Do You Know?: I, the Little Cabinet Elder, Regent of the World.

Chapter 73 The Emperor's Worries!
The scientific expedition lasted for more than a month.

With the names announced at Donghua Gate, the examiner's task was considered completely complete.

In the side hall, the dozen or so examiners exchanged glances and breathed a sigh of relief.

These days, I've been busy grading papers, which is truly exhausting.

"My lords, I would like to invite you to the Imperial Study for a discussion," a court official said as he entered the side hall.

The dozen or so examiners exchanged glances, and the chief examiner, Wang Yaochen, waved his hand: "Let's go to the Imperial Study."

After saying this, the dozen or so people hurried to the Imperial Study.

Being an examiner for scientific expeditions is certainly a good opportunity to accumulate experience, but it is also very time-consuming and arduous.

Scientific expeditions are a matter of social mobility and can alleviate class contradictions to a certain extent.

When examiners grade papers and rank them, they should give due consideration to students from families with a tradition of "cultivating the land and studying the land," and appropriately raise their rankings as role models.

Taking everything into consideration is no easy task.

Conventionally speaking, if a scientific expedition is completed smoothly, it is considered a great achievement.

The government would not only publicly commend the examiners to enhance their reputation in the officialdom, but also reward them with gold, silver, cloth, and other items as a token of appreciation.

Royal study room.

Emperor Zhao Zhen sat upright in the main seat, holding a vermilion brush.

A little further ahead, on a wooden chair, sat Pang Ji, a Grand Secretary of the Cabinet, who appeared to be recommending someone.

"If there is no better candidate, this person is not necessarily unsuitable. Unfortunately, this position has already been filled, so let's discuss it again!" With a single sentence, the king's words rendered the recommendation futile.

"A candidate has been chosen?" Pang Ji asked, somewhat surprised. "What about the position of proofreader in the Imperial Library?"

Zhao Zhen pondered for a moment: "Perhaps we can observe it for a while."

As emperor, Zhao Zhen could not easily agree to anything.

Observing a few things already implies tacit approval.

If nothing unexpected happens, the person who is recommended will most likely have the opportunity to serve as a collator in the Imperial Academy.

Of course, this is all on the premise that nothing unexpected happens.

In the past, there have been many precedents where recommendations had been tacitly approved by the officials, but ultimately nothing came of it.

With the emperor's tacit approval, the recommendation was seventy percent secured. Pang Ji bowed and took his leave.

Before leaving, he glanced at Jiang Zhao one last time.

Jiang Zhao nodded quickly to show his politeness.

As someone who always moved among the elite, it was only natural that Grand Secretary Pang Ji would have some impression of him and take a glance at him.

After Pang Ji left, Zhao Zhen couldn't help but look up at the dozen or so examiners.

"Those selected in this imperial examination are all learned and virtuous, possessing broad vision and far-reaching knowledge, and whose contributions are to the nation," Zhao Zhen said, nodding occasionally to show his approval.

Wang Yaochen, the Minister of Rites, stepped forward and said respectfully, "This is our duty."

"Hmm." Zhao Zhen nodded and waved his hand: "Give him fifty taels of gold and twenty bolts of silk."

Chief examiner Wang Yaochen and deputy chief examiner Hai Chengyan quickly bowed and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty."

The remaining seventeen examiners, one by one, bowed in unison.

The reward was neither too much nor too little.

However, the brocade would certainly not be given to the seventeen ordinary examiners.

The rewards given by ordinary examiners were mainly in the form of gold coins.

The exact amount will need to be discussed and redistributed by the chief and deputy examiners.

"You may all leave," Zhao Zhen said, gesturing for them to leave.

The main purpose of summoning the examiners was to offer them appropriate praise.

Having received a few words of praise, the examiners were qualified to promote him.

The gold and silk bestowed as rewards were the icing on the cake.

This is all standard practice.

Since the Tang Dynasty, presiding over the imperial examinations was considered a great achievement, and officials would often be rewarded with gifts.

During the Zhou Dynasty, Emperor Taizong established a system where ancestral rules governed what rewards should be given.

The dozen or so examiners walked out one by one.

Just as Jiang Zhao was about to leave, Zhao Zhen spoke again.

"Jiang Qing, please stay."

Upon hearing this, the dozen or so examiners were somewhat surprised, and Jiang Zhao was also taken aback, so he quickly stopped.

"Your Majesty." Jiang Zhao stepped forward and bowed.

The matter of establishing an heir has been resolved, so why does the Emperor need to find him?
"sit."

As he spoke, Zhao Zhen picked up a few books and began to read them gently.

Jiang Zhao sat down properly.

"I've been reading history books lately," Zhao Zhen said, making a strange statement.

Jiang Zhao was puzzled, and pondered, "Studying history can enlighten one's mind; Your Majesty is wise."

In any case, it's never wrong to say something complimentary.

"I have read the Book of Han."

Zhao Zhen stroked a few deliberately creased pages of the book: "I read about Emperor Cheng of Han, and Emperor Zhao of Han." Upon hearing this, Jiang Zhao's expression changed slightly.

During the Han Dynasty, Emperor Cheng (Liu Ao) had no sons, so Emperor Ai (Liu Xin) was the son of Liu Kang, the Prince of Dingtao, and was made crown prince.

Upon ascending the throne, Liu Xin attempted to elevate the status of his biological parents, posthumously honoring his father Liu Kang as Emperor Gong of Dingtao, his mother as Empress Gong of Dingtao, and his grandmother as Empress Dowager Gong of Dingtao.

Of course, it's nothing.

Liu Xin was not adopted by Emperor Cheng as his son; he was merely made crown prince.

Legally speaking, Emperor Cheng was only his uncle.

However, this practice of elevating the status of the biological father as soon as one takes over is undoubtedly not a good thing.

Emperor Zhao of Han, Liu Fuling, had no sons, so the powerful minister Huo Guang installed Liu Xun as emperor.

After Liu Xun ascended the throne, he honored his father Liu Jin as emperor.

He also elevated his father's status and suppressed the deceased emperor as soon as he came to power.

Clearly, Emperor Zhao Zhen was also worried about this situation.

Emperor Cheng and Emperor Zhao were actually alright; they did not adopt members of the imperial clan.

While it may be somewhat immoral for the new emperor to revere his biological father, it is not entirely wrong.

Zhao Zhen was different; he was adopted by a member of the imperial clan.

just in case
If the new emperor does the same thing, the late emperor will be in a bad mood.

Zhao Zhen had some concerns.

An emperor without children naturally demands perfection.

Jiang Zhao's brow furrowed slightly.

Difficult to handle!

Fortunately, we can learn from history.

In just a moment, he had a preliminary idea.

"No rush." ​​Zhao Zhen saw Jiang Zhao frowning and knew that things were not going to be easy.

Of course, if it were easy, he wouldn't have sought out Jiang Zhao.

"Before leaving the capital, come to the Imperial Study and tell me if you have a solution."

After speaking, Zhao Zhen waved his hand.

Such matters, which involve the thoughts of a monarch, are not suitable for widespread dissemination.

He had no choice but to find a trustworthy and capable minister.

"Wei Chen retire."

Jiang Zhao bowed and slowly withdrew.

Jiang Mansion.

"Officer."

Sheng Hualan took her husband's arm with her fair, jade-like hand and smiled faintly.

She beckoned, and a maidservant brought out hot food, honey water, and fruit.

"Huaijin." Jiang Zhao stroked his wife's hair, took a step forward, and took a child from the maid's arms.

The child was ten months old and couldn't walk yet; he could only crawl by pulling on some brocade.

When Jiang Zhao hugged him, the child giggled, which was very endearing.

This was Jiang Zhao's eldest son, Jiang Huaijin.

After taking a few steps with the child in his arms, Jiang Zhao returned the child to his mother.

He wasn't familiar with the process of taking care of a ten-month-old baby, and if he accidentally got hurt, he would be devastated.

"Lord."

A young woman with fair skin, rosy lips, and a delicate, refined demeanor stepped forward, bowed, and served soup.

Jiang Zhao smiled gently: "Please sit down."

To date, this is his only concubine, named Shulan.

Sheng Shulan gave a curtsy and obediently took her seat.

Holding a glass of chilled honey water, Jiang Zhao gazed at the two beauties, feeling quite content.

After giving birth, Sheng Hualan exuded the charm of a young married woman, possessing both gentleness and allure.

Sheng Shulan, on the other hand, has a delicate and refined demeanor that makes people want to bully her.

What is the purpose of serving in an official position?
Power, money, and sex!

Besides this, it is the best way to benefit the common people.

With such a beautiful woman by my side, all the hard work of being an official has not been in vain.

They drank honey water, ate rice and vegetables, and drank soup.

After a month apart, we inevitably indulged in fun and games again.

Fortunately, Jiang Zhao was in good health and managed to control the situation steadily.

　I've been thinking about the political struggles after being transferred to a post outside the capital these past few days, so I apologize for the shorter update today (few updates).

　　
　
(End of this chapter)