Zhao Hanzhang not only consoled Wang Dao but also consoled Zhou Zhi. “I know that in Jiangnan there are many people with both talent and virtue who remain obscure in the countryside, only because the social rank determinations for the Wu and Chu regions mostly place them in lower grades, so the virtuous and talented cannot display their abilities.”
“The talented people of the realm – all who have the heart to serve the country should have opportunities to enter officialdom and try their hand. So I issued a recruitment decree, ordering recruitment examinations in all regions, hoping that talented people from both north and south of the river, regardless of ethnicity or family background, all have the chance to try.” Zhao Hanzhang hoped Zhou Zhi could call upon the scholars of the Wu and Chu regions to actively participate in the recruitment examinations. She guaranteed that the court would select talent fairly and justly.
Politically isolated and unable to participate in national governance – this was the pain point of all Jiangnan scholars. Hearing Zhao Hanzhang make such a guarantee, Zhou Zhi felt the grievance and resentment of Jiangnan scholars being unable to enter office or gain promotion for so many years, and his own委屈from being repeatedly obstructed and excluded by Diao Xie, all surge into his heart at once. For a moment, his heart was both sour and bitter, and tears couldn’t help but fall, momentarily choking him up so he couldn’t speak.
The great hall fell silent.
The court officials now seated in the hall, except for Xun Fan, were all promoted by Zhao Hanzhang herself. They were not valued during the previous two Emperors’ reigns. Ji Yuan and Ming Yu were even of humble origins and could only serve as advisors to others. They resonated most deeply with the frustration and grievance of being unable to display one’s talents due to one’s birth.
The Prince of Langya stared blankly, only now suddenly coming to his senses. Zhou Zhi was so aggrieved – did this mean he had selected talent unfairly, employed people poorly, and failed to let them display their talents?
For a moment he was deeply ashamed, his face flushing red.
Zhao Hanzhang seemed to sense his emotional fluctuation and almost immediately turned to look at him. “The Nine-Rank System for selecting officials is a legacy from the previous dynasty. Undeniably, when Lord Cao implemented this method back then, he selected quite a few useful talents. But governance in this realm must adapt to the times – circumstances change. What was good policy then is no longer suitable today and must be modified. Since the Prince of Langya went to Jiangnan, showing benevolence to the common people, treating Jiangnan aristocrats well, and maintaining stability in Jiangnan – the court knows of the Prince of Langya’s achievements.”
The Prince of Langya’s face grew even redder, almost ashamed beyond endurance.
He stood up and knelt in the center, about to kowtow in apology. Zhao Hanzhang quickly reached out to stop him. “What is this for? Has the Prince of Langya misunderstood me? I truly meant to praise you.”
With a sincere expression, she said, “During the chaos in the north, Jiangnan sent grain supplies multiple times, saving countless soldiers and civilians. Aren’t these the achievements of the Prince of Langya and Wang Maohong?”
The Prince of Langya saw her sincerity, as if she truly thought this way. His heart loosened slightly, though his face was still flushed. “I, I didn’t manage Jiangnan well. Now I’ve let Jiangnan also become embroiled in warfare.”
Hearing this, Zhao Hanzhang sighed. “You were indeed negligent. Wang Dun is heartless and arrogant by nature. When he previously abandoned Qingzhou and then murdered Wang Cheng, you should have brought him to justice. Perhaps today’s troubles could have been avoided.”
The Prince of Langya could only kneel again to apologize.
This time Zhao Hanzhang didn’t stop him. After he kowtowed once, she said, “This fault can be offset by your previous merits. This time you understood the greater good and were willing to return to the capital with the Zhao Family Army – that is still a great achievement.”
Thus, Zhao Hanzhang did not strip his princely title, allowing him to remain in the capital. She bestowed a princely mansion upon him and simultaneously appointed him as Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites.
The Prince of Langya was stunned, never expecting he would be kept in the capital and… given an official position?
He couldn’t help but look at the young Emperor on the throne.
The young Emperor was already drowsy, his eyes half-closed. Occasionally he would suddenly open his eyes wide, managing to hear a few words, but they went in one ear and out the other. Soon his eyes would half-close again.
When would they finish their pleasantries?
It felt like listening to this meaningless talk was worse than listening to court affairs – at least there were occasionally one or two interesting stories.
The Prince of Langya lowered his eyes and respectfully agreed.
Zhao Hanzhang had already had the Ministry of Rites prepare the Langya Prince’s mansion. She was rarely generous this time, having the Ministry of Rites select many fine items from the palace’s private storehouse to decorate the mansion, determined to make everything look properly dignified.
Zhao Hanzhang was very interested in the Princess Consort of Langya, Yu Mengmu. She even invited her to often visit the Zhao residence to visit her mother. “My mother often mentions that the Princess Consort was close friends with her when young.”
The Prince of Langya looked at his wife in surprise. Yu Mengmu respectfully said, “Before I married, I was indeed good friends with Sister Wang. I even held the Grand General when she was small. After so many years apart, I didn’t expect the Grand General would still remember.”
Of course Zhao Hanzhang didn’t remember – the owner of this body had little recollection either. But some time ago, when Lady Wang learned that the Prince of Langya’s family had been summoned back to the capital, she mentioned Yu Mengmu.
In recent years, Lady Wang had been engaged in charitable work. Zhao Hanzhang didn’t have the energy to handle everything personally, but after years of warfare plus natural disasters, there were many orphaned, widowed, poor and weak people among the common folk, so charitable work was urgently needed.
In this regard, Zhao Hanzhang relied heavily on Lady Wang. She hoped she could unite more officials’ wives to do such work. Yu Mengmu was an excellent potential partner.
Yu Mengmu couldn’t help but look at her husband. At this moment, Sima Rui also wanted to improve relations with Zhao Hanzhang. He nodded slightly, and Yu Mengmu agreed.
She was actually somewhat happy about it. She knew few people in Luoyang, and Lady Wang was one of the relatively familiar ones.
Zhao Hanzhang also asked about Sima Rui’s two sons, Sima Shao and Sima Bao.
Sima Bao was born in the same year as the young Emperor, and Sima Shao was one year older than them.
However…
Zhao Hanzhang and the court officials examined the two youths together, then compared them with the young Emperor on the dragon throne. Even Zhao Hanzhang herself wondered if she had been mistreating the young Emperor.
Otherwise, how could people clearly the same age look as if the young Emperor were two years younger than Sima Bao and three years younger than Sima Shao?
Perhaps sensing something odd in the atmosphere, the young Emperor, who had been nodding off, woke up. He blinked drowsily, nearly bringing tears to his eyes.
He was already very experienced. He used his gaze to inquire of the attendant beside him: ‘Is it about to end?’
The attendant gave an almost imperceptible shake of his head, indicating he should be more alert – all the court officials were watching him.
Zhao Hanzhang asked, “Is Your Majesty very tired?”
The young Emperor’s face flushed slightly as he said softly, “No, not tired.”
Zhao Hanzhang had Sima Shao and Sima Bao come forward a bit to stand at the base of the steps so the young Emperor could examine them carefully. “I’ve long heard that the Prince of Langya’s two sons are both extremely clever. Seeing them today, they truly live up to their reputation. Would Your Majesty like to invite them into the palace to study together?”
Both Sima Shao and Sima Bao became nervous at these words.
The young Emperor glanced at them. Though he didn’t particularly like Sima Rui, he had no intention of making things difficult for the two imperial clan brothers. Being his companion readers wasn’t a good thing anyway.
Moreover, the Prince of Langya had once harbored treasonous ambitions to seize power. Although he had now pledged loyalty to Zhao Hanzhang and could be considered to have returned to the court, who knew if he had truly given up?
Were his subordinates truly willing to let it all go?
Having his two sons as companion readers would benefit neither party.
So the young Emperor directly refused, stating that he had Prince Yuzhang to study with him and didn’t need any other companion readers.
Young Prince Yuzhang looked resentfully at the young Emperor on the dragon throne. He was younger than all three of them – he didn’t want to be a companion reader either! Accompanying the Emperor brother in his studies was truly painful – so many books to memorize every day, so much coursework to complete!
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