After saving the Empress, I became the top scholar in the imperial examination.

Madam Jia flicked her sleeve, raised her eyebrows, and nodded, saying, "That's right. In my opinion, Ning Baixuan is just an ordinary person, only eighteen years old, and is in the prime of his life."

"The civil and military officials who entered the academy were all from the imperial examination system, older than him, and well-versed in the classics. They should be humble, peaceful, and steady in their dealings with others."

"On the occasion of the Mid-Autumn Festival, the disciples of the sage used the game of chess to bully a young boy. After losing, they even made him kowtow. Is this the behavior of a gentleman?"

"However, we never expected that Ning Baixuan's chess skills were so superb. Even with the combined strength of all of them, they not only couldn't do anything to him, but they also had to kneel and kowtow... Heh... If you ask me, it's not quite right to say it's gratifying, but if I were to say that he brought it upon himself, that would be quite appropriate..."

Madam Jia's voice was clear and melodious, yet carried a certain air of authority. She raised her head and declared, "Through this battle, these officials must have learned the lesson that appearances can be deceiving, and one cannot judge a book by its cover. Ning Baixuan has taught them such a priceless truth; isn't that a great achievement?"

Her words were eloquent and well-reasoned. The young master of the Marquis of Jinxi, who was nearby, raised an eyebrow and said first, "What Madam Jia said is well." Madam Feng of the Marquis of Zhongzhen exclaimed, "Sister Jia, you are too kind. This is truly gratifying."

Some people glanced at him sideways, nodding in agreement while thinking to themselves, "Madam Jia is indeed worthy of being Jia Shilang's elder sister. This newly appointed Vice Minister of War said that his elder sister taught him to read since childhood, and that his elder sister's talent surpasses his tenfold. It is truly no exaggeration."

The Prince Xin, who was seated at the head of the table, was clearly moved by these words.

After a long silence.

The old eunuch then turned to the side to listen to the Prince's decree.

After several breaths.

The old eunuch said, "The words of the Lady of the Marquis of Zhenguo are reasonable. I admire her greatly. This noble and important minister is indeed a pillar of our Great Liang. Bring wine."

A maidservant gracefully approached Lady Jia, carrying a golden goblet. Lady Jia picked up the goblet, drank it all in one gulp, and bowed to Prince Xin, saying, "Your Highness, I thank you."

The nobles glanced at Madam Jia, then exchanged glances with each other and nodded slightly.

The old eunuch said, "Madam Jia, please sit down." Madam Jia sat down calmly.

Shangguan Zhao said with gratitude in her eyes, "Thank you, Mother, for saving Jia Wudi."

Madam Jia smiled bitterly to herself, but her face remained calm and composed: "Zhao'er, will you promise your mother something?" Shangguan Zhao solemnly clasped his hands and said, "Mother, please speak freely."

"When you get back, slaughter your father without leaving a single survivor!" She knew perfectly well that this illegitimate son had probably been pretending his chess skills were evenly matched with his father's all along… Shangguan Zhao's pupils constricted, and he exclaimed in surprise, "Ah?"

Madam Jia raised an eyebrow and glanced at him. Shangguan Zhao was startled by her gaze, and with a wry smile, he cupped his hands and said, "I will obey Mother's command."

Madam Jia smiled and said, "After making your father cry, I recommended you to His Highness and your uncle for a minor official position in the Ministry of War." Shangguan Zhao immediately looked up...

The Northern Dynasty prodigy's feet were dangling in the air, his heels kicking against the couch.

She raised her little head and, seeing the older sister beside her who had given her a set of exquisite jade rabbit porcelain, said softly:

"What Lady Jia said was insightful and resonated with everyone. However, this Mid-Autumn Festival, I hosted a grand banquet for my guests, and this incident has occurred in the manor. It has truly been a slight to my distinguished guests, and I feel uneasy about it. I wonder... how my sisters, who have come from afar... view this matter..."

"I have long heard that Princess Tang is exceptionally intelligent and resourceful, and her virtuous reputation is renowned throughout Guangzhou. Even in the capital, I have often heard of your esteemed name. I wonder... what is your opinion on this matter?"

The old eunuch standing a little in front of them copied what they said loudly.

At this moment, all the princes and their descendants who had come from afar perked up their ears.

Not only Zhu Xianze, the heir apparent of the Prince of Gui, but also the princes and nobles who came to the capital, such as the Prince of Shu, the Prince of Xiang, the Prince of Huai, and the Prince of Jingjiang, all had excited looks in their eyes.

His Highness is quite close to these royal princes and vassal kings. Even on such a small matter, His Highness would consult them for advice instead of simply siding with the civil officials and taking the blame for their sour temper.

The old eunuch finished speaking.

All eyes in the room immediately turned to Princess Tang.

Zhu Jiamu, who had been watching the show with a cold laugh, froze.

Fortunately, she reacted quickly. After a slight change in the corner of her mouth, her cold smile turned into a very proper smile. Coupled with the shallow dimples on her cheeks, the intelligent and wise princess appeared before everyone with grace and poise.

Zhu Jiamo smiled and stood up, curtsied to Prince Xin, and said, "Thank you for your inquiry, Your Highness. I am humbled." The fact that she addressed him as "Your Highness" instead of "Your Highness" indicated that their relationship was extremely close.

Zhu Jiamu smiled faintly and said, "Your Majesty, in my opinion, this matter is nothing more than an amusing incident during the Mid-Autumn Festival. It is only because Your Majesty is a wise and benevolent ruler and too considerate of us and the ministers who have entered the palace that you have this concern..."

"In my opinion, Ning Baixuan is an upright person, and the officials who entered the courtyard were also elegant and magnanimous. The two sides agreed to a game of chess, which is a contest of spirit between gentlemen. It is an equal contest."

"It cannot be said that Ning Baixuan's victory is an insult to the court. Moreover, the loser bowing to Lady Yuegui is a gentlemanly gesture... The victor is not arrogant, and the loser is not humiliated... In my opinion, this is a fine story in the chess world, and Your Majesty should reward it handsomely."

The old eunuch said, "A legendary tale in the world of chess?"

Zhu Jiamu nodded: "Indeed, Your Majesty. I believe that upon entering the palace, the officials should congratulate Your Majesty on the emergence of such a young talent in Liang. How could they be so petty as to demand that Your Majesty execute Ning Baixuan?"

Prince Xin seemed to ponder for a moment, and after a while, the old eunuch nodded and said, "Indeed, there is no one so petty as to say that I should execute Ning Baixuan."

"That's exactly right," Zhu Jiamu nodded, and Yinling laughed, "If Your Majesty were to execute Ning Baixuan, you would be putting the officials in an unjust position; but if Your Majesty were to reward Ning Baixuan handsomely, you would be praising the officials for their painstaking efforts in selecting talent for the country!"

Not only should they not be executed, but they should also be rewarded.

Zhan Ningbaixuan harmed them, saying they were intolerant of others.

Rewarding Ning Baixuan for helping them and praising their selfless dedication to valuing talent.

A murmur of commotion arose from the crowd.

The crowd was taken aback at first, then pondered silently or whispered among themselves before their faces lit up with realization. They all praised Princess Tang's opinion, saying, "The princess is intelligent and kind-hearted," and "Her words hit the nail on the head."

Lady Jia also praised, "The princess's words are very reasonable."

Zhu Xianze didn't actually like Ning Baixuan, who ran Baiyufang. Not only had he lost tens of thousands of taels of silver, but he had also sent someone to invite Ning Baixuan before, but Ning Baixuan never came.

However, since the Princess of Tang was speaking on behalf of all the vassal kings, they naturally couldn't disrupt the proceedings. They quickly shouted, "The Princess is right, they shouldn't be executed!" The other princes and princesses chimed in, saying, "The Princess's words are reasonable," and "She should be rewarded..."

The old eunuch glanced at Liu Zhi and Xu Longdao standing in the center, then at the nobles led by Lady Jia, and finally at the princes led by Zhu Jiamu.

He sighed and said:

"Since all the officials, nobles, and vassals... say that Ning Baixuan cannot be executed, then I..." The old eunuch paused... Prince Xin seemed to be thinking.

Qin Xi, Zhao Silang, the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites, and others below the stage exchanged bewildered glances... Officials? Liu Zhi and Xu Longdao were considered officials?

Qin Xi frowned. He didn't care, but Zhao Silang beside him looked rather unhappy.

The Ministry of Rites was terrified by Ning Baixuan's actions the other day and hated him to the core.

Upon hearing that His Highness intended to execute Ning Baixuan, Zhao Silang shouted "Good!" and was about to stand up and give a speech when he was interrupted by Liu Zhi and Xu Long.

He tried to stand up several times, but Prince Xin would choose someone else to stand up. After Xun Gui and the other vassals had determined the nature of the matter, Zhao Yilang visibly sighed and had no choice but to give up. If he stood up to object again, he would offend the Crown Prince, Xun Gui, and the other vassals at the same time.

At this point, seemingly after a long period of deliberation, His Highness Prince Xin gave his final decision.