When the imperial capital prefect heard the emperor mention the name Chen Xiao, his whole body was frightened and almost collapsed on the ground.

He quickly said, "Your Majesty, this boy has failed the exam..."

The emperor's face was gloomy and said, "You should know that I will also read the test papers of candidates. Chen Xiao's test papers can be said to be much better than all candidates.

Such articles, let alone Juren, even if he is given a Jinshi directly, he can afford it. But you actually say that he failed the exam?"

The imperial capital prefect was shocked. He didn't expect that the emperor happened to read Chen Xiao's article and was shocked and didn't know what to do.

The emperor picked up the three articles on the table. They were the last time he read Chen Xiao’s articles and thought it was very good. He could learn some of the views and opinions in them, so he copied them down.

Now, let the eunuchs take down three articles and show them to the ministers.

This is to let everyone understand that the emperor thinks it is good, not just him who is self-righteous, but he wants everyone to see if it is really good.

After all, even the emperor will convince others with reason. Don’t let everyone feel that they have falsely accused officials.

After reading the three articles by some ministers, they all showed a look of horror.

Among them, one of the Grand Secretary said: "Your Majesty, these three articles can be said to be absolutely excellent. It is absolutely impossible for such articles to fail the exam!"

"That is, in this article, there are few ministers present who have such unique insights on governing the world, analyzing the current politics, citing classics and analyzing them well!"

Among them, Mr. Lu of the Ministry of Rites was shocked: "When I was marking the papers, I never saw this article. This... such a good article, I can't remember it after reading it."

The right assistant minister of the Ministry of Rites also said: "I didn't see this article either, otherwise, the first one must be given to him."

At the same time, Mr. Lu looked at the imperial prefect and said, "What's going on? Why did we both not see this article as deputy examiners?"

Hearing the words of Mr. Lu, the ministers probably understood something and looked at the imperial capital prefect with strange eyes.

The imperial capital prefectural prefecture was full of sweat. He knew that today was over. He had not done anything like this before, but the candidates who had offended themselves and were basically not discovered.

But today, I didn't know what happened, so I was discovered.

So he thought of a solution and kowtowed, "Your Majesty, it's not that I failed the exam on purpose, but that this candidate Chen Xiao is really a bad character..."

"I'm still talking nonsense here? Isn't a good character? Are you familiar with him? The only social interaction is because he has fought a lawsuit with your subordinates in the government office?

Why, those who have filed a lawsuit in your government office are not good-character? Or do you think others have a bad-character personality?”

The emperor glared at him, frightening the imperial capital prefect's face pale.

At this moment, all the officials basically understood that the imperial capital prefect was revenge in the public and using their own power to deal with candidates in the imperial examination.

Such a crime is quite a serious crime. Generally, the emperor cannot tolerate anyone making small moves in the imperial examination.

So, basically everyone thinks that the imperial capital prefect is over.

However, the furious emperor suppressed his anger and said:

"The imperial capital prefecture, disturbing the imperial examination, avenging personal revenge, deceiving superiors and subordinates, today, I will punish you for twenty rods and paying your salary for five years."

After the words came to an end, all the officials were stunned and thought, "The punishment is so light?"

The imperial capital prefect himself thought he had heard it wrong and was worried for a long time. That's it?

In fact, the emperor is very sarcastic!

He could have killed the imperial prefect now, but he had a better way.

Originally, he had been struggling, what official should Chen Xiao be given to if he passed the imperial examination?

Now he had an idea and decided to give Chen Xiao the official position of the imperial capital.

This official position is similar to the director of the Public Security Bureau and the president of the court. In the imperial capital, it is from the sixth rank, and in other local government offices, it is the seventh rank.

A juren could only be a small official in the eighth or nineth rank or even underclass, but the emperor planned to give Chen Xiao the sixth rank official.

One of the very important goals is to make Chen Xiao belong to the same yamen as the imperial capital prefect, and then to see if Chen Xiao can kill the imperial capital prefect and the imperial capital prefect.

First, look at Chen Xiao's strength, and second, we also give Chen Xiao a chance to avenge himself.

So, the emperor is so sarcastic.

The imperial capital prefecture will die no matter how hard it is. However, the emperor will not kill him for now, and leave it to Chen Xiao for fun.

The imperial capital prefectural prefecture did not know the emperor's plan. He thought he was very important in the emperor's mind, so he committed a serious crime, which was also a small punishment and a big warning. So he was so happy that he quickly thanked him for not killing him.

However, I was happily dragged out to the board.

Although some ministers felt that the punishment was too light, this Majesty had always been unpredictable. Many ministers who knew the emperor always felt that this matter... could not be so simple.

After the morning court meeting, the Minister of Personnel was left by the emperor.

There was a minister in the main hall with the Minister of Personnel, and the emperor then said, "I have something to give you. After the Ministry of Rites restored Chen Xiao's first title of Jieyuan, your Ministry of Personnel will arrange for him to promote the Imperial Capital Palace and let Chen Xiao do it."

"Your Majesty, even if you are the first-rank Jie Yuan, it is considered very good to be an eighth-rank official. This... the Promoter of the Imperial Capital Mansion has been from the sixth-rank official. Isn't it too high to start?"

The Minister of Personnel felt that it was inappropriate.

The emperor said: "The result of this imperial examination was wrong. It was not enough to just return the fame and fortune that people should have. Promoting officials is even a compensation from the court."

"Yes, I understand. Your Majesty, is the punishment too light?" said the Minister of Personnel.

The emperor snorted: "Let him show off for a while!"

As he said that, the emperor stood up and left.

The Minister of Personnel was stunned for a moment, smiled and said, "I knew that this matter is not simple!"

The emperor returned to the imperial study room to process the memorials. At this time, the commander of the Imperial Guard came in and bowed and said:

"Your Majesty, Chen Xiao has caused a lot of controversy about not being able to pass the imperial examination. Now, many people are talking about the corruption of the imperial examination officials and even the imperial examination is distorted!

He also said... If this continues, the imperial examination will no longer be a sacred way to screen talents, but a process of officials playing with power and fraud..."

The emperor frowned: "How could it be so troubled that everyone knows?"

"When you go back to your Majesty, Chen Xiao spent a lot of money to copy his answers and posted them everywhere. There were many people in his restaurant alone. In addition, the imperial examination itself is a topic of concern to the world, and his articles are so good but failed, so it immediately became a hot topic for everyone!"
Chapter completed!