Chapter 680 Just to catch a glimpse of His Majesty's countenance!
After the imperial edict was placed, Shen Lanxi immediately mobilized three hundred Imperial Guards to guard the Golden Palace day and night.
Even on the rooftops, people were stationed to ensure that no one could enter the Golden Palace without a breath after the court session.
Six days later, news came from Tianjin that Liu Mingxin had passed away.
Upon receiving the news, Shen Lanxi suspended court for half a day to express her grief.
Less than two months later, news of the Grand Tutor's death arrived, and the court was suspended for half a day to express its grief.
As time went by, new officials replaced the old ones, and the old ministers of the previous dynasty were no longer seen in the court.
Shen Lanxi is fifty years old this year, and she still does sixty chops with her knife every day, regardless of the weather, without interruption!
"Cough cough cough..." A series of suppressed coughs came from behind.
After Shen Lanxi finished making sixty cuts, she put the Banyue Blade back.
"Since you're sick, take a few days to rest and don't go on duty."
The pale-faced eunuch quickly suppressed the itch in his throat.
"Your Majesty, I am fine. I am made of iron and will be alright in a few days."
Shen Lanxi glanced at his temples and silently responded.
Seeing His Majesty leave, the pale-faced eunuch hurriedly wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and chased after him.
In the Golden Palace
Today is the palace examination, and the top three scholars will be selected as the champion, runner-up, and third-place winner.
Shen Lanxi strode briskly and sat down on the dragon throne.
Every day, when the courtiers saw His Majesty, who looked like a man in his prime, they would be momentarily stunned.
Many of them were much younger than His Majesty, some five or six years younger, some more than ten years younger, but none of them could match His Majesty's robust physique.
Her Majesty has no gray hair at all, and unless you look closely at her face, you can't see any signs of hardship. She looks to be only in her thirties at most.
Many of them are only in their early forties, yet they already look old and frail, like people with one foot in the grave.
What's even more deadly is that they not only know Her Majesty's age, but also that she wields a heavy sword weighing a thousand pounds every day, striking sixty times.
Such a ruler, even after they all retire, will still be sitting comfortably on the dragon throne.
"Students, please enter the hall..." This announcement marked the start of the morning court session.
Three students answered questions in the imperial court on the spot. After the written test, His Majesty himself set more questions.
"Sun Hanzhang, I ask you, why did you choose to take the imperial examination?"
The student whose name was called knelt down with a thud.
"Your Majesty, I come from a merchant family and am not short of money. The country is currently at peace and there are many talented people. I am not taking the exam for the benefit of the people."
Shen Lanxi raised an eyebrow and laughed, "This is the first time I've seen someone dare to spout such nonsense in the Golden Palace."
Liu Yanhui roared angrily, "How dare you! How dare you be so disrespectful in front of His Majesty! Imperial Guards, take this man away! I want to impeach him for his offense!"
Sun Hanzhang: "Your Majesty, I took the imperial examination only to see Your Majesty's countenance. Your Majesty is a wise and benevolent ruler sent by Heaven, unprecedented and unparalleled. I admire Your Majesty wholeheartedly. Today, having seen Your Majesty's countenance, even if I were to be executed the next moment, I would have no regrets!"
The court was silent.
How long has it been since we've seen a scene like this?
It seems like not long ago, just two or three years ago, a scholar said the same thing. He was selected by His Majesty as the third-ranked scholar and then sent to a harsh and cold place to serve as a county magistrate.
Today, this person again claims to admire His Majesty. But how many people in the world admire His Majesty?
We don't need him!
Liu Yanhui felt a rush of blood to her head and coughed several times in a row.
“Nonsense! What does this scholar think the imperial court is? His Majesty issued an order ten years ago that scholars are not allowed to make outrageous remarks during the palace examination. Your Majesty, this person knowingly violated the law and must not be let off.”
Shen Lanxi glanced at Liu Yanhui and had someone bring a chair for Liu Yanhui to sit down.
"Minister Liu, what's the rush? Everyone has the desire to curry favor. I've worked diligently for decades; if I don't even have anyone to admire me, wouldn't all my efforts have been meaningless?"
In recent years, Your Majesty's words have become increasingly unrefined, and the court officials sometimes suspect that Your Majesty is developing in the direction of an old rascal.
The older they get, the more carefree and playful they become.
Sun Hanzhang: "Your Majesty, I wish to enter the palace and serve Your Majesty. Compared with Your Majesty, fame and fortune are like fleeting clouds. If Your Majesty agrees, I am willing to offer all my family property to Your Majesty."
It must be said that this year, the students who are trying to curry favor with His Majesty have come up with new tricks.
In Aolai Kingdom today, from the imperial court to the common people, there is no shortage of money. As the ruler of the country, His Majesty is naturally even less short of money.
Would His Majesty be interested in this student's family background?
Many officials scoffed.
Liu Yan was so angry that she saw stars. This bastard was simply humiliating His Majesty.
Shen Lanxi chuckled twice and asked curiously, "How much wealth do you have?"
Sun Hanzhang said with a proud look, "My family owns six restaurants, three workshops, a hundred acres of fertile land, and two farms, with an annual income of at least 300,000 taels."
Shen Lanxi nodded: "Indeed, quite a lot."
Liu Yan looked back at His Majesty, silently praying, "Your Majesty, please don't agree."
Shen Lanxi: "Put it aside for now, I'll ask the other two students."
"Why are you taking the imperial examinations? You tell me first," she asked, pointing to the student on her left.
The student on the left glanced at Sun Hanzhang, and then knelt down on the ground as well.
"Your Majesty, like Sun Hanzhang, I also wish to see Your Majesty's countenance."
The courtiers gasped.
Have all the students these days gone mad?
Shen Lanxi then asked another, "You tell me."
The other one also knelt down with a thud.
"Your Majesty, I wish to have the honor of seeing Your Majesty's face, and I also wish to serve Your Majesty and the people in the court."
Shen Lanxi: "I won't read the article; I hereby appoint you as the top scholar."
The student was overjoyed: "Thank you for your great kindness, Your Majesty."
As for the other two
“You two…” Her eyes swept over their faces.
Both students are quite good-looking.
"Let you both be the third-ranked scholars!"
Sun Hanzhang looked disappointed after hearing this. Another student, though also disappointed, knelt down and kowtowed to express his gratitude.
After the three of them had ridden through the streets, Shen Lanxi immediately discussed the matter with the court officials.
"Those three scholars are all quite handsome. My beloved ministers, do you think anyone will try to find a husband for them today?"
This question left the court officials dumbfounded.
Shen Lanxi's eyes shone brightly, and she said with a calculating look, "They dared to put me in a difficult position in the court today. If I don't retaliate, wouldn't it make me seem too easy to talk to?"
so what?
The court officials felt their scalps tingle as they looked at their emperor.
"I intend to arrange for someone to capture them and bring them back to serve as good sons-in-law. My beloved ministers, who among you is willing to take on this task?"
Nobody would agree to that, especially if any of these three men had wives or fiancées.
Do they even care about their daughter's reputation?
Shen Lanxi looked at the officials with their heads bowed and said, "Fine, since you are unwilling to participate, I will not force you. I will personally send people to do so!"
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