In a chaotic world, border soldiers begin their journey by enlisting in the army and getting married

Inside the imperial study sat a woman dressed in a dragon robe, dignified yet imposing. Upon closer inspection, her features were exquisitely beautiful, beyond compare.

However, the depth hidden in those beautiful eyes also revealed the empress's shrewdness!

Whatever the reason for taking this position, it is enough to prove that this person is not simple.

"Your Majesty, we, your humble servants, pay our respects."

As soon as he entered, several ministers bowed.

Chen Shan looked around and found that, apart from the Southern King, only the current Empress was in the Imperial Study.

Those who came in with him were Hanlin Academician Zhao Tuo, Minister of War Hu Tu, and Minister of Revenue.

Not everyone came.

Although these people were all first- or second-rank officials, they did not represent the entirety of the imperial court.

At least he didn't see that prime minister.

Chen Shan bowed in response, and before the Empress could speak, he asked, "Since this is a discussion, why isn't the Prime Minister here?"

Chen Shan's question stunned the ministers, but Zhao Tuo, standing to the side, scoffed, "The Prime Minister is too busy to attend to everything."

"General Chen is so eager to see the Prime Minister, could it be that he intends to smear the Prime Minister?"

Because of the unpleasantness outside the door earlier, Zhao Tuo had no good feelings towards Chen Shan, so he would slander him and kick him when he was down whenever possible.

Of course, the most important reason is that Chen Shan was inherently at odds with the civil officials.

However, Chen Shan laughed when he said that.

"It seems our prime minister is truly capable; even the emperor isn't this busy!"

"Would you consider a prime minister who's busier than the emperor to be a capable minister or a treacherous one?"

Chen Shan smiled, but the words he blurted out made Zhao Tuo's expression change.

"You, you're talking nonsense!"

"Your Majesty, this person has openly slandered and defamed the Prime Minister. He is an utterly virtuous individual. We implore Your Majesty to make a judgment!"

Zhao Tuo immediately cried out to the Empress for his innocence, a move that left Chen Shan completely bewildered.

I've seen stupid people before, but I've never seen anyone as stupid as him.

"What a fine dog the prime minister has raised! Are you answering my question for him? The prime minister is monopolizing power and plotting to usurp the throne?"

Chen Shan's sharp words immediately made Zhao Tuo's face turn red.

"You, you're talking nonsense! The Prime Minister is devoted to the Xia Kingdom; he's not that kind of person!"

"The Prime Minister has a discerning eye and has promoted us. We have devoted ourselves to the country, how can you be allowed to slander us here!"

Chen Shan found Zhao Tuo's mind somewhat laughable; how could someone like that become a Grand Scholar?

This is simply a miracle.

Or rather, it's utterly inconceivable.

Seeing Zhao Tuo's behavior, the Empress frowned. She felt that she, as the emperor, had lost all face because such a person was actually a Grand Scholar.

"Enough, Grand Secretary Zhao, this is none of your business. Go back."

The Empress spoke, her voice carrying a hint of coldness.

In the Xia Dynasty's court, the prime minister's faction was indeed powerful, and sometimes they even disregarded the emperor.

However, when the prime minister is not around, these people know to behave themselves. I wonder what's wrong with Zhao Tuo today?

They actually jumped out so voluntarily.

They were clearly ready to stab someone in the back.

"His Majesty……"

"Is my word less important than the Prime Minister's?" the Empress said coldly. Zhao Tuo was immediately terrified, his face turning pale. He quickly nodded and turned to leave the imperial study.

Originally, he came here to try and get a share of the benefits for the civil officials in the matter of the academy, but unexpectedly, Chen Shan's appearance ruined his chance.

As he watched the person leave, Chen Shan couldn't help but laugh.

"Your Highness, if this is the kind of person you're dealing with, then you're quite weak."

"If someone like this can be promoted to the position of Grand Secretary, you can imagine that the civil officials are not very good either."

Chen Shan continued to speak without restraint, which startled Hu Tu, who quickly reminded him.

"General Chen, His Majesty is here. Please observe proper etiquette."

In response to Hu Tu's suggestion, Chen Shan simply waved his hand in acknowledgment.

The Southern King, standing to the side, immediately laughed and said, "It seems I underestimated your courage."

"However, what you just said is not entirely correct."

"Although Zhao Tuo is incompetent, all he needs to do is obey orders. Civil officials are not as bad as you think."

Hearing what the Southern Slaughter King said, Chen Shan shrugged and his gaze fell on the empress.

The reason he dared to be so blatant and disregard all rules was to see what kind of background this empress was.

When the Black Ice Guard was investigating in the capital, they encountered similarly hidden forces that did not obstruct the Black Ice Guard's investigation of the prime minister.

This made it difficult for Chen Shan not to associate that force with the Empress.

However, the Empress's attitude did surprise Chen Shan. Throughout the entire process, she did not utter a single word of reprimand to Chen Shan, except for asking Zhao Tuo to leave.

"Uncle Wang's choice of this person is indeed remarkable."

"Chen Shan, right?"

"Today I bestow upon you the position of Left Commander-in-Chief of the Five Armies, enjoying the rank of a fourth-grade official in the court. Are you willing?"

The Empress gazed intently, and her words surprised several ministers present.

There are no officials of the fourth rank as young as Chen Shan in the entire court, but those who are promoted are all appointed by the prime minister.

And this was the only person personally appointed by the emperor!

However, Chen Shan did not rush to reply to the Empress's reward, because the system notification appeared the moment the Empress spoke!

[A beautiful woman with a score of 100 was detected!]

[Huangfu Zhaoxue's favorability rating: 0]

Looking at the empress before him, Chen Shan couldn't help but think of that woman.

This name is really a bit lacking.

"If His Majesty is willing to give it, then I have no reason to refuse. However, this matter of salary cannot be taken lightly."

Chen Shan wore a faint smile, while Huangfu Zhaoxue looked at the man in front of her with the same curiosity in her heart.

She had long heard of Chen Shan's reputation and always wanted to meet him. Now she had finally met him, and he was indeed as rumored.

I just don't know what their true abilities are.

"The imperial court has its own rules on this matter. I heard that the great Confucian scholar Xu Sijing married you and even wants to establish an academy."

"I am satisfied with your ideas, however..."

"It won't be easy to get this done."

As Huangfu Zhaoxue spoke, the Southern King chimed in, "The civil officials and Confucian scholars of the land will not readily agree to this, and they have already put forward their conditions: the academy must belong to the imperial court."

"And they will arrange for renowned scholars to go in and teach."

The meaning of the Southern King is very clear: those civil officials want to seize the fruits of their labor.

In this way, even scholars who graduated from the academy would belong to his Confucian official faction.

Of course, with their involvement, it's a pipe dream for ordinary people to rise up through education.

After Nan Tu Wang finished speaking, Chen Shan rejected it without even thinking.

"That's impossible."

"Even if it's the Emperor's decree, I won't accept it."