Chapter 131: Pei Wenxuan, You’re Truly Impressive!

Upon hearing this, everyone exchanged uneasy glances.

This should not have happened.

It was just a matter concerning a few scholars, yet it had somehow escalated to the main hall. No matter how one looked at it, it was undignified. Under normal circumstances, even if these scholars had managed to gather together and journey all the way to Huajing, they would have been dispersed before they could kneel at the palace gates—let alone having their grievances reported directly into the palace.

Everyone understood that someone had deliberately orchestrated this. Whoever could bring such a matter to this level was certainly no ordinary figure. The court officials couldn’t help but speculate about who was behind this scheme and what their motives were.

The court ministers were well-versed in the intricacies of such maneuvers, but Li Ming might not be. A person who had been deceived from top to bottom for decades would find it difficult to grasp such subtle details, especially the smaller ones.

Seeing Li Ming frown, everyone could tell he seemed to think a major case had occurred. He immediately said, “What is going on? Investigate this at once!”

“It has been investigated,” the messenger replied, still catching his breath. “These scholars claim they passed the provincial examinations in their respective regions and were supposed to come to Huajing to participate in the spring imperial examinations. However, their spots were taken by others. They are now kneeling outside, begging Your Majesty to send someone to hear their plea and give them an answer. Your Majesty, the palace gates are surrounded by commoners, all waiting for Your Majesty’s decision.”

Hearing this, Li Ming fell silent.

These scholars were clever. If the matter were brought into the main hall, it would become an affair of the court, and its handling would depend on the court’s discretion. By kneeling outside and demanding an answer, they were ensuring that the outcome would be witnessed by all the people.

Most importantly, if the matter were handled within the court, it might be assigned to someone who would deal with it perfunctorily. By demanding a specific person to address their grievances, they could hold that person accountable for any future issues.

Whoever advised them on this method certainly knew what they were doing.

“How many of them are there?” Li Ming asked after a moment of silence, tapping his fingers on the table as if deep in thought.

The messenger, now calmer, replied respectfully, “Your Majesty, nearly a hundred people.”

A hundred people, from all over the country—this case was no longer a matter involving just a few minor families.

The hardest part of governance was not in Huajing but in dealing with the local clans in the regions. Li Rong might have successfully handled cases involving high-ranking officials and powerful families in Huajing, but even she was not confident about managing a case of this scale involving so many local disputes.

Li Ming remained silent for a long time. Finally, he lifted his head and turned his gaze to Li Chuan.

Li Chuan had been waiting for this moment. When he sensed Li Ming looking at him, he slowly raised his head.

In name, there was no one more suitable to handle this case than Crown Prince Li Chuan. However, if Li Chuan took on this case, he would either lose the support of the people or alienate the powerful families.

The fact that so many individuals had their examination spots usurped suggested a well-organized chain of corruption, stretching from the local regions to the court in Huajing. Offending the involved parties would be inevitable, and even then, there was no guarantee the case would be resolved satisfactorily.

If the case were poorly handled, Li Ming would have grounds to punish him.

This case was, without a doubt, a perfectly sharp blade aimed directly at Li Chuan.

Li Rong couldn’t help but glance at Su Rongqing, who had been standing silently with his head bowed, as if completely detached from the situation.

It was only at this moment that she finally realized Su Rongqing’s true target was indeed Li Chuan.

In that case, Su Rongqing’s initial reason for seeking to align himself with Li Chuan became quite intriguing.

If Su Rongqing had been reborn from the very moment they first met, he would have known that Li Chuan would eventually be driven into a corner step by step by Li Ming, until he was finally deposed. In truth, he didn’t need to do much—all he had to do was prevent Pei Wenxuan from persuading the influential families at the critical moment, and Li Chuan would be doomed.

Knowing this, if Su Rongqing’s true goal was to overthrow Li Chuan while pretending to support him, there was only one possibility: he intended to infiltrate Li Chuan’s inner circle and deliver the final blow at the last moment.

If she and Pei Wenxuan hadn’t been reborn, Su Rongqing’s plan would have been quite effective. But because they had returned, when she established the Oversight Department, Su Rongqing’s reaction was so intense. She had disrupted his plans. Now that she held real power, and Su Rongqing knew she would never betray Li Chuan, his strategy of quietly waiting for Li Chuan’s downfall had to change.

That was why he had desperately tried to prevent the establishment of the Oversight Department and the rise of Pei Wenxuan—because he knew full well that the power of Pei Wenxuan and Li Rong would ultimately be transferred to Li Chuan.

Li Rong’s gaze lingered on Su Rongqing as she quietly pondered his actions.

After a brief standoff with Li Chuan, Li Ming slowly spoke, “Chuan’er, this matter involves various prefectures and counties and concerns the fundamental selection of talent for Great Xia. As the Crown Prince, it would be fitting for you to take charge of this.”

Li Chuan remained silent for a moment, hesitating. Just then, Shangguan Xu stepped forward and said respectfully, “Your Majesty, this matter pertains to the imperial examinations and should be handled by the official in charge of the examinations or by institutions such as the Ministry of Justice or the Dali Temple, which oversee legal matters. The Crown Prince, as the heir to the throne, is already burdened with numerous responsibilities. A complex civil case like this may be beyond his capacity. I urge Your Majesty to reconsider.”

Shangguan Xu then turned to the Minister of Personnel, Wang Houwen, and said, “Minister Wang, I heard you recently volunteered to serve as the chief examiner for the imperial examinations. Perhaps the Ministry of Justice could assist you in handling this case?”

Upon hearing this, Wang Houwen hurriedly stepped forward and said anxiously, “Your Majesty, this old subject is frail and weak. Although I did offer to serve as the chief examiner for the imperial examinations some time ago, I have recently found myself physically unable to handle the responsibility. The chief examiner has not yet been officially appointed, so I implore Your Majesty to select another suitable candidate.”

Wang Houwen paused three times to catch his breath during his speech. His plump body and fluttering white beard made even Li Rong feel short of breath just listening to him.

Li Rong suspected that Li Ming also had no intention of letting Wang Houwen take on this case. In Li Ming’s view, investigating a few cases of impersonation wasn’t particularly important. With so many major state affairs to attend to—natural disasters one day, wars the next—the futures of a few hundred scholars paled in comparison.

But if he could use this to destabilize Li Chuan’s position as Crown Prince, it would be immensely significant. Li Ming needed to free the Li family from the shackles of the Shangguan family. From the moment Li Chuan was born, no matter how exceptional he was, he was no longer suited for the throne.

Thus, Li Ming nodded slowly and said, “Minister Wang is indeed advanced in years. As for the position of chief examiner for the imperial examinations, I have other ideas in mind.”

He then looked around at the officials and asked, “Which of you is willing to step forward and accept the petition from these scholars?”

As he posed this question, everyone already knew the answer. In such a situation, no one would willingly take on this hot potato. Without a response, the case would inevitably be forced into Li Chuan’s hands.

Li Rong gently tapped her small fan against her palm, her eyes drifting toward Su Rongqing. She noticed Su Rongqing glance back at her, his gaze as still as dead water lingering on her face for a moment before shifting to Pei Wenxuan.

He had already made his move, and now it was up to Pei Wenxuan to respond.

If Li Chuan took on this case, no matter how he handled it, he would lose—either alienating the powerful families or losing the support of the people.

Li Rong couldn’t help but glance at Pei Wenxuan, wondering how he would counter this. Given that he had long been aware of Su Rongqing’s actions, he shouldn’t be entirely unprepared.

Pei Wenxuan noticed their gazes. He leisurely raised his eyes, a faint smile playing on his lips as he met Su Rongqing’s scrutinizing stare. After a moment, he suddenly stepped forward, knelt, and bowed deeply before proclaiming in a clear voice, “Your Majesty, I am willing to take on this case!”

Li Rong’s grip tightened on her fan, her heart racing. On the throne, Li Ming frowned, his eyes fixed intently on the kneeling Pei Wenxuan.

Li Ming had intended to use this to undermine Li Chuan, yet Pei Wenxuan was now stepping forward to shield him?

Was Pei Wenxuan out of his mind?

Li Rong wasn’t the only one thinking this—every official in the court shared the same sentiment.

Li Ming restrained his impatience and attempted to dissuade Pei Wenxuan. “Minister Pei, you have only recently assumed the position of Vice Minister of Personnel. A case of this magnitude may be beyond your experience.”

“Your Majesty,” Pei Wenxuan remained kneeling, “though my experience may be limited, my dedication is unwavering. Since no senior official is willing to undertake this task, I humbly request that you entrust it to me. I am not from a powerful family—I rose through the imperial examinations. The examinations hold profound significance for me. I deeply empathize with the anguish of these scholars whose places were stolen. Thus, I beseech Your Majesty to grant me full authority over this matter. I vow to deliver justice to these scholars. I implore Your Majesty to grant your approval.”

“You are still too young,” Li Ming replied, growing increasingly impatient. “Your lack of experience may hinder your ability to handle this effectively, no matter how well-intentioned you are.”

“Your Majesty speaks wisely.”

Su Rongqing finally spoke up, offering a respectful suggestion. “Perhaps Minister Pei could assist the Crown Prince in investigating the case, sharing some of the burden.” He turned to Pei Wenxuan as if seeking agreement. “What does Minister Pei think?”

“Your Majesty,” Pei Wenxuan stood his ground, showing no signs of backing down. “The Crown Prince is occupied with numerous responsibilities, and the actual work would inevitably fall to his subordinates. If Your Majesty entrusts this matter to me, I will devote myself wholeheartedly to its resolution.”

“Minister Pei makes a valid point.”

Those aligned with Li Chuan, seeing someone willingly shoulder the burden, quickly added, “Your Majesty, in truth, this matter is not as grave as it seems. The imperial examinations are, after all, just one event. Compared to natural disasters or border conflicts, they are relatively minor. Minister Pei, as a fourth-rank vice minister, is more than capable of handling this case. Your Majesty would do well to entrust it to him and grant him full authority.”

“That is a misguided view,” countered one of Su Rongqing’s supporters, stepping forward. “The imperial examinations are the foundation of our official selection system, the very bedrock of the state. Now that corruption has emerged, involving regions across the country, if the Crown Prince does not personally intervene, how can we placate the public’s discontent?”

“This is hardly appropriate…”

Factions loyal to Li Ming, Su Rongqing, and the Crown Prince clashed, and the court descended into a cacophony of arguments.

Li Rong glanced at Pei Wenxuan, still kneeling on the ground. He looked up and smiled at her, and in that expression, she knew he had a plan.

Su Rongqing frowned, standing at a distance with his head bowed in thought.

As the two sides argued relentlessly, locked in a stalemate, a woman’s clear and resonant voice suddenly cut through the chaos.

“Your Majesty,” Consort Rou entered the hall with Prince Su in tow, a gentle smile gracing her features. “Why not entrust this case to Cheng’er?”

At her words, the entire court fell silent. Everyone stared at Consort Rou in astonishment, except for Li Rong, who maintained her composed smile.

Consort Rou led Prince Su forward and nodded amiably toward Li Rong. Li Rong returned the gesture with a slight bow before Consort Rou and Prince Su knelt before the emperor.

“Your Majesty,” Consort Rou began, her voice soft yet clear, “I have heard that Princess Pingle recommended Cheng’er to lead the Oversight Department. Though he is young, he is eager to share Your Majesty’s burdens. Since the court officials are divided on how to handle the imperial examination matter, why not entrust it to Cheng’er? I will personally guide him to thoroughly investigate and meet with the scholars to understand their grievances.”

Li Ming hesitated, taken aback by Consort Rou’s proposal.

Seeing that Consort Rou was willing to take on this thorny issue, Shangguan Xu quickly signaled to his allies. One official immediately stepped forward and exclaimed, “Consort Rou shows great virtue! As a prince, it is only fitting for Prince Su to oversee the Oversight Department and take charge of this case.”

Once one voice spoke up, others followed suit. Though the matter was not yet settled, praises for Consort Rou and Prince Su filled the hall.

Consort Rou glanced triumphantly at Li Rong, who responded with a cold snort and turned away.

After a moment of deliberation, Li Ming finally nodded. “Since Cheng’er wishes to take on this case, let it be so. However, Pei Wenxuan,” he turned his gaze to Pei Wenxuan, “since you are eager to handle this matter, I appoint you as the chief examiner for the imperial examinations. You will work with Vice Minister Su of the Ministry of Justice to assist Prince Su and Consort Rou in this case.”

“I humbly accept Your Majesty’s decree,” Pei Wenxuan replied, bowing respectfully.

Consort Rou rose with Prince Su. “Then I shall take Cheng’er to the palace gates to assess the situation.”

“Your Majesty,” Li Rong interjected with a smile, “I would also like to witness this.”

“Go ahead,” Li Ming waved dismissively. “Whoever wishes to go may do so. Serve as witnesses for Prince Su.”

Consort Rou and Prince Su bowed before turning to leave. Li Rong followed, and soon a stream of officials trailed behind them.

As they walked through the palace grounds, Li Rong remarked casually, “Consort Rou, your luck has been quite favorable lately. I wonder which wise advisor has been guiding you?”

Consort Rou knew Li Rong had guessed Cui Yulang’s involvement, but since Li Rong phrased it as a question, it was clear she didn’t know the full story. Consort Rou smiled faintly. “Your Highness, I’m not quite sure what you mean.”

Li Rong snorted coldly but said nothing more. Consort Rou nodded gracefully. “I must now attend to Cheng’er and this matter. Your Highness may take your time—this affair does not concern you directly.”

“You…” Li Rong seemed on the verge of retorting, but Consort Rou merely chuckled and quickened her pace with Prince Su.

Once Consort Rou was farther away, Pei Wenxuan gradually fell into step beside Li Rong, as if by coincidence. “Why provoke her unnecessarily?” he murmured.

Pei Wenxuan’s lips moved slightly as he whispered his question. Li Rong smiled faintly. “She isn’t arrogant enough yet. I’m just giving her a little more psychological comfort. But I should be asking you—what were you thinking?”

Her expression cooled. “If Consort Rou hadn’t stepped in, what was your plan? To firmly establish yourself as a supporter of the Crown Prince in front of His Majesty?”

“Did you bring Consort Rou here?” Pei Wenxuan asked, his hands tucked into his sleeves, raising an eyebrow at her.

“Knowing that Su Rongqing was plotting,” Li Rong replied calmly, “how could I not have made any preparations? I had Cui Yulang enter the palace early to persuade Consort Rou that this was a perfect opportunity to gain merit. A case involving a few local minor clans would be easy to handle—winning public favor, gaining the Emperor’s approval, and establishing authority in the Oversight Department. Three birds with one stone.”

Li Rong’s smile was tinged with irony. “Even I was tempted.”

“Your Highness is brilliant,” Pei Wenxuan said, turning his head to chuckle softly.

But Li Rong wasn’t interested in his praise. As they approached the palace gates, watching them slowly open, she grew serious.

“Pei Wenxuan, I understand what Su Rongqing is trying to do, but I still don’t know what you’re aiming for.”

Outside the gates, the scene unfolded like a painting: scholars kneeling on the ground, Consort Rou standing at the entrance with Li Cheng, adopting a righteous and solemn demeanor. After delivering a speech promising to uphold justice for them, those kneeling were visibly moved.

“Bring your grievances to Prince Su,” Consort Rou declared emotionally. “He will ensure you receive justice.”

The person at the front spoke up, “Your Majesty, we have three requests today.”

“First, we hope the court will thoroughly investigate the case of our stolen examination spots and restore justice to us!”

“That is inevitable,” Consort Rou assured them. “Prince Su and I are here for precisely this matter.”

“Second,” the speaker continued, undeterred, “we implore the court to add a palace examination to this year’s imperial exams, personally proctored by His Majesty, to prevent anyone from abusing power and engaging in fraud.”

Consort Rou frowned at this unexpected demand. The officials who had followed them also grew uneasy. Li Rong watched the scholars calmly as the person at the front raised a scroll and declared with unwavering resolve, “Third, we urge the court to make the imperial examinations the sole method for selecting officials, abolishing the channel for powerful families to recommend candidates, in pursuit of fairness!”

A wave of shock swept through the crowd. Consort Rou’s face turned pale.

Su Rongqing cast a cold glance at Pei Wenxuan, while Li Rong tapped her small fan against her palm.

After a long silence, she slowly smiled and turned to Pei Wenxuan, who stood silently observing the scene.

“Good,” she murmured in admiration. “Very good.”

“Pei Wenxuan,” she said, the wind rushing through the palace gates, causing their robes to flutter violently. She smiled at the calm young man before her and praised him sincerely, “You are truly remarkable.”

Previous

Next