Peach Blossom.

With the completion of the new government office of the Imperial Examinations Bureau, Taoye gained the freedom to enter and leave the palace at any time, and she began to regularly leave early and return late.

The students who had previously passed and failed the imperial examinations all came to the Imperial Examination Office to report, and together with Tao Ye, they formulated the rules for the new round of imperial examinations.

The new regulations need to be implemented in each state and county, and Tao Ye needs to obtain Chen Ji's consent before he can do so.

So, one day, Taoye didn't go to the Imperial Examination Office, but instead took Caiwei to the Xuanji Palace.

A cold wind howled, and snowflakes as light as dust drifted down from the sky. Although the snow was light, it kept falling and slowly accumulated to cover the ground in white.

Because the snow was slippery, Tao Ye walked very carefully.

As she stepped into the Xuanji Gate, she saw a figure kneeling not far from outside Chen Ji's study.

She walked up to the man and saw that it was the Left Chancellor Chen Liang. He had a thin layer of snow on his head and body, indicating that he had been kneeling for a long time.

"Your Majesty?" Upon seeing Tao Ye, Chen Liang hurriedly bowed deeply. "Your Majesty, please plead for this old minister! The weather is getting colder and colder, and Chen Cuo has fallen ill in prison, yet His Majesty still refuses to release him. Without trial or sentencing, when will this end?"

Looking at Chen Liang's weathered face and his hair, which had turned gray rapidly due to worry, Tao Ye found it even harder to imagine what kind of life Wang Huan was living at home.

But Chen Ji is so petty; if she were to plead for Chen Cuo, it would only make it harder to save him.

She thought for a moment, then turned to Caiwei and said, "Go to the Right Prime Minister's residence and convey my message: if the Right Prime Minister can persuade the Emperor to release Chen Cuo from prison, I will remember his kindness."

Caiwei accepted the order and turned to leave.

Tao Ye quickly pulled Cai Wei back and added, "Also, he can't tell the Emperor that I sent him."

Caiwei nodded and then left.

Tao Ye then said to Chen Liang, "Prime Minister, please get up. If you keep kneeling in the snow like this, your knees will become diseased."

"This old minister is now filled with regret. What does he care about illness anymore? I shouldn't have tampered with the examination papers and shouldn't have prevented Her Majesty from selecting talented people from humble backgrounds! Now I see that these people are all working diligently in their respective government positions. What's wrong with that? Why did I have to oppose Her Majesty in the first place?"

Chen Liang clenched his fist and pounded the ground, looking utterly heartbroken.

Tao Ye smiled helplessly, pondered the cause and effect of the matter, and said softly, "If it weren't for Consort Zhang's instigation, perhaps you wouldn't have opposed me."

“Consort Zhang was just confused for a moment. She didn’t mean to be an enemy of Your Majesty. She was only thinking about the future of the Chen Kingdom.” Chen Liang’s defense of Zhang Xiaowan was very sincere, and he clearly did not think that Zhang Xiaowan was wrong in the slightest.

Tao Ye immediately lost interest in Chen Liang and walked straight ahead to the door of Chen Ji's study.

Upon seeing this, Zhuo Jin immediately informed Chen Ji.

Chen Ji immediately went out to see what was happening. He saw Tao Ye with light makeup and a delicate beauty. Her lips were slightly parted, and her red dress flowed gracefully through the white snow, making her look like a beautiful red plum blossom.

"Are you cold? Come inside quickly!" Chen Ji walked over quickly, rubbed Tao Ye's cold hands, and pulled her into the house.

The study was warm and cozy, with a stove burning in the room.

Chen Ji held Tao Ye's hand and they sat together by the stove to warm themselves.

Tao Ye thought of Chen Liang shivering in the cold wind and felt she should ask, "The Left Prime Minister has been kneeling in the courtyard for a long time. Does His Majesty know?"

"If he wants to kneel, let him kneel," Chen Ji said nonchalantly, still rubbing Tao Ye's hands.

Tao Ye didn't dare to say more, fearing that it would bring up Chen Cuo and cause more trouble. It was better to wait for Ma Da to plead for leniency.

She then changed the subject, showing concern for Chen Ji: "Does Your Majesty's back still hurt these past few days?"

Chen Ji replied, "It doesn't hurt anymore. Doctor Tian's medicine was really effective. It's just that I can't exert myself. I tried yesterday, and it still hurts when I practice swordsmanship. It seems like the pain is deep inside."

"Then let's stop practicing swordsmanship for now and rest a bit longer. Maybe it will get better when the weather gets warmer..." Tao Ye comforted him, but she was a little uneasy, wondering what Tan Yue had done to Chen Ji.

Remembering her purpose in seeking out Chen Ji, she took out a memorial from her person and handed it to Chen Ji: "This year's imperial examinations will begin in each prefecture and county. Your Majesty, I have developed a new plan. Please review it."

Chen Ji took it and opened it to read.

"During the last imperial examination, the number of applicants was extremely large, and a great many examination papers were invalidated. Many of those with mediocre talent came with the mindset of just trying their luck, which was a real waste of human and financial resources. Therefore, I have decided that all students participating in this imperial examination must pay an application fee when registering."

Once a fee is charged, students won't apply for the exams indiscriminately, and the collected money can be used to fund the imperial examinations. "There will be imperial examinations every year, and I can't always pay for them out of my own pocket," Tao Ye reported solemnly, sitting beside Chen Ji.

"The county and prefectural examinations cost three cents of silver, the state examination five cents, the metropolitan examination in the capital seven cents, and the palace examination one mace of silver," Chen Ji said, glancing at each list and summarizing casually.

Taoye added, "If the application fee is too high, ordinary people won't be able to afford it, but if it's too low, it will be difficult to select sincere candidates. I formulated these fees after examining the family circumstances of most students from poor families."

Chen Ji nodded, continued reading, and then asked, "Do you intend to add the position of Education Commissioner in each prefecture?"

Taoye said, "The imperial examination system is newly established, and officials in various regions lack experience. If the examinations are held simultaneously in all counties, I am worried that it may not be implemented uniformly. If the rules followed by everyone are not consistent, then fairness and justice will become empty words."

Two additional educational commissioners will be appointed to each prefecture. Their positions will still be under the jurisdiction of the Imperial Examination Bureau, but they will be required to reside in each prefecture during the examination period to guide the smooth conduct of the examinations. The two educational commissioners will take turns returning to the capital to report on their duties, which will also allow me to keep abreast of the differences in the academic levels of candidates from different regions.

Of the sixteen prefectures of Chen State, Bingzhou, Qingzhou, Jizhou, and Yongzhou are all prefectures inhabited by immigrants. Additionally, Yongchang Prefecture, originally a fiefdom of Emperor Chengzong, became independent and can be incorporated into Ningzhou. Therefore, there are a total of eleven prefectures. The educational administrators will be appointed by the central government in the capital. Your Majesty's approval is requested.”

"You've considered everything so thoroughly, how could I possibly refuse?" Chen Ji closed the memorial and smiled at Tao Ye: "The Empress cares far more about the affairs of the Imperial Examinations Department than about me."

"What do you mean? Isn't my work in the Imperial Examination Office also to share the Emperor's burdens?" Tao Ye took Chen Ji's arm, feigning a wronged expression.

Chen Ji laughed and said, "But every time I want to find you, you're not in the palace. You're much busier than I am every day."

"There are priorities. The county examination is already being prepared, so of course I have to take care of it. Doesn't Your Majesty understand that?" Tao Ye pouted, speaking in a coquettish tone.

"I understand, I understand..." Chen Ji looked at Tao Ye and said helplessly, "But even the ministers in the court have a day off every ten days. Can't you spare a day to spend with me?"

"I'm here today, aren't I?" Peach Leaf pouted again.

Chen Ji clicked his tongue and rolled his eyes. "If it weren't for official business, why would you have bothered to come see me?"

Tao Ye grinned sheepishly. She did some quick calculations and realized she had lost count of how many days it had been since she and Chen Ji had last seen each other.

Chen Ji suddenly pulled Tao Ye up and sat her on his lap, laughing contentedly: "But... now that you're here, don't even think about slipping away easily. Neither of us is allowed to do any official business or meet with any foreign officials today. Let's enjoy a day of our own little life together."

No sooner had he finished speaking than Zhuo Jin's voice came from outside the door: "Your Majesty, the Right Chancellor requests an audience."

Chen Ji's smile instantly froze on his face.

Tao Ye and Chen Ji looked at each other, their smiles slightly awkward.

If it had been someone else who came at this time, Chen Ji would definitely have scolded them and chased them away, but since it was Ma Da who came, things were different.

Chen Ji had no choice but to slowly loosen his grip on Tao Ye's hand, and said rather reluctantly, "Let him in."

Tao Ye quickly sat back down in her previous spot and let out a soft sigh of relief.

When Ma Da entered the palace, he performed the courtesies due to a subject to the emperor and empress.

Chen Ji didn't bother with pleasantries and simply asked Ma Da, "Is there something you need?"

Ma Da replied, "I have been entrusted by someone to plead for the Grand Secretary. I wonder how long Your Majesty intends to keep him in custody?"

Upon hearing this, Chen Ji's mood worsened even more. Pointing out the window, he asked, "Did Chen Liang send you?"

Ma Da did not directly answer Chen Ji's question, but instead stated the obvious reasoning: "As the ruler of the country, His Majesty should have laws to follow when punishing his subjects. The Grand Secretary is only detained pending trial; how can an official appointed by the court wait for trial for such a long time?"

Chen Ji snorted, stood up and walked to the window. He saw Chen Liang still kneeling in the snow, and his face darkened even more. "You all think it's pitiful for him to be kneeling here at his age, right? Then do you know what he said to me?"

Mada glanced at Taoye.

Peach Leaf was stunned; naturally, she didn't know either.

"He thinks too highly of himself just because I call him uncle. Not only does he want me to release Chen Cuo, but he also keeps praising Zhang Xiaowan. It's driving me crazy!" Chen Ji said angrily, looking at Ma Da and then at Tao Ye.

Tao Ye remained silent. She had just met Chen Liang and understood Chen Ji's feelings quite well.

"So I gave him two choices: one, release Chen Cuo and order Zhang Xiaowan's death; two, pardon Zhang Xiaowan and have Chen Cuo imprisoned forever. But he just knelt there. It wasn't me who made him kneel. He specifically chose a snowy day. Who is he kneeling for?" Chen Ji glanced at Chen Liang again, very indignant.

Ma Da said, "Both of the two choices given by the Emperor are too inhumane, and no one can choose either one."

"I'm going to make things difficult for him! Why did he insist on putting Zhang Xiaowan in my harem? If it weren't for him protecting her, Zhang Xiaowan would have died several times over!"

"It was Your Majesty who first forced Consort Zhang into the Left Prime Minister's residence, which forced the Left Prime Minister to return her. Consort Zhang may have made some mistakes, but she has served Your Majesty many times in the past, and her crime does not warrant death. Please, Your Majesty, do not make things difficult for the Left Prime Minister."

Chen Ji remained silent, which was taken as agreement with Ma Da's reasoning.

Tao Ye listened from the side, somewhat bewildered. She didn't know how Chen Ji had "stuffed" Zhang Xiaowan into Chen Liang's residence, nor did she know how Zhang Xiaowan had "helped" Chen Ji "many times" in the past.

Chen Ji paced back and forth for a moment, then asked Ma Da, "In your opinion, how should this be handled?"

Ma Da replied, "Although the Grand Secretary made mistakes in the imperial examination, he also made contributions. At most, he should be demoted. There is really no reason to keep him imprisoned indefinitely."

Chen Ji hesitated for a moment, then said softly, "But... I don't want to release Chen Cuo."

"Why?" Ma Da asked, puzzled.

Chen Ji's eyes flickered, and he lowered his head, reluctantly replying, "I'm afraid that once he comes out, he'll start plotting against the Empress again..."