Su Rong didn’t want to foster idlers who only ate and did nothing.
The Dowager Empress said: "If there are members of the royal family who show real promise, they are given official positions. However, the vast majority are given nominal or leisurely positions."
Su Rong understood. In other words, the Imperial Court supported the royal family, who had no power and were unlikely to rebel. The Prince of Liu’an was an exception, as he managed to rise to power when her father neglected state affairs for many years. Otherwise, he would also just hold a leisurely position without daring to privately raise an army.
She looked at the boy and asked: "Chu Duan, right? Have you been studying since you were young? If I make an exception and allow royal family members to sit the Imperial Examination, do you think you can pass?"
Chu Duan suddenly raised his head, looking at Su Rong. The boy who had previously shown no sign of nervousness now seemed to have had a jump in his heart, tensing up visibly.
He moved his lips slightly, taking a while before he could answer: "The royal family has its own academy, and I have been studying since I was a child. If the princess grants special permission, I... I would not know, as I have never put what I have learned to the test."
As a member of the royal family, there was little chance of standing out, especially when his own family, the declining Fulu Residence, was overlooked and ignored by everyone. Even if he was from the Chu family, without the King’s favor, he would never have a chance.
He had been through too much derision since he was a child. Even a successful member of the royal family like the Prince of Liu’an was unable to help him. He knew very well that he had no chance. He studied to ensure that when the title did not fall to him and was recalled by the royal family after his death, he could start a business and provide for his mother.
Su Rong nodded, thinking that Zhou Gu should be free today. As an official of the Palace, he could be taken care of by her father and she had the Queen and herself to entertain the women. Therefore, Zhou Gu was able to be lazy on her birthday.
Therefore, she ordered her maid, "Bi Qing, take Chu Duan to find Zhou Gu and tell him to give Chu Duan a test. Check his knowledge after all these years of reading."
Bi Qing responded and stood beside Chu Duan, saying, "Young Master, this way, please."
Without inheriting a noble title, he could only be addressed as Young Master.
Chu Duan nodded, his clenching hand now in his sleeve relaxed gradually, he tried his best to maintain his composure in front of Su Rong and said, "Thank you, Princess."
Su Rong smiled and waved him off, "Off you go! Don’t hide what you’ve learned, otherwise, you won’t be able to pass my husband’s scrutiny. He, just like the Prince of Yan, was taught by the Grand Tutor, Qin."
Chu Duan immediately felt a surge of tension and nodded heavily.
Bi Qing took Chu Duan away, and all the royals were left in different moods. However, everyone felt that the Fulu Residence had suddenly become fortunate. Was it because it was too dilapidated and the Princess couldn’t overlook it, or was it because of something special about Chu Duan?
Some people regretted not bringing their sons and grandsons to celebrate the Princess’s birthday, while some looked at their own sons and grandsons, comparing them in their hearts. But no one dared to hastily push their sons and grandsons in front of the Princess for evaluation. They all waited quietly for the Princess to speak up again.
After all, most of the royal descendants are not ambitious, they just hope not to provoke anger.
Su Rong smiled at the nervous Lady Fulu, "Madam, you don’t need to feel anxious. Judging by your son’s manners, it seems he has been well-educated which is why I asked him. Did I startle you?"
Lady Fulu shook her head repeatedly, her heart pounding with excitement, but she was also worried about her son facing Zhou Gu’s test, "No, I am somewhat pleased. Duan has loved reading since he was a child, but we don’t have many books... I’m afraid we’ve delayed his progress. I couldn’t afford to invite a great scholar to tutor him. I’m afraid I’ve let you down, Princess..."
Su Rong stopped her, smiling, "If he’s a diamond in the rough, he can still be polished. Madam, don’t worry."
Upon hearing Su Rong’s positive remarks about Chu Duan, Lady Fulu finally relaxed a little and revealed a smile.
Su Rong asked her to sit back and turned to the Dowager Empress, "I remember you have two grandsons at home, don’t you?"
The Dowager Empress answered, "Yes, the elder one is almost the same age as Chu Duan, his name is Chu Yun. He also reads some books without showing any dislike. The younger one, Chu Hao, who is two years younger, is fond of playing and not too fond of reading. He has to be whipped before going to the academy."
Su Rong laughed, "Today, I have learned that there is a tradition in the royal family not to sit the Imperial Examination. However, I would like to abolish it. When you have time, you must invite Chu Yun and Chu Hao into the palace to meet me."
The Dowager Empress was delighted, but still asked: "This is a tradition set by our ancestors. If you intend to abolish it, won’t it cause a dramatic shake-up in the court?"
"More dramatic than allowing women to sit the Imperial Examination?" Su Rong smiled, "My grandma, don’t worry, it won’t."
The Dowager Empress immediately recalled that in the past month, discussions about the Imperial Examination for women had been quite heated in the court and the country but no uproar occurred. She grinned widely and patted Su Rong’s hand, "Nanchu is indeed fortunate to have a princess like you. Our dynasty can thrive for another thousand years for sure."
Once, they had thought that the Chu dynasty was done for in the King’s hands. Unexpectedly, while the King was eccentric, he did have a wonderful daughter.
Apart from Lady Fulu and the Dowager Empress, the rest of the royal family was only envious. Even though they were elated, they were mostly regretful, wishing they had invested well in educating their descendants. For several generations, the descendants of the royal family had always been loafers, with few who were good at or loved reading.
Who would have thought that for this generation, the Princess wanted to break the convention and allow the royal family to participate in the Imperial Examination as well?
Thinking of their own descendants, all shook their heads in their hearts; this one won’t do, that one won’t either. Even if they brought their children directly to the Princess, they probably wouldn’t make the cut. Didn’t everyone see that among all the royal descendants in the hall, Chu Duan was the only one summoned by her? It seemed they could only pin their hopes on the next generation.
Su Rong’s idea was actually simple. She didn’t want to nurture the royal family, but didn’t want to support too many idlers either. She had viewed the national expenditure submitted by the Ministry of Housing, and the royal family took up significant resources. Under her rule, even the royal family could not enjoy the rights and salaries associated with nobility without contributing.
She didn’t fear that the royal family would rebel once they had some power, as long as they didn’t loiter around doing nothing.
Chu Duan, escorted by Bi Qing, went to see Zhou Gu. Zhou Gu wasn’t idle; it’s just that not many people were there with him. Most people were occupied by the Nanchu King.
Among those who came to see Zhou Gu early in the morning were Cui Xingzhi and Cui Yanjin, the younger generation of the Cui family, and the restless Ning Ze.
Cui Yanjin didn’t approach Zhou Gu after reporting to Mister Cui, and instead, chatted with two boys his age. Zhou Gu was playing a game of pitch-pot with someone else.
Naturally, no one could outdo Zhou Gu. Except for Cui Xingzhi who could give Zhou Gu a challenge, all others ended up defeated.
"Brother Cui is too powerful!"
"Yes, we can’t compete."
"I wonder if the Princess can beat Brother Cui."
...
People were chattering about Su Rong.
Hearing it, Cui Yanjin immediately said loudly: "Of course, my sister-in-law is amazing, she definitely can beat brother Cui."
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