Chapter 98
The next morning, Wen Shi got up and dressed. After walking to the back of the yard, he frowned and instantly recalled the scene from the previous evening.
He wasn't entirely sure he was seeing things, but after thinking about it for a long time, he still couldn't figure it out. How could clothes move on their own when they were in a basin?
Yesterday, before he even got close enough to see clearly, the wooden basin shattered into pieces.
He glanced subconsciously at the corner of the wall, picked up a wooden basin again, placed it in the same spot as yesterday, and poured all the clothes from the bucket into it.
His dark eyes were very focused, and he stared at them for a long time. But this time, the clothes in the wooden basin did not ripple at all. They were exactly the same as when they were poured in.
"Is it really because I was too tired yesterday that my eyes are blurry and I'm seeing things?"
Upon hearing this, the thought involuntarily popped into his mind: his child and wife were still asleep, and it was still early. So he simply put the wooden basin under the eaves and went to the kitchen to prepare breakfast.
While the porridge was cooking, Wen Shi took a stool, sat in the yard, and quickly washed and hung out the clothes from yesterday to dry.
The small well is right in front of the kitchen. It's usually covered with a thick wooden plank and weighed down with a large stone. There's no other way; we have a young child in the family, so we have to be careful.
After washing the clothes, he noticed the water in the vat was almost empty, so he quickly refilled it. It was already bright outside. After finishing all this, he went to wake the children, and Yingxiang slowly woke up as well.
She tidied up quickly, and as soon as she stepped out of the house, she saw the clothes drying in the yard.
She glanced at the next room subconsciously, but there was nothing to say. As long as she insisted that they were seeing things, the matter would be over.
She heard a child crying inside, and wondered what the father and son were doing. She quickly washed up, and seeing that the porridge was almost cooked and the fire was about to go out, she immediately ladled out the porridge and added some water to the pot.
Breakfast was laid out, and the father and son came out. The little guy's eyes were a bit red, but he was very calm and didn't seem unhappy. He didn't mention what happened yesterday, as if it had just passed by.
"Mom is leaving first. Be good to Dad and behave well."
"Husband, I'll bring the tea back tonight. You can give it to the master tomorrow, three packets."
Wen Shi nodded and told his wife to slow down.
He hadn't forgotten his meeting with the emperor that day. After sending the child to school, he went to the Hanlin Academy and began preparations with several classmates who had been called upon.
Even officials in the capital, below the fifth rank, were not qualified to attend court, let alone receive invitations to various palace banquets. It was extremely difficult to even meet the emperor, and without someone's support, it was not uncommon for them to stop there.
After they were ready, the Grand Secretary led them to the palace.
The Imperial Study is already magnificent from the outside, and the further you go in, the more astonishing it becomes. Every piece of furniture inside is exquisite and beautiful, especially the large, golden cauldron in the very center, which is exceptionally eye-catching.
Any random ornament in this room would cost at least a thousand taels of silver, and some of the better ones would cost tens of thousands of taels.
Of course, this was the emperor's residence and office; it wouldn't be normal if it weren't luxurious.
The emperor sat on the dragon throne, listened to his trusted eunuch's report, put down the memorial in his hand, and gestured for everyone to come in. The imperial examination was held every three years, and each time several hundred people would be selected.
Over the years, some people have risen rapidly in rank, but most have faded into obscurity, disappearing from the officialdom.
The Grand Secretary brought five Left Attendants with him this time, and Wen Shi was among them.
"Your Majesty, I greet you. Long live the Emperor!"
"Get up, everyone."
The emperor said in a deep voice.
Of the five people, Wen Shi didn't stand in the very center; he stood on the far left.
The emperor wore a black dragon robe, exuding a noble air and a cold expression.
He glanced at the group of people standing not far away, and then said, "You have been studying at the Imperial Academy for a year now. I ask you, when it comes to choosing an heir, should we choose the eldest son of the legitimate wife or the most virtuous person?"
Upon hearing this, the Grand Secretary felt a sudden pang of unease. He recalled the people who had come last time and realized that luck was truly important compared to the current situation.
The group of people who had initially thought the lecturer would be explaining classic ancient books were also taken aback, and some even turned pale, unsure of how to respond.
There has been much arguing in the court recently because of this matter, which has greatly troubled the emperor. Of course, the ministers also have their own thoughts. Those princes who have come of age are resorting to any means to win over the ministers in private.
The Hanlin Academy was located in the capital, so it naturally heard a lot of rumors.
Wen Shi's mind worked quickly, but he didn't rush to speak. The person standing in the middle felt oppressed by the emperor's gaze. The Grand Secretary glanced at the group of people out of the corner of his eye, feeling a mixture of joy and worry.
"Tell me, what are your thoughts?"
"Your Majesty, I believe that the successor should be a virtuous one. If we want the country to last for thousands of generations, a wise and virtuous ruler is of paramount importance."
Unexpectedly, the person on the right was the first to speak. Of course, Wen Shi didn't usually have much interaction with this person.
He then cited several examples of wise rulers who, by passing the throne to incompetent sons, caused their countries to decline and eventually perish.
The emperor then looked at the person beside him.
"I believe that we should appoint a virtuous ruler. A ruler may be the eldest son or the heir, but he must be virtuous. Only in this way can our Great Qi Dynasty prosper forever."
Now it's the turn of the one in the very middle.
"I believe that the legitimate heir should be established. The legitimate son is born to the Empress, whose status is of great importance. The legitimate son is of higher status than the sons of concubines. Only by establishing the legitimate heir can the foundation of the country be stabilized and the people be convinced."
After speaking, the man gave several examples, such as how several emperors in history did not establish their legitimate sons but instead established sons of illegitimate sons, which eventually led to discontent among their brothers, resulting in chaos and affecting the country.
The emperor didn't say anything and looked directly at the next person.
As his turn approached, Wen Shi couldn't help but recall what his teacher had said before. He guessed that no matter whether he supported the eldest son, the legitimate son, or the promising prince, these were probably not the answers the emperor wanted directly.
The court officials must have told him these things many times. In fact, the principles are all the same. The most important thing is to look at the emperor's will. Whoever he values will be the crown prince. He holds great power, and sometimes the words of his ministers are not that important.
Besides, there are people like them.
"I believe it should be the eldest son. This is the first son bestowed upon the king by Heaven, and there must be a reason for it. The king should follow the will of Heaven, focus on nurturing the eldest son, and let him take over the country."
The emperor looked directly at Wen Shi, his eyes calm and revealing no emotion.
"Your Majesty, I believe that both the eldest son and the legitimate son have their advantages and disadvantages. However, you are currently in the prime of your life and in good health. It is not too late to consider these matters in a few years."
The emperor holds absolute power and can appoint whomever he wants, but the current lack of action suggests that he is not entirely satisfied or at ease with these princes.
Because there were no outstanding individuals, the emperor hesitated to make a decision and continued to observe.
He himself was not the eldest son or the legitimate son; at most, he was considered virtuous, but now he has governed the country very well.
Upon hearing Wen Shi's words, the emperor glanced at him with some surprise.
"Your Majesty, this student is named Wen Shi, and he is a disciple of Master Huang."
"Huang Qing's student?"
Emperor Jingyuan was taken aback. He looked at Wen Shi with a more scrutinizing gaze. He recalled the old man who was nearing the end of his life, and his expression became somewhat subtle. In fact, he had wanted to keep the man in the capital. Although he was old, Huang Li was still capable. However, he had always refused and insisted on returning to his hometown.
Huang Li himself was very outstanding, but his sons were not as capable as their father.
He returned to his hometown to retire, opened an academy, and took in some students; the emperor knew of this.
Huang Li had told him that his family was poor when he was young, and he had wanted to change his family's circumstances. Now everything had changed for the better, and after serving as an official for decades, his wish had been fulfilled.
Returning to his hometown to open an academy and become a teacher was his last wish. He wanted to cultivate more talents for the court and pass on all the knowledge he had learned in his life.
In just a few years, people have already passed the exam.
"Your Majesty, I heard that he comes from a farming family and ranked thirty-fifth in the second class of the imperial examination last year. You even praised his calligraphy at the time, and it was you who issued an edict to keep him in the Hanlin Academy."
The Grand Scholar added another sentence.
He had participated in grading the examination papers. When the emperor was taking the exam, he praised Wen Shi's calligraphy. Wen Shi's essay at the time was also above the passing grade, so they sent his paper forward. Sure enough, the emperor kept him. Otherwise, given his family background, if he were sent to a remote area, he would definitely be a low-ranking official. He should just wait it out.
The emperor nodded and saw Wen Shi bowing respectfully. He then told Wen Shi to raise his head. The man in front of him looked quite young.
It must be admitted that his words really struck a chord with me. He was in good health, and although he was no longer young, he was not senile either, so there was absolutely no need for him to rush into appointing an heir.
Compared to the top scholar who achieved the highest honors in the imperial examinations, his teacher, Wen Shi, was not so impressive.
But he's quite clever; at least compared to these people, he can see through people's hearts. The answer he wants isn't the most suitable one.
It's often said that an emperor's heart is as unfathomable as the sea, and his courtiers have offered their advice on this matter quite a bit.
On the surface, his purpose was to inquire and investigate, and to solicit advice, but in reality, it was not that simple.
"Wenqing, how many years have you been studying?"
Sometimes, officials of humble origins are more useful. The person in front of you is perceptive, intelligent, and seems quite reliable.
"Twelve years."
"I began studying at the age of fourteen, passed the imperial examination at eighteen, became a scholar at twenty-one, a licentiate at twenty-four, and entered the Hanlin Academy at twenty-five."
The emperor glanced at him with some surprise, thinking that the man before him was indeed quite capable.
He started school nearly ten years later than others, but his participation in the imperial examinations was remarkably smooth sailing. However, his efforts should not be overlooked.
As for the fact that Wen Shi was a student of Master Huang, everyone in the Hanlin Academy knew about it; it couldn't be kept secret. It was all recorded, with his name and household registration written down clearly.
Those standing with Wen Shi were mostly five or six years older than him, and most of them were over thirty. Many of them were not familiar with Wen Shi, but they were all shocked after hearing what he said.
He's really lucky; his exams went smoothly, and he got here at such a young age. Some people started school earlier than him, but took the exams for many years.
“I remember last time, there was a guy named Hu Yong’an, who was also in his twenties.”
"Yes, he is three years younger than Wen Xuezi. He is the youngest in this cohort, followed by Wen Xuezi. They are both very outstanding."
"Excellent! Our Great Qi is full of talented people, and its national strength will surely become even more prosperous in the future."
The emperor seemed to be in a good mood. He ascended the throne at a young age and was questioned by many people at the time, but he gradually gained recognition and grew stronger through his own efforts.
Compared to Hu Yong'an, Wen Shi seems much more composed.
When Hu Yong'an greeted him, he first said a bunch of auspicious words, which immediately caught his eye. That was fine, but then he actually introduced himself and said that he had studied with that teacher since he was a child, and so on, and what he had learned.
Of course, his attitude was very respectful, but what he said was also true.
The emperor saw right through him. He certainly had ability and came from a wealthy family, but he lacked social skills and liked to show off. However, considering his age, the emperor didn't say anything. He figured that after a few years of experience in officialdom, he would definitely change.
"Turn around and look at that white jade vase on the shelf. It's my favorite vase lately. Get them brushes and ink, and have them each write a poem for me to see."
After the emperor finished speaking, the eunuch beside him immediately left.
Wen Shi glanced at the clear, warm white jade vase. Writing poetry wasn't difficult.
The emperor's thoughts are hard to guess. Before they came, they never expected that the emperor would ask about the matter of choosing an heir. After all, none of them were qualified to attend court.
The opportunity was rare, and all he could do was to perform well. If he could seize the opportunity to obtain an official position, that would be the best outcome.
Who knows if there will be a next time? If not, in two years, I will most likely have no choice but to pack my bags and leave the capital.
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