My father is Chongzhen? Then I have no choice but to rebel.

As a time traveler, Zhu Cilang didn't value this long-established system to a certain extent.

Deep down, he prefers a modern, standardized education and examination system.

However, he was also well aware that in the specific historical period of the late Ming Dynasty, any radical reforms could provoke enormous resistance.

Reforms to the education system and the system for selecting officials have far-reaching consequences and must be carried out gradually and in accordance with local conditions.

This is something he will need to worry about for a long time to come, rather than something he can consider right now.

A few days later, when the results of the imperial examination were released, the entire capital was once again in an uproar.

Inside the Eastern Palace, Ma Bao rushed back as soon as he received the list of successful candidates.

After all, it would be untrue to say that Zhu Cilang was completely indifferent to the list of admitted students; he still had a few specific candidates on his mind.

For example, the achievements of Wu Shouren and Chang Yong'an, two Juren scholars from Liaodong with special identities, were crucial to the final conclusion of the turmoil earlier that year, as well as to his attempts at ethnic integration policies.

For example, in the original historical trajectory, Yang Tingjian should have been the top scholar in this examination.

I wonder if I can still stand out in this space-time that I've disturbed?

These are the points he cares about most.

Seeing Ma Bao stride into the hall, Zhu Cilang put down his pen and asked directly:
Did those three people get it?

The "three people" he mentioned were Yang Tingjian, Wu Shouren, and Chang Yong'an.

Ma Bao bowed and reported:
"Your Highness, you truly have exceptional insight. Two of these three have passed the imperial examinations! One is Yang Tingjian from Southern Zhili, and the other is Chang Yong'an from Liaodong."

Zhu Cilang was somewhat surprised to hear this.

Yang Tingjian's passing the exam was within his expectations, after all, this man was indeed a man of talent in history, and was also the original top scholar.

But he didn't expect that one of the two Jurchen candidates would actually be able to break through the competition and pass the imperial examination!

Wu Shouren failed the exam, but Chang Yong'an succeeded!

"Well, this is getting interesting."

Zhu Cilang's lips curled into a meaningful smile.

More than 270 years after the founding of the Ming Dynasty, the first genuine Jurchen tribute scholar finally appeared!

Moreover, according to the system, Chang Yong'an would also be eligible to participate in the final examination—the palace examination—which would be personally presided over by the emperor.

Zhu Cilang found the thought of the amusing scenes that might unfold in the imperial court amusing, while also filled with anticipation for the upcoming palace examination results.

The news of Chang Yong'an passing the imperial examination was like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, quickly causing a great uproar in the official and scholar circles of the capital.

The news spread like wildfire through publication in the Da Ming Daily, discussions in teahouses and taverns, and private conversations among officials.

The ministers in the court, whether they were Grand Secretaries, heads of the Six Ministries, or officials in charge of censors, were all astonished and surprised upon hearing the news.

In the minds of many traditional scholar-officials, the Jurchens were always considered "barbarians." Although they submitted to the court due to its policies, their cultural background should have been vastly different from the classical Chinese knowledge required for the imperial examinations.

They originally thought that allowing Jurchen scholars to participate in the imperial examinations was merely a political gesture by the court to demonstrate the inclusiveness of the "Celestial Empire," just a formality, and that most of them would eventually fail. This way, the court would save face and would not offend the sensitive nerves of the literati.

But who would have thought that this Jurchen scholar named Chang Yong'an would actually pass the single-plank bridge with his writing skills and become the first Jurchen tribute student since the founding of the Ming Dynasty!
This was completely unexpected by everyone, and it left many people feeling an indescribable sense of embarrassment and discomfort.

Despite his inner reluctance to allow Jurchens to enter the scholar-officialdom, the reality is that Chang Yong'an is now a citizen of the Ming Dynasty, and has obtained his official rank through the legitimate imperial examination.

Therefore, arguments of rejection appear weak and powerless in the face of the "fair" imperial examination system, and are easily used against those who oppose it.

Thus, an unspoken consensus formed among the officials.

Since we cannot prevent him from becoming a tribute student, we should impose restrictions on him in the upcoming palace examination.

They only hoped that Chang Yong'an would perform mediocrely in the palace examination personally presided over by the emperor, and not be too outstanding, so that the court would just casually grant him a minor official position in a remote place and send him on his way.

In short, he must not be allowed to remain in the central government, nor should he be allowed to hold any important position, lest the "barbarians" seize the core power of China.

This concern and planning quickly reached the highest levels of power.

On the very night the news of the results was released, Grand Secretary Xue Guoguan, together with the Minister of Rites and three highly respected officials from the Censorate, a total of five white-haired old ministers, came to the Eastern Palace to see Zhu Cilang.

Zhu Cilang had just finished his dinner and was in his study reviewing memorials concerning the opening of the sea when he heard the news and ordered someone to invite them in.

Under the candlelight, looking at these solemn and well-dressed old ministers, Zhu Cilang instantly understood their purpose.

He put down the memorial in his hand, a knowing smile appearing on his face, and spoke first, breaking the slightly dull atmosphere:
"Have you all come together today for the announcement of the results? What, are you all so afraid that the Jurchen scholar named Chang Yong'an will achieve another outstanding result in the palace examination?"

Xue Guoguan, as the representative, stepped forward, bowed, and said in a respectful yet firm manner:
"Your Highness, please understand that we have not come here to target Chang Yong'an personally."

"The imperial examination system selects officials based on their writing skills. Since his writing is qualified, he has passed the examination and become a tribute student. This is in accordance with the law of the court, and this old minister has nothing to say."

He changed the subject, his tone becoming more serious.

"However, this matter concerns the hearts and minds of the literati and the crucial distinction between Chinese and barbarians, so it must be handled with utmost care."

"Therefore, we, your humble servants, earnestly request Your Highness to speak to Your Majesty on this matter. This person may be appointed to an official post, but he should absolutely not be kept in the capital region, nor should he be entrusted with any important position."

"The safest approach would be to wait until after the palace examination, then send him back to Liaodong and appoint him to a position such as county magistrate or prefectural assistant magistrate, so that he can govern the local area."

He paused, then elaborated on his reasons.

"This arrangement allows him to leverage his familiarity with local customs and conditions to appease the people of various ethnic groups in Liaodong and demonstrate the court's benevolence towards distant peoples."

"Secondly, by having him in his familiar place, he can serve as a role model, allowing the people of Liaodong who have submitted to see firsthand that studying for the imperial examinations and serving the court can indeed lead to a bright future, thus making them more willing to submit to our Great Ming. This is a win-win strategy, beneficial to the country, the people, and himself."

It must be admitted that Xue Guoguan's words resonated with Zhu Cilang's own thoughts.

Zhu Cilang had previously made a similar suggestion when discussing this matter with Emperor Chongzhen.

Seeing this, the other senior officials also bowed and echoed, emphasizing the importance of "defense against barbarians" and the "necessity" of sending Chang Yong'an to Liaodong.

Zhu Cilang listened quietly to their statements, his face still bearing that enigmatic smile.

His gaze swept over the faces of several veteran officials, faces filled with worry and expectation. Finally, he nodded and said in a calm tone:
"Alright, I understand what you all mean. Your concerns are not without merit."

"I have noted this matter down and will certainly report it to my father. You may all go back now without worry."

Having received the Crown Prince's reply, which clearly stated his stance, the senior officials exchanged glances, feeling somewhat relieved.

They then bowed again:

"Your Highness, we thank you! Your Highness is wise and understanding, a true blessing to the nation!" They then took their leave, their figures gradually disappearing into the night of the palace.

However, it was already late, and Zhu Cilang did not want to disturb Chongzhen's rest by entering the palace, so he planned to see Chongzhen the next day.

The next morning, as dawn broke, Zhu Cilang finished washing up and set off for the palace.

Meanwhile, Emperor Chongzhen, who was living deep in the palace, had already learned about the results of the imperial examination and the news that Chang Yong'an had passed through the memorials submitted by the Directorate of Ceremonial and the Da Ming Daily.

After all, this matter concerned the selection of talents for the imperial examination and involved the sensitive issue of "barbarian" identity, so it caused quite a stir, and he, as the emperor, was naturally paying close attention to it.

Furthermore, since Zhu Cilang did not deliberately block Chongzhen's access to information from the outside world, it was inevitable that Chongzhen would learn of this matter.

However, like his court officials, Emperor Chongzhen was also filled with shock and disbelief.

He also did not expect that one of the two Jurchen scholars, whom he subconsciously did not think highly of, would actually pass the imperial examination with flying colors.

When Zhu Cilang arrived at Kunning Palace, Emperor Chongzhen was having breakfast with Empress Zhou in the warm pavilion.

Simple congee and side dishes, a few delicate snacks, the atmosphere was quite warm and cozy.

When Empress Zhou saw Zhu Cilang enter, a loving smile immediately appeared on her face, and she hurriedly greeted him:

"Lang'er is here? Come here quickly, haven't you had breakfast yet?"

He then instructed the palace maid standing nearby:

"Go quickly and get the Crown Prince a set of chopsticks and a bowl."

Zhu Cilang didn't stand on ceremony, smiled and agreed, then sat down at the lower end of the table.

The palace maid quickly set out the bowls and chopsticks. He picked up a bowl of warm millet porridge and ate it with pickles, quite comfortably.

Throughout the entire process, Emperor Chongzhen, who sat in the main seat, seemed somewhat distracted.

He barely touched the bowl of porridge in front of him, his brows furrowed slightly, his eyes unfocused, and he looked listless, as if he hadn't slept well the night before. Clearly, the news of the exam results had disturbed his mind.

Zhu Cilang observed Chongzhen's reaction but paid it no mind.

While eating, he also teased his younger sister Zhu Shuangxi, who was sitting next to Empress Zhou and was still quite young, making the little princess giggle and easing the somewhat tense atmosphere.

After breakfast, Empress Zhou knew that the father and son must have some political matters to discuss, so she considerately picked up the little princess and said:
"Shuangxi, come with your mother to visit your older sisters!"

After saying this, he left the warm pavilion with his daughter and a group of palace maids and eunuchs.

Zhu Cilang and Chongzhen then got up and walked out of Kunning Palace one after the other, arriving at a small and exquisite garden connected to the palace.

Although it was early spring in February, Beijing was still chilly, but it was still a bit warmer than the dead of winter.

Sunlight filtered through the sparse branches, bringing a touch of warmth.

Most of the snow in the garden has melted, the soil is moist, and some hardy flowers and trees, such as wintersweet, have not yet completely withered. In the sunny corner of the wall, the branches of several peach trees have already swollen with full flower buds, and tender green grass shoots have also sprouted from the cracks in the ground. The whole garden reveals a bit of early spring vitality.

The two strolled to a pavilion in the center of the garden and sat down. Bamboo curtains hung around the pavilion, and they were rolled up halfway up to block the wind without obstructing the view.

The eunuch had already laid out soft cushions on the stone bench and brought out hot tea.

Just as Zhu Cilang picked up his teacup, before he could even speak, Chongzhen gazed at the peach buds outside the pavilion, sighed deeply, and said in a tone filled with deep confusion and a hint of helplessness:

"Alas, I never expected that these Jurchens would actually pass the imperial examination. I originally thought..."

He didn't finish his sentence, but his meaning was already clear.

Upon hearing this, Zhu Cilang couldn't help but chuckle, put down his teacup, and said:
“Father, you are not the only one who is surprised. I was also quite surprised when I first learned of this, as were the ministers in the court.”

"To tell you the truth, just yesterday evening, Grand Secretary Xue brought several senior officials to the Eastern Palace to see me."

"Oh? What do they want with you?"

Emperor Chongzhen raised his head and asked with some curiosity.

Zhu Cilang said frankly:

"Their meaning is very clear: they hope that I can persuade Father Emperor to send Chang Yong'an out after the palace examination, preferably back to Liaodong as a local official. Under no circumstances should he be allowed to stay in the capital, let alone be given an important position."

Upon hearing this, Emperor Chongzhen showed no surprise, but simply nodded slightly and said with certainty:

"Don't worry about this. I'm not so senile as to not know how to handle this."

On the issue of Chang Yong'an's appointment, his opinion was consistent with the mainstream opinion of the court officials.

Zhu Cilang was not surprised by Chongzhen's reaction, and he continued:

"Furthermore, I believe that even if such an arrangement is to be made, it must be done naturally and appropriately, so that people cannot easily detect that it was deliberate. It would be best to find a reason that conforms to the rules."

"Otherwise, it would make our Ming Dynasty appear narrow-minded and deliberately discriminate against those who have returned to the Confucian school, which would damage the reputation of the court and discourage those who have genuinely submitted."

Emperor Chongzhen thought about it carefully and felt that his son's words were indeed reasonable.

Although he inwardly resented it, as emperor, he had to maintain a facade of composure.

So he nodded and said in a deep voice:

"Yes, you are absolutely right. I will instruct the Ministry of Personnel to handle this matter according to usual procedures, so as not to give anyone a handle to use against us."

The pavilion fell silent for a moment, with only the gentle breeze of early spring bringing a touch of coolness.

Zhu Cilang picked up his teacup, gently blew away the floating leaves, took a sip of hot tea, and turned his gaze once again to the spring colors outside the pavilion that were poised to burst forth.

After a brief pause, he suddenly asked again:
"Father, have you considered any deeper issues after Chang Yong'an passed the imperial examination?"

Upon hearing this, Emperor Chongzhen frowned even more deeply and asked in confusion:

"A deeper issue? What do you mean?"

Zhu Cilang put down his teacup, looked sharply at Chongzhen, and stated directly:

“Father, have we been underestimating the Jurchens all along? We have habitually regarded them as ‘barbarians’ who only know how to ride and shoot and are ignorant of poetry and literature.”

"But now, these 'barbarians' are actually able to raise children who are well-versed in the classics of our Chinese civilization and who pass the imperial examinations in our Great Ming Dynasty!"

"Isn't the meaning behind this obvious enough, isn't it enough to serve as a wake-up call?"

Zhu Cilang's words were like a thunderclap in Chongzhen's ears! He was first stunned, then his eyes changed abruptly, from initial confusion to shock, and then deep worry and even a trace of fear appeared!
He finally understood the deeper meaning behind Zhu Cilang's words! (End of Chapter)