Prince's heir

Because the bandit suppression in Qingzhou had delayed them for a few days, the cavalry needed to hurry to the capital to report back. When the caravan entered the city, the people nearby recognized the cavalry's banners and stopped to watch.

The people of the capital were naturally better informed, and they whispered among themselves, saying, "The cavalry has done a great service in suppressing bandits, and His Majesty has said he will reward them handsomely."

"General Luo is a true hero, so valiant!"

"Haha, I heard that the elite cavalry scared those bandits so badly they ran away with their tails between their legs in Qingzhou!"

"Whose family is that young man? He's so handsome!"

Xie Zhuo rode a chestnut-red Akhal-Teke horse behind Luo Zhenhai. The morning light shone on his handsome face, his expression solemn, his eyes unfathomable, and his whole being exuded a godlike majesty.

As soon as they entered the city, people started asking about Xie Zhuo. He was already a general at a young age, and they wished they could marry their daughter to him.

Having traveled a long way, the entire cavalry was covered in dust and grime and could not go directly to the palace to meet the emperor. The group hurriedly bathed and changed clothes at the post station, waiting for the emperor to summon them.

When they entered the palace, they happened to run into the civil and military officials who were leaving court. Upon seeing Luo Zhenhai and Xie Zhuo enter the palace, they all stepped forward to congratulate them.

General Jiang Tongpu, the Protector of the Nation, is stationed on the frontier and is not in the capital. Currently, Luo Zhenhai is the head of the military officers in the court. Although Xie Zhuo is the deputy general of the cavalry, this is only a military position. He does not hold any official position in the court. Apart from his position as deputy general, he is also the heir apparent of Prince Duan's mansion, so a group of court officials have gathered around him to curry favor with him.

Upon arriving at the entrance of the side hall, the eunuch saw them and hurriedly went inside to announce their arrival.

"Your Majesty, we are humble subjects." Luo Zhenhai and Xie Zhuo bowed to the emperor in unison.

"You may dispense with the formalities, my dear minister."

The reigning emperor, whose title was Chengde, first looked at Xie Zhuo, who was as beautiful as a piece of jade.

Good-looking people attract attention wherever they go.

The emperor wore a ochre-yellow dragon robe, woven with a pattern of nine dragons soaring through clouds using the kesi technique, exuding an aura of nobility. He had regular features and a refined appearance, seemingly a gentle emperor, but the sharp glint in his eyes could inadvertently make one's expression turn serious.

Luo Zhenhai said, “This time, I have lived up to Your Majesty’s expectations and wiped out the bandits’ stronghold in Jiangbei in one fell swoop. I humbly request Your Majesty to take a look.” With that, he handed over the book of merits.

The emperor said "good" three times.

He had already received the report that the elite cavalry had annihilated more than 16,000 bandits in Jiangbei, and on their way back to the capital, they had also raided a bandit stronghold in Qingzhou, bringing peace to the people in all directions. It was indeed a great achievement.

"You must be tired from your journey, my dear minister. If all the ministers in the court were like you, then I could rest easy."

"Your Majesty flatters me. This is all I should do. Your Majesty is kind-hearted and compassionate, truly a blessing to the Great Wei."

The emperor laughed heartily, "Minister Luo, you have rendered invaluable service in quelling the bandit rebellion for me, and Xie Zhuo, you have not disappointed me..."

Emperor Chengde first praised Luo Zhenhai and Xie Zhuo one by one, and then rewarded the cavalry with a thousand taels of silver and ten thousand taels of cloth.

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

The emperor spoke to Xie Zhuo in a very friendly tone. At first, he didn't have high expectations for his nephew, but after receiving news from the front lines, he realized that Xie Zhuo's performance was even better than he had imagined.

During the suppression of bandits in Jiangbei, it was thanks to his successful cavalry raid that the suppression of bandits proceeded so smoothly.

The emperor felt that his nephew had some of his own youthful charm. He smiled faintly. Prince Duan, Xie Chi, was an incompetent ruler, but his son, Xie Zhuo, was a rare young talent.

The emperor's mind is so strange. If you are too outstanding, he will worry that you will threaten his position. If you spend your days eating, drinking and having fun, he will despise you as a spoiled brat who has accomplished nothing.

The Xie family were legitimate imperial relatives. According to seniority, Xie Zhuo should call the emperor "uncle." His grandfather, Xie Heshan, and the late emperor were both princes, but brothers from different mothers.

During the struggle for the throne, Xie Heshan did not get involved but supported the late emperor's ascension to the throne. Therefore, after the late emperor successfully ascended the throne, he did not exterminate Xie Heshan but granted him the title of prince. Meanwhile, his two brothers who participated in the struggle for the throne had long since turned into smoke.

Although the late emperor was able to ascend the throne smoothly with his support, Xie Heshan knew in his heart that he, as a member of the royal family, would always be a threat to the emperor. After his wife gave birth to their son Xie Chi, he gave up the idea of ​​having any more children.

Only by having few descendants in his lineage could he reduce the emperor's suspicion.

Xie Heshan was sensible and discerning. He served the late emperor wholeheartedly during his reign, and after the late emperor's death, he did not use his status as a prince to suppress the new emperor. Instead, he immediately abdicated and resigned, handing over his power. It was precisely because of this action that his lineage was able to continue.

*

The Prince Duan's residence already knew that the heir was coming back, and had prepared tea and water in advance to wait for him.

"Greetings, Your Highness!" The servants and maids who came and went all bowed their heads respectfully when they saw him.

Xie Zhuoxian went straight to his grandfather Xie Heshan's study.

The small courtyard of the study is planted with many green plants, which sway in the wind and create a picturesque scene.

Upon entering the study, one is greeted by a full cabinet of books, including those frequently read by Xie Heshan. Many more books are locked away in the storeroom. Not far from the bookshelf is a huge mahogany display shelf, filled with various antique objects such as jade and ceramics.

Xie Heshan had a clear and upright gaze, and despite being over fifty, he was still very energetic. He was sitting at the head of the table, sipping tea. When he lifted the lid, steam rose, and the aroma of tea filled the air, a gentle sniff bringing a sense of peace.

Xie Zhuo bowed respectfully, "Grandfather, your grandson has returned."

"Please sit down."

Xie Zhuo told him about the bandit suppression efforts and the rewards from the palace.

Xie Heshan was relieved to hear that the Chengde Emperor had only praised his grandson's achievements in suppressing bandits and had not said anything else. He nodded to indicate that he understood.

At first, Xie Heshan was worried about the impact Xie Zhuo's return to the capital would have on the situation there. Especially at this crucial moment of establishing a crown prince, the Xie family could not afford to make any rash moves, otherwise, they might end up in a hopeless situation.

Do you know why I sent you to the elite cavalry?

"Grandson knows."

The power held by aristocratic families has always been a stumbling block on the path to imperial power.

Xie Heshan nodded in satisfaction.

Having navigated the treacherous waters of the imperial court for decades and personally witnessed the struggle for the throne, he understood better than anyone that some things would take on a different meaning once they became associated with imperial power.

When Xie Zhuo was born, no princes had yet been born in the palace. To avoid arousing the emperor's suspicion and causing him to plot against Xie Zhuo, he reluctantly sent Xie Zhuo to another region to recuperate, citing Xie Zhuo's weak health. Therefore, Xie Zhuo was sent to the mountains to be raised when he was only six months old. It wasn't until four years later, when princes and princesses were born in the palace, that Xie Heshan dared to bring him back.

After the child was brought back, a few years later the palace needed to select a tutor for the prince, and Xie Zhuo, being the son of Prince Xie, naturally became the first choice. Xie Heshan faced a choice again, and having no other choice, he could only send his grandson away again, sending him to study in Qingzhou, hundreds of miles away from the capital.

It was precisely because of this childhood experience that Xie Zhuo developed a mature personality at a young age.

Now that Xie Zhuo has grown up, the princes have also grown up, and Emperor Chengde is over forty years old, there are whispers in the court that the emperor should establish an heir as soon as possible. No one knows which prince will be crowned the crown prince, so staying away from the core circle of the struggle for the throne and protecting oneself is the best choice. This is why Xie Heshan is so anxious to send Xie Zhuo to the military camp.

Better safe than sorry.

In recent years, the emperor has become increasingly wary of the power of aristocratic families.

As a representative of the current aristocratic families, especially Xie Heshan, who once came incredibly close to that position, the Xie family cannot afford to be careless now.

Throughout history, dynasties have come and gone, but powerful clans have stood the test of time for millennia. This is because, in order to maintain their status, these clans have consistently recruited numerous scholars as advisors and devised ways to place their own people in the court, supporting each other through marriage and blood ties to safeguard their interests.

It is passed down from generation to generation, in an endless cycle.

The foundation of these aristocratic families is the result of thousands of years of accumulation. They are mainly composed of scholars, and their numbers are enormous. They call themselves prestigious families and control a great deal of financial, material, and human resources, wielding tremendous influence among the people.

The greater the influence of powerful families, the less influence the imperial power had.

The emperor had already realized this and was disgusted by the phenomenon of powerful families monopolizing official careers. Why is it so difficult for children from humble backgrounds to rise to prominence? Because powerful families had almost monopolized knowledge and culture.

The sons of noble families are learning the Six Arts of a Gentleman, while students from poor families are worried about not being able to afford tuition.

Without access to a good education, and unable to afford the Four Books and Five Classics, and with writing implements being expensive consumables, ordinary people simply couldn't afford them. Those students who could attend school came from families with some wealth, because the truly poor simply couldn't afford books; they didn't even have the right to step into a school.

Under such conditions, it is virtually impossible for students from poor families to rise above others and enter high society.

No matter how well a student from a poor family recites poetry or practices calligraphy, it's all for naught if they can't write good policy essays.

The essay questions are closely related to the country's society, economy, military, people's livelihood and customs. The examiners will randomly select questions based on the current national situation, testing whether the candidates are knowledgeable, flexible in their response, and have the ability to govern the country.

Besides basic writing skills, candidates also need to carefully consider the examiners' intentions. Only if their essays appeal to the examiners will they have a chance to be admitted. However, each examiner has their own preferences, and even if you are a gifted writer, if your writing style does not meet the examiner's tastes and writing requirements, you will not be accepted.

The path of the imperial examination may seem broad, but it is actually narrow.

Years of diligent study are all for the day when one's name is on the honor roll. However, without connections in the imperial court, without the guidance of great Confucian scholars, and without access to current affairs, all efforts are ultimately in vain.

The cake is only so big, and the prestigious families have filled all the spots, so how can the poor students get a chance?

Can a child from a poor family still achieve greatness?

Yes, but very rarely.

Those who can rise to prominence under such circumstances are extremely rare. Only the chosen ones, with both strength and luck, have the opportunity to become the emperor's confidants and a sharp sword in his hand to rival the aristocratic clans.

In order to curb the continued growth of powerful clans, the emperor encouraged scholars across the land to study and strive for advancement, firmly grasping power in his own hands. He used the imperial examination to select talented individuals and officials, thus uniting the strength of all scholars from humble backgrounds to reduce the threat posed by powerful clans.

At the same time, as imperial power was consolidated, the prestige of powerful clans was bound to weaken.

"As aristocratic families decline, those from humble backgrounds will surely rise."

Xie Heshan recognized this early on, and he wisely withdrew from the limelight, staying away from the center of power in order to preserve the Xie family's prosperity for generations.

Xie Heshan retired and returned home, but the Xie family's influence remained. Although he withdrew from the court, his years of management had not been in vain. The branches behind the Prince's Mansion were intricate and intertwined, and any move he made would have far-reaching consequences.

When the new emperor Chengde ascended the throne, he was always wary of Xie Heshan, his uncle.

To avoid arousing the emperor's suspicion, Xie Heshan had never allowed his son to participate in factional struggles. Therefore, Prince Duan, Xie Chi, had maintained the image of a leisurely prince for many years—a position of high status, but without real power. Even his only grandson was no exception; he arranged for Xie Zhuo to study in Qingzhou early on, precisely to prevent the royal family from targeting him.

In short, the more low-key you are, the safer you are.

The grandfather and grandson talked for most of the day in the study. With Xie Heshan's guidance, Xie Zhuo gained a deeper understanding of the court and various forces.