A Precious Pearl in the Imperial City

Jiuzhu quickly noticed that Consort Lü was deliberately trying to ingratiate herself, but her approach was so tactful that it didn’t come across as unpleasant. It reminded Jiuzhu of Princess An—warm yet measured, leaving one both delighted and at ease.

What she hadn’t expected was running into Consort Xu, Prince Huai’s birth mother, just as they were nearing Bright Moon Palace.

Consort Xu looked pale and frail, supported by two palace maids as she walked.

"Your Highness, why aren’t you using a palanquin?" Consort Lü, ever outspoken, asked bluntly. "Walking like this will only exhaust you further."

"Coming to pay respects to Her Majesty, how could I show up in a palanquin? Wouldn’t that seem insincere?" Consort Xu covered her mouth with a handkerchief, coughing lightly before offering Jiuzhu a slight curtsy.

Jiuzhu returned the gesture. "Consort Xu, Her Majesty is generous and understanding. Even if you arrived by palanquin, she wouldn’t fault you. But if you collapse from exhaustion on the way, not only would His Majesty and Her Majesty worry, but outsiders might even suspect Her Majesty of mistreating the imperial consorts."

Consort Xu’s coughing abruptly stopped. The air grew slightly awkward. "The Princess is right. This concubine failed to consider that."

Consort Lü and Consort Wei remained silent, recalling the dreadful memory of when Jiuzhu had taught them to offer incense to the heavens while copying scriptures.

Princess Chen was a sharp blade at Empress Su Meidai’s side—precise and painful when she struck.

They had feared her even before she married Prince Chen.

It was just their misfortune that when they were copying scriptures, the Empress, pitying Jiuzhu’s delicate health, hadn’t summoned her to join. Thus, they hadn’t fully grasped the Princess’s way with words.

Glancing at Consort Xu’s stiff smile, Consort Lü quietly averted her gaze. Life in the palace was long—Consort Xu would come to understand in time.

"Elder Sister Chunfen, please go to Her Majesty’s palace and ask Aunt Xiangjuan to arrange a palanquin for Consort Xu to take to Bright Moon Palace." Jiuzhu’s heart ached for such a delicate beauty.

"N-no need—"

"It’s necessary." Jiuzhu steadied Consort Xu. "Your Highness is too frail to overexert yourself. And don’t worry about Her Majesty scolding you—she’s the gentlest soul and would never hold such a thing against you."

Consort Xu: "..."

Of ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‍course she knew Su Meidai wouldn’t mind. But after trudging all the way from Zhaoxiang Palace, only to be carried the rest of the way by a palanquin from Bright Moon Palace, wouldn’t her efforts be wasted?

"Your Highness needn’t be so moved. Her Majesty is truly kind." Jiuzhu smiled, mistaking Consort Xu’s speechlessness for gratitude. "Don’t worry—when you return, Her Majesty will arrange a palanquin for you then as well."

"Indeed, Consort Xu." Seeing an opportunity to curry favor with Princess Chen, Consort Lü chimed in eagerly. "Her Majesty has always been compassionate and gentle. If you insisted on walking, she’d be heartbroken."

Consort Xu watched as the eunuchs hurried over with the palanquin, realizing refusal was futile. Forcing a smile despite her lingering illness, she said, "Many thanks to Her Majesty and Princess Chen for your consideration."

Jiuzhu admired Consort Xu’s smile, thinking to herself how lovely a sickly beauty looked when she smiled.

Lending a hand to such a beauty—today was another day of doing good deeds and feeling joyful.

"Hahaha!" Empress Su, seated on her phoenix throne, clutched her stomach in laughter. "Tell me, when a resilient beauty like Consort Xu meets Jiuzhu, won’t she be so infuriated her ailments vanish?"

"Your Majesty," Xiangjuan adjusted the Empress’s makeup, "the Princess made it clear it was Your Majesty’s kindness that sent the palanquin."

"Right, right—it was this Empress’s compassion." Su Meidai nearly laughed herself to tears. "When Consort Xu arrives, I must get a good look at her face—see if it’s rosier than usual."

As it turned out, Consort Xu’s complexion was indeed much rosier—though from anger, not health.

Delayed by the palanquin from Bright Moon Palace, they arrived after the other consorts. The envious glances shot her way as she stepped out of the palanquin alone were more sour than lemons on a tree.

What could Consort Xu say? Admit in front of everyone that Princess Chen had forced her into it?

Who would’ve thought young Ming Jiuzhu had already mastered the art of killing with kindness!

Noticing Consort Xu’s covert glance, Jiuzhu smiled and nodded.

She knew the other woman must be thanking her, but such small favors weren’t worth mentioning.

Meanwhile, in the main hall of Taiyang Palace, officials from the Six Ministries were locked in heated debate over the amnesty decree.

Some argued for tax relief, others for pardoning prisoners. But beneath the surface, what they truly wanted was an additional imperial examination.

Every family had sons or nephews studying for the exams—one more round meant one more chance at success.

Yet precisely because of this, none dared voice it outright.

Those quarreling knew it; those silent knew it. All hoped someone else would broach the subject.

"Your Majesty, this humble official believes all the ministers make valid points." Ming Jingzhou stepped forward. "But I propose another form of imperial grace."

Here it comes.

The arguing officials fell silent, their gazes urging Ming Jingzhou on. Say it—say it now.

"Oh?" Emperor Longfeng looked up. "What suggestion does Minister Ming have?"

The hall was so quiet one could hear a pin drop.

"This official dares to request Your Majesty open an additional imperial examination to gather talents from across the land." Ming Jingzhou bowed deeply. "More capable officials would only benefit Great Cheng."

Emperor Longfeng frowned, seemingly displeased. He turned to the others. "What say you, ministers?"

He addressed those who had been arguing moments ago.

"Your Majesty, this official believes... Minister Ming’s proposal has merit."

"This official concurs."

"Yet earlier you advocated tax relief or prisoner pardons?" The Emperor shook his head. "Though Minister Ming means well, it’s already the second month. Requiring scholars to rush to the capital for an exam would be too taxing. This Emperor deems it unsuitable."

The officials: "..."

Unsuitable how?

If the court truly opened another exam, scholars would crawl to the capital if they had to.

Decades of grueling study—wasn’t it all to serve the imperial family?

What was exhaustion compared to that? What scholar would complain about an extra opportunity?

"Your Majesty, this official thinks—"

"Enough." Emperor Longfeng cut Ming Jingzhou off. "Minister Ming may propose another idea."

The Six Ministries officials’ hearts sank. The additional exam seemed hopeless now.

"Your Majesty, Prince Chen requests an audience."

The Emperor glanced at the ministers. "Admit him."

"Your son pays respects to Father Emperor." Prince Chen strode into the hall in his royal robes, eyeing the assembled officials. "Ministers are here as well?"

The officials thought of those memorials bearing handwriting suspiciously like the Prince’s, their expressions complicated.

"Your subordinates greet Your Highness."

"No need for formalities." Noticing the tense atmosphere, Prince Chen asked, "What matters are Father Emperor and the ministers discussing?"

"You've come at the right time. We were just discussing the matter of imperial pardons with the ministers. As the bloodline of both the Empress and myself, what do you think should be granted as an act of mercy?" Emperor Longfeng took a sip of tea, his gaze briefly sweeping over the expressions of the officials before settling on his son with a faint smile.

"If it's an act of mercy, it should undoubtedly benefit our Great Cheng the most." Prince Chen pondered for a moment before suggesting, "What if we hold an additional imperial examination, Father?"

The ministers inwardly sighed in relief, silently cheering for Prince Chen.

Your Highness, summon your usual stubbornness and stand firm on this proposal. The hopes of scholars across the realm rest upon you.

"An additional imperial examination?" Emperor Longfeng frowned slightly. "Why this approach? I recall you weren’t particularly fond of studying in your youth."

"Father, precisely because I know how arduous studying can be, I understand the hardships the officials who passed the imperial examinations endured." Prince Chen bowed respectfully. "In past years, when the examination results were announced, I witnessed scholars—men of unyielding spirit—either weep in despair or cry for joy. Their emotions were deeply complex."

The civil officials exchanged glances: So Prince Chen considers scholars unyielding in spirit?

Though His Highness can be arrogant and domineering at times, his judgment isn’t entirely off the mark.

"By holding an additional examination, we grant them another opportunity to showcase their talents," Prince Chen continued. "After all, I could never endure the same relentless dedication to study as they have."

The civil officials suddenly found Prince Chen’s honesty rather endearing.

"I assumed your dislike for studying stemmed from disdain for scholars, not because you found it difficult." Emperor Longfeng’s voice turned stern. "Look at these officials around you—each endured years of hardship, mastering the classics. How dare you stand before them and declare studying to be grueling and exhausting?!"

"Your Majesty, please calm your anger!" A minister stepped forward. "His Highness is young and impulsive, but his heart is upright, and he speaks his mind. Even if he has minor flaws, they do not overshadow his virtues."

This very minister had once impeached Prince Chen for spending a fortune on cricket fights and rooster battles just half a year ago. Now, he was praising him as "flawless despite minor imperfections."

"Your Majesty, though His Highness may not love studying, his words and conduct surpass those of many others. Please do not judge him too harshly."

"Your Majesty, Prince Chen donated thousands of taels of silver to Hongwen Academy. Such sincerity moves us deeply."

"Enough." Under the collective persuasion of the ministers, Emperor Longfeng suppressed his anger. "For the sake of these officials, I shall let this pass today."

"Father, does this mean you agree to hold an additional examination?"

"What does the examination have to do with me sparing you?" Emperor Longfeng laughed in exasperation. "You, who never took your studies seriously, have the audacity to propose an imperial examination?"

"Fine, I’ll agree." The Emperor, unable to outright refuse his son, set an impossible condition. "If you can memorize the entire Agricultural Chronicles within five days, I will grant your request."

The book was as thick as a brick, filled with agricultural knowledge.

The civil officials despaired—the Emperor clearly had no intention of approving this, hence the unreasonable demand.

"Very well." Prince Chen bowed. "With these ministers as witnesses, I shall recite the entire Agricultural Chronicles in five days."

The officials discreetly patted their sleeves, wondering if they could devise any memorization tricks to help Prince Chen.

"Enough, all of you may leave." Emperor Longfeng waved dismissively. "In five days, I shall summon these ministers to witness your recitation."

As the officials from the Six Ministries and Prince Chen exited Taiyang Palace, the ministers no longer regarded him as just a prince—he was now the hope of every young scholar in Great Cheng.

"Aunt Xiangjuan." Jiuzhu spotted Prince Chen surrounded by officials whose gazes burned with fervor. Worried, she asked, "What do these ministers intend to do with His Highness?"

Lifting her skirts, she hurried toward him.

As she drew closer, she overheard one minister say, "Your Highness, this old servant has a family recipe for enhancing memory and sharpening the mind. Would you care to try it?"