Whoever can strike me hard will be rewarded handsomely.

The east side hall of Qianzheng Hall was completely silent.

Wisps of smoke rose from the incense burner, a delicate fragrance lingered around the nose, and the curtains moved undisturbed by any wind.

The two people in the hall were both on tenterhooks, and neither of them was in the mood to appreciate the elegance.

Yan Mingli dared not look around, his eyes fixed on the floor tiles beneath his feet, his body tense, every muscle etched with tension.

Gu Zhenhe twirled his sleeves, wondering why he had been brought here. Whenever a bad thought made his heart stop, he would look up at Yan Mingli.

He's not dead, he's not dead. Yan Mingli offended His Majesty even more severely. If anyone's to be beheaded, it'll be him first. He'll have company on his journey to the underworld, he won't be lonely at all.

"Squeak—"

The sound of the door opening followed by footsteps.

The two looked toward the door in the direction of the sound, and a third person was brought in.

Chen Han looked at the two people inside with a blank expression. Just as he was about to ask the little eunuch who had brought him in something, the little eunuch bowed and withdrew as if he hadn't seen him. The palace door closed behind Chen Han, leaving Chen Han, Yan Mingli, and Gu Zhen staring at each other.

All three were successful candidates who had fought their way through countless others; they were not fools. At first glance, they noticed their commonality—they had all dropped their pens during the palace examination.

Chen Han looked worried: "His Majesty ordered people to bring us here, could it be to announce some bad news about Xi?"

Although His Majesty did not order them to be thrown out on the spot, dropping a pen is still a careless and unseemly act that will not leave a good impression.

Ten years of hard study, if this one careless mistake ruins my future, that would be... enough to make me furious.

Compared to Chen Han's anxiety about his uncertain future, Gu Zhenhe felt more at ease when he saw him.

It's alright, it's alright. He's seen this person before. He almost fell off the mountain while watching the commotion at Mangshan and was saved by His Majesty. He shouldn't have offended His Majesty much.

Since Your Majesty saved Chen Han's life, there is no reason for you to drag him out and execute him again.

It seems his life can still be saved.

Could it be that they were brought here because of a dropped pen?

They could have just dropped their pens and openly and honestly kicked them out during the palace examination. Why go through all this trouble? Why make it so sneaky...?

Just as Gu Zhenhe was filled with doubt and uncertainty, the palace door was pushed open again.

This time, the person didn't walk in; they were carried in like a sandbag and thrown in.

Chen Han was startled and took a step back.

Gu Zhenhe and Yan Mingli: "..." This is clearly an offense against His Majesty.

Gu Zhen and Fang Yanqing shared a common fate of being stuck on Mang Mountain, so Gu Zhen asked familiarly, "Brother Fang, are you alright?"

Fang Yanqing quickly got up from the ground, dusted himself off, and was so composed that he didn't seem to have been thrown in, but rather invited in. "It's alright, it's alright. The palace examination exhausted all my energy, and I can't walk anymore. I had someone lend me a hand and give me a ride."

Okay, okay, I'll lend a hand and deliver it, right?

I admire people like this. They've already sharpened a knife halfway to their necks, yet they remain fearless in the face of danger. They have such a great mentality and such thick skin.

Gu Zhenhe had no choice but to give a thumbs up.

Fang Yanqing, who was the top scholar in the imperial examination, stood at the very front of the line during the palace examination. Now, he was very famous, and everyone present knew him.

Seeing his curiosity, Chen Han asked, "The three of us dropped our pens during the palace examination, but you didn't. Brother Fang, how come you were also...?"

The word "abduct" was on the tip of his tongue, but he changed it to a more appropriate expression: "They've been invited."

Fang Yanqing replied without hesitation, "Perhaps His Majesty admires my talent and wishes to summon me ahead of time."

The three people: "..." Does the way they threw you in look like that? We wish we had your confidence.

Seeing Fang Yanqing looking up, his gaze lingering on the roof beam, Chen Han curiously followed suit, asking, "Brother Fang, what are you looking at? Is there something on the roof beam?"

The lentils on the beam were startled and hid even more concealed.

If he were discovered by a few weak and powerless scholars, he'd be better off just rolling up into a ball and jumping into the stove to be burned as firewood.

Fang Yanqing, of course, didn't notice him. He just glanced at the beams and casually patted Chen Han's shoulder: "It's nothing, it's nothing. I was just checking which beam is sturdier so that when I'm hoisted up, it'll be a clean hoist, instead of falling and getting hurt. It's too much suffering to hang yourself like that."

"What?" Chen Han was bewildered. "Brother Fang, what makes you say that? We only lost a pen; it shouldn't be this serious, should it?"

Fang Yanqing glanced at him, then suddenly laughed and patted Chen Han on the shoulder: "I was just kidding, Brother Chen, don't take it seriously."

Chen Han chuckled twice: "Brother Fang is truly... witty."

Yan Mingli's face turned pale.

Gu Zhenhe touched his neck as if his soul had left his body.

With a creak, the palace door opened for the third time, and four pairs of eyes turned to look at it.

Gu Zhenhe's pupils constricted.

Yan Mingli suddenly stopped breathing.

Chen Han's legs went weak.

Fang Yanqing's smile remained, but whether her soul was still there was unknown.

"Thump, thump—"

The four of them suddenly knelt down on the ground.

"Your Majesty, I pay my respects. May Your Majesty be well."

Amidst the four people's uneven greetings, unhurried footsteps echoed in the hall. A section of a robe embroidered with gold thread swept past their line of sight, stirring the wind as they walked, causing them to lower their heads even further.

The figure gracefully took a seat, his hand twirling a string of sandalwood prayer beads. The beads gently clinked together, producing a soft sound that was exceptionally clear in the silent hall.

The four people knelt on the ground, silent as cicadas in winter.

The sound of the prayer beads turning tapped against the hearts of several people.

There was no sound for a long time, which clearly indicated that there was a threat.

Gu Yanhe stared blankly at the floor tiles in front of him.

Yan Mingli's face was solemn, and his breathing was heavy.

Chen Han was a little nervous, but more excited about being able to have a private audience.

Under heaven, who else has the honor of being personally saved by the emperor?

No one would believe his boasting; his ancestors must have been incredibly lucky.

As for Fang Yanqing... things have come to this point, and Fang Yanqing has become indifferent to life and death.

The hand that was turning the prayer beads stopped, and a detached voice rang out: "Is my face handsome?"

The three people who were spying on the emperor's face during the palace examination, except for Fang Yanqing, suddenly stopped breathing.

With their foreheads pressed against the floor tiles, the three cried out in unison, "Your Majesty, please forgive us!"

Fang Yanqing followed suit, mechanically pressing down on the ground, and then said emotionlessly, "Your Majesty, please forgive me."

Qin Ji looked down at the group, his lips barely moving: "Peeping at the Emperor's countenance, how audacious! Dropping your pen during the palace examination, how rash!"

"Unfit for important tasks," Qin Ji concluded.

After being reprimanded, none of them dared to utter a sound.

After leaving them waiting for a while, Qin Ji finally spoke up mercifully, "Considering you are all still young, I'll let it go this time."

Chen Han breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this.

Gu Yanhe and Yan Mingli breathed a sigh of relief.

Fang Yanqing...

What's wrong with your tone? What's with the breath? What's wrong with your mouth?

"Gu Zhenhe," Qin Ji said calmly.

Gu Zhenhe was surprised to be singled out, and his heart tightened. He respectfully said, "Your Majesty."

"You have good taste."

Gu Zhenhe suffered cardiac arrest.

...

Here is the second update from yesterday.

The first update today will be before midnight, and the second update should be after midnight. Don't worry, there will be updates soon! *kissing emoji*