Chapter 743

The drumbeats sank down heavily, and four dancing girls simultaneously swung down from the top of the third floor.

It was the Flying Celestial Dance.

On her forehead was a uniform diamond-shaped gold foil, delicate brows and eyes, deep contours, and the gold step-sway tassels on her bun swayed, scattering a fine rain. The exotic dancing girl swung over their terrace, her flowing scarf of sheer gauze, moving like mist softened by moonlight, a casual flick wrote a line of cursive script.

Baili Mu was stunned.

He excitedly pinched a handful of Liang Er—actually, they, in Chang'an, are just a poor backstreet, right?

Liang Ben was angry, but he had no time to pinch back; another dancing girl holding a pipa swung over.

The dancing girl arched her waist back, her posture graceful, she lightly plucked a string, a clear chime sounded, and fine gold flecks leaked from her fingertips, like shattered stars on their terrace.

Inside the house, a commoner exclaimed, "Is that gold powder?!" So beautiful, so luxurious, a veritable frenzy of paper and gold!

Along with the dancing girl's soaring came a huge backdrop; a massive Buddha mural unfurled from the third floor, descending all the way to the first floor, with enormous golden lotuses pouring down from the roof, the drumbeats grew denser, and the Flying Celestial Dance had just begun.

This was unlike any song and dance they had seen before; where had they ever seen a production of this caliber?

People soared in midair, yet they seemed not quite human.

Their eyes were empty, like a washed moon.

Holding their breath, eyes wide open, they seemed to stand in the vast desert. A blink, and it seemed nothing remained—the flying celestial's ribbons, the bodhisattva's lowered brows, the lotus unmoving in the Buddha's palm.

After the dancing girls bowed and exited the stage, the room marked Heaven One seemed to finally awaken. Baili Mu came to, finding the whole market silent… no, only the sound of someone cracking melon seeds.

Everyone only felt their hearts hollow.

And the Da Wang, earnestly cracking melon seeds, discovered that the melon seeds of Spring River Flower Moon Night were the finest!

His other cousin Yang Fang glanced at the Da Wang several times; the Da Wang floated over a look: "You also want to eat?"

Yang Fang: ̈

Honored guests arrived, two extra chapters of the Robes and Feather Dance were added; though everyone was still unsatisfied, the delicious dishes praised at the banquet's start were also forgotten…

After the gathering dispersed, the Da Wang indeed called out to Zhou Huang.

"Those people heard I was summoned by Young Master Liang, and the Grand Commander's Son acted that way, speaking without avoiding me. All they could say were just sour words…"

Zhou Huang, true to his nickname Changzhou Shen Tong, instantly turned into a repeater, restoring some corner gossip for the Da Wang.

Wei Shen, like Zhou Huang, thought it was sour talk; the astute ruling class—the Da Wang—had already caught a hint of its flavor.

Seemingly defending the Fang family, they were actually attacking the Dong family, these new aristocrats.

The conflict between aristocracy and commoners would inevitably erupt.

The Da Wang rubbed his chin, sighed deeply. "Let it burst—tomorrow we still need to burst something fierce."

The next morning at court, the Da Wang appeared after a long absence.

The first matter approved the promotions of the meritorious soldiers who had campaigned on the grasslands; the second was the imperial examination.

The Great Jin, with myriad affairs awaiting revival, lacked not only grain and money but also had a huge talent shortage; capable grassroots officials were still too few.

The Da Wang knew the level of local officials under the recommendation system; look at the offspring of top aristocrats with elite education—what standard are they? Xie Tu's ilk are rare phoenix feathers and unicorn horns. The Lu family, who handle education, had several slip through when they took the imperial examination last year—let alone other families.

"Last year's participants were too few, the pass rate too high—this year we can't let them have an easy ride. Today we must go deep into the localities, expand the participant base, strive to have each prefecture nominate young people to join, tying it to political achievements. Otherwise they won't bother educating the populace; even the repeatedly ordered village schools couldn't be run."

Without letting others interject, he continued: "For now we'll keep last year's rules; set the time for September—clear autumn skies are just right."

The bigwigs up front sat immovable, just listening as the Da Wang upstairs cooked up his own plan and gave it the thumbs‑up. Behind them some people exchanged glances—no, they decided without discussion?! Who agrees that commoners should be able to take the imperial examination and enter office?!

Ninety percent opposed it, but nobody wanted to be the first to speak out.

Cheng Taichang had a headache, really not wanting to provoke the Da Wang, but this fell under the Minister of Rites' duties. Meanwhile, the earlier Xie Xiang sat unmoving like a mountain.

Cheng Taichang was desperate, but the imperial examination was no small matter; he waited silently awhile, seeing the Da Wang about to finish, with nobody jumping to oppose, the Da Wang seeming able to announce adjournment at any moment, he could only grit his teeth and speak up.

"Your Majesty, I respectfully present. This examination is the gracious exam you added upon your accession; it must not be so hasty. This time differs completely from the Northern Border exam you previously held, Your Majesty; please proceed with caution. I hear that the eligibility threshold for candidates seems overly lax."

He spoke conservatively, but the Da Wang of course pretended not to hear the implication.

"Is the Minister of Rites worried they'll cheat, assume false identities, take substitutes for them? Understood! I've said they must register via guarantors in their household locales. Serving the state with materials is no trifle; any mistake is a grave crime." The Da Wang, well‑versed in the examination system, said.

Old Man Cheng steeled himself and said, "My meaning is that the examinees' identities should be clearly stipulated."

The Da Wang: "A clean background is the baseline—isn't that already written in the rules?"

Cheng Taichang knelt and performed the grand salute.

"…scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants should not receive equal treatment in taking the imperial examination to enter office, or the world will fall into great chaos."

This time Xie Yuan had something to say, "I second that."

Cheng Taichang relaxed his breath; having Xie Xiang's support was fine. Just as he thought he'd still have to wrangle with the Da Wang for half an hour to sort it out, the Da Wang calmly said, "I know."

Cheng Taichang: …?

"Banning merchants from officialdom, right? I understand. Wealthy merchants have money, officials have power; once merchants are allowed to freely take the imperial examination and enter officialdom, they'll easily use wealth to buy connections, forming an official‑merchant conglomerate. With capital in power, they'll monopolize this realm—just like… the present aristocracy?"

Court officials: ̈

The imperial hall was silent as a chicken.

Those who could stand here, one and all, were of aristocratic origin.

Only the Grand Tutor Xu kept sighing like that—don't think he doesn't love reading or delays our bright and capable Your Majesty; there's nothing he doesn't know, nobody can fool him.

The Da Wang tossed out a bomb, then stood up as if nothing had happened, almost ready to stretch, and calmly said, "Then cancel merchants' examination eligibility, keep other rules unchanged. It's not far from mid‑September; immediately notify all prefectures and counties—adjourn." Not giving them a chance to voice opinions, the Da Wang swiftly dissolved the assembly.

The court officials felt dazed—adjourned just like that? No, just mentioning merchants, and the matter of commoners' imperial examination was settled like that?!

The Da Wang stepped down the stairs, then muttered slowly, "Ah—aristocrats aren't exactly innocent of trade either; whose family doesn't have eight or ten shops?"

After sighing, he patted his rear and left; all officials stared at each other, wondering what he meant! If we raise objections again, does that mean even aristocrats can't take the imperial examination? Is that what he's getting at?!

The rebellious Da Wang's retort to the officials lifted everyone's work‑day spirits; this guy had just made a little money from an infrastructure project, was plotting to do something, hadn't acted yet, when Zhao Bao came in beaming and said the elder brother of the Grand Steward had arrived!

The king reacted for a moment before realizing he was talking about Zhao Zhu Pavilion; it looks like Yingtai Prefecture is finished!

Good news!