The Whole Court Exploded After My Rival and I Went Public

(PS: It's all in here! And not just tailpipe fumes! The main story has even more than the blurb suggests!)

[Two male leads + top-ranked scholar and third-place graduate + bickering enemies + face-slapping and falling hard + mutually exclusive first loves + happy ending]

A prickly, arrogant little tiger of a third-place graduate bottom vs. a sharp-tongued, scheming top-ranked scholar top, as aloof as a mountain flower

Their feud began on the day of the palace examination.

Shen Jinglan challenged the rankings in public. “Your Majesty, I beg to ask: what separates the top-ranked scholar from the third-place graduate?”

Xiao Hengzhi stepped forward with a smile. “I was born three months earlier than him, so I had three more months to read the sages' books.”

Shen Jinglan: ??? Is this guy asking to get beaten up?

On their first day working at the Hanlin Academy, they were assigned to the same office.

Shen Jinglan vowed to make his life difficult, but then

His tea was drunk, his brush was used, and even the pastries he'd brought from home were all eaten!

Xiao Hengzhi wiped his mouth. “Quite tasty. Please thank the Old Madam for me.”

Shen Jinglan: I'm going to kill this man!!!

Later

At the morning court, Xiao Hengzhi suddenly stepped forward. “Your Majesty, I have a memorial to present.”

Then, in front of every civil and military official, he took Shen Jinglan's hand. “Shen Jinglan and I are in love. I beg Your Majesty to grant us your blessing.”

The officials: What did we do to deserve having to watch this?

An investigating censor slammed his head into a pillar on the spot (but didn't die).

An old minister clutched his chest and called for the imperial physician.

Shen Jinglan was so mortified he wanted to dig a hole and crawl into it. “Xiao Hengzhi, have you lost your mind?!”

Xiao Hengzhi smiled. “Yes, I lost it over you.”