Read Novel Full Chapter 783 - 384 How about the character ’Han’?
Chapter 783: Chapter 384 How about the character ’Han’?
This year, the capital will host the provincial and palace examinations. Starting this month, examinees from various places have been arriving in the capital one after another.
Compared to the provincial and palace examinations three years ago, there are significantly more candidates participating this year.
Although this year’s examinations are only the second occasion, they are much more mature than the previous session. Most importantly, the last imperial examinations made the scholars of the world see the court’s commitment and clarified their future prospects. So, the number of candidates this year has increased.
When discussing this year’s imperial examinations, one must mention Prince Chu. This year, both the preliminary and provincial examinations in the capital are hosted by Prince Chu.
Because Prince Chu is in charge of the capital’s imperial examinations, his status in the hearts of scholars nationwide has risen considerably, causing Prince Dai to feel both jealous and angry, as well as discontent.
Prince Dai also wanted to host the imperial examinations, and to this end, he even went to plead with the Emperor, only to be severely scolded. As a military officer, Prince Dai seldom read books in his daily life. Making him host the imperial examinations would surely invite ridicule and disdain from scholars all over the land.
In recent years, the power struggle in the court has become a fierce contest between Prince Dai and Prince Chu.
The confrontation between Prince Dai and Prince Chu is intense, with their respective forces equally matched and neither side willing to yield.
Although Prince Jing and Prince Wei also participate in the struggle for succession, they are not highly regarded. Additionally, most of the court officials believe that Prince Chu is the Crown Prince, although the Emperor has not announced it.
Ever since the previous Crown Prince was deposed a few years ago, the ministers have continuously urged the Emperor to appoint a new Crown Prince. Initially, due to the heartbreak from the deposed Crown Prince, the Emperor did not want to appoint a new one immediately, but the nation cannot be without a successor for a day. Moreover, with the ministers’ repeated urging, the Emperor reluctantly agreed to appoint a new Crown Prince. To prevent his sons from killing each other again, the Emperor declared he would not announce who the Crown Prince is, but the imperial decree appointing the Crown Prince has been written and placed behind the plaque labeled "Zhongzheng Renhe" in Zichen Hall. After the Emperor passes away, the decree will be retrieved from the plaque, and then the Crown Prince will inherit the throne.
Naturally, the ministers opposed this approach by the Emperor, as it was unprecedented and unheard of. They also felt the Emperor’s method was too capricious, but with the Emperor insisting, the ministers had no choice but to comply. This is why the Emperor has persistently delayed announcing the Crown Prince for years.
Everyone wants to know whom the imperial decree behind the "Zhongzheng Renhe" plaque appoints as the Crown Prince. Prince Dai once entertained the idea of stealing the decree but, of course, only dared to think about it and did not really attempt it. If he truly tried to steal it, there would be only a dead end for him.
Not to mention the tight security in the Imperial Palace, around Zichen Hall, there are always Imperial Guards stationed, along with unseen Hidden Guards surveilling. It is virtually impossible for anyone to steal the imperial decree for the Crown Prince from Zichen Hall.
The idea to hide the imperial decree for the Crown Prince behind the plaque in Zichen Hall was suggested by Zhao Yao. At that time, Zhao Yao did not speak directly to the Emperor about it but mentioned it to Lady Liang. During their conversation about the struggle for succession, Zhao Yao recounted a history from the world of Zhao Yao’s dreams, where during the struggle for the throne, an emperor, after winning, was afraid that his sons would fight like their brothers did, so he stopped appointing a Crown Prince and instead placed the decree behind the main hall’s plaque.
Lady Liang, after hearing this, relayed the idea to the Emperor, who thought it was a good idea and thus adopted it.
At this moment, Zhao Yao sat in a teahouse beside Vermilion Bird Avenue, sipping tea while listening to a storyteller narrate the grand scene of the top scorer parading through the streets with the newly appointed officials from the previous session.
There were quite a few examinees in the teahouse. As they listened to the storyteller vividly describe the spectacle of the top scorer parading through the streets, they all displayed expressions of envy and yearning. To scholars all over the world, the most glorious, impressive, and triumphant moment in their life is being crowned the top scorer and riding a horse through the streets.
"Your Highness, listening to the storyteller talk about the top scorer parading through the streets makes my heart surge with excitement. I can’t wait to become the top scorer myself and bask in the glory," said Tong Xi, reflecting on when he followed Zhao Yao to observe the parade of the previous top scorer.
"With your brain, you’ll never make it as a top scorer."
"I might not make it, but if Your Highness were to participate, you would surely ace it," Tong Xi eagerly imagined his master winning the top scorer title and parading through the streets. "It’s a pity that Your Highness can’t take the exam."
"Even if I could take the exam, I wouldn’t pass," Zhao Yao admitted with self-awareness, "I can’t write essays, let alone compose poems or verses."