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

In Hengjian Hall.

In the center was a bronze incense burner with animal patterns, about half the height of a person, burning red charcoal specially supplied to the imperial palace.

Snowflakes were falling outside, and the glowing embers of the charcoal fire kept the main room for reading papers from getting cold, while also keeping it relatively smoke-free.

The room was warm, but the atmosphere gradually became tense, and the foreheads of the twenty examiners were covered with fine sweat.

Before the Empress, everyone bowed slightly, lowered their heads, and stood with their hands at their sides.

Liu Bingwei, the fifty-year-old Director of the Directorate of Ceremonial, was a eunuch, but in recent years he had risen to the rank of fifth grade official, and his face exuded an imposing presence without anger.

She looks young, appearing to be only in her early forties.

When Liu Gonggong tried to persuade the two civil officials, Vice Minister Sun and Grand Secretary Li, they both gave him a cold shoulder, which made him very uncomfortable.

When the Empress arrived, his posture as a fifth-rank official slumped somewhat, but his face instead lit up with smugness.

He adopted the airs of a high-ranking eunuch and shouted loudly, "Guards! Guards!"

He instructed several eunuchs to bring a sandalwood chair to His Majesty.

Liu Bingwei personally placed the sandalwood chair at the head of the table, bent over, and took out a white handkerchief to wipe the chair again and again.

Zhu Cuiwei felt helpless, but smiled and waved her hand, saying, "Liu Daban, never mind."

With a smile plastered on his face, Eunuch Liu quickly stepped back a few paces and spread his hands, saying, "Oh, oh, I've been too nosy, Your Majesty, please sit down."

Zhu Cuiwei remained noncommittal, gracefully taking her seat at the head of the table. She raised her eyes, surveyed the assembled examiners standing with their hands clasped in front of them, and smiled:

"My lords, you have all worked hard. Please, have a seat."

The examiners were already uneasy because this matter had disturbed His Majesty.

He couldn't help but feel resentful towards Vice Minister Sun, Grand Secretary Li, and Lu Machang and Chen Hanlin, who had stirred up trouble.

Upon seeing the Empress arrive, she neither punished nor held a grudge against them; instead, she gently comforted them.

While everyone was surprised, they were also very grateful and no longer felt so uneasy.

The Empress invited them to sit first, and everyone naturally replied, "No, no, we dare not," and "Your humble servants are overwhelmed with gratitude..."

Zhu Cuiwei wore a scarlet dragon robe, her face was fair and clear, and her back was straight.

Upon entering, I noticed that everyone looked haggard and had red eyes, so I naturally wouldn't be too harsh on them.

Seeing that no one was willing to sit down, she smiled and pointed out the names of several white-haired old ministers, instructing Liu Bingwei to bring over chairs for "Lord Gong," "Lord Xu," and "Minister Sun and Grand Secretary Li."

The Queen called out names.

Several white-haired veterans and the relatively young Sun Chengshan had no choice but to sit down.

The others who were not seated did not feel anything amiss. They only felt that the Empress was considerate of her old ministers and did not force them to sit, which showed that she was a benevolent ruler.

After Sun, Li, and the others thanked the Empress, they took their seats, and their stiff expressions softened somewhat.

Zhu Cuiwei breathed a sigh of relief when she saw that the others did not insist that she preside over the justice before sitting down.

She raised a slight eyebrow and smiled:

"I have heard that two extraordinary talents have emerged in our Great Liang, and their writings have caused a great deal of conflict between two of our most trusted ministers."

"That's why I rushed over immediately, eager to see what kind of extraordinary article could have kept the Vice Minister of Revenue and the cabinet ministers arguing all day long."

Upon hearing this, Sun Chengshan and Li Xiangsong looked slightly embarrassed, but after thinking that they had no selfish motives, they did not feel any regret.

Sun Chengshan's eyebrows gradually rose, and he couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

The top scholar for this imperial examination has been determined.

They had no objection to the top scholar's writing; it was unmatched by anyone else.

The fate of the team hinges on second place.

The opening lines of Huiyuan's essay firmly stated, "Uphold the fundamental principles of the nation, and adapt to change as a means."

The novella draws heavily on classical allusions, blends orthodox and unorthodox approaches, exhausts all arguments and reasoning, and unfolds with grand and sweeping strokes...

"Change should be bold and decisive, with a heart as firm as a rock. The mind should be on the universe, but the eyes should first see the green grass and trees... The so-called low-lying areas should be dealt with quickly, while the sea should be treated slowly."

"Change begins in the lowlands... When the lowlands move, the waters are still; when the sea moves, the waves are raging."

"Upholding the fundamentals should be like wielding a knife to cut through a tangled mess"...

Every word he uttered hit the nail on the head.

Ending with:

"Without change, the foundation cannot be secured; if the foundation is not secure, change will lead to chaos; if chaos is not peaceful, change will be like a tangled mess of hemp, making the rise and fall of a nation unpredictable."

Therefore it is said: A great man is cautious.

Although the title of Huiyuan's article is taken from the Book of Poetry, its essence is similar to the Book of Documents, its surface is similar to the Book of Rites, and its meaning is consistent with the Book of Changes.

So neither he nor Li Xiangsong had much to say about the article on the Huiyuan title.

His intention was to reform the country, naturally aiming to revitalize it, not to destabilize it.

Huiyuan's words, "bold and decisive, with a heart as firm as a rock" and "with one's heart set on the universe, and one's eyes always on the green grass and trees," resonated with him.

One must be resolute in one's will, but one must start with the smallest things, like a blade of grass or a tree.

only……

Huiyuan's article also resonated with the conservative faction led by Li Xiangsong.

Sun Chengshan sighed inwardly.

He naturally disliked this.

Therefore... the second place in this imperial examination—

It must be a powerful and resolute reform document!

Otherwise, scholars across the land will not know the court's intentions and will think that the court is hesitant about reforms.

Sun Chengshan, his mind resolute, stroked his beard and nodded, saying:

"Your Majesty, we have selected talents for the country, and the Great Liang urgently needs those who uphold righteousness and adapt to change! The essays we have chosen are rich in allusions, magnificent in style, and reflect on the past and present... They establish the sage's saying that a gentleman is not a vessel, and a country ruled by gentlemen is even more so! They are the best choice for this time."

While Sun Chengshan was speaking, Eunuch Liu was already bowing and scraping as he presented the article Sun Chengshan had chosen to Zhu Cuiwei.

Zhu Cuiwei glanced down and saw that the other person's answer was:

"The Mandate of Heaven is not constant; only virtue serves as its guide. Times change daily; only through change can progress be achieved. The old state is merely its physical form; renewal is its spirit."

This reveals that he is a student who is a staunch supporter of the reform movement, which explains why he is so appealing to Sun Chengshan.

But upon seeing it, I couldn't help but sigh inwardly... Hmm... It really wasn't the young doctor's article... I just wonder if Li Xiangsong's article was the young doctor's...

As Zhu Cuiwei's fair hands flipped through the article, she glanced at the old minister Li Xiangsong, who had a wisp of gray beard, and saw his anxious and impatient expression. She then flipped through the article even faster.

After a cursory glance, he smiled subtly and said:

"Minister Sun is absolutely right. This article is magnificent and powerful, its theme as vast as a great river; it truly reflects the talent of our time. However…"

She pursed her lips.

Several officials from the reform faction, including Sun Chengshan and Lu Machang, immediately became anxious.

Zhu Cuiwei sighed inwardly.

With the Northern Expedition imminent, there are priorities and urgency in the matters.

Since the reform had to be temporarily put on hold, she originally intended to downgrade this article by one point, making it inferior to Li Xiangsong's article.

Upon seeing the looks in the eyes of Sun Chengshan and Lu Machang, two former officials of the Eastern Palace, he couldn't bring himself to say anything derogatory.

Her Majesty the Empress, who would be eighteen in about ten days, softened her gaze and said gently with a smile:

"However... Minister Sun, as a pillar of the Great Liang, must not let this young man arouse your scholarly spirit and provoke our important ministers to take up that three-foot-long sword."

"call……"

Seeing that the Empress was merely joking with Minister Sun, everyone couldn't help but laugh.

Sun Chengshan looked grateful, and the officials of the reform faction couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Sun Chengshan thanked him in a deep voice.

With a whoosh, upon seeing this scene, Li Xiangsong's gray eyebrows shot up, and he quickly stood up, bowing and saying:

"Your Majesty, Minister Sun is mistaken. In selecting talent for the country, upholding righteousness is of paramount importance!"

"The articles I have selected are free from any hint of opportunism or sycophancy. They speak on behalf of the sages and align with the great principles of the Spring and Autumn Annals. Such virtuous writing is precisely the kind of talent that will be selected for the imperial examinations of our Great Liang!..."

When Li Xiangsong spoke with righteous indignation.

Liu Bingwei carefully handed the article selected by Li Xiangsong to the Empress.

Zhu Cuiwei took the article.

With a hint of inexplicable anticipation, she silently exhaled, gently bit her cheek, and shifted her gaze to look at the topic of the eight-legged essay chosen by Li Xiangsong.