Ministers Begging Me to Ascend the Throne

Chapter 546: Chapter 290: The Imperial Jade Seal

On the day Meng Changce arrived in the capital, Zhao Yao curiously ran to see the excitement, and was deeply shocked. He felt that the entire capital was occupied by scholars. They were all dressed in Confucian attire, standing on both sides of the road to welcome Meng Changce.

The procession welcoming Meng Changce stretched all the way thirty miles outside the capital, with Confucian scholars lining the route to greet Meng Changce’s arrival. Zhao Yao heard that wherever Meng Changce passed, there were people waiting to welcome him. Moreover, they followed Meng Changce all the way from outside the city to the capital.

Zhao Yao saw enthusiasm and reverence on their faces. Although they were extremely excited, they did not do anything outrageous. However, the sudden influx of so many scholars into the capital still frightened the residents and officials.

Concerned about possible incidents, the Emperor specifically ordered the Imperial Guard to maintain security in the capital and personally assigned Shen Hu and others to take charge.

The court only arranged for Minister Li to lead some teachers and students from the Imperial College to welcome Mr. Meng, and no other officials were assigned to the reception.

The Emperor directly decreed that no official or prince could use their status to welcome Mr. Meng, nor approach him without Mr. Meng’s consent.

If he found out that someone privately used their status to forcefully visit Mr. Meng, they would surely face severe punishment. The Crown Prince and Prince Dai felt the Emperor’s decree was directed at them, preventing them from approaching Mr. Meng.

Although the Crown Prince and Prince Dai were upset by the decree, they dared not defy it. They knew very well that if they secretly visited Mr. Meng behind the Emperor’s back, the Emperor would not let them off lightly. Their father had always been a man of his word and would not be lenient.

Zhao Yao, the Eighth Prince, and the Crown Prince watched the grand arrival of Mr. Meng from the second floor of a teahouse beside Vermilion Bird Avenue.

They were also dressed as Confucian scholars today. All the scholars today wore Confucian attire to show respect for Mr. Meng.

Zhao Yao leaned on the windowsill, watching the scholars below with fervent expressions, shouting "Mr. Meng" passionately, and couldn’t help but exclaim, "I didn’t expect scholars to be so fanatical!" They probably wouldn’t be this excited even if they saw my stony-faced father.

The Eighth Prince looked disdainfully at the frenzied scholars below, but he said with pride, "It’s natural for everyone to be excited, seeing Mr. Meng up close for the first time."

The Crown Prince standing beside the Eighth Prince agreed, "Indeed, seeing Mr. Meng is a great honor."

Zhao Yao looked at Mr. Meng, who remained unseen inside the carriage, and thought to himself: Mr. Meng is so composed, not revealing himself even once from start to finish.

Downstairs, someone unexpectedly started reciting the "Analects," beginning with the Xue Er Chapter.

Their voices were loud and echoed across the capital’s sky, stirring everyone’s emotions.

The Crown Prince actually joined in the recitation of the "Analects." Next, the Eighth Prince followed, but Zhao Yao stubbornly did not join in. He wasn’t good at memorizing texts, so it was normal for him not to join in.

It must be said that so many people reciting the "Analects" together was indeed impressive. At that moment, Zhao Yao felt the literary aura.

If the literary aura could be seen, then the literary aura enveloping the entire capital would be extremely intense.

Zhao Yao listened while marveling in his heart: Mr. Meng’s influence is truly... "earth-shattering" is not an exaggeration.

Though Zhao Yao knew that Mr. Meng held a high status in the hearts of the world’s scholars, he truly did not expect Mr. Meng’s influence to be so formidable.

Is this the status and influence of a great scholar in this era?

No wonder even the Emperor dares not offend a great scholar and must show deference when dealing with them.

Fortunately, true great scholars only pursue academic studies and do not interfere in governmental affairs; otherwise, with their influence, the consequences would be unimaginable.

Zhao Yao thought to himself: No wonder scholars everywhere aspire to become great scholars! But becoming a great scholar is not something anyone can achieve; out of thousands of scholars, perhaps not one will become a great scholar, sometimes not even appearing once in decades or even a century. Neither the previous dynasty nor the Chen Dynasty produced a true great scholar.

Speaking of Meng Changce’s status as a great scholar, it was conferred by the late Emperor. Although Mr. Meng had long been regarded as a great scholar in the hearts of scholars everywhere, he was not officially recognized by the court during the previous dynasty.

Mr. Meng did not care whether he was a great scholar or not. In fact, he did not consider himself to be one. The title of great scholar was bestowed upon him by others, not something he claimed for himself.