"Ah, Your Majesty, I..."
The minister surnamed Lu's expression changed.
He never expected that Qin Yu would actually do it for real.
The others were also stunned.
"Alright, now is there any subject who is penniless and cannot produce any silver?"
Qin Yu looked down and asked.
Everyone gritted their teeth.
This tyrant is utterly absurd!
Unfortunately, they were completely helpless against Qin Yu.
If they don't pay the money, and Qin Yu tries to manipulate the imperial edict, they'll be in even worse shape than they are now.
After all, those crazy young students are still being targeted across the board. When others pay their dues, those who don't will be specifically targeted.
For a moment, the entire room fell silent.
Seeing these people looking at him with disdain yet unable to do anything about him, Qin Yu couldn't help but laugh inwardly.
These people were all officials of the fifth rank or above, and he was not worried at all that they couldn't come up with the money.
When the foolish emperor truly refused to hand over the silver or write the edict, the officials had no choice but to hand it over on the spot if they had silver on them. Those who did not have silver either sent eunuchs to fetch it from their homes or borrowed it from their colleagues.
In the blink of an eye, Qin Yu earned nearly a million taels of silver.
Seeing so many silver notes, Qin Yu almost couldn't help but burst out laughing.
Now he has the money to open a brewery.
Having received the silver, Qin Yu promptly issued the imperial edict.
Thus, the biggest blame for this imperial examination controversy fell on Liu Wenlie. Although the reputations of the others were damaged, they at least escaped the charge of forcing the emperor to appoint another top scholar.
After the imperial edict was posted, the agitated students in the capital finally calmed down.
However, their reverence for the important officials in the court has diminished considerably.
After the officials left, Zhao Yan couldn't help but chuckle as she watched Qin Yu happily counting his silver.
"So His Majesty did all this for the money!"
Hearing Zhao Yan's words, Qin Yu smiled slightly and pulled her into his arms.
"This plan succeeded entirely thanks to my beloved consort's invaluable assistance, so let's share half of this silver with her!"
As Qin Yu spoke, he was about to push the silver note to Zhao Yan.
However, Zhao Yan quickly refused.
"Your Majesty, my sister and father provide for all my needs. I am either in the palace or living in seclusion at the Zhao family mansion. I can't even leave the house. I can't spend this money even if you give it to me. Your Majesty should keep it."
Hearing Zhao Yan's words, Qin Yu felt a pang of heartache.
As Zhao Lan's stand-in, Zhao Yan is essentially non-existent whenever Zhao Lan is present.
Qin Yu could hardly imagine how lonely and stifled Zhao Yan must have felt when she was not in the palace and was locked up in the deep courtyard of her mansion.
Thinking of this, Qin Yu couldn't help but feel sorry for Zhao Yan.
He gently stroked Zhao Yan's head with affection.
"My beloved consort, I assure you, I will make you my woman openly and honestly. From this day forward, you will no longer be anyone's substitute; you will be my beloved consort!"
Hearing Qin Yu's firm tone, Zhao Yan felt her heart tremble violently.
"Your Majesty, thank you!"
Zhao Yan hugged Qin Yu, deeply moved.
After hearing Qin Yu's words, Zhao Yan felt that it would be worth entrusting her life to Qin Yu.
Just then, Qin Yu suddenly remembered something and quickly looked at Zhao Yan.
"Yan'er, have you been to the autumn appreciation party?"
Hearing Qin Yu's words, Zhao Yan shook her head.
"I have heard of the Autumn Appreciation Festival and the Autumn Appreciation Gathering, but I have never been there. After all, given my status..."
Zhao Yan lowered her head as she spoke.
By taking on the role of a stand-in, she was destined to miss out on many things.
Qin Yu laughed.
"That's perfect. Tomorrow is the autumn appreciation gathering. I'll take you out of the palace to see it."
Upon hearing this, Zhao Yan's eyes lit up.
But she quickly shook her head.
"Your Majesty, I cannot go, otherwise my sister will blame me when she returns."
Seeing her reluctant yet unwilling expression, Qin Yu smiled slightly.
"I say you can go wherever I say you can. As for your sister, if she dares to blame you, I will tie her up and spank her until she dares not blame you anymore."
Seeing Qin Yu's eager expression, Zhao Yan couldn't help but chuckle.
Her smile made Qin Yu feel as if the world had become brighter.
The next day arrived quickly.
True to his word, Qin Yu took Zhao Yan out of the palace to see the autumn appreciation party as soon as court was over.
"Your Majesty, I think it's better if I don't go!"
Even now, Zhao Yan still hesitated.
But Qin Yu didn't give her a chance to hesitate. He picked her up by the waist and carried her out of the palace.
"Ah, Your Majesty, please put me down! I'll go!"
Seeing Qin Yu's domineering attitude, Zhao Yan blushed and hurriedly tugged at his sleeve.
Seeing Zhao Yan's charming appearance, Qin Yu laughed and kissed her before putting her down.
Qin Yu didn't bring many people with him, only Anfu and Dahu, and headed out of the palace.
As they passed the city gate, Zhu Fei heard that Qin Yu and his group were going to the Autumn Appreciation Gathering, so he immediately dispatched a squad of Imperial Guards to follow them.
Apart from Yin Dang and Wu Chi, the rest of this group of Imperial Guards were loyal subordinates of him.
A large group of people soon left the capital and arrived at a beautiful manor.
By this time, carriages were already parked outside the manor, and countless elegantly dressed men and women walked into the manor surrounded by their servants.
Autumn appreciation parties in Beijing are divided into large and small events.
Some brothels and small estates only use autumn appreciation parties as a gimmick to attract people, but only Wanhua Garden is the holy place to hold an autumn appreciation party.
The manor is filled with blooming flowers, especially the chrysanthemums, which are in full and vibrant color.
"This manor is so beautiful!"
Zhao Yan's eyes lit up when she saw the manor in front of her.
Although the imperial garden of the palace is also full of beautiful flowers and rare plants, it cannot compare to the scale of this garden.
"I've heard that the chrysanthemums in Wanhua Garden are exceptional, which is why it's the venue for the Autumn Appreciation Festival. Let's go in and take a look."
Dressed as a young master from a prominent family, Qin Yu unfolded his folding fan and smiled as he spoke to Zhao Yan.
"Uh-huh."
Zhao Yan nodded slightly.
She had already heard about this.
She had always longed to come to Wanhua Garden, but because she was a stand-in, she didn't even have that right.
And Qin Yu helped her realize her dream today.
Qin Yu took Zhao Yan's hand and walked into the manor.
But as soon as they reached the entrance of the manor, they were stopped.
"Young master, do you have an invitation?"
A man who looked like a butler asked, bowing slightly.
"Do we still need an invitation?"
Qin Yu frowned slightly.
The middle-aged man nodded, but seeing Qin Yu's noble air, his elegant attire, and the group of guards following behind him, he dared not underestimate him.
"If you do not have an invitation, sir, please tell me which family you belong to, so that I may consult my master."
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