Ministers Begging Me to Ascend the Throne

Chapter 634: Chapter 315: The fourth and the eighth dote on the youngest too much

That day, after leaving the East Warm Pavilion, Zhao Yao completely forgot about the civil service examination, military examination, and the founding of a military academy, as if he had never mentioned them. From then on, how the Emperor and Prime Minister He would conduct the civil service examination was not his concern.

Since that day, the Emperor, along with Prime Minister He and other significant confidants like Minister Xue, discussed the matter of holding the civil service examination, right until the day before the New Year.

However, the civil service examination matter was confidential, known only to Prime Minister He and a few important confidants, excluding even the Crown Prince.

When Minister Xue was called into the palace to discuss the examinations, he was deeply shocked and hurriedly asked who proposed such a groundbreaking policy.

The Emperor did not hide from Minister Xue and informed him that it was Zhao Yao who proposed it.

Minister Xue was initially skeptical, wondering how a mere eleven-year-old could propose such an astonishing plan for the examinations. However, he knew the Emperor wouldn’t deceive him, especially with Prime Minister He, who confirmed he personally heard it from Zhao Yao.

Although he always acknowledged the young prince’s talent, he never imagined that Zhao Yao could be so...remarkably brilliant!

Regardless of the tumult in Minister Xue’s heart, he highly praised the examination matter and actively engaged in discussions with Prime Minister He and others about the specifics of the exams.

They finally reached a preliminary agreement on the examination matters by the day before the New Year. After the few days’ celebrations, they would discuss it again. Then, after the Shangyuan Festival, when the court reconvenes, the Emperor will announce the holding of the examinations on the first morning meeting of the new year, with the preliminary examinations set to start after the Qingming Festival.

The Emperor and Prime Minister He planned to implement the examination process exactly as Zhao Yao suggested. However, since it was the first year of the examinations, they couldn’t immediately hold the exams right after announcing. Examinees needed more than two months to prepare, and time had to be allocated for each county.

This year, being the first year, only the three rounds of the preliminary examination would be conducted: the county exam, the prefecture exam, and the college exam.

The county exam was set for April 20th, the prefecture exam for May 20th, and the college exam for June 20th. The county and prefecture exams could be taken every year, but the next year’s county exam would be set for early February. The college exam wouldn’t be held every year, but twice within three years. Passing the college exam would qualify one for the provincial exam three years later.

The contents of the three preliminary exams were already agreed upon by the Emperor and Prime Minister He. Once the court reconvenes, the Emperor would order certain ministers to participate in drafting the exam papers for these tests.

The Emperor and Prime Minister He deliberated matters until late every day, naturally arousing the curiosity of other ministers about what they were discussing. However, no matter how much they inquired, they couldn’t find out any information.

Seeing Minister Xue and Prime Minister He with their secretive demeanor, other ministers speculated they were discussing something significant. If it wasn’t important, the Emperor wouldn’t be so busy even after the court pens down for discussions. Many speculated it might concern the Crown Prince?

Though the Crown Prince had not been deposed, given the current favor Prince Chu enjoyed, some believed the Emperor might have changed his mind, quietly making orders to establish Prince Chu as the Crown Prince. Of course, this kind of speculation seemed unreliable, as deposing and establishing a Crown Prince was a major state affair that couldn’t be done secretly.

In the Eastern Palace, the Crown Prince, Duke Zhen, and Lord Wei were discussing what the Emperor and Prime Minister He were secretly up to.

The Crown Prince felt an ominous premonition, frowning deeply, his expression worried, "Could Father really intend to depose me and establish the fourth prince as Crown Prince?" He previously thought Father wanted to establish Prince Dai, now he felt as if Father couldn’t wait to establish Prince Chu.

Duke Zhen said, "No, the Emperor wouldn’t depose you at this time."

Lord Wei supported Duke Zhen’s words, attempting to soothe the Crown Prince, "Elder brother, do not worry, Father isn’t likely to depose you for now."

Despite what Duke Zhen and Lord Wei said, the Crown Prince’s worries didn’t lessen.

"In the past, Father didn’t summon Prime Minister He and his confidants to the palace, discussing matters from morning till night before the New Year, I feel that this time, they’re discussing a major issue, and perhaps not a good one." His anxiety grew increasingly uncontrollable.

Lord Wei said, "It seems like Father and they are in a hurry, wanting to settle this before the court resumes its sessions."