Whoever can strike me hard will be rewarded handsomely.

Upon hearing this, Pei Lian's back visibly stiffened.

The crime of overstepping one's bounds can be serious or minor, depending entirely on Your Majesty's attitude.

They could be executed and their entire family wiped out, or they could be let off lightly by Gao.

He knew that persisting in the competition was not a wise choice, but it was the only opportunity. If he didn't take advantage of his youthful vigor and the fearless spirit of a newborn calf, he would have to seize the opportunity.

Pei Lian thought he would never get an answer in his lifetime.

He didn't want to live with regrets for the rest of his life.

Pei Lian's expression changed several times. After a long while, he raised his head, looked into Qin Ji's eyes, and pleaded, "I am willing to bear the full responsibility for the crime of overstepping my bounds. I only beg Your Majesty to have mercy. This is my crime alone and does not involve anyone else."

This is because he didn't want to implicate his teacher, senior classmates, and relatives.

They still have some conscience.

It seems he hasn't completely lost his mind and recklessly made a desperate gamble.

But he's mostly lost in thought, so we need to enlighten him and bring this stubborn kid to his senses.

Regardless of whether he is implicated or not, Zhao Siye's next big act has already been arranged.

Qin Ji also wanted to mislead Pei Lian, guiding him to connect "Zhao Siye's wrongful imprisonment" with his overstepping of authority, in order to temper his character and give him a lesson he would never forget.

However, Pei Lian had already made a request not to be implicated.

If he doesn't respond, the kid will probably rather regret it and back down.

If he agrees, he will uphold his word, for going back on his word would damage his prestige.

Dealing with such a smooth-sailing, naive brat was a piece of cake for Qin Ji. He didn't give a clear answer, only saying, "When I punish you, don't beg for mercy while you're crying."

Fang Yanqing and Fu Xingjian both keenly perceived the trap in His Majesty's words.

He neither agreed nor denied, but instead seemed to be trying to provoke him.

Knowing His Majesty's character well, Fang Yanqing silently lit a candle in his heart for the little prodigy Pei.

Although Fu Xingjian felt it was inappropriate, since His Majesty had said something like "Don't cry and beg for mercy" to provoke him, he probably wouldn't really pursue the crime of overstepping his bounds. It seemed more like he was just trying to deflate the arrogance of the young prodigy, Pei.

He didn't say anything more to plead for him.

Pei Lian is not stupid. He passed the imperial examination at a young age, which shows that he is a person with outstanding talent and intelligence.

But he never dreamed that His Majesty, out of compassion for his fellow human beings and a sense of shared grief, had already meticulously planned out the next chapter of their story.

He and Fu Xingjian were thinking the same thing.

Hearing His Majesty's words, he believed that His Majesty's provocation was merely an attempt to dampen his spirits and embarrass him.

Even if it's embarrassing, could there be a poetry gathering at Mangshan, where he lost one match and drew one in front of everyone, making his teacher feel ashamed, and even making his opponent feel sorry for him and call off the match?

The fact that Your Majesty said this shows that Your Majesty has no intention of starting a major war.

So he readily accepted the provocation and declared in his hoarse voice, "I will never beg for mercy!"

Qin Ji had been waiting for him to say that. He stood up, dusted off his sleeves, and said, "Since the top scholar and the second-place scholar are both here, then you two can be the witnesses."

Fang Yanqing and Fu Xingjian rose, bowed, and said respectfully, "Yes."

Pei Lian immediately stood up, his gaze intense: "How do we compete?"

Realizing he had been somewhat impolite, he bowed to Qin Ji and said, "It is entirely up to Your Majesty to decide how to proceed."

Qin Ji knew that they had already eaten at the Qionglin Banquet and were not hungry, so he stepped out of the East Warm Pavilion and headed towards the Qianzheng Hall.

Pei Lian and the others quickly followed.

Fu Lu busied himself arranging and serving them, and soon served them tea.

This round was supposed to be a competition of policy essays, and Pei Lian was eager to ask His Majesty: How should the competition be conducted? Who should set the questions?

Qin Ji, however, tapped the imperial desk twice lightly with his knuckles.

Fu Lu bowed and stood by, awaiting orders.

"Go and fetch the third-ranked scholar's examination paper."

Fu Lu departed in haste.

Pei Lian's heart leaped into her throat.

His Majesty did not invite the Hanlin Academy to set the exam questions, but instead ordered someone to retrieve his exam paper. Could it be that...?

Fang Yanqing and Fu Xingjian also realized something at this moment.

Fu Xingjian did not interrupt, but waited in silence.

Fang Yanqing thought to himself: What a pitiful little prodigy, I can't bear to watch anymore.

Fu Lu was indeed very efficient. In no time, he returned with a smile and presented Pei Lian's exam paper to Qin Ji's desk, carefully spreading it out in front of Qin Ji.

"Come and take a look."

Qin Ji spoke succinctly, and casually picked up a writing brush.

Pei Lian knew that His Majesty was referring to him, so he stepped forward and stood beside the imperial desk.

Fang Yanqing and Fu Xingjian, as "witnesses," also got up and went over.

Dip the brush in cinnabar.

Qin Ji picked up his vermilion pen and began to circle and correct Pei Lian's exam paper.

As he spoke eloquently, he said, "Your words are beautiful and your style is powerful. You have the determination to solve the problem and you haven't made any mistakes in the general direction."

However, due to a lack of experience and insufficient attention to detail, the writing inevitably becomes top-heavy and superficial, appearing to be full of grand theories but detached from reality.

Despite being handpicked as the third-ranked scholar, he seemed utterly worthless in His Majesty's eyes.

In just a few words, he pinpointed Pei Lian's weakest point; his words were sharp and to the point.

Pei Lian's face was flushed the whole time, and it was unclear what he was thinking.

Qin Ji once admired Jiang Jibai's ability to "carve flowers in shit" by revising Bian Yushu's few cringe-worthy articles.

Although he was not as patient as Jiang Jibai, he could not explain things in a detailed and engaging manner.

But often a single sentence can pinpoint the most important point.

Having been exposed to politics from a young age, he has been handling government affairs day and night since taking office.

Countless memorials, secret reports, and military intelligence passed through his eyes—things that candidates for the imperial examinations would never encounter in their entire lives.

His vision and perspective, his ability to solve practical problems, and his control over the court are all built upon his unique status and perspective.

Policy essays, however, focus on practical application and the understanding and analysis of current affairs.

Compared to Pei Lian, this is a complete dimensional reduction attack; to put it bluntly, it's pure bullying of a child.

You should know that in order not to expose himself to Jiang Jibai, he wrote his articles in secret.

If he were to act as he pleased, Jiang Jibai, with his keen insight, would inevitably become suspicious of his identity.

Fang Yanqing and Fu Xingjian had anticipated this.

Even Fang Yanqing and Fu Xingjian benefited greatly from following His Majesty's instructions.

Fang Yanqing couldn't help but sigh to himself: I suppose even the teacher has never seen this flamboyant handwriting, this eloquent and flowing document? I wonder what the teacher would think if he saw it?

Pei Lian bit her lower lip tightly.

He knew he had completely humiliated himself.

His Majesty's vermilion comments were not empty words; every single one hit his weakest spot.

Competing with the "exam judges" in policy debate is a gamble that is almost always lost.

From the moment he proposed the challenge, he was destined to lose miserably.

But a tree also wants to see how high the mountain is, a fish also wants to know how deep the sea is, and a bird also wants to fly to the edge of the sky.

It was embarrassing to have brought shame upon himself, but he did not regret it.

Pei Lian carefully wrote down all of His Majesty's comments.

His Majesty, please put down your pen.

He knelt down, biting his lip, and said with difficulty, "Your Majesty, I have overstepped my bounds and committed an offense. I beg Your Majesty to punish me."

...

Second update delivered! Goal achieved! Double update tomorrow!