The rebellious grandson of Emperor Zhenguan of the Tang Dynasty: Please, Your Majesty, be called Cro

The Imperial Academy was home to many great scholars. On ordinary days, scions of prominent families from other regions would often be recommended to audit the classes.

Of course, commoners were not allowed. It was limited to scions of aristocratic families.

But this was the first time Wang Xuance and Lu Erlang had ever seen such an unconventional outsider.

"What is the young master looking at?"

"Oh. I'm observing the environment of the Imperial Academy," the young man said. "Tsk tsk tsk, how decadent..."

"...Corruption?" Wang and Lu exchanged a glance, puzzled.

"The Imperial Academy occupies half of the city and has been built to such an extent. It must have cost a lot of money, right?" the young man said.

"The imperial court spares no effort in cultivating talent for the country."

"That's true," Lu Erlang nodded. Wang Xuance, however, felt a hint of sarcasm in the young man's words.

Before long, the three of them arrived at the outer courtyard of the Confucius Temple.

The Grand Master of Ceremonies, Kong, is quite old, and a few days ago he was also embroiled in the controversy surrounding the removal of the heir apparent. These past few days, he has been confined to his home, focusing on his studies.

Today is a rare opportunity to meet the students who have passed the imperial examinations, and I will take the opportunity to spread my teachings. Surprisingly, most of the students in the Imperial Academy have come.

People gathered in twos and threes in the outer courtyard, chatting and making quite a scene. At the very center were more than ten students from the Imperial Academy who had passed the imperial examinations in March.

Most of the students who had passed the imperial examinations were young people. At this moment, they gathered together and occupied the center of the outer courtyard. They were all smiles and had a great sense of confidence and ambition.

"Brother Wang, are you going over there?" Lu Erlang asked.

Wang Xuance shook his head: "They are all from high-ranking families. I am just a poor scholar. If I were to fawn over them, I would only be humiliating myself."

The young man glanced at him and asked, "Brother, are you from a humble background?"

"Yes." Wang Xuance's expression was somewhat displeased.

Unexpectedly, the other party chuckled and said, "The ones who should be humiliated are the sons of high-ranking families."

"The saying goes, 'Nobles and generals are not born into their positions; a man should strive for success.' Those sons of high-ranking families merely rely on their family's influence. It is someone like you, brother, who truly has ability."

“‘Nobles and generals are not born into their positions; a man should strive to be strong.’” Wang Xuance was taken aback and couldn’t help but carefully recite this incomplete poem.

The more he read it, the more uplifting it became. "Young master, I thank you for your words!"

Lu Erlang's eyes lit up, and he exclaimed with delight, "Young master, you actually know poetry? Although this poem doesn't conform to the rules of tonal patterns, it's still quite commendable!"

The young man continued, "But I wonder, among those who passed the examination, besides you, how many others are from humble backgrounds?"

"...That's all. Students of the Imperial Academy who want to take the imperial examinations must first pass a short examination and be recommended by the Chancellor. Among the students of the Imperial Academy, those from the Imperial College, the Imperial University, and the Four Gates Academy are considered the best, and most of those recommended come from these three schools. As for the three schools of law, calligraphy, and mathematics, which are accessible to students from poor families like ours, only three to five people are recommended each year."

"This year's successful candidate comes from only one humble family," Wang Xuance said.

"How come there are different classes in the Imperial Academy?" the young man asked, somewhat surprised. Wang and Lu exchanged a glance, both agreeing that the young man was indeed naive and inexperienced.

He then briefly explained to the young man the hierarchy of the six subjects in the Imperial Academy, the various simplified tests and selections, and even how the imperial examination system was used to select officials.

"...That's it?"

"...With such a method of selecting officials, how dare that scoundrel Li Er say, 'All the talents in the world are now under my control.'"

"That's all the upward mobility they've opened! No wonder Huang Chao searched everywhere for family genealogies when he entered Chang'an. Bah, what a tyrant!"

"What did you say, young master?" The voice was too soft for Lu and Wang to hear clearly.

"Oh, it's nothing. I just said Your Majesty is wise and attentive to moral education." The young man replied with an innocent smile.

"Shh, be quiet, the chief priest is here..."

Footsteps sounded from the side gate, and the outer courtyard fell silent. Kong Yingda, supported by his eldest son Kong Zhixuan, slowly entered the courtyard with a group of instructors from the Imperial Academy.

The crowd bowed in greeting, and Kong Yingda waved his hand before sitting cross-legged on the high platform under the locust tree in the courtyard.

The students then sat down in an orderly fashion, and the scene fell silent as they listened attentively to what Kong Yingda had to say.

"...Old dog, you still have so much prestige."

"...Young master?"

"Oh, it's nothing. I was just admiring the demeanor of the chief priest..."

On the other side, Kong Yingda slowly spoke:

"I was entrusted by the late Emperor and the current Emperor with the task of compiling the 'Correct Meanings of the Five Classics,' with the aim of reconciling the interpretations of the classics from the North and South, establishing Confucianism as the dominant school, and setting the standard for educating the world. I originally hoped to cultivate the heir apparent with the teachings of sages and to restrain the Eastern Palace with rites and laws. However, the will of Heaven is unpredictable, and my teachings are difficult to implement."

Wang Xuance seemed to see the young man purse his lips.

"The deposed crown prince is imprisoned, and I, as his teacher, should have asked His Majesty to punish me," he said sorrowfully. Immediately, many voices of comfort and pleas for him to stay rose from below. Kong Yingda raised his hand, signaling everyone to calm down.

"Alas, in this life, there are still two wishes left unfulfilled."

Kong Yingda's voice was old and deep, with a hint of heartache and self-reproach. His gaze slowly swept over the group of students from the Imperial Academy in the courtyard, and his tone was solemn.

"Firstly, the 'Correct Meaning of the Five Classics' has not yet been promulgated, and our Confucian school is still divided into North and South, which has not enabled scholars from all over the world to adhere to the same classics and follow the same rites."

"Secondly, there is the Imperial Academy. Since I have been appointed by His Majesty to oversee this Imperial Academy, I wish to cultivate more talents for the nation in this lifetime. Only when I can ensure the prosperity of our Great Tang Dynasty for ten thousand years can I die in peace."

"The libationer's virtue is noble," the people said with admiration.

A smile appeared on Kong Yingda's face as he gently stroked his long beard.

"Although there was the mistake of deposing the crown prince, the fact that you have been taught to be pillars of society is some consolation to this old man," Kong Yingda said. He lowered his head and looked down at the smug students who had passed the imperial examinations.

"You are all pillars of society selected by me. Now that you have passed the examination, you should adhere to the established principles, follow the sacred way, and uphold the duties of a subject, serving the Tang Dynasty with utmost loyalty."

"We will heed the teachings of the Chancellor," the students who had passed the imperial examinations replied.

"Hmm." Kong Yingda nodded slightly, quite satisfied.

It seems that even if there are some rumors circulating in the streets, it doesn't matter. In the end, they are just the nonsense of fools.

With the students of the Imperial Academy and the "Correct Meanings of the Five Classics," his reputation among Confucian scholars would not decline.

That brat's nonsense is hateful, but it's nothing more than utter nonsense. A few words won't damage the very foundation of his reputation...

"The chief minister was ordered to assist the crown prince, but he ruined the crown prince's reputation and disrupted the state."

"Having been in charge of the Imperial Academy for many years, he mostly recommended and selected scholars from aristocratic families, while only three to five people from humble backgrounds were chosen."

"Knowing full well that students from poor families have no way out, they turn a blind eye and never take any action."

"He actually believes he can only appoint people based on their talent, and even says he wants to cultivate more capable people to govern the Tang Dynasty, ensuring its prosperity lasts for ten thousand years..."

"Hahaha, with such talent and virtue, how dare you consider yourself noble and righteous, and even want to establish the foundation for educating the world..."

"Does this mean that the education of the world only targets the gentry and ignores the poor?"

"For someone like him to become the Chancellor of the Imperial Academy, the Zhenguan era was truly a joke!"

A sneer rang out brazenly from the chorus of praise and applause from the staff. Hearing this voice, which he had repeatedly heard in his nightmares, Kong Yingda felt a sharp pain in his jaw and his old face stiffened.

His white beard was accidentally torn off in half.