allonlinenovel Chapter 211 To Enter or Not to Enter the Hanlin Academy?
Chapter 211 To Enter or Not to Enter the Hanlin Academy?
Emperor Wenjing nodded slightly and then said, "Yun Shang, I intend to have you enter the Hanlin Academy. Are you willing?"
When these words were spoken, everyone was shocked.
The Hanlin Academy is a prestigious and prestigious institution, a place that many scholars dream of attending. If Yunshang could enter it, his future would be limitless.
Most importantly, it was the Emperor who directly appointed Yun Shang to the Hanlin Academy, which shows how highly he was regarded!
Even the most magnanimous of the remaining nine invited students couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy.
This is unprecedented; the Emperor actually made an exception for Yun Shang!
King Qi glanced at Yun Shang without showing any emotion, noticing his calm and composed expression, with no hint of smugness or pride on his face.
He frowned slightly.
His gaze then fell upon the remaining students.
The Emperor's actions were clearly intended to make Yun Shang a lone minister.
The Emperor himself granted Yunshang permission to enter the Hanlin Academy—what an honor for a scholar!
But people are inherently jealous. They might be able to accept Yun Shang being ranked first, but they cannot accept that Yun Shang, whose status is so different from theirs, can directly enter the Hanlin Academy.
Most of the top ten students this time came from prominent families, except for Yun Shang and another student surnamed Xu who came from poor families.
The Emperor's high regard for Yun Shang will surely breed resentment among the scholars from aristocratic families.
They certainly wouldn't dare hold this grudge against their father; they would only hate Yun Shang.
This arrangement undoubtedly puts Yunshang in the spotlight and makes him a target of public criticism.
Not only would the students regard Yun Shang as a formidable rival, but even some of the ministers would harbor resentment towards him.
interesting.
Father rarely makes a move, but when he does, it's always unexpected.
On the other side, Prince Chen clenched his fist slightly, his heart sinking.
The Emperor's move, seemingly an act of arrogance and promotion of Yun Shang, actually put him in the eye of the storm.
The supreme favor of an emperor is always accompanied by scheming.
Once Yun Shang enters the Hanlin Academy, most of the officials and scholars today will regard him as an enemy.
This is definitely not a good thing for Yunshang.
More importantly...
The Emperor was fully aware of what was happening in Shengjing, so it was impossible for him not to know that he had a private relationship with Yun Shang.
This action today is both a warning to Yun Shang and a reprimand to him.
Prince Chen's palms were damp with sweat.
Father Emperor wants Yun Shang to be a loyal and devoted minister, a loyal and devoted minister.
He understood that his father might have taken a liking to Yun Shang's talent and wanted to recruit him for his own use;
Secondly, he wanted to use Yunshang as a pawn to provoke reactions from various forces, thereby gaining insight into the undercurrents in the court and exposing those with ulterior motives.
As for Yun Shang, who was used as a pawn, his future is uncertain.
How can he protect Yun Shang?
Prince Chen lowered his eyes, pondering a solution.
With a furrowed brow, he weighed the pros and cons in his mind.
He could not openly defy his father's decree, for that would anger the emperor and bring utter destruction upon himself and Yun Shang.
He also needed to protect Yun Shang as much as possible, since Yun Shang was someone he believed could help bring order to the court.
At the same time, he must be careful not to let his father discover his intentions, otherwise things will only become more complicated and unpredictable.
Prince Chen's lips were tightly pursed, his thoughts a jumble of emotions.
King Qi glanced at King Chen from afar, his eyes filled with the anticipation of watching a good show.
Yun Shang was something Li Yuanhe had gone to great lengths to find in Huicheng. If his father, the Emperor, were to snatch it away, Li Yuanhe's expression would certainly be priceless.
For a moment, everyone at Lumingtai had different thoughts.
Only Yun Shang appeared calm and composed.
He bowed respectfully to Emperor Wenjing and said slowly, "Your Majesty's grace moves me to tears. However, I am also well aware that I still have many shortcomings. The Hanlin Academy is a place where talented people gather, and I fear that I am not up to the task since I have just entered it."
Upon hearing this, Emperor Wenjing stared at Yun Shang for a moment, his expression unreadable, and showed no intention of speaking.
At this moment, an old minister stepped forward and respectfully said, “Your Majesty, the Hanlin Academy is of great importance. Although Yun Shang is exceptionally talented, he is still relatively inexperienced. Moreover, there has never been a precedent of the top scorer in the special imperial examination being directly admitted to the Hanlin Academy. I believe this is inappropriate.”
This man was Imperial Censor Song, aged fifty-eight. He was a well-known upright official in Shengjing, stubborn and naive, and the only Imperial Censor in the court who dared to directly refute Emperor Wenjing.
"Your Majesty, it would be more prudent to have him start from a lower-ranking position and then entrust him with important responsibilities once he has gained experience."
"This old minister remembers that the time for all nations to pay tribute is in two months. The Ministry of Rites is still short of a few people in charge. Your Majesty, why not let him work in the Ministry of Rites?"
Prince Chen glanced at Imperial Censor Song, who had stepped forward, and rose to agree: "Father, I think what Minister Song said is absolutely right. There are only two months left until the tribute missions from all nations arrive. Yun Shang has a keen understanding of etiquette and is very suitable to serve in the Ministry of Rites."
When Prince Qi saw Prince Chen speak, he chuckled softly and stood up, saying unhurriedly, "Father, I have a different opinion."
Emperor Wenjing looked at him and said in a deep voice, "Tell me."
"Yun Shang's talent is evident to all. He is not only erudite and outstanding in appearance, but also has a calm and composed nature. The Hanlin Academy needs such fresh blood to revitalize it and enable it to better serve the Emperor, write magnificent chapters and compile classics for the court."
King Qi paused for a moment, then continued:
"As for the matter of all nations paying tribute, the Ministry of Rites has many capable ministers to handle it. If Yun Shang goes, it will only be icing on the cake and will not be able to fully display his talents. The Hanlin Academy is different. It is the core place where our dynasty's literary circles gather. If Yun Shang enters, he will surely be able to learn from the Hanlin scholars and spark intellectual discussions, contributing to the prosperity of our dynasty's culture."
King Qi's words, seemingly considering Yun Shang's future, were actually intended to place Yun Shang in the eye of the storm at the Hanlin Academy, making it difficult for him to stand firm amidst the infighting of various forces.
Prince Chen secretly resented Prince Qi's treachery.
Just as he was about to retort again, Imperial Censor Song spoke first: "Your Majesty, I believe that the scholar Yun Shang is not suitable for the Hanlin Academy."
Imperial Censor Song straightened his back and looked firmly at Emperor Wenjing. “Although Yun Shang is exceptionally talented, he is still inexperienced and has not been tempered in officialdom. The Hanlin Academy is a crucial place, and the matters it handles are all related to the national system and cultural lineage. The slightest mistake could cause a great uproar.”
"I fear that he may make a mistake and ruin important matters of the court. Moreover, I observe that although Yun Shang appears calm and composed, it is still unknown whether his temperament can withstand the heavy pressure of the Hanlin Academy."
"It would be better to place him elsewhere first, and wait until he has gained more experience and knowledge before considering whether to transfer him to the Hanlin Academy. This is the best course of action. I hope Your Majesty will think it over carefully."
When Imperial Censor Song made his remarks, no one was surprised.
He's just that stubborn; he's not afraid to offend anyone.
But that's precisely what Emperor Wenjing valued about him.
Emperor Wenjing's expression remained unchanged. He stared at Imperial Censor Song for a moment before shifting his gaze to Yun Shang.
What are your own thoughts?
Upon hearing this, everyone turned to look at Yun Shang.
Waiting for his answer.
Most people thought that Yun Shang would not refuse this excellent opportunity.
Entering the Hanlin Academy is like embarking on a meteoric rise to power, saving at least ten years of struggle compared to others.
Moreover, he came from a poor family and had no family support. If he followed the usual path to advancement, he would probably only reach the third rank at most in his life.
Although he is in the eye of the storm, if Yun Shang can gain a foothold in the Hanlin Academy, he will surely rise to the highest position in the government in the future.
Everyone secretly wondered how Yun Shang would respond.