Palace Fighting: Naive Concubines' Ascent to Power-Chapter 441

In the Imperial Court, the Eunuch in charge of announcing declared, "Court is dismissed!"

The court officials bowed and performed the ritual salute, "We respectfully see off His Majesty."

The Emperor strode down from the throne like a shooting star, heading towards the Star Palace.

After the Emperor had left, numerous court officials dusted off their bottoms and got ready to leave.

Some officials dilly-dallied, unwilling to depart, and even in front of the hall, they were still arguing about something. Among those who were reluctant to leave were the Minister of Rites and the Minister of Personnel.

Xue Ping glanced at these dawdling people, concealing a hint of disdain. He slightly bowed his hands and said humbly to the Minister of Rites and others, "Esteemed sirs, I shall take my leave first."

Having said that, he walked off first, followed by a small group of people.

Xue Ping and the group that surrounded the Minister of Rites had never been on the same side. He felt a profound disdain for the Minister of Rites in the depths of his heart. This old fellow, having served three emperors, was highly revered, and extremely slippery, loved to feign ignorance, and would play dumb at critical moments. Even the Rebel Prince had failed to co-opt him.

In the few Imperial Court meetings during the Late Emperor’s period, this old fellow either kept silent or acted ignorant to any questioning, not daring to utter a word. In contrast, he now bounces around so vigorously, often confronting him during the meetings. If this had happened during the Late Emperor’s reign, he would have been dealt with by now, and not in a position to act so insolently towards him.

The Minister of Rites merely lifted his eyelid to acknowledge Xue Ping’s departure, then immediately began to quarrel with the Minister of Personnel, while the rest, including the Minister of Personnel, bowed their hands in a return salute to Xue Ping, courteously and politely. freewёbnoνel.com

Another group from the Ministry of War left en masse, so loudly that no one noticed if someone was left behind. Officials from other departments also left in small groups, leaving only the Minister of Rites and the Minister of Personnel behind.

Recently, the Minister of Rites and the Minister of Personnel had become estranged.

Ever since they had read the examination papers of that candidate from Taiyuan Prefecture, there had been some tension between them, and they started clashing both openly and covertly.

Indeed, they had butted heads during the Imperial Court meeting and continued their dispute over the issues from the session afterwards.

The source of the dispute dated back to the debate over the controversy of the Taiyuan Prefecture candidate, when the Emperor entrusted the Ministry of Rites with the task of crafting the examination for this crippled candidate.

After receiving the task, the Minister of Rites was very pleased. As the meeting ended and he walked out with the others, he was a bit smug.

Stroking his fully white beard, he stated uprightly, "This matter of the crippled candidate is of great importance. I shall personally craft the questions to demonstrate fairness."

Those who heard nodded in agreement. The esteemed elder truly understood the gravity of the situation, with a reputation high and respected, his willingness to personally create the questions showed the appropriate level of concern.

The Minister of Rites then raised his hands towards the heavens and reverently said, "Once the questions are set, I will present them directly to His Majesty for review, awaiting His instructions."

Those beside him became respectfully silent; it was proper to have His Majesty review them. The elder had considered everything thoroughly.

The Minister of Rites lowered his hands and, still stroking his beard, continued, "In this way, only His Majesty and I will know the questions, thus eliminating the worry of them being leaked. I trust that the scholars of Taiyuan Prefecture and indeed the whole empire will have no cause for complaint."

Everyone around nodded their heads, complimenting the Minister of Rites for his thoughtful consideration.

After the Minister of Rites finished speaking about the official matter with majestic propriety, he casually discussed other topics, and the atmosphere relaxed considerably, warm and harmonious.

At the crossroads of the various departmental Yamen, just as they were about to say their farewells, the Minister of Rites pretended to speak offhandedly, but quite comfortably lamented, "Although I’ve served as the Minister of Rites for decades, as I have aged, my strength has diminished, and it has been a long time since I last set an examination question. This lame student being able to tackle a question I devised, he could, at the very least, be considered my disciple, and I hope he does not disappoint the effort and expectations I have placed in him."

Someone nearby said that Minister Fan was full of vim and vigor, bursting with energy, and more than capable compared to the younger generation, not old at all, and still able to serve the Imperial Court for many more years.

Another person comforted him by saying that the lame student’s examination papers showed true merit, and it all depended on whether he could perform under scrutiny, assuring that he would not fail to meet the old minister’s expectations, and asking the minister to be at ease.

Among these people was the Minister of Personnel, who, after hearing the Minister of Rites’ fair speech, couldn’t help but respect him secretly, admiring the Minister of Rites’ sense of justice, who, despite his advanced age, took it upon himself to set the question.

Unlike him, who was only thinking that if this lame student really passed the exam, how he could take him under his wing.

Before his admiration had even finished, he realised something was amiss with the latter part of the conversation; so, this old codger was hinting for everyone not to compete with him for disciples.

What kind of reasoning was that!

He immediately objected, "According to what Minister Fan says, whoever sets the examination question claims the student, if so, all candidates are indeed disciples of the Chief Examiner of the provincial and metropolitan exams, and Minister Fan is naturally also a master."

The others might fear the Minister of Rites, but he certainly did not. Not only did he have profound seniority and was known to be upright, with a modest reputation, but even in terms of seniority, he was the old scoundrel’s second cousin. On usual days, he paid due respect by addressing him as Minister Fan, but when it came to the matter of disciples, there could be no compromise.

Upon hearing this, the Minister of Rites instantly bristled and glared; did the Minister of Personnel understand human speech, did he have any respect for his elders at all? Was that what he meant, was that what he meant?

Although their ancestors were somewhat related, those ties dated back 800 years. Their families had long since ceased to be relevant within the fifth degree of mourning dress, and could not be considered relatives. Was he trying to claim superiority based on age?

Ordinarily, the young upstart seemed quite mannerly, but today his true colors showed as he insisted on opposing him at every turn. Absurd!

There were indeed differences in closeness among disciples. The relationship between a Chief Examiner and a student, for instance, was more often a title of respect, merely a formality.

The truly close disciples were those who prostrated themselves at the master’s door, receiving teachings and guidance, disciples in a direct lineage, a true mentorship relationship. When such disciples introduced themselves, they would state from whom they studied, the teacher’s family and given names.

The difference in the closeness of these discipleship relationships was clear at a glance.

Thus, the two men began to argue over this issue, standing in one spot for half the day, arguing to the point of parting on bad terms.

It was a good thing that the Minister of Punishment was not present at the time; otherwise, upon hearing this dispute, he would have known not how to scoff at it, though being a man of calm and rational disposition, he never engaged in pointless quarrels, preferring to handle things discreetly on his own.

From that time onward, the rift between the Minister of Rites and the Minister of Personnel began to form. Whenever they met, it was either turn the face away as if blind to the other’s presence or to jab a few barbed words, each determined to let the other know their resolve in acquiring disciples.

The Emperor could not be bothered with such trivial matters, passing it off with a laugh and considering it a joke. After all, those who passed the palace examination were all disciples of the Son of Heaven; who would dare compete with the Son of Heaven?

Of course, if the individual proved truly talented, he had other plans for him. As for who would prostrate themselves before whom, he could make a suitable recommendation, and that would settle the matter.

However, the Minister of Rites was a tough old man, endlessly invoking ancestral rites and traditions, often finding an excuse to complain to the Emperor, causing endless headaches, and even daring to compete with the Emperor for disciples.

That day planted the seeds of conflict between the two Ministers, which then took root, sprouted, and escalated further.