230: Going to Beijing for the Imperial Examination

Prime Minister's residence.

An old man with a white beard sat in the main seat, holding a blue-covered book in his hand. It wasn't the kind of illicit novel the Empress secretly collected, but a genuine masterpiece by a renowned author.

He took a sip of tea and indifferently said to a young man in front of him:

"Lang'er, this imperial examination is of utmost importance to us.

According to news from our palace spy, Your Majesty intends to establish an organization called the Brocade-Clothed Guard, responsible for overseeing all officials, and this has been approved by the Grand Secretariat."

The young man, with refined features, dressed in white, and exuding scholarly aura, frowned. After pondering for a moment, he said, "Is Your Majesty preparing to move against the Prince Party?"

Chief Sun nodded slightly, a look of satisfaction on his face.

Sun Lang was his youngest son. His Cultivation talent was not high, but he loved to read, was quick-witted, and understood things instantly. He was known as one of the Four Great Geniuses of the capital.

It was just that he always liked to scold people, which was not good, but recently, after being disciplined by his family rules, he had become much more well-behaved.

He slowly said, "Prince Ming has secretly developed his power over the years and has been involved in a lot of corruption.

Although the Brocade-Clothed Guard's power is not overwhelming, it has the authority to supervise all officials. Your Majesty is undoubtedly planning to settle old scores with Prince Ming and reclaim the princes' power."

"However, the Brocade-Clothed Guard will always be a knife hanging over the heads of officials. Who among those who have reached such high positions has clean hands?

Whether it's Your Majesty or Prince Ming, whoever controls the Brocade-Clothed Guard is not good for us, so..." Chief Sun said in a deep voice.

Sun Lang's eyes lit up, and he immediately understood his father's meaning. "I understand, Father. Lang'er will definitely take first place in this imperial examination!"

At the same time, he added in his heart: A bunch of trash, how dare you compare yourselves to me? Just wait and see how I blind your dog eyes with my astonishing talent!

Chief Sun nodded again with satisfaction, "With your words, I am relieved, my son."

...

Imperial Palace, Rear Garden.

A woman in a Dragon robe with a veil covering her face was playing chess with a man of gloomy demeanor.

"Duke Mo, who do you plan to send to this imperial examination?" The Empress asked, placing a white piece.

Although she had already leaked the questions to Su Xiaobai and even written the answers for him, he only needed to copy them.

However, the Prince Party and Chief Sun's side did not lack Geniuses. Although she was confident, she still needed to prepare for contingencies.

Moye Chen replied, "Li Fengqun, one of the Four Great Geniuses. This person is well-versed in the Four Books and Five Classics, and I have cultivated him with all my might.

He could speak at the age of one, compose poetry at three, and write books at five, astonishing everyone."

"Hmm." The Empress nodded slightly. She had also heard of Li Fengqun and knew he indeed possessed true talent and learning.

She then asked, "Duke Mo, who do you think Prince Ming and Chief Sun's side will send?"

Moye Chen pondered for a moment, "Chief Sun will likely send his youngest son, Sun Lang, to take the exam. This person is also one of the Four Great Geniuses.

I've heard that he is well-versed in military strategies, speaks eloquently, and is quick-witted.

He once publicly berated a group of Imperial College students for a full hour, not only winning every debate but also causing several of them to faint from anger."

Behind the veil, the Empress's lips couldn't help but twitch. She couldn't help but recall a certain scoundrel who had scolded her as a tyrant for a full hour.

She took a deep breath, waved her hand, and said, "This person has unique insights into military strategy, but this year's questions do not involve military strategy and are not within his main area of focus. He is not to be feared.

What about Prince Ming's side?"

Moye Chen continued, "A spy reported that Tang Yin, the foremost of the Four Great Geniuses, entered Prince Ming's mansion not long ago, and it is highly likely that he has pledged allegiance to Prince Ming.

This person has no weaknesses; he is proficient in all forms of poetry, prose, and song. It is also rumored that he was born with four brains, two more than ordinary people."

"In the past three years, half of Great Zhou's poetry and prose works are his. Someone once commented that of the ten measures of talent in the world, he alone possesses five."

The Empress's willow-like brows visibly furrowed. "...This person is indeed a troublesome character, but Su Xiaobai's answers were written by me after days of contemplation.

The imperial examination only lasts for one day. Even if this Tang Yin is incredibly talented, it's impossible for him to write an answer that surpasses what I painstakingly thought about for days within such a short time."

There was a deep confidence in her eyes.

As the eldest princess born into the imperial family, she had been immersed in the Four Books and Five Classics, and various famous scholarly works since birth.

At just eight years old, her knowledge had already far surpassed that of her tutors, and her imperial brothers were often left speechless by her arguments.

There was nothing left in books that could teach her, which was why she became addicted to novels.

She didn't expect that once she became addicted, she would be unable to extricate herself.

...

In the blink of an eye.

Five days passed.

On this day, students from all corners of the world carried their luggage and traveled thousands of miles to the capital.

The capital was unprecedentedly bustling.

However, what they didn't know was who their opponents in this examination truly were.

The Four Great Geniuses of the capital, the cheater who received leaked questions from the tyrant, and countless hidden preparations from the three major factions.

Most people were destined to return empty-handed.

In front of the capital gate.

A man in flowing white robes held a folding fan, his posture straight, and a gentle smile on his face, as if bathed in spring breeze.

The passing young girls blushed at the sight.

Behind the man was a pageboy carrying a luggage-filled book box.

The pageboy, dressed in purple, had a curvy figure, was panting heavily, and had two large dark circles under her eyes, appearing very tired.

Her skin was already a chilling zombie-white, and with these dark circles, she looked even more like a zombie.

"Ha~" Si Nan yawned, feeling drowsy.

Because she had been appointed to the position of maid (although she didn't know what kind of duty a maid actually entailed), she was so happy that she hadn't slept for days and nights, her mind filled with visions of a prosperous future.

But as soon as she returned, before she could even rest, she was ordered by a young man who had just arrived from the Desolate Continent to sweep the floor.

He even said that the Saint had made him the general manager, and she had to obey his command.

Could she tolerate this?!

She, the esteemed maid, hadn't even spoken, so how could it be a country bumpkin's turn to speak? She immediately gave him a good beating!

"Saint, where are we going?" Si Nan asked listlessly. She hadn't closed her eyes for days and nights.

"Of course, we're going to the capital for the imperial examination!" Su Xiaobai said with high spirits.

"Ah? Saint, you're going to participate in the imperial examination?" Si Nan covered her mouth, almost bursting into laughter, as if she had heard the biggest joke in the world.

With his handwriting, to participate in the imperial examination? Wouldn't that just be making a spectacle of himself, Hahaha!

Clang!

"Ouch!" Si Nan cried out in pain.

Su Xiaobai knocked her on the head with a chestnut. This Si Nan was simply too mischievous and lacked discipline.

Earlier, she had silently beaten Black Abyss. If White Flower hadn't come crying to him, and he had arrived a little later, Black Abyss would have been beaten to death.

Although Black Abyss was a Genius sent from the Desolate Continent, he was only about the same age as Su Xiaobai and had only Cultivated for a short time, being only at the Nascent Soul Early Stage.

And Si Nan was already at the Nascent Soul Late Stage.

She directly hung him up and beat him! Black Abyss had no room to resist.

To separate them, Su Xiaobai could only keep her by his side, serving as his pageboy.