Many children, many blessings; a stunningly beautiful wife is given to you right from the start.

"Summon—three hundred tribute students to an audience!"

Li Dequan's shrill voice echoed outside the hall.

A moment later, three hundred young students dressed in plain clothes, looking nervous, walked into the Hall of Supreme Harmony in neat rows.

Most of them wore faded clothes, some even patched, but their eyes revealed a fervent zeal for the future and awe of imperial power.

"This humble subject kowtows to Your Majesty! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"

Three hundred people knelt down in unison, shouting "Long live the Emperor!"

Lin Mo did not rush to make them rise, but instead narrowed his eyes slightly.

"System, activate the Emperor's Aura Observation Technique."

hum-

Lin Mo's view of the world changed instantly.

Throughout the Hall of Supreme Harmony, beams of light of various colors appeared above the heads of the civil and military officials and the three hundred tribute scholars kneeling below.

Most students from impoverished backgrounds have a pure white beam of light above their heads, representing innocence and ordinary loyalty.

Some people had a faint red glow emanating from their heads; these were loyal and capable individuals who could be of great use.

Lin Mo's gaze swept across the front row and suddenly stopped on a slender young man with a resolute face.

A blinding golden beam of light shot up from above the young man's head! Within the beam, a dragon could be faintly seen coiling, its aura extremely powerful.

Name: Wei Zheng (courtesy name Xuancheng)

Loyalty: 95

[Fortune: Capable Minister in Times of Peace (Top Grade)]

[Evaluation: Upright and incorruptible, possessing extraordinary talent; if given a prominent position, he can ensure the stability of the Great Qian Dynasty's internal affairs for a century.]

Lin Mo was overjoyed. He had just casually opened a special course and actually caught a big fish!

But he didn't make a sound, and continued to scan behind him.

Suddenly, Lin Mo's face darkened.

To the right rear of the group were three students dressed fairly well, but the pillars of luck above their heads were completely black!

Blood-red light churned within the black mist, and a thin thread could even be faintly seen connecting to an unknown direction outside the palace.

Name: Cui Hao

Loyalty: -100 (mortal enemy)

[Evaluation: A member of a collateral branch of the Cui clan of Qinghe from the previous dynasty, he forged his identity to infiltrate the imperial examinations. He carries poison and intends to assassinate the host during the palace examination or infiltrate the court to transmit intelligence.]

Not only Cui Hao, but the two men with black aura above their heads were also assassins planted by aristocratic families.

Lin Mo sneered.

These remnants of powerful families really won't shed a tear until they see the coffin.

Did they think they could get away with forging their household registration?

Before the Emperor's Aura Observation Technique, any disguise is a joke!

"Rise, all of you."

Lin Mo withdrew his Qi Observation Technique and spoke calmly.

Three hundred students stood up tremblingly, heads bowed, not daring to even breathe loudly.

Lin Mo didn't pose any questions or give any lengthy speeches. Instead, he stood up and walked down the nine steps of the main hall.

The dark gold dragon robe trailed on the ground, making a rustling sound.

The entire Hall of Supreme Harmony was deathly silent.

Lin Mo walked straight up to the young man named Wei Zheng and stopped.

"What's your name?" Lin Mo asked.

Although nervous, the young man stood ramrod straight and bowed respectfully, saying, "Your Majesty, I am Wei Zheng, a native of Ji Province."

"Ji Province is suffering from a severe drought. If I send you to provide disaster relief, what will you do if the local gentry hoard grain and refuse to distribute it?"

Lin Mo stared intently into his eyes.

Wei Zheng did not hesitate at all, his voice was firm and powerful.

"Kill! In chaotic times, harsh measures are necessary. If powerful figures obstruct national policies, it is tantamount to rebellion. We, the common people, will execute first and report later, opening the granaries to distribute grain and appease the people!"

Upon hearing this, several senior officials nearby were so frightened that they began to wipe away cold sweat.

Lin Mo, however, threw his head back and laughed loudly.

"Good! What a brilliant move of acting first and informing later!"

Lin Mo turned to look at Lu Zhi.

"Lord Lu, I want this man. From today onwards, Wei Zheng will temporarily assume the position of Supervising Censor of the Censorate, and will be granted the Imperial Sword. Anyone in the court who dares to embezzle or pervert the law, let him behead them!"

"Your subject obeys!" Lu Zhi quickly replied.

Wei Zheng was shocked, and his eyes instantly reddened.

He was a poor scholar who couldn't even afford to eat, yet the emperor promoted him to the position of censor with the power of life and death with just a word!

"Your subject, Wei Zheng, is willing to go through fire and water for Your Majesty, even unto death!"

Wei Zheng kowtowed repeatedly.

Lin Mo nodded and continued walking through the crowd.

He walked very slowly, and with each step he took, the hearts of the three spies from the powerful families pounded wildly.

When Lin Mo walked up to Cui Hao, he suddenly stopped.

Cui Hao lowered his head, his hand hidden in his sleeve already stealthily reaching for the poisoned hidden weapon.

"You, lift your head."

Lin Mo's voice was icy and chilling.

Cui Haoqiang feigned composure and slowly raised his head: "This humble citizen..."

"We no longer need commoners."

Lin Mo interrupted him directly, a cruel smile curving his lips.

"The remnants of the Cui clan of Qinghe, forging household registrations to infiltrate the Hall of Supreme Harmony—do you really think my net of justice is blind?"

boom!

These words struck like a thunderclap within the Hall of Supreme Harmony.

Cui Hao's face turned deathly pale. Knowing that his scheme had been exposed, a glint of madness flashed in his eyes.

"Tyrant! You slaughtered my entire Cui family! I'll fight you to the death!"

Cui Hao roared, and a cold light flashed from his sleeve as a dagger coated with deadly poison pierced straight at Lin Mo's throat.

At the same time, the two hidden agents beside him also sprang up, pulling out their hidden weapons and lunging at Lin Mo.

"Protect the Emperor!"

Lu Zhi was so frightened that his liver and gallbladder were about to burst, and he screamed loudly.

However, Lin Mo didn't even dodge, nor did he raise his hand.

Om-!

A violent pressure from the Nascent Soul stage erupted from Lin Mo's center.

The dark golden true essence transformed into a tangible wave of energy, directly striking the three of them.

"Snap!"

"puff--!"

The sound of bones cracking was accompanied by a large gushing of blood.

Cui Hao and his two companions were thrown backward as if hit by a speeding train, crashing heavily into the thick dragon pillars of the Hall of Supreme Harmony.

When they landed, all three of them had shattered bones, were bleeding from their seven orifices, and had turned into a puddle of mud.

The entire room fell silent.

The three hundred scholars were so frightened that their faces turned pale, their legs went weak, and they all knelt on the ground.

The civil and military officials were terrified and dared not even raise their heads.

Lin Mo took out a clean white handkerchief, wiped away non-existent dust, and casually tossed it onto Cui Hao's corpse.

"Zhao Wu".

"Your subordinate is here!"

Zhao Wu, the commander of the Imperial Guards, ran in, covered in sweat.

"Drag these three corpses out and hang them outside the Meridian Gate to be exposed to the sun for three days."

"Issue my decree: order the Heavenly Net to thoroughly investigate the entire families of these three individuals. Anyone implicated shall be executed without mercy!"