Mr. Pu did not dare to delay and hurriedly bowed and apologized.

His face changed drastically again, and he scolded Pu Hongwen sternly: "Rebellious son! It is a great rebellion to offend His Highness! Go back to the courtyard and reflect on your mistakes, and don't disturb His Highness's peace!"

Pu Lao's attitude clearly showed that he didn't want Pu Hongwen to stay, which aroused Helian Chi's curiosity.

"Don't panic, Master Pu. I read a few articles with Master Pu when I was young and I admire him very much. Since this young man is Master Pu's son, he must be very talented."

Helian Chi helped Helian Yu steady herself, and seeing that she was fine, he glanced at the guards and said, "Everyone, leave."

The guards put away their swords and returned to their positions: "Yes."

"Your Highness, I am a dull boy, and I dare not tarnish the word 'talent'."

Pu Lao did not want his reckless youngest son to be involved in the court too early, nor did he think he had the talent to govern the country. He could indulge him in normal times, but not in serious matters! "My son has only read a few books and recognizes some words, but he does not understand the meaning. I am really ashamed."

Helian Chi raised his lips, not wanting to argue any further, and just said: "This palace..."

"Your Highness! I dare to recommend myself!" Pu Hongwen interrupted Helian Chi, his face solemn and serious, his back straight, full of awe and pride.

"Mr. Pu is indeed like the saying 'young and wild', he is not like an ordinary dull scholar." Lu Jing smiled and took a step forward, a hint of displeasure flashing across his eyes.

"You are Lord Lu?" Pu Hongwen flattered, "My father often mentioned you, saying that you are both wise and brave, and a first-class figure."

Pu Lao looked unhappy and dismissed the question without any courtesy: "Bullshit!"

In the court, civil and military officials have always been incompatible.

Nowadays, Pu Lao's youngest son is flattering Lu Jing, a military officer, which is really embarrassing.

Lu Jing clapped his hands and laughed: "Why are you so anxious, Mr. Pu? It's just that your child is really interesting! Interesting!"

Lu Jing smiled at Pu Lao's embarrassment and anger, and bowed to Helian Chi and said, "Your Highness, please make the decision for me. I think his son is really interesting. Why don't you let me do some research? If he is talented and knowledgeable, I will ask Your Highness for mercy and make an exception to give Pu Gongzi a job, so that Daxia can recruit talents!"

"Thank you, Lord Lu!" Pu Hongwen's eyes were filled with jealousy. While Lu Jing was about to finish his words, he blocked Helian Chi's retreat and said, "Thank you, Your Highness!"

Old Pu was so angry that he pointed at Pu Hongwen and trembled, unable to utter a single word.

His son was smart when it came to harming others, but how come he was so clueless when it came to serious matters? How many heads would be chopped off if he dared to block the prince's words?

Although Helian Chi did not like Pu Hongwen's audacity, he liked to have fun, so he pretended to support Pu Lao and gave a look to let Zhuo Liu support him.

"What do you think, Mr. Pu?"

Helian Chi finally asked Pu Lao to give him a chance to regret.

If Pu Hongwen really took Lu Jing's test questions, the Pu family would be in disgrace.

He came here to express his condolences, not to show off his power.

"I am just a child with hysteria, talking nonsense, Your Highness, please don't believe it." Pu Lao's cloudy pupils were dark, looking at Lu Jing, closing his eyes and bowing his head, "Lord Lu, just treat it as a joke, don't bother with this idiot!"

Lu Hou waved his hand: "Haha... Whatever! Whatever!"

Lu Jing and Pu Lao have been fighting for more than ten years. Although they are mortal enemies, Pu Lao has retired. Whether they were mortal enemies or not is a thing of the past, and he should be given some respect.

What's more, Mr. Pu had never bowed to him in his entire life, but in the end, he bowed to him because of an ignorant son.

How pitiful! How sad!

"Your Highness! Lord Lu! I am willing to be examined by Lord Lu. Please set the questions!" Pu Hongwen stood proudly in his place, ignoring everyone's words. "My father is old and cannot represent his son's wish. Please fulfill my wish."

Mr. Pu closed his eyes helplessly and did not answer.

There was some impatience in Helian Chi's eyes. His hand fell on Helian Yu's head and stroked her black hair. Helian Yu stepped aside as if nothing had happened, with a stern face, her neck held exceptionally long, and she did not move at all.

Helian Chi didn't touch it, so he glanced down with the corner of his eye, moved a step towards Helian Yu inconspicuously, and stroked her hair again.

Helian Yu gritted his teeth and raised his hand to grab Helian Chi's rebellious hand.

She doesn't want to be bald!

Helian Chi smiled softly, "It's rare for me and Zhaoyang to come to Jinling, and it's fate for us to come to Pu Lao's Sihai Academy. It happens that the imperial examination is approaching. Although I can't be as gracious as my father, I can still give the students of Sihai Academy a chance. I still have the energy to do so."

"How about this? Marquis Lu will ask a question, and all the students present today can answer it. As for the prize, I can take him back to the capital to meet the emperor, and let the emperor personally examine his talent. How do you think?"

Although the prize does not include real money or an official position, the opportunity to meet the emperor and be personally examined by him is worth more than real money!

This was equivalent to them directly skipping this special examination, and then skipping next year's joint examination, and going straight to the palace examination! The students were excited and shouted, "Your Highness is wise."

"Fourth brother will hold you." Helian Chi bent down and held Helian Yu in his arms. He then said, "Get some chairs. Please take a seat, everyone. Today, Lord Lu is the chief examiner, and everyone present will be deputy examiners."

The officials were seated, their faces relaxed, and they all bowed their hands in thanks, "Your Highness is wise!"

"I wonder if Mr. Pu has the confidence?" Helian Chi sat down holding Helian Yu and asked Mr. Pu.

Pu shook his head honestly: "No."

Helian Yu's dark almond-shaped eyes fell on Pu Lao. She didn't know much about Pu Lao. Pu Lao had retired a long time ago, and there didn't seem to be any major events afterwards.

"Princess Zhaoyang?" Pu Lao saw Helian Yu staring at him with a little doubt, but his face was kind, "Does the princess have any instructions?"

Helian Yu: "No."

Lu Jing bowed to Helian Chi and said, "Your Highness, all the students have gathered here. Shall I begin?"

"Lord Lu, please."

Helian Chi nodded, then lowered his head and poked Helian Yu's little face, "Xiao Yu'er, smile."

Helian Yu didn't even blink: "Pay attention to your manners."

"Okay, listen to the princess."

Helian Chi withdrew his hand with a smile.

Mr. Pu took a few glances and felt embarrassed, so he withdrew his gaze and looked at Lu Jing who was giving a passionate speech.

A quarter of an hour had passed since Lu Jing finished his opening motivational speech. Helian Yu buried his head in Helian Chi's arms without giving him any face and yawned.

She usually felt sleepy when reading serious books, and now she felt even sleepier when listening to these serious words.

Finally, Lord Lu got to the point of the test.

"...I went to a temple two days ago and got a couplet from a monk. But I can't figure out the second half. I hope you can show your knowledge and come up with a couplet!"

"The first line of the couplet is: lonely and widowed in the cold classroom."

After Lord Lu finished speaking, he took in the students' performance before returning to his chair and sitting down.

Helian Chi lowered his eyelashes: "Xiao Yu'er, do you want to try it?"

Helian Yu pondered, his face slowly wrinkled, then suddenly stretched out: "Fry, stir-fry, cook, stew, fry!"

The title of the poem is a couplet, which shows that Lu Hou was just being perfunctory.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with what she said! Helian Chi chuckled: "Why?"

"Every word Lord Lu gave had '宀' in it, and every word I answered had '火' in it. What's wrong?"

Helian Yu's face was still tense, but the pride in his eyes and the complacency in his body were overflowing. If he had a tail, it would definitely be shaking in circles.

Helian Chile: "Yes! Xiaoyuer is smart!"

The people serving nearby looked straight ahead. They had read the books of sages for decades, so they could understand the meaning if they were forced to explain it, but the artistic conception... was hard to describe.

That’s all!

As long as the princess is happy!

Old Pu's eyelids twitched a few times. He had a real feeling about "Princess Zhaoyang's endless honors and favors". He didn't expect that after he retired, the royal family would have more warmth and affection that they had never had before. He just didn't know... whether it was true or not.

Helian Chi stopped teasing Helian Yu, raised his eyelashes, and took in the actions of the students below.

There was silence for a long time, and no one stood up.

Even if it is just someone throwing out a brick to attract jade, almost everyone wants to make an absolute and shocking achievement.

It’s just that Lord Lu didn’t mean it at all, but the students took it seriously.

Lu Jing was worried that Helian Chi and Helian Yu were tired of waiting, so he asked loudly: "Have any students matched up? Does Master Pu have any ideas?"

(End of this chapter)