In his letter, Xie Zhihong reminisced about his days studying at the Imperial Academy.
Li Yuncheng, a former Imperial Academy Doctor, expressed his longing and gratitude to his mentor.
He also gave a brief report on his current work and introduced the local customs and traditions of Jizhou.
I inquired about the health of my mentor and his family.
Finally, it was mentioned tactfully that many talented young people emerged from this year's autumn examinations.
Among them are many teenagers under the age of eighteen, whose talent surpasses that of others despite their young age.
In his letter, Xie Zhihong wrote that the thought of such a talented person being unable to enter the Imperial Academy due to age restrictions, and the thought of his proud institution of higher learning losing such an outstanding student, filled him with regret and kept him up at night.
Finally, he subtly expressed his small wish: that the Imperial Academy could relax age restrictions and expand its enrollment scope to cultivate younger, more outstanding talents for the country.
As Li Jijiu looked at the letter, he seemed to see again that young man who was once so full of vigor and ambition in the Imperial Academy.
Reading through the entire letter, one finds the words to be sincere and earnest, revealing a deep concern for the country and its people.
If I hadn't read the other two letters, I would have almost been fooled by him.
The second letter came from his former classmate.
Wei Xian, a scholar who devoted himself to scholarship without seeking an official career.
Brother Jingwen has always served as the headmaster of Yunjing Academy, rarely having the opportunity to interact with people in officialdom. (As mentioned at the beginning of this book, Wei Xian's courtesy name is Jingwen; it's been so long, I'm just mentioning it again in case everyone forgets.)
This letter, after a brief exchange of pleasantries, gets straight to the point.
Jizhou is full of talented people, and there are outstanding young people in the academy. Although they are only sixteen or seventeen years old, they passed the provincial examination on their first try and should be admitted to the Imperial Academy for careful training.
Li Jijiu pondered.
The third letter came from the newly appointed King of Yue, Zhao Changqing.
This letter is an invitation.
Invite Li Jijiu to a banquet at the Prince's Mansion when it is convenient for him.
The King of Yue specially prepared fine wine, a specialty of Ji Province, to drink with him at the banquet.
It's Jizhou again.
He barely recognizes the characters for "Jizhou" anymore.
All three letters are related to Jizhou.
The first two letters conveyed the same message.
Although the third letter didn't mention it, he guessed that it probably meant the same thing.
Hey, that's interesting.
Li Yuncheng was now very curious about what kind of young talents had emerged from Jizhou.
Just then, a palace eunuch came to deliver an imperial decree.
Li Yuncheng hurriedly straightened his clothes and hat, and knelt down to receive the imperial decree.
“Li Yuncheng, the Chancellor of the Imperial Academy, shall appear before the Emperor immediately.”
Li Yuncheng hurriedly followed the imperial messenger into the palace.
At the palace gate, they encountered Wang Zeren, the Minister of Rites.
The Imperial Academy Chancellor, a third-rank official.
The Minister of Rites, a first-rank official, was his superior.
The Emperor summoned the Chancellor of the Imperial Academy to discuss matters related to the Academy.
The Minister of Rites was also summoned; it was to discuss important matters related to the Imperial Academy.
Just how big of a deal is it?
Li Yuncheng couldn't help but feel a little uneasy.
The eunuch leading the two men into the imperial study was called "Imperial Decree".
As soon as I entered, I saw that in the Imperial Study, besides the Emperor, the Crown Prince, and the Second Prince, there was another person standing there.
Chen Qi, Director of the Imperial Observatory.
Oh no, this is a huge problem!
Li Yuncheng couldn't help but wipe the sweat from his forehead.
The Imperial Observatory was the authority to interpret the heavens.
Although it was just a fifth-rank government office, how important was it?
Officials of the Imperial Observatory were not allowed to retire until they died of old age.
It's so important that you can't even retire; you have to stay on the job until you die.
They are truly the beasts of burden to the imperial court.
Whether it's auspicious or disastrous, it's all up to him to decide.
After kneeling and bowing, the Minister of Rites and the Chancellor of the Imperial Academy stood upright, ready to accept the arrangements of Heaven.
The two of them muttered to themselves.
Did the Imperial Astronomical Bureau detect some celestial phenomenon again?
Is it related to the Imperial College?
He was wondering whether the Emperor or the Director of the Imperial Observatory would speak first.
Unexpectedly, the second prince spoke first.
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