The reformation of the imperial examinations was a major event.
Even though it was only brought up by a few scholars, the entire imperial court was in a state of panic.
Almost all of the families and clans didn't sleep that night, and Consort Rou stayed at the Bureau of Supervision until midnight.
With over a hundred scholars complaining, Consort Rou was mentally and physically exhausted just from listening to the cases, let alone the eleven year old Li Cheng.
Consort Rou felt sorry for Li Cheng, so she let Li Cheng go to bed early. She stayed up late listening to the cases of the scholars until late at night.
In reality, she had long lost her patience, but this was the first case she had taken over, and the first step to establishing her authority in the Bureau of Supervision. No matter what, she had to do this for Li Cheng, so that she could pave the way for Li Cheng.
As a result, Consort Rou gritted her teeth and listened to the last scholar's words. Only then did she see Shangguan Ya come in with the testimonies. She smiled and said: "Niang niang, the testimonies of all of the people involved in the case have been recorded. Please give your orders."
Consort Rou looked at Shangguan Ya. She wanted to replace Shangguan Ya. After all, she was a daughter of the Shangguan family. But right now, she didn't have any energy to argue with Shangguan Ya, and she couldn't find anyone to replace Shangguan Ya. As a result, she smiled and said: "It's already late. After recording the testimonies, go back to sleep."
After receiving Consort Rou's words, Shangguan Ya bowed and left with the others. Consort Rou got up and returned to the carriage. When she sat alone in the carriage, she finally had the time and energy to think about today's events.
In the morning, Cui Yulang came to find her and told her about the scholars complaining at the palace gates. She wanted to use this opportunity to take over the Bureau of Supervision and help Li Cheng earn some merits, so that Li Ming would be a bit happier.
Li Cheng was still too young, and Li Ming's health had not been good recently. She had always felt uneasy. She had to give Li Cheng something as soon as possible. If something really happened to Li Ming, she could prepare in advance.
She just didn't expect it to be so troublesome. How could she bear such a huge burden?
Cui Yulang, this bastard …
Consort Rou cursed in her heart. She was about to send someone to inform Cui Yulang to enter the palace the next morning, but before she could say anything, the carriage suddenly stopped.
"Your Highness." The coachman's voice came from outside. "Um, Second Young Master requests an audience."
When Consort Rou heard this, she paused. After a moment of hesitation, she finally nodded. "Let him enter the carriage and we'll talk."
The coachman was talking to the people outside for a while when a young man in a black robe jumped up.
He entered the carriage and bowed to Consort Rou in a proper and elegant manner before sitting down calmly.
"What are you doing here?"
Consort Rou sat in her seat, feeling a bit uneasy.
The other person sat in the farthest part of the carriage from her. He slowly said, "Your Highness accepted the scholar's case today. Who suggested it?"
The other person knew her too well. He didn't even consider the possibility that she had thought of it herself.
But how could Consort Rou confess to Cui Yulang so easily? Even if she held a grudge against Cui Yulang, it didn't mean she didn't have her guard up against him. She picked up her tea and chuckled. "This is my own idea. Why would I need someone else's suggestion?"
"Oh?" The other person's tone was a bit cold. "It was Your Highness who wanted to fight with the aristocratic families? Your Highness, you and His Royal Highness Prince Su don't have any foundation in the imperial court. Even His Highness Ping L E is avoiding this case. I'm afraid you'll fall into someone's trap. With that said, I hope Your Highness will take care of yourself. "
After the other person finished speaking, he had someone stop the carriage. Then, he jumped off the carriage and left in the night.
Consort Rou's heart was both angry and cold. She knew that the other person was right, but she couldn't do anything about it. She had accepted the case in front of everyone. Now, these scholars were definitely targeting her and causing trouble. Although she wasn't in the imperial court and Prince Su was young, because of her family background, there were many people in the Han Clan who secretly supported Prince Su.
She was here to gain the support of the Han Clan, not to cause trouble. If she accepted the case and these scholars were dissatisfied and caused trouble, it would more or less ruin Li Cheng's reputation.
But for her to close the case …
Where would she get the ability to reform the system?
Consort Rou sighed heavily. She didn't want to think too much. She wanted to go to the palace first and see Li Ming first.
When Consort Rou returned to the palace, Li Ming was already waiting for her in her palace.
It was the first time she had returned so late. Li Ming also found it interesting to wait for her. He had someone bring tea and waited in the main hall for a while. In his mind, he was thinking about the discussion he had with Pei Wenxuan during the day.
It was Pei Wenxuan who had planned for these scholars to cause trouble.
Although he was young, he had a lot of tricks up his sleeve. He was able to make these scholars' words reach the main hall. Although this was a small matter, it required a lot of connections.
From the guards outside the palace to the imperial eunuchs inside the palace, if there was a problem in any of the links, it wouldn't reach the main hall.
However, Pei Wenxuan had already discussed it with him a few days ago.
Pei Wenxuan would let these scholars complain and then pretend to have a conflict with him in court. He would then pass the imperial examination to Pei Wenxuan and let Pei Wenxuan have full authority over this matter. After that, Pei Wenxuan would leave the palace and accept the scholars' request to reform the system.
The reform of the imperial examination system was something he had been thinking about for many years.
In fact, he didn't want to do it in such a hurry. However, since the beginning of this year, his health hadn't been good. He always felt that there were many things he couldn't do.
He was afraid that Prince Su wouldn't be able to wait for him.
Pei Wenxuan just happened to hand over the reason for the reform to him. There was an opportunity and someone to execute it. Even if there were some risks, he had to take them.
Who would have thought that in the end, it would be Consort Rou who came out to take on this case.
As a result, he hurriedly found Pei Wenxuan and discussed it with Pei Wenxuan for an entire afternoon.
In his heart, he didn't want Consort Rou to take on this case. He knew the risks involved. For him, Prince Su was a card he could use to contain Li Chuan. He didn't want something to happen to Consort Rou and Prince Su to be affected.
Thinking of this, Li Ming sighed softly. Fu Lai was pouring tea for Li Ming. Hearing Li Ming's sigh through the trickling water, Fu Lai couldn't help but ask: "Your Majesty, why are you sighing?"
"Consort Rou," Li Ming was a bit helpless, "is too stupid."
"It's already like this," Fu Lai put down the teapot and handed the teacup to Li Ming. There was a bit of regret in his soft voice, "No matter what, Consort Rou is now sharing Your Majesty's burden. Your Majesty should relax."
Li Ming listened to Fu Lai's comforting words and remained silent.
He and Pei Wenxuan had already discussed this matter for an entire afternoon. The best way to deal with this matter was to let Consort Rou take on the case with peace of mind.
If they succeeded, Consort Rou would be able to take control of the Inspectorate and pave the way for Li Cheng.
If they failed …
Li Ming's eyes were cold. Consort Rou was an imperial concubine … in the end, it was her fault.
Li Ming had already thought of a way out. After waiting for a long time, he heard Consort Rou return from outside.
Consort Rou was still outside the palace gates when she heard Li Ming waiting for her. She was surprised and confused. Li Ming wasn't a person with a good temper. She had always accommodated him. This was the first time he had waited for her like this.
Consort Rou hurriedly entered the palace and knelt in front of Li Ming. She said apologetically, "Chenqie was delayed by other matters today and wasn't able to greet Your Majesty in time. Please forgive me."
"I know," Li Ming stood up and personally helped her up. His voice was gentle, "You've worked hard. How could I blame you?"
Consort Rou was helped up by Li Ming. Li Ming pulled her into the palace, "Have you eaten?"
Consort Rou was reminded. She hadn't eaten anything all day, but Li Ming had come in the middle of the night and waited for her for so long. If she still rushed to eat, she was afraid that Li Ming wouldn't like it. She was about to say that she had eaten, but Li Ming had already ordered someone to bring in the cooked porridge.
"I thought that you hadn't eaten yet, so I had someone make some porridge just now." Li Ming's voice was gentle. He led Consort Rou to sit down and held Consort Rou's hand. He said softly, "I know that you don't like sweet porridge, so I had someone make some preserved egg and lean meat porridge. You haven't eaten anything all day, so you can't eat anything that's too hard. "
Li Ming was also very attentive when taking care of women. Consort Rou didn't know why, but she felt a sour feeling in her heart.
It seemed that she hadn't been doted on like this by Li Ming for many years. Between her and Li Ming, she had always been the one to take care of Li Ming. After all, Li Ming was the Emperor. He was the foundation of her status.
There were so many women, so why did Li Ming dote on her? She was about the same age as Li Ming. In terms of beauty, she couldn't compare to those young girls. In terms of family background, she couldn't compare to the aristocratic families of Shangguan Yue. She wasn't good at zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting. The reason why she could stay by Li Ming's side for such a long time, aside from her humble background and their friendship when they were young, was because she understood Li Ming.
Her unconditional accommodation and companionship were what Li Ming needed the most in the palace.
He had been suppressed by the court for too long. His pride as the Emperor made him extremely sensitive to all kinds of disobedience. Any disobedience from an aristocratic family was arrogance in his heart, and the so-called strength of character of an aristocratic family's woman was disrespect to him.
Therefore, her gentleness, obedience, seemingly unconditional devotion, and wholehearted companionship were all things that Li Ming valued greatly.
Li Ming had been willful with her for so many years that she had almost forgotten that she was a woman. Now that Li Ming had coaxed her like this, she suddenly felt her eyes sting.
Li Ming saw that her eyes seemed to be red and couldn't help but say: "Why do you look like you're about to cry?"
Consort Rou forced a smile. She sniffled and said in a small voice: "It's just that when I was young, Your Majesty treated this concubine well. I feel that this concubine has let Your Majesty down these years."
"How are you letting me down?" Li Ming shook his head, "You've already done very well. In this court, you're the only one who's willing to share my burden. "
As Li Ming spoke, he sighed, as if he felt guilty, "The matters of the imperial court should not involve you women. But now, you have to charge and break through the enemy lines for me. As a husband, how can I bear to do this?"
"Your Majesty … …"
When Consort Rou heard the word "husband," tears fell. Li Ming smiled and pulled her into his arms: "Why are you crying? Don't be afraid, "Li Ming comforted her," Tomorrow, I'll reinstate your position as fei. You can handle the matters of the Inspector Department as you wish. Zhen will support you. "
"Zhen will arrange everything for you. Don't worry."
"This concubine understands." When Consort Rou heard Li Ming's promise, she felt much more at ease.
She suddenly didn't resent Cui Yulang anymore.
She remembered what Cui Yulang had said to her during the day: "Niangniang, His Majesty is your root. No aristocratic family wants to support a frigid crown prince. For aristocratic families that rely on their family name and bloodline, this is a humiliation. "
"Only His Majesty is niangniang's only support."
Cui Yulang wasn't wrong.
When Consort Rou leaned into Li Ming's arms, her heart calmed down.
Whether or not there was an imperial examination system, she and the aristocratic families were not on the same path.
Li Ming was the only person she could rely on.
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