Top Scholar

Chapter 491 One of Our Own People (Seeking Double Monthly Tickets)
After the banquet, Shuntian Prefecture sent the top scholar back to his residence in grand style with a parasol and ceremonial procession.

As soon as they returned to Luomashi Street, a crowd that had been waiting for them surged towards them like a tide.

"Scholar Su is back!"

"Greetings, Scholar! I am also from Sichuan!"

"Our Mule and Horse Market Street should be renamed Scholar Street..."

"It should be Liuyuan Street."

Everyone, whether they knew him or not, now knows him. This is what they call "ten years of hard study go unnoticed, but one success makes him famous throughout the world".

Su Lu had long since mastered the art of dealing with enthusiastic crowds: a friendly smile and sincere nonsense.

"Hello."

"Thank you very much."

"You flatter me, I don't deserve it."

Only when he saw his father and uncle in the crowd to greet him did he quickly push through the crowd, step forward, and bow deeply: "Uncle, Father, your son is back!"

"Good, good." The top scholar's father gripped his son's right hand tightly, while the top scholar's uncle gripped his nephew's left hand tightly.

The top scholar had nowhere to start, and dared not touch Su Lu's sacred top scholar attire, so he could only scratch his head and chuckle, "Hongzhi, you're really amazing!"

"Isn't that all thanks to my second brother?" Su Lu said with a smile. To be honest, he was much calmer after becoming the top scholar in the imperial examination than when he became the top scholar in the provincial examination.

He then said to his father and elder brother, "It's windy outside, let's go home and talk first."

"Hehe, you should go home first." To everyone's surprise, the father and brother chuckled awkwardly.

Su Lu understood instantly, nodded, and walked towards the courtyard alone.

Even though it was his own home, he still knocked on the door knocker.

The half-closed courtyard gate creaked open, revealing Zhang Yong's old face, which was beaming with joy.

"Congratulations, Scholar Su! Oh no, Scholar Su! We'll send you our congratulatory gift later."

"Thank you." Su Lu smiled and entered the courtyard.

Seeing that no one was in the courtyard, he went into the main room and saw that another plaque had been added, making it the same as the original one—

'A first-rate filial son, a true top scholar with six outstanding achievements!'

This looks much better now.

"How about it?" Zhu Shou lifted the curtain and strolled out from the inner room with a smile. "This is what you call a hidden thread, a foreshadowing of a thousand miles! The Emperor bestowed upon you that plaque 'First-Class Filial Son' back then, precisely to complete this perfect couplet today!"

"Really? Your Majesty is truly wise beyond compare!" Su Lu carefully removed the silver hairpin from the banquet and placed it neatly on the table, saying, "What brings you here today?"

"Isn't this an imperial plaque I'm delivering to you on imperial orders?" Zhu Shou asked with a smile. "By the way, as the top scholar, you must have met the Emperor today, right?"

Su Lu nodded: "Of course I have seen him."

Zhu Shou immediately pressed on, "Then tell me, do I look like the Emperor?"

“There is indeed some resemblance.” Su Lu pretended to examine Zhu Shou. “However, the Emperor is of the highest rank, while you are at most a duke or prime minister.”

“You’re absolutely right!” Zhu Shou slapped his thigh and explained with great enthusiasm, “Back then, our family was able to enter the palace because we looked like the emperor and were chosen to be his stand-in.”

He sighed and said regretfully, "It's a pity, but I can't do it now."

"Why?"

Zhu Shou touched his smooth lips and said with a bitter face, "Didn't you see today? The Emperor has grown a beard! Where would a eunuch like me grow a beard?"

Su Lu suddenly laughed and said, "So that's how it is! So from now on—the one with a beard is the Emperor, and the one without a beard is you, Zhu Shou?"

"That's right! That makes perfect sense!" Zhu Shou clapped his hands happily; the top scholar really understood him.

This way he can continue playing two roles.

“I understand, it’s easy to tell them apart,” Su Lu said with a smile.

"Right, let's get down to business." Zhu Shou looked at him expectantly again. "His Majesty asked me to ask you, what do you think of the imperial edict given at today's announcement ceremony?"

“No problem.” Su Lu praised, “My classmates and I are bathed in the boundless grace of the Emperor, and we are so moved that we wish we could give our lives to repay him.”

"Hahaha!" Zhu Shou was overjoyed upon hearing this and excitedly boasted to Su Lu, "Let me tell you, His Majesty only realized today how wonderful it is to be emperor."

"Was it a hardship before?" Su Lu asked, puzzled.

"Of course it was tough," Zhu Shou said empathetically. "You also participated in the announcement ceremony. Were there rules for every move you made, and everything you were supposed to say and do was predetermined? Were you just a bunch of puppets?"

"Yes," Su Lu nodded.

“Actually, the emperor is just like you, a puppet on a string, only the most conspicuous one.” Zhu Shou sighed. “If you were to repeat this kind of life every day, would you still think being the emperor is a good job?” “Alright.” Su Lu couldn’t very well say, “Let me try it for a few days,” so he could only agree to whatever Su Lu said.

"This sudden breach of etiquette, like today, where he reprimands the newly appointed scholars, is unprecedented for His Majesty," Zhu Shou sighed again.

"But the Emperor can't do this all the time. All kinds of ceremonies are related to the order of the country, and we can't let things get out of control."

Su Lu glanced at Zhu Shou in surprise, not expecting him to have developed a sense of boundaries; his growth rate was truly astounding.

“I think you don’t need to worry. The Emperor only attends a few ceremonies a year,” he reassured Zhu Shou.

"Oh my, you make a good point." Upon hearing this, Zhu Shou was no longer worried about the problem and asked again, "So what's the next step? We can't let those 'disciples of the emperor' get excited for nothing."

"Didn't we say before that we would open classes in the name of the Emperor? Now is the time when the newly appointed scholars are loyal to the court and share the same ideals, so it's the perfect opportunity to seize the moment," Su Lu repeated.
“Just find a few trustworthy cabinet ministers, give them a two-month short training course, and the emperor will make an appearance at the beginning and end, issue a graduation certificate or something. That will be enough to keep them loyal for several years.”

"Yes, I know." Zhu Shou nodded, his face contorted with worry. "But there has to be a set procedure for who to consult and what they should say. We can't let them just spout nonsense and corrupt the Emperor's first batch of disciples."

"You've really thought this through." Su Lu gave a thumbs up.

"That's right." Zhu Shou smiled smugly, then his face quickly fell. "And didn't you say you wanted to identify loyal and reliable people and grant them the authority to submit secret reports with silver seals? How exactly are you going to identify them? It's only two months, and we can't be together all the time like we are..."

“Indeed, you can’t see into someone’s heart.” Su Lu said, “But there is a method to judge people. You can observe their character and how they do things. After two months, you can make a preliminary judgment on their loyalty, treachery, wisdom, or foolishness.”

"Yes, yes." Zhu Shou nodded and said, "His Majesty also said that since we've come this far, let's all take care of the selection of probationary officials, the observation of government affairs, and the appointment of officials. Let's not let others interfere anymore."

"That would be best, of course," Su Lu said with satisfaction. "The more the Emperor cares, the more loyal they will be."

"Alright, write down all these matters in a plan, and I'll come to see it in a couple of days." Zhu Shou patted his shoulder and said expectantly, "This is also the Emperor's intention, so don't disappoint the Emperor, Top Scholar."

"No," Su Lu said speechlessly, "I'm also a newly appointed scholar, how can I set rules for myself?"

“You are different.” Zhu Shou shook his head decisively and said, “On the surface, you are one of the newly appointed Jinshi, but in reality, you are my friend. So, on the surface, you are teaching classes, but in reality, you are running a class.”

He smiled slyly and said, "Besides, being among them makes it easier to distinguish between the loyal and the treacherous, the wise and the foolish."

"Good heavens, so you want me to be a spy?" Su Lu shook his head vigorously and said, "Our top scholar is a hero."

"Don't put it so harshly," Zhu Shou said with a faint smile. "Didn't you say that His Majesty wants to have his own people among both civil and military officials? But I think that among his own people, there should also be his own people."

"Just like how, in addition to the Eastern Depot and the Western Depot, we need to set up an Insider Depot as well?" Su Lu felt his throat getting a little dry.

"So you're one of our own, the best of the best." Zhu Shou patted his shoulder, full of expectation, and said, "Don't disappoint the Emperor..."

"..." Su Lu felt a chill run down his spine, sensing that Zhu Shou's imperial talent was beginning to awaken.

Sigh, childhood is so short...

"So, do you agree?" Zhu Shou asked urgingly.

"You've already brought up the Emperor, how can I refuse?" Su Lu glared at him.

"Hehe, that's right!" Zhu Shou said happily, "From now on, you will all be the Emperor's confidants, and you will be the most trusted of them all. You must lead them well and work together to serve the Emperor!"

"Okay, okay." Su Lu nodded helplessly, suddenly feeling like he was treating Su Lu like a brother while Su Lu was treating him like a beast of burden.

~~
The following day, Su Lu led all the newly appointed scholars to the Honglu Temple to learn the relevant etiquette for submitting memorials of gratitude.

On the same day, Eunuch Zhang personally went to the Court of State Ceremonial to convey an imperial decree, bestowing upon the top scholar a crown and court robes; and bestowing upon each of the other newly appointed scholars five ingots of paper money. After receiving the decree and expressing their gratitude, the scholars accepted their rewards.

On the 21st of the third month, the grand ceremony of presenting a memorial to express gratitude was officially held. In order to demonstrate the emperor's importance to his students, the ceremony was also held in the Fengtian Hall, with the same ceremonial guards and processions as the announcement of the imperial examination results.

Guided by officials from the Court of State Ceremonial, Su Lu stood slightly east of the imperial road on the Danchi steps, while the other newly appointed Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations) lined up behind him in order of their rankings.

All civil and military officials, dressed in court attire, stood on both sides of the imperial steps and road.

After the whips were cracked and music was played, Emperor Zhengde, dressed in a leather cap, ascended the golden throne.

After the shouts of "Long live the Emperor!" were heard, all the officials stood at attention. Officials from the Court of State Ceremonial guided the top scholar Su Lu and the other successful candidates into the court procession.

The master of ceremonies chanted praises, and Su Lu led the scholars in performing the four-bowing ceremony.

Then the master of ceremonies chanted "Present the memorial," and officials from the Court of State Ceremonial carried the table containing the memorial of gratitude to the emperor to the center of the hall.

The master of ceremonies then chanted the praises, announcing the title of the memorial, which was then read aloud by the top scholar. After the reading, Su Lu led all the scholars in performing the four-bow ceremony once again.

After the ceremony, Emperor Zhengde broke with convention and addressed the newly appointed scholars:

“I said at the ceremony of announcing the results of the imperial examinations that I would personally instruct you. So in a couple of days, you will all report to the Leopard Chamber and study for two months in the ‘Dragon and Tiger Class’ that I have specially set up for you. It will not be too late to select officials and grant you official positions later.”

The officials were naturally astonished once again, while the newly appointed scholars were moved to tears once more. It turned out the Emperor wasn't just saying it casually; he meant it...

Amidst expressions of gratitude, the whip-beater cracked the whip once more, and all the officials respectfully escorted the emperor back to the palace, bringing the grand ceremony of gratitude to a successful conclusion.

P.S. The next chapter will be available tomorrow morning. Please give me double monthly votes!!!

(End of this chapter)