Ministers Begging Me to Ascend the Throne

Chapter 665: Chapter 325 Concern for the People’s Livelihood

Zhao Yao was tidying up books in Mr. Meng’s study. When he heard that the Five Talents of Jinling came to visit Mr. Meng, he was not curious and did not go to see them.

The Five Talents of Jinling often climbed the mountain to visit Mr. Meng. Today was not their first visit. Every time they came, Mr. Meng was very pleased, and his spirits seemed to lift slightly.

Li Jue and the other four chatted with Mr. Meng for a while. Seeing Mr. Meng’s weary look, they rose to take their leave. As they were departing, Mr. Meng asked them not to come again in the future. Once he was gone, they should not come to see him off. He said he only wished to leave quietly, without troubling anyone to bid him farewell.

Mr. Meng also urged them to participate in the civil service examination, but Li Jue and the others did not respond to his advice. Naturally, they did not outright refuse him either.

After Li Jue and his companions left, Mr. Meng called Zhao Yao and Zheng Xilin to his room.

Seeing Mr. Meng’s face full of exhaustion, Zheng Xilin advised him to rest and discuss any matters after recuperating. Upon hearing this, Mr. Meng deliberately joked that he was soon to take his eternal rest, and then he would be able to sleep well. For now, he would skip resting.

Hearing Mr. Meng jest about his condition, Zheng Xilin and Zhao Yao were momentarily at a loss for how to console him.

Mr. Meng had long become indifferent to life and death. Though he felt some regret, he faced his impending demise without panic or unease—only acceptance. However, there were matters that he still found hard to let go of.

In recent days, Mr. Meng had not been awake much. Each time he awoke, he gave instructions to Zheng Xilin and Zhao Yao. This time, calling them to his side was also to give some instructions.

Zheng Xilin tried to persuade Mr. Meng again, but he was refused.

Mr. Meng leaned back against the bedside, his expression calm, his gaze gentle as he looked at Zheng Xilin and Zhao Yao.

"I don’t have many days left. While I’m still clear-minded, let’s talk more."

Hearing Mr. Meng speak thus, Zhao Yao felt troubled in his heart. He knew Mr. Meng disliked seeing others grieve for him, so he dared not let any sorrow show on his face.

"Uncle, let Mr. Meng speak if he has something to say."

Zheng Xilin sighed softly in his heart, then, with resignation, said to Mr. Meng, "Whatever instructions you have, please feel free to give them."

Mr. Meng was amused by Zheng Xilin’s words: "I don’t have any particular instructions, just some lingering concern for Li Jue and the others. I just advised them to take part in the civil service examination, but they didn’t consent."

"You know very well they wouldn’t agree to participate in the civil service examination, so why did you try?" Zheng Xilin said. "They won’t take it, and they’ll prevent others from taking it too."

"I know, I just wanted to try," Mr. Meng said with a gentle sigh, "I overreached myself."

Zheng Xilin deliberately remarked, "You’re about to pass away, so why worry about such trivial matters."

"Mr. Meng, they’re not as crucial as you think. Their not participating won’t affect the implementation of the civil service examination," Zhao Yao comforted Mr. Meng. "The exam is extremely challenging. Even with great learning, they might still fail. I think they’re afraid of failing, which is why they don’t dare to take the civil service examination."

Mr. Meng hadn’t considered this angle. He asked, surprised, "Is the civil service examination really that difficult?"

"Certainly, it’s harder than the Imperial College exams," Zhao Yao felt Mr. Meng had underestimated the civil service exam. "It’s thousands of times more difficult than the exams for the Imperial College because it’s for selecting talent for the court. Moreover, the civil service exams don’t just test article writing, poetry, or song compositions, but real skills and substance."

He continued, "The Five Talents of Jinling are indeed good at writing articles and poetry, but that doesn’t mean they can pass the civil service examination. I fear they couldn’t even pass the simplest county exam."

Mr. Meng only knew the civil service exams tested the Four Books and Five Classics but wasn’t clear about the specifics. He assumed the content was similar to previous recommendation and imperial selection tests.

In the past, the final stage of recommendation and selection exams was personally set by the emperor, who would choose topics from books like "The Analects." For example, using the topic "Walking together, there must be my teacher," for the examinees to answer.

"I don’t know what this year’s civil service examination will test, but it certainly won’t be as simple as testing articles and poetry," Zhao Yao said earnestly. "The civil service exam is for selecting talent for the court, and the purpose of selecting talent is to benefit the people. Benefiting the people cannot be achieved by crafting beautiful essays and poems alone. To benefit the people, officials must get things done, so the exam tests practical matters."