The commotion in Luoyang caused by the assessment was kept out by the towering palace walls.
Li Ru's answer sheet was unsurprisingly approved, and he, along with several other scholars who ultimately qualified for the palace examination, arrived at the spacious square in front of Deyang Palace.
The morning sunlight shone on the massive white marble steps and the imperial guards standing solemnly on both sides, casting a cold and dignified glow.
All around was silent, except for the sound of banners fluttering in the breeze and the pounding of his heart.
"Li Ru from Longxi, fourth place!"
Upon hearing Situ Huguang announce his ranking, Li Ru's heart skipped a beat.
He knew his ranking wouldn't be low, but he didn't expect it to be this high.
After the initial joy came tension and trepidation.
Because in the upcoming palace examination, he would be facing that young emperor.
Li Ru took a deep breath, forced himself to calm down, straightened his coarse linen clothes that he had specially starched but still looked too plain, and tried to straighten his back.
"Summon! The ten scholars who ranked first in the palace examination, enter the palace for an audience!"
As the eunuch's distinctive, piercingly high-pitched voice rang out, the heavy doors of Deyang Palace slowly opened inward, revealing a deep and magnificent scene inside.
Li Ru kept adjusting his breathing, and then, following the procession, he stepped into the hall that symbolized the highest power of the empire with the most steady steps he could muster.
The light inside the hall was dim, and the floor was as smooth as a mirror, reflecting people's shadows in a hazy, dreamlike way.
On either side stood high-ranking civil and military officials, each dressed in magnificent robes, exuding a dignified and composed air. Their gazes swept over the young scholars who entered, their invisible pressure even more suffocating than that of the Imperial Guards outside the hall.
Li Ru dared not look directly at the throne, but only used the corner of his eye to see the slightly thin figure sitting behind the high imperial desk.
"Bow!" the eunuch announced again.
The ten men bowed down in unison: "Your Majesty, we pay our respects! May Your Majesty live ten thousand years!"
A clear, calm voice came from above: "Rise."
"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Everyone stood up and stood respectfully with their hands at their sides.
Next comes the routine duet.
The emperor would randomly select people to ask for their opinions on classical texts or current affairs. The questions varied in depth, some citing classical allusions and others directly addressing reality.
Li Ru lowered his head and listened carefully to the answers from the scholars in front of him.
They mostly quoted classical texts, spoke eloquently, and had clear logic. In particular, their composed demeanor drew the attention of the courtiers in the hall.
However, Li Ru still keenly sensed that the young emperor seemed rather dissatisfied with the major cases involving those scholars.
The emperor seems to place more emphasis on pragmatism!
Li Ru secretly guessed and began to consider his next course of action.
"Li Ru!"
Just as he was pondering this, the Emperor's clear voice rang out.
Li Ru trembled and immediately bowed down: "Your subject is here!"
"Raise your head." The emperor's voice was quite gentle.
Li Ru slowly raised his head as instructed, and for the first time, his gaze clearly fell upon the young emperor on the throne.
Surprisingly, the new emperor, known for his ruthless methods, looked much younger than expected, with a face that even retained a touch of childishness.
Liu Hong's gaze calmly fell on Li Ru's face, scrutinizing him carefully for a moment. His gaze was not sharp, but it seemed to penetrate the skin and look into the depths of the heart.
Li Ru felt a sudden, inexplicable tension, and his palms became slightly sweaty.
Just when Li Ru thought the emperor would test his understanding of the classics or his essays as he would with others, Liu Hong slowly spoke:
"Li Ru, courtesy name Wenyou, was born in Didao County, Longxi Commandery, Liangzhou. He was born in the second year of the Yanxi era and is now nineteen years old."
My father's name was Li Yuan. He was a landlord in the countryside with a small amount of land. He was literate. Ten years ago, the Qiang rebellion broke out suddenly, and our house was burned down. Our land was seized by powerful people during the chaos. My father was filled with grief and indignation, fell ill and never recovered, and eventually passed away.
From then on, you and your widowed mother, Wang, depended on each other for survival. Wang worked as a seamstress and laundry worker to support your studies. You were intelligent from a young age, especially fond of history and military strategy, and devoted yourself most deeply to the *Zuo Zhuan*, *Records of the Grand Historian*, and *Sun Tzu's Art of War*…
boom--!
Li Ru felt his mind go blank, his eyes filled with shock.
He knew that he would be subject to some kind of investigation before entering the palace.
But he never expected that the emperor's investigation into him would be so detailed.
This is simply...it's as if they've seen his entire life!
He suddenly looked up at the young emperor on the throne, his eyes filled with horror and extreme confusion.
He saw that Emperor Liu Hong's lips seemed to curve into a very faint, almost imperceptible arc, and his eyes held a knowing look, a strange gentleness as if he were looking at an old friend.
"Your Majesty...Your Majesty...Your wisdom shines forth!"
Li Ru's voice trembled slightly: "My humble family affairs have caused Your Majesty such concern... Your Majesty..."
He never imagined that his humble life, as a poor scholar from the remote border region of Liangzhou, would be so clearly reflected in the emperor's eyes!
The emperor's revelation of his origins and background in the palace was undoubtedly a more profound form of recognition than any praise!
The hall was completely silent.
The high-ranking officials on both sides, including Minister Hu Guang, all showed undisguised astonishment.
The emperor's understanding of this scholar from a humble background clearly exceeded everyone's expectations.
Liu Hong's voice rang out again: "I have read your strategy."
His critique of the deep-seated problems of border troubles and official corruption is incisive and poignant, every word dripping with blood and tears. His strategies for pacifying the borders and securing peace for the people are to the point, and his resolute and decisive approach is unwavering!
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