"My Xie clan of Chenjun has a history of over a thousand years, producing generations of high-ranking officials!"
"However, his descendants are unworthy, and he has not been able to take charge of the central government for fifty years."
When Xie Zhen mentioned his grandfather and father's departure from the court, a hint of sadness flashed in his eyes.
However, this is a fact that cannot be ignored.
Xie Zhen felt that the most shameful thing was not the decline of her family.
After all, nothing lasts forever, and a family cannot remain illustrious and powerful forever.
Flowers bloom and fade, tides rise and fall—all of this is natural.
The Xie family cannot remain at the top forever.
If you lose, admit it. As long as there are still descendants in the family, and as long as future generations know their shame and strive to improve, they are still good sons.
The truly shameful thing to do is to knowingly accept defeat and still stubbornly cling to self-deception.
He, Xie Zhen, disdained such a thing!
"It is really inappropriate for the Xie family to still be ranked first!"
After saying this, Xie Zhen bowed deeply, firmly expressing her attitude.
Grand Tutor Zheng & the various noble families: ...
I've seen people desperately trying to get into aristocratic circles, and I've also seen people rolling up their sleeves and fighting with in-laws and friends over a ranking.
Xie Zhen is definitely the first person to voluntarily downgrade his own status!
There was a long silence in the imperial court.
After hesitating for a long time, Zheng Taifu finally said in a hoarse voice, "Young Master Xie, you are still young, you, you—" He did not understand how tragic it was for a family to be demoted.
This is not child's play!
It's not like if you drop today, you can rise again tomorrow!
Once you fall out of the circle of first-class aristocratic families, it will be extremely difficult to make a comeback in the future.
One person is assigned to one position; if you go down, someone else will take your place.
When you return, the person who has already taken your place is unwilling to "step down".
If the Xie family were to flourish, that would be one thing.
With many descendants, eventually one or two will become successful.
If another high-ranking official like one of the Nine Ministers or Three Dukes emerges, the Xie family will be revived and have a chance to return to the top rank.
But Xie Zhen is the only direct descendant of the Xie family left. Who can guarantee that he will make a name for himself?
Oh, right, there's also Empress Xie.
Xie Zhen has become a relative of the emperor, and as long as the emperor is alive, the Xie family will not lack wealth and status.
However, the reputation of maternal relatives is ultimately not good; how can it compare to the noble status of a first-class aristocratic family?
This child is still too naive and too self-righteous.
"Furthermore, the Clan Records are not based on 'merit' or rank, and are not based on official positions or titles!"
Zheng Taifu mentioned "merit and honor" not only to persuade Xie Zhen.
He was still "reminding" the officials in the court.
He wanted to warn certain "wishful thinking" nobles and commoners.
Don't think that just because you're in a high position now, you can elevate your family to the status of a prestigious clan.
To become a prestigious family requires hundreds of years of accumulation and refinement.
A single generation's prominence is not enough.
Unfortunately, some nobles and commoners, thinking that having a title and becoming a powerful minister, wanted to squeeze into the circle of aristocratic families.
No way!
If we were to rank them by official rank, then it would be "honorary titles"!
Rather than a true clan history.
Xie Zhen continued to shake his head, "Although the 'Clan Records' are not a system of meritorious service, they still require generations of high-ranking officials."
Xie Zhen spoke politely, but in her heart she was already cursing these old scoundrels for their double standards.
Nobles and newly risen commoners aspire to join established aristocratic families through official positions, but the established families refuse to allow it.
But isn't one of the criteria for classifying aristocratic families the successive generations of high-ranking officials?
The title of "hereditary nobles" is also a ranking of official positions. It doesn't mean that a family can become a prestigious family just because it has a long history. Rather, it means that a family must have a certain status.
"For example, the Helian clan had four emperors since their founding emperor, enjoying a period of nobility for over seventy years."
Before establishing the dynasty, the Helian family had already been pillar generals of the state.
By piecing together various details and rounding up, the Helian family held a high position for nearly a century.
Well, strictly speaking, by the standards of aristocratic families, they still don't qualify.
but--
"The hierarchy between ruler and subject is hierarchical. The Helian clan is the ruler; how can they be subservient to their subjects?"
Xie Zhen knows he is of low status and his words carry little weight, and should not make rash comments! But I still insist that the Helian family should be considered a noble family!
This was Xie Zhen's second objective in this court show—to elevate her brother-in-law into the elite social class.
Sitting high in the main seat, Helian Jue felt a sense of accomplishment as he watched his little chubby son move so freely, thinking, "My son has grown up."
Hey, see that? The little guy is young, but he's clear-headed, calm, and collected, just as capable as those bigwigs in the imperial court.
Also, the little fat boy is quite considerate.
Helian Jue would summon Xie Zhen to the palace every now and then, and when the brother-in-law and brother-in-law chatted, the brother-in-law never said he would speak up for the brother-in-law.
Even when the "Clan Records" were mentioned, Little Fatty only talked about the Xie family's arrangements.
Helian Jue didn't care whether the Helian family was a prominent family or not.
However, Helian Jue appreciated the little fat boy's kindness and felt even more comforted.
"After all, he's the child I raised with A-Yuan, so he's definitely on my side!"
Helian Jue's tightly pressed lips curled up slightly.
As clever as he was, he also considered another advantage of the Helian clan joining a prominent family—
This will further break the "monopoly" of aristocratic families.
They no longer emphasize family history, nor do they compare genealogies or lineages.
Once you become emperor, you can use the principle of "respect between ruler and subject" to become a powerful family!
Noble families are no longer so unapproachable, nor can they simply "arrogantly defy kings and nobles" based on their status as noble families!
Haha, so next, it will become natural for nobles to be included in the "Clan Records".
"Order" it is!
What Helian Jue wanted was to break the privileges of an established class and establish his own imperial power!
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