klisemfg Chapter 113 Emperor Longyun continues his stingy persona to the very end.
Chapter 113 Emperor Longyun continues his stingy persona to the very end.
He really couldn't kill too many people at once, or cripple too many people at once, as that would be detrimental to the stability of the court.
But he can set a goal for these people. If they achieve it, it means they still have some ability, and it wouldn't hurt to keep them as tools.
If it cannot be achieved...
What use is a person who has neither loyalty nor ability?
Is he so rich he should be supported?
On this point, Lin Shiming and Emperor Longyun reached a strange consensus.
Nearly three hundred new people will be entering the court soon. If the old people don't leave and vacancies aren't opened up, do you expect me to spend more money to support these new people?
Do I look like some kind of sucker?
My money must be spent wisely, every penny counts! It's not meant to support useless scoundrels!
Emperor Longyun cleared his throat. "Crown Princess, you're mistaken. You're underestimating these veteran officials! They've been doing their jobs for over a decade. How could they fail such a simple and basic task as the court examination, losing to newcomers?"
The ministers' eyes lit up immediately, and they looked expectantly at Emperor Longyun as he calmly continued, "The standard should be set at the top 10% to be worthy of them! That would be the only way to show them respect!"
It would be best if none of them passed through! I could also find a pretext to fine them!
Emperor Longyun continues to be stingy to the very end.
Five or six ministers:
Lin Shih-ming: 9
They don't need this respect!
Just as modern people's peak of knowledge is mostly reached during the college entrance examination, these ministers, having served in the court for many years, have long forgotten their previous knowledge and aspirations. How could they possibly outperform those newcomers?!
Not to mention that they've been so busy with petty squabbles and power struggles all these years, they wouldn't have the time to answer those trivial questions!
But since Emperor Longyun had already said all that, they couldn't just go up and say they weren't good enough, or they would be contradicting themselves.
Therefore, these people could only force a smile and pretend to be something they weren't, saying, "Your Majesty's decree is strictly obeyed."
*
Even with this matter resolved, the agenda for today's morning assembly is not yet complete.
Prince Ping and his group had another plan to attack Lin Shiming.
However, after witnessing this person's fighting prowess, those who had been informed beforehand hesitated again, no longer daring to rush headlong into Lin Shiming's clutches.
The usually noisy Taiji Hall was suddenly completely silent.
The ministers looked at each other, none of them daring to make the decision or take the lead.
Emperor Longyun tapped the table lightly with a calm expression. "Does no one have anything to report?"
The crowd remained silent.
"Scared already?" Lin Shiming scoffed. "They're all cowards."
Perhaps because the Taiji Hall was too quiet, Lin Shiming's sneer clearly reached the ears of Prince Ping.
This mocking laugh instantly ignited the anger that had been building up in Prince Ping since the spring hunt, and he glared at Shen Lin with bloodshot eyes.
If the previous incriminating point was somewhat far-fetched, then the matter of the palace examination questions was a confirmed mistake. They had already lost the initiative, and if they didn't turn the tide, their fighting spirit would slowly be worn down.
Moreover, correcting errors in the imperial examination is not illegal. Even if Lin Shiming abuses his power, he cannot punish them without reason.
Not to be missed.
Shen Lin gritted his teeth and clenched his fists, determined to fight!
"Your Majesty, I have something to report!"
"Shen Qing."
Emperor Longyun gave Prince Ping a meaningful look. It seemed that Prince Ping was determined to confront Lin Shiming today, having sent out even the top leaders.
"Go ahead."
Shen Lin pressed on, “Your Majesty, I learned yesterday that during the palace examination the day before yesterday, Her Highness the Crown Princess used the sum of meaningless numbers as the exam question, causing an uproar among the candidates and seriously damaging the reputation of fairness and integrity of our imperial examinations. I must impeach the Crown Princess for her reckless behavior, treating national affairs lightly and damaging the face of the royal family.”
Prince Ping stepped forward and personally intervened, saying, "Father, Scholar Shen's words are reasonable. After all, the Crown Princess is not from a proper civil official background and is not capable of handling court affairs, which is why she has caused such a disaster. Moreover, the Crown Princess should belong to the inner palace. In my opinion, it is better to let Her Highness return to her forte as a military general and go back to the army camp!"
Oh, so this is an attempt to force Lin Shiming to withdraw from the court.
Lin Shiming fiddled with his sleeve, suddenly remembering his argument with his brother yesterday about who was more tired. He smacked his lips, carefully considering and weighing the pros and cons.
Or should we just let King Ping win this round?
Then I can stop worrying about these tedious memorials and regulations, return to my military camp every day to continue practicing martial arts, fighting in arenas, and training soldiers. When the mood strikes, I can go back to the East Palace to sleep with the Crown Prince and vent my desires. Who knows, I might even be able to study firearms some more.
Beautiful!
Such a good day...
Lin Shiming's smile gradually became distorted, and saliva almost dripped from the corner of his mouth.
"Princess."
No one answered.
"Princess!"
"Huh? What?"
Lin Shiming was suddenly pulled out of his beautiful fantasy, looking around in bewilderment and surprise, the happy smile still lingering on his face.
Emperor Longyun suddenly had a bad feeling.
He tentatively asked, "I'm asking you a question. What is your rebuttal to what Shen Lin and Prince Ping said?"
"Emm...the exam questions weren't ultimately decided by Father, so Father can decide for himself!" Give up, give up, give up!
Emperor Longyun: "
Everyone: "... ...."
Lin Shihe cast a concerned look at him.
Emperor Longyun laughed through gritted teeth, his eyes filled with accusation as he looked at Lin Shiming.
Didn't you trick me into doing this? You had so many tricks up your sleeve when you were lying to me, why aren't you saying a word now!
"...Yeah?"
The voice sounded like it was going to steal all his money.
Without money, one can hardly move an inch. Moreover, not getting something and getting it and then losing it are two different things. Lin Shiming instantly shivered, completely waking from his pleasant dream. "No, no, no! Your subject has something to say!"
"This is an bonus question."
"Bonus question?"
"What is this?"
“I haven’t heard of it!”
The people below immediately began to murmur amongst themselves.
Seeing their naive and unsophisticated expressions, Lin Shiming proudly raised his chin.
"It is an additional question. The original examination for this year's palace examination only had the first two questions, and these two questions are sufficient to serve as the questions for this year's palace examination."
King Ping scoffed dismissively, "You think that's enough? Can you even read the question?"
"Oh! What a coincidence. All three questions this year were written by me." Lin Shiming said smugly, gesturing with his chin towards Prince Ping. "Just because you're incompetent and ignorant doesn't mean everyone is like you. I may be a military man, but I've read far more books and understand far more principles than you, a half-baked fool!"
How could this be! Prince Ping looked at Emperor Longyun in disbelief, but only received a look of affirmation from Emperor Longyun.
"That's right, all three questions this year were set by the Crown Princess."
The Taiji Hall instantly exploded as if a bowl of water had been poured into a pot of hot oil.
This is impossible! After the questions were released the day before yesterday, many veteran scholars exclaimed that one question was novel, another was practical, and both were profound enough. Each question was worthy of debate and in-depth study, making them excellent and suitable questions for the palace examination.
Moreover, not to mention Prince Ping, even many officials in the Hanlin Academy and the Imperial Academy dared not say that they could answer very well.
These two questions alone are more than enough for this imperial examination. They also demonstrate Lin Shiming's ability to set the questions.