The next morning, outside the palace gates.
Before the golden light of dawn had fully illuminated Xianyang, court officials had already gathered in twos and threes at the palace gate, waiting for the morning court session.
Unexpectedly, the sound of horses' hooves approached from afar and slowly came to a stop in front of the marble steps outside the palace gate—and there stood the wicked man, dressed in a black robe with gold thread and a jade pendant hanging from his waist, who easily dismounted.
"We pay our respects to the Grand Commandant!" The guards at the gate and the court officials waiting nearby all clasped their hands in salute.
"Oh, what brings the Grand Commandant here? It's been quite a while since we've seen you at court."
"Yes, ever since the establishment of the Privy Council, the Grand Commandant has been busy with military preparations and trade routes."
"Why are you back again today? Is there something important to report?"
Everyone chimed in with surprise, unable to hide their astonishment.
It should be noted that during this period, the wicked man was busy with the reorganization of the Privy Council and also had to worry about trade and military affairs, so he simply couldn't be bothered to attend the morning court sessions.
Everyone in the court knew he was busy with many affairs, so no one dared to say anything. But now that he had suddenly appeared, the officials who usually attended court on time were quite curious.
"Tsk, you lot." The wicked man casually tossed the reins to his attendant, slowly walked up the steps, and glanced at everyone's faces. He smiled and said, "What, do you find the morning court boring without me here? You all seem to be in pretty good spirits."
Those officials who usually fawned over him immediately stepped forward, smiling obsequiously: "Grand Commandant, you are joking. If you were willing to come to court more often, wouldn't we be able to hear some insightful opinions?"
"Exactly, exactly. Those clichéd speeches in the court are almost putting us to sleep. If the Grand Commandant doesn't come soon, we'll really be bored to death."
The wicked man merely smiled faintly at the flattery, and asked in a mocking tone, "What, do you all think that once I show my face, I'll do something earth-shattering?"
The ministers present quickly bowed and said, "We dare not, Grand Commandant is joking."
"Let's go, let's go into the palace first!" The wicked husband waved his hand and walked straight into the palace gate.
As you walk forward, your view gradually opens up. Ahead, the jade steps are wide and straight, and the palace with its towering roof ornaments looks magnificent in the morning sun. The guards are like a forest of armored soldiers with halberds and spears, solemn and dignified.
At this moment, when the other ministers saw the wicked husband walking in with a calm and composed demeanor, they all consciously stepped aside to the sides, allowing him to walk at the front of the procession.
They walked in silence into the imperial court.
Many people had already arrived in the court, exchanging greetings or chatting amongst themselves. When they saw the wicked man approaching, they immediately fell silent, all turning their gazes toward him.
Some people secretly wondered: Is this Grand Commandant about to raise some surprising issue again after his sudden return to the court?
Before long, Zhao Gao's shrill announcement echoed throughout the hall: "The King has arrived!"
In an instant, all the civil and military officials stood at attention.
Ying Zheng stepped out of the palace gate, wearing a black court robe and a jade belt. His face was stern, and he took steady and dignified steps to the dragon throne.
He scanned the hall and first noticed that the wicked husband, who often missed the morning court, was now unusually standing steadily in a prominent position among the officials. A hint of surprise flashed in his eyes, but he remained calm and simply nodded slightly in acknowledgment.
"If you have something to report, speak now; otherwise, the court may adjourn," Ying Zheng said calmly after taking his seat.
To everyone's surprise, the Minister of Works, the Minister of Justice, and the Grand Censor, who should have been in charge of the first few opportunities to present their reports, looked at each other and did not rush forward.
Instead, they instinctively turned their gaze to the wicked husband, as if they were certain he would take some action today.
"Grand Commandant, would you like to go first?" the official in charge of ceremonies asked cautiously.
"Alright." The wicked man stepped forward without ceremony, cupped his hands towards Ying Zheng on the dragon throne, and said, "Your Majesty, I do have an important matter that I would like to discuss with you first, and then ask the court to make a decision together."
"Speak." Ying Zheng's expression remained unchanged, and his majestic voice echoed throughout the hall.
A confident smile appeared on the lips of the wicked man as he declared loudly, "I intend to launch the 'Imperial Examination System' to recruit talented individuals from across the land for our Great Qin Dynasty. I have already prepared a general outline for this!"
As he spoke, he took out a scroll of bamboo slips from his sleeve and held it high: "This is the first draft of the 'Regulations for the Imperial Examinations,' along with detailed rules on evaluation, recruitment, and probationary periods. I have written them all down. Your Majesty, please make your decision first. If you deem it feasible, then have the court announce and implement it."
As soon as the words were spoken, most of the officials frowned. This move was like a reform. If the imperial examination were to be implemented in the Qin Dynasty, it would inevitably affect the entire bureaucratic system, especially those families that relied on their family background and military achievements to rise to power. They were probably already feeling shocked and resistant.
Ying Zheng narrowed his eyes slightly, pondered for a moment, and then lightly raised a finger to the eunuch: "Bring the Grand Commandant's regulations."
Zhao Gao hurriedly stepped forward, took the scroll, and respectfully presented it to Ying Zheng. Ying Zheng glanced at a few pages, his face remaining expressionless, but his heart was in turmoil.
After a moment, he did not rush to express his opinion, but instead put the scroll away. "This method is quite complicated. I will study it carefully after the court session."
Seeing his solemn expression, the officials in the hall could no longer contain themselves and began to discuss among themselves. Some even directly questioned the wicked man about their doubts.
"The imperial examination system? This is no small reform..."
"Is the Grand Commandant going to include former subjects of the six states in the list of officials to be selected?"
"Would the military merit system remain unchanged in the future?"
"The government offices are so short of people, it would be a good thing if we could select some capable people."
"But what if those remnants of the six kingdoms infiltrate? Wouldn't that cause trouble?"
Seeing the commotion in the room, Zhao Gao quickly announced loudly, "Silence! If you have any questions, please step forward in order and ask the Grand Commandant."
Despite the arguments and questions, no one dared to confront the wicked husband directly. After all, everyone knew the Grand Commandant's temperament; the slightest misstep could lead to their death.
Wang Wan and Han Fei, on the other hand, stepped forward one after the other.
Wang Wan smiled, but her tone was sharp: "At first glance, the Grand Commandant's move seems to be beneficial for filling the vacancies in the government and for integrating the newly annexed lands of our Great Qin, thus relieving the heavy burden on us."
"But a question lingered in my mind—if the imperial examinations were truly opened to the whole country, how could I ensure that those old nobles and remnants of the six states wouldn't take the opportunity to infiltrate?"
"What if they infiltrate the ranks and take office? Will they govern haphazardly, causing chaos in the social order and widespread public discontent?"
Han Fei cupped his hands and added, "This humble official would also like to know how the Grand Commandant will ensure the fairness and impartiality of this imperial examination. If anyone engages in favoritism and fraud, wouldn't the consequences be even greater in the future?"
A series of questions instantly focused the court's attention on the wicked husband. All the officials in the hall looked at him, waiting to see how he would respond.
The wicked man didn't answer immediately; instead, he smiled warmly and asked, "Gentlemen, who agrees with this matter... and who objects?"
"If you have any questions, please feel free to ask."
"This Grand Commandant... will certainly give you a proper explanation..."
He practically spat out the last words, making all the officials in the court instantly on edge.
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