The Soldier King Becomes a Useless Little Girl

Chapter 263: Empress Feng’s Wrath

Grandmaster Jin was on the verge of exploding.

Before the Zixiao Palace Exam, he had already declared that Jin Chen would rank first in the exam.

Ranking third in the Written Examination and eighth in the Martial Arts Examination, it was very unlikely for Jin Chen to even make the top three unless he performed exceptionally during the Imperial Examination.

Grandmaster Jin could not afford to lose this face.

"Hold on, Grandmaster Jin, if you wish to seek an audience with the Emperor, you might as well bring the Longteng Stele."

General Zuo strode out from the North Square.

"Zuo Zong! You are showing favoritism and committing fraud! My son is a Xuanwu Triple, how could he be recorded as a First Layer Cultivation with Mid-grade Talent?"

Grandmaster Jin’s eyes blazed with fire when he saw General Zuo.

Their kind, the children of officials, are meticulously nurtured from birth, none lacking in cultivation talent.

Jin Chen is the son of Grandmaster Jin, who himself is exceptionally talented. Although Jin Chen is not as gifted as his father, he was identified as having top-grade talent in his youth.

"Grandmaster, you are overestimating me too much. Thousands of eyes were watching; your son was tested twice and ultimately determined to have Mid-grade Talent. If you disagree, take it up with the Longteng Stele."

Without another word, General Zuo ordered the Longteng Stele to be brought forth and placed in front of Grandmaster Jin.

"How preposterous, Empress, you must stand up for my son."

With a face laden with anger, Grandmaster Jin recounted the events to Empress Feng.

Grandmaster Jin is an old fox; he wouldn’t really question the judgment of the Longteng Stele, nor could he afford to carry it to seek an audience with the Emperor.

Still, if he didn’t assertively argue his case, this year’s Imperial Examination would be hopeless for Jin Chen.

Inside Fuluan Palace, curls of incense smoke wafted through the air, where Empress Feng sat upright and dignified.

A young man quickly stepped forward to offer her a cup of fragrant tea. Empress Feng took a sip and glanced at the youth.

Garbed in a silver-white robe with embellished edges of gold, the youth was strikingly attractive, with clear eyes like springs, long flowing eyebrows, and standing as elegant as a jade tree. He wore a jade crown in his hair and was none other than the Empress’s second son, Long Qingchen.

A mix of green and red washed over Jin Chen’s face.

Securing only the eighth place in the Martial Arts Examination was undoubtedly a severe blow to him.

"Mother, Zuo Zong is acting so recklessly, disrupting the Zixiao Palace Exam. If you do not handle him, wouldn’t he become even more lawless in the future?"

Long Qingchen and Jin Chen grew up together, as close as brothers.

He was also the top scorer of last year’s Zixiao Palace Exam, inheriting Empress Feng’s looks and Emperor Longteng’s might, now a top scholar at Qingtian Academy.

"Lawless? Who exactly is being lawless? I have heard that someone made use of a forbidden palace elixir."

Empress Feng’s beautiful eyes narrowed.

Yet, Long Qingchen replied with a playful grin.

"Mother, indeed nothing can be hidden from you. It’s just that the one called Murong Ziyue was too arrogant; she attacked Jin Chen and humiliated him in public. Since Jin Chen is a brother to me, her actions against him are as if she slapped me in the face."

"How foolish! ’If the root is not removed during weeding, the spring breeze will bring it back to life.’ My son, how many times must I teach you?"

Empress Feng’s face darkened, and she forcefully placed her teacup onto the table.

Both Long Qingchen and Jin Chen, seeing Empress Feng’s real anger, shrank their necks and dared not make another sound.

Grandmaster Jin pondered for a moment.

"Empress, your teachings are correct; it is my failure in disciplining him. But Zuo Zong’s injustice as an official is also a fact. Empress, you’ve seen it yourself, my son truly possesses the Xuanwu Triple cultivation, yet he insists it’s only a Xuanwu First."

Jin Chen and the Third Prince had studied and practiced martial arts together; Empress Feng was certainly aware of his abilities.

"The results of the Martial Arts Examination have already been announced to the public; unlike the Written Examination, they can no longer be tampered with. Fortunately, there’s still one more chance in the Imperial Examination. If you wish to excel, this Imperial Examination is crucial, and you and your son can seize this opportunity to point out Zuo Zong’s misconduct."

Empress Feng spoke in a calming tone.