Xie Zhaoan stared at Shen Xining.
"Sir Shen, the affairs of the world are not over yet. The relationship between you and me needs to be maintained. The Spring Examination will be held in three months. Isn't Sir Shen always thinking about the people of the world? How about the two of us take care of this matter?"
"Then, we two will go our separate ways."
Xie Zhaoan curled his lips and laughed extremely happily, with a sense of relaxation between his eyebrows and eyes.
"good."
Shen Xining frowned slightly. Although she felt that there was something strange about this matter, she couldn't tell exactly what was strange about it.
Xie Zhaoan sent Shen Xining back to the Shen family's gate. Along the way, he did not make any trouble, but the more Xie Zhaoan did this, the more uneasy Shen Xining felt, so much so that she did not even notice that her lips had become red and swollen.
Father Shen looked at Shen Xining's return and wanted to give her a few more words of advice. The Shen family was at the center of controversy recently and it was better for the Shen family members not to show up in public too often. But when Shen Xining came back, her lips were swollen and her face was abnormally flushed. Father Shen coughed and felt a little embarrassed. He changed the subject slightly.
"Aning, although you are now honored by the emperor and have been named a princess, you still need to pay attention to many etiquettes. Otherwise, be careful that others will say that the daughter of our Shen family has no manners."
Shen Xining was stunned, not knowing why his father suddenly said such a thing. His father did not point it out and left with an embarrassed look on his face. Chun Xing saw Shen Xining's lips under the light and exclaimed.
"Miss, your lips are..."
Shen Xining's fingers touched her lips, and her face suddenly turned red. Now she finally understood what Father Shen had just done...
Xie Zhaoan is like a madman now. His skills were clearly very unfamiliar in the previous few times, but now he has become much more proficient. He even bites like a wolf, with a strong sense of aggression, just like him.
"Miss, are you going to see the Fourth Prince?"
Shen Xining's face flushed. She waved her hands, not wanting to say anything more, and quickly went back to her room to hide.
Meanwhile, on the other side, after seeing Shen Xining off, Xie Zhaoan was in a very good mood. Although Yuewei was tongue-tied and his brain wasn't working, he was always very accurate in guessing what Xie Zhaoan was thinking.
"Mr. Yue, you have been working very hard on the investigation these days, but every time you see Lord Shen, you seem to be in a good mood. Are you still thinking about Lord Shen now? You haven't slept well in recent days. Do you need someone to be tied up for you?"
Xie Zhaoan frowned and glanced at Yuewei indifferently, with a warning in his eyes.
Of course he missed Shen Xining. As a reckless young man who had just started having sex, he wanted to have fun every day, but now was not the right time.
"Go and accept the punishment yourself."
"Mr. Yue, why this time?"
Xie Zhaoan kicked him down without saying a word.
The next day.
The emperor called Xie Zhaoan and the prince to the imperial study. He was drinking tea and looked much better. Although his eyes were cloudy, it was not difficult to see the shrewdness in them. He looked back and forth between Xie Zhaoan and the prince, then smiled and spoke.
"You two princes are the ones I admire the most. What do you two think of this spring examination?"
The prince saluted.
"The annual Spring Examination is the most admired event in the country. This year, I propose to strictly enforce the law and continue the same format as in previous years, except that the test questions should follow current events and include the flood in southern Beijing."
The emperor did not say anything. He just took a sip of tea and put it on the table. It was unclear whether he was not satisfied with the tea or the prince's answer.
The eunuch beside him was so scared that he quickly took the tea away and said in a low voice.
"Your Majesty, I am guilty of giving you last year's old tea to drink. I will accept the punishment myself."
"No need. It would make me look like a tyrant. I'll just replace him with a new one. Fourth Prince, what do you think of this year's spring imperial examination?"
Xie Zhaoan saluted.
"Reporting to the Emperor, I think that the spring examinations in recent years have given poor students too few opportunities. Why not reform the imperial examination system this year and change the examination questions and format? All people in the country, regardless of their academic qualifications or age, will take the exam together, and the winners and losers will be determined by the same paper."
The prince was the first to object.
"This is simply absurd. The possibility of favoritism and fraud in a single test paper is too great."
The person who sets the test paper is very important, and the person who invigilates the test is also very important. In order to get this opportunity, those powerful people will inevitably bribe the examiners or know the test paper in advance.
Xie Zhaoan didn't object.
"Third brother is right. So the person who makes the test paper is very important, and the person who invigilates the test is also very important. I think that third brother is very suitable for the role of invigilator."
The prince's face changed again and again. He didn't understand what his younger brother's purpose was. The emperor was very happy to see this scene and waved his hand.
"In that case, since the Fourth Prince has put forward such constructive suggestions, the affairs of this Spring Examination will be fully handed over to the two of you!"
After the Crown Prince and Xie Zhaoan walked out of the imperial study, the Crown Prince's expression relaxed instead.
"Fourth brother, what is your purpose in doing this? If you want to switch sides, isn't it too late?"
He has already taken Shen Xining as his own. Just based on this point, the two of them are already as hostile as water and fire. There is no possibility of them forming a party again in this life.
Xie Zhaoan still looked so weak.
"Third brother, are you kidding? How can you turn against us? Aren't we doing things for the people of this world? Besides, I can't succeed in this Spring Examination without your help."
The prince snorted coldly, turned around and walked away quickly without saying anything else.
Xie Zhaoan also turned and left. The emperor had asked the two of them to come here today for other purposes. As for the spring examination, it has always been a good opportunity to form cliques and pursue personal interests. This year, many royal relatives wanted to take this opportunity to enter the court. For example, the prince's companion and the prime minister's son were waiting for this good opportunity.
The emperor originally wanted to see how the two of them would fight to the death for this spring examination so that he could reap the benefits. It would be best if the Crown Prince and the Fourth Prince really fell out over this matter. That would be even better.
Xie Zhaoan dragged the prince into the water. On one hand, it could make the prince be more careful when trying to trip him up from behind. On the other hand, it was indeed very difficult to carry out the reform of the imperial examination. Xie Zhaoan still needed the prince's help. The so-called letting the prince supervise the examination was not empty talk.