The Fallen Nation System, Turning the Tide - Chapter 94: Rebellion

Chapter 94: Rebellion

“Give us back our sovereign, execute the traitors!”

With the conclusion of the Winter Examination, fourteen out of twenty-five candidates in the Civilian Examination were women. Among them, Wu Zhaoyan came from the most prominent family background, while Song Jinzhu, daughter of a merchant, had relatively humble origins. Among officials with positions, Liu Xu failed the examination, while his subordinate Lu Jian passed. The remaining four successful candidates were younger, all having held official posts for only a few years.

Liu Xu’s face darkened with displeasure, while Lu Jian trembled with fear, not daring to visit Liu Xu. First, Lu Jian’s son had reported Yu Weiwen, and now Lu Jian himself had entered the Hall of Gathered Talents, further straining their relationship.

When Lu Jian moved into the Rear Court Palace, he found himself in spacious, lofty quarters with palace attendants cleaning daily and three specially prepared meals provided by the Imperial Kitchen. The comfort made him reluctant to leave.

Lu Jian decided to accept his fate. Since Liu Xu already wanted nothing to do with him and the rift between them had formed, why bother seeking reconciliation? It would be better to stay quietly in the Hall of Gathered Talents with his son, where promotion came more easily and reputation remained intact.

Having reached this realization, Lu Jian let out a long sigh of relief.

Meanwhile, Xu Ying was staying up later each night, using government affairs as a legitimate excuse to work overtime. The only downside was her chronic sleep deprivation, leaving her constantly weary and drowsy throughout the day, with handfuls of hair falling out whenever she touched it.

When the Spring Festival arrived again, they followed the same procedures as the previous year. The only interesting moment for Xu Ying came when Bu Shiren, Prefect of Yu Province, reported his achievements, claiming he had drilled holes in lotus rootsover ten thousand holes in a year, demonstrating diligence and hard work.

Xu Ying laughed in disbelief. “Bu Shiren, are you serious?”

Unaware of what was happening, Bu Shiren was momentarily stunned before cupping his hands and replying, “Your Majesty, this is indeed what your servant accomplished this year. Please investigate thoroughly.”

“You spent the entire year drilling holes in lotus roots?” Xu Ying threw the report booklet in front of Bu Shiren.

When Bu Shiren saw the words in the booklet, his pupils contracted sharply, his face turned pale, and he hastily knelt down. Trembling, he held the small booklet and said, “Your Majesty, this is a frame-up! Someone deliberately altered the report to frame me…”

Xu Ying nodded. “I know. Just tell me the original content and how you specifically accomplished it. After I send someone to Yu Province to verify the truth, if your words prove accurate, I can transfer you to You Province with a two-rank promotion as compensation.”

Bu Shiren swallowed hard, struggling to recall, and stammered out a few sentences that contained no specific details, arousing Xu Ying’s suspicion.

Of course, no one would be foolish enough to submit false reports while Xu Ying was strictly investigating. Song Jinzhu, who had just entered the Hall of Gathered Talents this year, stepped forward. First, she knelt to confess her offense, then said, “Please forgive your servant for the crime of swapping official documents. I must expose Yu Province Prefect Bu Shiren for seizing the achievements of his wife, Qin Jinxiu.”

These words caused an uproar. Bu Shiren’s earlier hesitation and lack of conviction had already made everyone suspicious, but now it turned out he had stolen his wife’s accomplishments.

Song Jinzhu said, “In our Yu Province, everyone knows that Lady Qin solves cases with divine skill, exonerates the innocent, clears wrongful accusations, captures the true culprits, hates evil as if it were her personal enemy, and cherishes the people as her own children. Yet Bu Shiren believes that Lady Qin only had the opportunity to display her talents because she married him and received his support. He shamelessly claims all the credit for himself and even has the audacity to seek rewards based on it. I could not bear to see such a petty man steal others’ achievements to advance his own career, so I altered the contents of Bu Shiren’s report. I beg your forgiveness.”

Bu Shiren lifted his head and glared fiercely at Song Jinzhu, recognizing her identity. “You’re lying! Merchants are the most deceitful sort, and their daughters are cunning. Do not believe this person!”

“I will send someone to investigate the truth of the matter. There’s no need for urgency,” Xu Ying said coldly.

Knowing that an investigation would expose his deception and that his official career was nearing its end, Bu Shiren made one last desperate attempt: “Song Jinzhu, husband and wife are one. Qin Jinxiu willingly gave me the creditwhat right does an outsider like you have to speak? What malicious intentions lie behind your attempt to harm us? Are you jealous of my wife because you cannot find a husband yourself?”

Song Jinzhu sneered, “How ridiculous you are! Whether Qin Jinxiu wishes to give you credit is her affair, but you have indeed done nothing for the people. Preventing your promotion is according to regulation. By deceiving everyone and falsely claiming achievements, you have defied the sovereign and mocked the court.”

Xu Ying declared, “Take him away. Tomorrow, I will dispatch someone to Yu Province. If the investigation confirms these allegations, he shall be dismissed from office and imprisoned according to the law.”

Bu Shiren wept and cried out that he was wronged, trying to drag Song Jinzhu down with him. The officials remained silent, while those lined up behind Bu Shiren inwardly lamented their misfortune.

Fortunately, those who followed did not dare to engage in fraud. After rewarding the officials who had made contributions the previous year, Xu Ying turned to the Academy of Sciences. Tong Wan stepped forward and presented her work to Xu Ying one by one.

“Your Majesty, this is an improved farming tool I developed. When pushed forward, it activates a mechanism to harvest rice and wheat, with a bag placed below to collect the grains. It can be pulled along, eliminating the need to bend over during harvest and saving labor,” Tong Wan explained. She then gestured to a small wooden cart beside her. “This one can thresh grains.”

“However, they still require human power and skill to operate. They cannot achieve automated harvesting and threshing and are not yet perfected,” Tong Wan added with some frustration.

Those who heard her thought she was being fancifulhow could tools move on their own? That would be like something possessed by spirits.

Xu Ying, however, was amazed. Recalling Tong Wan’s cart from the previous year, it seemed she had been consistently researching how to achieve automation, aspiring to create a perpetual motion machine. Xu Ying knew that perpetual motion was impossible and that automation was still far offunless someone could invent the steam engine and immediately kickstart an industrial revolution for mechanical automation.

Not wanting to discourage her, and aware that she lacked an engineering background or the essential skills often associated with time travelers that could help, Xu Ying could only pat Tong Wan’s shoulder and encourage her: “Your ideas are excellent. Making tools move on their own is not impossible. As long as you persist, study diligently, and uncover the mysteries, you will achieve it one day.”

This was the first time her ideas had received recognition, and from the emperor no less. Tong Wan was overjoyed. Those around her had always mocked her for being unrealistic, claiming her efforts were in vain. But the emperor said it was possible and encouraged her to persevere.

Tears welled in Tong Wan’s eyes. Determined to live up to the emperor’s expectations, she had also developed some devices that could be used on the battlefield.

Tong Wan produced a slender tube, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment as she explained, “Your Majesty, this humble subject drew inspiration from fireworks. By placing gunpowder inside and igniting it, the device soars through the air before exploding upon descent to injure enemy troops. However, for some reason, my fireworks can only determine the launch and landing pointsthey always veer erratically mid-flight…”

Xu Ying’s jaw dropped in astonishment. That unpredictable flight path is precisely what makes it terrifying!

“You’d be well-suited to develop missiles,” she remarked inwardly. Even enemy anti-missile systems would struggle to intercept these.

Tong Wan looked puzzled. “What did Your Majesty say?”

Xu Ying cleared her throat and replied solemnly, “I meant that the unpredictability of its trajectory is advantageous. It confuses the enemy, making it impossible for them to anticipate and evadethat’s what truly instills fear.”

Tong Wan shyly pressed her lips together. “Your Majesty, this humble subject has also specially crafted fireworks for you. Would you grace us with your presence to admire them after nightfall?”

It was just fireworks, after all. Xu Ying nodded immediately, thinking that watching alone would be dullsuch spectacles were best enjoyed with a crowd.

As dusk fell, Xu Ying extended invitations to everyone: Xu Zhen and her daughter Xu Ying were included, but Xu Aimin, being too young and easily frightened, was not brought along.

Officials were permitted to bring their families, and nearly every prominent figure in Youzhou received an invitation.

After some sweet wine was served, Xu Ying forbade the Hall of Gathered Talents officials from discussing official matters during the banquet, urging them to focus on the feast instead. Having long been deprived of indulgence, the attendees eagerly ate and drank their fill.

Once the banquet concluded, Xu Ying stood and announced, “Last year, we established the Academy of Sciences. Today, Tong Wan from the Academy has prepared a magnificent fireworks display. I wish to share this gift with all of youdo not miss it.”

The crowd wondered why such emphasis was placed on a mere fireworks show.

Gathering outside the hall on the spacious terrace, they awaited the display. The temperature had dropped after nightfall, and a chilly breeze prompted those lightly dressed to hug themselves or stamp their feet, hoping for a swift conclusion.

Preparations complete, Xu Ying squinted into the distance but could only make out Tong Wan directing someone to wheel out an object.

The fuse was lit. Xu Ying gazed skyward, anticipating a burst of colorful blossoms.

After a moment of silence, boredom began to set in, and murmurs of doubt arose. Suddenly, a series of thunderous roarslike dragons and tigers bellowingechoed, deafening the crowd. Sparks erupted across the sky, filling the air with the pungent scent of gunpowder.

The explosions continued relentlessly. Xu Ying’s vision darkened. Is this a fireworks display or an artillery demonstration?!

It was indeed fireworksloud but harmless. As the wind carried smoke toward the crowd, coughs erupted, and the acrid smell grew overwhelming.

Finally, the attendees understood why every notable figure in Youzhou had been summoned: it was a deliberate demonstration of power. Those who dared disobey might soon find such explosives raining upon their roofs.

Those who had previously considered marriage alliances trembled with fear, their sense of urgency sharply heightened.

Xu Ying truly hadn’t expected Tong Wan’s fireworks to be like this. After dozens of thunderous explosions finally ceased, the crowd was too frightened to speak. Xu Ying said hoarsely, “This symbolizes… a prosperous year, an extraordinary year. May we all strive together this year, avoiding empty fame and striving for excellence.”

After delivering the closing remarks, Xu Ying dismissed everyone to return home.

The residents of Youzhou City were startled awake by the tremendous noise. Disregarding the curfew, they rushed into the streets, asking each other: “What happened? Was there an earthquake somewhere?”

“The sound seemed to come from the palace – perhaps there’s fighting…”

“Something must have happened in the palace. This evening I saw many people heading toward the palace in carriages. Could rebels have infiltrated the palace to force the emperor to abdicate?”

“Then His Majesty must be in danger! I must go save His Majesty!”

Hearing this, the citizens became indignant. They returned home to grab whatever weapons they could find and charged toward the palace where the noise had originated.

The patrolling guards sensed trouble and immediately reported upward. However, before any orders could be issued, the common people had already swarmed outside the palace gates. The imperial guards dared not attack civilians without authorization and could only retreat backward, just bumping into officials and members of various prominent families returning home after court.

The people shouted in unison: “Return our Emperor!” Execute the traitors!”