Peach Blossom.

"You..." Chen Chong was soon so angry that her face turned red, but she couldn't think of any words to say back.

Faced with such a sharp-tongued Tao Ye, Chen Ji couldn't help but sigh silently.

Seeing this, Ma Da bowed to Tao Ye and said softly, "The Queen has misunderstood. Prince Ding is definitely not that kind of person. The former ministers of the previous dynasty first witnessed the process of the previous dynasty's fall, and then they could summarize the reasons for the destruction of the country."

"Brother, you're right. It seems... I misunderstood Prince Ding." Tao Ye smiled and nodded to Ma Da. Then, turning to Chen Chong with an apologetic look on her face, she said, "Then I must apologize to Prince Ding."

Chen Chong snorted and said nothing, but her anger eased a little.

Chen Ji sat on the throne in front and felt a headache.

Tao Ye turned back to Ma Da and asked with a smile, "Brother, what do you think of the establishment of the Imperial Examination Office?"

"The Empress is considerate of the people and seeks opportunities for the poor to succeed. I, who come from a humble background, cannot help but be moved... If I could have had this opportunity when I was young, I would have studied by candlelight at night instead of becoming a slave in the palace..." After just a few words, Mada's eyes turned red and his voice choked, and he could hardly continue.

Tao Ye smiled and nodded.

Chen Ji looked at Ma Da, and his heart suddenly turned to tears. At this moment, he suddenly wanted to say, "Approve what the Queen has requested."

However, he touched the scarf around his neck and fell silent again.

Ma Da calmed himself down, his distressed expression gone. He bowed to Tao Ye again and said with a smile, "However, with so many prefectures and counties, the costs of selecting and eliminating candidates at every level must be enormous. The national treasury is indeed stretched to its limits. What Prince Ding just said is not without reason."

Tao Ye smiled helplessly. She didn't expect that at the meeting today, Mada actually voted against it. The only vote in favor was a stranger, Chen Cuo.

Chen Chong sneered and spoke again, "Right Prime Minister, your thoughts are quite good. There may be a few talented people among the common people, but the majority are undoubtedly mediocre. If the Empress gives them a chance, and everyone is eligible to take the exam and enter the officialdom, won't everyone rush in like a swarm of bees? By then, all the manpower and financial resources will be invested, and who knows what kind of people will be selected!"

Tao Ye also sneered and took the gift list from Chen Cuo's hand.

Chen Cuo was startled. He saw Tao Ye flicking her finger on the gift list and asked with a half-smile:

"Aren't these gifts to Qiuchi paid for with money from the national treasury? They fear being annexed by Wei, so they come to Jiankang to flatter and beg for protection. This is because our Chen State has a land area and population comparable to Wei's.

Is Qiuchi, that tiny place, really worth our support? Why would we return the favor? We can't even afford to feed our own cats and dogs, so why should we spend our spare money to feed the cats and dogs next door?

After saying that, Tao Ye casually threw the gift list back into Chen Cuo's arms.

"You..." Chen Chong was stunned and couldn't think of a response again.

Chen Ji rubbed his temples, sighed, and explained weakly, "Have you forgotten, Queen? I told you before that aiding Qiuchi and delaying their annexation by Wei was just a delaying tactic to recuperate in the early years of our nation."

"I haven't forgotten. I just want to ask Your Majesty, what have you been doing during these years of so-called 'recuperation and recuperation'?" Tao Ye walked to Chen Ji's desk and looked at Chen Ji.

Chen Ji started rubbing his temples again.

Tao Ye then asked Chen Ji, "Have you ever thought about this? Wei is located in the north, and northerners are naturally taller, stronger, braver, and better at fighting than southerners. This inherent advantage is unchangeable! Could Chen possibly have won by force? Have you read the Romance of the Three Kingdoms? Even though Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei were so powerful, didn't they still need Zhuge Liang?"

Tao Ye turned her gaze to Chen Chong again and said solemnly, "There are no naturally gifted or mediocre people in this world. It's simply a matter of people's choices based on their circumstances. If you let everyone know today that as long as they work hard, they will have opportunities, how can you be sure that they won't become outstanding talents in three years? Or pillars of the country in ten years?"

Chen Chong didn't object, but her eyes were filled with distrust. "Your Majesty, you are a silver-tongued eloquent minister. I've experienced your words before. I'm afraid your loyalty to the emperor and your country is just a facade, and your ultimate goal is to drain the treasury. I beg to differ."

"It seems that Prince Ding has a strong objection to my golden sedan chair." Tao Ye smiled calmly and asked, "If I dismantle the golden sedan chair and use it to fund the first imperial examination, will Prince Ding change his mind?"

Chen Chong looked at Tao Ye in surprise and said nothing.

Chen Cuo sighed and asked curiously, "Is the Queen really willing to dismantle that golden sedan?"

Tao Ye answered frankly, "Things outside of our body, we can't bring with us when we're born, and we can't take with us when we die. Is there anything that we really can't bear to part with?"

"Wow... If Your Majesty has time, we might as well discuss scriptures and doctrines together..." Chen Cuo suddenly became extremely excited and for a moment forgot where he was.

Chen Liang suddenly stepped on Chen Cuo.

Tao Ye thought silently that conducting the imperial examination on a nationwide scale would be too big a move. It would not be realistic to expect the manpower and financial resources to be sufficient all at once. It would be better to start small and work your way up.

Tao Ye then bowed to Chen Ji again and advised, "Your Majesty, this matter is of great importance. If it is difficult to make a decision, it is better to conduct an experiment to see the result. I beg you to hold an examination in the capital as a pilot. If there is no result, I will bear the cost of trial and error alone, without using a single cent from the national treasury. If a good talent is found, please allow the establishment of an Imperial Examination Office and a separate government office, and formally appoint me as the head of this office, so that this policy can be implemented throughout the country."

Chen Ji's expression was uncertain, and he handed over the decision-making power to others: "My four beloved ministers, those who agree with the Queen, please raise your hands."

Chen Cuo quickly raised a hand.

Ma Da also slowly raised his hand.

Tao Ye smiled at Chen Chong and asked politely, "Prince Ding, wouldn't it be better to seek official positions based on real talent and knowledge, in a fair, just, and open manner, so that those who climb up the ladder through bribery won't have the opportunity to offer money?"

Chen Chong glanced at Chen Liang and finally raised her hand.

Chen Ji couldn't help but cover his face and laugh. He also glanced at Chen Liang. Chen Liang lowered his head, as if he wanted to find a crack in the ground to crawl into.

"Uncle didn't raise his hand. Does that mean he doesn't agree with the Queen?"

"Your Majesty, I will obey you." Chen Liang smiled in an awkward manner.

Chen Ji curled his lips into a smile, having to make a decision: "Then approve the Queen's request. The Imperial Examination Bureau will be headed by the Queen. There is currently no government office. The positions of Deputy Director, Chief Clerk, Deputy Director, Chief Secretary, and Envoy are all vacant. With the Queen's ability, she should have no shortage of people to serve her. The Queen is allowed to summon external officials for official business, and I will not interfere."

Tao Ye couldn't help but be delighted when she heard this, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your grace."

Seeing Tao Ye so happy, Chen Ji felt even more depressed and angry, and the forced smile on his face disappeared without a trace.

Chen Cuo hurriedly congratulated Tao Ye, and Ma Da also followed suit. Chen Liang and Chen Chong had no choice but to follow suit and congratulate together.

Watching this scene, Chen Ji became increasingly irritated. He suddenly raised his head and said, "Everyone, please go back. I have some personal matters to attend to. I would like to speak to the Queen alone."

The ministers then bowed and took their leave. Zhuo Jin and Cai Wei also left the room and closed the door.

The hall suddenly became quiet.

Chen Ji was still sitting in the chair, his eyes fixed on Tao Ye.

Tao Ye stood there alone, suddenly feeling a little at a loss.

After a while, Chen Ji pulled off the scarf tied around his neck, revealing the purple teeth marks. "Wearing this in such hot weather, do I look like a fool?"

Tao Ye was silent, not knowing what to say.

"You only want to be the queen, not my wife, right?"

"No..." Tao Ye lowered her head and answered without confidence.

Chen Ji suddenly stood up, walked over aggressively, hugged Tao Ye and kissed her on the lips.

Tao Ye was caught off guard, but still instinctively pushed Chen Ji away.

"Is that still a 'no'?" Chen Ji smiled bitterly, letting go of Tao Ye and taking a few steps back, his eyes filled with sadness. "Could you please stop being so hypocritical?"

Tao Ye was at a loss, her eyes panicking as she tried to calm herself down. "No...it's really not...I pushed you away because I was afraid I would lose control and hurt you..."

"Really?" Chen Ji sneered and nodded, "Then how about this, I won't get close to you, and you take off your clothes yourself."

Tao Ye looked at Chen Ji in shock.

"What? You can't even take off your clothes?" Chen Ji's smile became more and more sarcastic.

Tao Ye bit her lip and said with difficulty, "Your Majesty, this is a meeting room, not a bedroom."

"There are only you and me here, it's the same as any other place! Just do whatever I tell you to do! This is an imperial decree!" Chen Ji was so angry that his words turned into a roar, and his whole body was shaking.

Tao Ye stood quietly, looking at Chen Ji who got angry at her for the first time, and a feeling of helplessness surged in her heart.

Tears quietly slid down from the corners of her eyes.

Seeing those two lines of tears, Chen Ji felt extremely sad.

"Then please, Your Majesty... depose the queen... or... grant me death..." Tao Ye's tears kept flowing, but her face was full of stubbornness.

Chen Ji felt panic in an instant, and he hugged Tao Ye in fear, "Don't... don't leave me..."

Tao Ye said nothing and sobbed quietly.

Chen Ji was also quietly sad, not daring to accuse her too obviously. "How could you do this to me? Because you are my wife, you are the queen... How can you only exercise the rights of the queen and repeatedly reject me..."

Tao Ye's voice choked with sobs, and she asked with a hint of resentment, "Just because I rejected you, you keep delaying what I asked for? Are we making a deal? In front of my subjects, you agreed so reluctantly..."

"Why would I make a deal with you? I respect you, love you, tolerate you, and try my best to satisfy everything you want..." Chen Ji took a handkerchief and gently wiped Tao Ye's tears. He said sadly, "I just want to be a normal couple with you... My requirements are not high..."

"I really didn't mean it..." Tao Ye looked at Chen Ji with tears in her eyes, feeling infinitely aggrieved. "Maybe it's because I used to stay in a brothel and was often coveted by customers... Over time, it has left a psychological shadow on me..."

Seeing Tao Ye crying like a tearful person, Chen Ji felt infinite pity for her, and could only nod in understanding.

"I don't even remember how we got along before... I just can't help but resist all men..."

Hearing these words, Chen Ji felt even more disappointed. He realized that towards Tao Ye, he was no different from other guests. If it was Wang Jing, she probably wouldn't resist, right?

"If you really love me, you should find a way to cure my illness... instead of being angry with me..." Tao Ye's crying became weaker and weaker, and she leaned on Chen Ji's shoulder like a little bird.

Chen Ji had no choice but to nod.