Once the policy was issued, all the common people were elated.

“Tax reduction for three years… Heavens, the current emperor is truly a benevolent ruler. To reduce taxes during wartime—such a thing is absolutely unprecedented!”

“The Emperor is only eight years old, still a child. The books say that human nature is inherently good at the beginning. The Emperor is kind and sympathizes with us poor people. He’s a good emperor.”

“I heard that the reason we could defeat the Kingdom of Dongling was also because the Emperor came up with a good idea. Supposedly the Emperor’s idea required money, and the Ministry of Revenue refused to pay. It was only when the Emperor offered to donate from his private treasury that he moved the civil and military officials to raise funds to manufacture weapons. Otherwise, we couldn’t have won that battle.”

“The Emperor truly cares about the common people. Having such an emperor is our good fortune.”

“Who says otherwise?”

“…”

The victorious battle combined with the tax reduction policy caused the new emperor’s prestige to soar dramatically.

In such an atmosphere, they welcomed spring’s palace examination. Those who had passed the tribute scholar examination at the end of last year all entered the hall together to participate in the final round of assessment.

Generally speaking, the final palace examination questions were set by the emperor—three questions total—but the new emperor was a child, so it was impossible to have him set them. Yun Chu had the five ministers assisting the state jointly discuss and set the questions.

Over a hundred people stood in the great hall—the scene was quite spectacular.

High-ranking ministers in court stood in two rows to offer some suggestions for the final results.

“Greetings to Your Majesty!”

Everyone bowed in unison.

Chu Hongyu raised his hand: “You may dispense with formalities. You are all future pillars of our Great Jin. The realm of Great Jin depends on all of you. Now I will present the final three questions. After you complete them, submit them to the Prince Regent for review, then they will be jointly reviewed by the other ministers.”

Each tribute scholar sat at their position.

Chu Hongyu read out the three major questions—two simple questions and one policy essay, to be completed within the allotted time.

Yun Chu sat behind the pearl curtain and saw Meng Shen and Yun Zhenjiang. These two children were just over ten years old this year. Because they were from aristocratic families, they didn’t need to participate in preliminary examinations like the provincial and county tests—they directly participated in the metropolitan examination. Their results were decent, and having passed as tribute scholars, they could participate in the final palace examination.

There was also her concubine-born younger sister Yun Ran’s husband, Second Young Master Dai Hong of the Dai family. He was twenty-one this year—considerably older than Meng Shen and Brother Jiang. But looking at all the tribute scholars, this age was only average; there were even older people above him, some in their thirties and forties.

And also Nie Meng, the eldest son of the Nie family’s Nie Zhou.

Nie Meng kept his head down as he wrote, his features clear and bright, showing no signs of having just experienced the pain of losing his father.

Soon, Nie Meng completed his examination—he was the first to finish. He handed his answer sheet to a little eunuch, who then passed it to the Prince Regent.

Chu Rui glanced at it and was somewhat impressed. This essay was written with Nie Zhou’s backbone.

He actually hadn’t wanted to kill Nie Zhou, but Nie Zhou was obstinate and insisted on foolish loyalty, so he could only be discarded.

Next, tribute scholars continuously submitted their answer sheets, and Chu Rui reviewed them one by one.

He had to admit that Princess Qinghua, that fool, was very good at raising sons. Meng Shen’s talent could actually rank in the top three.

But how old was Meng Shen? Should he be made third or second place scholar?

Wouldn’t that allow Yun Chu to continue growing stronger?

Chu Rui held a token in his hand. Finally, he placed it on Nie Meng’s answer sheet.

He had killed Nie Zhou and owed Yun Chu.

Then he would repay it through Nie Meng, making Nie Meng the top scholar.

Then the ministers circulated the papers, each placing their tokens on the answer sheet they considered worthy of top scholar. Finally, they were sent before the throne for the Emperor and Empress Dowager to decide.

Chu Hongyu glanced at them, then passed them to Yun Chu.

Seeing Nie Meng’s calligraphy, Yun Chu seemed to see Nie Zhou’s writing. Father and son both possessed an upright backbone.

This answer sheet had the most tokens on it—it was the top scholar the masses hoped for.

But Nie Meng was only sixteen, still a child. She didn’t want this child drawn into court struggles.

Similarly, Meng Shen and Yun Zhenjiang—no matter how outstanding these two children were, she wouldn’t let them stand out in this palace examination.

Yun Chu placed down her own token.

As soon as Chu Hongyu saw the top three Yun Chu had selected, his eyes immediately lit up.

He cleared his throat and addressed the important ministers and tribute scholars: “Where is examinee Feng Quanyi?”

Feng Quanyi stepped forward: “This student is here.”

He was from the former Empress Dowager’s maternal family. When the Empress Dowager had plotted treason, the entire Feng family was sentenced to exile. After the Prince Regent came to power, the Feng family was pardoned and returned to the capital, moving back into the original Feng residence. The Feng family sons also received examination quotas.

“Feng Quanyi is loyal and honest. His essay is steady with depth, thought-provoking. I am pleased with it.” Chu Hongyu picked up his brush and wrote personally with the imperial brush: “Feng Quanyi, First Class, First Place.”

As soon as these words were spoken, the entire court fell silent.

They all knew who Feng Quanyi was—the Prince Regent’s blood relative—but they didn’t know which essay Feng Quanyi had written.

Even if it had been written slightly better, they would have some impression of it. But now they couldn’t recall it at all, which meant Feng Quanyi had no particular talent. Rather, among so many outstanding candidates, Feng Quanyi was not prominent.

An unremarkable person became this year’s top scholar?

Wasn’t this a joke?

Feng Quanyi was also dumbfounded.

He had previously been a scholar, but after two years of exile experiencing unprecedented suffering, he had long forgotten everything from his books. He came to participate in the examinations entirely because the Prince Regent had given him this opportunity, so he came to try.

He never dreamed that casually trying would make him top scholar.

Of course, he didn’t think he had any real learning or ability. Rather, the Prince Regent had operated from within, forcing the little emperor to personally select him as first place.

He couldn’t help but be wildly overjoyed, kneeling down: “I thank Your Majesty with gratitude! Long live Your Majesty, long live, long live!”

Chu Rui narrowed his eyes.

He didn’t quite understand what Yun Chu was doing.

The palace examination occurred once every three years. Shouldn’t she use this opportunity to promote her own people and place them throughout the court? Why would she promote Feng Quanyi?

But soon, he understood why.

Because First Class, Second Place went to someone from the Lin family—Lin Qiang’s younger brother, likewise a person whose learning was not outstanding.

He had planned to give these two men fourth-class rankings, allowing them to muddle through as officials in court.

He never expected one to become top scholar and one to become second place scholar.

Yun Chu was trying to destroy him through excessive praise!

Chu Rui looked upward, his gaze piercing through the pearl curtain to land on Yun Chu.

Yun Chu met his gaze, the corners of her lips curved in a smile.

Currently, Chief Minister Li was busy uniting all officials to depose the Prince Regent, but many people wavered, afraid that if the deposition failed, they would be targeted and retaliated against by the Prince Regent.

So she decided to promote people from the Feng and Lin families.

To make those wavering people quickly make their decision.

“Nie Meng, First Class, Third Place.”

Chu Hongyu personally wrote with the imperial brush the names of the top three scholars.

The court officials couldn’t help but erupt, unable to restrain their low discussions.

“Nie Meng has the talent of a top scholar, yet he’s relegated to third place.”

“Being beneath others would be one thing, but beneath Feng and Lin? These two have no real learning or ability.”

“Lord Nie died miserably, and his eldest son painfully lost top scholar status. How tragic. The Emperor is too young and cannot judge people clearly.”

“Can’t you see? Clearly the Prince Regent made the Emperor personally select these two as the top two. The Prince Regent is the foremost assisting minister—the Emperor can only listen to him.”

“The Prince Regent… alas…”

Everyone shook their heads one after another.