Li Mu had no one in the Secretariat, but as the advisor of the Secretariat, he had a lot of say in the reform of the Great Zhou's official selection system.
If the Empress was involved in Cui Ming's case, things would become even more complicated. If he could infiltrate the Imperial Clan Temple, everything would become legitimate.
The formulation of this imperial examination policy was the best opportunity.
He would go to the Secretariat tomorrow. Today, he would help Xiao Bai to guard her and let her complete the transformation from a demon fox to a spirit fox.
Night.
Li Residence.
The young girl sat cross-legged on the bed. Li Mu sat cross-legged behind her. His two hands were pressed against her back, continuously transferring the mana in his body into her body.
The cork of the crystal bottle placed in front of the bed suddenly opened. The bright red blood flew out of the bottle and entered Xiao Bai's body.
These few drops of black fox blood essence contained a large amount of spiritual power. After fusing with Xiao Bai's blood, it made the blood in her body boil and a large amount of white gas emitted from her body.
Li Mu used all his mana to help her refine the few drops of black fox blood essence.
The young girl's delicate little face was frowning. She bit her lips lightly as if she was enduring great torture.
In her body, the black fox blood essence was constantly resisting. However, it soon seemed to have sensed something and gradually became gentle. It began to completely merge with her blood.
Li Mu also noticed the peace of the black fox blood. These few drops of blood should have sensed the aura of its race.
The few drops of blood essence no longer resisted, and the refining process became much easier. Xiao Bai could do it alone. Li Mu had just retracted his hand when he suddenly felt a few fluffy things in his arms.
He looked down and found four white tails.
When a fox demon evolved, it would grow an extra tail. If it could not maintain a complete human form, its tail would appear. Li Mu sat cross-legged behind Xiao Bai. Her tail reached into Li Mu's arms.
She used to have three tails. Now that she had four tails, it meant that she had successfully advanced.
The young girl turned around and looked at Li Mu, her charming eyes like silk: "Benefactor, I-I have advanced to four-tailed …"
Her beautiful face and enchanting eyes seemed to want to suck Li Mu's soul out of his body.
Li Mu recited the Clear Heart Incantation to get rid of her charm. He reached out and knocked on her forehead, saying, "Don't charm me!"
The young girl covered her head and said with grievance, "I didn't …"
Her pitiful expression made Li Mu's heart flutter again.
Li Mu jumped off the bed, arched his back, and fled. He said, "I'm going to cultivate in seclusion. Tonight, you sleep in your own room …"
Li Mu fled back to his room and lay on his bed. His heart was still thumping.
The charm of a Spirit Fox was already so powerful. How powerful would the Heavenly Fox and Heavenly Fox be?
It was no wonder that foxes could become supreme among demons when they had nine tails. They could compete with Ninth Realm experts of the human race and the dragon race. This was a racial talent bestowed upon them by the heavens. They could affect the enemy's mental state greatly just by standing there and doing nothing.
Tonight, Li Mu had a rare case of insomnia.
He lay on the bed, tossing and turning, unable to fall asleep. When he finally fell asleep, Xiao Bai's figure appeared in his mind again.
It was not just Xiao Bai. There was also Liu Hanyan and Wanwan. At first, everything was still under Li Mu's control. Later, for some reason, this dream slipped in a direction beyond his control …
This was the aftereffect of being bewitched by Xiao Bai. Li Mu clearly knew that this was wrong, but he was still addicted to it.
Liu Hanyan, Wanwan, Xiao Bai … If not for being bewitched by Xiao Bai, Li Mu would never have dared to dream like this in the past.
Suddenly, Li Mu felt like he was being spied on.
He turned around and saw a familiar figure standing in the distance.
Li Mu shuddered, and his consciousness immediately woke up from the dream.
Liu Hanyan, Wanwan, and Xiao Bai's figures suddenly disappeared. Li Mu looked at the figure in the distance and hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, please listen to my explanation …"
The figure stood on the spot and gradually disappeared.
In the room, Li Mu sat up abruptly on the bed. He recalled the dream just now, as well as the Empress who appeared at the end and witnessed everything. His sleepiness was completely gone.
There were no words to describe his current feelings.
After seeing the scene just now, his tall and mighty image in the Empress' heart had probably collapsed.
He still had to attend court tomorrow. How could he still have the face to appear in front of the Empress?
After a sleepless night, Li Mu wanted to ask for leave early the next morning. However, after thinking about it, he could not hide forever. Running away would not solve the problem. As long as he did not feel awkward, the Empress would be the one feeling awkward.
After all, she had intruded into someone else's dream without their consent. No matter how one looked at it, she was in the wrong first.
There were not many things worth discussing in today's morning court. There were only a few officials who put forward their own suggestions regarding the imperial examinations.
The change in the imperial court's selection system had already been finalized. The four great academies had no objections, and the officials could only accept it. If there was anyone to blame, they could only blame the four great academies for not living up to expectations. They could only blame Elder Huang for his selfishness and insisting that Li Mu and Li Mu compete to see who was favored by the heavens …
Li Mu hid in a corner of the Crepe Myrtle Hall the entire morning. He did not say a word. He kept feeling that there was a pair of eyes looking at him from behind the curtain. Under that gaze, he seemed to return to his naked state last night.
Fortunately, today's morning court ended very quickly. Li Mu could not wait to leave the Crepe Myrtle Hall and head straight for the Secretariat.
He had come once yesterday. Li Mu and the six officials of the Secretariat could not be considered friends, but at least they were familiar with each other.
Today, the seven of them continued to discuss the details of the imperial examinations.
Li Mu pointed out a point and said, "The imperial examinations need absolute fairness and impartiality. The era of the academies has passed. No matter how high the official is, no matter how long the legacy of the noble family has been passed down, they cannot bypass the imperial examinations and directly recommend …"
Zhou Xiong retorted, "The power of the Nine Distinguished Families has existed since the founding of the country. How can you cancel it just because you say so?"
Li Mu said, "It's not me who wants to cancel it. It's His Majesty who wants to cancel it."
Zhou Xiong snorted, "Don't use His Majesty to scare me. His Majesty has never said such a thing."
Li Mu slammed the table and said angrily, "Does His Majesty want me to give advice or you to give advice? Since you like to talk so much, you can speak for me later. I'm happy to be idle …"
Liu Yi hurriedly persuaded, "Lord Li, calm down, calm down. We can talk things over …"
The imperial examinations system was the first of its kind. The Secretariat did not have any experience that could be used as a reference. Without Li Mu's help, it would be impossible to complete such a huge project within a month.
Li Mu looked at Zhou Xiong and said, "I strongly suspect that Zhou Sheren is venting his personal grudge against me."
They all knew about the matter between Li Mu and Zhou Chu. Zhou Xiong was Zhou Chu's second uncle. Because of Zhou Chu's matter, it was not strange for him to oppose Li Mu.
Liu Yi looked at Zhou Xiong and said, "Lord Zhou, the task given by His Majesty is important. Can you put aside your personal grudge for now?"
Zhou Xiong snorted and said no more.
Li Mu looked at him again and said, "I'll say it first. If Zhou Sheren says another word, I won't care about the imperial examinations anymore."
Although Zhou Xiong's expression was angry, he still kept his mouth shut. The imperial examinations were the most important thing for the Secretariat. If they delayed it, he could not bear the responsibility.
Li Mu pointed to another line and said, "After the imperial examinations are implemented, the officials of the three provinces, six ministries, twenty-four departments, nine temples, and thirty-six counties will all be selected through the imperial examinations. Why is it that the Zongzheng Temple is an exception?"
Xiao Ziyu looked up at Li Mu. Liu Yi explained, "Lord Li, you may not know. Since ancient times, the officials of the Zongzheng Temple have always been members of the royal family. In the past, it was not given to the students of the four academies."
Li Mu shook his head and said, "As the most important system of the imperial court in the future, under the imperial examinations, no matter if it is the three provinces, six ministries, or nine temples, they must all be treated equally. The Zongzheng Temple is no exception."
Xiao Ziyu said decisively, "I object. This is an ancestral system. The ancestral system cannot be abolished."
Liu Yi and the others did not speak. Although the Xiao clan was not entirely part of the royal family, the royal family of the Great Zhou had a deep relationship with the Xiao clan of the Nine Families. They had common interests, so naturally, they would not give up control of the Zongzheng Temple.
Liu Yi and the others continued to remain silent. To them, whether the Xiao clan controlled the Zongzheng Temple or not did not make much of a difference. There was no need for them to interfere.
The Zhou clan and the Xiao clan had been fighting in the imperial court for three years. Although Zhou Xiong hated Li Mu, he supported him unconditionally on this matter.
However, Li Mu had already said that if he did not speak, he would not interfere. His lips moved a few times, but in the end, he did not speak.
Seeing that no one spoke, Li Mu looked at Zhou Xiong and said, "Zhou Sheren, say something. You said so much just now. Why have you become mute?"
Zhou Xiong's chest rose and fell. He swallowed his anger and said, "I agree with what Lord Li said. The various ministries of the imperial court should be treated equally. Why is the Zongzheng Temple an exception?"
Xiao Ziyu said, "The officials of the Zongzheng Temple have always been members of the royal family. This was a rule set by the Great Ancestor."
Li Mu smiled and said, "If the officials of the Zongzheng Temple are all members of the royal family, then the ones in charge of the Zongzheng Temple should be the Zhou clan. Lord Zhou, don't you think so?"
Li Mu hit the nail on the head. Xiao Ziyu could not refute him.
"Lord Li's words are reasonable!" Zhou Xiong quickly agreed. When he looked at Li Mu again, he found that he did not seem as annoying as before …
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