Meanwhile, Lanqin and Fourth Master returned to Wanfang Anhe. After washing up with the help of their maids, they went to bed.

"Master, how about we keep this Mu family troupe and let them learn to rehearse some Western plays? They always listen to Peking Opera, repeating the same old pieces over and over again, it's really boring," Lanqin said.

"Hmm, if you want to keep them, then keep them. Have the manager talk to their head constable. Come, lie down next to me!" Fourth Master said, already lying on the bed with his legs crossed.

Lanqin rolled her eyes at him and said, "You're not tired yet, but I am." With that, she lay down beside the Fourth Master.

"I'm tired. All I want to do is hold you and sleep. I don't mean anything else. You're thinking too much, aren't you? Hmm?" Fourth Master laughed and tapped Lanqin's nose.

“Well, these days Master is preoccupied with national affairs, how could he be in the mood to play with us? I can’t be of much help to Master either, so why don’t I choreograph some interesting plays for Master to entertain him when he’s free?” Lanqin said.

"Well, you're not entirely useless. That idea you mentioned last time about changing the examination method was excellent. I've been working with the chief examiners on the details lately. The problem you mentioned about hiring someone to take the exam is indeed difficult to solve. The only official document confirming each candidate's identity is a certificate from their local township or prefecture. Anyone with the will to hire someone to take the exam can easily get away with it. We can't keep having someone draw a portrait for comparison every time, can we?" Fourth Master said. "Now that the exam questions are set at midnight, we can prevent the selling of exam questions, but we can't prevent hiring someone to take the exam for us."

Lanqin thought about it. In later generations, even with an ID card, one could still hire someone to take the exam for them, let alone in ancient times. In addition, there were no cameras in this era, and she couldn't possibly come up with a method that was ahead of the times in terms of technological development. So she could only comfort the Fourth Master and say, "After all, those who hire someone to take the exam are a minority. Besides, there is also the palace examination. Whether someone has real talent or is just empty-headed, you can find out with a simple question."

Fourth Master said, "But the palace examination only tests the top three scholars: the first, second, and third place. Others cannot take the palace examination one by one."

Lanqin said, "Then let's have an interview! We can't have someone else take the interview for us, can we?"

After thinking about it, Fourth Master felt that although Lanqin's method was clumsy, it was a good one. As long as an interview was added, most people who wanted to hire ghostwriters would be afraid.

"The final selection of Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations) will be determined by their written and oral examination scores. Your Highness, this way we can comprehensively assess a person's qualities and talents, and also deter those who hire others to take the exams for them. What do you think, Your Highness? We could even create a portrait of each interviewee, which would make the records for Jinshi at all levels more comprehensive. I've heard that the court painters are very skilled; they can basically paint a nine-tenths likeness. This would also discourage other candidates," Lanqin said. She hadn't originally wanted to mention these methods from later generations, but seeing the Fourth Prince troubled by the autumn imperial examinations, and considering this was a perfect opportunity for him to impress Emperor Kangxi, she decided to help him out. After all, it was just an idea, not some timeless concept.

Fourth Master sat up abruptly, and Lanqin followed suit. He looked at Lanqin and said, "Not bad! How come I didn't think of that!"

Lanqin was startled by the Fourth Master's action and exclaimed, "Master, you've scared me to death!"

The Fourth Prince put his arm around Lanqin's shoulder and said, "You really are my genius! How can you come up with so many unique ideas? It would be too costly to paint portraits for all the candidates, but the court can afford to paint portraits only for those who are on the list. Besides, those painters spend their entire lives in the palace, and it's a waste to support them with the court's salary. They can only paint a few times a year anyway."

Lanqin nodded and said, "Your Highness can go to Father Emperor and discuss this matter, so that more pillars of the court can be selected!"

Fourth Master nodded and couldn't help but press his lips against Lanqin's. He hadn't wanted to do it tonight, but at this moment it seemed that only by doing physical labor with Lanqin could he express his love for her.

The two hadn't done this intensely in a long time. Fourth Master went twice, and in the end, he was so exhausted that he collapsed onto Lanqin.

"Master, let someone come in and wash again." Lanqin felt like a dead fish, being exploited, gasping for breath with her mouth open.

"Hmm!" Fourth Master rolled off Lanqin, also breathing heavily.

After the maids, blushing, brought in water and helped the two of them wash up, and then changed the bedsheets, they left.

"Master, Qin'er will start organizing people to perform Western plays tomorrow," Lanqin said.

Fourth Master was completely oblivious; he had already fallen asleep, and was even snoring softly. Lanqin glanced sideways and saw that Fourth Master was asleep—he had fallen asleep almost instantly!

Lanqin smiled and thought about it. Fourth Master was already thirty-four this year, and his sexual function was starting to decline. Moreover, Lanqin could clearly feel that Fourth Master's interest in that area was not as strong as before, so Sihua's concern that Fourth Master might not be able to resist the advances of young girls was really an overreaction.

At this moment, the Fourth Prince's mind was no longer focused on women, but on the imperial court.

Lanqin looked at the top of the mosquito net and found herself unable to sleep. Was she excited because the Fourth Master was about to ascend to the throne of the supreme ruler of the world, or excited about her new life that was about to begin?

Considering that she and Fourth Master have been married for seven or eight years, as the saying goes, they've passed the seven-year itch, so they should be living happily ever after now.

Lanqin fell asleep peacefully beside the Fourth Master.

However, elsewhere, someone couldn't sleep: Lady Fucha of Quyuan Fenghe. She had already realized that Mu Qingyang was disappointed in Lady Liu, and that the play performed tonight was about her. Yet, Mu Qingyang still refused to report Lady Liu, which truly frustrated Lady Fucha.

She wouldn't forget the embarrassment Liu had caused her, nor the awkwardness Lanqin had put her in. After observing, she deduced something between Liu and the actor, and then sent someone to her family to investigate Liu. As expected, Liu had eloped with an actor named Mu Qingyang before the imperial concubine selection. No secrets stay hidden forever, and Fucha, upon learning this, naturally wanted to use it to her advantage. She was disgusted that Liu, from a humble background, had become pregnant before her, so she sent someone to warn the actor about Liu's intentions.

During that period, Liu went to Changyin Pavilion almost every day, and wasn't she secretly meeting with her lover behind her master's back? Now that things are about to be exposed, she immediately wants to drive Mu Qingyang away. But that actress still refuses to report Liu?