I, the villainous eldest prince, will suppress everything!

Shi Zhiwen, leaning on a cane and hunched over, entered the examination hall.

Zhou Biao approached Qin Li, covered his mouth with one hand, and couldn't help but whisper:

"Your Highness, that old man is definitely up to no good."

Qin Li nodded, but did not speak.

The imperial examinations were very important to students across the country, and also to court officials.

The imperial examinations can change the fate of students across the country, and they can also change the lives of students.

Because the imperial examinations were crucial for selecting officials, it was extremely rare for an official to act independently and not belong to any political party. Such officials generally did not fare well.

Therefore, the unspoken rule in the imperial court was that whenever a new official entered the court, he had to choose to join a political party.

Only by protecting oneself can one climb higher.

The selection of officials through the imperial examinations in the spring was something that every political party attached great importance to.

If they can recruit more new officials into their party, their power will naturally increase.

If we see new officials joining other parties, then the balance will shift.

Therefore, the imperial examinations could change their fate, and even the court officials valued them more than the students.

However, this year's imperial examination was presided over by Qin Li, so other parties couldn't interfere much.

But they won't just stand by and watch; they'll definitely find a way to get a piece of the pie.

Shi Zhiwen looked old and frail. This time, he participated in setting the questions and completed it with others. Unlike before, he had more control over the imperial examinations. But he would definitely find a way to make up for it in other ways.

Not to mention that he was very close to the Zhao brothers, Zhao Guanwen and Zhao Guanli.

"Has everyone who was supposed to come arrived?"

After a while, Qin Li asked.

Zhou Biao nodded.

The students entered the examination hall during the day, and the examination papers had just been delivered there.

As for the proctors, they arrived a few days ago, and everyone who was supposed to come has come.

"Then let's seal off the hospital."

Qin Li said it casually.

Zhou Biao clasped his hands in a fist and said, "I will take care of it immediately."

The examination hall is closed off for each spring examination and will only be opened after the examination is over.

However, this time the people sealing the courtyard were different; they were from the Crown Prince's residence, and they were all veterans who had been on the battlefield and killed people.

At midnight, with the sound of several drums, the exam papers were distributed on time, officially kicking off this year's spring imperial examination.

……

Tonight, many people are sleepless.

There are some inside the examination hall, and some outside the examination hall.

There were far more people outside the examination hall.

It is said that countless students participate in the spring imperial examinations every year, making it a highly competitive process.

But if you really count carefully, there were only a mere five thousand students who went to Beijing to participate in the imperial examinations.

Tonight, not all five thousand students will stay up all night to answer questions. Some, more carefree, will choose to sleep first, recharge, and answer questions during the day. It all depends on the students' preparation, and this is also part of the test for them.

Fewer than 5,000 students will stay up all night. Including the proctors and other miscellaneous people in the examination hall, the actual number of people staying up all night in the examination hall is no more than 6,000.

Outside the examination hall, there were far more people who didn't sleep than this; their numbers were truly countless.

For example, the families of students studying away from home, knowing that the spring examinations will begin tonight, are filled with anxiety and unable to sleep.

For example, most officials in the capital will not be sleeping tonight.

As for other ordinary people, there are even more who don't sleep.

Meanwhile, at the Crown Prince's residence.

In the deep courtyard, the lights shone dimly.

Several women sat in an elegant room, chatting.

"I don't know if Your Highness can make it through. I heard that the imperial examination lasts for several days, and people are locked in a small cell where they eat, drink, and relieve themselves. They can't speak or move around freely. It's even more agonizing than being in prison."

"Your Highness, you are of noble birth, born into wealth and privilege. You have been waited on hand and foot since childhood. You have never suffered such hardship. I really don't know if Your Highness can endure this."

Xia Liu paced back and forth in the room, refilling the teacups in front of the other girls, and said softly, her brows furrowed with worry and heartache.

Upon hearing this, the other women in the room exchanged glances and couldn't help but smile.

In the room, besides Xia Liu, there were Pei Qingluan, Xiao Xueer, and Bai Zhenzhen.

As for Chun Tao, who's so carefree, she was already fast asleep, snoring loudly.

Song Qian was unable to come because she was busy with many things to do.

After a light laugh, Pei Qingluan reassured Xia Liu that she didn't need to worry, saying:

"It's true that the students are imprisoned in the examination hall, locked in a small cell, but what does that have to do with Qin Li? I reckon he's enjoying himself more in the examination hall than at home."

"If he, a grown man, can't even hold on for a few days, he'll be utterly disgraced, not only by the Crown Prince's household but also by me, Pei Qingluan!"

After speaking, Pei Qingluan picked up the silk cloth and continued to carefully wipe her longsword. The blade was as white as snow and extremely sharp.

Xiao Xue'er, who was sitting embroidering nearby, reached out and gently tugged at Pei Qingluan, teasing her with a smile, "Sister Pei, you've misunderstood. I think Xia Liu isn't worried about His Highness at all; she just wants to be with him every moment. If His Highness had taken her along this time and let her take care of his daily life, she definitely wouldn't have said that."

Upon hearing this, Pei Qingluan realized what was going on and teased, "Hey, I didn't realize you had such thoughts, little girl."

"You've only just lost your virginity, how could your heart have already gone with him? Don't let him sell you out and then you're still counting the money for him."

Upon hearing this, Xia Liu's face turned as red as blood, and she wished she could disappear into a crack in the ground.

That's not what she meant; she was genuinely worried about Qin Li.

How could those clumsy, big men like Zhou Biao possibly take good care of Qin Li?

She really wanted to argue with Pei Qingluan, but she didn't dare.

Because Pei Qingluan was the Crown Princess, she was just a personal maid without any official title.

Even if Qin Li sold her out, she would be happy to help him count the money.

Nobody needs to stop her; if anyone tries, she'll get angry.

"Alright, alright, Sister Pei, stop making fun of Xia Liu. Look at her face, it's as red as a monkey's bottom."

Upon hearing this, the two women laughed so hard their bodies trembled.

Inside the room, only Bai Zhenzhen, who was engrossed in her book, did not laugh.

The girls all suspected that she hadn't been listening to them at all.

Speaking of Bai Zhenzhen, the girls admired her from the bottom of their hearts.

Since arriving at the Crown Prince's residence, she has spent most of her time in the library and rarely goes out.

Every day, accompanied by the martial arts manuals in the library, Old Snake was so questioned by her that he dared not stay in the mansion anymore.

No one knows what level of cultivation Bai Zhenzhen is now. In any case, Pei Qingluan no longer challenges her to a duel because she loses miserably.

Looking at Bai Zhenzhen, Pei Qingluan gave Xia Liu a wink.

Xia Liu bent down, picked up the teapot, and went over to refill Bai Zhenzhen's teacup, which had gone cold.

Bai Zhenzhen caught a glimpse of it out of the corner of her eye and thanked her.

Xia Liu didn't know what to do, so she turned to look at Pei Qingluan.

Pei Qingluan gave her another wink, and Xia Liu then said to Bai Zhenzhen:

"Miss Bai, aren't you worried about His Highness at all?"

Upon hearing this, Bai Zhenzhen finally looked up from her book and towards Xia Liu in front of her, as well as Pei Qingluan and Xiao Xue'er sitting together not far away.

If you ask her to say she's worried, Bai Zhenzhen definitely won't.

Because she was the shyest woman in the household, even shyer than Chun Tao.

She avoided the topic, simply standing up and saying, "It's getting late, why don't we call it a night and go back to rest?"

"Oh, you can't leave!"

Pei Qingluan quickly stood up, stretched out her arms to block the doorway, and deliberately said:

"Bai Zhenzhen, Qin Li is so good to you. All of us combined are not as good to you as he is to you alone. Isn't it a bit unreasonable that you're not worried about him?"

Bai Zhenzhen's face turned red at a visible speed, and her voice became softer: "N-no, he's nice to everyone the same."

Pei Qingluan and Xiao Xue'er exchanged a glance, suppressing their laughter.

After coughing twice, Pei Qingluan deliberately said, "Nonsense! We all see how good he is to you. Don't pretend to be innocent after getting the benefits."

"I...I didn't," Bai Zhenzhen quickly denied.

"Okay, since you say no, then you'll come with us to a place tomorrow."

"Where to?"

Bai Zhenzhen asked, puzzled.

Pei Qingluan said, "Go find a woman. Do you know where Qin Li has been these past few days without returning to the manor? He's been with that woman. Qin Li treats her the same way he treats you. We all know about you, but we want to see what that woman looks like and what her personality is like. After all, knowing yourself and your enemy is the key to victory."

"But aren't we all family, good sisters? Why do we need to know ourselves and our enemy to win every battle?"

Bai Zhenzhen blinked her innocent big eyes and asked, completely puzzled.

Upon hearing this, the girls suddenly realized why Qin Li treated Bai Zhenzhen so well.

If they were Qin Li, they would also like Bai Zhenzhen the most.