Xin Nanbei was so shocked he couldn’t utter a word.
In the grand hall of the Golden Luan Palace, it was improper to acknowledge personal connections or speak casually.
Jin Cheng blinked at him and continued announcing the other two scholars who had made the top tier.
Qin Shi ranked fiftieth in the second tier, while Ge Hong placed eightieth in the third tier. Both of them knew Chu Jincheng, and now that he had personally bestowed upon them the titles of advanced scholar and associate advanced scholar, they were overjoyed.
Once all the scholars were ranked, it was customary for the top scholar to lead the procession through the streets, accepting the congratulations and admiration of the common people.
But at that moment, Xin Nanbei suddenly turned back, his robes flaring as he dropped to his knees in the center of the hall. With his back straight, he declared loudly, "Your Majesty! This subject has a grievance to present!"
His words sent a ripple of shock through the assembled scholars.
Even Qin Shi and Ge Hong exchanged bewildered glances, unsure of what had happened.
The ministers, who had been preparing to wrap up and leave, were caught off guard by the new top scholar’s sudden interruption and had to step back into position.
Vice Minister Shao of the Ministry of Rites immediately stepped forward to reprimand him. "Top Scholar Xin, do not act recklessly! Today is the day His Majesty presided over the palace examinations. If you have a grievance, take it to the local magistrate. How dare you disturb the imperial presence?"
Xin Nanbei hadn’t planned this.
Such a monumental injustice was something he had intended to address after entering officialdom, waiting for the right moment to submit a memorial. But seeing Chu Jincheng seated on the throne, he could no longer hold back.
Even though he had only spent a single day with Chu Jincheng four years ago.
Even though they had exchanged only a few words.
A voice inside him screamed relentlessly: Speak now! Speak here! The Emperor will surely deliver justice and restore fairness to the world!
Jin Cheng narrowed his eyes and raised a hand to stop Vice Minister Shao. "Top Scholar Xin, state your grievance. I will see justice done."
Xin Nanbei’s eyes reddened. He kowtowed deeply before raising his voice again. "This subject accuses the magistrate of Jixian County in the capital’s outskirts of colluding with the governor of Ji Province to commit fraud in the county and provincial examinations! They altered the names of successful candidates from Hunu County to those of Jixian County, ensuring that for thirty years, no scholar from Hunu County could pass the provincial exams! I beg Your Majesty to investigate!"
The young man’s accusation was filled with anguish.
It shook Jin Cheng so deeply that he rose from his throne!
He had only known that scholars from Hunu County struggled in the exams, assuming it was due to poverty and backwardness. Never had he imagined such corruption lay beneath the surface.
For political achievements? Colluding with a governor?
Vice Minister Shao, responsible for overseeing the imperial examinations, was terrified. But in his panic, he spotted a loophole and quickly pressed, "Xin Nanbei, you claim that for thirty years, no scholar from Hunu County passed the provincial exams. Yet you yourself became a provincial graduate, then a metropolitan graduate, and now the top scholar. How do you explain this?"
Xin Nanbei clasped his hands. "Your Majesty, Vice Minister Shao, this is precisely part of my evidence! In the academy I attended in Hunu County, there were several scholars of similar ability to mine, yet none of them could even pass the provincial exams! It was only after my family moved to Jixian County that I discovered several mediocre scholars from there had inexplicably become provincial graduates. The situation is highly suspicious. I beg Your Majesty to investigate thoroughly!"
Though his answer addressed Vice Minister Shao’s question, other officials remained dissatisfied.
"Without proof, you dare accuse a provincial governor? Your Majesty, this young man is far too arrogant and reckless. How can someone like this be named top scholar?"
"Lord Zhao, that’s quite a stretch! The top scholar is merely presenting a grievance. Does that disqualify him from being top scholar? Should all our top scholars be mute?"
"I never said he should be mute! I said he’s too arrogant!"
"Speaking out against injustice is arrogance? Your standards for arrogance are absurdly low!"
"...Here we go again." Jin Cheng listened to the familiar bickering, feeling as though he had been transported back three years to when Qin Ye had faced similar attacks.
Was this why they made him Emperor—to shield these outspoken individuals?
Jin Cheng massaged his temples.
Jin Cheng was exhausted.
"Enough bickering. I’ve heard the case and will investigate thoroughly. Top Scholar Xin, lead the procession. Don’t delay the auspicious hour." The young monarch waved dismissively, signaling for the crowd to disperse. "Summon Censor Wei of the Censorate. Vice Minister Shao, you stay as well."
In his first year as Emperor, Jin Cheng had often watched ministers argue to the death. But once military authority was consolidated under him, he grew firmer. More often than not, before the ministers could even begin their debates, he had already devised a solution and issued orders.
As he liked to say: "Why waste time arguing? It only delays real work."
The ministers had never seen such an efficient ruler. Before their objections could even take shape, the matter was settled.
And now, history repeated itself.
Eunuch Huang received the order and went to summon Censor Wei.
With few officials present—most having come only to assist with the palace exams—the argument had been relatively subdued. Once the Emperor dismissed them, they left without further protest.
Before departing, Xin Nanbei bowed deeply to the young Emperor, tears of gratitude in his eyes. Regardless of the outcome, he would never forget the Emperor’s willingness to listen to the plight of Hunu County’s scholars.
He believed: Justice would come to Hunu County.
And for the rest of his life, he would dedicate himself to the Great Chu court, serving Emperor Chu Jincheng—with utter devotion, until his dying breath.
That night, in the imperial study.
He Zheng exclaimed excitedly, "Me? As an imperial envoy? Is that allowed? I’m only a sixth-rank official investigating a fifth-rank governor. Isn’t that overstepping?"
"The Censorate exists to oversee all officials. Rank doesn’t matter—you’re acting as my personal envoy!" The young monarch tossed him an imperial token. "This represents my authority. Investigate freely. No one will dare touch you."
The Censorate was swamped with work, and Xin Nanbei’s accusation was based solely on his word. Entrusting it to overburdened senior officials might result in a perfunctory investigation. But He Zheng was different—a young official with drive, one of his most trusted allies, and someone familiar with Hunu County’s situation.
He was the perfect choice.
He Zheng accepted the order and, leading a team from the Censorate, stormed straight into the governor’s residence in Ji Province.
News of Xin Nanbei’s public accusation would spread quickly. He Zheng had to gather evidence before the governor could cover his tracks.
With the imperial token ensuring his safety, He Zheng conducted a sweeping investigation. Within days, the truth was uncovered.
Xin Nanbei, true to his status as the new top scholar, had pieced together the decades-long fraud with remarkable accuracy:
"Ji Province, though closest to the capital, has lagged in development. The governor and the magistrate of Jixian County conspired to alter the names of successful candidates from neighboring Hunu County, attributing all achievements to Jixian. They justified it as 'developing one strong county first to uplift the others.'"
Though none of the fraudulent scholars ever passed the metropolitan exams, the sheer number of provincial graduates became a selling point for Jixian and Ji Province.
To create the illusion of a 'top-performing county,' they had sacrificed the futures of all scholars from Hunu County.
Upon learning of this matter, Chu Jincheng flew into a rage: "The imperial examinations are the fairest path for scholars across the land, the very lifeblood of the court’s future. How dare they manipulate it for their own political gains! Outrageous, utterly outrageous! The Censorate is hereby ordered to investigate every county and provincial exam in Ji Prefecture. I will root out every corrupt element and restore order to the court!"
The magistrate of Ji County and the governor of Ji Prefecture were ultimately sentenced to execution, much to the jubilation of the common people.
Meanwhile, He Zheng, having distinguished himself in the investigation, was promoted to the rank of Fifth-Rank Seal-Holding Censor. His ruthless efficiency left a lasting impression on the court officials.
Those close to the emperor were all formidable talents.
Three months later, the examination papers from Ji County and Hunu County over the past thirty years were thoroughly reviewed. All scholars in Ji County who had passed through fraudulent means were stripped of their titles, while those in Hunu County who had been robbed of their rightful achievements were granted separate honors on the official list.
To console them, the emperor not only awarded generous compensation to each family but also encouraged them to return to the capital for the next round of metropolitan exams. Overwhelmed with emotion, the scholars cried out, "Heaven has eyes, blessing our dynasty with such a wise and just ruler!"
And the greatest hero in all this? Xin Nanbei.
As the newly crowned top scholar and now a household name across the capital, he had already moved his entire family to the city. Word that the young champion was still unmarried spread like wildfire, attracting matchmakers from every corner—not just from the capital but even from Ji Prefecture, all vying for his hand.
Yet Xin Nanbei himself was currently in the Hanlin Academy, scratching his head in frustration. "I thought entering officialdom would be smooth sailing," he groaned. "Who knew the Hanlin Academy had someone like Qin Ye—brilliant, young, and relentless? Good heavens, how is anyone supposed to compete with him?!"
