Below the Sky Canopy, in the imperial palace, seeing the "Yin Yi" in the drama once again trying to undermine "Emperor Jingwu," Yin Ning, who was gently stroking the little orange cat, couldn't help but laugh.
She felt that Yin Yi's challenge had actually done Emperor Jingwu a great favor.
Ever since she first completed the palace intrigue task assigned by the 007 system and earned points, she had exchanged them for memory enhancements and applied them to herself.
So, as early as age eight, she had already achieved photographic memory.
She had never deliberately publicized this ability over the years, purely to keep a low profile and avoid unnecessary trouble.
For her now, remembering the content of those examinees' papers was as easy as breathing.
And just as Yin Ning expected, in the video on the Sky Canopy, Emperor Jingwu didn't even glance at Yin Yi's provocation.
She simply asked Yuan Yixi, whom Yin Yi had pointed out: "In this spring examination, there is another candidate whose surname and given name sound exactly like yours. Are you from the 'Yuan' of 'Yuan An's Lofty Repose' or the 'Yuan' of 'Original'?"
Because of Yin Yi's words, Yuan Yixi had initially looked at Emperor Jingwu with some hesitation.
But after hearing this explanation, he suddenly understood, as he happened to know that the other candidate was named Yuan Yixi as well, identical in pronunciation. So he quickly told Emperor Jingwu that he was the 'Yuan' of 'Yuan An's Lofty Repose.'
After confirming Yuan Yixi's identity, Emperor Jingwu calmly recited his policy essay from memory.
When Emperor Jingwu finished the last word, Yuan Yixi couldn't help but exclaim: "Your Majesty, you are truly incredible! Not a single word missed, not a single mistake!"
Seeing that Yuan Yixi genuinely admired her, Emperor Jingwu's lips curled slightly. She looked at him and said: "Your essay already has a certain backbone, but unfortunately the argumentation is a bit shallow. In the future, if you can diligently sympathize with the people's hardships and understand the difficulties of life, your writing will become steady and solid, and the prose will flow smoothly."
Hearing Emperor Jingwu's guidance, Yuan Yixi excitedly acknowledged. The other scholars who had failed, seeing that Yuan Yixi had even received Emperor Jingwu's comments, now looked at him with intense envy, clearly thinking he was damn lucky.
At this point, no one doubted Emperor Jingwu anymore; everyone was completely convinced by her performance.
Then, Emperor Jingwu further announced to the scholars that from this spring examination onward, when scholars from various regions came to the capital for the exam, the local authorities would provide them with 50 taels of silver as special funding.
Moreover, on their journey to the capital, they could stay free of charge at official postal stations along the way.
These two measures naturally received strong support from the scholars on the spot.
A coin can stump a hero. Some scholars, recalling their own hardships in traveling to the capital over the years, were so moved that they couldn't help but shed tears.
However, just as everyone thought the matter would end on this happy note, Emperor Jingwu suddenly ordered the arrest of Yin Yi and Cui Jianming, who had been leading the trouble.
This unexpected turn left the scholars shocked and in an uproar.
Emperor Jingwu then explained that the recent rumors about the spring examination in the capital had been orchestrated by Yin Yi and Cui Jianming.
In the video, Yin Yi and Cui Jianming were instantly terrified by Emperor Jingwu's swift action.
But just as they were about to cry out to the scholars for justice, the prepared guards gagged them with cloth.
Clearly, Emperor Jingwu's methods had become much tougher now.
After having them taken away for interrogation, she turned to the scholars outside the palace gate and told them to think carefully before acting in the future, not to be easily swayed and used by others, becoming someone else's pawn.
Emperor Jingwu said that this time, considering that most scholars had been deceived by villains, she would forgive them. But if something like this happened again, she would punish them severely without mercy.
This ruthless warning from Emperor Jingwu naturally struck a chord with the scholars.
At the end of the video, after Emperor Jingwu turned and returned to the palace with her entourage, the scholars soon dispersed.
However, as they left, each wore a thoughtful expression, looking somewhat solemn.
As the video ended, Liu Sanqi's figure reappeared in the center of the live stream.
Unlike the gloomy-faced scholars in the video, Liu Sanqi's face was now full of radiant smiles:
"My dears, isn't our photographic-memory Great Emperor Jingwu super awesome?!"
"That old fool Qi Wenyuan wanted to prop up that useless piece Yin Yi as a puppet emperor. I think he's just gone senile!"
"After our Great Emperor Jingwu turned the tables, she smoothly pulled the firewood from under the cauldron, turning a crisis into an opportunity, and directly dealt with Yin Yi."
"Historically, when Qi Wenyuan and his faction received the news, although they were hopping mad, they couldn't save Yin Yi and had to watch him become a dead move."
"I ask you, with such courage, insight, wisdom, and bravery, if Emperor Jingwu isn't fit to be emperor, who is?"
"I feel that even if all the praise in the world were heaped on Emperor Jingwu, it wouldn't be an exaggeration!"
Below the Sky Canopy, listening to Liu Sanqi blowing her trumpet, Yin Ning felt a bit embarrassed.
Yin Ning knew her own personality; she was far from perfect. In fact, she was quite domineering and could be irritable when things got urgent.
Liu Sanqi's fangirl filter was just too thick.
...
"So, who says women can't outperform men? If it weren't for Emperor Jingwu's exceptional skills, how could the Great Jing have reached an unprecedented peak during her reign, becoming the Celestial Empire known throughout the world!"
Because Liu Sanqi had been praising her from all angles, Yin Ning stopped paying such close attention to the Sky Canopy and instead gently scratched the little orange cat's chin, making it melt like honey, comfortably sprawled in her arms.
So, when Yin Ning looked up because of Liu Sanqi's words, she found herself suddenly the center of attention at the palace banquet.
Whether it was her father, Emperor Jingming, seated high on the dragon throne, or the other civil and military officials, all stared at her in shock.
Clearly, everyone was surprised that Emperor Jingwu was Yin Ning.
Yin Ning had long anticipated the exposure of her identity and knew this day would come.
So, facing everyone's dropped jaws, she was neither nervous nor flustered. Instead, she smiled gracefully and said: "Heaven gives it, but if you don't take it, you'll suffer for it. Everyone, since even the Sky Canopy says so, if I refuse, it would be like going against the will of heaven, wouldn't it? Going against heavenly fate would bring lightning strikes!"
Emperor Jingming and the officials: "..."