NOVEL NEXT Chapter 27: Chapter 27: What a Pity.
"The son of the Xu Prefecture Magistrate's concubine—the fifth wife's child, Xu Ming."
Xiao Mo Chi's voice echoed in the Imperial Study.
"The Xu Prefecture? The fifth wife's child?" the emperor repeated, his tone laced with disbelief. "Another one from the Xu family? Just what kind of fortune has blessed them?"
"Yes, Your Majesty," Xiao Mo Chi nodded.
The emperor glanced at the poem again, then furrowed his brows, his expression darkening. "He's a concubine's son?"
Such a talented child, yet born of a concubine. It was a cruel reality. One hundred and fifty years ago, the late emperor had established a law: children born to concubines were prohibited from taking the imperial exams and could not inherit family estates. Since then, the status of concubines' children had fallen drastically, barely above the children of servants. In fact, in some cases, their status was even worse.
"What a pity."
The emperor closed the sheet of paper with a sigh, his face filled with helplessness.
"Your Majesty, I have something to say. I do not know if I should speak." Xiao Mo Chi cupped his hands and bowed.
The emperor looked at him and let out a dry laugh. "Even if I forbade you, would you not still say it? Speak your mind. What is it?"
"I request that the laws of the Wu Kingdom be amended—allowing all children, whether born of concubines or of lower-class origins, the right to take the imperial exams," Xiao Mo Chi declared, his voice resolute as it resonated through the Imperial Study.
The empress, standing behind the emperor, was startled by the bold proposal. Her face paled slightly.
Xiao Ke hurried to her brother's side and knelt before the emperor. "Your Majesty, Mo Chi is too idealistic, freshly returned from the White Deer Academy. He doesn't yet understand the complexities of governance. I beg Your Majesty for forgiveness!"
The emperor stared silently at Xiao Mo Chi for a long moment, the atmosphere in the study growing tense and oppressive, as if frozen in time.
"Mo Chi, I will give you the chance to take back your words," the emperor said, his voice heavy.
Xiao Ke tugged at her brother's sleeve anxiously, but Xiao Mo Chi shook his head.
"Since I've already spoken, there is no reason to retract it," Xiao Mo Chi said firmly. "In Qi Kingdom, even the children of merchants and courtesans are allowed to take the imperial exams. Their cultural prosperity is renowned throughout the land. Everyone has hope; everyone has the chance to rise.
"In fact, two of my closest friends at the White Deer Academy were children of courtesans from Qi Kingdom. Their talents were in no way inferior to my own. The imperial exams are a path to ascendancy. To restrict access to them is to bury the potential of countless individuals."
"Silence!" Xiao Ke shouted, her voice trembling with urgency. "Mo Chi, do you even understand the weight of what you're saying?"
Xiao Mo Chi wanted to argue further but stopped when he saw his sister's reddened eyes. He could only lower his head and fall silent.
"Your Majesty," Xiao Ke said, bowing low. "Mo Chi has clearly been blinded by his idealism. I beg Your Majesty not to take his words to heart. If punishment is necessary, please direct it at me instead."
The emperor shook his head. "Stand up. This matter is over. Mo Chi, you are not to bring this up again. I will pretend I didn't hear it."
"Thank you, Your Majesty." Xiao Ke let out a sigh of relief and slowly rose to her feet.
Xiao Mo Chi, however, still looked as though he had much more to say.
"Mo Chi," the emperor said, waving a hand dismissively. "You must be tired. Go and rest."
"Yes, Your Majesty. I take my leave."
Xiao Mo Chi bowed and withdrew, knowing that further argument would be futile.
Once he was gone, the emperor chuckled and turned to Xiao Ke. "What do you think, Xiao Ke? Is your brother emboldened by your position as empress, thinking he can act without consequence? Or does he believe I favor him too much to punish him?"
Xiao Ke lowered her head humbly. "Mo Chi is young and impetuous, Your Majesty. Please do not take his actions to heart. However, regardless of his rashness, his intentions are sincere. He truly has the best interests of the Wu Kingdom at heart."
"I know."
The emperor let out a long sigh.
"Otherwise, back when Qi Kingdom offered him the position of Zhongshu Ling (Chancellor), he wouldn't have declined. I only worry that Mo Chi's unyielding nature might cause him to break someday. As for the issue of concubines' children, it seems simple on the surface, but in reality..."
As he spoke, the emperor fell silent, closing his mouth and shaking his head.
"Mo Chi being able to command such attention from Your Majesty is his greatest honor," Xiao Ke quickly interjected.
"Enough, enough, there's no need for such pleasantries," the emperor said, sipping his tea before calling out toward the door. "Wei Xun, come in."
"Your Majesty," Wei Xun, who had been standing outside, promptly entered the study.
"Have Tingfeng Pavilion gather information on Xu Prefecture's fifth wife's son—Xu Ming," the emperor ordered.
Wei Xun, having overheard the entire conversation within, chuckled. "If Your Majesty is so interested in Xu Ming, this old servant has a curious anecdote to share first."
"Oh? Let's hear it," the emperor said with interest.
"Your Majesty," Wei Xun began, "this old servant recently heard that at Zhixing Academy, the legitimate son of the Xu family—Xu Pangda—got into a fight with the sons of the Minister of War and his deputy. The reason? They insulted Xu Pangda's mother. Xu Ming also joined the fray.
"However, here's the interesting part—Xu Ming reportedly asked about the fathers' positions before throwing a punch. When he learned they were from the Ministry of War, that's when he acted."
The emperor raised a brow in surprise.
"Following this incident," Wei Xun continued, "Xiao Mo Chi personally questioned Xu Ming about it. Tingfeng Pavilion later provided me with the transcript of their conversation."
Wei Xun handed a folded report to the emperor.
Tingfeng Pavilion, tasked with monitoring officials and citizens alike, recorded and summarized incidents big and small. Important matters were delivered directly to the emperor. Given that Zhixing Academy was established by one of the emperor's most trusted individuals, it naturally had its share of informants.
As the emperor read the document detailing Xiao Mo Chi's conversation with Xu Ming, his eyes betrayed growing astonishment. "This child has read the Wu Kingdom's Legal Code? And he's only five?"
"It's true," Wei Xun replied with a smile. "For a child so young to demonstrate such acumen—he's extraordinary. If nurtured properly, his future will know no bounds."
The emperor's fingers traced the edges of the report as he reread Xu Ming's name. The more he thought about this child, the more he liked him.
If such a talent could be raised under my watch from a young age...
"Ke'er, in two years, the Qi Kingdom will send an envoy to visit our Wu Kingdom. Do you think they'll bring that prodigy with the Heaven-Born Literary Talent?" the emperor asked.
Xiao Ke blinked, momentarily caught off guard by the sudden question. After a moment's thought, she nodded earnestly. "Most likely, yes. After all, such a talent—one in thousands of years—is something they'll want to showcase."
"In that case," the emperor mused, "what if I had Xu Ming join the reception delegation to welcome Qi Kingdom's envoys? What do you think?"
"Your Majesty..." Xiao Ke hesitated, her expression troubled. "But he's a concubine's child."
"..."
The emperor clenched the report tightly, his eyes scanning its contents over and over.
"Indeed... a concubine's child," he muttered, almost to himself.
"Why does he have to be a concubine's child?"