RWNEFE -Chapter 339 Mei Nanhua Makes Things Difficult!

All the officials from the Ministry of Rites and everyone responsible for the spring imperial examination were present, including the Vice Chief Examiner, the Grand Preceptor Mei Nanhua.

“Grand Preceptor, I’ve long admired your name!” Shen Lanxi greeted everyone one by one, and finally called Mei Nanhua by name in greeting.

What the officials feared most was the two of them confronting each other. Women were thought to be narrow-minded and prone to holding grudges. The Grand Preceptor had impeached Shen Lanxi several times in court before—given a woman’s supposed vindictiveness, what if she made things difficult for him now?

Mei Nanhua snorted coldly and turned his head away.

Shen Lanxi chuckled lightly, not offended, and sat down in the seat of honor without hesitation.

“His Majesty has assigned me to oversee this imperial examination and has appointed me Chief Examiner. From now on, we are colleagues. If you have anything to say, speak freely—no need to be restrained.”

The officials felt awkward.

They had never imagined that one day a woman would speak to them like this.

Shen Lanxi continued, “You all know that I’m a soldier by background and not versed in literary matters. The affairs of the examination will require the assistance of all you gentlemen.”

The officials’ mouths twitched. They smiled and cupped their hands in agreement but said nothing.

They truly didn’t know what to say. If the person presiding had been a man—even an incompetent one—they could still flatter him through gritted teeth.

But Shen Lanxi was a woman. How could they, proud scholars, bow and scrape before a woman? It would disgrace their dignity and the decorum of the learned class.

The officials responded perfunctorily, thinking they had shown enough courtesy and could soon muddle through the meeting, when Shen Lanxi suddenly spoke:

“For this examination’s test questions, I will have to trouble Grand Preceptor Mei.”

Mei Nanhua’s expression turned extremely ugly. He was a towering figure in the literary world of Great Zhou, and matters as vital as the imperial examination naturally fell within his responsibility. But hearing it from Shen Lanxi made it sound as if she were ordering him about, which made him deeply uncomfortable.

Even the Emperor showed him a measure of respect. Yet Shen Lanxi, merely a woman, dared to speak to him in a commanding tone.

This upstart who overturned all proper order—if he, Mei Nanhua, didn’t teach her a lesson today, who knew how arrogant she would become in the future?

“I have presided over no fewer than ten imperial examinations and participated in setting questions dozens of times, without ever making a mistake. On this point, Lord Shen may rest assured.”

Shen Lanxi acted as though she hadn’t noticed the sharpness in his tone and replied calmly, “His Majesty and I naturally trust Lord Mei. Otherwise, he would not have been appointed Vice Examiner.”

At the mention of “Vice Examiner,” humiliation flashed across Mei Nanhua’s face.

He, a Grand Preceptor of the dynasty, with thousands of students under his tutelage, was now serving as deputy to a crude, vicious woman—an unbearable disgrace!

“Lord Shen, since you are the Chief Examiner this time, what insights do you have regarding the examination questions?”

The officials of the Ministry of Rites all watched as if enjoying a show. The Grand Preceptor’s words clearly mocked Shen Lanxi as unfit for her position.

Shen Lanxi raised an eyebrow. “I wouldn’t dare speak of insights. The examination is approaching. If Lord Mei still has no ideas, I can only recommend another capable person. Let the able take the position.”

Her final sentence struck back sharply at Mei Nanhua.

This was outrageous—Shen Lanxi dared to humiliate him like this?

Who, exactly, was unfit to sit in the examiner’s seat?

Shen Lanxi was truly adept at turning black into white.

“Lord Shen, do you think I am incapable?” Mei Nanhua stopped beating around the bush and glared at her angrily.

The other officials would not allow the two to truly clash. His Majesty’s intentions were obvious enough—Shen Lanxi was merely a figurehead; the real chief examiner was still the Grand Preceptor. Why take this so seriously?

“Lord Mei, please don’t misunderstand. I merely returned your words in kind,” Shen Lanxi said.

“The appointments of Chief and Vice Examiner were personally decreed by His Majesty. If anyone doubts that either of us holds our position by merit, then they are questioning His Majesty’s judgment in selecting officials.”

Mei Nanhua’s face darkened and stiffened. He had not expected Shen Lanxi to invoke the Emperor as her shield.

“Lord Mei, do you think I lack the ability to serve as Chief Examiner?” Shen Lanxi asked with a faint smile, her gaze sharp.

Mei Nanhua’s face turned ashen. He pressed his lips tightly together, so angry he could not utter a single word.

If he dared say she was unfit, he would be accused of questioning the Emperor and defying an imperial decree.

Shen Lanxi was truly ruthless.

“We all serve in the same court and have been jointly assigned to handle the examination. His Majesty’s judgment in employing people is, of course, excellent. My lords, why don’t we quickly decide on the venue for this examination? The date is drawing nearer, and His Majesty urges us daily. We truly cannot delay any longer, or we will all be punished together,” an official from the Ministry of Rites stepped forward to mediate.

Mei Nanhua turned his head away, his face still dark.

“Lord Shen, recently the Grand Preceptor has been so preoccupied with the examination questions that he barely eats or sleeps. Inevitably his temper has been short. Please be magnanimous.”

“Yes, please be magnanimous, Lord Shen…”

“We are jointly responsible for the examination; we share both honor and disgrace…”

The officials all tried to persuade her. After a moment’s hesitation, Shen Lanxi reluctantly nodded and let the matter pass.

“You were just discussing the venue? Hold it wherever the examinations were traditionally held. I imagine His Majesty would not wish to trouble the people or waste resources,” Shen Lanxi said.

The Ministry of Rites officials quickly agreed.

Afterward, Shen Lanxi answered a few trivial questions. As soon as it was time to leave for the day, she rose and departed without another word.

Mei Nanhua had been prepared—if Shen Lanxi tried to interfere in the examination questions, he would fight her to the end even at the cost of his life. Yet she had not even mentioned the matter.

Perhaps, as it was her first appointment, she was saving face. Later she would certainly raise the issue of the questions and placing her own people—but as long as he, Mei Nanhua, lived, he would never let her succeed.

…

Shen Lanxi and Shen Congwen returned to the Shen residence one after the other after leaving their posts.

A heavy gloom seemed to hang over the Shen household; even the servants scarcely dared breathe loudly.

“That wretched girl—if she isn’t disciplined, she’ll become completely lawless!” After hearing the whole story from Old Madam Shen, Shen Congwen’s face turned livid. He immediately ordered someone to bring Shen Yuantang from the inner quarters.

On the way back, he had run into Sun Feng, who had gone to the Court of Judicial Review to look for her. From Sun Feng he learned that Shen Yuantang had gone straight to the Marquis of Jining’s residence to demand an explanation for breaking off the engagement. Relying on her martial training, she had injured several servants and even a young lady of the household, and had angered the marchioness so badly that she fainted.

Sun Feng had barely needed to investigate; he easily found Shen Yuantang. When he arrived, she was confronting the people of the marquis’s residence with a stick in hand. It wasn’t that the guards couldn’t defeat her—she was loudly shouting that the Emperor was her uncle.

Shen Lanxi watched Shen Congwen’s fury expressionlessly, her heart heavy. She could not understand how her own younger sister, born of the same mother, had become like this.

“Let me go! Grandmother, save me…” Shen Yuantang struggled free from the maids restraining her and ran to Old Madam Shen, pleading for help.