The Female Lead Decides to Act Wickedly

In one day, being chastised twice by the Palace Fighting System, Zheng Nianer felt somewhat frustrated!

There’s nothing to be done, the Palace Fighting System’s points were very valid, even though Zheng Nianer was uncomfortable at heart, she had to admit it.

However, she still felt a bit unwilling and carefully explained the benefits and details of the imperial examination for selecting officials to Emperor Yongcheng again.

Emperor Yongcheng’s eyes flickered continuously.

While it was also an examination to select officials, the late Emperor’s method was only within a small scope, lacking a complete and formed set of rules.

But the imperial examination system that Zheng Nianer mentioned, whether in general rules or implementation details, was very thorough, as if it had accumulated and evolved over hundreds or even thousands of years.

It was already very mature and effective!

If successfully implemented, it would definitely break the monopoly of the noble families, allowing the royal power to be concentrated to the greatest extent.

After all, the person setting the exam questions is the Emperor, and all the scholars are ”students of the Son of Heaven.”

The young officials entering the service would not only recognize the noble families and ignore the Emperor of the Empire sitting on the Dragon Throne!

A truly excellent imperial examination system!

Indeed, a good strategy to counter the noble families!

Emperor Yongcheng was moved, eager to try!

His first decree, on the surface, seemed to have succeeded and would certainly be smoothly implemented.

But in reality, Emperor Yongcheng was not foolish.

He knew through this matter, his already scant prestige was becoming even more pitiful.

The more successful the salt administration reform became, the more people would praise Empress Dowager He!

This was the true reason behind Emperor Yongcheng’s many grievances towards Empress Dowager He, unable to restrain himself from secretly grumbling.

He felt no assistance from his mother, only a feeling of grief and humiliation in his heart.

No way!

He must achieve political success, letting the entire court and the common people know that he is the true ruler of the Dayuan Dynasty!

Alright, the second fire will start burning from the imperial examination system!

Emperor Yongcheng clenched his fist, rekindling the battle flames, with endless ambition rising in his heart.

Feng Shou had informants in the palace, receiving word even before Emperor Yongcheng caused a stir.

Feng Shou:... so tired, why can’t the little Emperor just stay quiet for two days?

The matter of the salt administration hasn’t passed yet, and he, he actually starts recklessly challenging the entire noble class again.

Feng Shou is not speaking for the noble families, nor does he think their control over the court appointments is right.

In fact, the examination to select officials promoted by the late Emperor was suggested by Feng Shou.

But such matters cannot be rushed.

Governing a large state is like cooking a small fish, one cannot just start reforming everything dramatically!

The salt administration, although it affected the interests of the noble families, it didn’t sever their roots.

Yet the noble families still caused a big commotion; if it weren’t for Empress Dowager He’s timely intervention, the young Emperor who had just assumed power for less than six months might have had to issue an ”edict of self-examination.”

Now, Emperor Yongcheng is going even further, intending to ”cut off the supply” for the noble families.

Ha, the salt and iron at most are the noble families’ money bags, but the recommendation to become officials is their exclusive privilege, it’s the foundation of their control over the world.

Even the late Emperor, with the authority and force of the founding Emperor, dared not easily carry out a nationwide imperial examination for selecting officials.

At most, it was in certain Yamen, or in specific positions requiring very strict professional demands, where examinations were conducted.

For instance, in the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Criminal Justice, one had to be well-versed in the ”Dayuan Law,” skilled in criminal investigation and judging cases.

Some boastful noble sons, or bookworm candidates recommended by the noble families, were not quite suitable.

Or for the Ministry of Works, one needed at least some basic knowledge of engineering and construction.

In these positions, the late Emperor proposed the requirement for examinations before holding office.

The noble families, though a bit discontented, did not overly dwell on it.

Originally, following the plan Feng Shou made for the late Emperor, it was to be slowly implemented in small areas first.

Then, it would expand to the Three Provinces and Six Ministries, eventually extending nationwide.

This process was very lengthy, needing twenty or thirty years, or even the efforts of two generations.

After all, the noble families had stretched over a thousand years, such extensive forces with so many intricate connections could not possibly be uprooted at once.

If mishandled, it could cause a backlash from the noble families.

Though the Royal Family of the Dayuan Dynasty held hundreds of thousands of soldiers, the noble families dared not casually replace the Emperor or change the dynasty as they did in the past.

Yet, that’s because they had not been thoroughly provoked.

Once pushed to the brink, who knows what kind of insane actions they might undertake.

Emperor Yongcheng, being a youthful ruler, and having no remarkable political achievements since assuming power, might even face complaints from some Military Merit officials and new scholars once the court became turbulent, let alone the incident-provoking noble families.