Dong Yicheng walked out drenched in cold sweat, his steps small and quick. Seeing the courtyard full of kneeling officials, his face instantly turned as black as charcoal. "Why are you all still kneeling? Useless fools!"
The assistant magistrate kneeling at the front scrambled up and followed behind him, suppressing the soreness in his knees as he whispered, "Lord Dong, how is the Crown Prince?"
Dong Yicheng lowered his gaze, shaking his head repeatedly with sighs.
Those around grew anxious at the sight but dared not speak further, merely standing up properly.
After a long pause, Dong Yicheng finally lowered his voice and said, "His decisiveness in judgment and clarity in governance are no less than Prince Ping's in his prime!"
Everyone fell silent, exchanging uneasy glances as cold sweat trickled down their napes.
Who didn't know of Prince Ping's ruthless severity in those days?
Riding with spear in hand, he dyed the mountains and rivers of five kingdoms crimson, securing the empire for one family. Throughout his life, when had he ever feared another? In the blink of an eye, how many lives had he ended!
Noting their expressions, Dong Yicheng snorted coldly. "Did you think just because the Crown Prince resides in the palace, he knows nothing of military and administrative tactics? How wrong you are! Have you forgotten what he's endured these past ten years? Did you truly believe all northern decrees came from His Majesty?!"
He turned and kicked the man in front of him in anger. "How many times have I told you - the northern camps need repairs! And now? The Crown Prince has caught us red-handed. We'll all pay dearly for this!"
"Lord Dong," the man protested meekly, "this isn't my fault alone. Weren't we all thinking the northern border was secure and trying to conserve civilian resources..."
Dong Yicheng flicked his sleeves and strode forward. "Mark my words - though the Crown Prince appears quiet, his methods are treacherous. Don't think past merits will protect you! If he's like this while still heir apparent, imagine what he'll do when he ascends the throne. Watch your heads, gentlemen!"
Those following him grew desperate, eyes reddening. "Lord Dong, then..."
As if suddenly remembering something, Dong Yicheng paused mid-step and pointed randomly at someone. "You've confused me with all this! Go to the first hall's side chamber and summon Lord Shen. Tell him the Crown Prince requires his presence."
The man hurried toward the first hall.
Seeing Dong Yicheng's anger still burning, the others dared not ask more. Only after he left the courtyard did someone murmur with a quiet sigh, "What has Chao'an done to deserve this? What kind of people have come among us..."
·
Shen Zhishu had barely stepped through the doorway when he called out, "Your Highness?..." Only then noticing the empty hall, he raised an eyebrow, took a few steps inside, and peered around before smiling. "If Your Highness wishes to rest, this subject will return later."
"No matter."
Ying Gua reclined obliquely on the low couch, his profile stern and cold as he held a paper filled with writing, letting it hang at his side.
Shen Zhishu approached. "I heard Your Highness was angered today, throwing the military headquarters into panic."
He seemed not to hear, merely slanting his brow as he handed over the paper.
Shen Zhishu accepted it, his eyebrows furrowing after a single glance. "This? It's highly irregular..." His eyes scanned up and down the document, growing even more astonished. "This person is far too bold!"
Still silent, Ying Gua closed his eyes briefly before sitting up.Shen Zhishu’s expression turned serious. He swept aside his robe and sat on a nearby stool, carefully reading the contents of the transcribed document in his hand several times before clapping softly with a low chuckle. "What an exceptional policy essay! If the officials of Chongzhou Prefecture were to see this, they would surely die of shame—to be outshone in insight by a woman!"
Only then did Ying Gua lift his gaze. "The Grand Tutor has already disqualified this candidate from the circuit examination."
Shen Zhishu looked surprised and glanced again at the transcription. "Is it because this essay criticizes the ineffective governance of the Chaoan North Circuit?"
"How could the Grand Tutor be so narrow-minded?" Ying Gua replied quietly. "It is simply impossible to bend the rules for one individual."
Shen Zhishu raised an eyebrow. "But back when my mother caused trouble after the palace examination, wasn’t it my father who fought to preserve her scholarly rank? Why is talent no longer valued now?"
Ying Gua stood and walked toward him. "How can the two situations be compared? At that time, the Grand Tutor was not in charge, and it was my mother, the Empress, who ultimately intervened to protect her. This time, the Grand Tutor is presiding over the Chaoan North Circuit examination—countless eyes are watching from below. How could he not revoke this candidate’s qualification?" He paused, hands clasped behind his back. "If the Grand Tutor did not value talent, he would not have sent someone to bring this to me."
Shen Zhishu smiled. "So, does Your Highness intend to protect this candidate?"
Ying Gua fell silent for a long moment, a flicker of hesitation in his eyes. "I wonder whether she wrote this policy essay to voice the people’s grievances or to build her own reputation... If it’s the former, she must be a person of unwavering integrity, but she will inevitably face hardship in court—likely destroyed before she even has a chance to shine. If it’s the latter, then she lacks foresight. There are many in this world who seek fame and achievement, but those who wish to rise high and stand firm cannot rely on such methods."
"Your Highness, aren’t you overthinking this?" Shen Zhishu also stood. "She’s merely a girl of seventeen or eighteen, inexperienced and surely writing whatever comes to mind. How could she consider so much? If she truly is a rare talent, wouldn’t disqualifying her from the Female Scholar Examination be a great loss to the court?"
Ying Gua raised a hand and pressed it firmly onto the paper, his brow furrowed in silence.
Meng Tinghui.
Those eyes from that morning, so clear and untainted, gazing at him.
He turned and looked at the smiling Shen Zhishu.
Perhaps he really was overthinking it...
He gave a slight nod, his voice cool and light. "Take this transcription to the examination hall. By my decree, this candidate’s talent is too rare to waste. Grant her the title of Provincial Top Candidate in the Female Scholar Examination for Chaoan North Circuit."
Shen Zhishu was taken aback. "Provincial Top Candidate? Your Highness, preserving her qualification would be enough—why award her the highest rank? If this sets a precedent, what will we do if other circuits follow her example?"
Ying Gua replied indifferently, "It is precisely so that everyone under heaven will know: Chaoan North Circuit has produced a Meng Tinghui." His brows tightened slightly as he added, "Let us see whether she can deliver another remarkable discourse at the Ministry of Rites examination in the capital."
Outside, the courtyard was lush with greenery, brimming with the vitality of spring. A few butterflies danced gracefully, and a gentle breeze carried the scent of flowers.
·
On the day the circuit examination results were posted, the walls of Chongzhou Women’s Academy were surrounded by a dense crowd.
"Excuse me, excuse me—make way, please make way..."
Yan Fuzhi dragged Meng Tinghui through the crowd, standing on tiptoe to peer ahead.
Meng Tinghui stood rigidly, frowning. "We could have come later to see. Must you be in such a rush?"
"Me, in a rush?" Yan Fuzhi turned back, her smile blooming like a flower. "I’m not anxious for myself—I’m anxious for you!"
Meng Tinghui sighed helplessly and glanced toward the outskirts of the crowd.Whispers suddenly drifted from the front: "She's here, she's here, that's her..."
"Which one?"
"That one, tsk, the one in the brown ruqun. Standing further back, see her now?"
"Really wouldn't have guessed."
"Can such things even be guessed? Heard from insiders she was originally disqualified, but then the Crown Prince happened to visit the Examination Hall to pay respects to Grand Tutor Shen and came across her exam paper. That's how she got her chance!"
"True, but who knows what really happened..."
Yan Fuzhi suddenly trembled, gripping Meng Tinghui's hand tightly as she turned back excitedly: "Top of the list! Meng Tinghui, your name is first on the rankings!"
Meng Tinghui's face remained unreadable as she merely nodded. "Let's go."
Yan Fuzhi stumbled after being pulled through the crowd by her, noticing her gloomy expression and couldn't help exclaiming: "Meng Tinghui, are you feverish? Top candidate! Chaoan North Circuit's Metropolitan Examination top candidate! Aren't you happy?"
Meng Tinghui stopped and looked up at her, face still stiff, but said nothing.
Being disqualified only to be specially reinstated - such matters were traditionally secret affairs of the examination compound. Even she herself might never learn the full details. If no one had intentionally leaked the information, how could outsiders have learned about it so quickly?
Though it was called the Crown Prince's gracious intervention, she found no joy in it.
She had broken the rules during the Metropolitan Examination with personal motives.
The Female Scholar Examination was held only once every three years, with talented candidates gathering from all circuits across the nation, yet there was only one top honors position. If she could achieve the highest rank in this year's examination, she would enter the Hanlin Academy, paving the way to eventually become a court official. Only by rising to court official could she fulfill her long-cherished wish.
If my life can benefit the people, I would not hesitate to sacrifice it... The higher she climbed, the greater her hope of seeing him again.
Her longing to see him fueled her ambition to stand out, which was why she had boldly violated the rules in this highly scrutinized Female Scholar Examination.
If her policy essay could impress the chief examiner Grand Tutor of the Crown Prince Shen Wuchen, then she could confidently proceed to the Ministry of Rites examination and the Palace examination.
She never expected to be disqualified by Grand Tutor Shen, nor did she anticipate being personally reinstated as Chaoan North Circuit's top candidate by the Crown Prince.
Such widespread publicity was never her intention.
And toward this legendary Crown Prince, known for his reticence, cold demeanor, and unfathomable thoughts - from this moment on, she felt no favorable impression.
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