On stage, the men's group "election" is still ongoing.

  The meaning of the text and the timing of the assignment are both mediocre, so it's natural that many people will be picked. As long as you have excellent memory or thorough research, generally speaking, it's easy to stand out. In comparison, those who choose to write policy essays can be counted on one hand.

  The policy speech is a practical proposal made in response to current events, such as the imperial court's affairs. This field is also closest to the imperial court, and those present are mostly young students, except for some who have already started receiving tutoring from officials, most people are still ignorant of the imperial court's affairs, let alone proposing good strategies. Therefore, policy speech is the most difficult, but if one really stands out, it is also a step into officialdom.

  Shen Miao gazed at the chessboard in front of her.

  At first, Pei Lang's "Travel Strategy" was done in the third round of "Challenge". This item allows men to challenge women, women to challenge men, and students can also challenge teachers.

  Among them, a male student picked Mr. Pei Lang. Pei Lang was also talented, and in just a few steps on stage, he had already composed an essay of strategic theory, eloquent and to the point, quoting classics and canons without being showy, always hitting the nail on the head, truly stunning.

  At that time, several princes took notice of him, but Pei Lang was also a clever person. He only said that he wanted to be a bookkeeper in the Guangwen Hall and didn't think about anything else. His attitude was firm, if not for Fu Xiuyi's repeated courtesy and Shen Miao giving him advice later on, this Pei Lang might have really refused to enter officialdom.

  The chessboard was complex and intertwined, just like the life of a previous generation. She lightly swept her sleeve, and the entire game was disrupted.

  Shen Miao dropped a chess piece, starting a new round, how would she begin?

  Gao Yan adjusted his sleeves and smoothed out his hair bun, asking the young servant beside him: "How does Master look?"

  "The young master is elegant and refined, handsome and charming..." The servant also flattered him with words that came easily to his lips.

  Gao Yan's mouth curled up in satisfaction as he was about to stand up and walk onto the stage. Gao Jin, who was beside him, grabbed his arm and asked, "What are you doing?"

  "Choose then." said Gao Yan.

  Gao Jin frowned, he knew his younger brother's weight all too well. Not only was he incompetent, but he also loved to show off. Now that the Jingdian History Bureau was on the rise, they couldn't afford to make any mistakes at this time. Gao Jin asked, "What can you do?"

  This remark was not pleasant to Gao Yan's ears. He and Gao Jin were biological brothers born of the same mother, but whenever people mentioned the Gao family, they would first praise Gao Jin. Gao Jin had a clear brow and beautiful eyes, while he was rough and robust. Gao Jin could handle his father's affairs at a young age, but whenever he tried to discuss state affairs with his father, his father would shake his head in annoyance. As brothers, there was no reason for discord, yet due to the gaze of outsiders, a rift had formed between them. Gao Yan already felt somewhat sensitive and inferior under his brother's glory, and now hearing Gao Jin's words, he was even more furious, and his previous hesitation about writing the document too well, whether it was too showy, disappeared.

  He said in a bad tone: "Big brother, although I'm not as smart as you, I'm not completely useless. You don't have to stop me, after all, I won't steal your thunder."

  Gao Jin heard that there was something in Gao Yan's words, and after a pause, before he could speak, he saw Gao Yan push him away and walk up to the stage with a swagger. From afar, he shouted loudly: "I choose 'Policy Debate'!"

  What strategy?

  Guang Wén Táng wasn't unfamiliar with Gāo Yán, so naturally everyone looked over. It's also strange to say, but Gāo Yán himself didn't have any special skills, yet he was quite good at Guang Wén Táng. This was only because every time his homework and essays were written by someone else, although he couldn't be called a great talent, he could still be considered excellent.

  So he went on stage, and the crowd didn't feel much surprise. Because in this "selection" session, everyone showed their best prepared things. However, "strategic theory" was originally very difficult, so it was a bit noisy scene that suddenly became quiet, with everyone staring at the green-shirted youth on stage.

  The students who had previously chosen "strategies" all read out their own strategies in front of everyone. However, they didn't seem to be very good, and as soon as Gao Yan went up, Gao Jin furrowed his brow.

  "I didn't expect Gao Yan to dare challenge 'strategy'." Feng Anning said curiously, "If it were Gao Jin instead, I would think it's somewhat better."

  Shen Miao stopped her hand on the chess piece and looked up at the stage.

  Everything was ready, and Gao Yan took out a sheet of paper and began to read it slowly.

  "The law is the framework of a country, especially when it is erected on wood and supported by heaven...". His recitation was full of ups and downs, and the crowd's excited expressions gradually subsided, especially the old officials at the table, who looked very serious at the young man reading on stage.

  "Gao Jin's younger brother is indeed exceptional." King Zhou's eyes flashed with surprise: "Such a brilliant strategy, even the high-ranking officials in the imperial court may not have such a profound insight."

  "Indeed, it's not bad," Jing Wang also nodded in praise: "Moreover, this child is quite young, given time, he will surely be a great talent."

  Fu Xiuyi quietly watched the person on stage, his expression didn't fluctuate. However, his fingers involuntarily rubbed together, a subconscious habit he had whenever he was deep in thought or had an idea.

  Obviously, Gao Yan's actions made him have new plans in his heart.

  But Pei Lang, from the moment Gao Yan spoke his first sentence, felt a chill run down his spine. He didn't know why, but he had an inexplicable feeling that Gao Yan's words were familiar. Although he had always had exceptional memory, after thinking carefully, he still couldn't quite put his finger on it, and assumed it was something he hadn't read before. Yet this sudden sense of familiarity made him feel somewhat anxious, as if Gao Yan's every sentence was something he could finish himself. The familiarity was overwhelming, like it was his own words.

  Shen Miao smiled slightly and stopped looking at the young man on stage, instead continuing to stare at the chess pieces on the board. She casually picked one up and placed it on the edge of the board.

  "What kind of chess are you playing?" Feng Anning asked: "Just randomly placing them, who would put the pieces so far away?"

  "Far?" Shen Miao shook her head.

  Every chess piece has its own use, this seemingly useless abandoned chess piece, how far can it go? Even if it seems like there are still 10,000 miles to the endgame now, but in the future, it is an indispensable link.

  Can you see now?

  In a distant pavilion, one could see the scene on the stage from afar. Su Mingfan shook his fan and said: "This time Gao Yan doesn't know where he found this strategy, it's written very elegantly, I'd like to meet the person who wrote this strategy."

  "What's the use of knowing?" The purple-robed youth lazily spoke up, his entire body leaning against the window frame of the pavilion, half of his body almost protruding out.

  "He must be a knowledgeable and memorable person," Su Mingfen said indifferently: "If we can make friends, we will definitely gain a lot."

  Xie Jinghang snorted with laughter and turned his head to glance at the stage, where he found an extra sea peach in his hand.

  The begonia flowers have not yet withered, as if they had just been picked and were still fresh and charming. They seem to hold a faint, delicate fragrance, but also appear somewhat stern and solemn.

  "That's not necessarily true."