Chapter 513: Concealing Identity, Applying for the Examination

The dean has already made it clear: not only has the imperial examination lifted gender restrictions, but the school has lifted them as well, and officialdom likewise. Ning Emperor stared at the letter in his hand; such a letter could easily cause a major uproar at any time.

It is precisely after the turmoil that the appearance of this letter finally lets some people take a step.

Ning Qiancheng stared wide-eyed; if I'm not mistaken, this letter was already written by the dean long ago—turns out the dean had already arranged everything for them.

"Qiancheng, don't let down the Princess Consort's painstaking efforts." Ning Emperor patted his shoulder, looking at the mature, steady child, he couldn't help but sigh—Yun chu is better at raising children than he is.

"Father Emperor, I ……"

Ning Qiancheng suddenly spoke, his face showing no emotion; after a brief pause, Ning Emperor did not urge him.

"I want to conceal my identity and apply for the imperial examination."

"I want to know where my abilities lie."

"Moreover, taking the exam together with my companions has always been my dream; I want to accompany them to completion."

At this moment, he lifted his head; the firmness in his gaze was something Ning Emperor had never seen before.

"If I don't pass……" Ning Emperor fell into contemplation for a moment.

"No, it won't happen."

"My companions, my dean, and I myself will not allow it." He has his own pride and his own unyielding spirit.

"Good! You have ambition." Ning Emperor looked at Ning Qiancheng: "Father Emperor, I grant it."

"Your humble child bows in thanks to Father Emperor."

Three months later, under clear autumn skies, examinees one by one, carrying their own book baskets, stepped into Ning Jing.

"Do you know? This year's imperial examination has twelve monsters."

"You wouldn't be talking about those twelve from Spring Flower, would you? Good heavens, it's said that here in Ning Jing it's truly a battle of immortals."

"Since you're so talented, what are you arguing with us for?" a person muttered sarcastically.

"Then don't take the exam!" The people of Ning Jing heard it and gave that person a cold stare: "Our Ning Jing scholars have no habit of retreating without a fight."

"You want to stop others from taking the exam—how can you be so shameless?"

"Oh, your face isn't that big—how did you even get to Ning Jing?"

The people snorted one by one; the Regent Prince's Manor daily distributed porridge, letting the displaced populace tide over the crisis; the court sent people to repair damaged houses, and the Princess Consort even led others to give free medical checkups—how could they allow others to slander the people of Spring Flower Academy?

"You…… rude!" The scholar's face flushed red, his whole body writhing as if on a grill.

"This scholar, who among them was rude? Who said something wrong?"

"If you can't win the argument, you call others rude."

"How? Do you get to dictate all the principles of the world?"

A soft female voice came from a nearby stall, and the people of Ning Jing laughed, saying, "It's Miss Zi Wei."

"Even the kind-hearted Miss Zi Wei can't stand it anymore."

That scholar gave a cold snort: "A woman meddling in affairs, showing up out of nowhere to embarrass herself—this scholar won't argue with a woman about right and wrong."

Kang Ziwei lowered her head, adjusted her sleeves—those white sleeves were stained with blood.

She had just finished assisting the dean with a surgery, was exhausted and wanted to go wash up, when she ran into this foul stone.

Hit him—I fear soiling my own hand.

Don't hit him—I fear sullying the people's eyes.

What a dilemma!

"A woman meddling? Aren't you born of your mother?"

"Without women, may I ask—did you crawl out of a stone crack?"

"Our Your Majesty has already abolished the examination system—what big-headed garlic are you, showing off?"

Kang Ziwei wore the gentlest smile, yet possessed the sharpest tongue.

Everyone used to say Zi Wei was the gentlest person, but she discovered that after leaving the academy, kindness invites bullying—only by being formidable can she deter others.

Such is the state of the world.

We're all raised by our parents—why should we indulge him?

"You……"

"You…… rude!"

Many scholars had already retreated, then watched this side's confrontation.

That scholar's face flushed red; in his view, His Majesty is an old fool—what can women do? Besides bearing children, they can't do anything.

Abolishing the old examination system—isn't that just nonsense?

Once he becomes top scholar, he will kneel in the main hall and beg to restore the original examination system, bringing clarity to scholars everywhere.

Besides, those women—lack of talent is virtue; if women take the exam, wouldn't the world fall into chaos?

Given his literary cultivation and the teacher's praise, he is sure to place among the top.

He will naturally petition on behalf of all scholars.

"Rude?" Kang Ziwei looked at the person before her, smiled and lightly shook her head: "These days, there are still frogs in a well—how pitiful, how pitiful."

What's the point of arguing with this blockhead?

Forget it; better hurry home and wash up—the exam is the day after tomorrow.

"You……" that person couldn't speak, but remembered Kang Ziwei's appearance.

For a moment, all the people of Da Ning clapped and cheered.

Some out-of-town scholars, seeing Kang Ziwei's appearance, began to inquire.

"Are you asking about Immortal Zi Wei? She is one of the twelve little monsters, renowned for her medical skill."

The people of Da Ning praise the twelve little monsters without reserve.

"This examination is of utmost importance—must not leak the questions, have the examination halls been arranged?" Ning Emperor looked at the officials below; without the previous troubles, it could finally be considered a clean slate.

"Replying to Your Majesty, everything has been arranged."

"The person responsible for this examination, the person in charge, is Dean Liu Yunfeng of the Royal Academy."

"That's fine."

"They discussed the examination matter at an early morning court."

"A general suddenly spoke up, 'Your Majesty, it seems the Northern Rong know that the Grand General has already left; now there are frequent movements, and we may need someone to go suppress them.'"

"Emperor Ning narrowed his eyes; back then the Northern Rong, Xijiang, and Southern Man were all left there, just to confuse the eyes of Zhongzhou."

"Wait, it's time to act."

"'The Southern Man side has surrendered, submitting a surrender letter, repeatedly communicating with the Wang Fu army, hoping to discuss tribute items.' On the Wang Fu army's side, Ning Chengyan usually doesn't speak; every time he speaks, the whole court falls silent."

"This person has a violent temper; when he says he'll draw his sword, he really dares to do so!"

"Emperor Ning furrowed his brows, 'Make them wait!'"

"'Yes!' Ning Chengyan had anticipated this and directly agreed."

"But he still yawned; lately he's been studying with his son and daughter every day, and he himself feels a bit of exam nerves."

"Yun chu simply drove him out, refusing to let him enter the Rhyme Courtyard no matter what; but what could he do?"

"Whatever the lady arranges, he will do."