After the rebellion was successful, I realized that this place was the Red Mansion

Chapter 129 Meeting Li Wan (Part 1)
Chu Yan summoned the officials from the Qianwang Mansion who came from Jinling in the Taihe Hall. Chu Yan and the left and right prime ministers and other ministers had already discussed and decided on the positions of officials of the fourth rank and above. The Ministry of Personnel would make arrangements for the rest and gradually remove some unqualified officials from the old dynasty.

After the audience, Chu Yan returned to Linjing Hall and summoned several renowned scholars from Jiangnan, including Zhao Deming, the dean of Nanshan Academy, and Xu Qi, the dean of Qingyang Academy.

After they finished bowing, Chu Yan instructed, "Please offer the gentlemen seats."

The eunuchs brought over chairs, and several learned scholars sat opposite him, their faces showing a hint of helplessness.

Chu Yan took a sip of tea before speaking to them, "Gentlemen, do you remember what I told you before the Northern Expedition?"

"Your Majesty once said that after ascending the throne, you would reform the imperial examination system and have all students learn the new learning that Your Majesty has taught."

Zhao Deming answered respectfully.

The so-called "new learning" refers to the fact that when Chu Yan was in Jiangnan, he recruited a group of students and taught them subjects such as physics, chemistry, and mathematics. Because the knowledge was complex, it was collectively called "new learning".

Chu Yan said, "Now that I have ascended the throne, I wish to reform the imperial examination system, which has lasted for a thousand years. I will examine both modern and Confucian learning to select the most talented people in the country. What do you think?"

"Your subject requests permission to proceed."

Xu Qi stood up, bowed, and said, "Your Majesty may possess unparalleled talent, establishing new schools and reforming the imperial examination system, but the empire is newly settled and people's hearts are not yet at peace. Why doesn't Your Majesty proceed gradually?"

Chu Yan said, "First we will teach, then we will assess the students, and the imperial examination will be held in three years."

After Emperor Taizu of Ming ascended the throne, the country was not yet settled. The imperial examination was not held for two years. Later, he felt that the imperial examination was not good and abolished the system. It was not restored until the eighteenth year of Hongwu.

Therefore, it was not too late for Chu Yan to hold the imperial examination three years later.

"Your Majesty, I believe three years is too long. It would be better to hold a special imperial examination this year or at the latest next year to win over scholars from all over the country," someone said.

"The timing can be discussed later, but subjects like mathematics, physics, and chemistry must be added to the imperial examinations!"

Chu Yan's tone left no room for argument: "Even if the imperial examination system is abolished, the new schools must still become subjects offered by the Imperial Academy!"

The practice of using graduates of the Imperial Academy instead of the imperial examinations to select talent was employed in both the Song and Ming dynasties.

Chu Yan wanted to see a new era and a fresh look, so new learning had to be added to the imperial examinations!
Zhao Deming and the others exchanged glances. Seeing the Emperor's resolute attitude, they could no longer argue. Therefore, they all stood up, bowed, and said, "Your Majesty, we are willing to support Your Majesty's reform of the imperial examination system!"

"it is good!"

Chu Yan laughed and issued an imperial decree: "Zhao Deming, you will serve as the Director of Studies at the Imperial Academy, responsible for reforming the Imperial Academy and adding new subjects to official schools in various regions. You and a few others will go to the provinces south of the Yangtze River to serve as educational administrators and guide students in learning the new subjects."

What he wanted were these great Confucian scholars to debate the classics for him and to advocate for the new learning.

The men knelt down to express their gratitude, and Chu Yan dismissed them, saying that the Ministry of Personnel would summon them again in a few days for their formal appointments.

In the afternoon, a eunuch came to report: "Your Majesty, Han Mujie, Song Rui, Yu Zhou and others from the former Shun Dynasty are waiting outside."

"Let them in."

Chu Yan ordered.

Yesterday, an imperial edict was issued summoning a group of upright officials from the former Shun Dynasty, and they have arrived today.

A short while later, five or six people came in and knelt down to pay their respects.

Chu Yan inquired about some things from them, chatted for a while, and was very satisfied to see that they all agreed to serve the new dynasty. He then asked, "What did the Lantai Temple of the former Shun Dynasty do?"

This official position was not well-known, and Chu Yan would not have paid attention to it if Lin Ruhai had not held it before.

"Your Majesty," replied Yu Zhou, former Grand Master of the Imperial Academy. "In the Shun Dynasty, the officials of the Censorate and the Imperial Academy were the Censorate and the Imperial Academy. The Censorate was responsible for supervising all officials, while the Imperial Academy was responsible for supervising the imperial family. The Minister and Vice Minister of the Imperial Academy were members of the imperial family, while the rest were officials of the Censorate, many of whom also held positions in the Censorate."

"Oh."

Chu Yan nodded, having made up his mind, and issued an order: "You will all go to Lantai Temple for now, and we will fill the vacancies later."

He summoned this group of people to serve as role models, not because he valued their abilities. He left them aside for now, thinking that if they proved capable, the cabinet would recommend them.

Although a cabinet was not established.

In the evening, Chu Yan finally had some free time and returned to the back hall. He found that Baochai and Baoqin were not there. He suddenly remembered that at noon, Yuan Chun had secretly sent someone to report that Li Wan had also come.

So he sent someone to summon Li Wan.

Changchun Palace.

Li Wan was chatting with Yuan Chun, Baochai, Baoqin, and Princess Qinghe. This princess had come to Changchun Palace as a guest with Baochai and got along very well with Baoqin, asking her many questions about all sorts of things.

“I heard that His Majesty summoned the officials who came from Jinling today,” Baochai said.

Yuan Chun smiled and said, "The affairs of the court are not discussed much in the inner palace. His Majesty has not issued any decree to prohibit them. However, the affairs of men are ultimately none of our business. Concubines only need to pay attention to the officials who speak out. After hearing about some matters in the inner palace, they will submit memorials to remonstrate, such as the most taboo matter of a concubine being favored exclusively."

"Exclusive favor?" Baoqin said shyly in a low voice, "What does it mean to have all the emperor's love and affection bestowed upon one person?"

She thought of last night, but then she felt that the emperor had only kissed them, which didn't quite qualify as the emperor's favor.

When the topic of the imperial harem came up, everyone became somewhat shy. Li Wan remained silent, as she was not a proper imperial concubine.

suddenly.

A eunuch came to deliver an imperial edict: "His Majesty summons Li Gongcai, a palace maid from Changchun Palace, to Linjing Hall."

Yuan Chun, Bao Chai, Bao Qin, and the others were all somewhat surprised. Li Wan's heart skipped a beat, her face flushed red, and her heart pounded rapidly.

The emperor only summoned her?!
Seeing her in a daze, Yuan Chun quickly pulled her to her feet. Li Wan then came to her senses and hurriedly replied respectfully, "This servant obeys the decree."

The eunuch who delivered the imperial edict smiled and said, "Please dress up a bit, young lady, and come with me to the Linjing Hall."

Since Li Wan had been favored by the emperor before, the eunuch told her to dress up before going to see him again. After saying this, the eunuch left the hall.

Baoqin asked in surprise, "Why did you go to Linjing Palace, sister-in-law...? You're also... an imperial concubine?"

She always thought that Sister-in-law Zhu had been widowed for many years, and never dressed up or made up, so how could she have been chosen by the emperor...

Li Wan blushed and didn't know what to say for a moment.

Yuan Chun said, "My sister-in-law... I can't explain it clearly right now. Just don't tell anyone else. Things in the palace should only be discussed within the palace."

Baochai seemed to be deep in thought.

Li Wan said in a low voice, "His Majesty does not yet know that I am from the Jia family."

Upon hearing this, Qinghe looked at her in surprise and couldn't help but say, "You can't keep this a secret. This is deceiving the emperor. If the emperor is angry, it will be no use for you to kowtow and beg for forgiveness."

Li Wan was somewhat bewildered. Wouldn't this mean she had no choice but to tell him?
"It's alright, I'll plead with His Majesty." Knowing the truth, Yuan Chun could only take the blame and hurriedly told Li Wan to put on makeup.

A little while later, Li Wan followed the eunuch to the Linjing Hall.

Her heart pounded harder and harder as the unbearable memories of being held in the emperor's arms and favored by him last time flooded back.

It filled her with a mixture of fear and...strange anticipation, wondering what would happen after she entered the Linjing Palace.

After giving himself a silent warning, Li Wan entered the east side room and saw the emperor sitting on the soft couch again. When he was about to kneel down, he said, "No need."

He also said, "From now on, when you see me, you will not usually need to kneel."

Li Wan felt a warmth in her heart. This was indeed the treatment that only imperial concubines received. Although the emperor had not officially conferred the title of concubine upon her, he already regarded her as one of his concubines.

She was given the same accommodations as lower-ranking concubines.

"Your Majesty, I thank you."

Li Wan used the term "concubine" for the first time in a long time, a title she had almost forgotten. In the past, she never used it in front of the ladies and young ladies of the Jia family, except when she first married Jia Zhu and used it humbly.

Now, when she refers to herself as a concubine, this unfamiliar title makes her blush even more.

Chu Yan saw Li Wan's shyness and found it amusing. He then said to her, "I haven't seen you for many days. Why are you still shy? Come before me!"

Li Wan was once again trembling with fear, terrified that the emperor would ask why she hadn't been in Changchun Palace these past few days.

She walked up to the emperor, bracing herself for being pulled into his arms.

"Keep your head up."

Chu Yan smiled and said, "Gong Cai is elegant and refined. No other woman has her appearance."

When a man praised her to her face, Li Wan's heart pounded like thunder. If it were anyone else, that would be the behavior of a lecher, but the man in front of her was the emperor, and his words were like an imperial edict. He was praising her beauty, and most people would be flattered.

Li Wan slowly raised her head, her face blushing, yet possessing a serene and composed air, befitting a quiet and virtuous woman.

She whispered, “There are many beauties among the concubines in the harem, such as the Empress, the Noble Consort, Miss Bao, and Miss Qin. I just met Princess Qinghe, who is also a quiet, gentle, beautiful and intelligent girl. I am but a willow-like woman and dare not compare myself to them.”

Chu Yan said, "There's a saying that goes, ugly people all look alike, but beautiful people are all beautiful in their own way. You, Gong Cai, have a beauty that others don't have."

Li Wan thought for a moment and couldn't help but laugh: "Your Majesty, I've never heard of this old saying before?"

When Chu Yan saw her smile, he pulled her over and was about to touch her face when a palace maid came to report, "Your Majesty, the meal is ready."

"Bring it up."

Chu Yan said, and Li Wan blushed again. Chu Yan glanced at her a few times and let go of her hand: "Have dinner with me first, and then we'll go for a walk in the Imperial Garden."

"His Majesty asked me to accompany you to the Imperial Garden?"

Li Wan was truly flattered.

She heard Yuan Chun say that apart from accompanying Xiangyun and Keqing to the Daming Palace once a year, His Majesty usually only dealt with memorials and summoned concubines in the Linjing Hall, and rarely had time to stroll in the garden.

Now, she's being asked to have dinner and stroll around the garden with him. How could she not be flattered?
Even if she were asked to spend the night with him... she would accept it.

"I am in a good mood today."

Chu Yan smiled.

Li Wan is one of the Twelve Beauties of Jinling, and he is still willing to spend time on her.

Moreover, Li Wan is beautiful and tall, and she can make Chu Yan stand out in a crowd. He should take the opportunity to learn more about her tonight.

A moment later, a palace maid brought up the dishes.

As a married woman, Li Wan sat down beside Chu Yan after he sat down. She picked up the wine pot with her delicate hands and poured wine for him. She also poured herself a cup of wine, offered it to Chu Yan, and then took a sip. Her dignified and elegant face turned visibly red.

She appeared somewhat delicate and unable to hold her liquor.

But Chu Yan knew that Li Wan was quite good at drinking, and often drank with the young ladies in the Grand View Garden.

The book describes her as having a heart as "withered wood and dead ashes," but in reality, this Li Gongcai had a vibrant spirit that had never been extinguished. For example, when a group of girls started a poetry club, she actively participated in it.

This is not the behavior of someone who is like a withered tree or dead ashes.

(End of this chapter)