Fortunately, he was wearing this outfit today; it's said to have defensive properties, so he should be fine.
Phew!...
His sweet little girl is prone to letting in drafts from time to time, which is a real ticking time bomb. He's getting old and can't handle it anymore!
Seeing Shen Mingzhu's sullen face, Emperor Jingyuan gave Crown Prince Yan Beichen a look. Yan Beichen understood and quietly went to Shen Mingzhu's side.
Mingzhu, I've chosen you to be the proctor!"
The entire court: Your Highness, you're really something!
Emperor Jingyuan: My precious crown prince is good at everything. He's just that outstanding!
Shut up if you disagree!
Shen Mingzhu's eyes lit up immediately upon hearing this.
"Brother Crown Prince, you are so kind."
When Crown Prince Yan Beichen was praised, the corners of his lips turned up, and at that moment, the surrounding air seemed to soften a little.
Guagua, did you see that? At crucial moments, we still need the Crown Prince; we can't rely on the Emperor!
Host, absolutely! The Crown Prince knows how to please you best! He'd pluck the moon from the sky for you if you wanted it!
Emperor Jingyuan: I won't stoop to your level.
I'm going to settle accounts with your father!
Shen Changyuan: Why am I always the one who gets hurt in the end?!
Prince An: My nephew is useless; he's completely under the thumb of his fiancée.
Shen Mingzhu noticed nothing; at that moment, her eyes were filled with stars as she looked at Crown Prince Yan Beichen.
Guagua, Crown Prince has such good taste! Choosing me as the proctor, I promise I won't let a single cheating candidate get away with it!
Host, I believe in you! You can do it!!!
By the way, Guagua, I remember when the candidates took the imperial examination, they not only had to bring candles, but also food and bedding. Should I prepare some instant noodles, dried meat, and preserved fruit for my older brother, and also tell him to wear the monk's robe I gave him?
Host, that's impressive! The candidates taking the imperial examinations can even bring pots and pans in to cook!
Oh! Really? Guagua, whoever draws the toilet number will be in big trouble!
Host, you're so naughty! You hit the nail on the head right away!!!
Guagua, humans eat grains and other foods, so they always need to go to the toilet. Where there's a toilet, there's poop. If someone gets an upset stomach, the smell will definitely travel for miles...
Host, host, stop talking, I can already smell it!
All the civil and military officials: This is the Golden Palace, my goodness!
I can't even imagine!!!
Emperor Jingyuan's expression also turned somewhat unpleasant; this Crown Princess had too much of an imagination!
Crown Prince Yan Beichen closed his eyes and tugged at Shen Mingzhu's sleeve.
"Mingzhu, I'll pick you up from the Marquis's residence tomorrow for a mountain hike!"
Shen Mingzhu's attention was diverted, and she gave Yan Beichen two bags of potato chips, smiling as she spoke.
"Okay, Crown Prince, I'll be waiting for you at the Marquis's residence tomorrow. Remember to come early, and we'll take a stroll around tomorrow."
"Okay!"
Yan Beichen smiled as he looked at the potato chips in his hand.
Finally, she won't think about toilet numbers or smelly poop anymore...
Guagua, tomorrow we should dress lightly. We need to start our treasure hunt early, the more the merrier.
Host, don't worry! The cat has already scouted the location; we can just head straight there!
Good job, my feline overlord! I'll reward him with a truckload of catnip later; he loves it.
Host, the cat will be so happy to know!
Upon hearing this, Shen Changyuan decided to follow Shen Mingzhu up the mountain the next day.
He recalled the scene of them slaying a giant snake and digging up a century-old ginseng together, and he still felt very happy when he thought about it.
He wanted to continue enjoying this kind of happiness.
The entire court was eager to act; they would set off into the mountains tomorrow…
Soon, Emperor Jingyuan and Crown Prince Yan Beichen exchanged a glance and then selected Shen Mingzhu, Su Huaiyuan, Zhao Guangming, Ye Rongyi, Tian Xuezhou, Pei Siyan, and others as examiners.
This time, Emperor Jingyuan did not allow the civil and military officials to discuss the matter but made the appointments directly. Both civil and military officials were present, and neither side could utter a word when they heard the names of the officials.
Guagua, I know all these proctors!
Host, that's not necessary. You definitely wouldn't want them if you're not familiar with them!
By the way, Guagua, where's my dad name? He's the Minister of Revenue, after all!
Host, Emperor Jingyuan won't send all his key ministers to supervise the exams. He'll always keep some to serve the Great Yan. Besides, your elder brother is taking the exams this year, and your father needs to avoid suspicion!
Guagua, do we really need to avoid suspicion? So many students from Great Yan came to take the exam, and it's such a coincidence that my father and my older brother were put in the same exam room?
Host, there's a chance! Besides, you're all you need to proctor the exam; you're worth ten people!
Haha, that's true! Guagua, I'm not exaggerating, but my eyes are like a ruler; I can spot any trickery!
Prince An: What a fine line, "Your eyes are the ruler!"
My eyes are also rulers!
As the deputy examiner, I must take responsibility and not let any "troublemaker" get away with it!
Shen Changyuan regretted not being able to participate in the proctoring of this autumn imperial examination, but the thought that his eldest son, Shen Qinghong, would pass the examination made him feel much better.
Qinghong will soon be entering officialdom, which is a good thing.
The court meeting today proceeded quickly. After resolving the issues of the chief and deputy examiners and invigilators for the autumn imperial examinations, Wang Defu announced the adjournment of the court in a shrill voice.
Guagua, don't you think today's morning court session ended way too quickly?
"Yes, host, there shouldn't be anything major happening today. Let's hurry back to the manor and prepare."
Alright, let's go to the Hanlin Academy to report for duty first, then we'll head straight back to the residence.
Su Huaiyuan: The once glorious Hanlin Academy is destined to have far less fun today.
He doesn't even want to go to the Hanlin Academy to work anymore...
As for Prince An, upon hearing that Shen Mingzhu will simply return to the Marquis's residence after roll call today, he skipped roll call altogether and went straight back to Prince An's residence to prepare the people he would be taking and the things he would need for tomorrow.
Grand Secretary Su Huaiyuan: Very well, you are all people with connections, I'll fight you to the death!
Prince An: Little Su, you're still too young. Work hard.
Su Huaiyuan: What the hell is this little Su Huaiyuan?! I, a Grand Scholar, am the heir of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion, a legitimate son of a powerful and wealthy family!!!
Prince An: Little Su, you're still young and too impulsive!
Work hard so you can improve every day!.