The Red Mansion

Chapter 79 Jiang Nian's Marriage, Prince Yuan Li

Emperor Taishun personally examined Jiang Nian's exceptional memory and secretly praised him. Furthermore, Jiang Nian, at only fifteen years old, had already ranked thirty-third in the Shuntian Prefecture provincial examination. His literary talent was self-evident.

As for his martial arts skills, Emperor Taishun did not test him further. Jiang Nian was physically fit, and his every move exuded a heroic air. Furthermore, He Yun was a trusted confidant of Emperor Taishun, so a simple question would reveal Jiang Nian's martial arts abilities.

Emperor Taishun raised his hand slightly and said to Jiang Nian, "Please leave. I still have something to say to He Yun."

Jiang Nian bowed respectfully and said, "I'll take my leave."

He also specifically said goodbye to Prince Zhongyi before slowly leaving the warm room.

He trusted He Yun quite a bit. Although he knew that He Yun was a close confidant of Emperor Taishun, he was also loyal to him. He Yun should not say anything bad about him in front of Emperor Taishun.

In the warm room, Emperor Taishun asked He Yun some questions, and He Yun answered them one by one, praising Jiang Nian in his words.

After a while, He Yun left the warm room and met Jiang Nian.

The imperial guard Ren Pijiang escorted Jiang Nian and He Yun all the way out of Changchun Garden.

At this time, the rain had stopped, the clouds and fog in the sky had cleared, revealing a deep blue.

After the rain, the sky cleared up and the air was filled with the fresh scent of soil and grass, which was refreshing.

Jiang Nian stopped and looked back, gazing at the towering palace gate of Changchun Garden, feeling a sense of emotion in his heart.

This garden is like a paradise on earth. Although he only set foot in a corner of it today, the magnificent scenery has already made him fascinated.

Jiang Nian thought to himself, "I wonder when I'll have the chance to explore this garden in detail?"

Although he had longing in his heart, he remained expressionless and turned around to leave with He Yun.

The sunshine after the rain shone on his body and seemed to shine on his heart.

He knew that his performance today had satisfied Emperor Taishun, and his future was bright...

……

……

Dan Ning Residence, in the warm room.

After Jiang Nian and He Yun left, Prince Zhongyi looked at Emperor Taishun with a smile and asked gently, "Your Majesty, what do you think of Brother Yi?"

Emperor Taishun looked calm and said slowly, "This boy is indeed a man of both civil and military talents."

Prince Zhongyi's smile deepened, and he asked, "Since Your Majesty appreciates this, how would you like to arrange it?"

Emperor Taishun pondered for a moment and said, "Let's follow your proposal yesterday. First, appoint him as a third-class guard, but don't let him serve. Let him concentrate on his studies. When he comes of age next year, he can officially enter the court."

Prince Zhongyi nodded.

Emperor Taishun frowned, as if he was worried, and whispered, "But this matter requires the permission of my father. After all, my father already knows Yi'er, and he has asked me to keep Yi'er's life story a secret."

Prince Zhongyi said calmly, "Brother Yi is, after all, the emperor's own flesh and blood. He is exceptionally gifted, both civil and military. Since the emperor has this intention, I believe my father will not obstruct it."

Emperor Taishun remained silent, his eyes calm, as if he was thinking.

Prince Zhongyi smiled and said, "By the way, Brother Yi is already fifteen this year. According to etiquette, it's time for him to be engaged. This matter also requires the decision of His Majesty."

Emperor Taishun nodded slightly, then frowned again and said in a low voice: "This matter... let's discuss it later."

Children of the Daqing royal family were usually engaged before the age of fifteen.

Of the four sons of Emperor Taishun, only the third prince, Yuan Shi, has reached adulthood and is now twenty years old. Emperor Taishun had arranged a marriage for Yuan Shi when he was fourteen.

Emperor Taishun had actually considered Jiang Nian's marriage, but this matter made him feel quite embarrassed, so he put it on hold for the time being.

Upon seeing this, Prince Zhongyi said no more.

……

……

Compared to Yuan Li, Yuan Zhou, and other princes of the Taishun Emperor, Jiang Nian, a humble prince, enjoyed greater freedom, like a lone eagle. Although he lacked the honors of a prince, he was also not bound by a golden cage. During the reign of Emperor Jingning, a strict education system was established for the princes.

After Emperor Taishun ascended the throne, he further systematized and standardized Emperor Jingning's education system for the princes.

In the first month of the first year of the Taishun era, Emperor Taishun issued an edict: "For all the princes to enter school, a study room shall be set up in the southeast wing of the Qianqing Palace, and Hanlin officials shall be selected to give lectures in classes."

As soon as this decree was issued, the Shangshufang came into being.

The Shangshufang became a place for the princes of Emperor Jingning and Emperor Taishun to study and cultivate themselves.

The princes started school at the age of six. Except for New Year's Day, Dragon Boat Festival, Mid-Autumn Festival, Emperor's birthday and his own birthday, they studied almost all year round, for more than ten hours a day.

The princes needed to get up at four in the morning; at five o'clock, they would go to the study for morning reading and review the previous day's lessons; at seven o'clock, the teacher would come in to teach; until twelve noon, there would be a half-hour break for meals; at one o'clock in the afternoon, they would start riding and archery training and military preparation courses; at four o'clock in the afternoon, they would start writing policy essays and reciting classics; at six o'clock in the evening, Emperor Jingning or Emperor Taishun would personally check the homework; until seven o'clock in the evening, the daily lessons were over and the princes could leave school.

The Shangshufang also has a strict assessment and reward and punishment system.

Drawing lessons from the Jingning Emperor's struggle for the throne among the nine princes, Emperor Taishun strengthened control over his sons through strict education to prevent them from forming cliques and engaging in self-interest. The Imperial Study Room was a closed-off institution, with no princes allowed to enter or leave without permission. It was like a prison, both physically and mentally, a testament to the princes' captivity.

When Emperor Jingning and Emperor Taishun lived in Changchun Garden, Wuyi Zhai in Changchun Garden was where the princes lived and studied, and it was still under closed management.

"Wu Yi" comes from the "Book of Documents" chapter "Wu Yi", which means diligence and perseverance.

The main building of the studio is five bays wide and three bays deep, constructed in the shape of an "工" (gong)-shaped hall, connecting the front and back halls. Twelve nanmu bookshelves, including a revolving "wheel-shaped" bookcase invented during the Jingning period, can store over 3,000 volumes. The floor is paved with Suzhou imperial kiln gold bricks. Floor heating provides warmth in winter, while an ice cellar provides cooling in summer, creating a spring-like atmosphere year-round, filled with the fragrance of books.

Outside the studio, locust trees, cypress trees, and other trees were planted, inspired by the "Huai City" (another name for the Imperial College during the Han Dynasty). An "Inkstone Washing Pool" was excavated on the west side, drawing water from the Wanquan River. A Taihu stone was erected beside the pool, inscribed with the full text of Emperor Jingning's "Wu Yi Pian" in vigorous and powerful handwriting.

……

……

In the evening, the sun sets in the west.

In Wuyi Studio, the candlelight was just beginning to light up, and the classics on the towering nanmu bookshelf were glowing faintly under the candlelight, as if telling the wisdom of a thousand years.

Outside the studio, the branches and leaves of the locust trees and cypress trees swayed gently in the evening breeze, and the surface of the inkstone washing pool shimmered with waves.

Emperor Taishun walked into Wuyi Pavilion with steady steps.

He originally wanted to come and check the princes' homework in person, but he saw Emperor Jingning sitting upright in the room, holding a volume of "The Analects of Confucius" in his hand, listening to Yuan Li's recitation with a solemn expression, and the other princes all stood respectfully by his side.

Seeing Emperor Taishun walk in, all the princes bowed respectfully to him, including Yuan Li who was reciting the calendar.

Emperor Taishun respectfully bowed and greeted Emperor Jingning.

Emperor Jingning said to Yuan Li, "You continue to recite."

Yuan Li is the fourth prince of Emperor Taishun. He is only thirteen years old this year, but he has already shown an extraordinary demeanor.

He stood before Emperor Jingning, his expression calm, and continued to recite aloud: "... The Master said: 'Each has expressed his own aspirations, and that is all.' He said: 'Master, why do you laugh at You?' He said: 'He governs the country with propriety, but his words are not modest, and that is why I laugh at him.' 'Is it only Qiu that is not a state?' 'How can you see a country of sixty or seventy, or a country of fifty or sixty, that is not a state?' 'Is it only Chi that is not a state?' 'The ancestral temples are gathered together, what else can they do but the princes? Chi is small, who can be great?'"

There was no hesitation in his recitation, which showed that he had memorized the Analects by heart.

After hearing this, Emperor Jingning nodded slightly, with a flash of approval in his eyes.

Emperor Jingning stood up and said to Emperor Taishun, "Since the Emperor is here, please let him check their homework. I will return to Qingxi Study."

Emperor Taishun hurriedly saw Emperor Jingning off.

When the father and son walked out of the hall, Emperor Jingning suddenly turned around, dismissed his attendants, and then said to Emperor Taishun, "Li'er has an excellent memory and is intelligent. He studies and practices martial arts with great effort. Although he is only thirteen, he has already possessed both civil and military talents. He is truly a rare talent. Of the emperor's four princes, Li'er is my favorite!"

In fact, there was another point that Emperor Jingning did not mention. That was that Yuan Li was good at currying favor with his grandfather, and this was something he also liked.

Emperor Taishun smiled faintly and replied respectfully, "It is a blessing for Li'er, and also for me, that he is favored by my father. However, although Li'er is very talented, he is still young and needs more training before he can become a great man."

Emperor Jingning nodded and said, "That's quite true."

Emperor Taishun couldn't help but think, "If you include Yi'er, I have five sons alive. In terms of talent and martial arts, Yi'er is the best, surpassing Li'er. In terms of memory, he is even better than Li'er. It's just that Yi'er's status is special, he fell into the grassroots, and he can't enjoy the same favor from my father as Li'er."

With this in mind, Emperor Taishun respectfully said to Emperor Jingning, "Father, I have something to report."

(End of this chapter)