Chapter 384 The table is turned over for you
In an instant, the whole hall was filled with deathly silence.
The officials who had been arguing just now seemed to be strangled by the throat and were dumbfounded.
The old ministers' beards trembled as if they had heard the most ridiculous remarks in the world.
The Sixth Princess...is she crazy?
What is your Majesty thinking? Why choose her to speak out when there are so many other people to choose from?
What's the point of this...
In the midst of shock, Qin Zhaoyue suddenly turned to Pei Xuanyun and bowed:
“Prime Minister Pei, you are a veteran of two dynasties and are well versed in historical events.
Zhao Yue would like to ask, has there ever been a major case of cheating in the imperial examinations during the old calendar years?
Pei Xuanyun's deep gaze lingered on her face for a moment, and he slowly uttered two words:
"It happened in the seventh year of the old calendar and the nineteenth year of the old calendar."
Qin Zhaoyue nodded, his tone becoming more cheerful:
"Seven years in the old calendar...that's quite a long time ago.
Who knows if the fraud case back then used the same tactics as today?"
"Even with the Xuanji Guards' strong protection, such a mistake still happened today.
In the seventh year of the lunar calendar, could the security be so strict and could it ensure that nothing could go wrong?
Who can guarantee that no one used the same method to replace the test papers back then?
Allowing some fools to fill the gaps and steal the fame and positions that don't belong to them?"
She paused, then continued to throw out the second earth-shattering thunder:
“So, I propose – a thorough investigation of the old case!
After the seventh year of the lunar calendar, the examination papers of all successful candidates were archived and re-checked.
Anyone who shows any doubt will have their honors and reputation revoked."
Boom! The court was in complete chaos.
This is no longer nonsense, but an attempt to shake the foundation of the country!
But this is not over yet. Qin Zhaoyue seemed to think it was not chaotic enough and added slowly:
"Of course, canceling everything is unrealistic, as the court still needs to function.
Then let’s try a different approach. All officials with achievements and honors should be assessed immediately.
The classics, policy essays and poems were re-examined.
If you pass the exam, it proves that you are indeed talented and knowledgeable, and you can continue to serve as an official;
If you fail the exam, it means that you were either lucky or there was something wrong with you.
His honors were revoked, so he went home to study hard again and took the boy's exam again.
It will become a routine to retake the exam every year.”
Boom boom boom! The second wave of shockwaves swept through the court again!
Even those old ministers who had originally been indifferent and kept aloof from the matter could no longer sit still.
They were so angry that they were fuming and pointing at Qin Zhaoyue with trembling fingers.
Letting these old men take exams on classics and policy essays? It would be better to just kill them!
The corners of Pei Xuanyun's mouth twitched slightly, and his eyes swept over the civil and military officials in the court.
The policy essays might be okay, but if we ask these guys to test the classics... I'm afraid only one in ten will be able to pass.
"Sixth Princess, be careful with your words!"
"These words will bring chaos to the government!"
"I implore Your Majesty to stop the Sixth Princess from making irresponsible remarks about state affairs!"
"Absurd! Absurd!"
Criticisms and reproaches flooded towards Qin Zhaoyue like a tide, and he instantly became the target of public criticism.
But Qin Zhaoyue, who was at the center of the storm, had already turned around.
He faced the throne again, his eyes slightly lowered, his expression calm.
It was as if the proposals that had just exploded the court and aroused public outrage had not come from her mouth.
She completely turned a deaf ear to the torrent of hostility and scolding.
The expressions of the other princes and princesses nearby were even more spectacular.
The third and fourth brothers seemed to be lost in thought, while the fifth brother was visibly anxious, his eyes shifting between the emperor and the officials.
The remaining three children who were listening had their eyes wide open, their faces filled with disbelief.
Even though they were young, they could understand how explosive Sixth Sister's words were.
The court was like a vegetable market, turned upside down.
Amidst the chaos and clamor, the Third Princess Qin Zhaowan sighed and stepped forward, "Your Majesty!"
The voice was clear and steady, penetrating the hall and temporarily suppressing the chaotic noise.
"I think that although Sixth Princess's words are too extreme, they are not without reason."
“Throwing the baby out with the bathwater is never a good idea.
The imperial examination is a national solemn system for selecting officials, and its credibility cannot be compromised.
Now that the notice has been posted, how can we change it every day and lose trust from the students all over the world?
Therefore, I propose:
First, the results will be announced immediately according to the original ranking to reassure people.
Second, order the Xuanji Guard to immediately conduct a thorough investigation into the issue of the test paper swap.
No matter who is involved, we will investigate thoroughly and punish them severely!
The imperial examination must not stop; the truth must be revealed."
The corners of the empress's mouth curved slightly, her eyes swept across the third brother, and then across the sixth brother who had a look on his face that said "it's none of my business".
"We will follow Zhao Wan's instructions and publish the original list. The Xuanji Guards will conduct a thorough investigation."
"Your Majesty..." Some officials were still unwilling.
"Withdraw from the court."
The officials who had just finished their court session filed out one after another, all with solemn expressions on their faces, whispering to each other in extremely low tones.
The Jingzhao prefect, who was once in the limelight, is now surrounded by a cold and deserted crowd.
Duke Zheng was even more alone, and the nobles all avoided him as much as possible.
Pei Xuanyun walked slowly behind.
The Director of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, Chen Zhongxiao, and the Director of the Ministry of Ceremonies, Hu Weiqian, followed on the left and right, slightly behind.
Everyone knows that this prime minister is His Majesty's most solid barrier.
Otherwise, he would not have been able to sit in the position of Prime Minister of Fenggetai for fourteen years, as stable as Mount Tai.
The matter of bad money had already tied the Wanminsi firmly to your Majesty's chariot;
This shocking mistake in the imperial examination unexpectedly forced the Ministry of Ceremonies, which was in charge of the imperial examination, to come under the command of Your Majesty.
Hu Weiqian twirled his beard, his voice low and filled with lingering fear: "Prime Minister Pei, I wonder if His Majesty will..."
Pei Xuanyun did not look away and interrupted his temptation.
"We are all people who have spent a lot of time in the officialdom. Why are you pretending to be so nice to me?
The storm is coming, and it is our duty to guard our respective offices and avoid any mishaps."
Hu Weiqian felt a little relieved, shook his head and laughed, with a little complaint in his voice:
"I'm afraid that His Majesty will really listen to the Sixth Prince and let us old bones take the exam.
At my age, if I were asked to memorize those commentaries on the scriptures, I would probably die.
I might as well not take the exam and just retire, and I can still save some dignity."
Zhongchen Xiao, who was standing beside him, sneered and unceremoniously interrupted:
"Old man Hu, don't worry about the meaning of the scriptures for now. With your ability to come up with a limerick in those three days, you can't even pass the poetry test."
"Oh, you talk as if you are so capable, but your handwriting is so bad and has no style at all.
If I were the examiner, I would not pass your exam even if I only glanced at the paper."
The two of them exchanged a few low words, and the tense atmosphere eased a little.
Chen Zhongxiao suppressed his smile and spoke in a more serious tone, "Come to think of it, His Highness the Sixth Prince really gave me a fright today."
Hu Weiqian felt deeply moved. "Those few words, like a knife's blade, have made my heart tremble even now."
It seems that this matter is far more than a simple imperial examination cheating. How easy is it to break the deadlock?
And the Sixth Princess's method... was simply to overturn the chessboard.
It sounds unreasonable and ridiculous, but in fact the attitude is extremely tough.
That would be fine, but the key point is that its core is extremely sharp: So what if there is cheating?
Since the founding of the country, has it been as clean as a blank sheet of paper?
When was the imperial examination abolished due to cheating? It still continues to this day.
I have to say, this idea is really...
Chen Zhongxiao glanced at Prime Minister Pei's calm profile and said, "Sixth Prince, you are truly a man who makes a big splash when you don't make a sound."
Pei Xuanyun remained expressionless, but he sneered in his heart.
Oh, are you surprised?
This is just the beginning.
If I really told them what that person did and the poems he wrote, I guess these two people would be shocked.
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