The imperial examination was a source of great anxiety for Xu Qingshan.

It would be a lie to say he didn't want to take the exam again; it was just that after abandoning literature for martial arts, he felt he was no longer qualified for the imperial examinations.

I used to study hard but still couldn't pass the exam. Now that my time is taken up by martial arts, how could I possibly have a chance?

But Yuan Xiu's words ignited his fighting spirit.

Now that I'm trapped in the palace and don't need to fight for the Left Prime Minister's mansion, I can use this time to study properly.

Isn't this the opportunity?

"Your Majesty, I will give it serious consideration."

"Yes, I am looking forward to it."

"Your Majesty, I am not a good drinker. May I take my leave and go back to rest?"

"Then you may go back. I will invite you for drinks again in a few days."

"yes……"

At this moment, the young eunuch Jin quickly walked up to Yuan Xiu, bowed his head and said, "Your Majesty, the Earl of Sha County is requesting an audience outside the palace."

"The Earl of Sha County?" Yuan Xiu snorted coldly, waving his hand and saying, "I won't see him!"

Xu Qingshan quickly said, "Your Majesty, I shall take my leave."

After Xu Qingshan and the eunuch left, Yuan Xiu strode towards the assembled officials and said with a smile, "Come, my dear ministers, let's continue our drinking!"

There were not many ministers in the hall, only Xu Shouli, Chen Changyun, He Yin, Luo Mingyi, Tie Ge and Wei You. The ministers had long noticed that the emperor had not only not invited Wen Tai, but also not a single minister from the Left Party faction.

Yuan Xiu sat down at Luo Mingyi's desk and said, "Minister Luo, I have plenty of money right now. When will you be able to complete the new Imperial Palace?"

Luo Mingyi quickly stood up and said, "Your Majesty, as long as the funds are sufficient, the project can be completed by May or June next year!"

Yuan Xiu said unhappily, "It's only December now. If we wait until June next year, won't I have to wait another six months?"

Luo Mingyi explained, "The Imperial Palace has a massive structure and is not an ordinary palace..."

"Bullshit!"

Yuan Xiu pointed at Luo Mingyi and shouted, "The Imperial Palace is already half-built, it's not like you have to start all over again! It must be completed by March next year at the latest!"

"This, this..." Luo Mingyi hesitated to agree.

Yuan Xiu said, “The Xishan Dam has been completed, and your Ministry of Works has enough manpower. What can’t be repaired? Luo Mingyi, after you built the Observatory, I bestowed an imperial title upon your wife. If the Imperial Palace can be completed on time, I will also bestow an imperial title upon your mother!”

"how?"

Luo Mingyi gasped, immediately stepped forward, knelt before Yuan Xiu, and loudly proclaimed, "Even if I don't eat or sleep, I would never dare to delay Your Majesty's construction schedule!"

"That's more like it." Yuan Xiu chuckled as he walked towards his seat.

The surrounding ministers immediately congratulated Luo Mingyi.

"Congratulations, Minister Luo! Congratulations, Minister Luo!"

"Two members of one family receiving imperial titles—that's an immense honor!"

"Minister Luo's favor with the emperor is truly the envy of everyone..."

Yuan Xiu had barely sat down when Eunuch Jin strode over and said, "Your Majesty, the Earl of Sha County, he..."

Yuan Xiu asked, "What's wrong with him? Can't he understand human speech?"

Eunuch Jin said, "He said he absolutely had to see His Majesty, and if His Majesty didn't see him, he would kneel outside and wait."

"Then let him keep kneeling!"

"yes!"

The banquet lasted until late at night before the emperor and his ministers parted ways. Wei You and Eunuch Jin helped Yuan Xiu out of the palace.

Yuan Xiu walked with a slightly unsteady gait, but neither of them knew whether he was drunk or not. He was like this whether he drank one cup or ten cups, making it impossible to tell.

"Little Gold".

Yuan Xiu put his hand on Eunuch Jin's shoulder, patted his arm, and said, "I remember your name is... Jin Hu, right?"

"Your Majesty actually remembers my name! If I weren't supporting Your Majesty right now, I would kneel down and kowtow to thank you a hundred times for your imperial grace!" Jin Hu said, flattered.

Yuan Xiu laughed, "Your words are much sweeter than your godfather's. Why are you on duty tonight? Where is your godfather?"

Jin Hu said, "Eunuch Lü is unwell and informed me in advance, asking me to stay by His Majesty's side these few days."

Yuan Xiu chuckled, knowing why Lü Lu hadn't come.

How could a grandmaster be so easily unwell?

It was clearly the Dragon Guards' performance that day that bothered him, so he hurried off to train them.

Yuan Xiu patted Jin Hu's arm twice and said, "Your godfather loves you very much."

Although Jin Hu was not very old, he had been raised by Lü Lu since childhood and was considered an elder in the palace. Lü Lu took good care of him, and his position was not low. It was Jin Hu who went to Qingdong City to deliver the imperial decree when Xiao Luofeng was conferred the title of General Longxiang.

Eunuchs who had been in the palace for a long time were all shrewd, and Jin Hu certainly understood the meaning behind Yuan Xiu's words. He immediately replied, "This humble servant will certainly serve His Majesty well and will not disappoint Eunuch Lü!"

"Huh?" Yuan Xiu turned his head and saw a person kneeling on the steps.

Jin Hu quickly replied, "It is Earl Shaxian."

Yuan Xiu withdrew his gaze and continued walking forward, saying, "I'm tired, I'll return to the Imperial Study."

Jin Hu and Wei You helped Yuan Xiu onto the imperial carriage, seemingly oblivious to Wen Hu's presence.

As soon as Yuan Xiu returned to the Imperial Study, he lay down on the couch and fell asleep, while Jin Hu kept watch over him throughout the night.

By dawn, after arranging for the eunuchs and maids to serve him, Jin Hu said, "Your Majesty, the Earl of Sha County..."

Yuan Xiu frowned and said, "Is this ever going to end? He's at it again??"

“He…followed me here last night and has been kneeling outside ever since.”

"Oh? You're trying to move me, aren't you!"

Yuan Xiu sat down in the chair and said, "Go and prepare breakfast. Call the Earl of Sha County in to eat with us. I'd like to know what he has to say!"

A moment later, Jin Hu brought Wen Hu in.

Upon seeing Yuan Xiu, Wen Hu immediately knelt down, then crawled over on his knees, crying out, "Your Majesty! Your Majesty!!"

Yuan Xiu, like a startled kitten, quickly put down the porridge in his hand, stood up and said, "Lord Sha, what is the reason for this?"

"Your Majesty, I am guilty!" Wen Hu kowtowed at Yuan Xiu's feet.

“Look at you, just speak properly…” Yuan Xiu helped Wen Hu up and said, “Come, sit down and have something to eat with me.”

"Your subject dares not!"

"Just eat what I tell you to eat."

Yuan Xiu sat down, glared at Wen Hu, and said, "The Earl of Sha County, who has killed countless enemies on the battlefield, is so terrified. What is the matter?"

Wen Hu knelt down again and said, "Your Majesty, those two heads hanging outside Mujing Bay, they... they are from the Left Prime Minister's residence!"

Yuan Xiu was stunned and exclaimed in surprise, "Is this really true?"

Wen Hu said, "One of them is named Chen Jiudao, and the other is named Tulip. They are both my uncle's retainers."

Yuan Xiu asked, "You mean these two people are from the Left Prime Minister's residence, and now they've broken the law, and you're afraid of being implicated with the Left Prime Minister's residence, so you're in a hurry to come to me to explain?"

"No!"

Wen Hu raised his head and said, "Your Majesty, I must tell you that the incident at Mujing Bay was either a battle between martial arts practitioners or the work of the Left Prime Minister's residence!"

Yuan Xiu narrowed his eyes, puzzled, and said, "Lord Sha County, you've confused me so early in the morning."