Chapter 63
Outside Zhengyang Gate, students were bustling and noisy.
Soon, Emperor Xiao Yunzhou, holding the princess in his arms, arrived at the palace gate in a carriage.
The guards formed two rows, quickly surrounding the Emperor in the center.
Keeping the students at a distance from the Emperor.
"Back off, all of you back off!"
"The Emperor is here, do not approach any further!"
The imperial guards were on high alert, fearing that the students might rush forward and startle the royal carriage.
However, none of the students actually approached.
The students in the first three rows, with decent eyesight, were all stunned as they looked at the first exam paper posted on Zhengyang Gate.
Even with the Emperor himself at the gate, they were too preoccupied to notice.
Because the answers on this exam paper were shockingly terrible!
Terrible to the point that they couldn't believe their eyes, thinking they were mistaken!
—Vice Minister of Personnel, Jiang Yixu.
Having achieved top scores in the imperial examinations in his youth, Jiang Yixu stood out among the sea of students, entering directly into the Censorate and working his way up from an Imperial Censor.
He eventually reached the position of Vice Minister of Personnel in the Ministry of Personnel.
Such a person not only excelled in academics in his youth but should also have had an exceptional understanding of the rules of officialdom!
Without knowledge of court regulations and administrative practices, one would not be able to supervise the officials!
Let alone manage the promotion and demotion of officials in the Ministry of Personnel!
However, this so-called clean official Jiang Yixu, in his ten-answer exam paper— the first two questions on the Four Books and Five Classics were nonsensical, with no coherent structure.
This couldn't be attributed to forgetfulness due to old age or lack of reviewing.
However, for the remaining eight questions, related to the rules for Ministry of Personnel officials and handling of public affairs, Jiang Yixu's answers were equally astonishing!
"How should the misuse of official seals be calculated?"
Jiang Yixu left the answer blank and added three ink dots.
"If an official fails to promptly request a replacement when the official seal's imprint is unclear, what punishment should be given?"
This was a multiple-choice question.
"First, demotion; second, deduction of salary for six months; third, deduction of salary for twelve months."
Regardless of the three options, Jiang Yixu received a big red cross for each!
He even got it wrong...
A colossal mistake!
Protesting students numbered in the hundreds.
Those in the front row fell silent at this moment.
Some with fiery tempers finally realized they had been completely fooled, "Damn it! What a fool!"
The surrounding students blushed and hung their heads in shame upon hearing this curse.
They had always believed they were supporting a good official who spoke up for the people!
A person of integrity, talent, and learning who would leave a good name in history!
But they were wrong, all wrong!
They thought by supporting Jiang Yixu, they would also earn a good reputation and do something for the people.
But—
Damn it, all wrong!
Jiang Yixu is truly a complete fool!
The students in front of Zhengyang Gate were now lost and bewildered, each feeling as though they were struck by lightning, realizing for the first time that they were standing in a swamp.
Were all their past beliefs wrong?
Supporting Jiang Yixu, criticizing the Emperor, this act was utterly absurd, like ignorant children crying and making a scene?
The students trembled one after another.
Xiao Yunzhou, holding Chu Chu, watched the students change their expressions one after another with great satisfaction.
They had cursed him fiercely just moments ago, but now they were all facing the consequences!
Haha.
"Reading the books of sages is to help you understand reasoning, do not let anger cloud your judgment easily, and do not blindly follow others."
Xiao Yunzhou sat in the sedan chair and immediately spoke firmly.
"I do not fear advice, but what I want to hear is advice that is meaningful!"
"Those who fish in troubled waters will all be severely punished!"
The students were moved, then looked back at the exam papers posted on the Zhengyang Gate.
"So that's it! The Emperor is testing the officials on their abilities!"
"It was the students who wrongly blamed the Emperor!"
The students blushed, and boldly admitted their mistake in public.
Xiao Yunzhou nodded in satisfaction, feeling quite pleased.
Thanks to his precious daughter~
Otherwise, he, as an emperor, would not dare to scold people casually. Now, things were different, and his reputation was established!
Haha!
He looked down at his precious daughter in his arms, afraid that she would be frightened by the students' uprising, but he saw the little Chu Chu blushing, her eyes shining.
She was still excited, turning her head to look at the Zhengyang Gate one moment, and then showing interest in the scholars the next.
[Wow, my Emperor father really hit the nail on the head with this move~]
[The assessment is not just about academic abilities, but also about the performance in office on a daily basis.]
[Officials who usually mess around are now exposed!]
Xiao Yunzhou couldn't help but smile.
Listening to his daughter's praise, he felt very content.
He was not stupid, of course.
He didn't want a top scholar in the imperial examination, but rather someone who could get things done!
"What's wrong? Brother Yuan, why is everyone silent now?"
"You're all quiet when the Emperor is here, afraid to make suggestions?"
The students standing in the back did not carefully read the exam papers posted, looking bewildered.
But soon, the scholars in the front row turned red and collectively turned back, saying, "Please stop."
"Quiet—shut up."
Xiao Yunzhou chuckled, not at all angry, and raised his hand to have the selected exam papers distributed to the back.
The officials of the Ministry of Personnel examined the Ministry of Personnel's regulations.
The officials of the Ministry of Works examined knowledge related to craftsmen and labor...
The entire Zhengyang Gate was soon shocked, gasping, and silent.
The people they supported were not worthy!
They were rubbish!
"In the past, the court appointed ministers, some of whom were not talented. From this day on, I will gradually eliminate them and cleanse the entire court!"
Xiao Yunzhou spoke loudly.
"I will hold an Imperial Examination after the New Year. I hope that talented individuals from all over the world will come and give it a try."
"I am willing to work with truly talented and virtuous individuals to create a prosperous era!"
Xiao Yunzhou's words were resolute, and all one hundred students in front of the Zhengyang Gate blushed, then quickly their eyes turned red.
"Students are ashamed!"
"Students are willing to serve the Emperor and the Jing Country!"
The students were moved.
This was their first time having a conversation with the Emperor!
It was also the first time they saw that the clear stream admonishers they once supported were such incapable individuals!
They first felt that the Emperor of the Jing Country was not as foolish as they had thought, and did not ignore state affairs!
[Awooo, I see several with an intelligence of over 80. God, the one in the second row on the left, wearing brown clothes and patched, has an intelligence of 91!]
Xiao Chu Chu also excitedly blushed.
She did not understand how to govern a country.
But having more outstanding individuals enter the court was a good thing.
She understood this simple truth.
[This person cannot be missed.]
Xiao Chu Chu fidgeted anxiously in Xiao Yunzhou's arms.
Xiao Yunzhou listened attentively, his eyes lighting up as he looked at the person mentioned by the young lady, and he was surprised at what he saw.
In the third row, second from the left, was a student with an IQ of 91, with a dark birthmark on the left side of his forehead.
Xiao Yunzhou was stunned.
Normally, officials appointed by the Ministry of Personnel would not choose someone with such a blemish on their appearance.
After all, officials represent the court. Some high-ranking officials would have to negotiate with neighboring countries in the future.
But Xiao Yunzhou hesitated for a moment, then nodded casually at the student with the birthmark.
"Next year, we'll be waiting for you."
Looks cannot save a country in times of crisis!
At critical moments, talent is what matters.
Xiao Yunzhou held Chu Chu in his arms and smiled warmly at the student with the birthmark.
Zheng Qiru, a poor student in the third row, saw the Emperor looking at him and instinctively pursed his lips, closing his eyes in pain.
He knew he was ugly, and even though he excelled in literature, he would be rejected in the palace exam because of his appearance.
But he still wanted to give it a try.
What if during the palace exam, the Emperor didn't match his face to his name, and chose him by mistake?
He wanted to do something for the people!
At this moment, when Zheng Qiru saw the Emperor's gaze shift towards him, he looked pained.
Today, he did not agree with the scholars coming together to submit a petition, believing that scholars should not blindly interfere in court affairs without understanding the situation.
But unexpectedly, when he followed along to advise, he encountered the Emperor coming out of Zhengyang Gate in person.
Seeing the Emperor's reaction to his ugly appearance was even worse than he had imagined!
Zheng Qiru was in great pain at that moment.
He didn't have the courage to see the Emperor's displeasure and disgust at his ugly face.
But soon, his arm was pushed.
"Hey, old Zheng, it seems like the Emperor is smiling at you."
???
How is that possible?
Zheng Qiru smiled bitterly.
Don't joke around.
The Emperor smiling at him?
Unless the Emperor had an eye disease!