"Shouldn't Xiao Kui know?" Zong Xiangkui tilted her head and asked.
Jin Cheng quickly steered the conversation away: "Why do you want sisters-in-law? Wouldn’t it feel uncomfortable having a strange woman suddenly join the family?"
Zong Xiangkui shook her head, her expression innocent and carefree. "Not at all! Strangers become familiar after just a few words, don’t they?"
"Ah?" Jin Cheng was stunned.
Are… are you this naturally sociable?
Zong Xiangkui began daydreaming: "Wenxiu gege will marry a sister-in-law, Wen Che gege will marry a sister-in-law, and Jin Cheng gege will marry a sister-in-law too! That way, Xiao Kui will have three sisters-in-law!"
Hearing his own name, Jin Cheng clenched his fingers unconsciously, his voice stiff as he asked, "Why would you need so many sisters-in-law? They aren’t part of our family."
"But sisters-in-law are supposed to marry into the family from outside…" Zong Xiangkui counted on her fingers. "That way, Xiao Kui will have three more people to love her, dote on her, and give her lots and lots of delicious treats!"
Jin Cheng couldn’t help but say, "I can give you all that."
Zong Xiangkui didn’t understand.
How could Jin Cheng gege give her three sisters-in-law?
Was he going to pick from those pretty ladies earlier?
Seeing her confusion, Jin Cheng realized he was being too serious—Xiao Kui was only three years old and didn’t understand anything.
He sighed, ruffling his little sister’s hair, and murmured, "Xiao Kui… why couldn’t you have been born a few years earlier? Then your brother wouldn’t be in such a difficult position…"
Zong Xiangkui still didn’t get it.
But she felt warm inside. She hopped off the stone stool and threw herself into Jin Cheng’s arms, murmuring sweetly, "Gege should be happy!"
Jin Cheng felt his heart melt.
So this was what having a little sister felt like—it was wonderful. How had he ever thought of asking his mother for a sister just to help him fight?
A soft, adorable little sister like this should be cherished and allowed to grow up carefree and happy.
At lunch, the four elders joined him for the meal, and the family ate together in harmony.
Wen Che and Xiao Kui sat beside Jin Cheng, who dutifully helped them with their food, even dismissing the palace attendants nearby.
Luo Jingfeng asked bluntly, "Cheng’er, did you take a liking to any of the young ladies on the wall earlier?"
Jin Cheng’s chopsticks paused mid-air, his face falling instantly. "Uncle, I hate how sharp your hearing is!"
The adults burst into laughter.
Luo Jingfeng scoffed. "You refused to practice martial arts, and now you’re complaining about others having keen senses?"
Jin Cheng whined, "I just didn’t have time to learn! Besides, I have Buyan to protect me—I’m perfectly safe!"
"So, did you find anyone you liked?" Luo Jingfeng steered the conversation back.
Jin Cheng awkwardly replied, "Let’s wait until the exam results come out first."
Xu Wan couldn’t help but chuckle. "Chengcheng, while registering the candidates earlier, I suddenly realized there might be a loophole in your exam."
"What loophole?" Jin Cheng was startled.
Zong Zhao glanced at him. "There aren’t many daughters of civil officials who practice martial arts, but there are plenty of daughters from military families who study literature. You’ll probably receive quite a few impressive exam papers."
Jin Cheng blinked, his voice tinged with nervousness. "No way… those were autumn exam-level questions. Women from inner chambers don’t take the imperial exams—could they really be that capable?"
Xu Wan smiled knowingly. "Don’t underestimate the women of the inner chambers."
Jin Cheng froze, suddenly remembering that the person who had taught him the most—his mother—was also a woman.
Xu Wan had only been barred from the imperial exams due to her gender, but her knowledge was vast, and her exam-taking skills were formidable.
The little tyrant muttered weakly, "Is it too late to cancel the exam now?"
Zong Xiangkui chimed in, "Gege, Shunzi said the Emperor’s word is final—you can’t take it back."
Jin Cheng: "!"
Gritting his teeth, Jin Cheng grumbled, "Isn’t Shunzi supposed to be in Second Uncle’s quarters? Why is he telling you so much?"
Zong Xiangkui blinked. "Shunzi talks a lot. Mother wanted him to chat more with Wen Che gege."
Jin Cheng glanced at his "mute little brother" and sighed. "Seems pointless—this kid just doesn’t want to talk."
Wen Che focused on eating with his spoon, ignoring everyone.
Jin Cheng was irritated again.
This brat had the nerve to ignore even the Emperor!
After the exams concluded, Xu Wan and the other candidates returned home, while Wei Xinglu was summoned to the palace to grade the papers. As a fifth-rank Ministry of Rites official, he was tasked with the evaluation.
"Their handwriting is quite elegant," Wei Xinglu remarked.
Jin Cheng picked up a random paper and criticized harshly, "If their policy discussions don’t even reach a thousand characters, what’s the point of nice handwriting?"
Wei Xinglu tried to defend them. "Their poetry isn’t bad either. Look at this melancholic autumn moon verse—it’s quite evocative."
Jin Cheng rolled his eyes. "Not practical."
Wei Xinglu added, "They also have a decent grasp of the Four Books and Five Classics."
Jin Cheng shot back, "Memorizing without understanding is useless."
"..." Wei Xinglu set down the papers and laughed. "Your Majesty, these are potential imperial consorts, all from military families. The fact that they’re literate is already impressive. Did you really expect them to perform like imperial examinees?"
He had heard that the daughters of civil officials didn’t dare step onto the martial arts stage—they all backed down at the sight of Buyan.
As a result, the only remaining candidates were from military households.
Jin Cheng smiled slyly. "As the ruler of a nation, the empress and consorts I choose must bear heirs. How can they raise outstanding princes if they lack knowledge? Since there are no suitable candidates, we’ll end it here for this year. They can try again next time!"
Wei Xinglu: "Huh???"
When the palace’s selection results were announced, the court was in an uproar. But the reasoning was solid, leaving no room for objection.
However, due to the young Emperor’s peculiar preferences, a wave of academic fervor swept through noblewomen’s circles in the capital.
Daughters of civil officials began training in martial arts, though few persevered, as most found it too grueling.
The daughters of military families, however, were far more enthusiastic. They hired renowned scholars to tutor them, studying the same subjects men did for the imperial exams—all with the goal of passing the next selection.
Eventually, someone proposed: "Who better to teach than the First-Rank Lady Xu Wan? Is there anyone else in the capital who could match her?"
"Exactly! I heard His Majesty was once a notorious troublemaker, yet she molded him into the second-highest scorer in the metropolitan exams!"
"And don’t forget the grandsons of Chancellor Shen, the sons of Minister He and Censor Wei—all former troublemakers who ended up in the top ranks!"
"Perfect! Our military families’ daughters are saved!"
"Let’s go find the First-Rank Lady Xu Wan!!!"
