Once a new idea struck him, Jin Cheng's mind worked at lightning speed.
He slammed the table and stood up, inspiration bursting forth: "That's it! I can have the daughters of civil officials take the military exams and the daughters of military officials take the civil exams—that way, I can definitely filter them all out!"
Xu Wan: "…………"
Truly, the little devil with a head full of bizarre schemes.
Jin Cheng wasted no time putting his plan into action.
He immediately drafted a set of civil exam questions, covering the Four Books and Five Classics, poetry, and policy essays, fully aligned with the standards of the imperial examinations.
For the military test, he appointed Buyan as the challenger.
The palace suddenly buzzed with rare liveliness.
Hearing that the emperor had finally shown interest in selecting consorts, every family rushed to send their daughters to the palace for the exams—whether civil or military, there was still a glimmer of hope.
Hundreds of young noblewomen entered the palace in an orderly procession, a grand spectacle.
Before the exams, the girls would first gather in the pavilion beside the imperial garden to register their names and family backgrounds.
Not far away, Xu Wan, Zong Zhao, Luo Jingfeng, and Lu Zhu—four elders—sat together in full attendance.
As Luo Jingfeng put it: "We’re here to help Cheng’er scout for exceptionally beautiful candidates in advance, lest his absurd exams wastefully eliminate them."
Lu Zhu, as always, obeyed her husband without question.
Xu Wan and Zong Zhao, meanwhile, were tasked with restraining Luo Jingfeng to prevent the arrogant Duke of State Protection from forcibly arranging matches for Jin Cheng.
Meanwhile, atop a distant rockery in the imperial garden, a dark-haired head slowly peeked out.
The fifteen-year-old boy widened his round eyes, then waved mischievously to those behind him. "They haven’t noticed us from this distance—quick, bring Wenche and Xiangkui up here too!"
The palace servants below exerted their strength, soon lifting up two rosy-cheeked toddlers, barely three years old.
Zong Xiangkui asked in a soft, sweet voice, "Brother… isn’t this too high? Isn’t it dangerous?"
Jin Cheng chuckled. "Don’t worry, Buyan’s protecting us! Let me tell you, Buyan’s amazing—a jack-of-all-trades bodyguard!"
Buyan’s lips twitched as he rolled his eyes.
After being ordered to handle all sorts of shady tasks, of course he’d have to be versatile.
"Oh, okay!" Zong Xiangkui clung to the rockery, giggling. "Brother, are we here to look at those sisters? They all seem very pretty."
Jin Cheng snorted. "Not at all. Little Kui is the prettiest."
Zong Xiangkui beamed at the praise. "Brother is the prettiest too!"
Jin Cheng immediately leaned in. "Which brother? Me or Wenche?"
Zong Xiangkui diplomatically replied, "Both!"
Dissatisfied, Jin Cheng pouted and turned to Zong Wenche. "Little brother, which sister down there do you think is pretty?"
Zong Wenche frowned, his expression sullen.
Jin Cheng was highly attuned to emotions, but even he couldn’t decipher the little one’s thoughts. He pressed further, "Come on, is there a sister you like?"
Zong Wenche turned his head away, still silent.
Jin Cheng found this hilarious and began lecturing the three-year-old. "Little brother, this isn’t cute. You’re three now—if you don’t start speaking soon, it’ll be rude. People outside are already calling you mute. Won’t you say something to clear the rumors?"
Zong Wenche stared ahead, unblinking.
Jin Cheng continued his scolding. "You’re Little Kui’s older brother. She started talking at one, and you still can’t even say ‘Mother.’ Isn’t that a bit too delayed? Mother must be worried sick. You’re not as considerate as I was at your age."
Zong Wenche acted as if he hadn’t heard.
Jin Cheng switched tactics, adopting a threatening tone. "Zong Wenche! I’m the emperor. Ignoring me after so many words—do you know what crime that is? It’s lèse-majesté!"
This time, Zong Wenche reacted.
He squirmed, trying to climb down from the rockery.
Jin Cheng instantly backtracked. "My bad, my bad! Little brother, stay put—we still have business to attend to."
The little tyrant kept one hand on his impatient brother and the other on his endlessly complimentary sister, peering intently at the crowd in the imperial garden.
Just when Buyan thought he’d become engrossed in observing the young ladies—
Jin Cheng suddenly remarked, "They walk and talk so slowly—will they even finish the exams in one day? Do I have to feed them an extra meal?"
Buyan: "…………"
Young master, you’ve changed.
You’re no longer the reckless spendthrift who once traded jade pendants worth thousands just for a meal!
Now you’re stingy enough to begrudge them a single serving!
After watching for a while, Jin Cheng helped his siblings down from the rockery. Servants brought tray after tray of pastries and dried fruits, and he made sure the two little ones ate their fill.
Zong Wenche took a few bites before pushing the sweets away, finding them too cloying.
Not only that, he seized every spare moment to practice horse stances, his face stern like a miniature adult.
Jin Cheng: "???"
Are you kidding me?
You haven’t even learned to speak yet!
How are you already training in martial arts?!
Is this what it means for the son of the First-Rank Auxiliary Sage Lady and the General of the Western Garrison to get a head start in life?!
Meanwhile, Zong Xiangkui nibbled happily, her eyes crinkling into crescents. "Brother, this is so yummy! Even better than the famous Seven-Flavor Cake outside the palace!"
Jin Cheng laughed heartily. "Of course! The best food is all in the palace. Little Kui, you should visit more often—I’ll save all the delicious treats for you!"
Zong Xiangkui nodded vigorously before adding, "Wenche brother should come too!"
Seeing their sibling bond warmed Jin Cheng’s heart. Smiling, he said, "Naturally. I’d love it if you both lived here—then I could see you every day."
"Wenche brother can’t come, right?" Zong Xiangkui suddenly piped up. "Shunzi said men can only enter the palace if they’re eunuchs, and eunuchs can’t marry. I still want a sister-in-law."
"Pfft—!" Jin Cheng spat out his tea, wiping his mouth. "What nonsense has Shunzi been filling your head with? How do you even know these things?!"
