Cultivating Immortality, Starts with Green Plum

Chapter 28 What a pity
"This boy is Xu Ming, the son of the Fifth Madam, the concubine of Governor Xu of the Xu State Mansion."

Xiao Mochen's words spread in the imperial study.

"Xu Guofu, the fifth lady's son?" Emperor Wu repeated, with some disbelief in his tone.

Why are they from Xu Guofu again?
What kind of luck did Xu Guofu have?
"Yes." Xiao Mochen nodded.

Emperor Wu looked at the poem again, then frowned and said with a rather ugly expression: "He is a bastard."

How could such a talented child be a bastard?
One hundred and fifty years ago, the late emperor established a rule that illegitimate sons could not take part in the imperial examinations and could not inherit clan property.

From then on, the status of a bastard's son was extremely low, only slightly higher than that of a servant's son.

There is almost no difference in status between a bastard's son and a child of the lowest class, and some are even inferior.

"What a pity."

Emperor Wu closed the white paper, sighed, and looked helpless.

"Your Majesty, I have something to say, but I don't know whether I should say it or not?" Xiao Mochen bowed.

Emperor Wu looked at Xiao Mochi and chuckled twice: "Even if I don't let you talk, you won't talk? Tell me, what's the matter?"

"I request that the laws of the Wu Dynasty be amended - all children, whether they are illegitimate children or children born to the lowest class, can participate in the imperial examinations."

Xiao Mochen's voice echoed in the imperial study.

The empress behind Emperor Wu was startled and her face turned pale.

Xiao Ke hurried to his brother's side and knelt down facing Emperor Wu: "Your Majesty, Mo Chi is a scholar with a strong spirit. He just graduated from Bailu Academy and doesn't understand many things. Please forgive me, Your Majesty!"

Emperor Wu looked at Xiao Mochen in silence for a long time, and the atmosphere in the imperial study seemed to freeze at this moment.

"Mo Chi, I allow you to take back what you just said." Emperor Wu said in a deep voice.

Xiao Ke pinched his brother's sleeve, but Xiao Mochi still shook his head:

“Since Mo Chi has already said it, there is no reason to take it back.

In Qi, the sons of merchants and even prostitutes could all take the imperial examinations. Qi was a country of great literary prowess, and this was known throughout the world.

Everyone has hope, and everyone has a chance to turn things around.

Even the two good friends from Qi State whom Mo Chi met at Bailu Academy were both sons of prostitutes.

Their talents are no less than Mo Chi's.

The imperial examination is a path to success. If it were restricted, how many people would be buried?"

"Shut up!" Xiao Ke shouted anxiously, "Mo Chi, do you know what you are talking about?!"

Xiao Mochen wanted to say something, but looking at his sister's red eyes, he could only remain silent.

"Your Majesty, Mo Chi has been so drunk with reading that I am confused. Please do not take it to heart. If you want to punish me, please punish me."

Xiao Ke bowed to Emperor Wu again.

Emperor Wu shook his head and said, "Get up. Mo Chi, don't mention this matter again. I will pretend that I didn't hear it."

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Xiao Ke breathed a sigh of relief and slowly stood up.

But Xiao Mochen still seemed to have a lot to say.

"Mo Chi, I believe you are tired too. You can go down first." Emperor Wu looked at Xiao Mo Chi, who seemed to be hesitant to speak, and waved his hand.

"Yes, Mo Chi will leave."

Xiao Mochen bowed, knowing that it was useless to say anything more, so he might as well leave.

When Xiao Mochi walked out of the imperial study, Emperor Wu smiled and said to Xiao Ke, "Do you think Xiao Mochi is taking advantage of you being the queen and is fearless? Or does he think that I love him so much that I can't bear to punish him?"

Xiao Ke walked in front of Emperor Wu, nodded and lowered his eyebrows: "Mo Chi is young and full of vigor, Your Majesty, please don't take it personally, but no matter what, Mo Chi is really devoted to the Wu Kingdom and has no second thoughts." "I know."

Emperor Wu sighed.

"Otherwise, when Qi invited him to the position of 'Minister of the Central Secretariat', he would not have refused. I am just afraid that he will be too stubborn and easily break. The matter of concubine's son seems simple, but in fact..."

As he spoke, Emperor Wu closed his mouth and shook his head.

"It is an honor for Mo Chi that Your Majesty has taken so much trouble." Xiao Ke quickly replied.

"Alright, alright, you don't have to say these polite words." Emperor Wu drank a cup of tea and called out to the door, "Wei Xun, come in."

"Your Majesty." Wei Xun, who was guarding outside the door, hurried into the imperial study.

"Ask Tingfeng Pavilion to collect information about Xu Ming, the son of the fifth lady of the Xu State Mansion." Emperor Wu ordered.

Wei Xun naturally heard all the conversations inside the door.

Wei Xun smiled and said, "If Your Majesty cares about Xu Ming, I have an interesting story that I would like to tell Your Majesty first."

"Oh? Tell me."

“Your Majesty, I heard that Xu Pangda, the son of the wife of the Xu State Mansion, had a fight with the sons of the Minister of War and the Vice Minister at Zhixing Academy.

The reason was that the son of the Minister of War and the Vice Minister insulted Xu Pangda's mother.

Xu Ming also participated in the fight.

But guess what, Your Majesty, Xu Ming asked the other party what official position his father held, and only after hearing that it was the Ministry of War did he take action.

Mr. Xiao later asked Xu Ming about this matter separately.

This is the news sent by Tingfeng Pavilion."

As he spoke, Wei Xun handed over a memorial.

Tingfeng Pavilion supervises all officials and even the common people. All matters, big and small, will be summarized. If they are important, they will be handed over to Emperor Wu.

The Zhixing Academy was founded by a person whom Emperor Wu valued the most, so naturally it had spies.

Looking at the conversation between Xiao Mochi and Xu Ming recorded in the memorial, Emperor Wu's eyes revealed a bit of surprise: "This kid is actually reading the Wu Dynasty Code? Does he really think he is five years old?"

"Absolutely true." Wei Xun said with a smile, "This boy is so young, but he has such a mind. He is really not simple. When he grows up, he will have unlimited potential."

"."Emperor Wu's fingers kept stroking the memorial.

The more he looked at the name "Xu Ming", the more he liked it.

If such a person can be brought up by your side from childhood.
"Ke'er, in two years, a delegation from Qi will come to visit our Wu Kingdom. Do you think they will bring along that child who is born with literary talent?" asked Emperor Wu.

Xiao Ke was stunned for a moment, not knowing why His Majesty suddenly asked this, but after thinking about it, Xiao Ke nodded seriously: "If nothing unexpected happens, it should be possible. After all, there is only one natural literary talent in thousands of years."

"Then tell me, when the time comes, I will let Xu Ming join the reception group to receive the envoys from Qi. What do you think?" asked Emperor Wu.

"Your Majesty." Xiao Ke looked embarrassed, "He is a bastard."

"."

Listening to the Queen's words, Emperor Wu held the piece of paper tightly and read it over and over again.

"Yes. He is a bastard."

Emperor Wu seemed to be talking to himself.

"Why is he a bastard?"

(End of this chapter)