Never be enemies...

For two people who both want to compete for that position, it's destined to remain just a beautiful hope.

The eldest prince's words were practically a promise that as long as he gave up vying for the crown prince position, he would guarantee him a lifetime of wealth and honor.

Xie Jingyan, oblivious to the Crown Prince's underlying meaning, said, "I hope so."

The two walked towards the Imperial Study.

Although the eldest prince placed his hopes on Xie Jingyan in the critical moment, and Xie Jingyan did indeed save the eldest prince's life, it is not so easy to open one's heart to someone in the royal family.

As they approached the Imperial Study, the First Prince casually remarked, "Sixth Brother, have you seen the Prince of Jin these past few days?"

Although Xie Jingyin was demoted, the eldest prince still habitually called him Prince Jin.

Xie Jingyan said, "A few days ago, he stopped my carriage in the street and said a few words to me."

The eldest prince's expression changed slightly, and his voice unconsciously quickened, "What did you say?"

Xie Jingyan said casually, "I didn't take those few provocative words to heart."

The eldest prince said, "You saved me, causing him to lose everything. He will definitely be unwilling to accept it. Fortunately, my sixth brother is wise and did not fall for his provocation..."

As the eldest prince finished speaking, Xie Jingyan suddenly stopped.

He looked at the eldest prince, "So what exactly was written in the letter that Prince Jin used to lure you into this trap?"

When Xie Jingyan asked the question, he looked into the eyes of the eldest prince and did not miss the panic in the prince's eyes.

However, the eldest prince only panicked for a moment before regaining his composure and saying, "Didn't the Prince of Jin tell you?"

Xie Jingyan said, "He only asked me if I knew what was written in that letter, and didn't say anything else."

The eldest prince visibly breathed a sigh of relief, while Xie Jingyan's gaze turned colder.

The eldest prince said, "The letter says that my mother's death was suspicious and asks me to meet with her."

When the late empress died, Xie Jingyan was at the imperial mausoleum.

Xie Jingyan did not know the specific circumstances of her death, only that the late empress had fallen ill a few months after his mother's incident and died.

Given Empress Song's ruthlessness, it's not impossible that the late empress died a violent death.

But he didn't believe that what the eldest prince said was what was written in that letter. If that were the case, Xie Jingyin wouldn't have needed to stop him and say those words.

Seeing the Crown Prince's earlier panic and subsequent relief, Xie Jingyan became even more certain that the letter was related to him.

Just then, a palace maid came by, and neither of them spoke, so the topic was dropped.

The Imperial Study.

Two examination papers were placed on the emperor's dragon desk.

Both exam papers were written exceptionally well; they were roughly equal in quality.

Xie Jingyan and the eldest prince stepped forward and bowed to the emperor.

Xie Jingyan remained silent, while the eldest prince asked, "I wonder why Father Emperor summoned me and my sixth brother here...?"

The Emperor said, "Take a look at these two exam papers and see which one is better."

The eldest prince hadn't expected that the emperor had summoned them to review the exam papers. He took the papers and handed one of them to Xie Jingyan.

They were all handed over, and Xie Jingyan accepted them.

After he finished reading the one in his hand, the eldest prince also finished reading it, and the two switched them.

The Emperor was drinking tea. After the eldest prince closed his exam paper, the Emperor put down his teacup and asked, "Have you made your choice?"

The eldest prince said, "Both of these articles are extremely well written..."

"There can only be one top scholar," the Emperor said.

In other words, a distinction must be made between superior and inferior.

The eldest prince looked at Xie Jingyan and asked, "What do you think, sixth brother?"

Xie Jingyan said, "Didn't the Imperial Examination Hall send ten sets of exam papers? This is only two."

The eldest prince, "..."

The Emperor was asking which of the two submissions was better, clearly indicating that he wanted to choose the top scholar from these two, without needing to look at the other eight.

He knew that Prince Ling had always opposed his father, but appointing the top scholar was no trivial matter.

Just as the eldest prince was about to speak, the emperor waved his hand, and Eunuch Yuan handed the remaining eight examination papers on the dragon table to Xie Jingyan for review.

Well, the Emperor not only let Xie Jingyan look at the other eight exam papers, but also said to him, "You should take a look too. You are all allowed to express your opinions."

It would take the Emperor a while to finish reading the eight documents. He then rose from his throne and left the Imperial Study.

Xie Jingyan and the eldest prince went through all eight exam papers, and just as they finished, the emperor returned.

The Emperor asked, "Have you finished reading?"

Which one do you think is the best written?

The eldest prince said, "I have read them all, and the two selected by Father are still the best."

The Emperor looked at Xie Jingyan, "And you?"

Xie Jingyan said, "Of the ten exam papers, nine were written from the perspective of the imperial court, and only one was written from the perspective of the common people. Although this one is not the most elegant, it suits my taste better."

"Is Father Emperor planning to award this piece the top prize in the second tier?"

A look of surprise flashed across the Emperor's eyes. He did indeed want to name this piece as the first in the second class, but how did Yan'er figure it out?

The Emperor asked, "Why are you so certain that Father will select this essay as the first in the second class?"

Xie Jingyan said, "Many top-ranking scholars enter the Hanlin Academy. The person who wrote this article is more suited to be an upright official, content with a quiet place. It's a pity that he entered the Hanlin Academy."

As expected of someone he personally taught, she has a very thorough understanding of her father's thoughts.

The Emperor was delighted, and then Xie Jingyan said, "Father is good at recognizing and appointing people, but someone who can write such articles will not be content to stay in the Hanlin Academy."

For the emperor, there was not much difference between the top scholar in the first class and the top scholar in the second class. After all, there was a top scholar every three years, and there were four or five top scholars in the Hanlin Academy. The left and right prime ministers, who held the highest positions, were not top scholars. The imperial examination was just to get them into officialdom. As for how far they could go in the future, it did not depend on their literary talent. Being able to write articles does not mean being able to be an official.

But the upright ministers revealed in the article are even rarer than the top scholar in the imperial examination, no wonder the emperor cherishes them so much.

The emperor didn't value the title of top scholar much, but that doesn't mean the students didn't covet it. Who wouldn't want to be a top scholar and bring glory to their ancestors?

The eldest prince stood to the side, his brows furrowed at some point and never relaxed.

He and Xie Jingyan were looking at the same exam paper, so how come he didn't realize that the Emperor had intentionally selected this one as the first in the second class?

Watching Xie Jingyan talk to the Emperor, the eldest prince felt as if Xie Jingyan was the Emperor's real son, and he was the one who had been adopted.

This feeling made him very unhappy.

The eldest prince looked at Xie Jingyan and asked, "Does Sixth Brother mean that Father should award this essay the title of top scholar?"

Xie Jingyan said in a calm tone, "I can't control my father's decision."

Is there no way to change it?

The eldest prince felt even more displeased when he thought of the court officials recommended by Xie Jingyan, who had all been promoted by the emperor.

The Emperor sat on the dragon throne, looking at the examination papers that Eunuch Yuan had placed on the dragon table. He waved his hand and said, "This is none of your business. You may leave."

Xie Jingyan turned around decisively, and the eldest prince's gaze swept over the exam paper.

He didn't say which of the two articles he favored more...

The Emperor's original intention was simply to summon Prince Ling to the palace and ask for his opinion. Summoning him was just a side effect, or rather, to silence the Empress Dowager.

If the fact that Prince Ling was involved in the selection of the top scholar but not him reached the ears of the officials, it would inevitably lead to endless speculation.