Outside the palace, the sound of thunder echoed faintly; inside, the halls were brightly lit.
The Empress did not answer immediately. Instead, she asked, "Why did you not present this matter during the morning court session?"
Although the Empress held audiences with external ministers, her expansion of power had been achieved step by step. Her initial justification for receiving them was the compilation of the "Agricultural Canon" at Pingzhang Palace, which allowed her to recruit talented individuals. However, she only recruited students from the Imperial Academy and those who held the title of "co-jinshi." Among her "Northern Gate Scholars," not a single one was a proper jinshi, as those individuals were typically destined for clerical roles in the Hanlin Academy—essentially secretaries to the Emperor. The Empress dared not overstep by employing them, choosing instead the lesser-ranked co-jinshi who had little chance of entering the Hanlin Academy.
Chapter 532