Zong Jincheng looked up and saw many scholars gathering around him. Most were older than him, yet their eyes were clear and untainted by worldly corruption.
They were all striving forward with determination.
"Jincheng, are you alright?" Zong Wenxiu stepped forward, grasping his hand with concern.
He was sensitive to emotions—something was off about his younger brother today.
Zong Jincheng shook his head. "I'm fine."
Everyone was moving forward, and he had to be strong too.
Mother was waiting for him outside the palace...
With renewed resolve, Zong Jincheng forced a smile and waved at the crowd. "Hello, I’m Zong Jincheng. It’s a pleasure to make friends with all of you."
The scholars, delighted by his response, cheered up instantly.
Laughing and chatting, they introduced themselves, sharing amusing anecdotes from their exam preparations, gradually lifting Zong Jincheng’s spirits.
"Friendship aside, don’t expect me to go easy on you during the palace exam!"
"Hah! Keep dreaming. Jincheng ranked second in the provincial exams—he doesn’t need your mercy!"
"Hey, isn’t that Qin Ye up ahead? Why is he here so early but not going in?"
Qin Ye turned, his gaze icy.
A scholar nearby answered for him, "The court officials are waiting inside. Palace exam candidates are only allowed to wait here."
Shen Yibai frowned. "Wasn’t the morning court session canceled on exam day? Why are they all here?"
Wei Xinglu jumped up to peek. "I think I even see military officers. They usually skip morning court—what’s going on?"
He Zheng tilted his head in thought. "Maybe our batch is just that important?"
Another scholar chimed in, "Could be! There are 366 of us this time—way more than usual. Maybe the entire court is curious enough to come see!"
"Curious? That’s the wildest guess I’ve heard. How did you even pass the exams, man? Face it, you’re destined for the lowest ranks."
"Shut it! You’re the one who’ll end up there!"
"..."
Listening to their banter, Zong Jincheng tightened his grip on his brother’s hand. For some reason, he felt all these anomalies were because of him.
The Emperor wanted him dead—and had summoned the entire court.
What was the plan?
Where were Father and Uncle? Why couldn’t he see them?
A door swung open.
Zong Zhao and Luo Jingfeng emerged, leaving the officials exchanging bewildered glances.
The scholars were even more confused. Unfamiliar with court figures, they wondered when the exam would finally begin.
Then Eunuch Huang stepped out, holding two golden imperial edicts. His shrill voice rang out: "By the Emperor’s decree!"
Everyone knelt in reverence.
"By the Mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees:
We, entrusted with the celestial order, rule over the realm with tireless diligence, never at ease. Now, as Our health declines and Our time nears its end, We must secure the future of this land. Thus, We hereby abdicate in favor of Our fifteenth son, Chu Jincheng.
The fifteenth prince, Jincheng, is wise and virtuous, embodying the grace of a benevolent ruler. His mother, the late Concubine Shu, was gentle and kind. We are certain Jincheng will uphold the throne, ensuring our nation’s stability and the people’s prosperity.
So it is decreed."
Silence followed—then chaos erupted like thunder.
The entire palace was in an uproar.
The Emperor, still in his prime, had suddenly abdicated, passing the throne to the son of the long-deceased Concubine Shu.
"But Concubine Shu died eleven years ago! When did she bear a child?"
"Chu Jincheng? Who is that? We’ve never heard of this prince!"
"Even if the Emperor wanted to abdicate, shouldn’t it go to the Crown Prince? Why give it to Concubine Shu’s son—isn’t he Luo Jingfeng’s nephew?!"
The officials stared at Luo Jingfeng beside Eunuch Huang. The truth was obvious—the Emperor had always feared the Luo family. Yet now, he was handing the throne to Luo’s nephew? Was this truly voluntary?
Ministers panicked.
Scholars stood dumbfounded.
A royal succession right before the palace exam? And why did "Chu Jincheng" share a name with Zong Jincheng?
They scanned the crowd but saw no one stepping forward to accept the decree. Even the officials grew curious—where had Concubine Shu’s son been hidden all these years?
Eunuch Huang descended the steps.
He walked past the officials, past the scholars, stopping directly before Zong Jincheng. Smiling, he said, "Fifteenth Prince, please accept the decree."
The spot where Eunuch Huang halted was right in front of Zong Jincheng.
The officials gaped—the prince had been hiding among the scholars! No wonder they’d all been summoned.
Someone suddenly shouted, "Zong Jincheng? That’s General Zong’s only son! How is he Luo Jingfeng’s nephew?!"
"Wait—he’s the fifteenth prince?!"
As the prince’s identity was revealed, the court exploded into pandemonium.
The scholars, who’d been casually observing, were now in disarray.
Their eyes locked onto Zong Jincheng—their newly made friend, the prodigy who’d ranked second in the exams—now the next Emperor?!
Even Qin Ye turned, his gaze heavy with uncertainty.
The top scholars were stunned.
Wei Xinglu: I must be hallucinating.
He Zheng stared blankly at his senior brother, thinking: Holy heavens, the new ruler in my policy essay is actually my brother?!
Shen Yibai paled: Thank goodness my coup attempt failed, or I’d have lost my head!
The tutors were utterly lost: The kid we tutored is now the Emperor?!
Pan Hongzhi: I’m… the imperial tutor?!
Zong Wenxiu’s grip trembled. He nearly let go out of shock, but feeling his brother’s hand shake even more violently, he held on tighter.
Zong Jincheng pulled away first.
His eyes locked onto Luo Jingfeng behind Eunuch Huang, filled with disbelief and fury.
Uncle… Uncle wanted him to be Emperor?
How could this happen?
Hadn’t Uncle promised not to interfere with the Crown Prince’s position?
Eunuch Huang, seeing his hesitation, bent slightly and repeated, "Fifteenth Prince, please accept the decree."
Zong Jincheng remained frozen. The crowd assumed he was stunned—who wouldn’t be, learning they were the new Emperor right before an exam?
The two generals approached.
Luo Jingfeng, beaming, reached for his nephew. "Jincheng, rise and accept the decree."
Zong Jincheng yanked his hand away, refusing outright.
With so many watching, the young troublemaker held back from demanding why his uncle was stealing the throne from the Crown Prince—but he wouldn’t take it.
This belonged to His Highness. He didn’t want it!
The child was throwing a tantrum.
Luo Jingfeng had expected this. He didn’t understand how the Crown Prince had bewitched Jincheng, but he wouldn’t let the throne fall to him.
Exchanging a glance with Zong Zhao, Luo Jingfeng stepped back, letting the boy’s father handle this.
Zong Zhao knelt to meet his son’s eyes.
Zong Jincheng remained kneeling on the ground, his young face flushed with emotion, eyes brimming with both anger and distress. He asked plaintively, "Father, what about His Highness?"
His Highness was the Crown Prince, the heir to the throne.
If the Emperor passed the throne to him, where would that leave His Highness?
Deep down, Zong Zhao felt a swell of pride—pride that Jincheng still remembered His Highness even in such a moment. Softly, he replied, "His Highness had long foreseen this day. That’s why the story of the second floor came to be. Have you forgotten?"
