This made Li Shimin anxious, and he wanted to trade one for one with me.

In a flash, sixty teenagers raised their hands.

The three fewer people were the sons of civil officials... Cheng Jun understood this and said, "Please come with me, gentlemen."

Cheng Jun led them aside, his expression turning serious, and asked the young men, "Gentlemen, do you think you can be selected in this imperial censorate selection?"

"She definitely won't be elected!"

"We're just here to make up the numbers!"

"Weren't all those who entered the palace today only because of pressure from the old fogies?"

The boys spoke their minds frankly.

Cheng Jun shook his head and said seriously, "My fellow gentlemen are underestimating themselves too much. We are all human. If the sons of civil officials can do it, the sons of military officials can certainly do it too. We must believe that human potential is limitless. Many things that we feel we cannot do can actually be done if we put our minds to it! For example, just now outside the palace, that censor in the court was making veiled attacks on me. I didn't expect that I could tolerate it."

Did you tolerate it?

The boys stared at him in surprise. How did Wang Gui faint?

Cheng Jun raised his fist and said seriously, "If I hadn't held back, he wouldn't be in the Imperial Medical Bureau right now, but in the Zhaoling Mausoleum!"

The boys looked at him with admiration. The tall, 1.85-meter-tall son of a military officer in front of them had long arms, broad hands, a broad back, and well-developed leg muscles. With his physique and his courage, it was not impossible for him to send Wang Gui to be buried with Zhaoling.

"Only by enduring what ordinary people cannot endure can one do what ordinary people cannot do. Therefore, I believe I am capable of serving as an imperial censor!"

Cheng Jun looked at everyone with gentle eyes, clasped his hands in a fist and said, "Gentlemen, you are all gentlemen. Gentlemen help others achieve their goals. I would like to ask you all to help me become an imperial censor!"

A boy asked curiously, "How can we help you?"

Cheng Jun said, "It's very simple. When you meet His Majesty later, please leave on your own initiative! I will definitely host a banquet for you gentlemen another day, and we will drink until we're drunk!"

Upon hearing this, the sons of military generals smiled.

"it is good!"

The selection of censors was just a formality for them.

Now that Cheng Jun has given them a way out, they can not only report back to their fathers, but also be treated to a banquet by him. There is no reason for them not to agree!

"Thank you all, gentlemen!"

Cheng Jun smiled and escorted them back, then looked at the others and said loudly, "Talented individuals from all neighborhoods of Chang'an, please come forward. I have something to say to you!"

The young men from humble backgrounds looked at each other, and then stepped forward one by one.

"Come here!"

Cheng Jun waved them aside, leading them away from the rest of the group. Then, with a solemn expression, he looked at them and asked:

"Gentlemen, would you like to become censors?"

"Yes I do!"

The boys nodded as a matter of course.

Cheng Jun asked, "Why do you want to become censors?"

One of the poor young men said, "Because as long as I become an imperial censor, I can receive a salary from the court, which will help ease my mother's burden!"

The person standing next to him also said, "My father is sick, I need to see a doctor for him!"

"I want to be an official, I want to be respected!"

"If I could become an imperial censor, the neighborhood officials wouldn't dare bully my parents anymore..."

The crowd began to whisper among themselves.

Cheng Jun already knew their background from the paper yesterday, but he didn't interrupt the boys' conversation. Instead, he listened patiently and then slowly said, "So, do you think it's possible for you to become censors today?"

Upon hearing this, the boys fell silent.

"I can't get it."

Someone whispered.

Cheng Jun sighed and said, "Yes, you have no chance of becoming them. There are fifty-five sons of civil officials in front of you. They all have powerful fathers and grew up with silver spoons in their mouths. They have more books in their collections than you have read! In terms of erudition and knowledge, who among you can compare?"

"That's why you can't become censors!"

Seeing the dejected looks on the young men's faces, Cheng Jun changed the subject and said, "Although I can't help you become censors, I can make it happen if you want to become officials and receive a salary from the imperial court!"

"Because of my father, Cheng Yaojin!" He patted his chest, his calm gaze fixed on the boys, and declared firmly:

"I can have my father recommend you for internships in various government offices in his personal capacity. Of course, if I am selected as an imperial censor, I will speak to His Majesty myself!"

Seeing their puzzled expressions, not understanding what an internship meant, Cheng Jun patiently explained:

"An internship means staying in the imperial court to learn how to be an official. Although you won't be an official, you will still receive an internship salary!"

"In this way, when you return home, you will be considered to have returned in glory. You will be respected and admired, and you will no longer be bullied. Moreover, you will receive a salary. With a salary, you can help ease the burden on your family, and those who need medical treatment for their family members will be able to find better doctors!"

"My lords, what I'm saying comes from the bottom of my heart, and it's all for your own good!"

Cheng Jun said sincerely.

The young men, who came from humble backgrounds, were moved to tears; it was clear that Cheng Jun genuinely cared about them.

Someone spoke frankly: "What can we do to deserve Brother Chuxia's kindness? Is it alright if we don't participate in the selection of imperial censors?"

"Yes!" Cheng Jun nodded in response.

The boys smiled.

"Don't worry, Brother Chuxia, we know what to do."

"It's so pleasant to deal with smart people..." Cheng Jun smiled, clasped his hands in a fist and said, "When I become an imperial censor, I will host a banquet for you all!"

After saying that, he led everyone back.

"My fellow gentlemen..."

Cheng Jun swallowed the rest of his words halfway through speaking to the sons of civil officials.

He noticed that Wei Shuyu and Feng Yandao were talking to the sons of civil officials, which made their expressions become unnatural.

Upon seeing Cheng Jun return, a young man with a youthful face stepped out from among the sons of civil officials, took off his wooden plaque, and handed it back to him, saying apologetically, "Young Master Cheng, this is your wooden plaque. I'm returning it to you."

The way they address each other has changed?

Cheng Jun didn't reach out to take it. He turned to Wei Shuyu and Feng Yandao, frowning as he asked, "What did you two say to them while I was away?"

Before the two could speak, a young man with a face as black as charcoal, one of the sons of the military officer, complained, "Brother Chuxia, as soon as you left, they started asking us all sorts of questions! Just now, Feng Yandao told the sons of the civil officials to recognize their own status and not to take things from just anyone!"

After saying that, he saw Feng Yandao glaring at him and glared back without any politeness, "What are you looking at? A real man should be able to admit what he's done! If you're not convinced, come and try! My father is Yuchi Jingde!"

Feng Yandao was about to refute, but when he noticed Wei Shuyu shaking his head at him, he snorted coldly and pretended not to hear anything.

"Thank you for speaking up for justice, Brother Baolin!" Cheng Jun first clasped his hands in thanks to the dark-skinned young man named Yuchi Baolin, then looked at the young man who had handed him the wooden plaque, and then at the other sons of civil officials, and asked, "Are you serious?"

The boy in front of me looked uneasy and said, "I'm sorry..."

Cheng Jun shook his head, not taking back the wooden plaque, and pushed his hand away, saying, "It's alright, I won't make things difficult for you. However, what I, Cheng Jun, give away, I won't take back!"

The sons of the civil official exchanged a glance, then silently took the wooden plaque from their waists and threw it at Cheng Jun's feet.

Such a humiliating act enraged the son of the military officer and the talented young men of the neighborhood.

Yu Chi Baolin, unable to contain his anger, stepped forward and rebuked, "How can you be so fickle?"

Feng Yandao smiled and said, "This is not called fickleness, this is the way of an official. How could a bunch of rough men and poor people like you understand?"

"Try saying that again?!"

"I think you're planning to be buried with Zhaoling today!"

The talented young men in the neighborhood were too timid to offend the prime minister's son, but the sons of military officers were fearless, and they all rolled up their sleeves and glared at Feng Yandao with uncontrollable rage.

Just then, a muscular, thick arm blocked their way.

"Gentlemen, this is the imperial palace. You must not act recklessly!"

Cheng Jun stood before them, looking at them with a mixture of relief and emotion, and said, "You are all excellent. From you, I see that a gentleman fears virtue, not power! It is my blessing, Cheng Jun, to befriend you!"

One sentence made the sons of civil officials look uneasy.

They knew the next part of that sentence was: "A petty person fears power but not virtue!"

Cheng Jun is calling them despicable people!

However, they could not refute it, because Cheng Jun had never wronged them in any way.

They accepted Cheng Jun's gifts, but now, because of Feng Yandao and Wei Shuyu's background, they've become fickle and despicable.

The son of the military officer and the talented young men of the neighborhood were moved to tears by Cheng Jun's words.

"Brother Chuxia, I believe that with your talent and intelligence, you will definitely be able to become an imperial censor!" Yuchi Baolin encouraged.

"Yes!"

"Brother Chuxia, you can definitely do it!"

The talented young men and sons of military officers in the neighborhood echoed this sentiment.

"Does he even deserve to be an imperial censor?" Feng Yandao sneered.

Upon hearing this, the sons of the military officer glared at him angrily and rolled up their sleeves again.

"Did you see that Prince Wang was just sent to the Imperial Medical Bureau? Do you want to go too?"

"I think you really want to be buried with Zhaoling today!"

"I wouldn't dare hit your father, but I wouldn't dare hit you?"

Feng Yandao panicked, but he didn't hold back, cursing, "Today is for selecting censors, not for selecting brutes... Ouch!"

A black boot hit him, making him cry out in pain.

"You bastard, I'm not taking the exam today. I'm going to expose you and see what kind of person you are!" Yu Chi Baolin cursed, rubbing his fists together. He walked towards him with one boot on and the other barefoot.

Feng Yandao's expression suddenly changed. At this moment, Wei Shuyu beside him shouted, "Brother Yandao, why aren't we leaving? Let's go to the Taiji Hall first. Once we see His Majesty, these warriors won't dare to do anything to you!"

"Let's go together!" Feng Yandao shouted.

Feng Yandao turned and gave the sons of civil officials a wink, and then more than fifty of them stood together and ran toward the Taiji Hall.

They hadn't run far when the sons of the civil officials realized that no one was chasing them. They all stopped and looked at Feng Yandao, who was running in the lead. Someone shouted, "Brother Yandao, those people haven't caught up!"

Feng Yandao looked back and, after confirming that no one was chasing him, stopped. He patted his knees and panted, complaining to the crowd, "Today is the selection of imperial censors, but these brutes are acting as if His Majesty is selecting a hundred riders."

Wei Shuyu, also panting, said, "Why are you arguing with a brute? Don't forget the purpose of our trip to the palace!"

“Brother Shuyu is absolutely right,” Feng Yandao took a deep breath, turned to look at the other sons of civil officials, and said righteously, “Gentlemen, let’s show them this time that being a censor is not something a mere commoner can do!”

"Brother Shuyu and Brother Yandao are right!"

"A mere warrior dares to be ranked with us?"

The crowd tore off their moral facades and instantly became righteous and awe-inspiring.