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

Jiangnan Examination Hall.

A rainbow bridge spans a stream, standing solemnly in the cold wind.

A blanket of white snow had fallen on it, pure and clean, without a single footprint.

The area outside Feihong Bridge is known as the outer curtain area.

All the candidates' exam papers were anonymized, copied, and read aloud in this area—the people copying the exam papers would read them aloud to each other to ensure there were no missing or incorrect words.

The area inside the Flying Rainbow Bridge is known as the Inner Curtain Area.

The two chief examiners and eighteen co-examiners of the imperial examinations were in this area to grade the papers, evaluate and rank the candidates for the metropolitan examination, and to identify the top scorers in the metropolitan examination and the top scorers in the Five Classics examination.

During the grading of the scientific expedition papers.

Both ends of the Feihong Bridge were heavily guarded, with a eunuch on each end to watch over the bridge, and no one was allowed to cross it.

Inner curtain area.

Heng Jian Tang.

This hall is where the examiners grade the papers. Even in the afternoon, when the sky is bright outside, Hengjian Hall is brightly lit.

Hengjian Hall has about ten tables and desks.

At the very head of the table were two rosewood tables, symbolizing high status.

Sun Chengshan, who had a long beard, sat on a rosewood chair at the table on the right.

On the desk lay an exam paper that had already been anonymized and copied.

He stroked his beard, remaining silent, but his expression was rather relaxed.

Despite being only in his early fifties, Sun Chengshan looked almost the same age as Li Xiangsong, who was in his sixties, due to years of deep thought and hard work.

Unlike Sun Chengshan, the half-master of the empress, who was calm and composed, Li Xiangsong stood with his hands behind his back, blowing his beard and glaring at the unperturbed Sun Chengshan, his chest heaving with anger.

The other eighteen examiners, looking haggard with bloodshot eyes, were standing in their respective positions.

Some had white hair, some were middle-aged, and a few were former Hanlin scholars who looked to be in their early thirties. They had become examiners for the imperial examinations at a young age, and their future was limitless.

Among the dozen or so examiners, several stood behind Sun Chengshan, looking at Li Xiangsong with righteous indignation.

Among them was Lu Machang, who was rather short and stout. As the former Director of the Eastern Palace and now the Assistant Director of the Ministry of Revenue, he naturally knew why the Empress had specially appointed him as a co-examiner.

They began grading the papers in full swing after the first exam, and by today, the grading is naturally long over.

The assessment was scheduled to begin the night before last.

The candidates for the imperial examination were mostly selected during the examination process.

This year's imperial examination was a special one, and the number of candidates admitted was actually less than usual. Only eighty-two candidates were admitted in this year's examination.

These past two days have simply been spent proofreading these candidates again and ranking them.

It was during the ranking process that the two chief examiners—Minister Sun Chengshan and Grand Secretary Li Xiangsong—argued over which of the two exam papers should be selected.

On the topic of "renewal of an old nation".

Vice Minister Sun would naturally choose one that supported the reforms.

But Grand Secretary Li wanted to choose an article that praised the laws of the ancestors.

The two started arguing yesterday afternoon.

At first, Vice Minister Sun was only polite in saying:

"Lord Li, in my humble opinion, this piece is the best choice in terms of its use of allusions, its elegant diction, and its ability to pinpoint the essence of the classics."

Grand Secretary Li, however, objected, and instead produced another document, stroking his beard and smiling as he said:

"Zhiyang, you are mistaken. In terms of allusion, this piece may be slightly inferior, but in terms of speaking for the sages, it far surpasses the other piece. The saying 'Although Zhou is an old state, its mandate is renewed' naturally emphasizes the 'Zhou' itself. If Zhou does not exist, what is the point of renewal?"

Grand Secretary Li's voice was gentle and his smile was warm.

However, this silenced the voices of the examiners at Hengjian Hall.

Vice Minister Sun glanced at Grand Secretary Li, frowned slightly, and retorted:

"The Zhou dynasty no longer exists. Its non-existence stems from the fact that it did not, as the sages wished, to renew itself daily."

The Zhou dynasty no longer exists...

Sun Chengshan spoke in a steady voice, and those were the first four words he uttered.

These four words... can be said to be very heavy.

If the other party hadn't been a trusted advisor to three emperors, this single sentence would have been a grave taboo.

Of course, if he hadn't dared to commit such a major taboo, how could he have dared to defy public opinion and launch a reform?

As soon as the two examiners began to speak sharply, the entire Hengjian Hall fell silent.

The atmosphere changed, and Grand Secretary Li's tone softened slightly as he said:

"The Zhou dynasty ceased to exist precisely because the new things were too numerous, too fierce, and too intense, to the point that the rites and music collapsed. Even the sages who traveled throughout the states and wrote the Spring and Autumn Annals could not turn the tide."

Vice Minister Sun narrowed his eyes, and almost without thinking, retorted sharply:

"Li Gong's argument is flawed. The Zhou emperor was confined to his old state, and the laws remained unchanged for a hundred years. The feudal lords, however, were constantly evolving. Qi had Guan Zhong, Chu had Sun Shu'ao, Qin had Gongsun Yang, Lu had Ji Wenzi, and Wu had Wu Zixu. The sages, in revising the Spring and Autumn Annals, praised countless heroes!"

Grand Secretary Li immediately retorted:

"Qi was replaced by Tian, ​​Qin perished after two generations, Wu Zixu died, and Fuchai died. All because once a new law is implemented, the foundation of the state is inevitably shaken! Once the foundation is shaken, even if the state becomes strong for a time, it will not survive. What is the point then?"

Sun Chengshan shook his head and said:

"Master Li's words are utterly wrong! When the Qi dynasty was replaced by the Tian family, and the Qin dynasty collapsed after only two generations, Guan Zhong and Gongsun Yang had already been dead for quite some time! How can this be blamed on them?!"

Li Xiangsong glanced sideways and snorted:

"Both Qi and Qin were states renowned for their reforms, with figures like Guan Zhong and Shang Yang being unparalleled talents throughout history! Yet, even such brilliant minds struggled to maintain their states for a century! Is it possible that those petty imitators, like the man from Handan who tried to imitate someone's gait but ended up doing something utterly inept, are the ones who achieve great things?"

"Bang!" Hearing Li Xiangsong start cursing, Sun Chengshan, whose reform efforts had already been shelved by the court, was instantly enraged and began to retort without holding back...

Once the two started arguing, the other examiners were also drawn into the debate. Some tried to smooth things over, but after being scolded by both Sun and Li, they quickly shut their mouths in frustration.

Lu Machang, however, remained resolute. He picked up the article chosen by Sun Chengshan and said, "Lord Li, let's stick to the facts. In my opinion, this article is the best choice."

Li Xiangsong's faction naturally dared not show weakness either, and a Hanlin official sarcastically remarked, "Brother Lu, have you been a minor official for too long that you've lost even the discernment of a former second-place scholar? Can you really decide which of the two essays is superior with just a few words, Brother Lu?"

The other party was mocking him for being merely a lowly Sizhi Lang in the Eastern Palace, which angered Lu Machang, and he began to argue with him...

Overnight, the entire Hengjian Hall suddenly erupted in a fiery atmosphere...

……

Because the examination papers have been reviewed, all the candidates have been selected, and even the rankings have been almost entirely determined.

However, the two examiners had an irreconcilable disagreement about which of the two essays to evaluate first.

As the empress, Zhu Cuiwei should not have crossed the Feihong Bridge, but the situation was special at this time, involving the conflict between the reformists and the conservatives.

If she doesn't step in, neither of them will likely compromise, after all... her thoughts are complicated, she knows this is the Crown Prince's reform faction vying for dominance with the conservative faction of the court.

The two groups argued fiercely, so, with the Ministry of Rites as witnesses, she crossed the Flying Rainbow Bridge alone.

The eunuch Liu and several minor officials from the Ministry of Rites, who were on the other side of the bridge, hurriedly came forward with anxious expressions and followed behind the Empress, explaining what had happened.

After listening, Zhu Cuiwei sighed inwardly.

But amidst the sigh, a faint light shone in his eyes.

He secretly wondered if... the article by the young doctor was among the two exam papers the two people were arguing about?

Thinking this, she paused, and the eunuchs and minor officials following behind her also stopped.

The group dared not speak, only secretly glancing at the Empress, wondering how she planned to handle the situation.

Is it favoring Vice Minister Sun or Grand Secretary Li?

Zhu Cuiwei frowned, wondering which of the two exam papers she should support if one of them really was the young doctor's. Mr. Sun? Or Li Xiangsong?

After all... who she supports means... whose exam paper will be selected as the top scorer...

……

Everyone from Hengjian Hall rushed forward.

"Your humble servant greets Your Majesty!"

Upon seeing the Empress arrive in person, Sun and Li couldn't help but reveal a hint of shame in their eyes as they bowed.

The other eighteen examiners, namely Lu Machang and the Hanlin scholar, all breathed a sigh of relief.

"My lords, please rise."

Zhu Cuiwei, wearing a crown and a scarlet dragon robe, smiled gently.

"You have worked tirelessly these past few days reviewing examination papers, selecting the best talents for the nation. I have ordered the Imperial Kitchen to prepare fish soup for eyesight and some other fine dishes, which will be delivered to you all shortly..."

Seeing that the Empress did not reprimand them, both Sun and Li felt relieved.

The other examiners were also touched, and they all kowtowed in unison: "Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. We are terrified to have disturbed you..."

As Sun Chengshan bowed, he sighed inwardly. Normally, he would have tolerated it, but seeing that the Empress's desire for reform seemed to be waning and the national treasury was becoming increasingly empty, he was really worried that the Great Liang would repeat the mistakes of the former Liang and even the Southern Zhao. Therefore, no matter what, he had to fight for this exam paper in his hand!