Chapter 29

Si Yunqin and Xi Fengyu had spent over ten days on it. With Yun Yi, Si Xiaoyu, and Zhu Jing’an helping, and even Yan Yusheng roped in, they finally produced the final version of the proposal.

Zhu Jing’an was a teacher herself, so she could offer advice from an educator’s perspective, while Yan Yusheng came from a humble background, representing part of the poor scholar community.

Three days before the final oral examination, Si Yunqin finally handed the proposal to Shen Yanxin.

Shen Yanxin had just finished morning court and had her noon meal. She was about to head to the Imperial Study when she ran into Si Yunqin on the way.

Si Yunqin was walking along holding a book, dressed much more formally than usual in a set of red court robes that actually suited her quite well.

To others, she looked like the dignified and noble Empress, her small face taut and expressionless, giving off an air of aloof coldness when she didn’t smile.

Shen Yanxin gave her an extra glance or two, until Si Yunqin noticed her presence. Then a smile bloomed on her face again, like warm spring sunshine that was pleasing to the eye.

Of course, she also became respectful, obedient, and demure—but in Shen Yanxin’s eyes, that wasn’t nearly as pleasing.

“Your Subject pays respects to the Empress Dowager.” Si Yunqin performed the full courtesies.

Shen Yanxin looked at her. “Have you come to hand in your homework, Empress?”

Judging by the upward lilt in her voice, Shen Yanxin was in a good mood today. As for why—probably because she had heard some good news at court. And what exactly that good news was, Si Yunqin couldn’t be bothered to ask.

Better not to invite trouble for herself.

Si Yunqin straightened up. “Yes.”

Shen Yanxin gestured for the imperial carriage to stop, then crooked a finger at Si Yunqin. “Come up.”

She even kindly moved over to make room.

“This… I couldn’t possibly. It would be against protocol.” Si Yunqin wouldn’t dare share a ride with her. She felt she couldn’t even breathe too loudly.

Shen Yanxin let out a strange, derisive laugh. “I won’t force you. Hand me the memorial.”

Si Yunqin obediently passed it over. After taking it, Shen Yanxin signaled the carriage to move again. “Then the Empress will just have to follow.”

Hearing this, Si Yunqin looked at her incredulously. But when her eyes met Shen Yanxin’s gaze, she immediately bowed her head again. “Yes, Your Majesty.”

She didn’t dare say a word. What could a lowly worker say against the one who paid her? That damn feudal force was truly black through and through.

Shen Yanxin’s carriage wasn’t fast, and Si Yunqin followed at a slow pace. She had expected Shen Yanxin to ask something, but nothing came until they reached the outside of the Imperial Study.

Not until they were both inside the Imperial Study did Shen Yanxin start questioning her. “Looking at the signatures at the end—Zhu Jing’an, Xi Fengyu, even your elder sister Si Xiaoyu and your brother-in-law Yun Yi, I know them all. But this Yan Yusheng—who is he?”

Shen Yanxin asked curiously.

“This person is a scholar who took the exams. I met him at a restaurant and greatly admired his talent. Many of his insights coincide with mine, but I could only think them, not express them. He’s like my substitute speaker—he can say what I cannot.” Si Yunqin lowered her eyes and answered obediently.

Shen Yanxin laughed. “Substitute speaker? That’s an interesting way to put it, Empress.”

Si Yunqin: …

She had spoken too quickly. It was all because Shen Yanxin’s filter had shattered, and she had started feeling like Shen Yanxin wouldn’t harm her—so her head got big.

That wasn’t good. Shen Yanxin was, after all, the one who governed the entire kingdom. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call her the de facto ruler of the Zhao Kingdom.

Who had given Si Yunqin the courage to get cocky in front of Shen Yanxin?

“Ah… It’s just the literal meaning. I am shallow in learning and talent; even when I have thoughts, I can’t put them into words. But when someone else says them, I feel they’re right, and it’s exactly what I was thinking. So I call them my ‘substitute speaker.'” Si Yunqin explained in full.

Shen Yanxin’s lips curved slightly. “I think the Empress expresses herself quite well.”

Si Yunqin lowered her head and didn’t take the bait. She wasn’t going to answer that.

But if Shen Yanxin let her off that easily, that would be a miracle.

Sure enough, Shen Yanxin asked several questions about the proposal Si Yunqin had submitted. Si Yunqin answered truthfully. She had even included a simple map, with the smallest administrative unit being the county.

“If a person can’t even afford to go to a county for schooling, it means their family needs the labor to survive and feed themselves. Those people are not our consideration. Though it’s unfair, for some, keeping the whole family alive is more important than education.”

“Then, at the prefecture and commandery levels, higher-level academies would be established. Those who pass the exams can enroll. Those with exceptionally outstanding scores can be exempted from tuition.”

Si Yunqin had incorporated many elements from later ages into this, simplifying some to fit this society better. Of course, she hadn’t just added later-age elements; she had integrated some later-age rules into the existing framework, fusing them together.

After listening, Shen Yanxin raised a few more questions. Si Yunqin had to admit that there were things she hadn’t considered.

Once they had talked things through, Shen Yanxin said she would have the Ministry of Rites start working on it.

Then, to Si Yunqin’s surprise, Shen Yanxin asked what it was that Yan Yusheng had said that interested her so much.

Si Yunqin summarized a few points without going into detail. She still wanted to keep up the appearance of being a poor speaker—though that ship might have already sailed, she still had to try.

After listening to Si Yunqin, Shen Yanxin also felt that this person was a talent worth using.

“It’s getting late. How about the Empress shares a noon meal with me?” Shen Yanxin invited Si Yunqin.

Si Yunqin nodded in agreement. It wasn’t as if she had a choice anyway.

She had thought that after the noon meal, Shen Yanxin would let her go. Instead, she kept her at Respectful Peace Palace for a rest, then dragged her back to grade memorials in the afternoon.

Si Yunqin felt exhausted, but seeing Shen Yanxin sitting upright, she obediently muddled through it.

By the time they finished grading the memorials, it was already dark.

Shen Yanxin nodded with satisfaction. “Mm, two people really do work faster.”

“The Empress Dowager could have the court officials share the workload instead of exhausting yourself like this.” Si Yunqin heard her and wanted to ask, “Listen to yourself—are you even human?” But of course, she only dared to think it.

“Oh? Does the Empress have any good advice? Let’s hear it.” Shen Yanxin looked at Si Yunqin with interest.

The look made a chill run down Si Yunqin’s spine. Why was this woman targeting her again? She really didn’t have much ability—she just had a few memories from a past life!

“No, no. I know the harem shall not interfere in politics.” Si Yunqin quickly declined.

Shen Yanxin just let out another snort. She knew Si Yunqin was afraid of trouble and didn’t want to get involved with the various factions at court, but she still wanted to tease her.

She just wanted to see that spark of life in Si Yunqin—so different from the oppressive, rule-bound atmosphere of the palace.

“Alright, you’ve worked hard today, Empress. I’ve heard the Imperial Kitchen prepared some venison today. Would you like to have dinner together?” Shen Yanxin asked so earnestly that Si Yunqin couldn’t refuse.

Besides, it was venison! She had never tried it.

But it turned out that Shen Yanxin wasn’t going to give her a free meal. After dinner, Shen Yanxin told her that in three days, the real Imperial Examination would take place, and she wanted Si Yunqin to accompany the Young Emperor again.

Si Yunqin agreed reluctantly. As expected, Shen Yanxin never had good intentions.

Si Yunqin left Respectful Peace Palace and went straight back to Eternal Peace Palace. She took a bath and collapsed into bed. She had been run ragged by Shen Yanxin all day, both physically and mentally.

She even had a dream where Shen Yanxin was still exploiting her, making her write another proposal.

When she woke up the next morning, Si Yunqin was both angry and aggrieved, cursing Shen Yanxin up and down in her mind.

Meanwhile, Shen Yanxin, who had just left morning court, was sitting in her imperial carriage when she abruptly sneezed several times.

“Is Your Highness feeling unwell?” Lan Xi asked anxiously.

Shen Yanxin waved her hand from inside the carriage. “It’s nothing. Probably someone is gossiping about me behind my back.”

“Who would dare to be so disrespectful?” Lan Xi said in fear.

Shen Yanxin’s lips curled into a smile, and her tone was rather light. “You never know.”

Others might not dare, but the little Empress in Eternal Peace Palace certainly would.

Shen Yanxin felt no other discomfort. Having trained in martial arts herself, she knew her own body.

There were no major issues in court that morning. After handling the urgent matters in the morning, Shen Yanxin suddenly got the whim to send someone to Eternal Peace Palace to invite Si Yunqin to the training ground.

But she wasn’t found at Eternal Peace Palace. Instead, she was found at Bright Palace.

When Shen Yanxin heard the news, she drew her bow and released an arrow. “The Empress and Consort Yu have a very close relationship, being fellow disciples.”

Lan Xi handed her another arrow. “The Empress and Consort Yu are similar in age and share the same master. It’s natural for them to have things to talk about.”

Shen Yanxin pursed her lips and shot another arrow before speaking. “I’m afraid it’s more than that.”

Lan Xi knew what Shen Yanxin was thinking, but she didn’t dare speculate or speak about palace matters. She could only listen when Shen Yanxin spoke.

“Unfortunately, the two of them cannot serve in the court. Otherwise, they would certainly be ministers I could trust.” Shen Yanxin sighed.

A while later, Si Yunqin arrived. Shen Yanxin pulled her into a sparring match and didn’t let her go until she was completely exhausted.

Of course, Shen Yanxin knew the girl was definitely cursing her in her heart again.

On the day of the Imperial Examination, Si Yunqin had no choice but to get up early. After fixing herself up, she had to go pick up the Young Emperor and have breakfast with him.

No matter how mature the Young Emperor was, he was still a child. He couldn’t always be obedient. He asked endless questions, and Si Yunqin, waking up so early, really didn’t want to answer him.

Finally, unable to stand the kid’s endless questions, she tapped his little head. “Eat quickly, or your mother will come looking for you.”

Yuwen Luo obediently went back to eating. After all, he had to sit through a whole morning and couldn’t go hungry.

Of course, that was what Si Yunqin said. Technically, this wasn’t breakfast time.

After eating, Yuwen Luo secretly hid a Luban lock in his sleeve—another gift from Si Yunqin that he hadn’t solved yet.

Today’s Imperial Examination was held at Zichen Hall. At least it wasn’t sunny there, but Si Yunqin thought it might be boring.

After they finished eating, someone from Respectful Peace Palace came to tell His Majesty to get ready for court.

The two of them shared an imperial carriage to the outside of Zichen Hall. Just then, Shen Yanxin’s carriage arrived as well. Today, Shen Yanxin was also dressed in court robes, looking especially majestic and stern.

Once she took her seat above the hundred officials, Si Yunqin felt as if Shen Yanxin had become a drawn sword—gleaming with cold light, sharp and deadly.