LEGEND OF THE GOLDEN TIGRESS 79 Court Exams

The Emperor who had composed himself after his coughing fit answered Shengli who was busy feeding Xing.

" Lord Táng promised Zhen that she'll write the exams and so I brought.."

"Abducted", Shengli said in an imposing aura much more suffocating than that of the Emperor who used the Imperial pronoun to regain his superiority and the Emperor cowed under Shengli's angry glare.

"And I thought she had already asked to withdraw from that promise on grounds that she is a female", Shengli added in the imposing tone, casually pouring tea and gave the cup to Xing.

"About that..", Rijun tried to answer but shut his mouth immediately sensing the killer aura from Shengli.

"No can do! Brother, I am the Emperor and what I say goes. She promised and she has to fulfil the promise", he folded his arms and pouted making Rijun wonder who is the actual Emperor here.

Xing who didn't care about anything after Shengli started to talk back to the Emperor, was happily eating desserts. Who needs to work hard when you are being pampered by your man? I can just enjoy my life lazily eating and sleeping!

Suddenly, a frightening voice that instilled fear even though it passed through the door was heard, " Huojin, Is he here?"

Of course the voice that roared in the battlefield making people follow it's owner and the enemies tremble made everyone panicked with Xing being the exception who looked at him with a smile.

Lord Zhong entered the room and saw the Emperor trying to jump out of the window and Rijun holding him back and growled, " Sit!" and everyone crawled around trying to sit.

Lord Zhong gave an earful to Huojin and The Emperor for being irresponsible, with Shengli fanning the flames giving out pointers with fervour. Both of them listened to his scolding facing the floor and Huojin had to kneel to apologise.

He then threw the question paper to Huojin and blamed for trying to steal the question papers and if they were caught it would have caused a bigger scandal. Even the Emperor was scolded for leaving the palace on the day he had to be there and even if he wanted Xing to take the test, he could have sneaked her in rather than the Emperor sneaking out.

The Emperor replied that after the last time Xing refused to enter the palace and he had no other way. This made Lord Zhong more angry for blaming Xing. How can that brat be blamed!

The Emperor was lectured for a long time, while Seiren entered with tea with a smile on his pretty face and only then Lord Zhong calmed down. Xing had always noted Lord Zhong softens before Seiren probably because he takes after Lady Zhong. He praised Seiren for informing him the whereabouts of the Emperor and thanks to that he could take preventive measures in the palace. At least one of his sons has brains!

Just as his scolding was over, AoTian entered the room too see everyone awkwardly sitting and looking extremely uncomfortable and realised they have already received scolding from Lord Zhong and sat beside Lord Zhong.

"Rijun, explain", AoTian asked Rijun. He was mad first but seeing the children in a sorry state made him calm down.

"Dad! I just wanted to know how she'll fare in the exams..", Rijun spoke in a wronged tone making AoTian's heart go mush. His son called him dad after more than ten years!

Rijun saw his father's expression softening, gave an evil smirk to Xing. Of course she cannot call him dad in front of the Emperor and it is his win this time!

" Then get to it! ", AoTian cleared his throat and avoided his gaze on Xing as he himself was curious to know how talented his daughter is too.

Seeing everyone uniting against her made Xing frown and she looked at Shengli who was interested too. He always wanted to watch how his girl could handle the various situations by herself and emerge victorious.

So Xing decided to write the exams too and the table was cleared and writing materials were brought. Shengli never left her side and took on the duty of grinding the ink for her.

So Xing who has no right to write the Imperial Court Exams because she is a girl, was writing the exams in an extravagant room filled with a pleasant aroma supervised by the Emperor, the Prime Minister, the Great General and the Emperor's two close aides with a Prince acting as her personal assistant and not to mention the warm tea and snacks by her side to keep her refreshed. Not even princes are given this privilege if they decide to write the exams.

Xing saw the question paper to see that they had asked one question to write an ancient poem about peach blossoms and wondered how is this relevant to the court and serving the people. But the real reason they set the questions like this was to make people from nobility to freely enter the court as such literature will be accessible to only the privileged and common people cannot afford to get such books or tutors who knows these literature. Sly people!

Xing had read that poem previously and also the other question was easy for her too and she finished and gave the paper and sighed in relief that it is over. But to her dismay that was only the first part of the exams and the second part of the exams was the question set by the Emperor.

So Xing was given another answer sheet and the Emperor asked the question. Xing rolled her eyes in exasperation to hear the long poem that he recited 'Sun rises, Moon shines... ' and it went on and on but in short the question was 'what is the course of actions to be taken to save our nation? '

He could have just asked the question, right? Why does he have to recite a poem pages long?

But what Xing didn't realise was that the poem can be interpreted in many ways and the important part of the answer is figuring out the intention of the Emperor itself, which Xing nailed perfectly.

Xing answered that question too and gave the answer sheet to Lord Zhong but the Emperor intercepted and got it himself and immediately started reading as if he was waiting for it his whole life making Xing snort.

What's his deal?

"A much powerful Imperial Army not depending only on private armies, opening trade routes with our neighbouring kingdoms and relaxing the constraints of crossing borders , taxing depending on the scale of the business unlike equal taxation, allowing more common people in the court and returning the power to the court officials with the Emperor having absolute authority", he summarised her points and his lips curved to a smile, "Interesting.... Can you elaborate?"

"The government cannot depend on a single family or a person to survive be it Zhong or Huang or even Ran family. There should be more people the Emperor could rely on and you should find them. And about trading we cannot close our borders entirely for safety, which is making smuggling a flourishing business. Instead an agreement should be made with the neighbours to set taxes for import and export of goods and proper safety at the borders so that all businesses prosper. We cannot improve if we live closed in. Building bridges help more than building walls because with trade flourishing and money flowing , people won't think of starting a war unless they are mercenaries as war only benefits them. And in the state our Kingdom is in, you cannot solely depend on nobles who know nothing about the woes of commoners alone but get the help of smart commoners who know more about people to have positions that benefit the people and through them the Emperor can have a better relationship with the people. Till now the officials answer to the nobles in their province who then speak with the Emperor. But you are different and directly addressed the people previously and so you could maybe change the rule that states only nobles can address you or request an audience with you. You cannot leave the palace but if you are willing, the officials will be your eyes and ears and as you know everyone wishes to gain your favour and that will bring out a healthy competition", Xing spoke with conviction making her eyes shine and she took a sip of tea and she hurriedly added,

"Ah! I forgot something... You should take women and have a bunch of little princes and princesses too. The stability of the government depends solely on it as you are the only one left with Lu blood in our Kingdom. Although too many princes may lead to the future fight for throne, having one too many as back-up won't hurt. As you said previously, accidents do happen in the Imperial family! And princesses can help in forming alliances with other nations too. So expanding the inner palace is important too",Xing stood up and tried to get her paper back, "Give it, I'll add it there"

"No need.. You cannot.... Once you submit, it cannot be returned.. ", the Emperor pulled her answer paper back and his entire face was red and others were laughing silently. Xing didn't know if he was embarrassed or angry. But knowing her luck with the Emperor, he must really be angry! Eh! Weren't you the one who asked the question? So why do you get angry if I answer it? Xing thought and returned back to her seat shrugging. It's not like she actually cares about the marks!

In fact the Emperor was embarrassed that she, his brother's woman, get to talk about his marriage as if talking about breeding a horse or cow in the market. Then again, which Emperor had the right and freedom to choose his own wife?

"I'm not the only one with Lu blood here", the Emperor spoke getting over his embarrassment.

"Our children will have no claim to the throne, whatsoever! ", Xing declared with conviction, looking at Shengli and Shengli nodded in agreement too and held her hands.

That scene looked too intimate as everyone saw Xing and Shengli looking at each other in their eyes filled with love and understanding, with a smile in their face as if they had feelings cultivated for a thousand years.

Xing turned to look at all of them looking at her with their eyes wide and it was her turn to blush and Shengli slightly cleared his throat and hid his smile beneath the cup he was holding as if he was drinking tea.

Lord Zhong and AoTian were amazed by her answers and were tongue-tied. Rijun who had always decided to not get surprised by her was the only one in a calm demeanour,

"By the way, most of these ideas were already proposed by the Tianshi Emperor but even he failed to implement it, especially reducing the power of Nobles. How do you think our Emperor could succeed?", Rijun asked.

"By raising the Emperor to the level of deity and getting the support of the commoners",Xing replied.

"Level of deity? Isn't Tianshi Emperor the most deitified one next to the founder of this Lu Dynasty? He still failed! ", Rijun questioned.

"He was deitified by his military achievements and the fear he instilled, yes. But he failed in acknowledging the commoners and opposed the nobles. Who did he have by his side? No one! He was a mighty tiger that stood on the top of a peak, alone and the foxes outnumbered him ! That was his failure. So that's why I suggested to have more officials from the common people who can meet the Emperor and act as a bridge between people and the Emperor. The commoners are the majority and the Emperor has the highest authority. Of course the Nobles will have reasons to beware of the consequences of their misdeeds of they are wary of the people below them and the Emperor above them", Xing answered with no doubts. She knew her success in the west comes from Mingling casually with the common folks there. AoTian knew what she suggested is from her experience too. Common people seem to be more attracted to a high level person would come to their level and shower them with love and support.

Everyone was admiring her intelligence but no one noticed one person who could not handle all the praises for her and was enraged to the extent their face was blackened.

Chapter end

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