My Wife is Unbeatable in the Whole World, Touch Me If You Dare!-Chapter 279 - 161 Sympathy

The great court meeting of the first day ended, and the officials each returned home.

Not long afterward, a piece of news shook Chang'an.

At today's court meeting, His Majesty had decreed that from among the top scholars of this Imperial Examination, one would be chosen as the Prince Consort for Princess Anning.

Princess Anning, only eighteen years old, was the youngest princess of the Imperial Family.

Not only was she of noble birth and beautiful, but she also possessed cultivation of the Fourth Realm from Legalism.

Her smile was known to bedazzle the entire court, overshadowing all other beauty—this line, known to nearly everyone in Chang'an, described Princess Anning.

Marrying such a lady was a blessing accumulated over eight lifetimes.

More so, becoming a Prince Consort signified a smooth and promising career ahead.

Unlike other nations, Daxia's Prince Consort was eligible for official positions and, as Imperial Relatives, they climbed the ranks much faster than ordinary officials.

If one could become one of the top scholars and be chosen by Princess Anning, it would mean a dual harvest in family and career, a meteoric rise to the peak of life.

For the scholars about to participate in the Imperial Examination, especially those hoping to compete for top honors in the various disciplines, this was undoubtedly great news.

Countless individuals were fueled by this dream, hoping ultimately to win a beauty's hand...

When Li Nuo heard about this from Housekeeper Wu, he too was surprised for quite a while.

Though he was participating in the examination merely to secure an official status, qualifying even at the bottom of the top hundred would suffice.

But who wouldn't want to be the top scholar?

Not to mention the unlimited glory of becoming top scholar, but the initial steps in one's career would also be different from others.

The top scholar would start at Standard Sixth Rank, the second and third at sixth-rank, positions four to ten at Standard seventh-rank, and after the fortieth there wouldn't be much difference—all would start from being a Ninth Grade official.

The higher one ranked in the examination, the faster they climbed the career ladder.

Li Nuo needed at least a top ten finish to gain significant authority within the Ministry of Justice.

Although he told Li Anning he was unsure, promised King Chun he would do his best, and assured his father-in-law Lord Father-in-law that the spring exam wouldn't be a problem, it was merely out of modesty. For himself, he was clearly aiming for the top scholar spot.

Li Nuo looked towards Housekeeper Wu and asked, "What if, I mean just hypothetically, if those top scholars already had families? Anning surely wouldn't marry a married man, right?"

Housekeeper Wu shook his head and said, "That can't happen. A princess of the Royal Family can't become someone's concubine, unless that man divorces his current wife. But divorcing to marry the princess would earn him scorn from the populace, and the Imperial Family wouldn't allow it either. If a top scholar was already married, they'd just pick another one..."

Li Nuo continued, "And what if all the top scholars were married?"

Housekeeper Wu waved his hand dismissively, "That's impossible. Anyone with the potential to be top scholar would certainly have shown exceptional qualities already; they wouldn't settle down so early because after the exam, countless prominent families would throw matchmaking offers at them. Worried about not finding a favored wife?"

Li Nuo spoke irritably, "I said hypothetically, if all the top scholars were married, then what would happen?"

Housekeeper Wu was stumped.

Indeed, he hadn't considered this scenario.

But it was indeed a problem.

The Emperor did not speak idly; his words at the grand court meeting, in the presence of civil and military officials, indeed the entire Daxian administration, held the weight of an imperial edict and certainly could not be retracted.

Moreover, no official had objected at the time.

If the emperor backpedaled later, he'd become the butt of the joke himself.

The honor of the princess's marriage and the dignity of the emperor—clearly, the latter held more weight.

When the time came, Princess Anning's marriage would be undeniable.

How to properly arrange the first wife, though, would be something for the court to consider.

Still, he felt such a situation was unlikely.

But one should not indulge in baseless speculation.

He shook his head and said, "I don't know, perhaps they would seek His Majesty's decision then…"

Li Nuo did not receive an answer from Housekeeper Wu, and Housekeeper Wu did not know the answer himself.

The grand court meetings continued for two more days.

During the subsequent meetings, the Emperor did not appear.

His initial appearance seemed merely to remind the officials of Daxia that such an emperor existed.

On the fourth day of the first lunar month, various government offices reopened and seals were reinstated.

When Li Nuo arrived at the Ministry of Justice, he saw Li Anning sitting listlessly. It had only been a few days since he last saw her, but her complexion had grown significantly more haggard.

Even when Li Nuo entered, she merely glanced at him indifferently before shifting her gaze away.

Li Nuo sat down opposite her. After an unknown stretch of time, Li Anning finally lifted her head and spoke, "Is it possible for your father to arrest all the top scholars from this examination session?"

Li Nuo did not speak.

Of course, that was impossible.

The Imperial Examination held profound significance for the court and the common people.

The newly minted Advanced Scholars retained a certain aura of distinction.

For most scholars, this was the singular highlight of their lives.

All eyes were on the roster, not to mention the top scholars; even ordinary scholars could not be arbitrarily detained.

Moreover, with the express decree from the Emperor to select a Prince Consort from among the top scholars, arresting all the top scholars after the examination would be akin to slapping the Emperor's face. It might as well be considered outright rebellion.

Naturally, Li Anning also knew the answer and did not speak further, leaning back in her chair, her expression devoid of any emotion.

Li Nuo had never seen her like this before; in his memory, Li Anning was always vibrant and youthful.

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He couldn't help feeling some heartache and tried to comfort her, "You should look on the bright side; if all the top scholars already have families, the court surely can't force you to marry a married man."

Li Anning glanced at him indifferently.

Hoping that all the top scholars were already married was even less likely than hoping he would become one.

The difficulty of becoming an Advanced Scholar in this examination, filled with prodigies, was even greater than twenty years ago. With his intermittent efforts and constant distractions from romantic affairs, not only becoming a top scholar, he might struggle even to be listed.

Even if he did become the top scholar, she could not choose him.

The court would not allow her to marry a married man and would surely make her choose from among the other top scholars in various subjects.

Unless he became the top scholar in all six subjects.

Li Nuo poured her a cup of tea and casually asked, "By the way, if all the top scholars are indeed married, what will happen?"

Li Anning, feeling irritable, responded ungraciously, "How would I know!"

She was annoyed just looking at Li Nuo.

Song Jiaren had stopped sharing a bed with him after getting married, completely neglecting her duties as a wife. If he had been determined and divorced her decisively earlier, none of this would have happened!

Although she knew she shouldn't think this way, she couldn't control herself.

At that moment, she might have understood how Song Jiaren felt when she got married.

Torn and aggrieved inside, and unable to blame anyone, she stood up abruptly and said, "I'm going back!"

Clearly in a bad mood, Li Nuo had no immediate solution.

He walked to a table inside and asked Gu Yanran, "How has your calligraphy practice been coming along recently?"

Gu Yanran lowered her head, somewhat ashamed, "Young master, although it's not yet very good, I'll keep practicing hard..."

Whether the Hairpin Flower Small Regular Script would be recognized in the Imperial Examination, Li Nuo did not know; he had thought that even if weak in calligraphy, he could still easily make the list by overall merit.

Now, he probably needed to prepare thoroughly.

At least, he needed to help Li Anning get past this hurdle.

Leaving the Ministry of Justice, Li Nuo said to Housekeeper Wu, "Help me investigate something..."

Housekeeper Wu nodded and did not ask further.

After returning to the Li Family, Li Nuo entered the room and, seeing Song Jiaren painting, suddenly asked, "Wife, when you married me, did you feel like the Princess feels now..."

Song Jiaren glanced at him but did not speak.

Li Nuo smiled, "It's all in the past, tell me, I won't be upset."

Song Jiaren looked at him and nodded gently.

After a moment, she looked at the completed painting and asked Li Nuo, "How is this painting?"

Li Nuo shook his head and replied, "Not good, not as good as the last one."