He had been ridiculed for his calligraphy by Emperor Chongde before, but after returning home he studied and practiced diligently and finally made some progress.
He was eagerly anticipating his chance to wow the emperor, when he heard a sneer from above. The sound wasn't loud, but it was unusually clear in the quiet environment.
"..."
Those around Chi Yan couldn't help but look at him with pity. Being ridiculed by His Majesty in front of so many people meant he was likely to fail the exam.
If it were someone with a bad mindset, they would have already suffered a huge blow and be in a daze by now.
However, Chi Yan was incredibly thick-skinned. He stubbornly pretended not to hear and immersed himself in his own world.
As long as he isn't embarrassed, it's others who are embarrassed.
Emperor Chongde glanced at him a few times, then left calmly.
Yan Huai caught a glimpse of this scene, and a thoughtful look flashed in his eyes.
This was the first time since he returned to Beijing that he had seriously looked at his brother-in-law.
Yan Huai was not one to believe rumors. To be fair, Chi Yan did not leave a bad impression on him. He was open and honest, with clean eyes, and did not seem like someone with impure intentions.
He had frequent contact with Chi Jingyu, but the latter was a deep and unfathomable person who acted cautiously and was good at weighing the pros and cons.
To be honest, it wasn't a bad thing, but he instinctively disliked it.
Now it seems that the other party was indeed not a good person!
He had only known Chi Yan for a short time, so it was difficult to judge him, but he noticed that his father seemed to like him quite a bit.
No one knows a son better than his father, and vice versa. He could guess a thing or two about his father's thoughts, and if he didn't like someone, he wouldn't waste any time on them.
Yan Huai lowered his eyes, thinking to himself that his brother-in-law would probably be on the list.
The long exam finally ended, and it was now the emperor's turn to ask questions.
When he arrived at Chi Yan's place, Emperor Chongde only asked him one question: "Why did you enter officialdom?"
For a moment, Chi Yan considered many ideas, then hesitated before asking, "Does Your Majesty want to hear the truth or a lie?"
Emperor Chongde raised an eyebrow, a hint of interest flashing in his eyes, but his face remained stern: "To dare to lie before me is to deceive the emperor!"
Chi Yan looked at him and said honestly, "But telling the truth can easily cost you your head."
"..."
A hush fell over the surroundings as incredulous gazes turned toward him.
The same thought flashed through everyone's minds—
Has he gone mad?
Emperor Chongde's expression was inscrutable: "Then tell me."
Chi Yan blinked somewhat awkwardly: "If what I said is unpleasant to hear, then Your Majesty, please forgive me?"
For a moment, Eunuch Fu was speechless, and Yan Huai's eyes also flashed with worry.
But Emperor Chongde glared fiercely at Chi Yan: "I forgive you for your crime!"
Chi Yan breathed a sigh of relief and said frankly, "The truth is, I want to become a high-ranking official so that my family can no longer be bullied."
Everyone: "..."
He really dares to say that!
Emperor Chongde's eyes were unreadable: "And what about the lies?"
Chi Yan's expression became more solemn: "To establish a moral compass for Heaven and Earth, to secure a destiny for the people, to continue the lost learning of the sages, and to usher in an era of peace for all generations!" (Note 1)
"..."
A long silence fell over the hall.
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