spoiled brat

Chapter 122, Section 121: The Sharp Arrow (Part 1)

Yi Xing put down his teacup and continued, "That's why I've come today. The country is in peril, and Prince Ning has led his troops north, truly a pillar of the state. He's fighting the enemy at the front, yet he's been slandered and insulted by his ministers for confiscating property to raise funds. How can the court treat such a loyal and virtuous person like this?"

He sighed and said, "To appease public opinion and to allow Prince Ning to fight with peace of mind, there is a matter of awarding a prize that I need to discuss with Elder Jiang."

"What's the matter?"

"The Prince of Ning's mansion has already reached the pinnacle of glory, with no more rewards or titles to bestow. May I ask Elder Jiang, what honors or favors are left to appease my heart?"

Jiang Jinze was lost in thought when a person walked in from outside the pavilion, neatly taking away the cold tea and adding a new stove to warm the wine.

Jiang Jinze looked up and his expression turned serious: "Why aren't you in the backyard writing books? Why are you serving me here?"

Li Qingwen nodded and said, "Teacher, I have a request."

He is a man of gentle and considerate nature, and rarely acts so recklessly.

Jiang Jinze said, "What is it? Tell me."

Li Qingwen slowly recounted that he met three friends when he went to the capital to take the imperial examination. His writing in the eight-legged essay style was mediocre, but he was quite knowledgeable in mathematics and law.

Today, three people came to pay their respects, hoping to persuade Jiang Jin to adopt their strategy and obtain a suitable official position.

Jiang Jinze was in charge of the Ministry of Personnel and was unconventional in his selection of officials. Hearing Li Qingwen praise his friend so highly, and since Yixing was also interested in seeing him, he ordered his servant to bring the person to the pavilion.

The three scholars from humble backgrounds first paid their respects to Jiang Jinze. Upon seeing a nobleman in a python robe in the pavilion, they were momentarily flustered and unsure how to address him.

"This is His Highness the Crown Prince."

Li Qingwen led the three men to pay their respects and then asked them to demonstrate their skills.

After their display of talent, the three men proved, as Li Qingwen had said, to be extraordinary individuals.

One of them was knowledgeable in law and could recite the Zhou Code backwards. No matter how Jiang Jince tested him, he could answer the questions with ease.

Jiang Jinze was quite pleased with him and immediately took him into his household as a subordinate.

Yi Xing accepted the other two, then casually remarked, "The rigid essay system is truly poisoning the minds of scholars; many talented individuals are not given important positions. There was an absurd incident last month; I wonder if Elder Jiang has heard of it?"

"No, Your Majesty, I am all ears."

"That was the top scholar of Jingyi for many years..." Yi Xing laughed, "I can't remember, but he was very good at writing the eight-legged essay and was highly valued by Minister Wu. At the age of fifty, he abandoned his pen and joined the army as a general."

“Last month, he fought poorly and the enemy entered the city. Our army was routed and the momentum was unstoppable. Instead of trying to turn the tide, he knelt by the roadside and kowtowed to the fleeing soldiers, shouting about national righteousness and begging them to fight bravely.”

"No one understood his words of wisdom, and naturally no one paid him any attention. In the end, he was trampled into a pile of minced meat by the horses in the chaos, which can be considered as sacrificing himself for his country."

Yi Xing held the teacup, tilted it, and the tea froze on the ground.

"It is both laughable and pitiful, yet also admirable."

Jiang Jinze gazed at the frozen lake and sighed, "A few years ago, before the border conflicts broke out, I submitted a memorial to Your Majesty, advising you to follow the example of Emperor Ruizong of Tang and establish a special examination system to recruit talented individuals. We should not only use the eight-legged essay to recruit scholars who are ignorant of worldly affairs into the court."

"At that time, His Majesty had not yet embraced Taoism, but he also had this intention and was preparing to gradually reform the system when war broke out."

Yi Xing chimed in, "I am of one mind with the Minister on this matter. Past mistakes cannot be undone, but it is never too late to mend the fence after the sheep are lost. Why not hold a cabinet meeting as soon as possible, come up with new regulations, establish official schools, and gather the sons of aristocratic families?"

The current turbulent situation presents a crucial juncture for winning hearts and minds and cultivating talent; reform would be entirely beneficial.

While this method was effective, Yi Xing's aim was to win over the sons of aristocratic families. These men, born into high-ranking families, would inevitably form factions and support groups after arriving in the capital. If the official schools were not under his control, it would be a way for Yi Xing and the Wu faction to cultivate their own followers.

Jiang Jinze pondered for a moment and said, "Your Highness just said that you didn't know what to reward the Prince of Ning's family. I've got it now."

"Oh?"

“Prince Ning is fighting the enemy alone, leaving Xiu Yi to look north in despair. How can he not be indignant? He is a first-rate military talent. It is a pity to waste his time. Rather than staying in the remote Yunzhou, he should go to the capital to study at the official school and teach martial arts and military strategy.”

Yi Xing said, "I'm afraid he won't come."

"Where there is sincerity, there is a way. Please, Your Highness, join me in writing a letter, affixing our seals, and sealing it to invite him to the capital."

Jiang Jinze paused for a moment, then said, "In principle, princes and nobles are not allowed to bring troops when they enter the capital. But nurturing talents for the country is not something he can do alone. It requires the cooperation of his personal guards. If he is willing to come, I ask Your Highness to allow him to bring two thousand soldiers with him."

Yi Xing bent his knuckles, tapped the table for a moment in thought, and said with a half-smile, "Okay."

-

Resettling criminals was a difficult task, and Zhao Zhao worked on it for half a month before returning home.

The day we entered the city was a bright, sunny day. The snow on the roads had all melted, making them incredibly wet and slippery. The horses, finding the roads too sticky, walked exceptionally slowly.

Zhao Zhao wasn't in a hurry. She rode slowly on her horse, the warm sunshine overhead, and the sounds of tea drinkers chatting on the street all around her.

She listened to those people speaking passionately, but they weren't talking about Prince Ning's northward expedition to fight the enemy. Instead, they were talking about the imperial examinations held in the capital to recruit talented people, and that those with family backgrounds could enter the official schools.

Zhao Zhao's heart stirred, she stopped her horse and stepped inside, ordered a bowl of hot stir-fried greens, and asked the poor scholars at the next table with a smile, "Excuse me, may I ask what level of social standing is required to enter the official school?"

The scholars, seeing that she was just a young girl, initially didn't want to pay her any attention. However, noticing the well-fed and strong horses parked outside, which ordinary families couldn't afford, they replied, "A father of an eighth-rank official or higher is sufficient."

Eighth rank? Zhao Zhao's eyes lit up.

The person who answered added, "However, this time we are only recruiting talented men, not women."

"Even having a good family background isn't enough?"

"Neither."

Zhao Zhao nodded and was about to get up to leave when she heard a sneer beside her:
"Bullshit! Women aren't accepted! As long as you have a good family background, you can become a teacher at the Imperial Academy even if you have absolutely no skills!"

The speaker was an old, white-haired scholar, impoverished yet aloof, his words laced with resentment:

"Have you all forgotten the morning a few days ago? The Eastern Palace Guards marched into the city carrying dozens of yellow banners. What a spectacle, what a grand display..."

A familiar face covered the old scholar's mouth, signaling him not to speak recklessly.

He pushed the other person's hand away and said angrily:

“I’ll say it anyway! His Highness the Crown Prince sent his personal guards to invite her, and a dignified fifth-rank Grand Academician from the Hanlin Academy came to greet her with utmost respect. Why should this mute, sickly woman refuse?”

"The Imperial Academy is a sacred place for scholars throughout the land. She, with her noble birth, occupies a high position, and not only is she ungrateful, but she also defies the imperial decree! Prince Ning fought valiantly in the front, and the Crown Prince is determined to enter the official academy to teach martial arts and military strategy. Why can't she learn from her father and brother's loyalty and righteousness, and go to the capital to serve the country?"

Zhao Zhao's eyebrows twitched. Had Xiu Yi not gone north?
“Old scholar, what you’re saying is awful,” someone retorted. “The princess has always been kind to the weak and poor. Even when your family was starving, you drank porridge donated by the prince’s mansion. How can you even call him a ‘mute and sickly’?”

Someone else said, "That's right! The princess just didn't agree in public, how could she have disobeyed the imperial decree? The Prince's mansion has been sending servants out these past few days, how could it be because the princess hasn't come to the capital?"