Chapter 77 077 I am considerate.
Guangzhaifang is located right next to Jianfu Gate of Daming Palace, making it very convenient for entry and exit. Since His Majesty has said so, he must have bought it. If she meets His Majesty in the residence, wouldn't that be a real secret rendezvous? Xie Lanzhao didn't know how to answer, her gaze towards Zhao Jialing hesitant and unsure what to say.
Zhao Jialing was very thoughtful. She added, "The prime minister is very busy with his affairs. It is inconvenient for him to travel from his private residence to the government office. The round trip is quite time-consuming. I will use this as a reason to bestow a residence upon him. I don't think anyone will object."
Xie Lanzhao opened her mouth, but finally asked, "Is it only me?"
“Not only that,” Zhao Jialing said, beaming. “As for avoiding suspicion, I understand that principle. It’s not just you; consider it my consideration for my ministers.”
Indeed, the considerations were quite comprehensive, and this also reflects His Majesty's growth. But thinking of those stories, Xie Lanzhao didn't think those people would think in a righteous direction. Oh well, it doesn't matter. Even without this incident, other things would be brought up anyway. She composed herself, stopping her chaotic thoughts from continuing to wander, and steered the topic back to the "poetry and prose competition," saying, "It's the end of the year, why not take advantage of this time to have some fun?"
Zhao Jialing said, "Hmm, you mean to add some luck?"
Xie Lanzhao: "If we're going to do it, let's make it more formal."
Zhao Jialing nodded: "I understand. Let the Imperial Academy serve as a stepping stone once again."
Xie Lanzhao: "...I had no such intention." This was not a pleasant thing to hear, and when it got out, it terrified the students of the Imperial Academy.
Zhao Jialing said frankly, "My prejudice is so deeply rooted. If the Imperial Academy cannot turn things around, I would even consider cutting back the money allocated to them each year."
After a long while, Xie Lanzhao finally said, "...Don't let the scholars from the Imperial Academy hear this."
"Who dares to spread the word of our private conversation?" Zhao Jialing snorted. "The Imperial Academy is still complaining that Mingde Academy has a printing press and a bookstore, while they don't. Did I stop them from opening them? Don't they have public funds in their hands?" She didn't really care about the Imperial Academy's previous state of affairs; after all, the late emperor had gone through the same thing. But compared to Mingde Academy, which not only couldn't make money but also didn't even make a dent in the money they invested, that made her unhappy.
“In the past, the Imperial Academy controlled the literature of the dynasty, but now the Huangyong Bookstore has made a name for itself, and all books for the imperial examinations are based on the Mingde edition. There is no point in opening a printing press anymore,” Xie Lanzhao replied.
Zhao Jialing said, "I hope you can really make some progress and impress me."
·
A private competition could easily be held in any garden in Chang'an without any specific procedures, but since the Emperor was interested, things couldn't be too casual. After receiving their assignments, Mingde Academy and the Imperial Academy hurriedly began to confirm the time and place. This concerned the reputations of both institutions; the competition began right from the venue.
The Imperial College had plenty of places for essay writing, but afterwards there was entertainment, such as polo. The Imperial College had a field, but it was too cramped to compete with the newly built Mingde Academy. Students could easily find another place to play, but His Majesty and his ministers would be watching, so could they suggest moving the venue after each match? Ideally, there would be a place that could accommodate everyone. In this comparison, the Imperial College was completely outmatched, and the only option was to hold the match at Mingde Academy.
As for the participating students, they had to be carefully selected. They could debate in private however they pleased, but in front of His Majesty, they had to adopt the upright attitude expected of candidates in the imperial examinations. The students of the academy and the Imperial Academy all understood the importance of the matter, and the atmosphere suddenly became solemn and tense, comparable to the final major examination.
A sunny day at the end of November.
The wind was as cold as a knife.
Led by the Imperial Academy's professors, the students of the Qingjin Academy rode towards Mingde Academy. Among them were some talented and refined individuals, as well as a few spoiled sons of noble families. They were utterly incapable of writing essays, but their horsemanship and archery skills were quite good, enough to rival those of the Mingde Academy students. Ashina Bilian, a hostage from the Turkic Khaganate, was also among them. The Imperial Academy's professors initially didn't want to take her, but her martial arts skills were undeniable. Born on the grasslands, she possessed a first-rate, spirited, and beautiful demeanor. After submitting a petition and receiving confirmation, the professors added Ashina Bilian to the group.
"While you might not excel in literature, you'd surely have a slight edge on the polo field, wouldn't you?"
Before he could finish speaking, his classmate glared at him and said, "Who said it can't be done?"
The son of a noble family said casually, "Isn't this common knowledge? Everyone gets into Mingde Academy through exams; the selection process is very rigorous."
"Not everyone wants to go to Mingde Academy. Not being able to go doesn't mean you're inferior to others."
"Oh." The sons of noble families didn't continue to expose others' past misdeeds, after all, they were also students of the Imperial Academy, and even a drag on the overall academic record. Having their lessons read aloud in the court, in a strange way "bringing glory to their ancestors," earned them several beatings.
The essay was written in the Mingde Hall of Mingde Academy, which was originally a temple where sermons were given and could accommodate many believers. The original temple was converted into an academy, and this place became a large lecture hall, albeit a closed one. When the students of the Imperial Academy arrived, the students of Mingde Academy had already taken their seats.
"Is that glass?" Ashina Bilian examined the decorations around her, her astonishment impossible to conceal! The lecture hall was brightly lit, though there were no candles. At first, she thought the windows were open, but there wasn't a breath of cold air. Upon closer inspection, she discovered the decorations were all made of crystal-clear glass! Mingde Academy certainly had a grand scale! Then, thinking of the haunted Imperial Academy dormitories at night, her expression became somewhat complicated.
"Yes," a student from the Imperial Academy said listlessly, his eyes darting around the room, his tone tinged with envy, "It's a world of difference, isn't it?"
"Originally, all of this belonged to the Imperial Academy..." Many people opposed the reform at first, believing the Chancellor and the Doctors were right. But the reform proceeded anyway, and what did the Imperial Academy's "efforts" yield? Not even a reputation for loyalty; it was a complete joke. So why resist in the first place? One wrong move and the whole game was lost; one misstep and a bright future was shut out.
Ashina Bilian spent a few days at the Imperial Academy and overheard some conversations. She instinctively felt that the Imperial Academy was mostly populated by descendants of high-ranking officials and nobles, and even if it wasn't highly regarded, it was still better than the newly built Mingde Academy, since the Imperial Academy was the true official school. But her impression was immediately overturned.
What does His Majesty the Emperor of Dayong intend to do? Don't his ministers object?
His Majesty the Emperor sat behind a curtain, and several important court officials also took their seats in turn, each with a publication from Mingde Academy beside them.
The academy was strongly promoted by the emperor, so how could the court officials not pay attention? They would browse the academic journal as soon as it came out, but now they had to pretend to browse it again.
Zhao Jialing ignored the court officials. While the students were composing poems, she handed a creased piece of paper to Xie Lanzhao, who was closest to her.
Xie Lanzhao glanced at it, nodded to Zhao Jialing, and then carefully folded the paper and tucked it into her sleeve.
The courtiers caught a glimpse of the subtle interaction between His Majesty and the Chancellor out of the corner of their eyes, and couldn't help but feel curious.
What message are they secretly sending?
They've seen it all. Can't we let them see it more clearly? What about His Majesty's true feelings?
The courtier glanced at Xie Lanzhao again. She sat quietly in her chair, her eyelashes lowered, like a bright moon, truly an extraordinary and otherworldly beauty.
Who would have thought that His Majesty would remove her?
While there was no movement on one end, the subtle rustling on the other gradually grew louder. The contest of poetry and prose was only the beginning; the truly exciting part was the "debate," which tested not only literary talent but also quick wit. Some people could write with effortless grace but stammer when they opened their mouths—that wouldn't do.
Purely academic debates can be somewhat dull, but their vibrant and uplifting spirit is delightful. Citing classical texts and explaining principles demonstrates profound scholarship and sharp thinking. Debates shouldn't be lukewarm; in the heat of the moment, both sides engage in heated exchanges, pressing each other relentlessly until the opponent is completely convinced.
By the halftime mark, the Imperial Academy's defeat was already obvious.
The Imperial Academy Director looked uneasy; these were already the best batch of students.
Should he resign and return to his hometown like Zheng Jijiu did back then?
The outcome was already decided, but Zhao Jialing refrained from further disparaging the students' intelligence. After all, a year ago, the students' lessons recited in court were enough to "bring their fathers to life during family sacrifices," so the current situation could be considered progress. A slight blow was sufficient; the seeds of the future should not be extinguished.
She nodded to Yin'e, who then obeyed and withdrew. Regardless of victory or defeat, there would be a reward.
Once the clamor of "Long live the Emperor" outside subsided, Xie Lanzhao spoke up: "Mingde Academy has achieved remarkable results in less than a year since its establishment. I request that an academy be established in the prefecture!"
The court officials, upon hearing this, tensed, a sense of "I knew it" washing over them. They knew this spectacle hadn't been for nothing. Their achievements in other subjects were already impressive, but now even their literary skills surpassed those of the Imperial Academy. Was this a move to completely replace the Imperial Academy? Wouldn't the Imperial Academy's future be even more precarious? Unless… unless the Imperial Academy proactively embraced change.
The Minister of Revenue seconded, "I think it's appropriate." After she spoke, a few scattered voices of agreement arose.
Zhao Jialing ignored the remaining people; she could now guess what they were struggling with. The changes at the academy would inevitably lead to a major academic upheaval, sooner or later affecting the imperial examinations. And once the imperial examinations were reformed, career paths would also undergo unpredictable changes. But she couldn't come up with a suitable reason to stop it. In fact, they had already suffered a complete defeat last year. She and Xie Lanzhao had used a strategy of retreat to advance; the conservatives preserved the "Imperial Academy," but under the complete reform, keeping the "empty shell" of the Imperial Academy was no longer of much use.
"Academies will be built in Taiyuan and Henan prefectures. In addition, there are Yangzhou, Yizhou, Jingzhou..." Zhao Jialing named a total of twelve prefectures and states to be used as pilot projects. These prefectures and states happen to overlap with the previously selected seed testing grounds. Apart from the two prefectures, the governors are all women who passed the imperial examinations during the reign of the late emperor.
The Minister of Revenue remained expressionless, while several court officials frowned slightly, now understanding what note His Majesty and Xie Zhongshu were passing.
But what else can they say besides that His Majesty is wise?
Xie Lanzhao's gaze was deep and unfathomable. In terms of literary atmosphere alone, there were more suitable prefectures for building the Mingde Academy. However, when pushing forward with the reforms, she also wanted to preserve the achievements her mother had fought for, and even push them a step further. In Chang'an, she had no say in whether local academies showed favoritism in their admissions.
After discussing the important matters, let's return to entertainment.
Mingde Academy had a large polo field, originally built for military studies, but other scholars would also play polo there occasionally. When Zhao Jialing arrived, surrounded by officials, the students from Mingde Academy and the Imperial Academy had already begun their match, with cheers erupting from the surrounding crowd. The students from Mingde Academy were all from military studies. This subject was mostly for those from noble families or the Imperial Guards, and their horsemanship was exceptional.
Zhao Jialing's gaze fell on the group of people in blue robes representing the Imperial Academy. She raised an eyebrow and said, "Is she the Turkic princess?" The Imperial Academy had chosen her during the selection process, and Zhao Jialing thought there was nothing wrong with it, so she agreed to let the Turkic princess represent the Imperial Academy. It seems that she has a very shrewd eye in this regard.
Xie Lanzhao nodded and said, "It's her."
Zhao Jialing then asked, "Where is that prince?"
Xie Lanzhao succinctly replied, "No." She's just a mouth to eat, neither good at literature nor martial arts; even as a pawn, she'd be in the way. "This princess is very interested in everything about my Great Yong Dynasty; she's probably the most eager to learn person in the Imperial Academy." She paused, then added, "It seems she wants to stay and serve as an official in our court."
"An official position?" Zhao Jialing looked surprised. According to custom, when people from foreign vassal states came and wanted to stay, they would be given a symbolic official position without real power, but there was indeed no precedent for a hostage. "You admire the customs and culture of our Central Plains, you have good taste."
Xie Lanzhao smiled faintly. If the Turkic princess truly favored Dayong, then letting her return to inherit the Khan's position would be more beneficial to Dayong. However, the customs on the grasslands were different from those of Dayong. If a change was to occur, the existing forces would first need to be completely dismantled... After pondering for a moment, she temporarily put the idea aside.
On the court, the player riding the ball is as fast as a whirlwind.
The students watching took turns composing poems, continuing their previous "literary contest."
Zhao Jialing stood with his hands behind his back, and every now and then a servant would relay verses, saying, "A meteor, firm, round, clean, and smooth, streaks across the sky; the moon-shaped staff strikes it repeatedly, showing no sign of stopping," and "It chases the bright sun across the azure sky, carrying a shooting star into the painted gate." ①
Amidst the cheers, Zhao Jialing couldn't help but feel an itch to play. She turned to Xie Lanzao, and seeing her also intently watching the field, her desire grew even stronger. She said, "I wish to ride a horse and wield the staff, is that permissible?"
Xie Lanzhao said in a gentle voice, "Your Majesty is of noble health and should not exert yourself. It would be better to watch the athletes play."
Zhao Jialing smiled sheepishly and shut her mouth. But when she saw Mingde Academy calling for Gao Shao to come on stage, she couldn't help but say, "Gao Shao is fine."
Xie Lanzhao calmly replied, "She is not under my jurisdiction."
These simple words struck Zhao Jialing's heart, and even her previous enthusiasm for the game vanished like a receding tide. She gazed intently at Xie Lanzhao and sighed, "Yes, Fourth Sister will take care of her."
Xie Lanzhao's eyelashes trembled slightly.
The attendant, whose head had been filled with cheers, regained his senses and belatedly realized that His Majesty wanted to join in. So, he spoke up at an inopportune moment: "If Your Majesty enters the field, the players will feel awkward."
Zhao Jialing: "..." The emotions and atmosphere she had been building up were shattered by the annoying person. She glared at the Attendant Gentleman of the Palace with a disgruntled expression, then looked at Xie Lanzhao's face and found that she couldn't discern any emotion. After a moment, she thought optimistically that she would whisper to Xie Lanzhao when they returned to their residence in Guangzhaifang that evening.
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