In his youth, Ning Fangsheng had passed the provincial examinations in the Qian State but had never gone to the imperial capital to continue with the higher levels.
"Elder Ning, that is a harsh statent. The Great Yan previously had no imperial examinations; this was our failing, and we have wronged scholars like you."
"Your Majesty, you speak too gravely."
Minister Ning instantly knelt.
"Enough, enough. Rise, Elder Ning. What I an is that I plan to establish the imperial examination system next year, and I hope you will oversee it. As for this morandum of Resignation, please take it back for now. Elder Ning, you know my temperant. I truly have no patience for the whole charade of repeated invitations and refusals."
"This servant, on behalf of all scholars of Great Yan, thanks Your Majesty for this profound grace!"
Minister Ning reached out to take back the morandum of Resignation he had previously submitted.
The Ning family was also considered an elite clan, though not one of the foremost ones. During the military crackdown on the elite clans, they proactively surrendered most of their lands and property, and so they were pardoned.
However, Minister Ning felt he should no longer cling to power and had thus tendered his resignation.
But now that His Majesty the Emperor intended to establish the imperial examinations—the first in Yan for several hundred years—Minister Ning had no reason not to continue in his post. The significance of this matter was simply too great.
It wasn’t that previous emperors of Yan were unaware of the benefits of the imperial examination system. However, the elite clans were too powerful. The examinations were tantamount to snatching political resources from them, digging at their very roots, so naturally, the clans would not agree.
But now, that problem had been solved.
Ji Runhao pointed at Zhao Jiulang and asked with a smile, "You also ca from Huaiya Academy. Why didn’t you go and try your hand in the examination halls of the Qian State?"
Zhao Jiulang laughed and replied, "Why waste the effort? This servant wishes to accomplish things of substance, not be so figurehead minister."
At this, Minister Ning’s face turned crimson.
The Minister of Rites, among the Six Ministries, held the most prestigious and noble position, but it was also the one with the least actual power. Especially since ’ritual’ and ’etiquette’ were not highly valued in Yan.
One could take the examinations in the Qian State and return to serve as an official in Yan, but it was nearly impossible to secure a position in a governnt office with real authority. After all, one’s background and loyalties would inevitably be viewed with suspicion.
Zhao Jiulang’s words were undoubtedly a slap in the face to Minister Ning. However, Zhao Jiulang wielded considerable power and prestige within the court, having demonstrated imnse influence during the process of purging the elite clans. Therefore, Minister Ning dared not express any dissatisfaction with Zhao Jiulang’s words.
"You, you! Can you not speak more tactfully?"
"Your Majesty, there are too many matters to attend to. This servant lacks the energy for euphemisms."
"I know you’ve been working hard."
Ji Runhao stood up. When he did, Zhao Jiulang and Minister Ning also rose.
"Lift the coverings."
The eunuchs outside imdiately lifted the silk coverings of the pavilion. Snow was still falling outside, but the sky had grown considerably more somber. Outside the pavilion was a palanquin.
The Yan Emperor boarded the palanquin and sat down.
"Elder Ning, stay here for a while. The Imperial Kitchen will send over ginger water shortly. Warm yourself a bit before you leave the palace."
Seeing Zhao Jiulang accompany the Emperor out of the pavilion, Minister Ning knew he could not refuse at this mont and imdiately expressed his gratitude, saying, "Your Majesty is rciful."
Ji Runhao then looked at Zhao Jiulang and said, "The palanquin is too small. I won’t make a show of inviting you to ride with ."
Zhao Jiulang laughed and replied, "This servant was just taking a nap inside. A walk will be just the thing to shake off the drowsiness."
Ji Runhao nodded and said, "To Qiming Hall."
"Proceed to Qiming Hall!"
The procession began. It was not large: four sturdy eunuchs carrying the palanquin, another eunuch in attendance, and Zhao Jiulang.
"Jiulang, there’s sothing I’m curious about." The Yan Emperor, seated sideways in the palanquin, looked at Zhao Jiulang.
"Your Majesty, please speak."
"The war in the south has dragged on until now. You, as Pri Minister, have not ntioned it once in court, nor have you submitted a single private morandum on the matter. Why is this?"
"Your Majesty jests. This servant knows his own capabilities. When it cos to matters of warfare, I am ignorant. And on matters of which I am ignorant, I naturally will not inquire excessively."
"As Pri Minister, you should still know a little."
"Your Majesty, for anything in this world, one should either be an expert or completely ignorant. The most dangerous thing is to know a little but not a lot; that’s what most easily ruins things."
"Go back and read so books on military strategy then."
"This servant obeys the decree. I will endeavor, after reading military texts, to be able to chat with Your Majesty about them."
"You, you..."
They arrived at Qiming Hall.
This hall was situated in the northwest corner of the Imperial Palace. During the reign of the previous Emperor, many new palace halls were built. After Ji Runhao ascended the throne, most were converted into governnt offices, but this Qiming Hall was preserved.
Because the person residing in this hall was... that person.
On the steps of Qiming Hall, two young eunuchs were sweeping snow. Upon seeing the Emperor’s palanquin, they imdiately dropped their brooms and knelt.
The palanquin stopped, and Ji Runhao alighted.
At that mont, a figure cloaked in black erged from the entrance to Qiming Hall. The five eunuchs accompanying Ji Runhao all prostrated themselves and called out, "Greetings, Grandfather!"
In this Yan Imperial Palace, only one person could be addressed as "Grandfather"—the patriarch of all eunuchs in the inner palace.
Not even Wei Zhonghe was entitled to this honor. If Wei Zhonghe himself were to co here, he too would have to kneel and kowtow respectfully.
Zhao Jiulang did not kneel, but instead perford a deep bow.
The black-robed elder on the steps, though physically incomplete, had rendered great service to the entire Yan.
Without him, there would be no current Yan Emperor, and thus no such favorable situation for Yan as exists today!
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