Xiao Zhixing slowly finished reading the information Yin Yi had found, his eyes filled with mockery. "This scheme was truly disgusting, what a pity—"
Yin asked, "Should we take that person?"
"Need not."
If she doesn't let them come out, how can she follow the clues to find the source?
This was someone surnamed Luo who provoked her. If she takes the opportunity to bite back, the main system won't detect anything unusual and will only think she's retaliating.
She then had a reason to find, discover, or kill anyone related to the system.
The Emperor System wouldn't doubt that she already knew everything; it would only be angry at Luo for being useless.
She was certain that the man surnamed Luo had acted without authorization; otherwise, the Emperor System and Zhao Yunqi would have kept it a secret.
She was curious about how the man surnamed Luo had managed to evade the main system's monitoring.
"Investigate further. I don't believe they're just trying to get revenge for me ruining their plans."
If Luo Xiuchuan and that person didn't look so alike, she wouldn't have made any other connections.
They might also assume that the other party is simply retaliating against them for taking the gold and iron ore.
But now, the other party may have other reasons for targeting me, which I must investigate further.
Yin Yi agreed, accepted the task, and left.
Xiao Zhixing then ordered the Ghost Guards, "Investigate the Zhang family. Find out the detailed life stories of every man and woman in the first three generations, and who they have ever come into contact with."
"Uh, Princess Yuan Sheng's case needs to be investigated too?"
Xiao Zhixing nodded, "We need to investigate them all! The focus should be on those who were her contemporaries."
The rapidly maturing Sun Rui is now very reliable in her work, and she has been granted permission to see her true self.
With money paving the way, the Ghost Guard Intelligence Department is rapidly taking shape as a top-tier intelligence agency.
The training and methods of spies originate from Earth, with unique and novel approaches and extensive channels for intelligence gathering. Currently, no one has been aware of their existence.
With these arrangements made, the next day would be the grand opening ceremony of the twenty-first year of Yunping, which all officials of the fourth rank and above in the capital were required to attend.
There are two important events today: first, negotiations with the Northern Barbarians and Southern Barbarians are about to begin; second, the spring imperial examinations will begin in nine days.
The first one had already set the tone: Zhao Yunqi issued an imperial edict ordering the Duke of Li and Huo Jindao to be in charge of the negotiations.
The most important thing is the second point: the competition between the chief and deputy examiners in each spring imperial examination is always a major event.
After other miscellaneous matters were discussed, Zhao Yunqi scanned the assembled officials and asked, "The imperial examinations are imminent, and the chief examiner and two deputy examiners have not yet been appointed. My esteemed ministers, is there anyone who dares to take on this responsibility?"
After waiting for a while and no one volunteered, he smiled and said, "I have a few candidates. Can you all help me decide who is suitable?"
Fu Lu announced: "There are two chief examiners, one of whom will be Grand Tutor Li or Duke Li. There are four deputy examiners, two of whom will be Censor Nian, Prince Yuansheng, Lord Zhang Rengui, or Lord Xiong Bei."
The officials' expressions at this moment ranged from surprised to unsurprised.
Surprisingly, Xiao Zhixing was selected by the emperor to be a candidate for deputy examiner.
They really couldn't understand it. The emperor was targeting her one minute and then showing her favor the next. What did this mean?
If the person above wasn't the emperor, they would all want to call him a madman!
This torment is especially bad for those below.
And who is this Xiong Bei?
Upon closer inspection, a middle-aged, overweight man with a flushed face stepped forward from among the fourth-rank officials of the Ministry of Works, looking completely bewildered, and knelt down with a thud, utterly dumbfounded.
Xiong? Wait, could it be Xiong Chumo's father?
Unsurprisingly, the other four officials were all trusted veteran ministers of the emperor, so it wouldn't have mattered much which one was chosen.
For a moment, the entire hall fell silent, and all the officials remained silent.
Xiao Zhixing looked up at the emperor with a surprised expression, his face once again filled with complicated emotions.
Xiao Yuanshan, who rarely attends the grand ceremony, instantly turned pale.
The Emperor System suddenly chuckled, "Look at Xiao Yuanshan's sour face, tsk tsk, that's the only fun thing. Xiao Zhixing has indeed been made to overthink things again by your actions."
Xiao Zhixing: It's all an act, it's all an act. Actually, I usually have a blank expression.
Zhao Yunqi said, "Not only will she overthink it, but many more people will be uneasy and anxious."
He enjoyed the feeling of controlling people's hearts, giving them hope only to shatter it, while he sat on top watching the world go by – that was his greatest pleasure in his stifling days.
As expected, Feng Liyan was the first to step forward, saying, "We have no objection to Grand Tutor Li and Duke Li serving as the chief examiners, and Lord Nian and Lord Zhang serving as the deputy examiners."
The implication is that the other two disagree.
Another official from the Ministry of Justice stepped forward. “The imperial examination is a major national event, and the selection of deputy examiners is of great importance. How can young people or those of low rank be qualified for such a great responsibility? I think Prince Yuansheng and Lord Xiong should consider this carefully.”
"We second that proposal," nearly a third of the ministers said.
"Your Majesty's move is truly remarkable! Prince Yuansheng has emerged as a man of both literary and martial talents, serving as a role model for scholars across the land. He is a suitable candidate to be the deputy examiner!"
Bai Fengmei, the Minister of Works, suddenly stepped forward, shocking everyone.
This man, who had been sitting in the position of Minister with Liu Yuguan for more than ten years, worked diligently and quietly, like an unyielding tortoise. The emperor tolerated him for so long precisely because he was loyal to the throne and there was indeed nothing wrong with him.
Who would have thought he would choose to support Xiao Zhixing at this time?
Xiong Bei has been ignored by everyone.
As Bai Fengmei spoke, a quarter of the civil officials raised their tablets, "We second that proposal!"
Then most of the military officers echoed Xiao Yuanshan, "We also second that proposal!"
Together, they already account for more than a third of the ministers.
The Emperor System crackled and burned, and the laughter abruptly stopped.
Zhang Rengui, Feng Liyan, and the others stared wide-eyed, frozen in place.
The remaining ministers remained silent and neutral.
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