The Palace Examination of the Yuezhen Kingdom commenced, drawing a large number of talented and extraordinary individuals to the capital to participate in the imperial examinations.
This examination aimed to select both civil and military talents to address the southern conflicts and governance issues. Those who advanced to the Palace Examination were all exceptional individuals, whether civil officials or military generals.
The Emperor was greatly pleased.
He joyfully declared, “This is a blessing for our great Yuezhen Kingdom!”
However, the Top Three Scholars of the Palace Examination were all retained within the palace. The Civil Scholar Laureate even became the Grand Tutor, while the Military Scholar Laureate was sent to the borderlands.
The governance of the southern regions seemed to have become a mere joke. Even when ministers petitioned the Emperor, they were driven out of the palace and some were even demoted. Only then did such voices gradually fade away.
“Father!”
Zi Sang Zhen was summoned by Huangfu Quan to a side hall. This was the first time she had openly left that remote and desolate palace, accompanied by many maidservants who attended to her needs and inquired after her well-being.
It was also the first time she truly knelt on the ground, facing the majesty of the so-called “father.”” The palace floor was unbearably cold, chilling her to the core.
Such a magnificent and bustling scene was something she had never witnessed in her over ten years of life. For a moment, Zi Sang Zhen even wanted to question him, but Jin Yu’s warning echoed in her ears: “That is the Emperor, not your ‘father.’ In the palace, there is no true kinship.”
She remembered the fate of her close friend all too well.
“I summoned you today to discuss the matter of your identity,” Huangfu Quan waved his hand, signaling her to rise, and stated the purpose of this meeting.
“Your child obeys Father’s command.”
Huangfu Quan looked at the child before him, whose appearance closely resembled her mother’s, especially the eyes—a fierce yet tender gaze, just like the one he had seen on the battlefield all those years ago. Yet, the brow bone bore a striking resemblance to his own.
There was no doubt about her identity, but her mother was not suited to be a concubine, and Huangfu Quan had no desire to confine her to the harem as a mere consort.
“If I were to bury your mother with the rites of an Imperial Noble Consort and bestow upon her a new identity, would you accept it?” Huangfu Quan calmly observed the person before him, attempting to discern any emotional fluctuations.
Zi Sang Zhen knelt and bowed, her posture upright and neither subservient nor arrogant, meeting her father’s gaze directly. “Father, Mother’s opinion matters more than mine. I do not wish to force her into a choice.”
Upon hearing this, Huangfu Quan broke into a hearty laugh. “Haha, truly a child of Mu’er! Filial piety is the foremost of all virtues. I appreciate your sentiment! To be frank, last night, I already discussed this with your mother. I will appoint her as the State Preceptor. Your mother is a talented individual, and confining her to the harem would be a great disservice.”
Kneeling on the ground, Zi Sang Zhen bowed three times, a smile gracing her face as she said, “Thank you, Father.”
But this smile did not reach her heart. She understood her mother’s resentment better than anyone.
“Rise. Your mother mentioned that your academic foundation is weak. In three days, you shall join the other princes in studying at the Wenhua Hall with the new Scholar Laureate. I have observed that he holds many insightful views on state governance. Study well.”
“Thank you, Father. Your child will diligently follow your teachings!”
Upon returning from the Changle Hall, Zi Sang Zhen went straight to the main hall to seek out Zi Sang Mu without hesitation.
“Mother, why did you agree to his proposal?”
Zi Sang Zhen could not comprehend such a thing. If she agreed, then Zi Sang Mu would remain in the historical records as his consort and his captive until her death. Such humiliation would become the indelible mark of her life.
Zi Sang Mu seemed to have long known that Huangfu Quan had summoned her for this matter. She merely smiled faintly.
“History is written by the victors,” she beckoned for Zi Sang Zhen to approach. “If you emerge victorious, the pages of history will be yours to write. What kind of person I am will also be determined by your pen.” She gently stroked Zi Sang Zhen’s fingers, a clear indication and a hopeful wish.
Zi Sang Zhen understood what she meant. The history of this victory would undoubtedly be written by his own hand.
The 16th year of Jinghe.
Consort Liang, the beloved concubine of Emperor Jinghe, passed away due to illness within the palace. The Emperor wept bitterly and buried her with the rites of an Imperial Noble Consort in the imperial mausoleum. Her surviving son, Huangfu Lin (the name given to Zi Sang Zhen by Huangfu Quan), remained in the palace under the care of the State Preceptor.
“I never imagined you truly had a way to leave,” the white-robed “man” entered the Star-Gazing Pavilion and took the teacup from Zi Sang Mu’s hands. “I thought I would have to rescue you after entering the palace.”
Zi Sang Mu looked at her empty hands and smiled faintly. “You jest. How is our teacher now?”
“Accompanying His Majesty. Mother sent me to assist you.”
Zi Sang Mu shook her head. “Not to assist me, but to help Zhen’er. Is Empress Mother well?”
Worry was evident in Zi Sang Mu’s eyes. Even after ten years, that thorn remained deeply embedded in her heart, the pain unceasing and the wound still bleeding.
“She is well enough.”
“That is good. I can rest assured.”
“I heard you married a general?”
As the “man” was about to leave, Zi Sang Mu suddenly spoke these words, startling her. After a moment of surprise, the “man” replied with ease, “Yes, I too could not escape the allure of a gentle embrace.”
“It matters not, as long as you are content.”
In their youth, the two had been a pair of peerless talents in Nanzhen Guo. Those who had seen them back then believed no man in the world could ever be worthy of either. Yet now, both were married, and to men of an enemy nation, no less.
Truly, fate plays cruel tricks.
“Tomorrow, Zi Sang Zhen will be entrusted to your care.”
“Since he is your child, I trust he will be exceptional.”
The following day, at the Hall of Literary Brilliance.
It was Zi Sang Zhen’s first time attending classes at the imperial academy. Having been given his new name not long ago, he was unfamiliar with the other princes. Very few had arrived in the classroom, and those who were present sat upright and silent, not daring to speak.
Before Zi Sang Zhen went to the academy, Jin Yu had explained some basic matters. These individuals did not appear to be princes or princesses but rather resembled study pages.
Princes and princesses required study pages to accompany them in their studies from a young age. Most study pages were peers or sons of concubines from families with close external relations. Serving as a study page in the palace could, to some extent, help plan their later lives. Unlike legitimate sons who could inherit the family, sons of concubines needed to find alternative paths, and serving as a study page for a prince was the best way to build connections.
The day before Zi Sang Zhen entered the academy, his father had asked for his opinion. Zi Sang Zhen believed he was too old to require a study page to accompany him in his studies. However, his father still thought a child of his age needed friends. Yet Zi Sang Zhen firmly insisted it was unnecessary, and seeing his resolve, his father had no choice but to relent.
It was not that she wished to disregard her father-emperor’s intentions, but rather that with many people around, ears were everywhere. Moreover, Jin Yu had repeatedly emphasized that this Grand Tutor was truly outstanding in matters of state governance and could be relied upon in secret. Since that was the case, Zi Sang Zhen would inevitably need to engage with him extensively. If she were accompanied by a Study Page, information might easily leak. Additionally, her own mother-empress held no power or influence; if she were not careful, she could be framed without even realizing it.
After just a few moments of contemplation, a man dressed in white robes, holding several books, walked to the front of the hall. The newcomer was not like the characters in storybooks, with long goat-like beards and the appearance of an old scholar, but rather handsome and dashing. However, his eyes still revealed traces of impatience and sternness.
After scanning the room, his gaze immediately fell upon Zi Sang Zhen, who was present today for the first time.
Feeling that sweeping glance, Zi Sang Zhen instantly sat up straight. The sense of pressure was truly unpleasant.
But he merely glanced around, then picked up the books in his hand and began to speak eloquently.
Zi Sang Zhen listened carefully to one lesson but found nothing remarkable about the knowledge being imparted. It was all material Jin Yu had previously taught her, and the Grand Tutor offered no novel perspectives, making it rather dull.
Until an unexpected incident occurred: the person who was supposed to sit beside Zi Sang Zhen never appeared.
After one lesson had passed, a figure dressed in a dark blue robe entered unhurriedly from outside. His eyes were filled with disdain, his lips tightly pressed, and within his brown eyes lay a trace of barely perceptible displeasure. In his hand, he tightly clutched a plain fan.
In the classroom, no one dared to look directly at this person. Even the Grand Tutor at the front of the hall did not spare him a glance. Yet, the newcomer stared intently at Zi Sang Zhen, as if trying to see right through her.
Just as Zi Sang Zhen thought he might do something to her, she watched as he sat down straight and properly right in front of her.
It was because of this momentary distraction that Zi Sang Zhen was called upon by the Grand Tutor.
“Explain the meaning of: ‘In ancient times, those who wished to illuminate illustrious virtue throughout the world first governed their states. To govern their states, they first regulated their families. To regulate their families, they first cultivated themselves. To cultivate themselves, they first rectified their hearts. To rectify their hearts, they first made their intentions sincere. To make their intentions sincere, they first extended their knowledge. The extension of knowledge lies in the investigation of things.①'”
Faced with the Grand Tutor’s question, the answer that had been on the tip of her tongue suddenly changed. Blushing with embarrassment, she awkwardly replied, “Teacher, I have not studied this before and do not know its meaning.”
Before the Grand Tutor could comment, the person before her sneered, “You don’t even know this? Who knows where you came from, you bastard, daring to study in the Hall of Literary Brilliance.”
Zi Sang Zhen weighed her options, unsure whether she should refute him. She already had an idea of this person’s identity—such arrogance, coupled with his older age.
That must undoubtedly be the First Prince, though now he should be called the Second Prince. Having entered the royal family midway, she had likely been thoroughly lectured by his mother-empress. Although she was hiding her abilities, she could not allow herself to be insulted like this.
Zi Sang Zhen stood up and responded neither humbly nor arrogantly, “Imperial Brother, speaking like this, I fear you are insulting Father-Emperor. If I, your elder imperial brother, were to report today’s events to Father-Emperor, what do you think would happen?”
Zi Sang Zhen knew that his outburst had clearly been thoughtless, suggesting he was not a difficult opponent to handle. With just this threat, he would surely panic.
Sure enough, Second Prince Huangfu Ze instantly turned pale. He remembered his mother’s instruction earlier that day not to cause trouble, but thirteen years of superiority had made him complacent. Suddenly, someone claiming to be his elder brother appeared, and anyone would find it hard to accept.
Yet he was still a child after all. Faced with his stern father, fear outweighed affection, and with so many people in the classroom plus the Grand Tutor, he had no room for argument.
He bit his lip, closed his eyes, and rose as if resigned to fate, bowing to Zi Sang Zhen in apology. “Elder Brother is magnanimous today. Please forgive this younger brother for today’s mistake.”
Zi Sang Zhen originally had no intention of entertaining such an unreasonable request, but to maintain his persona, he decided to play the role of the good person to the end. “Since that is the case, this elder brother will forgive your unintentional error. However, regarding the question the Grand Tutor asked earlier, this elder brother is still lacking in knowledge. I hope you can offer some guidance after class.”
“Thank you, Elder Brother, for not holding it against me.”
Seizing the opportunity, the Grand Tutor tapped the lectern. “Since that is settled, take your seat and listen to the lesson.”
…
Although there were some minor interruptions, today’s events were not excessive. Zi Sang Zhen gained a general understanding of his only competitor.
After class, he was indeed willing to guide Zi Sang Zhen in reviewing his studies. However, judging from his words, he was not much of a threat either, having only grasped superficial knowledge without delving into deeper analysis.
Apart from this, Zi Sang Zhen was also able to spare some attention during class to observe the other princes and princesses.
The young masters and ladies from noble families were all causing a commotion, with only their Study Pages studying seriously. It seemed few were taking the classroom seriously, and the Grand Tutor’s teachings were likely tempered accordingly.
Among all the young masters and ladies, only one girl was listening attentively. Although the pen in her hand never moved, the seriousness in her expression was unmistakable.
If women could become officials in the future, she would surely be a pillar of talent.