Chapter 686 - 251: Six Firsts
Chapter 686: Chapter 251: Six Firsts
The Empress Dowager was silent, resting with her eyes closed.
The nanny beside the Empress Dowager glanced at her expression, then stepped forward with a light chuckle.
"Your Majesty is entirely correct, but I seem to have faintly heard in the inner palace that there might be some hidden tricks behind Zhao Jing’s honors..."
The Da Ban beside the Emperor stepped forward and said, "Folk rumors are just for our amusement. How could Nanny Tan take them seriously? The Imperial Examination was personally invigilated by Prince Ning, who also shares the merit of assisting in governance. Mr. Xu is even more respected for his noble character. Both of them were handpicked by the late Emperor to assist Your Majesty, and their character is beyond reproach. By believing in rumors and speculating on their integrity, are you not being disrespectful to them?"
He continued unhurriedly, "Then again, the current examination system is highly mature. Once officials are appointed as examiners and enter the examination hall, they cannot leave. During this time, the examination hall is usually under martial law, and only the person who collects the night soil is allowed to go out.
"To prevent this person from contacting the outside and passing messages, they are thoroughly searched from head to toe, down to every single strand of hair, upon leaving the examination hall. Even the slop buckets are inspected by someone pinching their nose. With such strict precautions, no information can be smuggled out whatsoever.
"Furthermore, Mr. Xu is Zhao Jing’s patron, but is he not also Xu Yanhe’s patron? Anyone can tell which is more important: a granddaughter’s husband or a direct grandson. Xu Yanhe himself is neither too stupid to be taught, nor is his ability abysmally poor. Under such circumstances, wouldn’t boosting Xu Yanhe align much more closely with the Xu family’s interests than boosting Zhao Jing?"
As soon as Da Ban’s voice fell, the Taiji Palace became so quiet that one could hear a pin drop.
For a moment, only the Qilin Rui Beast Bronze Furnace gently puffed out wisps of smoke.
The atmosphere stagnated, and both the Empress Dowager and the Emperor remained silent.
After a long while, the Emperor finally spoke again. "Mother, in just over a month, I will undergo my capping ceremony. In ordinary households, fearing that their descendants cannot shoulder responsibilities, older children begin to work alongside adults, preparing at all times to take over the family. My imperial father passed away early, leaving this massive empire to me. To protect and raise me, you have poured out your heart’s blood all these years, never having a single day of peaceful sleep. But I am no longer a three-year-old child; I am the monarch of a nation, with a Crown Prince by my side and loyal officials to assist me. You need not protect me like a child anymore. You are getting older as well, and it is time for you to enjoy the company of your grandchildren and live out your retirement years in peace..."
The Empress Dowager’s hands trembled terribly, so much so that she nearly dropped the string of red sandalwood prayer beads in her grasp.
She snapped her eyes open, a sharp, sword-like glint seemingly flickering within her pupils.
The Empress Dowager wanted to demand of the Emperor if he was so eager to cast her aside now that she had served her purpose. But deep down, she knew this wasn’t about discarding her; it was for the sake of the nation’s stability and security.
In no dynasty had an Empress Dowager ever clung tightly to power once the Emperor reached adulthood. She was the first to do so, which was why both inside and outside the court, people accused her of being a hen crowing at dawn—a woman usurping a man’s role—and lacking proper womanly virtues.
She really ought to retreat to the inner palace.
If she had never held power, it would be fine. But she had; she had tasted the absolute freedom of issuing commands that were obeyed without question, of having the entire world at her fingertips.
She had stayed in this Taiji Palace for a full fifteen years. Every brick in this hall recognized the sound of her footsteps. To make her retreat to the inner palace now was like forcing an old boatwoman, who had navigated storms for decades, to suddenly be stranded ashore. Watching her boat slowly sail away without her—who could endure such a feeling?
But the Emperor had indeed grown up—grown to the point where he would no longer tolerate her dominance. If she continued to make a fuss, it would only lead to them turning against each other, alienating and destroying their mother-son bond.
This was not what she wanted to see.
The Empress Dowager finally let out a heavy sigh. "Zhao Jing’s essay is indeed outstanding. There is no ground for criticism for him to become the Champion Scholar. Your Majesty is a wise ruler with a keen eye for talent, so let it be done according to your wishes."
Having said this, as if she had just formally handed over the scepter of power, the Empress Dowager’s face remained calm, but her heart felt utterly hollow, as though cold winds were howling through it.
She suddenly found the Taiji Palace incredibly suffocating. Standing up, she let Nanny Tan support her arm and said, "I am getting on in years, and I woke up too early this morning. I would like to return and rest now. Do go about your business, Your Majesty; I shall take my leave first."
Seeing this, Emperor Ruicheng quickly stood up after her. He walked on the Empress Dowager’s other side, supporting her as they headed outside.
At this moment, the Emperor was filled with mixed emotions. There was a sense of joy, but more than that, he felt trepidation, an unprecedented emptiness, and the heavy burden of responsibility settling squarely onto his shoulders.
But he had no time to overthink. He supported the Empress Dowager out of the hall, playing the part of a dutiful and filial son to the fullest. "Return to your palace first. Later, I will dispatch an Imperial Physician to check your pulse and ensure your well-being. These past few days, you’ve been so busy that your feet haven’t touched the ground; it truly is time for you to get some rest..."