Chapter 141: The Emperor's Secret |
The Prince of Jin presented the examination topic proposal from the Imperial Academy Grand Secretaries directly to the Emperor.
The Emperor looked at it with a calm expression.
His face showed no change whatsoever.
"Is this the topic that all the Grand Secretaries have endorsed?" the Emperor inquired.
"This son selected it from among many topics and deliberated with the Grand Secretaries. We felt that this topic could inspire patriotic sentiments among Great Yu's scholar-candidates and serve as encouragement to all the literati under heaven," the Prince of Jin replied.
"Great Yu has lost a piece of its territory, so we compose odes to the rivers and mountains." The Emperor nodded. "You've done well."
"Thank you for Father Emperor's praise. This son has shallow virtue and meager achievements, and relies entirely on the guidance of the Grand Secretaries," the Prince of Jin said humbly.
At the same time, his slightly tense heart settled somewhat.
Did Father not see through it, or did he and the Grand Secretaries make it natural enough?
"Composing odes to rivers is good, but limiting it to the Chishui River is somewhat narrow. The students surely all come from places with a river that nourished them. Moreover, not everyone has seen the Chishui River—this wouldn't be quite fair to students who haven't seen Chishui," the Emperor analyzed. "Let's follow the first proposal—any composition centered on Great Yu's rivers will be considered on-topic."
The Grand Secretaries had given two proposals: an ode to the Chishui River, or to any river.
The Emperor chose the latter.
Originally, examining only on Chishui would have somewhat "favored" Song Shi'an, since he had just returned from there.
Of course, the Grand Secretaries had done their background checks—Sun Qian had long ago visited the Chishui River and even left poems there.
They absolutely wouldn't dig a pit for him.
Now that any river was acceptable, Song Shi'an would be cut down another notch.
But regardless, as long as it was this topic, it would definitely showcase literary talent and flourish—it was custom-made for Sun Qian to take first place in lyrical composition.
When it came to depth and profound thought, who could compare to "An Exhortation to Learning"?
But composing with "rivers" as the theme made it very difficult to pioneer new ideological depth. It would inevitably be about family and state, about native soil, and bootlicking literature—every tactical maneuver turning into praise for the sovereign.
Without question, this was comparing literary talent.
And in terms of literary talent, among the capital's students and even all students under heaven, Sun Qian was exceptional.
Even if someone truly was stronger than him, how many Three Excellencies did your family have?
"By your command," the Prince of Jin said.
"As for this policy essay topic, it's acceptable." After commenting, the Emperor had Chen Bao hand him a memorial folder and said, "But for this year's policy essay, use this one instead. Go discuss it with the gentlemen of the Imperial Academy."
"Whatever Father Emperor decides is the best policy essay topic," the Prince of Jin said.
"Then take a look at it," the Emperor said.
"Yes."
The Prince of Jin opened the folder and upon seeing the topic, clearly froze.
It's actually this topic...
Father Emperor, what exactly are you thinking?
"Ziyu, Song Shi'an is taking this examination from prison, which is quite special. Since you're overseeing the examination, you might find time to visit and offer some words of consolation," the Emperor said amiably.
The Prince of Jin paused, looking somewhat troubled. "Reporting to Your Majesty, at this sensitive time, should this son avoid any appearance of impropriety?"
"There's no impropriety to avoid," the Emperor said. "If you have time, go. If you're too busy overseeing the examination work, then never mind."
"By your command, Father Emperor."
"Good, you may go."
"This son takes his leave."
After bowing, the Prince of Jin left the hall.
After he had completely departed, the Emperor asked Chen Bao at his side: "Do you think this son of mine will go see Song Shi'an?"
This was the Emperor actively providing a hint.
Song Shi'an was about to be released from prison—go over there to win some hearts and earn some of his goodwill.
Though he couldn't make him join the Jin Prince faction, at least their relationship wouldn't be too strained.
"Your Majesty, this slave cannot guess. With the examination imminent, if the Prince of Jin truly has spare capacity, he should..."
"He won't go."
The Emperor made his judgment without hesitation.
Chen Bao had nothing more to say.
If it were a direct order, the Prince of Jin would have to go.
If it was giving him this kind of choice, then he truly couldn't go.
In politics, the greatest taboo was being indecisive and half-hearted.
It would only make his followers feel insecure.
"What do you think of this examination topic?" the Emperor asked again. "The lyrical composition one."
After deliberating, Chen Bao spoke honestly: "Those Grand Secretaries probably want Sun Qian to win."
This examination had long surpassed the examination itself.
Song Shi'an and Sun Qian, as long as their essay quality was sufficient, were solid candidates for zhuangyuan.
Who became zhuangyuan and who became bangyan actually had very little practical significance.
Both would be among the top jinshi, both would have limitless prospects. How high an official they could become still depended on what came after.
But the symbolic meaning was too strong.
Because of the factional struggle, this new generation's literary leader had become yet another battleground in the political contest.
The Emperor wanted to use Song Shi'an—why not just directly appoint Song Shi'an as the predetermined zhuangyuan?
In the past, that truly would have worked.
But now, this mere metropolitan examination had been completely magnified, for all under heaven to witness.
The two men's essays—all of Great Yu was watching.
It was like a boxing match where one person took countless punches and was nearly beaten to death, then at the end the referee still stubbornly raised that person's arm: you're the champion.
That would be the damn '88 South Korean Olympics.
As Emperor, one still needed face.
"Then the Prince of Jin." Looking down at Chen Bao imperiously, the Emperor said coldly: "Why would he set the topic this way?"
"..." Chen Bao lowered his head, trembling as he said: "His Highness was probably cornered... had no choice."
"This time he had no choice. Earlier, when zhen personally determined the jieyuan, why didn't he choose Song Shi'an?" the Emperor asked.
"Earlier..." Chen Bao had a premonition and lowered his head even further. "Earlier, the Prince of Jin was probably... afraid of appearing to curry favor with court officials, and didn't dare make a mistake."
"Yet he went and curried favor with Sun Qian."
After calmly finishing this statement, the Emperor turned his head back to look ahead.
Then suddenly clenched his fist and said furiously: "He! Just wants to oppose his old man!"
………
At the Minister's Estate, in the study.
Sun Qian and Minister Sun sat across from each other discussing the examination.
At this time, Sun Heng walked in.
"Sit," Sun Yan said.
Although the Sun family's future certainly lay with Sun Qian, Sun Heng was still the legitimate eldest son, and they couldn't have him stand like an outsider while reporting.
"Father." Sun Heng sat beside Minister Sun, somewhat proudly saying: "I specifically had my subordinates keep watch to prevent any books from being sent into Song Shi'an's cell."
"Even if he studied hard, I could still surpass him on the exam," Sun Qian said with considerable disdain.
Sun Heng glanced at him with displeasure.
Stop bragging, little brother. If you're so great, how come you got second place in two sections of the juren examination?
"Don't say it like that." Sun Yan pressed down with his hand, saying with some reproach: "This examination isn't about you alone—it's about two clans. It's a war between the aristocratic families of this world and the Emperor's hunting dogs and claws."
"Yes, Father," Sun Qian accepted the criticism.
"A single examination isn't a major matter. Winning doesn't mean military farming will fail, and losing doesn't mean Song Shi'an will command the wind and rain," Sun Yan explained. "What's at stake is momentum, the confidence we show to those behind us."
"This represents who is the leader of the young scholars under heaven," Sun Qian valued this more than anyone.
Previously, the Prince of Zhongping claimed he was the leader of Si Prefecture's scholar-candidates.
But without being jieyuan, how could one become a leader?
Even being that year's jieyuan didn't necessarily make one the leader of all Si Prefecture's scholar-candidates.
Moreover, it was merely certified by the Prince of Zhongping, with no legal basis whatsoever.
This time, he must win.
"Should we find some way to interfere with Song Shi'an, like not letting him sleep soundly at night?" Sun Heng asked.
"What, you want to release snakes into the prison?"
Sun Yan asked in return.
"Son, son didn't mean that."
"Remember, not letting him read books—that's the Court of Judicial Review's rule. You're just following regulations. But playing dirty tricks is a different matter entirely," Sun Yan instructed. "Whenever you do something, try as much as possible not to leave any flaws. Even when killing someone, make sure his head is cut off by the Emperor's blade."
So-called battle of wits—what you're fighting is intelligence.
If you can't win the battle and just kill the other person, then in the future no one will dare compete with you.
The two nodded, heeding the teaching.
"Father, there's one thing I don't quite understand."
At this moment, Sun Heng suddenly spoke up, asking curiously: "The Prince of Jin stands so firmly with us—though he can gain the aristocratic families' support, isn't who becomes Crown Prince still just a matter of the Emperor's word? Isn't he afraid of making the Emperor dissatisfied and forcibly kicking him out of the running?"
"In the past, he certainly would have been afraid," Sun Yan smiled. "But now, he's betting on His Majesty's advanced age."
"This Prince of Jin's courage has indeed grown considerably," Sun Qian also sensed it. "He's more proactive than before."
"Now he has no choice—the aristocratic families have him cornered. But before, when it clearly looked like they were going to establish the Prince of Jin, with all supervisory state affairs entrusted to him," Sun Heng asked again, "was he truly so foolish that he couldn't see at all that just by being obedient, he could become Crown Prince?"
This question also puzzled Sun Qian somewhat.
He naturally understood that the Prince of Jin had no confidence in Song Shi'an and didn't believe he could succeed.
But not opposing the aristocratic families would make him Crown Prince, and listening to the Emperor would also make him Crown Prince.
Shouldn't he first secure what he could reliably obtain?
"Do you two really think that Prince of Jin is very dull-witted?"
Sun Yan smiled, looking at his two bewildered sons and said: "In the Prince of Jin's heart, he understands more clearly than anyone."
The two were even more confused.
If saying he was dull wasn't appropriate, they couldn't very well say he was intelligent either.
How could the Prince of Jin possibly be associated with intelligence?
"To understand something, you must become the Prince of Jin and completely put yourself in his position to consider it," Sun Yan said.
His expression suddenly became serious as he revealed: "His old man was controlled by powerful ministers and maternal relatives for over ten years. He fears the meritorious nobility more than anyone."
This statement was an epiphany for the two.
"He's not as brilliant and mighty as his old man, but he also wants to sit firmly on the throne," Sun Yan had long understood what was in the Prince of Jin's heart. "Only by ceding power to us and having us seize power from the meritorious nobility—with both sides at least evenly matched and mutually constraining each other—can he control the situation."
"What about His Majesty? Hasn't His Majesty thought about suppressing the meritorious nobility?" Sun Heng asked in confusion.
"His Majesty has personally led troops all these years precisely to suppress the meritorious nobility," Sun Qian completely understood. "Moreover, compared to the aristocratic families, His Majesty trusts the meritorious nobility more."
"Exactly. His Majesty thinks, at worst it's just having a domineering uncle," Sun Yan said. "At the end of the day, they're all Qin Prefecture people—glory shared, loss shared."
"The Qin Prefecture people have never trusted us," Sun Yan said with some resentment.
"We Yangzhou people don't trust Qin Prefecture people either."
Sun Qian's eyes revealed a ruthless edge.
"It's true we need to strike at Song Shi'an, but we also need to strike at the meritorious nobility," Sun Yan revealed this secret in advance. "Right now, the power is all in the hands of the meritorious nobility. For Song Shi'an to gain power, he also needs to strike at the meritorious nobility."
"So when the Sixth Prince comes out and wants to dismantle the Zhao Xiang family's power..." Sun Qian raised his head, suddenly understanding. "Not only must we stand by and watch, we must also join in trampling them. The Prince of Jin might also turn against the meritorious nobility?"
Power arose amidst struggle.
The Sun and Song fight—the purpose was to take advantage of the chaos to eliminate the meritorious nobility.
"This Prince of Jin's courage is truly too great."
Sun Heng felt a chill and couldn't help asking quietly: "But His Majesty has killed princes before. With him being so open about it, isn't he really afraid of death?"
This question also made Minister Sun show a rare hint of uncertainty: "Indeed, what is the Prince of Jin relying on?"
………
"Son, Father was wrong..."
Wei Ye, clad in armor, held the blood-stained Prince of Ning whose limbs hung limp in the roaring flames, revealing unprecedented pain.
Wei Yixuan stood to the side, his whole body trembling, his face filled with terror.
This scene had played out countless times in the Prince of Jin's mind.
At a pavilion in the Imperial Academy, Wei Yixuan sat on the ground with his hands resting on his knees in a relaxed posture, overlooking the entire imperial city.
This moment was just like that moment.
His beloved Prince of Ning was like the Prince of Wu who now shared his burdens.
That Crown Prince who offended the root cause out of fear was like himself, who had nearly been established as Crown Prince.
The only difference was:
Father had grown old. He was afraid. He no longer dared to kill his sons.