On the wedding day, my wife was abnormal

Chapter 616 Summer Examination

Midsummer has arrived, and the scorching heat is melting gold.

The flooding caused by months of heavy rain delayed the dredging of the river, and eventually forced the spring test, which was supposed to be held in March, to be postponed to mid-to-late June, turning it into a veritable "summer test."

The capital city seemed to be suddenly thrown into a huge and noisy whirlpool.

The students who traveled from the most remote counties of the empire, like migratory birds, carried simple bags, carrying dust, sweat and aspirations for the future, and poured into the heart of Daqian.

In the streets and alleys, you can see young people wearing Confucian robes or coarse linen clothes everywhere, carrying heavy bamboo book boxes on their shoulders, walking hurriedly, their faces either anxious or excited, and their eyes dancing with desire.

At the commanding height of the capital, on the top floor of the opera house’s huge tower covered with a glazed dome, in a room called “Xuan Ji Pavilion”, there is another quiet world.

This place is an absolute forbidden area, exclusively for the two most noble masters of the Daqian Empire.

The huge floor-to-ceiling glazed windows are like a clear crystal curtain wall, offering a panoramic view of the hustle and bustle of the capital.

This is the highest scientific and technological achievement of Wuqing Industrial Zone, glass making.

It is said that Wuqing can now produce almost perfect glassware, and Lin Zhen will be able to sell it at a sky-high price in a while.

Inside the room, the expensive, deep purple, thick carpet, a tribute from India, absorbed all the footsteps.

The air is filled with the cool and refreshing fragrance of the specially made "Ninglu Chunhua", with the scent of pine needles, early plum blossoms and new snow, which is subtle, elegant and refreshing, perfectly isolating the heat and noise from the outside world.

Lin Zhen was half lying in a large and comfortable rosewood armchair, his posture relaxed and lazy.

Today he was only wearing a dark blue Hangzhou silk casual suit, with minimalist water ripples embroidered with silver thread on the lapels and cuffs. It was simple and elegant, yet it could not hide its nobleness.

A pair of long legs stretched out casually.

Like a rich landlord.

Murong Yan sat opposite him, her posture still maintaining the elegance of an empress, yet naturally relaxed in front of her husband. She wasn't wearing the dark black crown with twelve emblems, a symbol of supremacy, but instead wore an extremely luxurious bright yellow palace dress.

The most eye-catching thing about this dress is its exaggerated yet elegant train - several phoenixes, meticulously embroidered with red gold thread, peacock feathers, and various colorful gems, flow down from her slender waist, circling and dancing layer by layer, and finally dragging on the priceless Persian velvet carpet, stretching for more than a meter!

These phoenix tail feathers spread out like flowing gold and jade, shining brightly, and piled up on the carpet to one side of her seat, like an extremely gorgeous golden phoenix cushion, or like a pool of solidified golden lava, exuding unparalleled royal majesty and feminine charm.

On the rosewood table, two Longquan kiln secret color porcelain tea cups were emitting curls of hot steam.

Huanbi's health is getting better and better, which shows that the last time she retched was not due to pregnancy, but a cold caused by other reasons.

She was standing beside Lin Zhen, wearing an elegant moon-white skirt, with a gentle and quiet expression. Her slender hands held a plain white fan, gently and rhythmically fanning Lin Zhen to drive away the heat.

On the other side, Murong Yan's trusted palace maid, Musk Moon, stood beside the empress with her head lowered, ready to be ordered at any time.

Musk Moon was dressed particularly elegantly today, her lilac-colored palace dress making her skin look whiter than snow.

Murong Yan put down the secret-colored porcelain cup in her hand, which was as smooth as jade, and looked through the huge, clear glass window at the long street below, which was surging like an ant colony.

The sight of those young figures hurriedly walking, carrying bamboo boxes, filled her heart with an indescribable sense of satisfaction and responsibility.

"Husband," she said softly, her voice as clear as the clashing of jade, her gaze still lingering outside the window, "Look, all these students from all over the world have gathered in the capital, just for this imperial selection. In your opinion, how many will be qualified to enter the Imperial Academy this year?"

Lin Zhen adjusted his sitting position slightly and looked towards the surging crowd.

He picked up the teacup in front of him, took a sip of the fragrant Junshan Yinzhen tea, and then replied slowly: "I came up with the questions, I know, they shouldn't be too many."

His tone carried the indifference of someone who understood the world: "Ultimately, taking exams to become an official and gaining a good reputation is the true path for scholars worldwide. The teachings of Confucius and Mencius, poetry, literature, and prose, are the foundation they've been immersed in for years. As for the newer disciplines Ling'er's been tinkering with, like mechanical engineering, the study of things to gain knowledge, agriculture, sericulture, and commercial science, they're probably just quirky tricks in their eyes, too far to even enter the realm of learning, let alone diligently studying them."

He paused, a playful smile curling his lips. "But this is fine. It takes a hundred years to cultivate a person. Educational innovation, especially one that completely breaks with tradition like the Royal Academy, is bound to be wading through muddy waters, and one can only cross the river by feeling the stones. Taking too big a step and admitting too many ignorant or resistant people would defeat the original purpose and waste manpower and resources. Ling'er is already under tremendous pressure at the academy, and the influx of so many uninformed students would probably make her even more overwhelmed."

Murong Yan heard this and a smile of understanding and agreement played across her lips, as elegant as a magnolia blossoming in early spring. "My husband is absolutely right. I increasingly find every word you said truly insightful. Take Sister Ling'er, for example. The Weaver Girl's spinning machine, a single one, can do the work of ten men, benefiting silkworm weavers across the land and alleviating countless hardships. The improved keel-shaped wheelbarrow has saved countless farmlands from flooding. And the Water Dragon Ball, surprisingly, can be used for mine drainage, saving countless lives. Each of these is a great act of kindness that will benefit the nation and its people for generations to come. Meanwhile, those well-read officials in the court spend their days chanting songs of praise, forming cliques and pursuing their own interests. They're either scheming to enrich themselves through taxes or scheming and oppressing others in the shadows. When it comes to solving practical problems for the people, they know nothing."

She snorted lightly, a trace of disgust and disdain flashing across her phoenix eyes: "Humph, you are just a useless scholar!"

Lin Zhen put down his teacup and responded to his wife's sigh with an understanding smile. "It's no wonder they have such a political tradition. As a great nation with a long history of peace, the standards for being an official have long been solidified. Being an official isn't about mastering specific skills, but about being able to solve problems—being able to identify the crux of the matter, making good use of resources, and motivating skilled people to implement them. To put it bluntly, it's a position of coordination, management, and decision-making. On this point—"

He changed the subject, his tone affirming, "The Imperial Academy indeed cultivates more practical, technical talent. They understand principles, can apply them, and are more capable of providing effective solutions to government. Over time, these 'technical officials' will gradually infiltrate every corner and become the backbone supporting the efficient operation of the entire state machinery."

After hearing this, Murong Yan's eyes did not relax, but instead flashed with a trace of deep worry and melancholy.

She sighed softly, her slender fingers unconsciously rubbing the edge of the warm teacup. "I understand the truth. But... my husband, distant water cannot quench immediate thirst. The most difficult problem right now is the south!"

She frowned slightly. "Since we pacified the old territory of Southern Chu, we've established so many new prefectures and counties. What we lack isn't official positions, but capable, responsible, and down-to-earth people who can work for the people! The court has many redundant officials, but there are very few who are truly capable and willing to go to remote and difficult places. I'm really worried when I see the list of vacancies reported by the Ministry of Personnel. In my opinion..."

She leaned forward slightly, her tone tinged with urgency. "Why not relax the selection criteria? Or perhaps let those who have passed the imperial examinations and have decent qualifications take up the positions first and see how they perform? If they don't work out, we can replace them later! It's better than leaving the positions vacant and allowing local order to collapse and the powerful to rise to power."