Chapter 358: I Must Consider Her More
This matter went far beyond what met the eye—the provincial scholar in question had actually stolen another’s essay to secure his title.
Indeed, he was the very person who had plagiarized Xiao Huayong’s work three years earlier to become the top candidate in the provincial examinations. Xiao Huayong had employed some tactics back then to prevent him from participating in the metropolitan examinations that year, all for the sake of this very moment.
The prefect of Wuzhou at the time, the current regional inspector, and even the chief examiner from those years—none could escape implication. The Youning Emperor dispatched imperial commissioners to conduct a thorough investigation. In the capital, the Minister of Rites was dismissed for leaking examination questions, and his grandson was executed. The Vice Minister of Rites, initially only guilty of inadequate supervision, chose to protect the scholar upon discovering his incompetence and was also removed from office.
The Chancellor of the Imperial Academy’s family had initially been manipulated. However, after the results were announced and the examination questions were made public, with the top essay displayed for all to read, the He family remained silent despite knowing their distant relative had stolen the questions, aware of the widespread repercussions.
The Chancellor of the Imperial Academy was likewise dismissed, and his son was stripped of his scholarly rank, barred from holding office for life.
This was merely the fallout from the He family scholar. The Youning Emperor, discerning the larger pattern, refused to believe this was an isolated incident. He dispatched Embroidered Uniform Envoys across the regions, determined to investigate the matter to its roots. How many would ultimately be punished depended on the extent of the corruption uncovered.
During the Rouge Case, Xiao Huayong had skillfully manipulated the situation, allowing the suspects time to flee while having his own agents monitor them. When the Emperor launched his investigation, Xiao Huayong’s men captured these individuals, earning them great merit. These agents were subsequently appointed to key positions in various regions.
Upon assuming their posts, they began preparing for the metropolitan examinations. Thus, when the Embroidered Uniform Envoys arrived locally, they promptly submitted long-standing suspicious cases. Their cooperative attitude and efficiency, especially when compared to officials elsewhere, earned them high praise from the Youning Emperor.
“The skies of the capital are about to change,” Xiao Changqing remarked, standing beneath the Long Pavilion as he gazed at the overcast sky, thick with clouds as the Qingming Festival approached.
“Second Brother and Fourth Brother are scurrying about, using this opportunity to plant countless of their own men. Why are you remaining unmoved, Brother?” Xiao Changying stood beside him; the two brothers were of equal height.
Even if they had no intention of contending for the throne, they could not afford to be controlled by others. Their two older brothers—one sinister, the other unhinged—were far from virtuous. Once they gained power, they would inevitably turn against the younger brothers.
“This scheme was laid by the Crown Prince. No matter how many men they plant, they are merely providing cover for His Highness,” Xiao Changqing replied, a faint, almost imperceptible sneer curling his lips. “The more they act now, the more exposed their followers become.”
The Crown Prince’s plan aimed to purge the court of corrupt officials, disrupt the existing power structure, and identify allegiances. The second and fourth princes, acting too hastily, had nearly revealed their entire networks to the Crown Prince.
“How do you know it was the Crown Prince’s scheme?” Xiao Changying was not naive enough to believe that such an uncontrollable examination fraud case had unfolded without someone fanning the flames. He had vaguely suspected the Crown Prince’s involvement but lacked proof.
“I saw the essay that earned the He scholar the top provincial candidate title three years ago,” Xiao Changqing revealed.
Back then, he had still harbored ambitions of ruling the realm, of making his wife the most honored woman in the land. He had even deluded himself into thinking that if the Gu family and the imperial house remained locked in their stalemate, he could spare the Gu family once he ascended the throne.Therefore, he would pay attention to talents from various regions. Scholars from humble backgrounds were the easiest to win over—they had no foundations, no intricate marital alliances.
"At that time, I felt his writing was refined and unconventional, like spring snow untouched by worldly dust; his mind held vast strategies, capable of maneuvering through complex situations," Xiao Changqing spoke, then couldn't help but let out a distracted smile. "I noticed restraint in the essay and found this quality even more precious in the candidate. Only today did I realize that this so-called restraint was merely a necessity of his disguised identity."
Who actually wrote He Huiyuan's essay has now become a mystery, because investigations revealed that the scholar who supposedly took the exam had actually passed away three years before the autumn provincial examination—meaning he couldn't possibly have participated in the exam and written that essay.
"Wuzhou is very far from Luoyang..." Xiao Changying found it unreasonable that Xiao Huayong would travel all the way to Wuzhou to take the imperial examination under a false name.
"Has His Highness the Crown Prince truly been in Luoyang all these years?" Xiao Changqing asked with a smile.
He couldn't have been. Over the years, Xiao Huayong had deceived everyone's eyes. Using his supposed short lifespan as cover, he made every prince forget about him. His Majesty was busy with state affairs and, knowing the Empress Dowager was by his side, only sent people with greetings and precious gifts during festivals.
During this time when no one knew, he had grown into an unfathomable Crown Prince.
"Can we really determine it was the Crown Prince's doing based on just this?"
Xiao Changqing replied: "His writing style is extremely similar to his current way of handling affairs..."
A person's writing easily reveals their character and inner desires. Combined with the earth-shattering nature of this examination fraud case, Xiao Changqing believed no one but the Crown Prince could have accomplished this.
At this moment, he must restrain his heart and not be tempted by this piece of fat meat before him. Once his people made a move, Xiao Huayong would see everything clearly.
"Your Highness, only Prince Xin and Prince Lie have remained inactive." Tianyuan reported to Xiao Huayong in the Eastern Palace.
"His Majesty's judgment of people is unquestionable. The Fifth Prince has the talent of a ruler." Xiao Huayong acknowledged Xiao Changqing's abilities. "Record all the people belonging to the Second and Fourth Princes. When trouble arises in the future, we'll push them forward to take the blame. With them paving the way, our people can slowly climb up."
Over the years, he had never been in a hurry to place people in court. Shen Xihe thought he had many followers, but in truth, he only had Zhao Zhenghao and Cui Jinbai. The others, including Xiao Fuxing, were only recruited after the Rouge Case.
It wasn't that he didn't want to or didn't dare, but that the timing wasn't ripe yet. With His Majesty in his prime, placing people too early would only incur imperial suspicion and make them casualties in the power struggles among various factions. Now was the perfect time to make arrangements.
He had indeed inserted many people into the court, but they were all minor officials of no reputation—mostly eighth or ninth rank, with only one reaching the seventh rank.
Only those who climbed up step by step like this would be trusted as loyal ministers when His Majesty grew old.
"Your Highness, your original plan wasn't like this..." Tianyuan hesitated to speak further.
The spring examination move had been planned for three years, intended to bring down a large number of people. From the beginning, the Crown Prince wasn't supposed to place people in the most inconspicuous positions, but rather aggressively seize important positions.
"The original was just a casual game." Xiao Huayong raised his eyes to look at the painting on the wall—it depicted both him and her.
At that time, he hadn't expected to live long, so he planned to play with them while he was still alive, merely to pass his remaining boring days.
"Now I need to think more for her."Ten years—that would be the time when these people's wings would be fully grown. If anything were to truly happen to him, then as she wished, she would have the strength to become the most revered person in this imperial city.
He wasn't certain if he could overcome the great hurdle four years later. Someone like him shouldn't have provoked her, shouldn't have forced her into marriage. He should have found her a more suitable person, someone who could accompany her longer.
But he was so selfish—he simply couldn't bring himself to smile and let her go.
For this shameful selfishness of his, he could only do his utmost to compensate her. She cared about the northwest; she wanted to control her own destiny. If he couldn't pave this path for her, then he would do everything in his power to lay each step for her.
Even if he was no longer by her side in the future, she would be able to proceed smoothly and have her wishes fulfilled.
Whether as Empress Dowager or as a female emperor, this was the most he could give her, pouring out everything he had.
At the end, I made myself feel heartache for Cha Cha. I couldn't help but wish the princess would fall in love with him immediately, but I must not act impulsively or break character. The princess has already been quite tolerant of Cha Cha—she didn't even hold it against him for stealing her handkerchief. We must take it step by step.
Repeat after me: step by step, hahahaha.
Regarding wedding attire, there were indeed white wedding garments for imperial weddings in ancient times. Zhang Chang's "Eastern Palace Chronicles" from the Western Jin Dynasty records: "For the Crown Prince taking a consort, there are white crepe, white gauze, and white silk robes, all with purple tassels."
During the Tang Dynasty, the wedding custom was green for the woman and red for the man, which the Song Dynasty continued. This was just a common practice, not a strict rule. The founding emperor of the Tang Dynasty had Xianbei ancestry, and the Xianbei people also revered white, so this setting is somewhat reasonably justifiable, hahahaha.
(End of Chapter)
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