the examiner list. He'll change the examination questions. Years of my planning, all wasted!"
The advisor considered for a moment, then said in a low voice: "My lord, what if we found a way to destroy the Regent's reputation before the examinations?"
Zhou Yanling paused. "You mean..."
"Scholars value their honor above all else." The advisor lowered his voice further, a cunning gleam in his eyes. "If we can make every scholar under heaven believe the Regent intends to persecute the literati—that he plans to destroy the examination system that gives them hope for advancement—and they rise up in opposition of their own accord... how can the Regent remain Chief Examiner then? He'll be forced to step down or face a revolt of the entire scholarly class."
Zhou Yanling's eyes lit up. "Good! An excellent scheme!"
He immediately picked up his brush and wrote a secret letter: "Send this to the Imperial Academy. Have Scholar Chen find a way to incite the students. Tell them the Regent plans to reform the examinations, abolish the eight-legged essay format, and destroy the prospects of every scholar in the realm!"
The advisor bowed and departed with the letter.
Zhou Yanling sat alone in his study, a vicious smile curving his lips.
Xie Lan, you think you can rest easy just because you've stolen the Chief Examiner position? You think you've won?
He stroked his beard, eyes glittering with malice.
Let's see how you handle it when every scholar in the realm rises against you! Let's see how you maintain that cold composure when thousands of angry literati are calling for your head!
[Duke of Zhenguo's Residence · Study · 7-9 PM]
Night fell. Yin Wuwang sat alone in his study, waiting for word from Xie Qingyan.
The candle flames flickered, casting dancing shadows on the walls. Outside, the first stars were appearing in the darkening sky. It was peaceful, almost serene—a stark contrast to the political storm brewing beneath the surface.
As he waited, he leafed through intelligence reports his subordinates had delivered. The Prime Minister had sent someone to the Imperial Academy. The specifics of what was said remained unclear, but it certainly wasn't anything good.
That old fox won't sit idle. He calculated. Fuguang has seized his territory—he'll definitely strike back. The question is, what method will he use? Assassination? Slander? Or something more subtle?
Whatever it was, Yin Wuwang would be ready.
Just as he was pondering this, a guard came to report: "My Lord, a letter has arrived from the Regent's residence."
Yin Wuwang accepted the letter and unfolded it. Written there: "The Prime Minister will certainly mobilize the scholars. Watch and wait. Do not intervene."
He gazed at that cool, elegant script, the corner of his mouth lifting. Fuguang anticipated this long ago, of course.
Since Fuguang says not to intervene, I'll just sit back and enjoy the show.
He picked up his brush to reply: "Understood. Take care."
After writing it, he felt it was too brief, so he added another line: "If the Prime Minister dares move against you, this sovereign will absolutely not stand by."
Looking at those words, he began to second-guess himself again. Is this too direct? Will Fuguang think I'm being obsequious?
Forget it! He steeled himself, sealed the letter, and sent it off. So what if I want to protect him? That's exactly what I want!
After dispatching the letter, he leaned back in his chair and gazed at the night beyond his window.
How would the Prime Minister make his move? How would Fuguang respond?
He found himself feeling something like anticipation—not anticipation of victory, but anticipation of fighting alongside Fuguang.
This feeling... was strange. But not unpleasant.
Not unpleasant at all.
He looked down at the jade pendant hanging at his waist—the one Fuguang had lost during one of their battles in the Nine Heavens, the one he had secretly kept all these years. In the candlelight, it seemed to glow with a soft, warm light.
He sealed the letter and walked to the window. A carrier pigeon waited on the sill—one of the shadow guards' trained birds.
He attached the message to its leg and released it into the night.
The bird's white wings caught the moonlight for a moment, then vanished into the darkness toward the Regent's residence.
The storm is coming. He watched the empty sky where the pigeon had disappeared. The Prime Minister will strike back. The scholars will riot. And somewhere in the shadows, Prince Huai is watching us all.
Outside, thunder rumbled in the distance. The first drops of rain began to fall.
Whatever came next, at least they wouldn't be facing it blind.
[End of Chapter 14]
Next Chapter Preview:
Scholars riot. Rumors fly. The Regent's reputation hangs by a thread. And Yin Wuwang discovers that watching Fuguang face a mob of angry literati is somehow more nerve-wracking than any battlefield he's ever seen.
Chapter 15: A Knife Above the Heart of Patience: The Correct Solution When Your Beloved Is About to Be Drowned in Spit