The reform of the imperial examination system is a major event.

Even though it was only a few scholars who raised the issue, the whole court was in a state of panic.

Almost every family and clan stayed awake all night, and Concubine Rou stayed in the Inspection Office until midnight.

Hundreds of scholars filed complaints, and Concubine Rou was exhausted just by listening to the cases, not to mention Li Cheng who was only eleven years old.

Concubine Rou felt sorry for Li Cheng, so she let him go to bed early and she listened to the cases of these scholars until late at night.

In fact, she had lost her patience a long time ago, but this was after all the first case she had taken over and her first step in investigating Si Liwei. No matter what, she had to handle this matter for Li Cheng so as to pave the way for Li Cheng.

So Concubine Rou gritted her teeth and listened to the last scholar's words before she looked at Shangguan Ya who came up with the confession. She smiled and said, "Your Majesty, the confessions of all the people involved in the case have been recorded. Please give your instructions."

Concubine Rou looked at Shangguan Ya. She wanted to replace Shangguan Ya, after all, she was a girl from the Shangguan family. But now she didn't have the energy to argue with Shangguan Ya, and she couldn't find anyone who could replace Shangguan Ya. So she smiled and said, "It's getting late. After putting the confession away, go back to sleep."

After hearing what Concubine Rou said, Shangguan Ya bowed and withdrew with the others. Concubine Rou got up and returned to the carriage. When she was sitting alone in the carriage, she finally had the time and energy to think about what happened today.

Cui Yulang came to see her in the morning and told her about the scholar's complaint at the palace gate. She wanted to take advantage of this opportunity to take over the Inspection Office, gain some credit for Li Cheng, and make Li Ming happier.

Li Cheng is still too young, and Li Ming has not been in good health recently, so she is still a little uneasy. She wants to give Li Cheng something as soon as possible, so that if something happens to Li Ming, she can be prepared early.

But she didn't expect it to be such a big trouble. How could she afford such a big restructuring?

Cui Yulang is such a jerk...

Concubine Rou cursed in her heart. She was just about to ask someone to inform Cui Yulang to enter the palace the next morning, but before she could say anything, the carriage stopped abruptly.

"Your Majesty," the driver's voice came from outside, "The second young master wants to see you."

When Concubine Rou heard this, she paused. After hesitating for a moment, she finally nodded: "Let him get in the carriage and talk."

The driver was talking to someone outside for a while when he saw a young man in a black robe jump up.

He entered the carriage, bowed to Concubine Rou with a proper and graceful posture, and then sat down calmly.

"What are you doing here?"

Concubine Rou sat in her seat, feeling a little uneasy.

The other person sat in the carriage farthest from her and said slowly, "Your Highness took on this scholar's case today. Who suggested it?"

The other party knew her too well to consider that it was her own idea.

But how could Concubine Rou easily tell Cui Yulang out? Even though she had a grudge against Cui Yulang, it didn't mean she had no defense against him. So she served the tea and chuckled, "This is my own idea. Why do I need anyone's advice?"

"Oh?" The other party's tone was a little cold, "Did Your Majesty come up with the idea of ​​fighting against the noble families? Your Majesty, you and His Royal Highness Prince Su have no foundation in the court. Even His Royal Highness Pingle avoided this case. You rushed forward, I'm afraid you were set up. Having said that, I hope Your Majesty takes care of yourself."

After the other party finished speaking, he asked someone to stop the carriage, then jumped off the carriage and left in the night.

Concubine Rou was angry and cold in her heart. She knew what the man said was right, but she could do nothing about it. She took the case in front of everyone, and now these scholars must be staring at her to make trouble. Although she was not in the court and Prince Su was young, because of her background, many people in the Han family secretly supported Prince Su.

She came to win the support of the Han family, not to destroy the stall. If she accepted the case, and these scholars were dissatisfied and made trouble again, it would more or less ruin Li Cheng's reputation.

Let her close the case...

How could she have the ability to bring about reform?

Concubine Rou breathed a sigh of relief, trying not to think too much, and went into the palace first to see Li Ming before talking about it.

When Concubine Rou returned to the palace, Li Ming was already waiting for her in her palace.

It was the first time that she came back so late, and Li Ming was waiting for her with special interest. He asked someone to bring tea and waited in the hall for a while, thinking about what he and Pei Wenxuan had discussed during the day.

Pei Wenxuan was the one who planned these scholars to cause trouble.

Although he is young, he is very capable and can make sure the words of these scholars reach the main hall. Although this is a small matter, it requires opening up many connections.

From the guards outside the palace gates to the eunuchs inside the palace, if there is a problem in any link in the middle, it will not be reported to the main hall.

But Pei Wenxuan had already discussed it with him a few days ago.

Pei Wenxuan would let these scholars file complaints and then pretend to have conflicts with him in the court. He would then take the opportunity to hand over the imperial examinations to Pei Wenxuan and let him take full charge of the matter. After that, Pei Wenxuan would leave the palace and accept the scholars' requests for reform.

Reforming the imperial examination system was something he had been thinking about for many years.

In fact, he didn't want to rush into it, but since the beginning of this year, his health has not been good, and he always feels that there are many things that he cannot do.

He was afraid that the King would not be able to wait for him.

Pei Wenxuan happened to hand him the reason for the reform at this time. He had the opportunity and the executor, so he had to take the risk even if it was risky.

Who would have thought that in the end it was Concubine Rou who would come out to take over the case.

So he quickly called Pei Wenxuan over and discussed with him for the whole afternoon.

Privately, he didn't want Concubine Rou to take this case. He knew the risks involved. To him, Prince Su was a trump card he used to control Li Chuan, and he didn't want anything to happen to Concubine Rou that would affect Prince Su.

Thinking of this, Li Ming sighed softly. Fu Lai was pouring tea for Li Ming. Hearing Li Ming sighing in the trickling water, Fu Lai couldn't help but ask, "Why is your majesty sighing?"

"Rou Fei," Li Ming was somewhat helpless, "too stupid."

"It has come to this," Fulai put down the teapot and handed the cup to Li Ming, with a hint of regret in his cunning voice, "No matter what, Concubine Rou is now also worrying for Your Majesty, Your Majesty, please rest assured."

Li Ming listened to Fulai's comfort and remained silent.

He and Pei Wenxuan had discussed this matter for an entire afternoon and concluded that the best way to handle it was to let Concubine Rou take over the case with peace of mind.

If successful, Concubine Rou will be able to take control of the Inspection Office and pave the way for Li Cheng.

If you lose...

Li Ming's eyes were a little cold. Concubine Rou was just a concubine...it was all her fault in the end.

Li Ming had already thought of all the escape routes. After waiting for a long time, he heard the sound of Concubine Rou returning from outside.

Concubine Rou was still outside the palace gate when she heard Li Ming waiting for her. She was surprised and puzzled. Li Ming was not a good-tempered person. She always accommodated him, but this was the first time he waited for her like this.

Concubine Rou hurried into the palace, knelt in front of Li Ming, and said apologetically: "I was delayed by other things today and was unable to greet Your Majesty in time. I hope Your Majesty will forgive me."

"I know," Li Ming stood up and helped her up personally, his voice gentle, "You've worked hard, how could I blame you?"

Li Ming helped Concubine Rou up, and he pulled her into the palace: "Have you eaten anything?"

When Concubine Rou was reminded, she remembered that she had hardly eaten anything that day. However, Li Ming came over late at night and waited for her for so long. If she wanted to hurry to eat, she was afraid that Li Ming would be unhappy. She was about to say that she had eaten, but Li Ming had already asked someone to bring the porridge.

"I think you haven't eaten it before, so I asked someone to make porridge for you." Li Ming's voice was gentle. He took Concubine Rou to sit down, held Concubine Rou's hand, and said softly, "I know you don't like sweet porridge, so I asked someone to make preserved egg and lean meat porridge. You haven't eaten anything all day, so you can't eat anything too hard."

Li Ming was also very attentive when it came to taking care of women. Concubine Rou didn't know why, but she felt a little sour in her heart.

It seemed like she hadn't been loved like this by Li Ming for many years. Between her and Li Ming, she had always been the one to take care of and accommodate Li Ming. After all, Li Ming was the emperor, the foundation of her life.

Why did Li Ming favor her among so many girls? She was now about the same age as Li Ming. She was not as pretty as those young girls, nor was she as well-born as Shangguan Yue. She was not good at music, chess, calligraphy, or painting. The reason why she could stay with Li Ming for so long, apart from her humble background and the affection they had when they were young, was that she understood Li Ming.

Her unconditional accommodation and companionship are what Li Ming needs most in this deep palace.

He had been oppressed by court officials for too long, and his pride as an emperor made him extremely sensitive to all disobedience. Any disobedience from the aristocratic families was arrogance in his heart, and the so-called integrity of the women from aristocratic families was disrespectful to him.

Therefore, her gentleness, obedience, seemingly unconditional devotion, and wholehearted companionship are all things that Li Ming values ​​very much.

Li Ming had been so willful with her for so many years that she almost forgot that she was a woman. Now that Li Ming had coaxed her like that, she suddenly felt a little sad.

Li Ming saw that her eyes seemed to be red, and couldn't help but ask: "Why do you seem to be crying when you are fine?"

Concubine Rou forced a smile. She sniffed and whispered, "I just remembered how good Your Majesty was to me when I was young. I feel that I have let Your Majesty down all these years."

"How have you failed me?" Li Ming shook his head. "You have done a great job. You are the only one in the court who is willing to share the responsibilities for me."

Li Ming sighed as he spoke, as if he felt guilty: "The affairs of the court should not involve you women, but now I have to ask you to charge and break through the enemy lines for me. How can I bear this as a husband?"

"His Majesty……"

When Concubine Rou heard the word "husband", tears fell from her eyes. Li Ming smiled and held her in his arms: "Why are you crying? Don't be afraid," Li Mingan comforted her, "Tomorrow I will restore your position as a concubine. You can handle the affairs of the Inspection Office. I will support you."

"I will arrange everything for you, don't worry."

"I understand." Concubine Rou felt relieved after hearing Li Ming's promise.

Suddenly, she no longer blamed Cui Yulang.

She recalled Cui Yulang's words of advice to her during the day: "My Lady, His Majesty is your root. No noble family wants to support a prince from a humble family. It would be a humiliation for a noble family whose foundation is family name and bloodline."

"Your Majesty is the only one the Queen can rely on."

Cui Yulang is right.

When Concubine Rou leaned in Li Ming's arms, she felt calm.

Regardless of whether there is an imperial examination system or not, she and the aristocratic families are not on the same path after all.

Li Ming is her only support.