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

Night falls. The Imperial College's dormitory.

"Zijian, aren't you going to sleep?"

"...I'm going out to study."

The lights in the cell were out. Chen Zijian tossed and turned in bed for a long time, but he could not fall asleep again.

He put on his faded old cloth gown, responded softly to his roommate, picked up a copy of the Book of Rites he had made himself, and quietly pushed open the door to go out.

The night was deep, and the moonlight, like water, shone on the bluestone slabs of the courtyard outside the prison cell, creating a cold and desolate atmosphere.

He found a secluded spot under a vermilion pillar and leaned against it. A gentle evening breeze carried the coolness of the autumn night. He had intended to quietly read the classics under the soft moonlight, but although the book was laid out before him and the words were pleasing to the eye, they failed to resonate with him.

The words of the imperial grandson spoken in front of the Confucius Temple during the day echoed in my ears again and again, as did the solemn "Ode to Righteousness" that resounded throughout the courtyard.

"Heaven and earth possess righteous energy, which manifests in various forms. Below, it becomes rivers and mountains; above, it becomes the sun and stars..."

He secretly and quietly recited the words. Although he only dared to recite them in a low voice, with each word he recited, he still felt as if his heart was being struck by a giant bell, producing a series of echoes.

Chen Zijian gripped the book tightly, his knuckles turning slightly white.

He was born in Chenliu, Bianzhou. His father died early, and his mother supported his studies by spinning cloth. In the early years of Zhenguan, he transferred from the local official school to the Four Gates School of the Imperial Academy.

He traveled a thousand miles to the capital to study, squeezing into the Four Gates School to study diligently day and night. His only thought was to pass the imperial examination, live up to his mother's expectations, and bring glory to his family.

He also had this confidence: in terms of academic studies and policy discussions, and in terms of commentary on the classics, he believed he was far superior to many of the aristocratic children in the prison who spent their days playing around and relying on their family background.

But as time went by, year after year, every year when the prison held its year-end examinations, he, despite his outstanding talent, was repeatedly left out of the list.

Those mediocre playboys could easily gain access to the imperial examinations and rise to prominence with just a request or a certain social standing; while poor scholars like him, who studied diligently day and night under the moonlight, were barred from entering the country, with no way to serve their country or advance their careers.

But he only dared to endure it, only dared to bury himself in his studies, suppressing all his grievances and resentment in his heart, not daring to speak, not daring to argue, and even less daring to utter a single word with the aristocratic students... The difference in social status was deeply rooted.

Even if he voiced this injustice, what good would it do? He would simply be expelled from the Imperial Academy, sent back to Chenliu, and barred from any future official career...

Seeing his love for studying, his mother worked hard spinning cloth to support his studies at the Chenliu Imperial Academy. He still remembers the day he told his mother that he had been selected to study at the Imperial Academy, and the look of her joy and tears.

If I were banished back to Chenliu because of a moment of pleasure... how disappointed would my mother be?

However, when he recalled the prince during the day, he felt a sharp pain in his heart—at that time, the prince had clearly looked at him, but he had cowardly avoided the prince's gaze!

The grandson of the emperor who recited the "Ode to Righteousness," the grandson who claimed to be "not afraid of death," fought alone at the Imperial Sacrificial Ceremony, surrounded by a group of aristocratic students, and spoke out the grievances in the hearts of those from humble backgrounds...

But he chose to run away, to betray the imperial grandson who spoke out for them...

"True character is revealed in times of adversity, and its deeds are recorded in history..."

Chen Zijian continued to recite secretly, but his voice grew softer and softer, and the recitation became increasingly difficult. It was as if every word of this "Ode to Righteousness" was searing his very soul...

"Huh? Isn't that Zijian?"

"Unexpectedly, Zijian was also not asleep."

Two voices came from the shadows of the trees under the moon, and then two figures in long blue robes slowly walked out.

Chen Zijian quickly stopped reciting, hastily wiped away the tears in his eyes, and clasped his hands in greeting: "Brother Shenzhi, Brother Jiming."

The visitors were Song Shenzhi and Dong Jiming, who were also acquainted with Chen Zijian. Both men came from humble backgrounds; one had entered the Four Gates School through the local government's recommendation system, while the other studied law at one of the lower three schools…

However, the so-called upper, lower, and middle schools were no different for these poor students. Although the four schools were the only ones that allowed poor students to enroll, they were often ostracized in the four schools, and their situation was even worse than that of the lower schools.

At least every few years, a few people would still pass the preliminary examinations in the Imperial Academy for the three subjects of law, calligraphy, and mathematics. However, for the other four subjects, because the imperial examinations tested the Mingjing (a classic text) which was most sought after by the sons of aristocratic families, no one from a poor family had passed the preliminary examinations for more than ten years.

The number of places for recommended candidates in the Mingjing examination was limited, and naturally all of them were allocated to sons of prominent families.

The moonlight was exceptionally bright tonight, and Song Shenzhi noticed Chen Zijian's slightly red eyes and somewhat unnatural demeanor at a glance. He sighed softly, "Zijian, why torment yourself? Neither of us can sleep well tonight. The scene in front of the Confucius Temple during the day, and His Highness the Imperial Grandson's recitation of the 'Ode to Righteousness,' truly make us feel ashamed beyond words."

"That imperial grandson stood alone among a hall full of esteemed scholars, not for personal gain, not for the throne, but only to seek justice for me, a humble boy. You and I were cowardly at the time and dared not speak up, which is already a disgrace to the Confucian classics in our hearts and to our upright character."

"Now that Your Highness intends to file a complaint with the Ministry of Rites, seeking a thorough investigation into the long-standing abuses of the simplified examination system since the Wude and Zhenguan eras, Ji Ming and I have already decided to follow in Your Highness's footsteps. Since you are also a poor scholar who has been mistreated in this Imperial Academy, why don't you come with us? How can you stand idly by any longer?"

"You, you all..." Chen Zijian was stunned, his eyes widening. "You... want to submit to the imperial grandson?"

"Of course," Dong Jiming said, clenching his fist. "To flee in broad daylight is already a lifelong disgrace. If one were to engage in such petty and despicable acts, even if one had studied the classics, how would one be any different from a villain?"

"But..." Chen Zijian hesitated, "The imperial grandson himself is still a criminal. Besides, if we anger the Grand Master of Ceremonies..."

"Chancellor of the Imperial Academy?" Song Shenzhi scoffed. "There have long been rumors circulating that Chancellor Kong and a group of tutors to the Crown Prince are using their supposed honesty to gain fame and frame the Crown Prince. Don't you know that?"

"He says the imperial grandson is a rebellious and insane person, but how much of that can be believed? Could the Grand Master of Ceremonies, with his talent, have composed the 'Ode to Righteousness' that the imperial grandson recited today?"

Dong Jiming also said, "The imperial grandson is not yet twenty years old, yet he can recite such righteous poems, discuss the meaning of classics and talk about justice with clear logic and a dignified character. Such talent and learning are by no means acquired out of thin air."

"If what the Grand Master of Ceremonies says is true, that the deposed Crown Prince spends his days indulging in pleasure and is utterly ignorant, then where did the Imperial Grandson's talent come from? Surely it couldn't have been personally taught by Grand Master Kong?"

"I saw that the Imperial Grandson had previously pleaded for the Crown Prince's innocence at the Hibiscus Garden. Perhaps there are other hidden reasons behind the Crown Prince's deposition. Are there similar injustices recorded in history..."

"Ji Ming, be careful with your words," Song Shenzhi reminded him, but judging from his expression, he also disregarded Kong Yingda's daily propaganda in the Imperial Academy that "the Crown Prince is unlearned and the Imperial Grandson is insane and rebellious."

"In short, the words of the Chancellor are not to be trusted," Song Shenzhi said. "Zijian, would you be willing to accompany us to the Ministry of Rites tomorrow to expose the Chancellor?"

"I..." Chen Zijian's heart pounded, but when he thought of his mother far away in Chenliu, he immediately hesitated.

"If I anger the Chancellor and ruin my career, my elderly mother at home will surely..."

"Hey, do you think my career path isn't over yet?" Seeing his hesitation, Dong Jiming showed a disdainful look and rebuked him:

"From the tenth year of the Zhenguan era until now, only a handful of poor families in the prison have passed the preliminary examinations and been recommended for the imperial examinations, and they are all from the lower three schools!"

"If it weren't for the fact that after so many years, not a single person has ever taken the imperial examinations in law, calligraphy, and mathematics—it's truly a disgrace—would you, the Chancellor, have taken pity on us poor scholars and released these few spots?"

"I'm studying law. If I can endure another ten years, I might be able to wait until the Chancellor releases a spot... But what about you? You and Shenzhi are studying at the Four Gates Academy. Even if you're old and frail, will the prison set aside a spot for you to take the imperial examination?"

"The world is filled with righteous spirit! Since Your Highness has stood up for us, how can we allow Your Highness to fight alone again?"

"Even if I die at the gates of the Ministry of Rites, what is there to fear? It's better than living a mediocre and wasted life!"

"That's right! If you don't stand up, you'll never have a chance to rise again! This is the meaning of the saying, 'True character is revealed in times of adversity.'"

Even if we die, if someone in posterity can ask, "Was it someone who knew it was impossible yet still did it?", then we will have no fear of death!

After saying that, the two turned and left, leaving Chen Zijian with only a disdainful look.

As they openly recited "Ode to Righteousness" and turned to leave, Chen Zijian felt stunned, as if his heart was being gripped tightly by something once again.

"Heaven and earth possess righteous energy, which manifests in various forms..." He recited blankly, his heart pounding faster and faster, as if he were about to break free from some kind of shackles.

The evening breeze swept through the pavilions and corridors, carrying soft whispers from all directions. The faint sound of reciting the "Ode to Righteousness" drifted in from all sides.

Under the moon tonight, there are still many, many impoverished students with troubled hearts.