Ye Muyu furrowed her brows, feeling a bit displeased as a result.

Chu Heng nodded, reaching out to stroke her hair, "Hmm, I’m afraid we’ll have to wait until after the provincial examination to decide."

"First place in the examination candidates who wish to become officials must go through the Ministry of Personnel, but now that’s no longer necessary. To be precise, the selection process is no longer dominated solely by the Ministry of Personnel."

"Although the Ministry of Personnel still needs to review and assess, and it has the right to recommend, the decision-making power ultimately lies with the assessment criteria."

"While this makes it even harder to become an official, it indeed helps eliminate some pests. Great Chu appears to be prosperous but suitable for nurturing pests. Over time, this imperial court is bound to become unhealthy. I just didn’t expect the Emperor to agree so readily this time, even more decisively than when he decided to establish the Department of Commerce and Construction. Could it be related to Deng Jieyu being banished to the Cold Palace?" Ye Muyu put a grape into her mouth, eating slowly, without any haste.

Chu Heng nodded with a smile, "Indeed, it is related to Deng Jieyu."

"You know about hypnosis and psychological suggestions, don’t you?" Chu Heng’s lips curled into a smile, feeling particularly pleased. He had always thought there was a distance between him and Ye Muyu because he didn’t understand many modern matters and could only listen to Ah Yu’s explanations. But now, Ye Muyu could speak on any topic, and he could respond, thanks to his intensive study of modern knowledge during the three months he was in a coma.

"Yes." Ye Muyu nodded thoughtfully, "But Great Chu shouldn’t have this discipline, and no one should understand it."

"Right, the expert beside Deng Jieyu used the art and technique of hypnosis, making Emperor Xuanming believe that Deng Jieyu was sincere and pure-hearted."

"It should be more than that, right?" Ye Muyu speculated.

"Correct, there’s also psychological suggestion, suggesting to Emperor Xuanming that talented people are unwilling to be subordinate and that I have a fondness for power."

"That’s why, even though Emperor Xuanming had employed you before, he often reassigned you, testing your intentions." Ye Muyu fully understood now, "I kept wondering why you received no reward when King of Huainan had issues. Instead, Emperor Xuanming frequently tested and mistrusted you. It was abnormal."

"Thanks to Master Yuanhe this time. If it weren’t for him discovering the expert disguised as a palace lady beside Deng Jieyu, Emperor Xuanming’s suspicion towards me might have deepened over time. The Emperor had been secretly wary, balancing other factions within the court. It was dangerous, suggesting it would eventually erupt."

"Now with this revelation, as much as Emperor Xuanming favored Deng Jieyu before, now he detests her just as much, and he trusts me more." Chu Heng smiled silently, not out of happiness but in mocking Deng Jieyu’s efforts going to waste.

Ye Muyu curled her lips, "And what about the palace lady?"

"Executed on the spot." Chu Heng wasn’t surprised by the news. The palace lady acted with such secrecy, as their success was due to Deng Jieyu deliberately sending her to the Emperor’s bed. Otherwise, with the Emperor’s alertness, how could he be so easily influenced? Naturally, it was during his most relaxed moments that he inadvertently fell under the spell.

Because Deng Jieyu considered Emperor Xuanming, she fit his image of a clean and pure woman who loved him dearly.

Unfortunately, with Ye Muyu’s reminder to Master Yuanhe, the person hidden so deeply was still uncovered.