The struggle for the throne during the Jiajing reign

Chapter 113 Taking the Exam for Someone Else

Aside from the affairs of the Western Garden, there was also no shortage of infighting in the imperial court, especially after Ouyang Bijin became Minister of Rites and Ouyang De concurrently took charge of the Hanlin Academy.

Regarding the two princes coming together, opinions differed, but this did not affect the Ministry of Rites and the Ministry of Works from carrying out the renovation and furnishing of the two princely residences in accordance with the cabinet's instructions, without any special treatment.

At this point, Xu Jie was powerless to fight any longer, because at the end of last month, something happened in Nanjing that could very well ruin his career.

His eldest son, Xu Fan, fearing his own lack of talent, secretly hired someone to write the essay for him when he took the provincial examination. It was later discovered that the impeachment memorial was about to reach the capital.

He was able to find out in advance because his fellow townsman, Yang Yusun, the chief clerk of the Ministry of Personnel in Nanjing, received the news and immediately sent his sons and nephews to the capital day and night before the supervising censors made their final decision, to inform Xu Jie ahead of time.

Xu Jie's composure, cultivated over decades, crumbled instantly. He seemed to hear the resounding words he had spoken in the Ministry of Personnel half an hour earlier: "Examination dances are a disgrace to the literati and should be severely punished as a warning to others!"

Disregarding his lifelong reputation, he immediately dispatched his trusted family members with a large sum of money to the south in an attempt to smooth things over and suppress the case.

However, the Nanjing officialdom was unusually resolute this time. Despite his confidants' lobbying efforts, officials at all levels refused to see him, showing no respect for him as the current Minister of Personnel. Clearly, they wanted to use him to boost their reputation and political achievements.

When the news came again, he knew it was all over. Judging by the time, the impeachment memorial would arrive in the capital either tomorrow or the day after.

"Minister, what should we do?"

Xu Jie's several advisors stood anxiously below the hall, their voices filled with urgency; there was simply no time to lose.

"Sacrifice the pawn to save the king, Minister, you can't make a mistake at this time!"

"Alas, it's too late. How could I keep such a thing from you, young master? If I had known earlier, things wouldn't have come to this."

Having followed Xu Jie for many years, the group knew the gravity of the matter. It was not uncommon for the imperial examination dances to be banned throughout history, but getting caught meant certain death.

At best, they would be stripped of their official titles and punished with caning; at worst, their fathers would be implicated, dismissed from office, exiled, or demoted.

Xu Jie slowly stood up. His scarlet official robe indicated that he had almost reached the end of his career in the court, but his back was faintly hunched.

Having been dealing with the etiquette between the two kings and the power struggles within the cabinet for days, he was already exhausted. Now that trouble has arisen within the inner circle, he is even more mentally and physically drained.

"There's no need to repeat the 'sacrifice the pawn to save the king' strategy."

Xu Fan was his eldest son from his first marriage. He lost his mother when he was one year old, and at that time he was exiled to Fujian. This son grew up alone and destitute in his hometown. He always felt indebted to him, so how could he possibly abandon him?

"Department Head—"

Xu Jie waved his hand: "Abandoning him won't save me either. I will immediately submit a memorial to impeach myself, admitting my failure to educate and discipline my son properly. Perhaps then there will still be room for maneuver."

Xu Jie spoke pitifully, but he was actually quite alright. He wouldn't face the death penalty or exile; at worst, he would just lose his position as Minister of Personnel.

After all, without his support, how could Prince Yu deal with Prince Jing? Among the Qingliu faction, no one could replace him.

The advisors Xu Jie hired at great expense were not to be trifled with; once the minister made the decision, they immediately made the necessary improvements.

"He proactively submitted a memorial to the throne, first admitting his failure to properly educate and discipline his son, placing the blame on his own negligence in raising him, and clearing himself of any intentional favoritism or fraud. He then requested that the emperor strip his eldest son of his academic honors."

The current emperor values ​​the integrity of his subjects above all else. Those who voluntarily admit their mistakes, do not deceive or conceal them, are often treated leniently.

Although this might damage the reputation of the literati, it offers hope of preserving the ministerial position and maintaining the foundation of the government!

"Let's make him the county magistrate. He's the local official, the Marquis of Baili. I think he's the most suitable."

While painting, Zhu Zaizhen told Zhang Juzheng that he had learned a few techniques from Xu Wei to cultivate his character.

He's still not quite there when it comes to other subjects, but he's starting to get the hang of drawing cats. The one he's drawing is curled up on a Taihu rock, dozing off, looking rather lazy, and he does resemble Jin Yan a bit.

In fact, given Zhang Juzheng's status—a second-class Jinshi (successful candidate in the highest imperial examination) and a graduate of the Hanlin Academy—it was entirely possible for him to be promoted one or even two ranks when appointed as a local official.

Yes, especially with the support of princes and the Grand Secretary in the court.

He could easily gain some seniority anywhere and encounter almost no resistance before being promoted to the fourth rank, but what Zhu Zaizhen wanted was not Zhang Juzheng, who had a high rank but was ignorant of worldly affairs and people's livelihood.

"Very well, I have no objection."

Zhang Juzheng's tone was filled with considerable confidence, which seemed never to fade.

"Then I'll have Yan Shifan pick a good poor county for you."

Just then, Ma Dezhao walked over and calmly reported, "Your Highness, Xu Jie went to the West Garden to apologize, saying that his eldest son had someone take the provincial examination for him."

"Oh." Zhu Zaizhen's pen didn't stop, he just gave a faint reply and continued to outline the cat's tail.

Zhang Juzheng frowned. He had always respected Xu Jie, especially after Zhang Juzheng decided to serve Prince Jing. As the person most qualified to reprimand him, Xu Jie had never said a word against him.

They would even chat with him as usual when they met, inquiring about his studies: "How dare the eldest son of Minister Xu cheat?"

"Yes, if there weren't solid evidence, Minister Xu wouldn't have impeached himself," Ma Dezhao replied immediately.

"Don't worry, sir, Xu Jie is alright." Zhu Zaizhen put his brush down on the brush holder, picked up the unfinished cat drawing and examined it for a while before turning his head away.

"Did Your Highness already know?"

"Yes, I found out the day before yesterday."

"So," Zhang Juzheng said, quite surprised, "that means Grand Secretary Yan and Yan Shifan also knew all along?"

"Naturally, the one being impeached is the censor in charge of supervising the Nanjing imperial examination. Without having a powerful patron beforehand, who would dare to impeach the Minister of Personnel so easily?"

Once Zhang Juzheng calmed down, he naturally understood everything.

They have the upper hand now, so there's no need to push the current situation into the unknown. Xu Jie, the pillar of Prince Yu, is gone. In order to maintain the balance, who will Your Majesty replace him?

Rather than making things difficult for everyone later, it's better to lend a hand, win a little less, and let things progress slowly.

"Your Highness is wise."

"Haha, it wasn't my order. When Yan Song sent someone to inform us, he asked them to say something like, 'Be lenient when you can.'"

"Even if Grand Secretary Yan hadn't said anything, His Highness would have done the same."

Zhu Zaizhen smiled but did not answer, and took out a small seal from his desk that read "Be Cautious in Speech and Action".

He raised his hand and gently pressed a vermilion mark onto the blank space of the painting, the color bright and the mark perfectly placed.

"Daban, take it to be framed and stored away."

Who knows, in the future, my paintings might even hang next to Emperor Xuanzong's. Wouldn't it be interesting to have two emperors who paint cats?

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