Chapter 1 Sending off the Two Cipher Masters

Before Jiang Chen could rest, Minister of Rites Shi Ping arrived at the Hall of Diligent Governance to inquire about the imperial examination.

"Your Majesty, the notice for the imperial examination has been posted for several days, and the various prefectures of Great Wei have already taken notice. Now, the yamen of the imperial capital alone have received thousands of application letters!"

"If we add the lists reported by the various prefectures of Great Wei, the total number of participants is likely to exceed ten thousand!"

"Currently, the Ministry of Rites is stepping up its screening of the lists, weeding out some people with insufficient learning. In a few days, Your Majesty will be able to set the date for the examination."

Shi Ping knelt on the ground, his face full of excitement.

Born into a minor aristocratic family, he had endured many hardships to reach his current position and knew the difficulties of promotion for the lower-class scholars.

Now, His Majesty had bestowed grace by creating the unprecedented path to officialdom through the imperial examination.

This finally gave the commoners a way out. Although Shi Ping had already made it to the top, he was still happy for those lower-class scholars and put in all his effort when handling matters.

Jiang Chen was unaware of his thoughts, but he was amazed by the Ministry of Rites' current efficiency.

He nodded in satisfaction and said, "Well, I know. You've done well."

"By the way, among these scholars taking the exam, how many are from commoner families? How many are from aristocratic families?"

Shi Ping's excited expression froze, and he said with embarrassment, "Your Majesty, among the scholars taking the exam, aristocratic families account for about 80%."

Hearing this, Jiang Chen's eyes instantly sharpened.

"Shi Ping, don't you understand the purpose of my imperial examination?"

After asking, he tapped his fingers lightly on the table and said coldly, "I want to suppress the aristocratic clans, to strengthen the power of the emerging class, so that powerful officials can no longer promote their own people indiscriminately. Do you know this?"

A bitter smile appeared on Shi Ping's lips as he explained, "Your Majesty, I understand everything you said, but, but reality does not allow it!"

"The official roads between the various prefectures of Great Wei have not been repaired for a long time. Scholars from remote areas simply cannot reach the imperial capital within the year to catch up with the exam."

"As for those prefectures that are closer, the journey is not a problem, but the travel expenses for the exam are not easy to come by... Moreover, more importantly, the learning of many commoner children is too superficial. Even if you separate the lists of the imperial examination and not let them compete with the children of the nobility in the same examination hall, many people will still not pass the preliminary selection."

At this point, Shi Ping couldn't help but sigh, regretting, "Therefore, although I have repeatedly relaxed the standards, the number of commoner scholars who can meet the standards is still pitifully small!"

After the words fell, the Hall of Diligent Governance was so quiet that a pin could be heard.

The oppressive and silent atmosphere made the palace servants standing on both sides subconsciously hold their breath.

Jiang Chen was also helpless.

Although he knew that it was difficult for commoners to pursue education, the reality was still somewhat beyond his expectations.

It seemed that it would be impossible to fully implement the imperial examination throughout the country and make it a national sensation in a short period.

Well, although the commoner class was weak, he couldn't let the imperial examination become exclusive to the nobility. He, the emperor, had to think of a way to unfairly favor them.

Stroking his chin, Jiang Chen pondered, "In this way, I will allocate special funds to you, so that the Ministry of Rites can be responsible for the food and accommodation of those commoner scholars who come to the capital to take the exam."

"As for the location, I confiscated the homes of many officials a few days ago. You can choose one with a large area and enough rooms, modify it slightly, and turn it into a dormitory like the Imperial Academy, and arrange for those commoner scholars who pass the selection to live there. How about that?"

A look of reverence appeared in Shi Ping's eyes, and he was overjoyed.

"Your Majesty is wise! I am so presumptuous as to represent all the commoner scholars of Great Wei in thanking Your Majesty for your kindness!"

Jiang Chen shook his head and smiled, "Don't flatter me. I only hope that this move can reduce some of the burden on the people, so that they can have the opportunity to participate in the imperial examination and change the fate of their families."

Shi Ping nodded like a chicken pecking at rice. "Your Majesty, rest assured, with this imperial decree, I am confident that I can increase the number of commoner scholars by another 30%!"

Jiang Chen nodded, a few traces of gratification appearing in his eyes.

But as if thinking of something again, his expression became slightly solemn, and he instructed, "When reviewing the candidates, you need to focus on investigating their backgrounds and not let anyone with ulterior motives mix in, understand?"

Shi Ping's face straightened, and he guaranteed, "Yes, I will keep that in mind!"

"Well, the examination date will be tentatively set in August. The preliminary rounds of screening will be the responsibility of the local authorities and your Ministry of Rites. I will personally supervise the final palace examination," Jiang Chen said.

Shi Ping nodded and cupped his fist, "I will make arrangements immediately."

"Well, go! There must be no mistakes!"

Jiang Chen flicked his sleeves and picked up the memorial on the table.

Shi Ping bowed and saluted, then left under the guidance of the female official in front of the palace, his footsteps light and without making the slightest sound.

At this time, only Jiang Chen and Feng Jin, as well as some palace servants, were left in the entire Hall of Diligent Governance.

"Your Majesty, these are the portraits presented by the local authorities. Would you like to take a look at them yourself?" Feng Jin asked with a smile.

He was holding a sandalwood tray with several layers of long scrolls stacked on it, estimated to be nearly twenty scrolls.

These were all portraits of the beautiful women selected in the past few days.

After Jiang Chen approved Prince Fu's memorial, the matter of widely selecting beautiful women was quickly implemented.

With the cooperation of officials at all levels, a list of beautiful women was quickly produced, along with these portraits of the women.

Jiang Chen raised his eyebrows with interest and casually picked up a scroll to unfold it.

A bright and beautiful young woman with pearly teeth appeared, standing gracefully before his eyes.

The painter's skills were superb, vividly depicting the girl's graceful figure and gentle temperament on the paper. Just looking at it, Jiang Chen felt a sense of delight.

His eyes moved down.

On the blank space of the paper were the girl's place of origin, family background, information, etc., allowing Jiang Chen to have a comprehensive understanding of the person in the painting.

After looking at a few portraits of beauties with different styles, he couldn't help but sigh:

"No wonder every man wants to be an emperor. This is too awesome! I guess ordinary people wouldn't even dare to dream of this!"

"Compared to these classical beauties, those so-called beautiful female streamers from my previous life are simply unsightly!"

Jiang Chen flipped through the scrolls one by one.

The beauties on the long scrolls each had their own merits, making it difficult to tell who was better.

Some had particularly full curves, some had cold and beautiful temperaments, and some had bewitching faces and were good at dancing the *huxuan* dance, truly possessing both beauty and talent... Jiang Chen was feasting his eyes.

But when his gaze fell on the last painting, Jiang Chen was completely stunned!

The dreamlike face of the woman in the painting made all the previous beauties pale in comparison!

It was like comparing pearls to fish eyes, incomparable.

Her black hair was like a waterfall, her skin like solidified fat, her beautiful eyes sparkling, and an aura of transcendence lingered between her eyebrows, like the bright moon in the sky, the clear spring in the forest, not of this mortal world.

What was even more special was that she wore a simple Daoist robe, with only a jade hairpin as an ornament in her hair, but it did not detract from her beauty in the slightest, and even added three points of refinement to her.

Staring at the person in the painting, a fiery light burst out in Jiang Chen's eyes: "Who is she?!"