After adopting Wang Xiuxiu's suggestion, the emperor immediately began reforms.

Just as Wang Xiuxiu said, to truly break the monopoly of aristocratic families, the system for selecting officials must be fundamentally changed.

In addition, Lu Nancheng also broadened the channels for public opinion, giving talented people from all walks of life the opportunity to speak directly to the emperor.

This series of decrees is known as the Ganchao New Deal.

The following morning at court, the emperor announced that a new "special examination" would be established, allowing even commoners to submit their policy proposals.

Amidst the uproar in the court, Lu Jingze suddenly recalled what she had said after returning home the previous night: "To tear down a high wall, you must first let people see the light outside."

The implementation of the new policy faced numerous difficulties in its early stages.

After the assassination attempt by Xuanjizi, Lu Nancheng took the opportunity to reprimand the various aristocratic families, thus securing a glimmer of hope for the implementation of the new policies.

The imperial examination system was the first to be fully implemented, and the emperor issued an edict to formally establish the system of selecting officials through the imperial examination.

The system of selecting officials was divided into different categories, including the Jinshi (进士) category, the Mingjing (明经) category, and the Mingfa (明法) category, which tested different specialties such as poetry, classical texts, and law.

They were assigned suitable official positions based on their performance.

In addition, a palace examination was held, with the emperor personally assessing the candidates and selecting the top three, thus preventing powerful families from manipulating the system.

Upon the issuance of the imperial edict, impoverished scholars across the land were overjoyed and devoted themselves to their studies, hoping to change their fate through the imperial examinations.

Meanwhile, the powerful clans secretly gritted their teeth, yet were powerless to do anything about it.

In addition, the establishment of government offices to facilitate public opinion was in full swing.

In order to listen to public opinion, the imperial court established the Office of Public Opinion in various places.

Any citizen could go to the Office of Suggestions and make suggestions, which would be recorded by dedicated officials.

After the local authorities conduct their initial selection, feasible proposals are submitted to the central authorities in the capital for review by senior officials.

On the first and fifteenth days of each month, the emperor would personally preside over the "Nayan Court Meeting" to discuss good policies for the people with his officials.

In just a few months, the imperial examination system and the Bureau of Public Opinion demonstrated remarkable results.

The first batch of scholars from poor families who passed the imperial examinations were assigned to various places to take up their posts. They were familiar with the hardships of the people and their policies won the hearts of the people.

Local authorities have come up with many effective solutions, including an old farmer who suggested a "terraced irrigation method" that increased the yield of dry mountain fields by 30%.

A craftsman improved the textile machine, which doubled its efficiency.

As a result, scions of prominent families could no longer enter officialdom solely based on their birth; they had to devote themselves to studying in order to stand out in the imperial examinations.

The successful implementation of the policy unsurprisingly provoked a backlash from powerful families.

Powerful families, unwilling to relinquish their privileges, secretly obstructed the new policies.

They secretly spread rumors, slandering the imperial examination system as "corrupting academic integrity" and defaming officials from humble backgrounds as "lacking in manners."

They interfered with the channels of communication by sending people to impersonate ordinary citizens and make absurd suggestions to the Office of Public Opinion, attempting to confuse the public.

Some even offered large sums of money to newly appointed scholars, attempting to recruit them into their aristocratic families.

However, the faction advocating the new policies in the court had long been prepared.

On the one hand, a "policy essay" was added to the imperial examination to test students' understanding of national policies and prevent scions of aristocratic families from passing the test by rote memorization.

On the other hand, we will trace the origins of the suggestions made by the Advisory Commissioner and severely punish those who make false suggestions.

A year after the implementation of the new policy, a new atmosphere of vigorous development has emerged.

In the imperial court, officials from humble backgrounds and aristocratic families stood on equal footing, checking and balancing each other.

Among the common people, suggestions were enthusiastically offered, and talented individuals were no longer buried in obscurity in the countryside.

When Wang Xiuxiu returned to the capital to report on her duties, the emperor smiled and said to her, "What you said the other day, 'The threshold is in the heart,' I now understand its profound meaning."

Wang Xiuxiu bowed and replied, "Your Majesty is wise; this is not due to my merit."

"To be honest, since the implementation of the new policies, powerful families have been plotting frequently. What I feared most was their attempts to win over those from humble backgrounds. I never expected that today's situation would be exactly as you described!"

On that day, Lu Nancheng asked Wang Xiuxiu what to do when the implementation of the new policy was hindered.

Wang Xiuxiu had anticipated many things, but she had completely forgotten about this matter.

At the time, Lu Nancheng was quite puzzled.

It was not easy for people from humble backgrounds to obtain official positions, and what he worried about most was that they would be misled by powerful families and become their lackeys.

Wang Xiuxiu said, "Your Majesty trusts their talent and knowledge, and should also trust these students who have the heart to serve the common people. The rich rewards offered by the noble families are not enough to shake their lofty ambitions."

Only now does Lu Nancheng understand that he is not the only emperor striving for power in this world.

These millions of ordinary people are all working tirelessly to make things better!