I am Li Shen and Li Shimin, the free kings of the Tang Dynasty

Li Shen knew these things; the so-called county and state examinations were actually the provincial examinations that would follow.

Moreover, local examinations are held every year in the autumn, also called autumn examinations or autumn examinations, while provincial examinations in the Great Wall region are held in the spring, called spring examinations or spring examinations.

Li Shen knew about these things not because he cared so much, but because he had invested in building several thousand colleges.

These students all became officials in the imperial court, allowing many ordinary people to study there.

Li Shen frowned as he pondered. In his memory, there didn't seem to be any scandals of cheating in the imperial examinations during the Tang Dynasty.

Logically speaking, the formal imperial examination system was established by the Tang Dynasty, which improved upon some of the experiences of the previous dynasty and set the rules.

Could it be that because I entered the city ahead of time, causing the powerful clans to suffer losses, they started to resort to underhanded tactics?

Do you have any evidence to support your claim?

After calming down, Li Shen asked.

"Your Highness, there is no evidence. It was just something our people discovered by chance this year. Then they inquired about the local tribute system from previous years and realized there was something fishy about it."

Wang Xuance shook his head.

Li Shen was somewhat disappointed. If there were really solid evidence, Li Shen could have easily brought down the entire family.

"That shouldn't be the case. How dare they be so blatant in their favoritism and corruption? Aren't they afraid of causing trouble among the students?"

Li Shen was somewhat puzzled. The powerful clans and aristocratic families were indeed influential, but they were also afraid of being attacked by the public.

The aristocratic families have always maintained a good image in the outside world, so how dare they act in this way?

Is it really because they've been pushed to the limit?

"Your Highness, based on my guess, they wouldn't dare to cheat so openly; they must have used some underhanded methods."

Wang Xuance spoke up.

"Shady methods? Leaking the questions? But even if the questions were leaked, would other scholars be unable to answer them?"

I remember there were seven or eight subjects in the exam, right? There were probably a lot of things like poetry, essays, and policy questions.

I simply don't believe their people are so capable that everyone can pass the test; otherwise, it's just official corruption.

He replaced everyone else. "That's all Li Shen could think of. It's all based on these methods. It's impossible for everyone to fail, except for the people from your aristocratic families."

Just as Li Shen was racking his brains trying to figure it out, Pei Mingli suddenly spoke up:

"Your Highness, what if they don't allow ordinary students to enter the examination hall?"

"Not allowing them to enter the examination hall? Impossible! The imperial court's selection of officials is such a momentous matter; if local officials acted like this..."

Does he have a death wish? His family will be implicated.

Upon hearing this, Li Shen immediately shook his head in denial, saying that such a thing was impossible and that it would take a lot of courage.

Besides, you can't silence public opinion.

"But what if they don't meet the standards for entering officialdom? If the county and state examinations are not recommended for outstanding candidates because of the recommendation system, then they will not be able to enter the academy for the examinations."

Pei Mingli spoke again.

“Impossible.” This time it wasn’t Li Shen who refuted, but Wang Xuance who spoke up.

"In the fourth year of the Wude era, the late emperor issued an edict: Scholars in all prefectures who have mastered the classics, become scholars, outstanding scholars, or become Jinshi, who are knowledgeable in principles and are praised by their local communities, shall be examined by their respective counties, with the prefectural governor conducting the examinations. Those who pass shall be sent as tribute in October of each year."

In the fifth year of the Wude era, the imperial court issued an edict that all candidates should submit their petitions and respond to the call. Even those of lower rank and poor scholars who could not be recommended were allowed to recommend themselves. They were to enter the court with integrity and without suspicion.

His Majesty is benevolent and eager for talent, consistently employing capable individuals; how dare they act in this manner?

Wang Xuance had experienced it firsthand and was quite familiar with it.

Only Li Shen stared with wide, bewildered eyes. The fourth year of Wude, the fifth year of Wude?

At that time, Li Shen was still with his hundreds of millions of brothers.

Six or seven years before the brothers turned against each other, he had no idea about these things.

Unexpectedly, it turned out that having poor and low-ranking students take the exam was not his emperor father's idea, but an imperial edict from his emperor grandfather.

"Investigate! Send people to investigate immediately. And it's not just Suzhou, but the entire Jiangnan Circuit, the entire empire.

See if similar things happen elsewhere.

If I find any evidence against them, I will destroy them.

Li Shen slammed his fist on the bed and shouted angrily. The imperial examination, the only fair examination for ordinary people, and their chance to rise to the top, had been rigged by some.

Li Shen will not allow such a thing to happen. No matter who it is or what the reason is, Li Shen must teach them a lesson.

"Yes, I will send the message to them when I return, and instruct them to begin the investigation."

"However, Your Highness, this matter has remained quiet for several years, so we probably won't find any evidence."

After receiving the order, Wang Xuance gave Li Shen a heads-up, saying that nothing had happened in the past few years, which meant that the operation must have been extremely secretive and methodical.

Finding evidence is difficult, and some people are already dead.

Li Shen grew angrier the more he thought about it, and let out a cold snort:

"Hmph, it seems I should make a scene at court. The imperial examination is the cornerstone of the nation, and it is overseen by the Ministry of Personnel of the Ministry of Personnel."

You should all know who holds the power in the Ministry of Personnel these days, right?

"Does Your Highness mean it's related to the Duke of Zhao?" Changsun Wuji was the Left Minister, the most powerful person under the Minister of Works, in charge of all affairs of the Ministry of Works.

"That's right, I do suspect him. The Ministry of Personnel is the office in charge of the imperial examinations in the Ministry of Personnel, and the Minister of Personnel is Gao Jifu."

Their two families have always been very close, and I suspect that they are in cahoots to do favors for the aristocratic families.

Otherwise, I refuse to believe that old fox Changsun Wuji wouldn't have noticed something so strange.

Li Shen suddenly became convinced that Changsun Wuji was behind the incident.

Whoever is responsible for this matter will bear the consequences. Li Shen must make a scene in the imperial court.

"Your Highness, in my opinion, we should not make a scene without evidence, lest we alert the enemy."

Wang Xuance quickly dissuaded him, saying that if Prince Ji went to court, it would cause a major incident.

Li Shenyi thought it made sense. Now that he was in the shadows, he could take advantage of their unpreparedness to investigate the truth of the matter.

Otherwise, if they find out, we won't be able to find anything.

“Okay, I’ll do as you say.” Li Shen nodded in agreement.

"Your Highness, rest assured, I will investigate thoroughly and bring justice to those students," Wang Xuance immediately declared.

"Hey? Do you think they might rig the provincial exams too?" Li Shen suddenly thought of this question.

"Probably not?"

"Yes, Your Highness, they wouldn't be that bold, would they?"

The three of them shook their heads together.

But Li Shen doesn't think so:

"That's not necessarily true. Since they dare to mess with the county and prefectural exams, what wouldn't they dare to do with the provincial exam?"

I suspect there's something fishy going on with this provincial examination. I really hope that old scoundrel Changsun Wuji doesn't give me any leverage over him, or I'll crush him.

Even if it's not shit, we'll still smear it on their foreheads.