In the following days, the Prefect of Jinan immediately posted a notice informing scholars that Emperor Kangxi would be holding a calligraphy competition in the official gardens of the famous Baotu Spring in Jinan. Any scholar could register, and the notice specified the deadline; latecomers would not be accepted. Countless people flocked to the registration points set up by the Prefect of Jinan, with scholars from the surrounding areas arriving in droves. Instantly, all the inns in Jinan were fully booked. Faced with the sudden influx of scholars, the Fourth Prince and the Thirteenth Prince ordered the Prefect of Jinan to immediately tighten the city's security, conducting thorough checks on everyone entering the city to prevent any opportunity for Yu Ming's rebels. Furthermore, the security at Baotu Spring Garden was significantly increased.

On the appointed day, the registered students eagerly awaited their turn outside Baotu Spring Garden, their hearts filled with anticipation at the prospect of seeing Emperor Kangxi. Although it was merely a discussion of books, the excitement of these students, who had studied diligently for ten years, being able to express their gratitude for their studies before the emperor was indescribable. Immediately, a large crowd gathered outside Baotu Spring, everyone craning their necks to peer inside. At the entrance, several people in court robes had set up a table with a register on it, presumably recording the registrations. A man resembling a yamen runner called out names at the gate; each time a name was called, the man would run over and double-check before letting the person in.

“Brother, it will take several hours to get in. Look at all these people.” A man in a dark blue robe with a strong and powerful appearance said to a man in a white robe next to him.

"Just wait quietly. If we can make an impression on the emperor today, perhaps our ten years of hard work will not have been in vain." The man was handsome and was indeed the same man who had helped Lanqin catch the thief on the snack street that day. He was also the one who had just spoken to him.

"Brother, I don't have much hope. I'm just here to keep you company." The man in the dark blue robe chuckled.

“Don’t belittle yourself. I’ve already read your article. Its arguments perfectly address the current problems of the court, and its evidence is sound and its reasoning rigorous. It’s quite good,” said the man in the fish-belly white robe.

"Hehe, nowadays, scholars from all over the country are practically breaking down the city gates. How easy is it to stand out from the Emperor? It all depends on who has the luck today." The man in the dark blue robe was clearly somewhat lacking in confidence.

Just as the two brothers were talking, they suddenly heard the yamen runners standing on the steps shouting to the crowd: "Li Wei! Li Wei! Who is Li Wei? Go up and verify his identity! If he doesn't respond, it will be considered a forfeit."

"Brother, it sounds like they're calling your name!" The man in the dark blue robe quickly nudged the man in the pale white robe beside him. His surname was Li, and his given name was Wei. The man next to him was his brother, named Li Chuang.

"I'll go in first, you come right after me!" Li Wei raised his arm, reassured his younger brother, and then squeezed through the crowd toward the yamen runner.

As Li Wei walked to the square table at the entrance, he exchanged a glance with the man in court attire, marked his name on the register, and then wrote his official title and who his teacher was on a piece of paper. With the paper in hand, he stepped over the high threshold and entered the garden. He couldn't help but look back at the dense crowd waiting below.

Li Chuang was thrilled to see his brother finally able to test his talents. The brothers were from Linqu County in Qingzhou. Due to their poverty, they were not favored by the local academic leaders and had come to Jinan to study at the invitation of a friend. Unexpectedly, they encountered the emperor visiting the area. It was truly a matter of timing and luck! At this moment, Li Chuang naturally had no idea that his elder brother, Li Wei, was a famous minister during the Yongzheng era. But that's a story for another time.

Meanwhile, Li Wei followed a young yamen runner as he walked in. He saw that there were pavilions and terraces everywhere in the Baotu Spring Garden, and guards stood in front of each pavilion, so he could not walk around at will.

The junior yamen runner led Li Wei to a pavilion closest to the main gate. Inside, a row of palace servants stood, and tables and chairs were arranged. The man sitting on one of the chairs, dressed in a court robe with dragon patterns, was none other than the Thirteenth Prince. He had been assigned here by the Fourth Prince to be in charge of the first round of selection of the students.

The Fourth Prince deliberately set up this checkpoint to make the Thirteenth Prince pay attention and eliminate those who relied on family background to pull strings, because Emperor Kangxi wanted to meet people with genuine talent and ability. To prevent anyone from using connections, the Fourth Prince specifically assigned the Thirteenth Prince, known as the "Desperate Thirteenth Prince," to be in charge of the first screening.

The Thirteenth Prince glanced at Li Wei's "resume," then looked him up and down before asking, "You're twenty-two this year? Why are you still just a scholar?"

Li Wei paused for a moment, then replied neither humbly nor arrogantly, "This student is of limited talent and has not made any progress in his studies."

"Since your studies are so lacking, how dare you come to meet the Emperor?" the Thirteenth Prince asked bluntly, his piercing gaze seeming to pierce through Li Wei. Little did he know that these two would later become two very important ministers in the Yongzheng Emperor's court, yet their first meeting was rather awkward.

Li Wei, without blushing or skipping a beat, replied, "I was merely being modest just now, please forgive me, sir. I do not believe I have any confidence to discuss matters of state with the current emperor."

The Thirteenth Prince seemed particularly interested in Li Wei, and deliberately said, "At your age, if you were to make progress in your studies, you should have already passed the imperial examination and entered officialdom. Now you think you're something special, it's really laughable!"

Li Wei glanced at the Thirteenth Prince and said, "Liang Hao was eighty years old when he faced the imperial court, while I am only twenty-two. Why can't I come? Why must this prince make things difficult for his student?"

Seeing that the person sitting there was wearing a court robe with dragon patterns, he still had some guesses in his mind. He also saw that the person was only about twenty years old, and seemed to be younger than himself. Therefore, Li Wei guessed that this person was likely one of Kangxi's princes.

Seeing that the thirteenth prince had almost guessed his identity, his eyes lit up and he said, "How did you know I was a prince?"

Li Wei smiled slightly and said, "It's not hard to tell from your age and attire. Although I have never seen the Emperor's face, I know that His Majesty has brought six princes and some trusted ministers with him this time. Although I am not very knowledgeable, I also know that the ministers who can accompany the Emperor are probably not your age. So you are very likely the Thirteenth Prince?"

Just now, the Thirteenth Prince saw that he had almost guessed his identity, but now that he saw that the Thirteenth Prince had guessed it for sure, he asked in surprise, "How did you know that I am the Thirteenth Prince?"