RWNEFE -Chapter 680 Only to Behold the Emperor’s Face

After the imperial edict was placed, Shen Lanxi immediately dispatched three hundred Imperial Guards to stand watch day and night outside the Golden Luan Hall.

Even guards were stationed on the rooftops, ensuring that after court was dismissed, not a single living soul could enter the hall.

Six days later, news arrived from Jinmen that Liu Mingxin had died of illness.

After receiving the news, Shen Lanxi suspended court for half a day to express mourning.

Less than two months later, word came of the Grand Preceptor’s death. Court was again suspended for half a day in mourning.

As time passed, a new generation of ministers replaced the old, and no trace of officials from the previous reign remained in the court.

Shen Lanxi was now fifty years old, yet she still struck sixty cuts with her blade every day, without interruption, regardless of heat or cold.

Cough, cough, cough…

A series of suppressed coughs sounded from behind her.

After finishing her sixty strikes, Shen Lanxi put the Banyue Blade back in its place.

“Since you’re ill, rest for a few days. Don’t report for duty.”

The pale-faced eunuch hurriedly suppressed the tickle in his throat.

“Your Majesty, this servant is fine. I have a body of iron—after a few days I’ll recover.”

Shen Lanxi glanced at his temples and gave a quiet acknowledgment.

Seeing the Emperor leave, the eunuch quickly wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and hurried after her.

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Today was the palace examination, where the top three candidates would be selected as First Scholar, Second Scholar, and Third Scholar.

Shen Lanxi strode forward briskly and sat on the dragon throne.

Every day when the ministers saw the Emperor—whose physique resembled that of someone in the prime of life—they felt momentarily dazed.

Many of them were much younger than she was: some five or six years younger, some more than ten. Yet none of them were as robust as she was.

There was not a single white hair on her head. Without close inspection, one could hardly see any traces of age on her face. She looked no more than thirty.

And yet many of them were only just over forty, already stooped and aged, like men with one foot in the grave.

What was even more daunting was that they not only knew the Emperor’s age, but also knew she wielded a thousand-jin blade every day, striking it sixty times.

With such an Emperor, they feared that even after they had all retired, she would still be sitting firmly upon the throne.

“Scholars, enter the hall…” With this announcement, the court session began.

Three scholars answered questions before the court. After the written portion, the Emperor personally posed questions.

“Sun Hanzhang, I ask you—why did you take the imperial examination?”

The named scholar dropped to his knees with a thud.

“Replying to Your Majesty: I was born into a merchant family and do not lack silver at home. The country is now at peace and talent is abundant. I did not take the examination to benefit the people either.”

Shen Lanxi raised an eyebrow and smiled. “This is the first time I’ve seen someone speak so boldly in the Golden Luan Hall.”

Liu Yanui angrily shouted, “Impudent! How dare you behave so rashly before His Majesty? Imperial Guards, drag this man away! I will impeach him for offending the throne!”

Sun Hanzhang said loudly, “Your Majesty, I took the examination only to behold Your Majesty’s face. Your Majesty is a sage ruler sent by heaven, without equal in the past or future. I have long admired Your Majesty with all my heart. Now that I have seen Your Majesty, even if I were executed in the next moment, I would have no regrets!”

The court fell silent.

How long had it been since such a scene occurred?

Not very long—two or three years ago, a scholar had said something similar. The Emperor had named him Third Scholar and then sent him to a remote, bitterly cold region to serve as a county magistrate.

And now another one spoke of admiring the Emperor. Were there few people in the world who admired her?

She certainly did not lack this one.

Liu Yanui, overcome with anger, began coughing repeatedly.

“Nonsense! What does this scholar take the court for? Ten years ago, Your Majesty issued an order forbidding such grandstanding during the palace examination. Your Majesty, this man knowingly violated the rule and must not be spared.”

Shen Lanxi glanced at Liu Yanui and had a chair brought for him.

“Minister Liu, why so impatient? The desire to admire strength exists in everyone. I have worked diligently for decades. If not even a single admirer remained, would all that effort not have been meaningless?”

In recent years, the Emperor’s speech had become less restrained. Sometimes the court officials even suspected she was becoming like a mischievous old child—the older she grew, the more playful and unconventional she became.

Sun Hanzhang continued, “Your Majesty, this student is willing to enter the palace and remain at Your Majesty’s side. Compared with Your Majesty, fame and wealth are like drifting clouds. If Your Majesty agrees, I am willing to present all my family property to Your Majesty.”

It had to be said: this year’s scholars seeking to flatter the Emperor had found new methods.

In the current Aolai Kingdom, from the court down to the common people, no one lacked money. As the ruler of the nation, the Emperor certainly did not lack it either.

Would she care about this scholar’s wealth?

Many officials sneered quietly.

Liu Yanui was so furious that stars seemed to flash before his eyes. This scoundrel was practically insulting the Emperor.

Shen Lanxi laughed softly and asked with curiosity, “How much property does your family have?”

Sun Hanzhang replied proudly, “My family owns six wine houses, three workshops, a hundred mu of fertile land, and two farms. Our annual income is at least three hundred thousand taels.”

Shen Lanxi nodded. “That is indeed quite a lot.”

Liu Yanui looked at the Emperor, silently praying she would not agree.

Shen Lanxi said, “Stand aside for now. I will ask the other two scholars.”

Pointing to the one on the left, she asked, “Why did you take the imperial examination? You speak first.”

The scholar glanced at Sun Hanzhang, then also knelt.

“Your Majesty, like Sun Hanzhang, I also wished to behold Your Majesty’s face.”

The ministers drew sharp breaths.

Had the scholars of today all gone mad?

Shen Lanxi turned to the last one. “And you?”

He too knelt with a thud. “Your Majesty, first I hoped to have the fortune of beholding Your Majesty’s face; second, I wish to serve in court, to work for Your Majesty and for the people.”

Shen Lanxi said, “There’s no need to look at the essays. I appoint you First Scholar.”

The scholar’s face lit with joy. “I thank Your Majesty for this great grace.”

As for the other two—

“You two…” Her gaze swept across their faces.

Both of them were quite handsome.

“You shall both be Third Scholars.”

Sun Hanzhang looked disappointed. The other scholar, though also disappointed, still knelt and thanked the Emperor.

After sending the three of them to parade through the streets on horseback, Shen Lanxi immediately turned to the ministers with evident excitement.

“The three scholars are all quite handsome. Tell me, do you think anyone will seize a son-in-law beneath the results list today?”

The question left the ministers stunned.

Shen Lanxi’s eyes shone with mischief. “They dared to put me on the spot in court today. If I don’t return the favor, wouldn’t I seem too easy to deal with?”

So… what did that mean?

The ministers felt their scalps tingle as they looked at the Emperor.

“I intend to arrange for people to capture them and take them home as fine sons-in-law. Which of you is willing to take the lead?”

No one volunteered.

What if those three already had wives or betrothed? What would happen to the reputations of their own daughters?

Seeing the officials all bowing their heads, Shen Lanxi said, “Very well. Since none of you wish to participate, I won’t force you. I’ll send people myself.”