[Congratulations to the host for successfully completing the life simulation. The following three rewards can be chosen at will.]
[Green-tier talent, Farming: Grants the host several years of rough farming experience.]
[White-tier talent, Child Prodigy: Allows the host to participate in production more quickly in future life simulations.]
[Blue-tier talent, Utterly Penniless: Provides the host with the system's minimum guaranteed assistance during periods of poverty.]
[Congratulations to the host for obtaining 170 points, with a current total of 770 points.]
[Congratulations to the host for initiating another person's life simulation for the first time, rewarding the divine artifact 'Stand-in'.]
[Stand-in: Can substitute the host for one death, regardless of the method.]
"Holy crap, a divine artifact, Stand-in?"
Chu Chen, who was still feeling a bit sad about the results of the second life simulation, was instantly overjoyed.
"With this thing, no one can kill me!"
Chu Chen quickly took it out from the system backpack, bit his finger to squeeze out a drop of blood, and dripped it onto a jade-like stand-in doll.
The blood was instantly absorbed, and the jade doll emitted a soft glow, quickly taking on Chu Chen's appearance. It then lay quietly in his hand.
Chu Chen carefully placed it back into the system backpack. In this world, there was no safer place for things than the system backpack.
Only then did Chu Chen have time to recall the second life simulation he had just experienced.
"This simulation was indeed not my own life, but someone else's."
"The process truly lived up to that line of poetry: when the state perishes, the people suffer; when the state thrives, the people still suffer."
"Different lives, different circumstances, born in the same year, yet their fates are vastly different."
Chu Chen sighed and glanced at the simulation results again.
"All I can do in this world is to make their lives a little better, so they don't starve to death again."
The next day, at the Hanlin Academy, many Jinshi scholars gathered in a grand hall early in the morning.
Under the imperial examination system, the Hanlin Academy served as a place for clerical work for Jinshi scholars who temporarily had no official positions or did not wish to take on substantive roles.
Their main duties were twofold: reviewing and compiling books, and acting as a reserve for officials.
Following the failed rebellion by Prime Minister Chen Yuanliang, which implicated and led to the downfall of nearly half the officials in court, many official positions became vacant.
The Jinshi scholars gathered in the Hanlin Academy hall were quite excited, constantly chatting amongst themselves.
Yesterday, after receiving some news, they had returned home to pull strings and seek connections, attempting to fill their desired official posts.
Only a very small number of Jinshi scholars were not keen on this, instead complaining that the summons had delayed their work on new books.
"Eunuch Chu arrives!"
"Here they come, someone from the palace to deliver an imperial decree!"
Deliver an imperial decree? What was that?
As Chu Chen entered, he heard this statement, his mind filled with question marks.
Taking his place at the head of the hall, Chu Chen glanced at those below.
These Jinshi scholars spanned three age groups: elderly, middle-aged, and young. Most looked at him with excited and eager eyes.
Chu Chen, puzzled, called out, "Esteemed sirs, please be quiet."
The Jinshi scholars gradually quieted down upon hearing this.
"I believe you are all aware of the current situation in the court. I have been ordered by His Majesty to come to the Hanlin Academy to screen suitable individuals for His Majesty to fill the vacancies in the court."
"Now, if you believe you are capable of any position, feel free to state it. After I assess you, you may take office, temporarily assuming the duties of your desired official post."
"Please wait a moment!"
As soon as Chu Chen finished speaking, he heard an aged voice.
Looking closely, an old man with half his head white stepped forward.
"Esteemed elder, do you have a question? Or have you decided on your desired official post?"
Facing the elder, Chu Chen, adhering to the principle of respecting the old and cherishing the young, inquired politely.
Who would have thought that this elder was quite impolite? With a pair of somewhat clouded eyes, he looked at Chu Chen with disdain.
With full vigor, he loudly declared, "Eunuch Chu's words just now are simply unheard of. All court officials are pillars of the nation. Even if there are urgent vacancies that need to be filled temporarily, how can such a major matter be entrusted to a mere eunuch like Eunuch Chu to select and appoint?"
"This is against court rules, against the law, and against the ancestral regulations. According to the rules, temporary vacant positions should be filled by the Ministry of Personnel sending people to retrieve archives, review suitable candidates, and then submit their names for His Majesty's appointment."
"How can it be solely at Eunuch Chu's discretion? Is this not chaos in the court, with eunuchs holding power and controlling state affairs?"
"This old man strongly demands a change in the selection process!"
"..."
Chu Chen was dumbfounded. Was this old man joking? If they truly followed the process, how could an old man like him, over fifty, get a position?
Would the Ministry of Personnel, instead of choosing those with connections, choose an old man like you, who had studied until he was nearing his coffin without any real power?
"This old man deeply agrees!"
"That's right, how can a eunuch and inner official decide on behalf of His Majesty? It's truly absurd."
Who would have thought that with this old man taking the lead, quite a few Jinshi scholars would chime in?
"Presumptuous! You dare to question His Majesty's decision?"
Behind Chu Chen, Eunuch Wei, Wei Ronghua, quickly stepped forward and reprimanded.
"We naturally dare not question His Majesty's decision, but we are all Jinshi scholars, pillars of the nation. We have studied diligently for over a decade and entered the court to compile books. How can we allow you eunuchs to select us?"
"Such a disastrous and absurd affair! We will never yield!"
"Exactly! This old man will submit a memorial to His Majesty, impeaching you! Impeaching you for flattering and deceiving the emperor!"
Damn it, today I finally understand what it's like to deal with stubborn, pedantic scholars. This is truly an experience that makes one's temper flare.
No wonder you old geezers, fifty or sixty years old, are still compiling books in the Hanlin Academy and can't get substantive positions.
Chu Chen's face darkened. Wei Ronghua in front of him, likely having no experience in arguing with a crowd, was stammering incoherently, clearly also quite angered.
"Enough! All of you, shut up!"
Chu Chen channeled his spiritual energy and let out a roar, instantly immobilizing the bodies of the Jinshi scholars. They found themselves utterly unable to speak.
They looked at Chu Chen with shock, somewhat surprised that he was also a master.
Only two of them, while shocked, looked on with disbelief. They sensed that Chu Chen had just used spiritual energy.
Chu Chen, too lazy to waste words on them, directly activated his identification and discerning eye skills.
After scanning the crowd, Chu Chen discovered that these scholars were indeed the "involution kings" of the examination halls. Their skills were not low, but they were surprisingly useless.
"Teaching and nurturing? Compiling history? Noble character? What kind of talents are these? All blue-tier, which is quite high, but completely useless in court!"
"Damn, there are even negative status talents? Lewd behavior, feigning compliance, stubbornness? Amazing!"
"Studying diligently really leads nowhere. It's too terrifying!"