The Legend of Zhen Huan: Year after year, we share the spring breeze

As February approaches, the weather becomes warmer.

After Zhen Huan's miscarriage, she recovered quickly, and Shen Meiyu and An Lingrong stayed with her in Yongshou Palace every day.

When the two came back that day, they saw Hongxu sitting in the hall, his hands on his chin, staring out the window in a daze.

Seeing them come in, Hongxu hurriedly stood up and saluted: "Son greets mother and godmother!"

Shen Meizhuang helped him up and asked gently, "Shouldn't you be studying in the Shangshufang today? Why are you back at this hour?"

Hongxu straightened his clothes and replied, "To answer your mother's question, the Emperor summoned me to the Yangxin Palace today to attend a meeting of ministers. They left early, so I came to pay my respects to you and your godmother. I will return to my prince's residence shortly."

An Lingrong noticed the worry between his brows and patted his shoulder gently. "I saw you frowning when I came in just now. What's the problem?"

Hongxu hesitated for a moment, and finally said: "My son does have something he doesn't understand, and I would like to ask godmother for advice."

"But it doesn't matter."

"Today in the Yangxin Palace, the Emperor and his ministers discussed matters concerning this year's Spring Examination. Lord Ortai said, 'It's not that I don't know that the eight-legged essay is useless, but there is no better way to capture aspiring scholars and drive out talented people than this.' I remember my godmother once teaching us that reading is for the purpose of gaining understanding, for a better comprehension of the world. These two things seem to be..."

"It seems contradictory?" An Lingrong continued, a faint smile on her lips. "Then, in your opinion, which is right and which is wrong?"

Hongxu shook his head: "My son is stupid. He just thinks everyone has their own reasons."

An Lingrong took a sip of her teacup and said, "Then let me ask you this a different way. What do you think of the imperial examination system?"

"Of course it's good." Hongxu said without hesitation, "Students from poor families now have a way to advance, they can contribute to the country and serve the court."

"But there's only one path to advancement," An Lingrong interrupted, her voice soft but every word clear. "The Four Books and Five Classics are required reading, Zhu Xi's commentaries are the golden rule, and the eight-legged essay format is an ironclad rule. Can such a scholar truly distinguish right from wrong and speak up for the people in the future?"

Seeing Hongxu lost in thought, she continued, "One of the magic of the imperial examination is to tame scholars. Using fame as bait and wealth as a cage, they make the world's talented people willingly confine themselves to studying the classics day and night. It's like boiling a frog in warm water, trapping a hero. This is how they imprison patriots."

Second, through the hands of scholars, we educate the people. Having achieved fame and status, they naturally uphold these rules. They wield their pens, praising the merits of the people or interpreting the classics, ensuring that the people abide by the rules. This is the way to govern the world."

After hearing this, Hongxu fell into deep thought.

At first, his eyes were still a little confused, but slowly, they became clearer: "Son, I understand. This is the art of being an emperor that the Emperor Father told me about."

Upon hearing this, An Lingrong smiled faintly but with profound meaning: "This is the art of being an emperor, but it's not the foundation of governing a country."

"What do you mean, godmother?" Hongxu's expression suddenly became stern, and his already straight back unconsciously straightened a little more.

"If you simply want to be a ruler who maintains the status quo, you can naturally use this method. The court will remain peaceful, and the people can live their lives on the established track. But, do you still remember that world map?"

Hongxu instantly understood what An Lingrong meant. A trace of confusion and struggle flashed in his eyes, and then he fell into deep silence.

An Lingrong looked at him quietly without disturbing him. She knew that there were some things that Hongxu had to think about and weigh on his own.

Shen Meizhuang, who was standing aside, kept her breathing very low.

After an unknown amount of time, the sky gradually darkened, and the candles in the hall lit up one by one, and the light and shadow flickered on Hongxu's face.

Finally, Hongxu raised his head, a glint of determination flashed in his eyes, and he said in a deep voice, "Godmother, I understand. Imprisoning the world's talents in the cage of the imperial examination and dulling their brilliance with eight-legged essays is nothing but drinking poison to quench thirst, and it will sow the seeds of disaster for future generations!"

An Lingrong's eyes moved slightly, and she caught a glimpse of the blue veins on Hongxu's wrist exposed by his sleeve.

"If we lock up Mr. Tinglin (Gu Yanwu) today, we will miss out on tens of thousands of skilled craftsmen who can build muskets and steamships tomorrow. A hundred years from now, when the red-haired foreigners' gunboats blast open our country's borders, it will be the innocent people who suffer."

An Lingrong could no longer conceal the admiration on her face, and she clapped her hands and laughed, "Good, you understand this, very good!"

Hongxu was not happy about the compliment. Instead, he asked in confusion, "But how do we break the deadlock?"

"This question isn't so easy to answer. The ideas of these scholars are deeply ingrained. It won't take just a few words to change them."

"Please give me some advice, godmother. I am all ears."

"The current national educational institutions are official schools, the Imperial Academy, and the academies under its jurisdiction. In addition to these, we can vigorously develop private schools, academies, and other folk education to impart practical knowledge and skills such as mathematics, agriculture, sericulture, and water conservancy.

It is also necessary to reduce the proportion of formulaic content such as eight-legged essays in the imperial examinations. For example, policy essays can be tested on river management strategies, and poems and essays can be tested on border defense strategies.

It can also provide scholars with other development paths besides the imperial examination, such as engaging in business, handicrafts, scientific research, etc.

An Lingrong paused as she spoke, "One more point. I'm sure you've already learned the Four Lines of Hengqu. We must abandon the utilitarian values of 'Books hold the golden house' and establish the ideal of contributing to the country and the people. Only by taking the world as our own responsibility can we be free from the constraints of imperial examinations and fame."

This is the most difficult point, but also the most important. The first few points can be implemented through imperial decrees, but this one requires the efforts of several generations, like a gentle, gentle rain that moistens everything silently.

Upon hearing this, Hongxu straightened his clothes and solemnly took a half step back. His voice was trembling, but every word was sonorous, "Son, I'll remember this."

An Lingrong patted his shoulder and said, "These things take time. You're still young and have a long way to go. There's no need to rush."

"My son understands."

An Lingrong looked at Hongxu's straight back, and in a trance she seemed to see a new bamboo stretching its branches in the dawn breeze.

"Sister, Hongxu won't let us down!"

As he said this, he turned around and saw Shen Meizhuang looking at him lovingly.

"Oh, sister, please don't look at me like that. I'm going to be shy!"

An Lingrong covered her face with her hands, looking shy.

Shen Meizhuang chuckled softly, covering her lips. "I was just wondering—" She suddenly extended her index finger and gently tapped An Lingrong's chest. "How many surprises are hidden in this exquisite mind of yours that I'm unaware of?"

Before she finished her words, An Lingrong suddenly grabbed her wrist with her backhand and pulled her forward with a little force.

Shen Meizhuang leaned forward.

An Lingrong leaned close to her ear and whispered, "Sister, do you really want to know?"

Suddenly, a night breeze blew through the room outside the window, causing the candle flame to jump violently, and casting the overlapping shadows of the two people on the gilded screen, swaying like mandarin ducks embracing each other in the water.

"Of course!"

An Lingrong then let go of Shen Meizhuang, and put her index fingers and thumbs together in front of her chest, forming a delicate heart shape.

"for you!"

She gently pushed her hands forward, and the "heart" swayed and floated towards Shen Meizhuang.

Shen Meizhuang quickly extended her hands to receive it, and gently pressed the invisible "heart" against her chest: "Such a rare treasure..." Suddenly looking up, the other person's figure reflected in her eyes, "I will definitely keep it close to my heart."

The two of them smiled at each other, and the room was filled with spring.