allendalepharm Chapter 361 The Grand Finale
Chapter 361 The Grand Finale
Linhua Palace
Emperor Shun'an abdicated seven years ago and became the Retired Emperor. The Crown Prince naturally ascended the throne as Emperor, with the reign title Yongjia. Linhua Palace then became the residence of the new emperor.
Emperor Shun'an may have been too diligent in his duties in the first half of his life, suppressing his emotions for a long time. After abdicating, he had no attachment to power and first moved out of the palace to live in the West Garden.
He didn't stay in the capital for long before taking the Empress and several concubines on a trip.
They ostensibly wanted to show him the beautiful landscape under his rule.
And then he never came back!
Today, the imperial court is completely under the control of Emperor Yongjia. People think of Emperor Shun'an less and less. When they do mention him, it's only to gossip about where he went on his travels.
After the cabinet meeting, Wen Zongji was kept behind by Emperor Yongjia for a private talk.
The current cabinet, apart from the elderly Grand Secretary You who has retired, consists of the Grand Secretaries appointed by the former Emperor Shun'an, with Wu Yangeng naturally serving as the Grand Secretary.
After Emperor Yongjia ascended the throne, his only appointment to the cabinet was to promote Wen Zongji to Grand Secretary of the Cabinet.
For Emperor Yongjia, who had already been on the throne for five years, no one in the cabinet opposed the appointment.
Aside from his young age, Wen Zongji's abilities are undeniable, and he is fully qualified to join the cabinet.
But with the emperor's favor, age is the least important thing.
Therefore, Wen Zongji naturally entered the cabinet and became the youngest Grand Secretary.
The palace servants served them tea, and Emperor Yongjia said, "My son Ruige has achieved the highest score in the imperial examination, proving that like father, like son."
Wen Zongji smiled and said, "This humble servant did not expect him to do so well in the exam. It is all thanks to Mr. Yuan's excellent teaching."
Emperor Yongjia said, "You must not be lenient with outsiders but strict with your own son. While the teacher has made contributions, the most important thing is that Rui is intelligent and hardworking enough."
Upon hearing this, Wen Zongji looked up at Emperor Yongjia: "Your Majesty's words..."
Emperor Yongjia narrowed his eyes: "What? Are you trying to persuade me to be more lenient with the Crown Prince again?"
Ten years ago, the Empress, who was then the Crown Princess, gave birth to her eldest son.
After Emperor Yongjia ascended the throne, whether to maintain legitimacy or to stabilize the court, he immediately made his eldest son the crown prince and began to train him according to the same procedure that Emperor Shun'an had used to train him.
However, Emperor Yongjia overlooked the fact that people are different.
Unlike the mature-beyond-his-years Emperor Yongjia, the Crown Prince was clever and lively. He couldn't stand the monotonous and boring life of studying, which caused a lot of trouble.
Emperor Yongjia showed no leniency towards the crown prince, punishing him for any wrongdoing. This caused the crown prince to fear Emperor Yongjia like a mouse before a cat, and the relationship between father and son became increasingly strained.
The Empress and others were eager to ease tensions between them, but they couldn't find a way.
Wen Zongji said, "Your Majesty, as the ancients said, education should be tailored to individual talents. The Crown Prince is intelligent and quick-witted. It is not a good thing to simply let him bury himself in books."
Given Wen Zongji's composure, he should not have interfered in royal affairs.
However, he was not only a capable minister of Emperor Yongjia, but also Emperor Yongjia's cousin-in-law.
After Emperor Shun'an and the Empress Dowager left the capital, the Empress often invited the Eldest Princess and Pei Rujing to the palace.
The Crown Prince is the grandson of the Eldest Princess. He is sweet-talking and charming, and the Eldest Princess likes him very much. Seeing that the relationship between the Crown Prince and Emperor Yongjia is strained, she couldn't help but feel sorry for the Crown Prince. So she mentioned it to Wen Zongji and asked him to think of a way to ease the tension between the father and son.
Wen Zongji was quite helpless.
Does he think he's omnipotent?
How could a subject like him interfere in matters between the emperor and the crown prince?
But since his mother-in-law had spoken, he couldn't ignore it, so he could only try to persuade her tentatively. If he couldn't persuade her, then it wouldn't be his fault.
Emperor Yongjia frowned; he was actually quite troubled.
The crown prince was his first child and also his eldest son, so he placed high hopes on him.
But the crown prince is impulsive and clever, but he can't stand being idle. It's difficult to get him to sit still and study for even a few hours.
Emperor Yongjia was inevitably impatient, and when he was impatient, he was easily angered, and he punished the crown prince many times.
However, the crown prince's temperament did not change; instead, he became estranged from his father.
Upon hearing Wen Zongji mention this matter today, Emperor Yongjia began to worry again.
"Of course I know that education should be tailored to individual needs, but I am busy with government affairs all day long, how can I have the energy..." Emperor Yongjia paused, his gaze falling on Wen Zongji.
Wen Zongji was startled, and suddenly had a bad feeling.
Emperor Yongjia suddenly felt much better and looked intently at Wen Zongji: "My dear minister, I remember you haven't taken on any students yet."
Wen Zongji hurriedly replied, "Your humble servant is of limited talent and learning, and I fear I may mislead students. How could I dare to accept any students?"
Emperor Yongjia waved his hand: "My dear minister, you are too modest. You were the third-ranked scholar in your time, so your knowledge is certainly not lacking... You also know that the Crown Prince is unruly, and I cannot keep an eye on him all the time. Therefore, I appoint you as the Crown Prince's tutor to teach him his studies."
Wen Zongji's heart sank to the bottom, and he forced a smile, saying, "Isn't Your Majesty's decision a bit hasty?"
He was just trying to persuade them, not expecting anything in return, so how did he end up getting himself involved?
Emperor Yongjia, however, thought it was a good idea the more he thought about it, and ordered loudly, "Go and summon the Crown Prince, and have him come and pay his respects to the Master."
The palace servants immediately responded and left.
Wen Zongji moved his lips but could not utter a word.
Emperor Yongjia had clearly made up his mind, and no amount of talk could change it.
Emperor Yongjia saw Wen Zongji's concerns and laughed, "Brother-in-law, we are family. The Crown Prince is your junior, so you can teach him with peace of mind. You should know that I am not a petty person."
Wen Zongji suppressed the urge to roll his eyes.
During their many years as ruler and subject, Emperor Yongjia called him "brother-in-law" only a handful of times, and each time it was never a good thing.
A short while later, the Crown Prince arrived.
"Your subject pays respects to Your Majesty."
The crown prince was not yet ten years old. He had fair skin, bright eyes, and a smile on his lips at all times, completely different from Emperor Yongjia when he was young.
Emperor Yongjia pointed at Wen Zongji and said, "From now on, Minister Wen will be the Crown Prince's tutor. Go and pay your respects to your teacher."
Upon hearing this, the Crown Prince's eyes lit up. He quickly walked up to Wen Zongji and asked excitedly, "Uncle-in-law, will you be my teacher from now on?"
Wen Zongji nodded: "Yes."
The crown prince smiled even more broadly: "That's wonderful!"
Rui Ge'er frequently visited the palace and was quite familiar with the Crown Prince. From Rui Ge'er, the Crown Prince learned that Wen Zongji was a very enlightened father.
Having such an enlightened teacher is much better than those old pedants.
Seeing the Crown Prince so happy, Wen Zongji's resentment lessened slightly.
Emperor Yongjia waved his hand and said, "My dear minister, take the Crown Prince to the Eastern Palace to discuss how to teach him in the future."
Emperor Yongjia then completely entrusted the crown prince position to Wen Zongji.
Wen Zongji rose and took his leave with the Crown Prince.
Leaving Linhua Palace
The Crown Prince looked up at Wen Zongji and asked, "Uncle-in-law, you will be my teacher from now on. What kind of person do you hope I will become?"
Wen Zongji smiled after hearing this, and bent down to look at him: "That depends on what kind of person the Crown Prince wants to become. I am just a teacher, responsible for teaching the Crown Prince how to conduct himself and his knowledge. But what kind of person the Crown Prince can become depends on the Crown Prince himself. No one else can decide that."
"However," Wen Zongji's gaze softened, "I believe that no matter what kind of person the Crown Prince becomes in the future, he will be a very good emperor."
The prince tilted his head: "Why is my uncle so sure?"
He had heard the rumors in the palace that he always angered Emperor Yongjia and was not a qualified crown prince.
"Because the crown prince cares about the people, and an emperor who understands that the people are the most important will win the support of the people."
Wen Zongji had witnessed the Crown Prince's attitude towards the common people.
The prince was stunned.
He was used to watching the gentlemen sigh and complain to Emperor Yongjia that he was impatient and too mischievous.
They had also grown accustomed to being stared at by Emperor Yongjia with either anger or disappointment in his eyes.
This was the first time he had been praised as a future good emperor.
He reached out and grabbed Wen Zongji's hand: "Then please teach me, sir, how to be a good emperor!"
The crown prince spoke in a solemn and earnest tone.
Wen Zongji smiled and said, "Okay."