They had memorized the Four Books and Five Classics, studied political history, and honed their argumentative essays. One by one, they stepped in confidently.

Ning Rushen kindly explained a couple of things. “The exam questions are in the middle of the table. You have two quarters of an hour to discuss among yourselves. During this time, everything you say, every expression you make, will be assessed.”

After he finished, he casually straightened his robe, adding as if in an afterthought, “Oh, I forgot to mention. This exam will only select the most outstanding performer. All others will be eliminated.”

“Only one person gets chosen?!” The room erupted in shock.

The young aristocrats from the Five-City Military Commander’s Office exchanged glances, their faces subtly shifting before they quickly looked away. If only one could succeed, then it was either victory or ruin.

Seeing the atmosphere in the exam hall take on a subtle tension, Ning Rushen smiled in satisfaction, settling into his seat and gesturing to the candidates.

“The tables are arranged in a semicircle facing me. Let’s begin.”

Ning Rushen propped his chin on his hand, looking relaxed. “Begin.”

With a rustle, the candidates hurriedly took out the papers and flipped through the questions, glancing upward:

“Your name is Xiao Shuai, the well-off son of a government official in the capital. Currently, you are a low-ranking official in the Ministry of Works, under a superior with no subordinates of your own.

“One day, a torrential rain arrives, breaching the river embankment along the shore. The Ministry of Works is assigned the task of urgently repairing it…”

Reassured, they continued reading:

“…Only to find that there is no money left in the treasury. So, you submit a request to the Ministry of Revenue for a budget of five million taels. The Ministry of Revenue claims that the Ministry of Works still has funds and does not approve the request.

“You are now tasked with solving this problem.

“Requirements:

“- Use two ke to organize and present your argument.

“- Choose one person to report your conclusion to the examiner.

“- If no conclusion is reached, everyone will be eliminated.”

The candidates felt a chill. …What kind of question was this? It was just going to be a back-and-forth argument! And what was that ominous last line?

They shot a glance at Ning Rushen, who was still lazily propping his chin on his hand, showing no intention of interrupting. He was fully at ease, though his eyes, when they swept over them, were clear and full of scrutiny.

The candidates felt a chill run down their spines.

Finally, one of the young aristocrats cleared his throat and spoke first. “I think we should start by explaining the pros and cons to the Ministry of Revenue…”

Ning Rushen leaned back comfortably, listening to them begin to chatter.

Once someone started, others joined in. However, with only a short time to prepare and no experience, they often ended up speaking over each other or falling into awkward silences.

…

Time slipped by, and they were still locked in heated arguments.

Yu Tiao was still reeling from the shock of the exam, overwhelmed by the harsh competitive atmosphere and feeling scattered. He tried to speak several times, finally catching a pause, and blurted out, “I think we should report this to His Majesty and ask him to order the Ministry of Revenue to release the funds!”

He barely finished before someone else chimed in from the other end:

“Brother Yu, that’s too hasty. A low-level official from the Ministry of Works wouldn’t even have a chance to appear at court. And besides, wouldn’t that make us fully antagonize the Ministry of Revenue?”

Ning Rushen glanced toward the speaker—

If he recalled correctly, wasn’t this person one of Yu Tiao’s allies?

Ah… so they were turning on each other. Good.

Sure enough, Yu Tiao looked ready to tear his opponent apart.

The little sand clock on the table was nearly empty.

The group was still at a standstill, with no one standing out.

At that moment, a voice rang out in the chaotic exam hall, filled with a sense of reckless determination:

“I’ll just get my father to pay for it!”

The words were like a thunderbolt.

All the candidates fell silent, turning in shock to look at the speaker.

Even Ning Rushen’s mouth dropped open a little:

A model of filial piety willing to rob his father to relieve the poor!

He immediately sat up straight, looking at the student in admiration. “You, what’s your name?”

“The younger generation’s name is Zhao Xin… no, Zhao Shuai.” Zhao Xin glanced nervously at the paper’s introductory line, hastily correcting himself.

Ning Rushen nodded, smiling. “Not bad.”

Zhao Xin’s cheeks flushed with excitement.

The other candidates were stunned! Here they were, seriously trying to reason their way through, and this reckless fool had suddenly stolen the show?

In a flash, the others scrambled to jump on board:

“Excellent idea! My father’s willing to double that amount!”

“It is a subject’s duty to share His Majesty’s burdens; my entire family is willing to donate to aid the people of Liangjiang!”

Some candidates, realizing they were falling behind, bit the bullet and said, “I…I’ll donate my family’s entire ancestral fortune to water conservancy!”

Watching this parade of aristocratic “Bodhisattvas,” Ning Rushen was almost ready to clap his hands in praise:

Yes, that’s it. Everyone, keep outdoing each other!

Feudalism could only be defeated by capitalism at its worst.

…

Finally, the two ke were up.

The exam concluded, and the noble youths, every one of them, had volunteered to donate an ancestral estate.

Ning Rushen leaned back in his chair, looking over the room full of candidates whose expressions were uneasy, as if awaiting a death sentence. Particularly Yu Tiao and his few allies, who looked utterly defeated. Ning Rushen gave them a gentle smile.

Then he said that old familiar line, “Go home and wait for the results.”

“Yes, Master Ning…”

The candidates walked out unsteadily, as if they had survived a disaster.

Ning Rushen stretched in his chair before getting up to head to the back of the exam hall.

Behind the hall was a room designated for supervisory inspection.

As he lifted the curtain and entered, he came face-to-face with a lineup—

Palace attendants and guards stood at attention on either side. De Quan was there, grinning at him with his dusting whisk, while on the supervisory seat sat none other than His Majesty, Li Wuting.

The emperor himself had come to watch.

Ning Rushen froze mid-step: ?

Li Wuting sat there, exuding an air of quiet authority. His face, usually serious, now held a hint of an elusive smile as he looked at Ning Rushen:

“Ning Qing, come here.”

“…”

Ning Rushen swallowed, shuffling over.

When he reached Li Wuting, he bowed. “Your Majesty.”

Li Wuting raised an eyebrow. “This interview method of yours—where did it come from?”

Ning Rushen answered honestly, “It’s the result of millions of people competing ruthlessly.”

Li Wuting chuckled. “Indeed, ruthless.”

After a pause, he asked, “What does this ‘competition’ mean?”

“It’s…” Ning Rushen thought, then summed it up concisely, “the opposite of laziness, Your Majesty.”

Li Wuting seemed to understand. “You mean being overly diligent.”

“…” Did he think he was some sort of extreme slacker?

Ning Rushen’s gaze turned slightly gloomy.

Meeting his gaze, Li Wuting suddenly smiled. “Just a joke.” Then he rose, moving past him toward the door. “As you once said—like fish fighting over bait.”

Watching Li Wuting’s departing figure, Ning Rushen felt a certain clarity in him, as if he viewed everything from above.

Aside from tarnishing his perfect character.

“Tsk, tsk…” De Quan bowed, motioning for him to follow the emperor.

Ning Rushen obligingly fell in line.

· Outside the exam hall, the other exam rooms were still in session.

Only Ning Rushen had managed to finish off a room full of aristocrats in two ke; the other halls had much longer exam times.

“Does Your Majesty wish to listen in on the others?” Ning Rushen asked.

“No need.” Li Wuting didn’t spare a glance, “They’ll just go on about classics and politics.”

Ning Rushen stole another glance.

So he’d come just to watch him perform…

“What are you looking at?” Li Wuting asked.

Ning Rushen tried to take credit. “Did I do a good job with this, Your Majesty?”

A laugh escaped beside him. “Pure nonsense.”

Ning Rushen: Got it, that means I did an excellent job.

…

A few words later, they had exited the examination compound.

Both their carriages were parked just outside the gate.

Taking advantage of the last moment, Ning Rushen sped up, sidling close to Li Wuting, and whispered, “So, which ‘seedling’ caught Your Majesty’s eye?”

Li Wuting, a head taller than him, looked down, seeing Ning Rushen looking up at him, nearly shoulder to shoulder.

With his soft chin angled up, looking rather… easy to mess with.

Li Wuting asked, “Want to know?”

Ning Rushen nodded, looking eager. “Yes.”

The Ning family’s carriage was only a few steps away, with Yan Min watching them, mouth agape.

Li Wuting glanced over before humbling himself and using two fingers to grab the back of Ning Rushen’s collar, dragging him toward his own carriage. “Too many people here. Get in, and I’ll tell you.”

“…” Ning Rushen: ?

Like a well-practiced habit, he was pulled into the imperial carriage.

Once inside, Ning Rushen signaled Yan Min outside to follow them home.

The carriage began to move.

Ning Rushen turned back to Li Wuting. “Your Majesty?”

Li Wuting asked, “Who do you think I chose?”

Ning Rushen guessed, “Zhao Shuai?”

“…” Li Wuting sidestepped the alias. “Yes.”

“He does seem clever. But is his family’s background a concern?”

“These families are all the same to me. If I want a tall tree that draws the wind, better to pick someone who has some sense.”

Ning Rushen looked at Li Wuting’s calm profile.

As if all beings were equal in his eyes, with nothing special about them.

Ning Rushen was dumbfounded. “Then, how did you pick the Royal Guards?”

Not one was tall.

“…Ning Qing.”

Ning Rushen wisely shut his mouth.

Soon, the carriage stopped at the entrance of the Ning Mansion.

Ning Rushen lifted the curtain, ready to step down.

From a few steps away, Yuan Liu called out to the Ning family carriage, “Master!”

Feeling awkward, Ning Rushen replied, “I’m over here.”

“…” Yuan Liu turned. “You…that way?”

“Hitched a ride.” Ning Rushen replied casually, stepping down from the carriage.

Hearing a ruckus at the mansion’s entrance, he asked, “What’s going on?”

Yuan Liu said, “The little guard caught a pigeon!”

It took Ning Rushen several seconds to remember who the “little guard” was, then realized—oh, Xiao Shizi.

He gave Yuan Liu a knowing look: You’re getting quite good at shorthand.

“Well, let him…”

Before he could finish, Shi Yi appeared holding a struggling pigeon. “Master, I caught a plump pigeon.”

The word “plump” sealed the pigeon’s fate.

Ning Rushen couldn’t help but swallow, his mind already playing:

A plump pigeon, feathers plucked, simmering in a pot of soup, even Geng’s dog next door would drool over the wall…

He placed his order. “I’d like it stewed.”

Just as he said this, the carriage curtain behind him suddenly lifted.

Li Wuting leaned out, his gaze landing on the pigeon, completely ignoring the abrupt silence around him. He frowned slightly and stepped down.

Ning Rushen glanced sideways. “What’s wrong?”

…Did he not like it stewed?

A large hand suddenly reached over, plucking the pigeon from Shi Yi’s grip. Li Wuting’s fingers searched through the pigeon’s feathers near its leg, then pulled out a small tube.

Ning Rushen was shocked:

What the—was this a spy pigeon?

He quickly distanced himself. “Your Majesty, I don’t know it personally—”

“I know.” Li Wuting emptied the tube, “I know it well.”

Ning Rushen: ?

A roll of thin paper fell into his palm. Li Wuting looked at it for a couple of seconds, then signaled for Ning Rushen to open it.

Ning Rushen suspiciously accepted it and unfurled the paper.

He discovered that this paper, thin as a cicada’s wing, held a lengthy message:

“Greetings to Master Ning (crossed out) Lord Ning. Though it’s been many, many days, this prince misses you dearly.

“Ever since that day, I heard you could hardly stand up, not even making it to morning court for several days. Though I am far away in Jiangnan, I am still very concerned.

“Though Jiangnan is rich and beautiful, it can never compare to the inspiration I find in the capital… I wonder if you and His Majesty are (thickly smudged) both well?

“Whenever I ask about His Majesty, he only responds with a ‘hehe,’ which is very disappointing.

“To Lord Ning, I hope you are well.”

The letter even bore a personal seal from “Yingtang.”

Even without the signature, there was no doubt about the sender’s identity.

Ning Rushen, “…”

He glanced at Li Wuting standing beside him.

The emperor’s face was dark, his gaze icy as it fell upon the letter.

Ning Rushen quietly handed over the letter.

Prince Xuan, don’t blame me; you’re just too unlucky. The first time you tried sneaking around, and His Majesty caught you red-handed.

Li Wuting took the letter, then chuckled coldly:

“De Quan, bring a brush.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.” De Quan immediately fetched a brush, dipping it in ink and respectfully presenting it.

Li Wuting flipped the letter over, writing two words: Hehe.

Finished, he rolled the letter back into the tube and released the pigeon.

With a flutter, the pigeon, spared from the pot, flew away.

Ning Rushen watched the pigeon fly off, and after a while, he heard Li Wuting’s voice beside him. “What, miss it?”

“No, Your Majesty, I’m just… reflecting. I doubt Prince Xuan thought the letter he sent to my residence would be answered by Your Majesty.”

“…”

Li Wuting fell silent.

The letter sent to the Ning Mansion—was answered by him.

Imagining Prince Xuan’s reaction, Li Wuting rubbed his brow, already feeling a headache coming on.