NOVEL WEB Chapter 468
Two sworn rivals faced each other, one standing above the other.
Once classmates, they now stood in the relationship of ruler and subject.
The little devil, Jin Cheng, couldn't help but wonder how Qin Ye would counter the court officials' siege.
The elder ministers observed the new emperor's demeanor, assuming his remark about Qin Ye being "annoying" meant he disliked the boy. If Qin Ye had any sense of propriety, he should voluntarily relinquish his position as the top scholar to avoid delaying the announcement of the imperial examination results—especially with the grand proclamation of the new emperor's ascension still pending.
Yet before they could finish their thoughts, Qin Ye took a bold step forward and declared firmly, "Your Majesty, I believe the purpose of the imperial examination is to select talent for the court, and the essence of talent lies in the word 'ability.' As the ministers have pointed out, since the rule granting official positions directly to child prodigies was abolished, no young scholar has risen to such prominence. This only proves that none of the past candidates were qualified to become the top scholar. However, our Great Chu's examination system still includes the provincial, metropolitan, and palace exams—testing candidates on classics, poetry, and policy discussions to assess their qualifications for governance. If, at the final stage, age alone determines whether one is deemed talented or not, it would negate the judgments of all examiners and undermine the fairness of the entire examination system. Therefore, I stand by my position as the top scholar with a clear conscience."
"You—!"
"You… you insolent brat!"
"Utterly ignorant of your place!"
Qin Ye's words ignited a storm of fury among the ministers.
They had expected an eleven-year-old boy to cower under the weight of their opposition.
Yet instead of retreating, he advanced—daring to challenge the highest-ranking officials of the court!
Such audacity was tantamount to courting death. A child like this entering officialdom wouldn't last a year before meeting a grim fate.
Fuming, the ministers turned back to the throne and pleaded, "Your Majesty, this boy is far too arrogant and reckless. Granting him an official position now would surely bring chaos to the court and harm Great Chu!"
Jin Cheng also thought Qin Ye was audacious.
But so what?
Did arrogance preclude competence?
The little devil suddenly interjected, "Which ministry do you belong to?"
The minister bowed and replied respectfully, "This humble servant is Fang Hechu, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites. Though uninvolved in this year's examinations, as a loyal subject of Great Chu, I must share Your Majesty's burdens."
"Oh…" Jin Cheng frowned in mock confusion. "With such prophetic insight, I thought you were from the Imperial Astronomical Bureau. Turns out you're not."
Fang Hechu: "??"
Since when did he resemble an astrologer?
The emperor's interruption drew muffled laughter from the observing scholars below. Even Luo Jingfeng couldn't resist clapping for his bold nephew—though a swift kick from Zong Zhao silenced him promptly.
Grand Scholar Zhao, his beard quivering, stepped forward. "Your Majesty, I maintain that Qin Ye must not be named the top scholar. His talent is undeniable, but once this result is announced, how will the court justify it to the people? Rumors already circulate about noble families cheating in exams and displacing commoners. Now, an eleven-year-old top scholar? How will we silence public criticism? I implore Your Majesty to consider the long-term consequences, not just immediate gains!"
Given the emperor's youth, the ministers dared not speak too subtly—lest he fail to grasp their warnings.
But these blunt words were heard by all the scholars in the hall. Considering the court's stance, they found some justification in them.
The military morale wavered.
Even those who had initially acknowledged Qin Ye's capabilities began murmuring in agreement. Some even suggested demoting him to the second-rank position of "Bangyan" to avoid not only embarrassing the court but also subjecting Qin Ye to public accusations of favoritism.
"Your Majesty, we implore you to reconsider!"
"Please reconsider, Your Majesty!"
Seizing the momentum, the ministers knelt en masse, leveraging public sentiment to pressure the young emperor into revising his decision on the top scholar.
The scholars bowed their heads in silence, awaiting the emperor's final verdict.
Just then, Jin Cheng noticed He Zheng below, frantically winking at him. Bound by court decorum that forbade casual speech, his friend's eyes were fluttering like butterfly wings.
The young troublemaker caught the signal, raised an eyebrow, and immediately called out, "He Zheng, the palace herald—if Qin Ye is demoted to the second rank, you'd rise to the first. Do you have anything to say?"
The ministers were stunned.
Why was the herald being consulted?
Finally given a chance to speak, He Zheng replied with vigor, "Your Majesty, I believe the imperial examinations are the fairest selection method in Great Chu. To revoke Qin Ye's title due to rumors would be unjust—not only to him but to the integrity of the exams and the countless scholars who toil for this honor. However, Vice Minister Fang and Grand Scholar Zhao's concerns are not unfounded. I happen to have a humble proposal for Your Majesty and the ministers to consider."
At this critical moment, his brother proved reliable.
The young emperor shot him an approving glance and declared, "Speak." UploadedbytheM|V|L(EMPYR)team.
"Yes!" Bolstered by his friend's support, He Zheng launched into his pitch. "Many may not know this, but Qin Ye is renowned at Qingbo Academy. After each exam, our dean posts announcements within a three-li radius to attract new students. He even vowed that if Qin Ye topped the palace exam, he'd plaster the news across ten li. Why not seize this chance to display Qin Ye's top-scoring exam papers publicly? Let all of Great Chu—even You Country—witness the new top scholar's brilliance. Who could then accuse him of cheating his way to the triple crown?"
The four young troublemakers had a flair for flamboyant celebrations—lion dances across the capital after every exam—so such bold publicity was second nature to them.
This idea, in fact, had been suggested by their leader before: "When we make the top ranks, we'll plaster the capital with our results! Let everyone know the four troublemakers have become the four prodigies!"
Having delivered the proposal, He Zheng retreated triumphantly.
But his words detonated like thunder in the hall.
The scholars had never seen anything like it. Whispers erupted—posting exam papers across the capital? Unheard of! Names for recruitment were one thing, but the top scholar's actual exam answers?
The conservative ministers gaped in shock.
After a stunned pause, they erupted: "This—this is outrageous!"
"Preposterous! The top scholar's papers are confidential! They're not wanted posters!"
"Unacceptable! Qin Ye must not be named top scholar. Your Majesty, we beg you to reconsider!"
"..."
Zong Wenxiu couldn't help but blush as he listened, imagining the scenario He Zheng had suggested. The thought of the entire capital witnessing Qin Ye's written words terrified him on Qin Ye's behalf.
Yet when he glanced at the man in question, Qin Ye showed no reaction—clearly unbothered by the idea.
Zong Wenxiu marveled inwardly: As expected of Qin Ye, his composure is unshakable.
Meanwhile, Jin Cheng swept his gaze across the room. The conservative old ministers had dwindled to only a handful still making noise, while half now watched in silent contemplation. On one side, Prime Minister Shen stroked his beard, a faint smile playing on his lips.
The little devil—Jin Cheng—arched a brow and grinned, addressing the Prime Minister cheerfully, "What does the Prime Minister think of this proposal?"