"Oh, did Zhang Chen really say that at the time?"
Following this voice, the emperor, who had just returned to the Qianqing Palace after practicing sword, couldn't hide his smile. If he hadn't just been outside and had to maintain his image as the emperor, he would have wanted to laugh out loud. After entering the East Warm Pavilion and sitting down, he tapped the armrest with his fingers and continued to listen to Chu Kuan's report.
But after hearing about Zhang Chen's disturbances in several places, he stared at Chu Kuan thoughtfully: "You described it as if you saw it yourself, so vividly. Could it be that someone was sent to follow Zhang Chen? Or did they plant spies in those places?"
Chu Kuan didn't expect that the emperor, who was so excited just now listening to the joke, would suddenly ask this question. He hurriedly and carefully said, "Because the emperor handed over Banshan Hall to Dr. Zhang, I am afraid that someone will interfere, so I have to be careful..."
He racked his brains to downplay the incident and offered a lot of explanations, but in the end, all he got was a sneer from the emperor.
"You should know how taboo those people outside are towards eunuchs, and how annoying they think the outer court of the Imperial Household Department is. I know your little thoughts, and I also know your little actions. I also know that when you were recruiting soldiers outside, you were using my name. The reason why I never pointed it out is because many officials have already determined that I instructed you to do this."
Seeing Chu Kuan kneeling down in panic and not daring to speak, the emperor poked him with his toes in annoyance: "Do you really need to fool me with such a dead look? Taizu, Taizong, Yingzong, the late emperor... Who of the emperors who have made achievements in our dynasty has not supervised the officials? Who of them has not replaced an official because of the eunuchs' secret reports? I have only one request to you, do not lie to me!"
"Yes, yes, I obey your command." Chu Kuan agreed hurriedly. As a result, the emperor seemed to have opened his mouth and did not stop.
"In fact, Taizu did many things right, but he failed to stick to one thing. Since the imperial examination was abolished for ten years, it would have been better if he had changed it to a Jinshi degree and finally entered the Imperial Academy before he abdicated."
"I think that all those who pass the imperial examination must study in the Imperial College for three years and be sent to the local areas for one year of experience, and then decide how to appoint them to official positions based on the actual situation. In this way, we will not raise a bunch of idiots who have no idea about local affairs!"
Chu Kuan was surprised that the emperor, who always admired Taizu, suddenly said this. However, the emperor obviously did not need his comfort or persuasion. After a while, he said lazily: "Of course, the most damaging thing is to appoint a virtuous person as the crown prince instead of the eldest son... There are indeed many disadvantages to appointing the eldest son as the crown prince, because it is very likely that a waste will ascend the throne, but the disputes over appointing a virtuous person are too great."
"Empress Yuan had no children, and the six palaces were without a master. Emperor Taizong, as the fourth prince, was recognized by Emperor Taizu as a wise man and cultivated to ascend the throne. But two years after Emperor Taizu abdicated, he set sail to sea and something went wrong. Even if the news was suppressed, the situation in the court changed suddenly."
"As a result, Taizong died six years after he ascended the throne. The sixteen-year-old eldest prince broke his leg for unknown reasons and became a vassal. The second prince died early, and the six-year-old third prince Gaozong ascended the throne without even a queen mother. Haha, Gaozong was not a very good emperor. He was over forty years old and still favored his youngest son. Before his death, he insisted on establishing Sejong..."