Chapter 66 Disposal

Chapter 66: Settling Affairs

"Have Chi Mengsheng beheaded, and send his body along with his uncle's to Cide Palace," Wei Yan said casually. "Let's continue the palace examination."

Chi Mengsheng shook uncontrollably, crying and begging for mercy, but was still dragged away by Cui Chi.

The candidates were terrified by the sudden turn of events. Everyone knelt together, not daring to utter a word.

They had originally thought the emperor was an affable and gentle-natured person, but never expected him to suddenly act so ruthlessly. For a moment, many were frightened, fearing that with the slightest misstep, they would be next.

"Gentlemen, do not be afraid. Chi Mengsheng cheated in the imperial examination, bullied his classmates, and deliberately plotted to harm the empress and the unborn crown prince. He got off lightly," Wei Yan comforted them.

Even so, the candidates were still terrified. But since the emperor had spoken, they dared not remain kneeling. They all stood up trembling, and the atmosphere in the hall grew much more solemn.

Wei Yan indeed intended to make an example of Chi Mengsheng to warn the others, hoping to intimidate them and ensure they would understand right from wrong and know where to stand upon entering officialdom. Now that his goal was achieved, Wei Yan had no intention of letting the entire palace examination remain in such a gloomy atmosphere.

Lu Jiming understood Wei Yan's intention and took the initiative to ease the tension. "Your Majesty, we haven't finished selecting the Tanhua yet."

"Xuping, you are the Chief Examiner. You choose," Wei Yan said.

In this dynasty, the Tanhua's (the Third-Place Scholar) looks counted for more than scholarship. Whoever he chose would be seen as an acknowledgment of their appearance. Moreover, Huan Zixiao was among them. Wei Yan thought it best to stay as far away from this decision as possible.

Lu Jiming also calculated in his heart. In terms of appearance and learning, Huan Zixiao was worthy. Besides, he needed to show some deference to Grand Tutor Huan. So he said, "My choice is Zixiao. I just don't know if Yin San will be happy when the Tanhua rides through the long streets on horseback for all of the capital to see."

Wei Yan also laughed along. "I'm just afraid that at the Tanhua banquet, the Tanhua might bring back a sack of puffed rice for all the new jinshi, just to please someone."

Huan Zixiao chuckled lightly, cupping his hands in salute. "Your Majesty and Your Highness, please stop teasing me."

The candidates in the hall couldn't fully understand what the emperor and empress were talking about, but seeing Huan Zixiao respond like this, they all laughed along. The atmosphere in Huiwen Hall finally relaxed.

Eunuch Chen announced the decree. Tang Chengxiu, Wen Tongpu, and Huan Zixiao were the top three jinshi, with the remaining seventeen granted the second-tier jinshi degree. Their official postings would be announced after the Tanhua banquet.

After the palace examination, Wei Yan still had to deal with Chi Mengsheng's matter and left first. Lu Jiming kept Huan Zixiao and Wen Tongpu behind and took them to Chongyuan Palace.

Huan Zixiao was initially puzzled about why he was being kept, but then he saw Lu Jiming jerk his head toward the side hall. "Go over there. Yin San is waiting."

Huan Zixiao helplessly glanced toward the side hall. Yin Yuxie was peeking around the doorway, while Yan Huai stood to the side, smiling and giving a wave to Huan Zixiao.

"Your Highness, I shall take my leave then."

Yin Yuxie had entered the palace today without notifying Huan Zixiao in advance, but his early arrival gave Huan Zixiao a secret pleasure.

Lu Jiming nodded, and Huan Zixiao walked toward Yin Yuxie. Seeing that he was the only one left, Wen Tongpu grew even more nervous.

As Lu Jiming walked toward the study, he asked Wen Tongpu, "We were on familiar terms before, weren't we? Why have you suddenly become so reserved?"

"I didn't know Brother Hu was the Empress," Wen Tongpu said.

During this period, Lu Jiming's belly had grown rapidly, making him weary more easily than before. As soon as he entered the study, he immediately sat down at the table. A palace attendant brought a chair for Wen Tongpu.

"What, do you resent me for hiding it from you?" Lu Jiming motioned for him to sit.

Wen Tongpu nervously sat on the chair, shaking his head vigorously, afraid that Lu Jiming would misunderstand. "No, I'm just afraid. I don't know how to interact with Your Highness."

"I'm still me. Just act the same way you did before," Lu Jiming said, unconsciously stroking his belly as he spoke. After this period of recuperation, Mr. Zheng said A-Luan was fine, and Lu Jiming could finally set his mind at ease.

But the side effect was obvious. A-Luan was more active and lively than before. Sometimes, its movements were so disruptive that Lu Jiming couldn't even focus on reading documents.

Today was no exception. Having stood for so long in Huiwen Hall, A-Luan became particularly restless. At this stage, its strength wasn't very great, but its constant movements were a real nuisance. Lu Jiming could only place his hand on his belly, trying to calm it down.

Despite Lu Jiming's words, Wen Tongpu still felt unsure in his heart. He wasn't a smooth talker and often wasn't very adaptable. How to please Lu Jiming was something he truly didn't know.

"I'm always afraid I'll say the wrong thing and fail to make you happy," Wen Tongpu said nervously.

"You are not a court jester. You don't need to rely on words to please me," Lu Jiming said. "As long as you have talent and learning, and your heart is dedicated to the country, it doesn't matter how many wrong things you say."

Wen Tongpu didn't dare voice his agreement, but he nodded at Lu Jiming.

"I called you here to ask if you would be willing to become my disciple?" Lu Jiming asked.

Although he had returned to the court through Wei Yan's patronage, his influence was not stable. Many high-ranking and powerful old ministers didn't truly regard him as a colleague with whom they could discuss state affairs. Lu Jiming needed connections and disciples.

Although, as the Chief Examiner, all the new jinshi from this examination could technically be considered his disciples, there were distinctions in closeness. He couldn't ensure that everyone would genuinely recognize him from the bottom of their hearts. Moreover, given his current physical condition, he didn't have the energy to win over too many people.

The candidates he had earlier singled out would later be courted by Wei Yan's people. Only Wen Tongpu did Lu Jiming feel he could personally mentor and guide.

These words left Wen Tongpu stunned. He had just accepted the fact that Lu Jiming was the Empress, and now he was being presented with such a huge opportunity.

Becoming Lu Jiming's disciple, at first glance, was a rare opportunity. With the Empress's support, one would inevitably soar to great heights, with an unlimited future. But at the same time, there were too many uncertainties.

The Empress was, after all, a consort. Court ministers might not genuinely accept her, and the Empress's power, to put it bluntly, came from the emperor's favor. The emperor's regard for the Empress today didn't guarantee his lifelong devotion.

If the Empress's status were to become unstable in the future, her faction would face utter disaster.

Human hearts were inherently unpredictable, let alone the heart of a sovereign.

Wen Tongpu knew well that he wasn't good at scheming and maneuvering. Initially, he had thought that if he could pass the examination, he would definitely become a loyal minister, pure in his intentions. Otherwise, he might not even know how he would die in the future.

But now that Lu Jiming was asking him, he hesitated.

Wen Tongpu admired Lu Jiming's talent and had always held a favorable impression of "Brother Hu," considering him a friend he hoped to deepen his relationship with. If Lu Jiming weren't the Empress but an ordinary official, Wen Tongpu would naturally agree without hesitation.

But Lu Jiming was the Empress...

Seeing Wen Tongpu not answering, Lu Jiming roughly understood his thoughts. "No matter. You don't have to agree. Forget I said anything. It won't affect your future career."

"Your Highness, I am willing," Wen Tongpu blurted out. He still felt that he could learn things by staying by Lu Jiming's side. Moreover, back at the inn, Lu Jiming had discussed many things with him, and he felt he agreed with many of Lu Jiming's views.

If this was an invitation that wouldn't wait, Wen Tongpu felt he was willing to take the gamble.

Lu Jiming smiled. "Why still call me 'Your Highness'?"

Wen Tongpu's face turned red, and he stammered out, "Teacher."

Hearing this address, Lu Jiming's eyelids twitched again. "Just call me 'Sir.'" Better safe than sorry. Who knew if Wei Yan would get jealous over a title again.

Normally, the formal ceremony for accepting a disciple was quite elaborate, but Lu Jiming disliked such complicated things. He simply had a palace attendant summoned to bring tea for Wen Tongpu. Wen Tongpu knelt and offered him tea, formalizing his status as a disciple.

Meanwhile, Wei Yan went to Cide Palace. The bodies of Chi Mengsheng and his uncle, Sun Buyi, had already been delivered and discarded in the courtyard. The Empress Dowager hid inside the hall and would not come out.

Wei Yan dismissed the palace attendants and didn't enter the hall either. Standing in the courtyard, separated from the Empress Dowager by only a door, he said loudly, "I looked into Sun Buyi's background. His original surname was Tao. His maternal grandmother was from a collateral branch of the Wei family, so his mother was your grandniece."

The Empress Dowager didn't respond, but Wei Yan could see a figure by the window. The Empress Dowager stood there, glaring at him.

"His aunt and uncle had no children, so they adopted him into the Sun family. Now, his biological parents have long passed away, and few people know about these matters," Wei Yan continued. "His connection to you was indeed difficult to uncover. If his aim hadn't been you, even I wouldn't have noticed any flaws in him."

"So what?" the Empress Dowager finally spoke.

"Most of your people have been eliminated by me. You finally couldn't hold back anymore and wanted to use this Imperial Special Examination to plant new people in the court," Wei Yan said. "But thanks to your impatience, you activated many sleeper agents. Now, it's convenient for me to uproot them along the way. Father, you should have retired to enjoy your remaining years long ago."

"You're just as cunning and callous as your father."

Wei Yan sneered, "Since when was *Father* the cunning and callous one? If anything, didn't I inherit that from you?"

As the words left his mouth, Wei Yan felt a burning fire in his chest that he had to let out: "What is it you're *still* not satisfied with?"

The Empress Dowager remained silent.

"You hated Father for loving you, yet not loving you enough. But did you ever love him at all?"

Still, she gave no reply.

Wei Yan thought helplessly that after two lifetimes, sometimes he felt he could almost grasp what his damned father was thinking, while other times he still found this person utterly inscrutable.

"Take care of yourself," Wei Yan said with disappointment. "You will stay here forever and atone for your sins."

Just as Wei Yan was about to turn and leave, he heard the Empress Dowager shriek, "I have committed no sins! I was only taking back what Wei Zhao promised me! Wei Yan, do you think Lu Jiming will love you? He's just after your wealth and status! If you put him in my position, he wouldn't be any better than I am!"

Wei Yan paused and spoke indifferently, "So what if he is? If he desires wealth and status, let him desire it. Lucky for him, I've got more than enough."