I, the villainous eldest prince, will suppress everything!

Zhou Biao then dropped the stick.

Chen Shoutian smiled apologetically while turning to scold his younger brother:

"Shut up, that's how I taught you before!"

"Ever since we came to the capital, you've almost forgotten what your own surname is."

For some reason, Chen Shoutian noticed that since the two brothers came to the capital, his younger brother Chen Wangju had changed a lot.

Moreover, as the imperial examinations approached, Chen Wangju became increasingly arrogant.

He looked down on everyone in the rice shop and repeatedly made arrogant remarks, saying what he would do if he got into high school.

If he weren't worried about affecting Chen Wangju's performance in the imperial examinations tomorrow, he would definitely have given Chen Wangju a good beating.

While Chen Shoutian was reprimanding Chen Wangju, Qin Li and Cao Quan exchanged a glance and found a clean place to sit down.

After a while, thanks to Chen Shoutian's efforts, the atmosphere at the scene finally calmed down, and the conversation became less heated.

However, after a while, Chen Wangju, still reading, said:

"Cao Quan, I heard you've become the head manager. Just the money peeking out from between your fingers is enough for all of us to spend for ten years. Since you're so rich, why are you even participating in the imperial examination? Do you have an addiction to officialdom? Do you think being rich isn't enough, you have to be an official?"

Cao Quan looked at Chen Wangju and also noticed that Chen Wangju had changed a lot.

It seems that the environment really can influence people. Back in his hometown, Chen Wangju wasn't as sarcastic as he is now.

Cao Quan said, "I don't know if I have an ambition for officialdom, but you, Chen Wangju, certainly do. If you fail to pass the imperial examination, your Chen family is doomed."

What was meant as sarcasm was met with a response from Chen Wangju: "I, Chen Wangju, will surely pass the imperial examination and bring glory to my Chen family."

He has that confidence, absolute confidence.

Cao Quan didn't know where his confidence came from. He admitted that Chen Wangju was very knowledgeable, but the imperial examination was like a thousand troops crossing a single-plank bridge. There were many people who were smarter and more knowledgeable than Chen Wangju. If Chen Wangju was so arrogant and conceited now, he would probably suffer the consequences.

Cao Quan didn't know where Chen Wangju's confidence came from, but Qin Li did.

After all, writing someone else's name on your own answer sheet allows you to go back and become a county magistrate, which is much easier than high school.

Out of respect for Cao Quan and for the sake of the friendship they had built on their journey to the capital, Qin Li said, "I have heard that this year's imperial examination is being presided over by His Highness the Crown Prince, and it is the fairest and most impartial imperial examination in history. Anyone who dares to cheat will be executed without mercy."

Upon hearing this, Chen Shoutian and Chen Wangju exchanged a glance, their thoughts unreadable.

Qin Li only hoped that his reminder would make the two brothers realize their mistake in time and pull back from the brink!

"Of course, anyone who dares to cheat this time will be executed without mercy. This is the fairest and most just imperial examination in history. Only in this way can I, Chen Wangju, confidently assert that I, Chen Wangju, will surely pass the imperial examination with flying colors this time!"

Others might not have thought much of it, but Chen Shoutian felt uneasy hearing it. His younger brother, Chen Wangju, was determined to work for that man in black.

The two brothers have argued about this matter countless times in recent days.

Chen Shoutian initially thought it was a good thing, but later he couldn't sleep at night whenever he thought about it. So he made up his mind that he absolutely could not cheat.

Even without a high school, the Chen family will be fine; it's a way to play it safe.

But Chen Wangju was different; he had already agreed to work for the man in black and would write someone else's name on his answer sheet tomorrow.

Qin Li had given the warning he needed to: if Chen Wangju remained unrepentant, then he shouldn't blame Qin Li for being ruthless.

In the latter half of the night, the group slept in a row, just like the night they first arrived at the rice shop, but none of them felt sleepy.

Looking out the window at the moon, Qin Li asked, "What do you all want to do after high school?"

Cao Quan replied with a smile, "My benefactor, you're mistaken. It's not 'you,' but 'us.' All of us can pass the imperial examination."

Qin Li couldn't help but smile. Despite being the son of a landlord, Cao Quan didn't have any of the bad habits that people usually associate with landlords' sons.

On the contrary, he is sincere and hardworking, and he will surely achieve great things in the future even if he does not participate in the imperial examination.

"You guys? Forget about it."

Chen Wangju, who was at the very back, sneered and couldn't help but sigh, "If it were the imperial examinations in the past, you might have been able to get your names on the list by spending some money. But this time, it's fair and just, and it tests your knowledge. Among us, I'm afraid only I, Chen Wangju, can pass."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Biao was so angry that he was about to pick up the stick again and break Chen Wangju's leg.

That little brat is so infuriating!

Chen Wangju is not only inferior to Cao Quan in terms of family background, but his good academic performance is also something others say. In a real exam, he might not do as well as Cao Quan.

Even Cao Quan wasn't arrogant, so where did Chen Wangju get the right to be arrogant?

If someone like that gets into high school, they'll be so arrogant they'll be swaggering.

Chen Shoutian was exhausted and too tired to offer any more advice.

It's time to find someone to teach Chen Wangju a lesson.

However, in the end, Zhou Biao did not break Chen Wangju's leg.

Qin Li said, "None of you have answered my question yet: What do you want to do after high school?"

Chen Wangju was the first to speak: "After passing the imperial examination, one should naturally enter the court as an official, serve His Majesty, seek the well-being of the people, be ennobled and appointed prime minister, and leave a mark on history!"

Chen Shoutian glanced at Chen Wangju with deep disappointment, then said his ideal: "I don't have such lofty ambitions as Wangju. If I am lucky enough to pass the imperial examination, I will definitely return to my hometown, benefit the people, and bring glory to my Chen family."

Cao Quan said, "After high school, I'll climb as high as I can."

Upon hearing this, Chen Wangju couldn't help but sneer, "Then you shouldn't be participating in the imperial examinations, but instead, like what you're doing now, curry favor with the powerful and influential people in the capital. Let me point you in the right direction."

Cao Quan wasn't angry; he just smiled and said, "Alright, I'm all ears."

Chen Wangju said, "In the capital today, the most powerful person is undoubtedly His Highness the Crown Prince. You should find a way to curry favor with him. With your abilities, Cao Quan, you will soon be able to realize your ambitions and climb as high as you can. After all, His Highness the Crown Prince appoints people based on nepotism."

Zhou Biao was so angry that he was about to get up again, but Qin Li stopped him with a look.

Chen Wangju was right; he was indeed practicing nepotism, and he didn't even argue against it.

The next moment, Cao Quan said, "I'm already doing it. The Song family is the current Crown Prince's power. If I do well in the Song family and make some achievements, I will definitely have the opportunity to meet the Crown Prince and work for him in the future."

Chen Wangju said, "Not bad, not bad. You must work hard. Who knows, we might become rivals in the imperial court in the future."

"opponent?"

"Cao Quan, why are you pretending to be confused in front of me? You know, I hate it when you act like this the most."

Immediately afterwards, Chen Wangju said, "Aren't we opponents? From now on, you will be the Crown Prince's henchman, and I, Chen Wangju, will be His Majesty's loyal subject. It's either you die or I live."

Cao Quan, however, disagreed, saying, "We are all officials in the court; the only difference is our political views. How can we be considered rivals? Internal strife will only make us a laughingstock to other countries!"

"Stop with the empty talk. We are adversaries. What kind of good person is the current Crown Prince? He has persecuted loyal officials and committed countless evil deeds. He should have been stripped of his title as Crown Prince, demoted to a commoner, imprisoned in the imperial jail, and never be able to rise again!"

Cao Quan couldn't help but sit up and shouted angrily, "Is your loyal emperor some kind of good person? Look what the Great Zhou has become in his hands! The Great Zhou should have a new master long ago."

"Your Highness, what's wrong with him? He's done countless evil deeds, and his only path is to be tyrannical. In this chaotic world, tyranny is necessary to achieve strength. Don't you understand this simple principle?"

"Overbearing? Just because he's overbearing, he doesn't even acknowledge his own father, repeatedly embarrassing His Majesty and putting him in a difficult position. Is that right?"

"That's not the Crown Prince's fault, but rather that His Majesty has never trusted him!"

"Alright, you remain loyal to your Crown Prince, and I'll remain loyal to His Majesty. Let's see who has the last laugh."

"Let's take a look..."