The demands of these scholars not only frightened Consort Rou until her face turned pale, but also shocked the many court officials behind her.

Making the imperial examinations the sole method for selecting officials…

How did these people even come up with such a thing!

It was simply absurd wishful thinking.

The court officials looked at those scholars kneeling on the ground, their gazes instantly becoming sharp and fierce. Yet the expressions of the scholars kneeling on the ground remained unchanged as they only said, “Since Your Ladyship has come out, you must be prepared to petition on behalf of us students from humble origins. We students from humble families have studied arduously for decades, carrying the hopes of our entire households, seeking only to obtain official positions. My elderly father, in order to support this commoner’s studies, dared not seek medical treatment when ill and had no rice or grain to eat. When he finally received news that I had become a provincial tribute candidate, he was overjoyed and stayed awake all night. Never did he imagine that my hopes of decades would be completely destroyed in a single evening.”

“This matter, I will investigate clearly for you,” Consort Rou responded, furrowing her brow. “But how officials are selected has nothing to do with this matter.”

“How is it unrelated?!” the scholar proclaimed emphatically. “The court established the imperial examinations precisely to broadly recruit talented people. But dare I ask Your Ladyship—in the nearly ten years since the imperial examinations were instituted, has there been even one student from humble origins who, through the imperial examinations, became an official of the fifth rank or above?”

As the scholar spoke, he took a scroll from his sleeve and spread it on the ground. “These are the officials of non-aristocratic origins from the imperial examinations over these past ten years. Your Ladyship should take a look at what they’re doing now. Currently the court is controlled by aristocratic families, with accumulated corruption from top to bottom, as precarious as a pile of eggs…”

“Insolent!”

An official suddenly shouted loudly, “How dare you, a mere youth, spout such nonsense outside the palace gates! Someone, drag him away!”

Upon hearing this command, soldiers stepped forward. Several tall and sturdy students immediately stood up and called out loudly, “What are you doing? Are you planning to murder us to silence us, to seal our mouths? You dare to act but don’t dare to admit it? Consort Rou, is this the justice you intend to seek for us?”

With the students questioning her this way, the soldiers dared not move further. They looked toward Consort Rou, who coughed lightly. “This matter is of great significance. Everyone should stand up, and we’ll handle things one by one.”

“Then which matter does Your Ladyship plan to handle?”

The leading scholar pressed relentlessly. Consort Rou hesitated for a moment, then heard the student say, “Is Your Ladyship planning to first coax us into the palace, pacify us, and then make other plans?”

That was indeed Consort Rou’s intention, but being exposed so directly by the scholar, she didn’t know what to say for a moment.

She pondered for a while before finally saying, “I know you don’t trust me, but such a major matter is beyond my authority to decide. However, I myself come from humble origins. When I was young, my father sold me into the palace for just two taels of silver. The suffering you’ve endured, I’ve endured it all, and even more so—because I am a woman, I’ve suffered even more than you.”

With this speech from Consort Rou, the crowd was somewhat moved. The scholar fell silent. Consort Rou took a deep breath and personally went to help him up. “You can rest assured—whatever justice I can give you, I will give even if it costs me my life. All of you should stand up first. In a moment, Prince Su and I will go to the Constabulary Bureau, and you can all come together. We’ll handle your grievances one by one and will never brush anyone off.”

Consort Rou’s background was her greatest weapon. With her words, combined with her reddened eyes, it seemed as if not believing her would be your own sin.

The scholar still wanted to say something more, but another scholar beside him readily agreed. Seeing this scene, the scholar who had been leading the protest hesitated for a moment but was ultimately helped up by Consort Rou. Then Consort Rou pacified them for a while before having people lead these students in a grand procession toward the Constabulary Bureau.

After pacifying the students, Consort Rou returned to the court with Prince Su and the assembled officials. Consort Rou had Li Cheng repeat what had just happened. After Li Cheng, under Consort Rou’s guidance, stammered through recounting the events, Li Ming remained silent without speaking.

Everyone was waiting for Li Ming’s response.

The most crucial aspect of this matter had long since ceased to be about those students having their places stolen, but rather about the students’ proposal to change the system for selecting officials.

These students’ sudden appearance here clearly indicated someone had instructed them. If everyone had previously been speculating that this was a factional struggle among court officials, at this moment they couldn’t help but suspect that these people had been arranged by Li Ming.

Li Ming’s intention to suppress the aristocratic families had been ongoing for over a decade. From when he began heavily employing Pei Lizhi, establishing the imperial examinations, striving to promote people from humble origins, and even later favoring Consort Rou and conferring titles on Prince Su—all of it was aimed at suppressing them.

The suggestions these scholars raised today seemed to be seeking justice for them, but ultimately the greatest beneficiary in the court would be Li Ming, seated on the golden throne.

Everyone speculated about Li Ming’s intentions in their hearts, but Li Ming only drank his tea and said nothing before dismissing the court.

After the court was dismissed, Pei Wenxuan quickly looked toward Li Rong, but Li Rong didn’t look at him at all and directly walked out of the grand hall.

Pei Wenxuan’s heart grew anxious. He turned and walked rapidly, wanting to catch up with Li Rong, but before he could exit the hall, he was stopped by a eunuch who said in a low voice, “My lord, His Majesty summons you.”

Pei Wenxuan stopped in his tracks. He took a deep breath to calm himself down, then nodded and said, “I’ll go right away.”

In this brief back and forth, Li Rong had already gone far.

Pei Wenxuan watched Li Rong’s retreating figure. After a moment, he stepped toward the door and saw Su Rongqing standing at the entrance.

Pei Wenxuan paid no attention to his mood. As they brushed past each other, Su Rongqing suddenly spoke, “That Wen Xingzhi is your man.”

Wen Xingzhi was the person who had filed the complaint today. Hearing Su Rongqing’s question, Pei Wenxuan only smiled. “What is Lord Su saying? I don’t understand.”

With that, he strode out.

Pei Wenxuan went to see Li Ming. As soon as Li Rong exited the palace gates, she was stopped by Li Ming’s people.

Li Ming’s people demanded the official seal of the Constabulary Bureau from her. She didn’t hesitate and directly threw out the seal she had prepared, then withdrew into her carriage and said coldly, “Go.”

After the carriage left the palace, Li Rong felt the surroundings become quiet. She sat there blankly for quite a while before slowly coming back to her senses.

She leaned back in her seat, feeling somewhat weary.

When she had previously asked Pei Wenxuan about these scholars, he had deliberately changed the subject. At that time, she knew Pei Wenxuan didn’t want her involved in this matter. He must have been planning something she wouldn’t like.

Although she didn’t fully understand his specific thoughts now, she had grasped his general intention.

He wanted to change the official selection system at this time.

Reforming the official selection system was something they had argued about for many years in their previous life.

She favored the aristocratic family recommendation system because, when it came to being an official, the most important thing wasn’t how much learning one had, but the ability to get things done. The imperial examination system produced a large batch of scholars every year, but those scholars who bobbed their heads while reciting could do nothing except read books. Occasionally there were some clever ones, but most of them had improper intentions.

“Study the literary and martial arts, then sell them to the imperial family.” These students from humble origins, from the moment they began studying, did so for the purpose of becoming officials. This meant that for them, being an official was a business transaction, so after taking office, corruption and bribery were rampant and impossible to prohibit.

But Pei Wenxuan loved the imperial examinations, even if the people selected through them were often unsuitable for the political arena—Pei Wenxuan didn’t care.

Because what he cared about more was fairness.

Even if this method wasn’t suitable, it was the best way to ensure fairness.

Now Pei Wenxuan wanted to change the official selection system at this time—of course it wasn’t for the sake of fairness.

He had his reasons, but he wouldn’t tell her.

He even deliberately concealed it from her. No matter how many times she told him to trust her more, in his bones he still didn’t trust her.

Li Rong smiled mockingly. She closed her eyes, thinking about Pei Wenxuan’s next move. How exactly did he plan…

After pondering for a moment, Li Rong finally decided she needed to go ask him directly in person.

Having thought of this, Li Rong lifted the carriage curtain and turned to say to the person outside, “Go to the new residence, and have Cui Yulang come find me at the new residence.”

The mansion she had purchased beside Pei Wenxuan’s residence was finally settled. She had put it under someone else’s name, and now it was more or less ready to move into.

After she went to the new residence, she found a rocking chair in the room at random and lay down.

She dozed off briefly, then heard an announcement from outside that Cui Yulang had hurried over.

Seeing him arrive in such a rush, Li Rong raised her head to look at him. “How is it?”

“Your Highness,” Cui Yulang said somewhat anxiously, “those scholars actually want to change the official selection system—did you know about this?”

Hearing this, Li Rong nodded. “I know.”

“Then why didn’t you inform this minister earlier?” Cui Yulang adjusted his tone to try to sound as patient as possible. “Today Consort Rou took on the case, and when she returned she scolded me. If this isn’t handled well, all my efforts with her will have been wasted.”

“What did you say to her?” Seeing Cui Yulang’s anxiety, Li Rong’s expression remained unchanged as she picked up her teacup and asked casually.

“Just what we discussed before,” Cui Yulang said, his expression relaxing as he saw Li Rong’s calm demeanor. “I told her about these scholars filing their complaint and had her use this matter to establish authority for the Constabulary Bureau. I also analyzed His Majesty’s intentions for her and made her believe His Majesty wanted her to take on this case, which is how I coaxed her into it.”

“And then?”

Li Rong drank her tea. Cui Yulang frowned. “After she went to court and took on the case, she took Prince Su to the Constabulary Bureau. Before leaving, she whispered to me that I had doomed her. Your Highness,” Cui Yulang said with considerable unease, “what should we do?”

Consort Rou could investigate the case of substitution in the imperial examinations, but she didn’t dare touch the official selection system. With these scholars being so aggressive in their demands, it was natural for Consort Rou to be angry with Cui Yulang, the person who had given her this advice.

Li Rong held her teacup, contemplating. After a long while, she slowly said, “As long as she tastes the benefits, it will be fine.”

Cui Yulang was stunned. Li Rong only said, “This play was arranged by His Majesty. If Consort Rou is willing to take it on, His Majesty will pacify her.”

“Consort Rou is someone who values His Majesty too highly,” Li Rong smiled. “As long as His Majesty is willing to comfort her, it will be fine.”

Hearing Li Rong’s words, Cui Yulang thought for a moment and finally nodded.

Li Rong discussed the subsequent matters with him for a while longer before having someone escort Cui Yulang out.

Afterward, she ate dinner at the residence. When night fell, she had Zhao Chongjiu fetch the steward from the Pei Manor.

The Pei Manor’s steward was Pei Wenxuan’s confidant. When Li Rong said she wanted to come over, he immediately set up a ladder by the wall, cleared the area of people, and welcomed Li Rong inside.

He knew what Li Rong meant to Pei Wenxuan, so he didn’t ask many questions and directly led Li Rong to the bedroom.

Li Rong was somewhat tired and simply lay down on the rocking chair in the bedroom with her eyes closed for a rest. She instructed the steward, “When he returns, just lead him directly to the bedroom.”

The steward respectfully acknowledged. Li Rong waved her hand. “You may withdraw. I’m weary.”

The steward led the others out, leaving only Li Rong alone in the unlit room.

She waited for Pei Wenxuan. She waited until late at night when Pei Wenxuan finally emerged from the palace.

Li Ming had kept him in discussion for a long time. Today’s events had progressed somewhat beyond both his and Li Ming’s expectations, necessitating other adjustments.

There were many matters to attend to, and Pei Wenxuan couldn’t get away, but his heart was still concerned with Li Rong. He hurried back to the manor without having the gatekeeper notify the steward and headed directly toward his bedroom.

Seeing him return in such haste, the gatekeeper quickly sent someone to notify the steward, but before the steward could reach Pei Wenxuan, he had already entered the bedroom.

At the doorway, he was still instructing Tong Ye to prepare a carriage, saying in a low voice, “I’ll change my clothes and then go to the Princess Manor.”

Tong Ye nodded. Pei Wenxuan pushed open the door and entered the room.

The bedroom had no lights lit. Pei Wenxuan was too lazy to light any and, relying on the moonlight, groped his way behind the screen, grabbed a set of clothes he commonly wore, and began removing his clothes to prepare to change and leave.

But he had only just untied his belt when a cool, clear female voice sounded in the room: “Where else are you planning to go?”

Pei Wenxuan’s movements froze. He quickly followed the sound and looked up to see on the rocking chair a woman who, like a beautiful enchantress described in books, lay with her eyes closed, slowly saying, “I’ve been waiting for you all day.”

As she spoke, Tong Ye stood at the doorway and said softly, “Young master, the carriage is ready and can depart at any time.”

Hearing this, Pei Wenxuan immediately turned back. “We’re not going.”

Tong Ye was bewildered. “Ah?”

As they were speaking, the steward arrived at the entrance. Seeing Tong Ye standing at the door, the steward whispered, “Has the young master gone inside?”

Tong Ye nodded. Before the steward could explain, they heard Pei Wenxuan say calmly from inside, “Everyone withdraw. I’m going to sleep.”

Tong Ye and the steward looked at each other. Finally, Tong Ye reacted first and responded, “Yes.”

The sound of the servants departing came from outside. Pei Wenxuan held his outer robe in his hands. After pausing for a moment, he finally moved.

He slowly put down the outer garment and searched for something to say. “You… how did you come?”

“I have many doubts and wish to ask Lord Pei for answers.”

Li Rong’s voice was very light, but as it fell on Pei Wenxuan’s heart, it was like a blade cutting across.

“I hope Lord Pei will not hesitate to enlighten me.”

As Li Rong spoke, she raised her eyes. Her bright gaze carried a sharpness in the moonlight.

She looked at Pei Wenxuan standing before her. He was just like the politician in her memory—cold, composed, clearly appearing as harmless as a rabbit, yet always revealing his fangs inadvertently.

She had made ten thousand preparations, waiting for Pei Wenxuan’s response. After a brief silence, Pei Wenxuan suddenly moved.

He walked to the bedside, crouched down on the ground, and rummaged for something under the bed.

Li Rong frowned. “What are you doing?”

Pei Wenxuan ignored her. All that could be heard was a chaotic clattering in the room as Pei Wenxuan pulled out from under the bed what appeared to be a rather old washboard.

Then he carried the washboard back, patted off the dust on it, and placed it before Li Rong. With an expression both frank and calm, he lifted the hem of his robe and knelt down right in front of Li Rong.

Li Rong was somewhat shocked, then watched as Pei Wenxuan said with complete composure, “Punish me, but don’t speak to me like this.”

“I acknowledge what I’ve done. That’s right—I want to change the official selection system.”

“I knew Su Rongqing would use this case to make things difficult for His Highness the Crown Prince. Given His Highness the Crown Prince’s temperament, he would ultimately take on this case. Once the Crown Prince took on this case, no matter whether he advanced or retreated, he would be the loser. So I went to find His Majesty ahead of time, informed him of this case, and then discussed with him to simply use this case as an opportunity to change the official selection system.”

Li Rong frowned. Pei Wenxuan wore an expression of facing death fearlessly as he explained the ins and outs clearly: “The scholar who spoke today is my man. This was arranged by me. His Majesty and I also discussed it. Today I would actively undertake this case, and then it would be agreed in court that I would be fully responsible for this matter. Then these scholars would file their complaint demanding a change in the official selection system. His Majesty would pressure the Crown Prince to take the case. If the Crown Prince didn’t take it, I would step forward to take the case, and then the Crown Prince’s people would fully support me taking the case. I would take the opportunity to have the court officials promise that this case would be entirely my responsibility. After obtaining the court officials’ promise, I would then leave the palace to take on the case and, with His Majesty’s support, push this matter forward with one hand.”

“You’re being reckless!”

Li Rong slapped her hand on the armrest. “By having them make these demands today, you couldn’t achieve this even if you had several hundred more years!”

“I know,” Pei Wenxuan immediately responded. “So the real demand His Majesty and I have isn’t to truly abolish the recommendation system, but only to ensure that the scholars who emerge from this imperial examination have good positions. I first put forward an absurd demand, then negotiate with them. When my real demand comes out, they’ll find it much easier to accept.”

“This way, His Majesty won’t target the Crown Prince, and the Crown Prince won’t fall into the dilemma of whether or not to take on the case.”

“Secondly, if His Majesty promotes the imperial examination system, he will inevitably form conflicts with the aristocratic families. The enemy of my enemy is my friend. When His Majesty becomes the enemy of the aristocratic families, the families’ tolerance toward the Crown Prince will increase considerably. His Majesty’s health will last at most two more years. The rise of those from humble origins won’t happen so quickly. Su Rongqing’s plan is to force the Crown Prince step by step to lose the support of the aristocratic families, while what we need to do is allow the Crown Prince to continue maintaining the support of the aristocratic families without being controlled by them. And the simplest way to do this is to create a common enemy for the Crown Prince and the aristocratic families.”

“Thirdly, I hope as much as possible to resolve the conflict between the aristocratic families and imperial authority while His Majesty is still alive, so that when the Crown Prince ascends the throne, he can have a stable court. I know you want His Highness the Crown Prince to be a wise and virtuous ruler who will leave a good name in the history books. But the sword must be wielded by someone—if not the Crown Prince, then His Majesty.”

Li Rong listened as Pei Wenxuan said all this. She kept her head lowered without speaking.

Seeing her remain silent, Pei Wenxuan felt somewhat stifled inside, but his expression remained calm as he only said, “I knew you wouldn’t agree. You’ve never believed the imperial examinations could select any useful people, so I didn’t tell you—I was afraid you would stop me.”

“I know you mind that I concealed this from you, but if I had to do it again, I would still conceal it. If you want to punish me, then punish me.” Pei Wenxuan’s voice paused. After hesitating for a moment, he softened his tone. “After you’ve punished me, stay tonight, all right?”

Li Rong said nothing. She quietly watched him.

Her silence was his slow torture. Pei Wenxuan couldn’t help but feel some regret. Why argue with her about this?

But what was done was done. He had no other recourse. He could only kneel on the ground with his back straight, locked in a standoff with her.

After a long while, Li Rong spoke wearily: “Pei Wenxuan.”

“I’m not unhappy that you’re vigorously promoting the imperial examination system,” she raised her eyes to look at him and said in a low voice. “I’m worried about you.”