Ji Xiaolan: Kill Qianlong at the beginning

Zhao Qing and Mo Li were sweeping the streets when Emperor Gaizhang, dressed in plain clothes, rode over on horseback, followed by several guards.

Mo Li put down the broom, knelt down and bowed, saying, "Your subject Mo Li pays his respects to Your Majesty."

Zhao Qing did the same thing.

Emperor Gaizhang dismounted and said, "Get up."

The two of them stood up at the same time.

Emperor Gai Zhang said, "Mo Li, why are you doing this to yourself?"

Mo Li said, "Your Majesty, I didn't want things to turn out this way either. It's Heshen's fault."

Emperor Gaizhang said, "Heshen's mistakes are not as great as yours."

Mo Li asked in confusion, "Why?"

Emperor Gaizhang said, "You have made a complete mess of my special imperial examination."

Mo Li said, "Your Majesty, I only wanted to seek fairness for the scholars of the world and select some talents for the country. How could I have disrupted Your Majesty's special imperial examination?"

Emperor Gaizhang said, "Mo Li, do you know what is the most important thing in the world?"

Mo Li said, "I know that, the fate of the nation."

Emperor Gai Zhang said, "The land and its people, what is the land and its people? The land and its people are the Great Xuan Kingdom left by our ancestors. Do you know where those jade seals in the palace are hidden?"

Mo Li replied, "Jiaotai Hall."

Emperor Gaizhang asked, "How many jade seals are there?"

Mo Li said, "There are twenty-five in total."

Emperor Gaizhang then asked, "Why twenty-five?"

Mo Li said, “It comes from the Book of Documents, which says that the Great Derivation of Heaven's Number is twenty-five. The ancients considered Heaven as Yang and Earth as Yin. Odd numbers are Yang and even numbers are Yin. These odd numbers, one, three, five, seven, and nine, add up to exactly twenty-five. The number twenty-five represents the Great Xuan Dynasty, which will be passed down from generation to generation and continue uninterrupted, Your Majesty.”

Emperor Gaizhang said, "Where in the world can one enjoy the mandate of heaven forever without change? Where in the world is there an unchanging world? Have you ever seen a dynasty with a hundred generations of emperors?"

Mo Li said, "The longest dynasty was the Eastern Zhou, which lasted for twenty-five generations."

Emperor Gaizhang said, "I know in my heart that as long as the Great Xuan Dynasty can have twenty-five generations like the Eastern Zhou Dynasty, that is my wishful thinking. Hehe."

Mo Li said, "But Your Majesty, what... what does this have to do with the imperial examination?"

Emperor Gaizhang nodded and said, "The so-called 'special examination' is to bestow favors upon scholars throughout the land and win the hearts of all those who study. In fact, the primary purpose of the imperial examination is neither to select talents nor to cultivate the world."

Mo Li said, "Oh, I understand. To imprison the patriots. To put all the smart people in the world into the cage of the eight-legged essay, to make them study the texts and spend their lives in the classics. In this way, these people will not have any wild ideas, nor will they be easily misled by crooked paths. If the scholars are settled, even if there are still people in the world who want to rebel, they will only be bandits and will not be able to accomplish anything great."

Emperor Gaizhang nodded and walked forward, with Mo Li following behind.

Emperor Gaizhang stopped and said, "If I had sent you to Jiangnan back then, I was afraid that you would have spoiled these scholars too much. In the end, they would have become arrogant and self-righteous, and difficult to control."

After saying that, he continued walking and then said, "Sending Xiaoyue there can both deter cheating and tell all the scholars in the world that the country belongs to me, so that these scholars know... Hehehe, Mo Li, these are all imperial tactics, it doesn't matter if you don't understand them. It doesn't matter if you don't understand them."

After saying that, he patted Mo Li on the shoulder.

Leading the horse, they walked forward.

Mo Li and Zhao Qing watched him leave.