28 The Target

Cui Hu did not miss the hesitant expression on the faces of the young scholars nearby, his brows furrowing tightly.

"Aside from hereditary titles that rely on primogeniture and the luck of birth, don't all other officials have to rely on their own merit? Wouldn't posting the answer sheets completely silence any skepticism?"

Puzzled, Cui Hu spoke in a clear, ringing voice: "They say there is no first in literature and no second in martial arts, yet martial generals count heads clearly and openly when calculating military achievements. There is no reason why the imperial examination system should be so secretive as to forbid us from seeing others' answer sheets!"

"Father, don't you have the right to submit a memorial? Write one! Once we post the answer sheets and compare them, we will at least know where Second Uncle falls short, and we can prescribe the right medicine for the illness."

"After all, we are confined to diligent study. If we go out at any time other than during the examinations, we might be reported by the censors. The only way to understand information about the exams is through these answer sheets. Unlike some people who can tour for study and observe folk customs—"

He paused deliberately, drawing out his tone as he surveyed the people around him. Then, with an inflection at the end of his sentence, he added with blatant sarcasm: "Right?"

The overwhelming mockery stung the gathering students, their complexions shifting through shades of green and purple. But the matter was too sensitive; no one dared to respond.

Duke Rong, observing this, was filled with confusion. He had only mentioned it in passing, but seeing the reaction of the young men around him, it seemed there really was something fishy going on. So, these proud sons of heaven would rather be questioned than release their answer sheets to clearly prove they earned their place on the rankings through merit?

Contemplating this, Cui Enhou hugged Cui Xiu tightly, his state one of excitement: "Right, Hu'er, let's go back and write that memorial!"

Cui Hu pulled Cui Cong along and looked at Gao Feng, who was the subject of the skepticism. Thinking of their family's relationship with Princess Changping, he simply reached out and grabbed Gao Feng: "Let's go!"

Gao Feng looked down at his hand being held, his expression dark and unreadable.

All the onlookers watched the departing backs of the five Cui family members with complicated expressions. Some quick-witted ones wanted to find the person who had first instigated the questioning, only to find that the individual had already slipped away unnoticed.

The crowd: "............"

The news spread quickly. Sharp-eared officials, especially those with vested interests, grew thoughtful and began to display their various methods.

The next day, at the Great Court Session, officials directly submitted memorials to protest, ensuring the Emperor could not simply leave them unread.

"Your Majesty, I, the Junior Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites, submit that the imperial examination is a vital matter for selecting talent for the country and must not be treated as a child's game! A noble Duke of the highest rank is participating in the exams and even bringing a four-year-old child to disrupt the examination hall."

"Your Majesty, I second this! The Cui family is abusing the Emperor's grace; this is a grave offense!"

"Your Majesty, the rules of the imperial examination have always required a clean record. Even with your special pardon, allowing the son of a lowly-registered family to take the exam is a desecration of the examination system!"

"Your Majesty......"

Each voice was more impassioned than the last, and each angle of attack more devious than the previous.

Emperor Mingde evaluated them internally, sweeping his gaze over the officials presenting their grievances, and finally over the entire court of civil and military officials. He barked coldly: "You all speak with reason. Then, according to the law, should I grant the title of Libationer of the Imperial Academy to an ultra-ranked Duke? Don't forget, according to the law, hereditary protection starts from the fourth rank."

On the last word, Emperor Mingde raised his pitch slightly.

The low, sharp tone, sounding like a taut blade whistling through the air, lingered throughout the Great Hall. The officials who had stepped out to protest stared in horror, and even the "old foxes" who prided themselves on their composure were stunned.

The Libationer of the Imperial Academy was the highest official of the academy, holding authority over the institution and, by extension, all official education. It was a position of low nominal rank but immense power.

If Cui Enhou were truly crazy enough to demand this mere fourth-rank position, then by law... he could indeed have it!

All those with vested interests felt their scalps tingle; they dared not gamble on Cui Enhou's madness. After all, Cui Enhou had publicly declared that if he failed the exam, he would directly become the Magistrate of Daxing County!

Scanning the officials with their varied expressions, Emperor Mingde sneered: "My dear ministers, Cui Enhou and his family are not relying on hereditary protection to become officials; they are taking the exams honestly. Is there a problem with taking the exam twice if the first time fails? Or do you ministers think I am stingy and ungrateful, killing the donkey after the millstone is used? Do you want me to leave behind a bad name, to be cursed by future generations for destroying my own walls and refusing to let the descendants of meritorious officials advance?"

Faced with such increasingly severe interrogations, all the officials knelt in unison, shouting three times for the Emperor to calm his anger.

The Marquis of Zhenguo, head of the military nobility, knelt and bowed, then glanced at the civil officials opposite him before stepping out unhurriedly: "Your Majesty, allow this humble subject to say something treasonous. I had some grudges with the late Duke Zhongwu over the rotation of guards in the Northwest and Northern frontiers, but I truly do not understand. Cui Enhou is no longer relying on bloodlines or primogeniture to chatter; he is relying on talent. Yet, I see these civil officials acting as if they are very wary of this famous playboy."

"Therefore, I am confused. If they are even afraid of a playboy taking the exam, what kind of talent is the imperial examination actually selecting? It is not as good as us martial generals; we allow playboys to take the field, because if a playboy has no ability on the battlefield, he simply dies. We use blood and lives to forge true generals!"

Once these words were spoken, the already solemn hall grew thick with the scent of blood and gunpowder.

The six Grand Secretaries, who had not yet spoken, exchanged glances and finally looked toward the Senior Grand Secretary, Su Hua. The Marquis of Zhenguo's words pointed toward the selection process and perhaps even hinted at the posting of answer sheets. There might even be an imperial suggestion behind it.

Su Hua: "............"

Su Hua stepped out unhurriedly, reciting the "mud-mixing" method he had already perfected: "Your humble servant privately believes that the Marquis of Zhenguo speaks with reason. Regarding the imperial examinations these years, not to mention others, even for this session, my grandson Su Jinyi's placement on the list has sparked some gossip. Therefore, for the sake of both public and private interest, I wish to submit that it would be better to post the candidates' answer sheets, so that all scholars in the world can see clearly and distinctly!"

He deliberately emphasized the words "candidates' answer sheets," and many alert civil officials immediately realized the implication.

In this dynasty, there were two types of answer sheets. If they posted the "red sheets"—the ones with the examiners' markings—it meant the chief examiners would also be under scrutiny. But if they simply posted the "ink sheets" of the candidates, then... then it didn't matter. After all, the students they selected were indeed talented!

Pondering this, other civil officials immediately followed suit: "Your Majesty, I privately believe that what Grand Secretary Su suggests is also reasonable. I also have relatives taking the exams, and rather than being pointed at, it would be better to post the answer sheets so everyone can see clearly. This would also prevent some scholars from humble backgrounds from thinking the Daxing County exam is simple, or that the system established by our ancestors to prevent officials' children from returning to their home provinces is merely an act of favoritism!"

Watching the officials scrambling to agree, Emperor Mingde swept his gaze over the head of the civil officials—the leader of the pure-minded faction—who was acting with such reasoned and self-serving rhetoric. He then slammed his hand on the table and stood up: "What you ministers say is reasonable! Come to think of it, I also examined the talent of Grand Secretary Su's grandson years ago, and it was only after considering summoning him to the palace as a study companion that I realized he had genuine ability."

Hearing the old identity of Cui Enhou—"study companion"—suddenly mentioned, even Su Hua, who prided himself on being prepared for anything, could not help but tremble. He carefully held his breath and pricked up his ears to listen.

The next moment, he heard a sound no less than a thunderclap in his ears.

Because Emperor Mingde said:

"Years ago, in the Imperial Study, we all studied literature and practiced martial arts, working tirelessly day and night, which is why we earned the title of being accomplished in both. In the entire Imperial Study, the entire royal education system, the only failure was the study companion Cui Enhou—this nephew of mine whom the Martial Emperor praised!"

"So, the urgent matter now is not for you ministers to prove the talent of your own children, but for the royal family to prove that Cui Enhou is truly inept in both literature and martial arts simply because he is slow-witted!"

Su Hua felt as if he had been struck on the head with a heavy club; he felt dizzy.

This... this angle, never before heard, echoed in his ears, making him unable to control his growing panic and fear—the fear that the shrewdness he had cultivated through years of navigating the political seas had instead become "cleverness that backfires"!

It was not just Su Hua, the Grand Secretary, who felt anxious and confused; others, especially those with guilty consciences, were filled with astonishment. Even if they tried to restrain themselves, some revealed their inner turmoil in their eyes.

High above, Emperor Mingde looked down at his officials, patiently casting a long line to catch a big fish. For him, enduring and biding his time had become a habit.

Raising an eyebrow, Emperor Mingde spoke with visible anger, his tone brooks no argument: "The Court of Imperial Clan, the Ministry of Rites, and the Imperial Academy shall cooperate to publish the Four Books and Five Classics and other relevant texts used in the Imperial Study in the examination halls across provinces and counties, to prove the innocence of my royal family! It will also allow all scholars in the world to copy them into books for study and research. This will prevent endless arguments between the scholars of aristocratic families and those of humble origins, and stop them from harboring grievances against each other!"

"In addition, attach a copy of the Imperial Study's curriculum, so that all the scholars in the world—especially those who spread gossip about me, or even secretly slander that my late father could not tolerate the success of the children of military generals and was using 'praise to kill' Cui Enhou—can open their eyes and see!"

"During the Martial Emperor's reign, all the princes and their study companions were accomplished in both literature and martial arts, which is why they looked down on each other and competed like dragons and tigers!"

"And Cui Enhou is indeed simply a wall that cannot be plastered!"

The three departments named were left in a daze.

The Marquis of Zhenguo was the first to speak: "Long live the Emperor!"

Whether the books were published or not did not matter to them. Since the Emperor was so open and direct, possessing the same iron-blooded brilliance as the Martial Emperor in his youth, it was enough to show that they could continue to hold onto their titles and wealth for another three generations!!!

The other military nobles were startled, but seeing the Marquis of Zhenguo so enthusiastic, they followed suit and knelt. Anyway, looking at the Emperor and the Marquis, as long as it was beneficial to them as military generals, that was all that mattered!

The civil officials, seeing everyone kneeling in unison and hearing the shout of "Long live the Emperor" that shook the eaves and soared to the heavens, could not even think of anything else and joined in the cry.

Emperor Mingde smiled, every word resonant and powerful, filled with an arrogance that could swallow mountains and rivers: "I want the whole world to know about the education in my Imperial Study!"

"The reputation of my Imperial Study will not be slandered by Cui Enhou, a study companion who even failed the county examination!"