Traveling through the emperor, overthrowing the empress dowager at the beginning

In Taiqian Palace.

Su Mengjiao has a graceful figure and is extremely beautiful. Although she has a noble and domineering temperament, she frowned slightly at this moment and looked worried.

Her eyes fell on Ye Chen, with worry in her eyes, and she asked softly: "Emperor, the fact that Dayuan sent an envoy was known to Yang Dechang so quickly. Has the plan been exposed?"

Hearing this, Ye Chen raised his eyes slightly, his eyes revealing confidence and calmness.

"Don't panic, Queen Mother."

Ye Chen's voice was low and magnetic, carrying a soothing power.

"I can see that Yang Dechang probably doesn't know that I invited the Eastern Qiang to send troops. He is just testing me."

Ye Chen paused, then slowly said, "However, I will ask Di Gui to send a cavalry to protect the safety of the Dayuan princess."

"If Yang Dechang finds out my plan, he will definitely take action against the Princess of Dayuan!"

A gleam of light flashed in Ye Chen's eyes, and he had already predicted Yang Dechang's next plan.

Hearing this, Su Mengjiao nodded slightly.

Ye Chen continued, "The results will be announced today. I will stay here and wait for the three best candidates to come on stage, and then we will cast lots from the Golden Urn."

"If your Majesty has nothing else to do, you can leave first."

Hearing this, Su Mengjiao's expression became complicated.

She opened her red lips and asked, "Has the Emperor already decided that Jia Ban will be the top scholar? But, Your Majesty, the content of this imperial examination has already displeased many nobles and powerful families."

"The amount of dissenting memorials I receive every day is as numerous as snowflakes."

Her eyes were a little complicated. She naturally knew that Ye Chen had secretly met with Jia Ban. She could also see that Ye Chen was vigorously cultivating his own civil service power, but she could not object.

She felt a little aggrieved and helpless.

Ye Chen smiled gently, and there was a hint of mystery in that smile.

His eyes grew deep, and he slowly said, "Don't worry, Queen Mother. Jia Ban still needs further training. I will not allow him to become the top scorer in the imperial examination."

"I will only grant the same official position to the three candidates with the best scores. Jia Ban will not be chosen by the Golden Urn Lottery. I will only prepare two jade sticks. These jade sticks are in my hands. Whoever I choose will be the one."

Hearing this, Su Mengjiao's worries immediately dissipated. Her expression became more relaxed, and the corners of her mouth curled up slightly. She said, "Since the emperor has made arrangements, I'm relieved. I still have some matters to take care of, so I'll leave first."

After saying that, Su Mengjiao turned around and left.

Ye Chen waited there.

The Caishikou area in the capital is very lively today, with many scholars and writers gathering here.

Just waiting for the results to be announced.

In the crowd, Zhang Chongwen, dressed in a blue shirt and holding a folding fan, shook his head and said to Zhao Dewei beside him, "Brother Zhao, you and I are both extremely talented and well-educated. We will definitely pass the imperial examination this time."

Zhao Dewei, dressed in a brocade robe, stroked his still-sparse beard, his face full of complacency as he responded, "Of course."

Li Guangzu, who was standing nearby, heard this and came over, saying sourly, "Humph, this imperial examination is really a bargain for those children from humble backgrounds. The court is too partial to give them such a chance. This imperial examination was originally a stepping stone for children from noble families like me from other provinces, but now it's been disrupted by those people from humble backgrounds."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Chongwen and Zhao Dewei echoed it.

Several people started to communicate happily, and their words were full of disgust for the children from poor families.

Fortunately, there were many children from poor families here at this time, so the three of them didn't dare to speak loudly.

Finally, the time for announcing the results has arrived.

Everyone stretched their necks, their eyes fixed on the list.

I saw Jinjun coming in with the list in his hand, and after the big red paper list was hung up.

Rows of names came into everyone's sight, and on them were not only names and scores, but also places of origin.

Everyone who looked at the list found that among the three names at the top of the list, two were from wealthy families, and the other was named Jia Ban.

Seeing this result, Jiaban, who had been silent in the crowd, smiled slightly.

He turned around silently and prepared to leave.

However, Zhang Chongwen and Zhao Dewei's faces looked as ugly as if they had eaten a fly.

"Why didn't we pass the exam? How could we fail the exam?"

Zhang Chongwen couldn't believe it. He was a child of aristocratic family and had been well-read since childhood. How could he fail the exam?

"There's something wrong here. It must be the examiners above who have a problem. Brother Zhao, they're deliberately making things difficult for us because they don't want the children of wealthy families to get promoted!"

Zhang Chongwen gritted his teeth and said.

Just as Zhao Dewei was about to speak in agreement, Li Guangzu suddenly jumped up.

"Huh? I won, I actually won!"

Li Guangzu was so happy that he almost danced with joy.

Zhang Chongwen, who had previously said that he was being targeted, suddenly felt suffocated.

Li Guangzu was his friend and naturally also a wealthy family from outside the area.

Zhang Chongwen was speechless and turned around and left, quickly leading his men into the carriage.

Zhang Dewei sighed lightly and had no choice but to leave.

And just next to the carriage he was about to get on, in another carriage, Zhang Caiwei looked at the dejected Zhang Chongwen. He lowered the curtain and felt a little disappointed.

Why is my brother so disappointing?

It's really a disgrace to the family.

Zhang Caiwei felt that if she took the imperial examination, she might be able to pass.