The crowds viewing the results were now in complete panic. Even those commoners who had passed began to doubt whether the wrong list had been posted—this session’s chief examiner was undoubtedly, thoroughly from a noble family background. Had that Qi Jingchen gone mad to quietly create such a spectacle?

For a moment the scholarly circles were in chaos, and the noble families and wealthy houses in Jiankang City all began mobilizing. Whether they were close to the Qi family or not, whether they had sent gifts or not, whether their descendants were capable or worthless—all at once they exploded like a disturbed hornet’s nest, then began swarming toward the Qi family in waves, even more fervent than when they had originally sought favor and sent gifts, looking determined to demand an explanation.

Left Chancellor Qi Zhang had truly not anticipated such an event would occur.

On the day the results were announced, the Chancellor was having tea in his office when he looked up to see a large group of colleagues rushing through his door, surrounding him with red faces and thick necks, leaving the Left Chancellor utterly bewildered. Upon careful inquiry, he heard an old friend say with both anger and sighs, “You still don’t know? Go back and see! Your second son Jingchen… sigh!”

The Left Chancellor had four sons, and the Qi family’s generation had countless young men. The one he was most at ease with was his second son—not only did he never cause trouble, but he never disappointed him either. Now hearing people speak of his second son’s impropriety, the Left Chancellor found it absurd and incomprehensible. But seeing so many people arrive in such agitation, he couldn’t help feeling uneasy, so he hurriedly took leave of the various lords who had come calling and rushed home by carriage.

Upon returning to the main residence, the area outside the mansion gates was already crowded with people, all looking like they had come to demand explanations. Seeing the Left Chancellor return to his mansion, they immediately swarmed forward. The Chancellor was overwhelmed and confused, feeling an evil fire rising from his heart. After finally managing with great difficulty to enter the gates and shut out those clamorous voices, he summoned a servant with barely contained anger and commanded sternly, “Go bring the Second Young Master back to me!”

When Qi Ying returned to the main residence, the evening lamps were just being lit, and the crowd gathered at the gates had already been dispersed.

He glanced at the empty area before the gates, then entered the mansion without a word.

Qingzhu followed beside his master, his heart in turmoil and extremely uneasy, feeling that today’s atmosphere at the main residence was particularly tense. From the main gate to the principal hall, all the maids and servants they encountered along the way had strange expressions, all faintly showing signs of fear.

His heart became even more uneasy.

But his master remained completely normal. Qingzhu stole a glance and saw his expression was as calm as always, his breathing undisturbed, walking steadily toward the principal hall.

The principal hall was brightly lit, with the Left Chancellor and Lady Yao Shi present, as well as the eldest son Qi Yun.

Usually the Chancellor was always affectionate toward his wife, but today, having become angry, his complexion was very unsightly. Yao Shi wanted to console him but didn’t dare, appearing rather hesitant. Qi Yun sat in a lower seat, also looking deeply worried.

When they saw Qi Ying return, all three pairs of eyes immediately focused on him.

Although those gazes were all directed at his master, Qingzhu couldn’t help but shudder, while his master acted as if unaware, going directly to pay respects to his parents and elder brother.

The Chancellor sat in the main seat with a face like dark water, not asking his second son to be seated, only saying in a deep voice, “All servants leave.”

These words made Qingzhu’s heart clench even tighter, increasingly sensing that something would happen today.

While he was lost in worried thoughts, the other servants all left as instructed, leaving only him still in the hall. The Chancellor’s stern gaze had already swept toward him. Qingzhu felt his scalp tingle, then heard his master turn and say to him, “Go down.”

With his master’s command, naturally there was nothing he wouldn’t obey. Upon hearing this, though his heart was filled with countless worries, Qingzhu still didn’t dare disobey and withdrew with a bow.

Thus, only Qi Zhang, Yao Shi, Qi Yun, and Qi Ying remained in the principal hall.

Qi Zhang looked at his second son standing in the hall below, his expression uglier than ever before. After the servants had all withdrawn, his anger became even more uncontrollable. Though he still forced himself to restrain it, the intimidating pressure around him was already quite overwhelming.

He stared intently at Qi Ying and slowly asked, “The results of the spring examination selections—was that your decision?”

Qi Zhang already knew.

This afternoon while waiting for Qi Ying to return home, he had already learned of this year’s spring examination results: among the three ranks, the first two ranks had almost no children of noble families, and even counting the third rank, noble families comprised only two or three out of ten successful candidates. The top scholar, second place, third place, and herald were all from humble backgrounds. Such transgression, such absurdity—even if Prince Duan, who relied on commoner officials to maintain his position in court, were personally presiding, he wouldn’t dare go this far!

Though knowing it was impossible, Qi Zhang still held out hope in his heart, wishing there might be some misunderstanding or accident. But his second son answered with complete composure, “In response to Father, I personally graded them.”

This statement truly added fuel to the fire!

Yao Shi knew her husband’s temper best and understood he was already suppressing anger. But not only did Jingchen not avoid the topic, he answered so directly—how could this not make his father even angrier?

There was a tremendous crash as Qi Zhang slammed the table in fury, causing the teacup to fall and shatter into pieces on the floor. The atmosphere in the hall became tense, and for a moment no one dared clean up the mess. They heard Qi Zhang ask in an extremely deep and cold voice, “Why did you do this?”

This time even Qi Yun sensed their father was on the edge of rage. He hurriedly gave his younger brother subtle signals, but unexpectedly, his usually astute second brother seemed unable to turn the corner at this moment, still answering without attempting to smooth things over: “The first two ranks are all people of genuine learning. I merely graded fairly. To avoid criticism, I have already posted the examination papers of the top four at the examination hall entrance for public viewing and judgment. If anyone has objections, they may argue before all the scholars of the realm.”

His words were not false.

In previous years’ spring examination grading, to favor noble families through corruption and fraud, there had never been a precedent of making candidates’ papers public. This year, with Qi Ying as chief examiner, he had started this practice, naturally drawing everyone’s attention. Today, the answer papers of the first rank’s three candidates plus the herald had been posted at the examination hall entrance for a full day. Countless people had viewed them, and still no one dared say they disagreed. Though noble family members were dissatisfied with their own rejections, none dared claim their essays were better than those four on the wall.

But upon hearing this, Qi Zhang became even more enraged, pointing at his second son and shouting, “Fair grading? How many years have you been in office? And now you speak such childish words like a three-year-old!—Kneel down!”

Ever since passing the age of knowing heaven’s mandate, the Chancellor had rarely lost his temper, especially toward his family descendants—his disposition had mellowed considerably. Even toward Qi Ning and Qi Le, who were beyond help, he no longer resorted to beatings and scolding. But today he had broken his restraint, actually becoming angry with the second son he had always been proud of.

Qi Ying offered no rebuttal whatsoever. Upon hearing this, he lifted his robes and knelt down calmly, without the slightest hesitation.

His composed manner only further enraged Qi Zhang. In extreme anger, he laughed and walked two steps closer to his second son, saying urgently, “Are you mad? Or have you become foolish? By so demeaning noble families and elevating the humble, what will the court officials think? What will His Majesty and those two princes think? They’ll all believe our family is turning toward Prince Duan’s faction!”

Qi Zhang was truly at the end of his patience, unable to help pacing back and forth, speaking as he walked: “And what about relationships between noble families—have you considered that? How many people came calling after today’s announcement? Everyone wants you to give an explanation! What do you think our family is? The Qi family is the foremost noble house with deep roots, but what you’ve done is tantamount to making enemies of the entire noble class! Don’t you understand such a simple principle as being outnumbered?”

Qi Zhang was so angry his face had gone somewhat pale, his urgent fury affecting his heart and making his steps unsteady. Qi Yun, seeing this from the side, quickly went to support him, also counseling, “Father, please calm your anger first. Jingchen is not a person without strategy—perhaps he has his own plans…”

Yao Shi also hurried to offer her husband tea, but the Chancellor wouldn’t accept it, only continuing to look with an iron-blue face at his second son kneeling tall in the hall below. He nodded and said, “Fine, he’s not without strategy, so let’s give him a chance to explain exactly what he’s planning that’s worth such absurdity!”

Though these words carried a sarcastic tone, they at least gave Qi Ying a chance to defend himself. Upon hearing this, Qi Yun immediately felt joy and quickly gave his younger brother more signals, hoping he would quickly say something to appease their father.

But unexpectedly, Qi Ying’s phoenix eyes neither moved nor retreated—instead advancing. Not only did he not try to appease his father, he actually stated, “Though Jiankang still maintains an appearance of peace, beyond this place chaos is already rising everywhere. If Great Liang doesn’t seek change, the disaster of the southern migration will come again—having crossed the Yangtze River, where will we retreat to next? Noble family manipulation of power has a hundred harms and not one benefit. If we don’t decisively break the old and establish the new, the day of national calamity draws near.”

When Qi Ying’s words reached this point, there was a moment of deathly silence in the principal hall, followed by a light laugh from his father—a precursor to being too angry for further anger.

He looked around at his wife and eldest son, then pointed at Qi Ying, asking those beside him, “Did you all hear what he just said?”

Yao Shi, not understanding court affairs, naturally couldn’t perceive the depths. Qi Yun’s expression was troubled, no longer knowing how to counsel, only stammering, “Father…”

Qi Zhang no longer looked at the others. He shook off the support of Yao Shi and his eldest son, walking step by step before his second son, his voice low, which made it even more terrifying.

He asked word by word, “Beautiful rhetoric. So you’re saying your absurd behavior is for the sake of family and national righteousness?”

Qi Zhang laughed once, a laugh containing both contempt and deep weariness.

“Jingchen, you’ve been an official for many years. I thought you had long since understood, but how can you still be so senseless?” Qi Zhang looked down at his second son from above. “Do you think you’re the only upright person in this court? Or that only you have family and national righteousness, only you can see the situation clearly?”

“You are a minister, not a monarch!” Qi Zhang stood with hands behind his back, his expression and tone unprecedentedly severe. “The survival of family and nation is for the imperial family to consider—a minister’s world is not there at all! What we must think about is family peace, ancestral glory, generations of descendants continuing the bloodline, preserving life under great reputation!”

“Is this vulgar, Jingchen?” Qi Zhang pressed aggressively. “This is the rule! Countless dynasties, countless families, countless people have repeatedly discovered this rule through trial and error—what gives you the right to break it? Even if you have brilliant talent, even if you hold wisdom in your grasp, you’re still just a grain of sand in the rolling course of history. What do you have to break it with?”

“Qi Jingchen, is it that the world has praised you too highly, so you’ve forgotten who you are!”

The words were extremely heavy and sharp, like a blade piercing directly into the heart. Qi Ying remained kneeling with lowered eyes, saying nothing, his expression still calm.

Qi Zhang seemed to have grown tired of speaking. He was silent for a long time, rubbing his forehead with his hand, saying in an extremely weary tone, “Whatever method you use, quickly change the spring examination results and issue them again within three days. As for His Majesty’s side, I will speak for you myself.”

Having said this, the Chancellor’s anger seemed to have been fully vented. Qi Yun on the side observed with eyes watching nose and nose watching heart, finally breathing a sigh of relief.

Though he didn’t agree with his father’s arbitrary changing of spring examination results, obviously the priority now was to agree first to avoid escalating the conflict further.

But tonight his second brother was truly abnormal to the extreme. Such a simple principle seemed beyond his understanding, and at this juncture he said again, “The spring examination selection is a great national plan, not something one person or one surname can decide arbitrarily. Since this list has been posted, my decision is made, and there is no reason to change it. I hope Father will understand.”

This statement, spoken clearly and mildly, was no different from throwing salt into fire!

Qi Yun listened from the side with alarm, and indeed saw his father’s anger flare even higher as he sternly asked, “I’ll ask you one more time—will you change this list or not?”

Qi Ying responded with silence.

Qi Zhang’s expression had become indescribably ugly. He looked at Qi Ying, nodding then shaking his head, finally saying three “good”s in succession, then his eyes sharpened, as if he had finally made up his mind. He said to his eldest son with neither lightness nor weight, “Go fetch the family disciplinary whip for me.”