My family has been wielding knives for generations, but now it's my turn to wield a pen!

"Your Majesty, we..."

Chen Zhanqiu's expression changed again, and he wanted to say something more, but Xiao Jinxuan gave him a cold look and said, "Enough!!"

With that, Xiao Jinxuan snorted coldly, "Hmph, thoroughly investigate the Ministry of Rites, this matter is approved!!"

Upon hearing this, Chen Zhanqiu's face turned ashen, and he slumped to the ground.

"Your Majesty, I have something to say!"

At this moment, Li Bingzhang came out, which made Chen Zhanqiu and An Zhiyuan's eyes light up at the same time.

Li Bingzhang is their head of civil officials, so his standing up now must mean he's speaking up for them.

"Yes, Minister Li, please speak freely!"

Xiao Jinxuan's expression softened considerably when he saw Li Bingzhang.

"I believe that Prince Jiang is both brave and resourceful, and that he risked his life to uncover the cheating in the imperial examinations!"

Li Bingzhang spoke up, "How about we entrust this investigation to Prince Jiang?"

Eh?

Upon hearing this, Chen Zhanqiu's face turned even paler.

no……

It was bad enough that Li Xiang wouldn't help him, but instead he went and tried to destroy them?

This doesn't make sense!

Damn it, isn't Li Xiang always at odds with Jiang Jingcheng's side?

Why are they suddenly speaking up for Jiang Xiaobai?!

"Your Majesty, this matter... I approve!"

Tang Kui immediately spoke up.

"We also agree with this!"

The military officers all nodded in agreement.

Yes, they were giving Jiang Jingcheng face.

Of course, it was Jiang Xiaobai who truly resonated with them.

cool!

Master Song glanced at Jiang Xiaobai and said, "Your Majesty, I also agree!"

The civil and military officials around looked at each other in bewilderment, and in the end, most of them could only nod in agreement.

That's right, this idea was initiated by Li Bingzhang.

The military officers all nodded menacingly, and they couldn't say anything else.

Xiao Jinxuan narrowed his eyes slightly, finally fixing his gaze on one person and saying, "Minister Zheng, as the Minister of Justice, what are your thoughts?"

As Xiao Jinxuan finished speaking, an older man stepped forward and respectfully said, "Your Majesty, I object!"

"As the newly appointed top scholar, Prince Jiang should logically be admitted to the Hanlin Academy. Moreover, matters like investigating cases are better left to the Censorate!"

"Um!"

Xiao Jinxuan responded, then looked at another person and asked, "Prime Minister, what do you think?"

Xiao Jinxuan was looking at an old minister at that moment.

The old minister, who had remained silent throughout, immediately stepped forward upon hearing Xiao Jinxuan's words and said softly, "Your Majesty, I believe Minister Zheng's words are reasonable!"

"in addition!"

The old man raised his eyes, glanced at Jiang Xiaobai, and continued, "The Jiang family's heir is, after all, the son of Marquis Jiang!"

"And since Marquis Jiang holds military power in the northern border, it would be quite inappropriate if someone from his household were to also gain civil authority!"

The old man's simple words sparked a flurry of discussion among those around him.

Jiang Xiaobai turned his head and glanced at the person.

Is this the Grand Secretary?

He looked kind and gentle, but his simple words hit the nail on the head.

This person... is no ordinary person!

No wonder he was appointed Grand Secretary by the Emperor!

"this……"

Just as Xiao Jinxuan was about to speak, Li Bingzhang smiled faintly: "Hehe, Minister Zheng, what Chief Minister Meng said makes sense, but I think this matter... is perhaps nothing!"

Ok?

Chief Minister Meng?

Upon hearing this, Jiang Xiaobai couldn't help but glance at the old man.

No, there's a prime minister now, and even a chief minister?

It seems that this world is indeed different from the ancient times of my previous life!

"Oh? Does Prime Minister Li mean that military and civilian power can coexist?"

Upon hearing Li Bingzhang's words, Minister Zheng couldn't help but reply, showing no fear whatsoever when looking at Li Bingzhang's expression.

Li Bingzhang frowned, but before he could speak, the elderly Grand Secretary said again calmly, "Furthermore, I agree with the Jiang family's heir's statement that reputation doesn't represent everything!"

"The four strategists just now also agreed, but..."

At this point, the old man paused, looking at Jiang Xiaobai, and said, "But I do not recognize him as the top scholar!"

"After all, as the saying goes, one must have a legitimate reason for taking action. From what I understand, the Jiang family has arranged some private tutors for the young master Jiang, but these tutors all resigned after only a few days..."

"His Majesty!"

Li Bingzhang interrupted the old man, turning his gaze to Xiao Jinxuan and saying, "As far as I know, Young Master Jiang has already become Master Lin's disciple!"

"What Chief Minister Meng said about Prince Jiang having no teacher is untrue!"

A simple sentence caused the old man, who was the chief minister, to frown and look at Li Bingzhang with disbelief.

Xiao Jinxuan's expression once again revealed surprise.

Of course, it wasn't just the two of them; all the civil officials present looked at each other with disbelief on their faces.

Who was Elder Lin?

They actually took Jiang Xiaobai as their disciple?!

However, although they were shocked, they knew that Li Bingzhang would not joke about this matter.

Li Bingzhang then looked at Xiao Jinxuan and continued, "Your Majesty, also... I have a private matter to discuss!"

"Oh?"

Xiao Jinxuan frowned: "Speak!"

Li Bingzhang spoke up: "My daughter, Li Zhiwei, and the young master Jiang are mutually in love. I humbly request Your Majesty's permission to allow the young master of the Jiang family... to marry into my Prime Minister's residence!!"

After saying that, Li Bingzhang bent down.

Upon hearing this, all the officials in the court widened their eyes once again.

Minister Zheng, and even the Grand Secretary, looked at Li Bingzhang with surprise once again.

This is quite unexpected!

Guo Zhan and Zhong Yu also looked up, their faces filled with disbelief.

Li Zhiwei...the most talented woman in the capital!

How could she possibly be interested in Jiang Xiaobai?!

"Is that so?"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Jinxuan's hand, which was gripping the dragon throne, visibly trembled slightly.

At this moment, an official stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, yesterday at the Imperial Academy, I heard..."

The official glanced at Li Bingzhang first, but still spoke up: "Prime Minister Li's daughter is constantly harassing Prince Jiang!"

"Many people have seen this, so... it must be true!"

"Your Majesty, I was at the Imperial Academy yesterday, and the news about this is widely circulating; it is indeed true!"

Another official stepped forward and looked at Xiao Jinxuan respectfully.

As soon as the two spoke, the entire court was abuzz with discussion.

Jiang Xiaobai, a spoiled brat, was actually pursued by Li Zhiwei?

Is this... real?

Li Bingzhang looked slightly embarrassed, but remained silent.

"Interesting, interesting!"

Xiao Jinxuan chuckled and said, "Prime Minister Li, your daughter has quite the taste!"

But Xiao Jinxuan paused, looking at Li Bingzhang, and continued, "Does Marquis Jiang know about this? After all, Jiang Xiaobai is currently... Marquis Jiang's only son!"

"Your Majesty, rest assured!"

Li Bingzhang smiled and said, "We discussed this matter three days ago, and Elder Lin personally presided over it. As for Marquis Jiang... he dared not object!"

"Was Elder Lin also present?"

Xiao Jinxuan's eyes flashed with a sharp light.

Moreover, the word "dare not" used by Li Bingzhang has a deeper meaning.

"Your Majesty, I feel..."

At this moment, Jiang Xiaobai spoke with difficulty, "This matter is not worth disturbing you; we will handle it privately!"

"Hmph, Young Master Jiang, your father and I have already reached an agreement. This is not something you can decide!"

Li Bingzhang gave a faint snort and said, "Besides, you should know how much my daughter has helped you!"

"this……"

Jiang Xiaobai lowered his head, his face pale.

This scene immediately made the entire court intrigued.

Could it be that Jiang Xiaobai is speaking so eloquently while there's a mastermind behind him?

Moreover, this expert is either Master Lin or the talented woman behind him, Li Zhiwei, right?

Of course, it could even be... Li Bingzhang himself!

If that's the case, then Jiang Xiaobai's sudden behavior makes sense!

Xiao Jinxuan's eyes flashed slightly, then he sighed softly and said, "Ah, so be it. Since Prime Minister Li and Marquis Jiang have already reached an agreement, then... I grant your permission!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Li Bingzhang cupped his hands in greeting, then looked at Zheng Yuanqing and said, "Minister Zheng, Chief Minister Meng!"

"Now that Young Master Jiang is about to marry into my Li family, I suppose you two have no objections to his thorough investigation of the Ministry of Rites?"

"this……"

Zheng Yuanqing hesitated for a moment, glanced at Xiao Jinxuan, and finally nodded and retreated.

The old man frowned and remained silent.

"Haha, let's settle on that then!"

Xiao Jinxuan was clearly in a great mood, laughing heartily. Just as he was about to speak, Jiang Xiaobai's voice suddenly rang out: "Your Majesty, please wait! This student has an objection!"

Ok?

Xiao Jin looked at Jiang Xiaobai.

"His Majesty……"

Jiang Xiaobai looked troubled and said, "After all, I am but a humble student with little influence!"

"At that time, if the officials in the Ministry of Rites, being of higher rank, don't cooperate, then I... well, I'm afraid I'll be in a difficult position!"

"Therefore, Your Majesty, please rescind your order and hand the matter over to the Censorate!"