USWHC -Chapter 519 The Talent of a Top Scholar (Part 9)

“Eighth Sister, today is the day of the palace exam. Do you want to go watch?”

Indeed, it was the day of the palace exam. Zhu Jie’s heart was already restless, and hearing Lanyi say this made her even more tempted. She didn’t know how Ji Yi was performing in the hall, or whether anyone was giving him a hard time.

“That’s not appropriate! It’s not proper for a woman to appear openly, especially in front of people from Qi. If Father finds out, he will surely be angry!” Even though she was anxious, Zhu Jie still put on a calm and obedient demeanor.

Lanyi, however, was far more enthusiastic. She leaned closer excitedly and said, “What’s there to fear? We’re not going outside. We can just eavesdrop from the back hall of the Taihe Palace. Sister, you might not know, but there’s a small side room behind Taihe Palace. Usually, only eunuchs and palace maids wait there. We can just peek from there—we won’t be discovered!”

“Really, we won’t be discovered?” Zhu Jie asked, feeling her heart stir.

“Don’t worry, sister. Honestly, I’m just curious. You can come along and keep me company, okay?” Lanyi coquettishly said, moving even closer. “Come on, dear sister!”

Seeing her like this, Zhu Jie hesitated slightly, worried that Lanyi might have some mischievous idea.

But on the other hand, her concern for Ji Yi was genuine. Her heart felt as if dozens of little kittens were clawing at it—whether she watched or not, she would be uneasy.

“Then… just take a quick look?” Zhu Jie whispered. Regardless of Lanyi’s motives, there was no harm in watching briefly and leaving.

“Just one look!” Princess Lanyi immediately exclaimed in delight, grabbing Zhu Jie’s arm and cheerfully heading toward Taihe Palace.

Behind Taihe Palace, there really was a small side room. As Lanyi had said, it was tiny—only about three or four meters across. Inside were a tea stove and a bookshelf, barely enough space for a few people. Once Lanyi and Zhu Jie stepped in, there was no room for anyone else.

By the time they entered, the palace exam in the front hall had already begun. From afar, they could hear the Emperor’s deep voice asking, “Why does calamity not exist?”

“Calamity… not exist?” Lanyi quietly repeated, instinctively craning her small head to peek outside.

The hall was silent. Because the second prince of Qi was present, it was like a formal court session—every official was there. When the Emperor asked this question, those who understood immediately began pondering.

At that moment, a voice from below the hall called out loudly: “This passage is from Han Feizi: First Encounter with Qin. ‘Cut the root of the tree; do not neighbor with misfortune; thus calamity will not exist!’”

“Why him?” Lanyi followed the voice and, at just one glance, was stunned, staring intently at the speaker.

Hearing this, Zhu Jie quickly craned her neck as well. Upon seeing him, she couldn’t help but purse her lips in a sweet smile—it was Ji Yi.

At that moment, Ji Yi spoke clearly and confidently, standing tall and dignified, exuding scholarly elegance without a hint of fear. He really looked like a noble young man. His voice rang out as he expounded: “This passage advises that to remove calamity, one must eliminate its root and not dwell near misfortune, so that misfortune will cease.”

“Yes! Do not dwell near misfortune!” the Emperor said with a faint smile, his gaze lightly sweeping over Yelü Haonan’s face.

Then the Emperor addressed Ji Yi: “What is your insight on this passage, minister?”

“This passage originally comes from the time of King Zhao of Qin. During the great war between Qin and Chu, Han Feizi advised King Zhao that if he pursued relentlessly, Chu could be annihilated in one stroke. Once Chu was destroyed, it would belong to Qin entirely. But if Chu were left alone and peace was made, allowing Chu to recover and rally the scattered populace, Chu could once again lead the states against Qin, and Qin would lose the chance to dominate!” Ji Yi replied steadily.

The Emperor smiled faintly and continued, “Then, do you think Qin should have fought or made peace?”

“Fight! Fight to the end!” This time, Ji Yi spoke with extraordinary determination. “A small state like Chu cannot contend with a mighty empire!”

The latter part was subtly provocative, but the Emperor clearly enjoyed hearing it. He turned to the other two examinees: “What do you think?”

“Fight! Fight to the end!” Everyone responded in unison, their voices resounding like thunder.

At that moment, Yelü Haonan laughed: “Yet I recall there is still one more line in this passage. I wonder if you have heard it.”

“I would be glad to hear it!” Ji Yi replied, unflinching.