Chapter 503: Chapter 503

This is the favorable aspect of astrology for Xiong Chan, which he naturally acknowledges from the bottom of his heart.

The listing of the Examination results to the announcement was swift.

In the meantime, the Capital had already been discussing the movements of the Wenqu Star for a long time.

But Xu Qing remained in seclusion, not responding at all.

Until the messenger of good news arrived at the Feng Mansion.

Xu Jieyuan, oh no, the new Wenqu Star descended to earth, the Top Scorer Xu Gongming, was reclining leisurely at the east window.

"Who awakens first from a great dream, in life’s experiences I know myself..."

Fortunately, his father-in-law wasn’t present, or else he would surely feel his son-in-law was mocking his home as a thatched cottage.

Xu Qing slowly awoke, received the congratulatory report, and ordered Yan Shan to distribute the wedding money.

On the other side, a young eunuch from the Wenyuan Pavilion, with whom Xu Qing had some fate before, unexpectedly came to inquire on behalf of the Emperor. He was a person of opportunity, and after Xu Qing left last time, he had caught the eye of the elder eunuch in the Imperial Palace, who gave him a name.

In Beiming there is a fish, whose name is Kun.

He is now called Zhang Kun.

Currently serving the old Emperor in the Longevity Palace.

Zhang Kun conveyed the old Emperor’s spoken decree, asking Xu Qing for his self-assessment on his Examination article.

Upon hearing this, Xu Qing took paper and pen to respond.

In the West Garden, the main hall of the Longevity Palace.

The ministers and eunuchs of the Inner Court listened to the holy teachings.

"Look, this is a true virtuous minister."

The ministers received the words of Xu Qing’s reply to the Emperor.

"Though the article amazes the realm, it is but parchment for the populace."

After it circulated among them, a minister secretly grumbled, "Does Xu Qing dare to imply he is unjustly underappreciated?"

Because what Xu Qing meant was that no matter how excellent his writings, they wouldn’t benefit the people’s livelihood?

Clearly, he wanted the old Emperor to give him more responsibilities.

Come, take the thirteen provinces of the two capitals all on your shoulders.

Shameless, utterly shameless.

Yet this poem can also be interpreted this way. It implies Xu Qing thinks that no matter how splendid his articles, they are of no benefit to the nation’s livelihood, thus he voluntarily downplayed his aura as the Wenqu Star.

It is said that the vulgar see vulgarity, the wise see wisdom.

But the old Emperor believed it.

Moreover, the Temple Master of Chaotian Temple honestly explained the significance of Wenqu Star and Mars in Ziwei Doushu to the old Emperor. Only an Emperor ordained by fate would have the Wen and Mars stars descend to assist.

Isn’t the appearance of Xu Qing and Xiong Chan precisely to assist him, the Longevity Emperor who fulfilled the Ziwei fate?

Whether Wenqu or Mars, they are among the stars protecting Beichen.

The old Temple Master didn’t add any embellishments.

Unless the old Emperor considered himself not of the Ziwei fate.

If he’s not, who would be?

If he thought it was Prince Yu, wouldn’t that mean Prince Yu could rebel against the old Emperor?

Thus, in the old Emperor’s heart, the more Xu Qing and Prince Yu were at odds, the more comfortable he felt.

He had no intention to become a Supreme Emperor.

Even if he abdicates, he would still be a Supreme Emperor.

Emperor is a name and position, but the true essence of power is the title of the Emperor.

Moreover, Xu Qing’s words perfectly aligned with the old Emperor’s Heart Intent.

He was willing to continue to serve the world and its people without caring if his writings reached the heavens or stirred the celestial powers.

Besides, in recent days, Xu Qing’s seclusion was quite satisfactory to the old Emperor.

Ultimately, now the national situation has obviously improved, the old Emperor has enjoyed the benefits of cultivation. And the improvement of the national situation is inseparable from the Grand Secretary and Xu Qing.

In a certain sense, the importance of Xu Qing was not inferior to the Grand Secretary.

Only his age was too young, his title was considerably lower.

But this was the result the old Emperor desired.

The ministers, speculating on the old Emperor’s Heart Intent, said some flattering words, when suddenly, a piece of urgent news arrived.

"In the Southwest land, the Yang family of Bozhou rebels, what do you all think?" the old Emperor’s face felt hot, having just thought the descents of Wenqu and Mars were signs of a prosperous era, yet now there was turmoil in the Southwest border, wasn’t this a slap to his face?

Grand Secretary: "The Yang family has always been capricious, it needs a capable person to suppress them."

"Does Elder Zhang have someone in mind?"

"The land of the several provinces in the Southwest is mostly controlled by Tusi, and this rebellion by the Yang family is also incited by Heshan Tao from Lingnan. Suppressing the Tusi and curbing Heshan Tao should both be emphasized."

Heshan Tao is religious authority, Tusi is local autonomy, and together their power is exceptionally strong.

In fact, Heshan Tao was long driven out of the several provinces of the Southwest, taking root in Lingnan, but recently it has shown signs of resurgence. This rebellion by the Yang family was indeed the result of Heshan Tao’s involvement.

After cooperating with the East Sea Gang, the Grand Secretary naturally suppressed the Heshan Tao faction within it, which was in line with the interests of the East Sea Princess and Daoist Gu.

Now that Heshan Tao is instigating the Yang family to rebel, it’s a reprisal against the Court’s intervention in the East Sea Gang’s internal affairs and suppression of Heshan Tao.

The Grand Secretary, having comprehended the entirety of the world’s grand plans, spoke eloquently.

Since the beginning and end of the matter had been understood, the treatment could be accordingly applied.

Finally, the Grand Secretary proposed that Xu Qing’s words were quite right, paper articles have no benefit to the people, so this time the topic of the Imperial Examination should be on suppressing the Yang family’s rebellion.

Whoever answers most brilliantly would be named Top Scorer, and they would be given the opportunity to exercise practical affairs, being sent to participate in the process of quelling the rebellion and advising on military matters.

The ministers rolled their eyes, the Grand Secretary’s words were straightforward without going through the motions, outright appointing Xu Qing as the Top Scorer.

This is quelling a rebellion.

What Top Scorer would dare to go?

Only Xu Gongming would have the courage, without fear of these things.

Meanwhile, the ministers sensed the Grand Secretary’s intention to accelerate the training of Xu Qing and transfer power to him. They were still waiting for the Grand Secretary to step down, to read the old whiny sermons, and then come another Xu Gongming, how could everyone continue to live?

In the future Court, it was destined not to be upright and just anymore.

What year and month could it return to the righteous scene of the Reign of Ren?