Zhu Yunying, with a similarly serious expression, slightly raised his hand and said, "All my beloved ministers, rise."
Looking at the assembled civil and military officials and members of the imperial family, Zhu Yunying, seated on the dragon throne, spoke in a clear voice, “Music is for cultivating the inner self; rites are for cultivating the outer self. When rites and music intertwine within, they manifest outwardly, thus their result is joyful, respectful, and gentle.”
Many scholars immediately perked up. This was the "Book of Rites - The Heir Apparent of King Wen," which discussed the education of the crown prince and related educational systems and methods for selecting talent.
Considering that the Crown Prince is also seated on the right side of the imperial steps, this reveals a lot. The succession to the throne in the Ming Dynasty is very clear, and it seems that everyone is used to it: the heir apparent will appear in court early, and the emperor will delegate power without any reservations.
Although the Ming Dynasty has only been established for thirty years, people seem to have already subconsciously come to understand some realities, and it doesn't seem surprising at all.
Zhu Yunying was in a good mood and said to the people below, "You are a learned scholar, now recite 'The Heir Apparent of King Wen' for the Crown Prince and all the ministers."
If he hadn't been the newly crowned top scholar, Chen would have had no chance to attend this grand banquet at all; his rank wasn't high enough. He had been prepared to be inconspicuous, but Chen never expected to receive such an honor.
To recite "The Heir Apparent of King Wen" for the Crown Prince is truly an honor. It is said that the Crown Prince will soon be entering the Imperial Academy; could His Majesty intend for the newly appointed top scholar to be his study companion?
Having passed the imperial examination, Chen Yi was certainly capable; writing "The Heir Apparent of King Wen" was not difficult for him.
"King Cheng was too young to rule the throne. If he were made the crown prince, he would be ineffective. Therefore, the law of the crown prince was proposed to Bo Qin, who was made to live with King Cheng. This was to make King Cheng understand the principles of father and son, ruler and subject, and elder and younger. The relationship between the ruler and the crown prince is that of a father if the ruler is close to him, and of a ruler if he is respected. Only with the closeness of a father and the respect of a ruler can one truly possess the world."
"Therefore, when the father is here, he is called the son; when the ruler is here, he is called the subject. By maintaining the proper roles of son and subject, one can show respect to the ruler and affection to one's relatives."
“The sons of concubines who are to be treated as members of the royal family are taught filial piety, brotherly love, harmony, and filial affection, and are made clear about the righteousness between father and son and the order of seniority.”
Chen was reciting "The Heir Apparent of King Wen" in a clear voice, and it wasn't just a mindless recitation; his reading was full of intonation and rhythm. Not only was it emotionally resonant, but it also seemed that he was deeply moved by the text.
Sitting on the dragon throne, Zhu Yunying nodded slightly, seemingly appreciating this fragrant and wonderful article.
As for the civil and military officials and members of the imperial family, many of them were immersed in Chen's recitation, nodding slightly in rhythm with the music, or squinting their eyes and shaking their heads, following the Confucian classics.
However, some people couldn't help but think about it at this time. They wondered if the scheming emperor had some deeper meaning in insisting that people recite "The Heir Apparent of King Wen" at this moment.
Many people felt that this court debate on etiquette was an attempt to appease the scholars across the land. After all, the recently concluded imperial examinations had been quite unpleasant for scholars from both the north and south. Not only were many candidates stripped of their academic titles, but some were even sentenced to labor camps.
Although the essays of this year's successful candidates have been publicly posted, showcasing their talent, many officials in the Ming Dynasty still harbor resentment. Southern scholars feel wronged because northern scholars have taken away their 'slots'.
Northern scholars felt even more aggrieved. Why should we northerners only be allowed thirty? We northerners aren't good at competing with southerners in writing.
Many people were speculating at this time, feeling that this court discussion on etiquette was very special. In particular, the presence of the Duke of Yansheng made it even more unusual, and there must be something significant going on behind the scenes.
The fact that Chen Yu is now reciting "The Heir Apparent of King Wen," along with the earlier appearance of His Highness the Crown Prince, is unusual. Furthermore, the presence of many members of the imperial clan clearly emphasizes the distinction between legitimate and illegitimate heirs. Reflecting on the succession to the throne in the Ming Dynasty, many feel as if they have grasped the true meaning of this court discussion on etiquette.
Many civil and military officials felt they had grasped the truth, and some members of the imperial clan also had their own thoughts at this time.
The throne was something they sometimes only dared to dream about in their hearts. With their elder brother, Haoyue, shining brightly above them, their own insignificant glory paled in comparison. Most importantly, it was their father's attitude; he never showed any intention of grooming any other prince as heir apparent, but instead constantly suppressed and pressured them.
Even though their eldest brother was gone, there was still the Crown Prince. Many of them actually had some ulterior motives when their eldest brother was away, but their father immediately put them into action, and those ulterior motives were once again buried deep in their hearts.
That dragon throne can only be sat on by the direct descendants; others should not even think about it, for that would be a path to death!
Everyone has long accepted their fate and understood these principles. But now, they're going to hold a grand debate on etiquette. What does this mean? Is it a warning, or is it that the Emperor is being petty?
Zhu Yunying smiled and nodded, then said to Chen Yu, "The top scholar is learned and erudite. I've heard that you are also quite knowledgeable about the Book of Rites. How about this, you become a lecturer in the Eastern Palace."
Many ministers were envious, but there was no need to be particularly envious. The newly appointed top scholar simply entered the Eastern Palace and became part of the Crown Prince's inner circle. However, the Crown Prince was still young, and the current emperor was also quite young, so there was no need for envy.
But Chen was incredibly excited. He had only entered the Hanlin Academy. Although he was the top scholar, he was only a respectable member of the Hanlin Academy. The position in the Eastern Palace was different. Although it was only a 'part-time' position, he was still a lecturer and could be considered a 'confidant' of the Crown Prince.
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