Chapter 547: The Palace Examination
Facing this old minister, Li Chen was also courteous.
"Mr. Hu, you needn't be so polite. Have you had lunch yet?"
Hu Pi had arrived at the East Palace to wait long ago, but at this time, Li Chen pretended not to know and didn't directly invite Hu Pi to sit down. His meaning was obvious.
Although Hu Pi was old, he was not foolish. He quickly replied, “I have already used some before I came. To be honest, it's rather embarrassing. As an old minister, I am getting older and my stomach is weak. A while ago, I also had a bout of illness, so the doctor advised me to eat specially prepared meals every day.”
Li Chen nodded, quite pleased with the old man's discernment.
He wouldn't be thrilled to have an old geezer spouting nonsense interrupt his pleasant lunch with Gong Huiyu.
"Then this palace shall not invite Minister Hu to join in a midday meal."
Hu Pi hurried to bow and said, "Your Highness, please do as you wish. Your old servant will just wait here."
"I've had enough. You, with all your years, making me wait here while you eat? That's quite undignified."
Li Chen steered the conversation towards the main topic while eating.
“In a few days, it will be the final examination. This Palace knows what you officials in the Ministry of Personnel are worried about.”
But today, this palace will make things clear to you.
This imperial examination was the first since the Emperor fell ill, and it had been three long years since the last one. It was a crucial moment for the scholar-officials throughout the land who had waited eagerly for this opportunity. The court was also desperate to recruit new talent to replenish its ranks.
"So no matter what happens, and regardless of who objects, this imperial examination must be held."
"This palace knows that some officials at court are speaking ill of me behind my back, saying that candidates for the imperial examinations have always had exam papers set by the emperor himself. Therefore, once they pass the imperial examination, they can call themselves students of the Son of Heaven. These "students of the Son of Heaven" do not even have to kneel before their superiors, and they are exempt from corporal punishment. Although my father is ill and unable to preside over this, even as the crown prince, I cannot replace him in accepting these "students of the Son of Heaven," for otherwise, it would disrupt the ancestral system and the order of the court."

As Li Chen spoke, he was eating at the same time, his words were casual and his voice somewhat muffled. But to Hu Pi's ears, they were no less than thunder.
He hurriedly bowed and said, "Your Highness, please calm your anger."
"Rage?"
Li Chen said with a smile that wasn't quite a smile: "This palace never got angry in the first place, so there's nothing to calm down."
"Haven't I endured countless criticisms throughout my journey? This is already considered flattering. Those who spoke harshly would have directly accused me of treason and usurping the throne, eager to claim that dragon chair for themselves."
This topic, no one dares to take on.
Even if Zhao Xuanji himself were here, no one would dare speak a word.
"As I said before, no matter who or what anyone says, the palace exam must be held."
Li Chen said calmly, "This palace has also seen the few test papers sent by the Ministry of Civil Affairs before. They are too conservative, and this palace does not like them."
"Today's world is unprecedentedly chaotic, with a country in turmoil and the state unsteady. Both internal and external threats coexist, and there are always those who want to destroy my great Qin. Their hearts remain unyielding."
"Therefore, at this time, the imperial court needed people who dared to think, dared to act, and dared to be the first in the world, rather than those scholars who recited the Eight-legged Essay with their heads shaking and mouths full of empty rhetoric, but had no real ability."
"Therefore, the palace examination questions this time, you officials needn't worry about them. This palace will personally write the exam questions on the day of the palace examination. The best will rise to the top, and I will personally discern the outcome."
Since things had come to this, Hu Pi, who truly didn't want to see his imperial examination hopes dashed, immediately stood up and expressed his gratitude.

(Editor in charge：fifty shades novels)