Huangming

Chapter 212 A minister's heart is as still as water; a gentleman does not form factions.

As dusk settled, the last rays of the setting sun were swallowed up by the thick clouds.

Gongsheng Ni Yuanlu's wolf-hair brush finally stopped at the end of the answer sheet; he had finally finished writing this policy question.

He put down his pen with trembling hands, only then realizing that the cold sweat on his back had already soaked through his blue robe.

When I looked up, I was facing the gilded palace lantern in the emperor's hand.

"Students.Students"

Ni Yuanlu rose and knelt on the ground, her throat bobbing, unable to utter a complete sentence due to sobs.

Your sovereign and father.

This was the first time Ni Yuanlu truly understood the meaning of those two words.

Zhu Youxiao examined the slender scholar closely by the lamplight, and then carefully read through the answer sheet on the table again.

Ni Yuanlu's "Ten Treatises on Financial Management" is indeed unique, and its insightful analysis reveals true wisdom.

"He's actually quite talented."

Zhu Youxiao wanted to offer his opinion, but suddenly felt a wave of dizziness.

The glow of the gilded palace lanterns flickered before my eyes, and I was startled to realize that I hadn't eaten a single grain of rice since I got up at dawn to review memorials.

The sixteen-year-old emperor was at the age when he was growing, and at this moment his stomach was burning with hunger, which also caused a dull ache in his temples.

Zhu Youxiao smiled bitterly to himself, recalling that the crystal shrimp dumplings served by the imperial kitchen this morning had not yet been touched before being interrupted by an urgent report from the Directorate of Ceremonial.

At this moment, the memory of those crystal-clear dumpling wrappers and tender, sweet shrimp touches my heart more than any strategy for governing a country.

Of course.

Despite being starving, Zhu Youxiao maintained the dignity befitting an emperor.

He bent down slightly, handed the palace lantern in his hand to Wei Chao beside him, then reached out to help Ni Yuanlu, who was still trembling on the ground, and said gently, "Alright, alright, my dear minister, rise."

His voice carried a clear, youthful quality characteristic of a young emperor, yet it also exuded the majesty of a Ming emperor.

Upon hearing this, Ni Yuanlu slowly raised her head, her eyes slightly red, and the fine sweat on her forehead still not completely dry.

He took a deep breath, suppressing the sob in his throat, and solemnly kowtowed: "This student... thanks Your Majesty for your great kindness."

His voice was hoarse, yet every word was clear, as if he had used all his strength to utter these words of gratitude.

Zhu Youxiao smiled faintly, his gaze sweeping over Ni Yuanlu's slightly thin blue robe, then glancing at the deepening night outside the hall, and said, "It's getting late, my dear minister, you should go back and rest."

After saying this, he waved his hand lightly, and two Imperial Guards immediately stepped forward and respectfully led Ni Yuanlu out of the main hall.

Ni Yuanlu bowed deeply again before turning around and walking unsteadily with the guards towards the palace gates. Her figure gradually blurred in the night outside the palace.

After Ni Yuanlu left, Zhu Youxiao turned around and glanced at the group of ministers in the hall who were still somewhat stunned.

"My dear ministers, you have worked hard. I have ordered the Imperial Kitchen to prepare dinner. Please have your meal first, and then you can continue reading the documents."

Fang Congzhe and the others then came to their senses and hurriedly bowed to express their gratitude: "Your Majesty, we thank you for your compassion!"

The ministers spoke in unison, but could not hide their surprise and emotion.

They thought the emperor was young and might not know how to be considerate of his subjects, but they did not expect that he would consider even such details.

Fang Congzhe sighed inwardly:
How many emperors in history books can be found who are so decisive in major policies and yet so perceptive in minor details?
Although Fang Congzhe had reservations about some of Zhu Youxiao's political views, he had to admit that since the new emperor took the throne, the atmosphere in the court had been completely renewed.

At the very least, the overt factional strife has disappeared, leaving only undercurrents still swirling in the cardinal district.

The old practices of procrastination and shirking responsibility have been swept away from the Six Ministries, the Six Departments, and even the Grand Secretariat and the Censorate, and all official documents are now answered promptly.

Furthermore, the emperor acted swiftly and decisively to rectify official corruption, confiscating the property of corrupt officials to replenish the national treasury. This eventually led to the gradual accumulation of reserves in the long-empty granary, and even the salaries of low-ranking officials were paid on time.

All of this is surely due to the unique and decisive actions of the Holy Emperor.
Even the most vehemently opposed ministers must admit that the current emperor is an accomplished and wise ruler.

Zhu Youxiao, of course, had no idea what thoughts were churning in the minds of his ministers.

Once everything was arranged, he said no more.

Now, all he wants to do is eat.

Zhu Youxiao merely nodded slightly to Wei Chao, and the personal eunuch immediately understood, flicking his whisk and drawing out his words: "Prepare the carriage for the Qianqing Palace!"

Zhu Youxiao rode in the imperial carriage.

The gilded imperial palanquin slowly began to move under the moonlight. The sixteen palanquin bearers made a dull thud as they carried it through the palace bricks. It passed through many palace gates and stopped outside the East Warm Pavilion of the Qianqing Palace.

As Zhu Youxiao stepped into the East Warm Pavilion, before he could even sit down, the dishes that the Imperial Kitchen had already prepared were served one by one.

The thin skin of the crystal shrimp dumplings, translucent like gauze in the candlelight, and the crab meat lion's head meatballs exuding a rich aroma, are accompanied by a plate of jade-like stir-fried vegetables, along with the royal chef's special rose-flavored fermented bean curd—his usual favorite combination.

One lion's head meatball at a time, and my stomach felt a long-lost sense of satisfaction.

But soon, Zhu Youxiao stopped eating.

He gazed at the exquisite meal before him, but suddenly became somewhat lost in thought.

Only those who have experienced hunger know the agony of hunger burning in their hearts.

He had not eaten for a day, yet he already felt dizzy and his stomach was burning.

But what about the people of the Ming Dynasty?
Those farmers toiling in the fields, those displaced disaster victims, those people suffocating under the weight of taxes…

How many of them are starving, or even haven't eaten a single grain of rice for days and nights?
Thinking of this, Zhu Youxiao paused slightly in his hand holding the jade chopsticks, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes.

He slowly put down his chopsticks, gazed at the boundless night outside the hall, and sighed inwardly:

To save this country and its people, he must do much, much more.

the other side.

Ni Yuanlu left the palace.

Dark as ink.

Only a few sparse lanterns swayed in the wind, illuminating his slightly tired yet excited face.

The two Imperial Guards remained silent throughout the journey, escorting the guild hall until they reached the entrance, where they clasped their hands in a salute and turned to leave.

Ni Yuanlu stood in front of the guild hall, took a deep breath, and pushed open the slightly old wooden door.

The door hinges creaked slightly, and warm yellow candlelight instantly poured out, illuminating his slightly pale face. To his surprise, the hall was still brightly lit, with many people around.

Lu Xiangshan, Huang Daozhou, Wen Zhenmeng and other candidates did not rest. Some sat and some stood, all looking at him with complex emotions in their eyes.

"Gentlemen, it's late at night, why aren't you asleep yet?"

Ni Yuanlu was slightly taken aback, then cupped her hands and asked, her voice tinged with fatigue, yet unable to conceal a hint of excitement.

Lu Xiang-sheng was the first to step forward, his eyes full of envy, his tone half-joking and half-annoyed: "I heard that His Majesty personally lit the lamp for you?"

Ni Yuanlu was puzzled, wondering how Lu Xiangshan knew about this news so early.

He nodded and said, "I am foolish and missed the appointed time. I was only able to complete my policy essay thanks to His Majesty's exception. It is the greatest honor of my life for His Majesty to light the lamp. I will repay His Majesty's kindness with my life."

Upon hearing this, Lu Xiang-sheng felt even more envious.

"If I had known this would happen, why would I have been in such a hurry to hand in my paper first? If I could gain His Majesty's favor, I would be willing to die for it!"

Ni Yuanlu's cheeks flushed slightly as she recalled the Emperor's gentle gaze under the gilded palace lantern in the hall, and her heart was still filled with turmoil.

He paused for a moment, then said solemnly, "Brother Lu is joking. You were the first to hand in your paper, and His Majesty saw it with his own eyes."

Wen Zhenmeng stood aside, looking at Ni Yuanlu with a complicated expression, a mixture of envy and resentment.

How exactly did the story of the emperor lighting a lamp for Ni Yuanlu spread?
It was Wen Zhenmeng who intentionally or unintentionally revealed this among the candidates.

Now, he has long been a spy planted by the Embroidered Uniform Guard among the candidates, serving as their eyes and ears, their mouthpiece, and even subtly guiding public opinion when people are discussing the matter.

But this was not something he did willingly.

Wei Zhongxian held leverage over him, so he had no choice but to submit.

Whenever he thought of this, Wen Zhenmeng felt a surge of bitterness in his heart.

Working for the Embroidered Uniform Guard was ultimately a shady business.

Looking at Ni Yuanlu, with the emperor personally lighting the lamp, as long as his policy essay isn't completely nonsensical, passing the imperial examination is a certainty, and he might even be among the top scholars.

And what about yourself?

If the examiner knew that he was having an affair with a eunuch, he would not only be out of the top rank, but he might not even be in the second rank.

At this thought, Wen Zhenmeng's fingertips felt slightly cold.

Bitter!

Wen Zhenmeng's thoughts hadn't even begun to form when he was interrupted.

Lu Xiang-sheng, holding the latest issue of the "Huangming Daily," looked around at everyone with a solemn expression.

His voice was not loud, but each word was clear and distinct, drawing attention in the quiet hall: "Gentlemen, I have something to remind you all."

Upon hearing this, everyone looked up and their eyes turned to the newspaper in his hand.

Lu Xiang-sheng unfolded the newspaper, pointed to a section, and said: "After you all pass the imperial examination, remember not to become the son-in-law of a powerful minister. His Majesty deeply abhors factional strife in the court. If we marry into the families of powerful ministers, our careers will be difficult."

"what?!"

These words immediately caused an uproar in the hall.

The expressions of the more than ten candidates changed drastically, and they all crowded around to read it.

Someone even accidentally knocked over a teacup, the crisp sound of it shattering particularly jarring in the hall.

"Is this really what the newspaper says?"

Huang Daozhou snatched the newspaper, his finger trembling slightly as he pointed to that passage.

The crowd gathered around to examine it closely, and saw that it was clearly written in black and white: if a newly appointed scholar marries a nobleman, he will not be granted an important position.

"Sigh~"

"Sigh~"

A collective gasp filled the hall.

"We almost messed things up!"

One of the scholars slammed his fist on the table and stood up, his forehead already covered in fine beads of sweat.

Many people present turned pale. Some of them had already been having secret affairs with noble ministers, and some had even been on dates with noble ladies.

Looking back now, I can't help but feel terrified.

Wen Zhenmeng slammed his teacup down on the table, then promptly added, "Fortunately, we saw this newspaper today, otherwise our future would have been ruined!"

He was also instructed by his superiors to convey this message to all the candidates, and he was busy running around doing so. Unexpectedly, Lu Xiang-sheng was going to do him a favor instead.

Seeing everyone's reaction, a hint of satisfaction flashed in Lu Xiang-sheng's eyes.

He looked around and said loudly, "Under such a wise ruler, how can we ruin our future because of factional strife? Would you all be willing to join me in submitting a petition to the grand ceremony of announcing the results of the imperial examinations, to express our 'gentlemen do not form factions'?"

These words were like a spark falling into dry tinder, instantly igniting the enthusiasm of everyone present.

"Brother Lu's words are very wise!"

"That's how it should be!"

"We have studied diligently for years; how can we be burdened by relatives by marriage!"

A chorus of agreement immediately erupted inside the guild hall.

Excitement gleamed in everyone's eyes, as if they could already see how their "non-partisan" memorial would attract the emperor's attention at the grand ceremony of announcing the results of the imperial examinations.

Whether they belonged to a political party or not was irrelevant to these scholars.

But for them, gaining the emperor's favor and rising rapidly in their official careers was of paramount importance.

PS:

Since I ascended the throne, I have been diligent and conscientious day and night, with the nation and its people on my mind. However, the war in Liaodong has not yet ended, and the soldiers on the border are shedding their blood; drought and floods have followed one after another in the Central Plains, and the people are crying out for food. The national treasury's annual revenue is limited, while the expenses for military pay and relief are increasing daily. Now the treasury is empty, and the economy is in dire straits.

All of you are my trusted advisors. At this critical juncture of life and death, you should all exert your utmost efforts.
Those who cast monthly votes will be considered as having donated funds to aid the border, and I will record their names in the "Book of Loyal and Righteous Individuals Who Aided Liaodong" to recognize their merits;

Those who increase their subscriptions, for example, by donating grain for disaster relief, will be given priority for promotion by the Ministry of Personnel in performance evaluations.

What are you all waiting for?
Subscribe to the monthly pass now!
(End of this chapter)