While Duan Changchuan and the others were talking in the private room, the students were discussing politics outside. From the current situation in the imperial court to the emperor’s wedding, from the spies at the Shaoguan border to the natural disaster in Huainan last year, and from Chen Daren‘s efforts to turn the tide to the people lining the streets to send them off.

Datong’s public opinion could be said to be open, and the scholars present were all about to enter the government. Anyone who went out would be a famous person in the future, so naturally, the discussion was deeper.

“If saying Datong is at its peak now, it is extremely prosperous. The southern border army is powerful, and it ensures stability inside and outside the country. The people are happy, rich, and have warm clothes and food. It is a prosperous time.”

“Brother Su also said that it is ‘if’. At Shaoguan, it can be said that there is a sentry every hundred steps, but it is still infiltrated by spies. What kind of person is the general, Yet the dangers are plenty in that place. Datong’s external threat is obvious. And look at the imperial city, His Majesty has already turned 18, but he did not even celebrate a decent birthday. Isn’t it because the Regent refused to return power.”

“Brother Chen, you are wrong. The late emperor died 12 years ago, and His Majesty was only six years old. The country was without a leader. If the regent did not take on this burden alone, would Datong be where it is today?”

“Is there no fault if there is merit?”

“Everyone here already knows Regent’s merits. May I ask where the fault is?”

The person who was questioned seemed to be angry and shouted, “If there is no fault, it is the biggest fault!”

Then he was mocked, “I can’t believe it, accusing someone of fault even when there isn’t any. You’re so unreasonable.”

Then, there was laughter in the room.

The four people sitting in the private room. Hearing the two people’s rebuttal, they looked at each other …

Yun Xie covered his face with a fan and introduced in a low voice, “Jia He, ranked 17th in this examination. His father, Jia An, is a small county magistrate on the northern border. He is considered to be from a humble family.”

The young man sitting on the main seat said calmly, “Remember this person’s name and remind the teacher to pay more attention during the tribute examination. After the examination, let the Supreme Court official, Jiang Shi, hand over the token.”

“Okay.”

There were a total of twenty people, and the top three in the competition had the highest prestige.

The first place was Lin Qing. His current comments were all in line with the rules, and it seemed like he didn’t stand on anyone’s side. The third place was the Prime Minister’s disciple, Guang Sui. When he opened his mouth, he quietly led the topic to the Prime Minister, obviously trying to recruit people for the Prime Minister. The second place didn’t participate in any discussion at all. He just sat at the table and drank quietly. On the surface, he looked like a prodigal, but his thoughts were probably the most profound.

Of the remaining seventeen, half of them were friends with Guang Sui. A few of the remaining half were still speaking up for Prince Cheng. It was obvious that they were on the side of the Regents.

The examination had just ended, and the talents were almost all divided up …

Duan Changchuan looked at the few names on the table and fell silent.

Yun Xie circled the name “Shuzhe” and said, “I found out that the person in second place is very close to Lin Qing. The two of them often drink together and have a deep friendship. So what if those two old men have divided up the lower group of people? If we can win those two over, we can also win this round of the Spring Examination.”

After he finished speaking, he circled Lin Qing’s name and drew a line between ”Lin Qing” and “Shuzhe”. He then looked at Bai Su without batting an eyelid.

The relationship between Bai Su and Lin Qing was no secret among the four of them.

The Prime Minister couldn’t win over Lin Qing, and between Duan Changchuan and Lin Qing … it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that they hated each other for stealing wives.

It was easier said than done to win them over.

Bai Su was their hope.

If Bai Su persuaded Lin Qing or used Bai Su to threaten Lin Qing, the other party would definitely surrender.

Although they all knew that this was very cruel.

But how could there be no bloodshed under the monarch’s authority?

“Miss Bai …” Feng Yao said hesitantly, “Can this matter …”

However, she was stopped by Duan Changchuan just as she started to speak.

The young man raised his head with a cold gaze, and he warned, “Aunt.”

Feng Yao immediately shut her mouth.

For a moment, no one spoke in the room.

The scholars outside were still arguing.

“The famine in Huainan is a natural disaster. What does it have to do with the imperial court? It wasn’t the imperial court that issued a decree to cause the entire Huainan to have no harvest. Chen Daren turned the tide and saved the people from danger. Shouldn’t he be praised?”

“What does this have to do with the Regent?”

“Chen Daren was chosen by the Regent. Isn’t it the Regent’s merit that he knows how to assign people properly?”

“You …! Do you know that the one who stamped the imperial decree in the end was the Emperor? It’s also a merit to know how to assign people properly. Why is it only praise the Regent?”

“The Emperor wasn’t even eighteen years old last year. How could he have the right to appoint ministers?”

“Lin Qing, what do you think?”

“Yeah, Muzhi, you speak. We’ll listen to you.”

“I’m afraid I’ll have to disappoint everyone. I don’t know the full picture, so I don’t dare to comment.”

Lin Qing’s voice traveled back into the private room through the crack in the door. It was very obvious that he was standing in the middle.

The young emperor sitting at the top moved his stiff body and finally spoke slowly, “We’ll discuss this matter later.”

Yun Xie was furious and yelled at him, “What later?! Can’t you see that we already have no advantage in this matter?! If we delay any longer, are we going to wait for everyone to be snatched away?! Think about the people who are under you right now. Out of all the civil and military officials, the number of people you can use can be counted on two hands. The imperial examinations are held once every four years. There’s only one chance. If you miss it, there won’t be another! Don’t tell me you want to wait another four years?! Don’t mention whether we can wait another four years, but do you think we’ll have the confidence to win over that year’s Zhuang Yuan?”

These words made the atmosphere tense to the freezing point.

Feng Yao, who had always been sensible and able to see the big picture, actually agreed with Yun Xie, saying, “Yun’er is right. This matter is of great importance. This imperial examination that is held once every four years is a good opportunity for us. This matter can’t be delayed.”

Then she took a deep breath and simply turned around to kneel on one knee in front of Bai Su, “I’m their elder, so I’ll be the one to make this presumptuous request. I know it’s difficult, but you’re the only one …”

Yun Xie cried out in alarm and hurriedly knelt to help her up, “Auntie!”

“Yun’er, go back to your seat.”

“But …”

“I order you to go back.”

Both of them knelt on the ground and pulled at each other.

Bai Su, who was sitting on the chair, didn’t respond at all.

Duan Changchuan’s heart was in a mess as he listened … and he was also in a mess as he watched.

A nameless fire burned fiercely from the bottom of his heart.

Finally … the young emperor’s voice, which was filled with anger, rang out in the room.

“Enough!”

“Pa!” He slammed the table. The sound was so loud that even the chattering outside stopped.

They had purposely lowered their voices when they spoke. Coupled with the loud chatter outside, they wouldn’t be discovered no matter what they said. Now that Duan Changchuan slammed the table, wasn’t this the same as exposing himself?

Yun Xie and Feng Yao stopped pulling at each other as they thought about how to remedy the situation. How should they smooth things over?

Most importantly, they shouldn’t become the center of attention. The more attention there was, the higher the chances of being exposed.

Duan Changchuan also realized that his emotions had been stirred up too easily. He was too impulsive and immediately felt a little guilty.

Thus …

Just as the entire restaurant was shocked into silence by the sound from the private room and pricked up their ears to listen to a few more words …

Suddenly, an angry voice came from the private room, saying, “You said you would bring me to listen to music. It’s already afternoon and I haven’t listened to a single song. Why are you upset when I said we should change place?”

From the sound of it, it seemed to be the same person who had slammed the table in a fit of anger.

The next moment, under the watchful eyes of everyone, the door of the private room opened.

Then, a gust of wind blew past and someone rushed out of the door.

Behind him was a young man holding a fan. He chased after the youth and shouted as he ran, “Hey, hey! There’s a gathering in the restaurant today. Isn’t it impolite to listen to music at this time? Why are you throwing a tantrum!”

Then, a young man dressed like a scholar rushed out.

Finally, the woman hurriedly threw a pouch on the counter and left in a hurry.

Good fellow …

They thought something had happened, but it turned out that it was a playboy who was throwing a tantrum because he couldn’t listen to music.

Everyone shook their heads helplessly and joined in the argument.

Only Lin Qing, who was sitting at the center, looked in the direction they left with a dazed gaze.

–

Duan Changchuan ran out of the Yu Jin Building along the street before he finally stopped. Then the four of them slowly walked into the small courtyard.

Although everyone acted together in the restaurant and broke some of the heavy atmosphere, there was still a sense of awkwardness between the four of them.

“Miss Bai, I’ll have to trouble you to wear this silk …”

Feng Yao brought out the white silk when they reached the secret passage’s entrance.

Bai Su nodded and closed her eyes, waiting for Feng Yao to move.

When her eyes were covered again …

Duan Changchuan saw Bai Su turn to look at him and said faintly, “I’ll have to trouble Your Majesty to take this concubine back.”

He suddenly felt very uncomfortable.

This was a trap set by Yun Xie and Feng Yao. They deliberately called Bai Su when they wanted to go to Yu Jin Restaurant to find scholars they could recruit.

They pressured Bai Su when they knew that Lin Qing would come and that he wouldn’t side with any side.

They said it in a dignified manner, but this was how they valued Bai Su. Whether or not they could keep their country depended on Bai Su alone.

To put it bluntly, they forced her into a desperate situation and forced her to make a choice.

Playing with people’s hearts was also an imperial tactic.

Yun Xie and Feng Yao knew that Duan Changchuan disdained it, so they decided to do it themselves.

But what about Bai Su …

She was forced to separate from her lover and marry someone she couldn’t resist … Next, she was forced to persuade her lover to be loyal to the person she was now married to.

Duan Changchuan felt extremely disgusted just by thinking about such a dirty and despicable method …

Would Bai Su think that he, the emperor, was even more disgusting …?

The secret passage to the palace seemed incomparably long amidst the endless awkwardness.

The two of them didn’t hold hands like before … Instead, they obediently held each other’s sleeves.

Until …

After a long time, the woman’s hand quietly reached up and hooked into his palm. The young man lowered his head and his feet froze.

He heard an exceptionally gentle voice by his ear, “Why aren’t you walking?”

He hurriedly stuttered and lied, “Just now … I tripped on a stone … It’s fine now.”

“Hm, be careful Your Majesty.”

“… Okay.”

–

Halfway through their journey, Feng Yao and Yun Xie found an excuse to return to the Imperial Astronomical Bureau.

Therefore, only Duan Changchuan and Bai Su were left in the empty secret passage.

“Duan Changchuan.”

The woman suddenly spoke.

“Hmm …”

He responded softly.

“The reason I didn’t agree to persuade Lin Qing was because …”

“I … I know that Yun Xie and my aunt were in the wrong. This is too much, I know …”

He hurriedly spoke and interrupted her.

“I know the reason, but I don’t want to hear it from you …”

“I also know that this … is really despicable.”

“So … can you … stop talking about it?”

The young man thought silently in his heart …

His footsteps became heavier.

However, he was suddenly grabbed by someone.

The next moment, the blindfolded person moved her hand up to his arm.

She fumbled around and caressed his cheek.

“That’s not what I want to say …” She said, “Duan Zhangchuan, don’t think of yourself that way.”

“You’re already very good. You didn’t come up with the idea, right? Don’t take all the responsibility on yourself.”

“Treat yourself better. Don’t always belittle yourself like this.”

The young man’s breath trembled …

He slowly raised his hand and touched her wrist.

“I’m sorry … Bai Su, I didn’t want you to recruit him.”

“I know. Duan Changchuan, you have to believe that you’re a good emperor. A fine bird chooses a tree to nest in, and a good minister chooses a master to serve. Lin Qing is a loyal and righteous person. He can tell who is a wise emperor.”

“As long as you do your best, there’s no need to recruit him. He will naturally stand on your side. But if I were to recruit him, it would be unnecessary. Moreover, in this way, he won’t be loyal to you. It’ll be counterproductive. So, I didn’t agree … is not because this move is despicable, and it’s not because I have any old feelings for him.”

As she spoke, the corners of her lips curled up slightly.

Her calloused palm caressed his cheek.

“Don’t think too much. I’ll always be on your side.”

“Perhaps you still can’t understand now, and I can’t explain it, but you have to believe that I’ll always be on your side.”

Duan Changchuan’s eyes suddenly became hot.

He opened his mouth, but his throat seemed to be blocked by something. He used all his strength to finally let out a dry voice, “I … believe you.”