The emperor faked his death? Never mind, I will ascend the throne directly!

Li Chengfeng returned to the palace, and Song Zelin accompanied him.

"Your Majesty, so you have made up your mind?"

On the way, Song Zelin listened to Li Chengfeng's narration, including Li Chengfeng's reform plan.

Li Chengfeng nodded and handed the brief reform plan hidden in his sleeve to Song Zelin, with a satisfied smile on his face.

He also instructed the loyal prime minister: "Don't rush this plan. Now, you must immediately announce the imperial examination results. At the same time, make Chen Tingshu's examination paper public to the world."

There was a hint of deep meaning in his eyes. He had a premonition that Chen Tingshu's test paper would cause an uproar.

Song Zelin took the order and left, and immediately arranged for people to post the imperial examination results at the entrance of the Imperial Examination Hall and on bulletin boards throughout the capital.

The news quickly spread throughout the streets and alleys, and people flocked to the streets to look at the list.

"Chen Tingshu? This name sounds familiar..."

"Isn't it! I heard that this man publicly supported women becoming officials during the examination. He's a courageous young man!"

"Number one scholar! He's actually the number one scholar! This Chen Tingshu is truly amazing!"

"This Chen Tingshu's exam paper is really bold! He actually dared to propose tax reform. Really..."

"Reform the tax system? This affects a lot of people's interests! I wonder if His Majesty will adopt his suggestion..."

The people were talking about it, with mixed opinions on Chen Tingshu's test paper.

Some people were full of expectations for his reform proposals, hoping that the court would adopt them and improve people's livelihood;

Some people also think that his ideas are too radical and worry that they will shake the foundation of Daqian.

At the same time, Su Yuan also saw the posted list and Chen Tingshu's test paper.

His eyes widened in disbelief, his face turned ashen, and the folding fan in his hand fell to the ground with a "pa".

"This is impossible! This is absolutely impossible!"

He muttered to himself, finding it hard to accept the result.

Chen Tingshu, an unknown poor boy, actually passed the imperial examination and became the top scorer, while he, Su Yuan, failed!

He picked up the folding fan in frustration and walked quickly back home.

He pushed open the study door and yelled at Su Dezheng who was reading, "Dad! What the hell is going on? How could that poor boy Chen Tingshu be the top scholar?"

Su Dezheng put down the book in his hand, frowned, and looked at the angry Su Yuan, "What's going on? Tell me slowly."

Su Yuan roughly recounted the contents of Chen Tingshu's test paper, "Dad, tell me, is Chen Tingshu crazy?"

"The reform proposals he put forward are simply treasonous! If His Majesty really adopts his suggestions, how will we officials survive?"

After listening to Su Yuan's narration, Su Dezheng's face darkened.

He had heard long ago that the emperor would personally supervise the examination and mark the papers, leaving him no opportunity to plant his own spies throughout the entire process.

Now it seems that the little emperor's thoughts have become much clearer. He wants to personally select loyal talents.

Su Dezheng pondered for a moment and said slowly: "Yuan'er, don't be anxious."

"Although Chen Tingshu's suggestion is bold, it may not be implemented. Your Majesty is young and impulsive. There are also the Right Prime Minister and our people in the court. They will not sit idly by."

Although Su Dezheng comforted Su Yuan in this way, he felt vaguely uneasy in his heart.

If the emperor really carried out the reforms according to Chen Tingshu's suggestions, it would affect the interests of officials at all levels, and they would no longer be able to collect taxes and seize land as unscrupulously as before.

The next morning, at the Golden Palace, all civil and military officials had already arrived, but Li Chengfeng was nowhere to be seen.

Qian Youliang and Wang Lu exchanged glances. Both of them were Qi Daokun's followers and had secretly discussed it long ago. They wanted to take this opportunity to attack Song Zelin and force Li Chengfeng to re-rank.

"Sir Song, you have also seen Chen Tingshu's test paper, right?"

Qian Youliang was the first to speak out, rebuking him harshly, "What kind of things are written here? It's simply treasonous! As the Left Prime Minister, aren't you worried at all?"

"Yes, Lord Song, Chen Tingshu's suggestion could shake the very foundation of Daqian. You must persuade His Majesty to retract his decision."

As expected, Wang Lu also echoed the sentiment.

Several other officials also echoed this. For a while, there was a lot of discussion in the court, and the criticism was directed at Song Zelin.

Song Zelin sneered in his heart. These people really refused to give up.

He knew these people were deliberately trying to make things difficult for him, but he remained undaunted. He spoke loudly, "My Lords, the imperial examination results were personally determined by His Majesty. Are you questioning His Majesty's decision?"

As soon as these words were spoken, the court suddenly became quiet.

No one dared to speak for a moment.

At this moment, Qi Daokun slowly spoke.

Who would have thought that he had just provoked the anger of the Five Pecks of Rice Army in Hexi and led them to attack the city, but Li Chengfeng called him back as if he had been prepared in advance.

Qi Daokun was also unhappy at this moment, and couldn't help but say a few words against the emperor.

"Sir Song, I am not questioning your majesty's decision. It's just that Chen Tingshu's suggestion goes against ancestral rules and may cause unrest in the court. I am also concerned about your majesty's sake."

He paused and added, "Your Majesty is young and easily impulsive. We, the old ministers, naturally need to give you more advice to prevent Your Majesty from doing something you will regret."

Qi Daokun's words seemed to be for Li Chengfeng's benefit, but in fact he was secretly sowing discord and trying to make Li Chengfeng dissatisfied with Song Zelin.

At this moment, Li Chengfeng appeared at the door of the Golden Palace.

He walked to the dragon throne with the gait of a dragon and a tiger, sat down, and swept his eyes over the people below, finally landing on Qi Daokun.

"Your Excellency, you have been really troubled. You just returned from Hexi, and you have been exhausted by the journey. Now you have to worry about the imperial examination again."

When the ministers saw Li Chengfeng coming, they all knelt down to greet him.

The ministers were quite wary of Li Chengfeng. They all knew that this little emperor was completely different from the dandy and useless Third Prince they had once thought of.

Li Chengfeng gestured to all the ministers to stand up. He seemed not to notice the atmosphere in the court, nor to pay attention to the conversation before he appeared.

Anyway, this kind of debate will happen in the court sooner or later, he just saw it in advance.

"I remember that the Right Prime Minister's negotiations with the Five Pecks of Rice Army in Hexi did not seem to be going smoothly."

Li Chengfeng's voice came down from the steps. He did not continue to talk about the issue of the imperial examination, but changed the subject and asked about the situation in Hexi.

Qi Daokun quickly knelt down and saluted, "I have failed in my duties, Your Majesty, and I beg for your punishment."

He secretly groaned in his heart, this little emperor was indeed warning him.

Li Chengfeng waved his hand. "Right Prime Minister, there's no need to blame yourself. The situation in Hexi is complicated and cannot be resolved overnight."

His gaze fell on Qi Daokun again, and a meaningful smile appeared on the corner of his mouth, "Right Prime Minister, get up."

Qi Daokun stood up, lowered his head, and did not dare to look directly into Li Chengfeng's eyes.