Just then, Liang Jiugong suddenly walked in from outside and said to Kangxi, "Your Majesty, Prince Yong requests an audience."

Lanqin was stunned. She had just ignored the Fourth Prince, and he had already followed her all the way to the Qianqing Palace? Men really are all so shameless! The more you ignore them, the more they love you?

"Hehe, let him in," Kangxi said.

The Fourth Prince walked in, dressed in official robes, patted his horse-hoof sleeves, and bowed to Emperor Kangxi to greet him.

"Fourth Prince, you've come at the perfect time! I'd like to appoint your concubine as my inkstone attendant. She's just sitting idly by your mother's side anyway, so why not let her come and serve here with me!" Kangxi said.

The Fourth Prince looked up at Emperor Kangxi, his gaze also sweeping over Lanqin out of the corner of his eye. Lanqin also received the Fourth Prince's glance.

"What are you looking at? It's not like I wanted to be this, it was your old man who suggested it, okay?" Lanqin thought to herself.

"Your Majesty, it is her good fortune to be so highly regarded by Your Majesty," said the Fourth Prince.

Damn it, what kind of blessing is this? It's just grinding ink for Emperor Kangxi! Serving a ruler is like serving a tiger. If I accidentally step on Kangxi's trigger point one day, I'll be courting death!

"Hmm, so you agree?" Kangxi continued.

"Well, I'm just afraid she'll be clumsy and ruin Father Emperor's fine inkstone. I'd be terrified!" the Fourth Prince said, forcing a smile. He knew Lanqin definitely wouldn't want to be the inkstone attendant.

Damn it, can't you come up with a better reason for pushing this for me? Why are you saying I'm clumsy?!

"It's alright, I don't mind that she's clumsy with her hands and feet, as long as she's not clumsy with her mouth. Being able to make me laugh with a joke is also a skill of yours, Consort Kangxi, isn't it?" Kangxi said.

When the Fourth Prince saw that Kangxi refused to budge, he secretly glanced at Lanqin. Just then, Lanqin was also glaring at the Fourth Prince. Their eyes met briefly, then immediately looked away.

"Your Majesty, it is truly my honor to serve Your Majesty's inkstone. I am willing!" Lanqin said after a moment's thought. Anyway, whatever Fourth Prince forbids her to do, she will do.

The Fourth Prince was dumbfounded. He had just refused her in every way, but this little woman had agreed all of a sudden. Wasn't this a slap in the face to his father, the Emperor?

"Good, Fourth Prince, look at your concubine, she's much more agreeable than you, she even agreed herself," Kangxi said with a smile.

Fourth Prince had no choice but to say, "Please, Father Emperor, keep a close eye on her. If she manages to break Father Emperor's inkstone, please forgive her!"

Lanqin felt that the Fourth Prince's words made it seem as if she would definitely break Kangxi's inkstone, so she said with slight dissatisfaction, "Father, your daughter-in-law is not that clumsy. How could I possibly break a perfectly good inkstone?"

"..." Fourth Master glanced at Lanqin.

"Haha, alright. Fourth Prince, what brings you here to see me?" the Fourth Prince asked.

"Your Majesty, I have come to discuss with you the selection of examiners for this year's autumn imperial examination," the Fourth Prince said solemnly.

Seeing that the Fourth Prince wanted to discuss serious matters with Kangxi, Lanqin quickly said, "Father, then your daughter-in-law will take Hongli to admire the chrysanthemums in the front garden."

"Oh, no need. Just let them take Hongli with them. You stay here," Kangxi waved his hand and said.

A bead of sweat slid down Lanqin's forehead. Did this old Kangxi really like her that much?!

The Fourth Prince wondered to himself: When did Father Emperor become so attentive to Lanqin?

"Yes, then daughter-in-law, go and pour tea for Father Emperor." Lanqin felt it was inappropriate for her to be listening to the Fourth Prince reporting on state affairs to Emperor Kangxi, and she also didn't want to see the Fourth Prince.

"There are servants to serve tea, you don't need to bother, just sit there and listen." Kangxi simply dissuaded Lanqin from leaving.

"..." Lanqin sat back down helplessly.

"Fourth Prince, speak now. I have asked you to draft a few candidates for chief examiners. Do you have any suggestions?" Kangxi asked the Fourth Prince.

"Your Majesty," the Fourth Prince reported, "I have recommended several examiners. They are all well-versed in literature and are officials in the court who supervise the candidates and students. I believe it is feasible to have these people supervise the examinations."

Emperor Kangxi nodded and said, "In previous years, there have been many cases of leaked exam questions and test-takers using substitutes. Fourth Prince, I hope that this year's autumn imperial examination can select some talented individuals for the court."

The Fourth Prince's spirits lifted. He was both excited and somewhat worried about the task entrusted to him by Emperor Kangxi. The triennial autumn imperial examination was a crucial test for the court to select talented individuals, but leaks of questions and the hiring of substitutes to take the exams always prevented the court from selecting suitable candidates.

Lanqin, hearing that Kangxi and the Fourth Prince were discussing a major event—the selection of officials—quieted down. She listened quietly as the Fourth Prince and Kangxi recounted the details of the autumn imperial examinations, mentally searching historical records for details of the Kangxi era's autumn examinations.

"Fourth Prince, your ideas are good; they can make up for some of the shortcomings. Every year, the methods of cheating in the exams are constantly evolving, making it impossible to guard against them all," Kangxi said.

“Your idea is good, but it can only address the surface symptoms, not the root cause,” Lanqin said. She knew the history of the eight-legged essay in the imperial examinations. This examination method was becoming less suitable, or rather, it had already been thoroughly analyzed by others. Those who could write eight-legged essays were not necessarily talented and outstanding.

Fourth Master was slightly annoyed that Lanqin would speak up, even directly refuting his words to his face, but he was also very curious about how Lanqin would continue.

"Girl, tell me, how should I select talented people?" Kangxi turned to Lanqin with interest.

"I think it would be better to pose some practical questions concerning the national economy and people's livelihood, and have them write an implementation plan. The well-written ones should naturally be kept. His Majesty can even see from these plans what the ordinary people really need," Lanqin said.

Seeing the young woman so unfazed in front of Emperor Kangxi, even displaying a hint of self-satisfaction, the Fourth Prince couldn't help but recall his days visiting the South Courtyard. How vibrant Lanqin was back then!

"Oh? Could you please explain in more detail?" Kangxi said.

"Your Majesty," Lanqin said, "I believe that these people come from different social classes and places, and they have experienced various hardships and opportunities in life. Therefore, they may write different governance plans. Your Majesty, please look at these plans and see if there are any capable people among them!"

The Fourth Prince frowned upon hearing this.

"Father, I should step down. Some people might think I'm talking nonsense," Lanqin said. She had just seen the Fourth Prince's expression and assumed he was displeased with what she had just said.