Chapter 70

Hangzhou Lin'an is the current imperial residence and the capital of the court. Although it does not match the scale of Tokyo Bianliang, it is a bustling and picturesque place, making it an ideal place for enjoyment.

In the third month of spring, with the warm breeze and bright sunshine, it is the best time of the year, especially for Lin'an! The triennial spring examination has just concluded, and the names of those who passed have been announced outside the Donghua Gate. Three days ago, Emperor Xiaozong Zhao Shen met the top three scholars of this year's examination in the Chui Gong Hall.

Emperor Xiaozong Zhao Shen was very satisfied with the appearance and character of these three scholars. However, what displeased him was that the new second and third place scholars, who were students, spoke frankly and gave advice in the hall.

Since the founding emperor established the precedent that officials would not be punished for their words, he had become accustomed to the ministers' tendency to give advice at every turn.

Emperor Xiaozong Zhao Shen was a man with a strong desire for power. Therefore, he felt a slight aversion to the advice given by Pan Zhi and Shen Jinchuan. He merely praised them in public and then dismissed them.

After the court session ended that afternoon, Emperor Xiaozong Zhao Shen was reviewing memorials in the imperial study. He suddenly frowned and muttered to himself, "Both the second and third place scholars of this year's examination are from Chuzhou?"

Beside him, the eunuch Liang Ke, a man in his fifties with gray hair, bowed and replied, "Your Majesty, both of them are from Chuzhou. It is unprecedented for two of the top three to come from the same place!"

"Oh? It seems Chuzhou is a place of great literary talent and many outstanding people!" Emperor Xiaozong Zhao Shen mused for a moment, then asked indifferently, "Do you think their advice that day had any merit?"

"Your Majesty's wisdom is unparalleled; this old servant dares not speak rashly."

Emperor Zhao Shen waved his hand and said softly, "Speak freely!"

Hearing this, Liang Ke felt reassured and then said solemnly, "Although the two scholars' advice was abrupt, in this old servant's view, it was quite reasonable. As the ancient saying goes, 'A hero is not judged by his origin.' It is said that heroes emerge in times of chaos, but in my view, it is not that no heroes emerge in times of peace, but rather that peace is too bound by rules!"

"Oh? You think so too?" Emperor Zhao Shen raised an eyebrow and glanced at Liang Ke.

With just this glance, Liang Ke understood Emperor Zhao Shen's thoughts. Having served him from prince to emperor for decades, he knew his master's temperament well.

In Liang Ke's eyes, his master was a very contradictory person. He wanted ministers to accept advice readily, but he also deeply detested those who gave advice on every detail. He liked to break conventions and strive for innovation, but he was also cautious about the distribution of power.

On that day in the Chui Gong Hall, Liang Ke knew that his master had already had such thoughts, but due to the arrogance and boldness of the two scholars, he had developed a sense of aversion.

Therefore, Liang Ke continued, "What Pan Zhi said has some merit. The imperial examination is about fairness and is a crucial national institution! Although there are no explicit rules, there is a tendency to exclude those who are unattractive or disabled!"

After hearing Liang Ke's analysis, Emperor Zhao Shen nodded slightly but did not make a definitive conclusion. He picked up the teacup on the table, took a sip, and was about to continue reviewing the memorials. However, after drinking the tea, he asked in confusion, "This tea..."

"This old servant will bring new tea..." Liang Ke thought the emperor was dissatisfied with the tea and hurried to replace it.

"Wait!" Emperor Zhao Shen refused to change the tea and instead opened the teacup, looked inside, and saw the white down on the tea leaves and the sharp tips. He then asked softly, "What kind of tea is this? Why have I never seen it before?"

Liang Ke suddenly realized and said, "Your Majesty, this tea was presented by Yang Wanli of the Chuzhou Tea Office. He said it is a new famous tea from Chuzhou! I don't know the specific type, but the tea official is waiting in the capital for an audience. Should I summon him, Your Majesty?"

"Yes, summon him to the palace!"

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Liang Ke left the imperial study and instructed the eunuch to summon the official.

Soon, Liang Ke led an official into the imperial study. The tea official, who had never seen the emperor before, immediately knelt and shouted, "Your humble servant pays respects to Your Majesty!"

Emperor Zhao Shen looked at the official and waved his hand, displeased, "Rise. I have a question for you. I remember the tribute tea from Chuzhou is Longtuan Shengxue. Why did Yang Wanshi not present the tribute tea but instead offer this unnamed tea? What is the reason?"

Hearing the emperor's voice, the tea official broke out in a cold sweat, thinking that changing the tribute tea had angered the emperor. He hurriedly replied, "Your Majesty, please forgive me. This tea is indeed a new famous tea from Chuzhou, and its quality surpasses Longtuan Shengxue! Yang Wanshi believed that presenting a lower-quality tea would be a crime against the emperor. Therefore, he replaced Longtuan Shengxue... Please understand, Your Majesty!"

"Oh? I see. No wonder I found this tea refreshing and unique, and indeed more elegant than the tribute tea I usually drink!"

As Emperor Zhao Shen listened to the tea official, he became interested in the tea on the table. He took another sip and asked, "What is the name of this tea?"

"Your Majesty, this tea is called Maofeng!"

"Oh? Maofeng, with its sharp tips... It lives up to its name!" Emperor Zhao Shen looked at the shape of the tea leaves in the cup and nodded slightly to himself.

At that time, the Song people often ground tea cakes and infused them with water. However, Emperor Zhao Shen, the most noble emperor, had a unique preference for not grinding the tea but placing the leaves directly in the cup, a habit that foreshadowed future practices.

Although Emperor Zhao Shen enjoyed this method, he did not encourage it in the palace or among the people. There was a saying, "When the king of Wu liked swordsmen, the people had many scars; when the king of Chu liked slender waists, many in the palace starved to death." As an emperor, he could not let his personal preferences cause negative effects.

"Your Majesty, your humble servant has a memorial from Yang Wanshi. Please review it, Your Majesty!" The tea official took out a memorial from his robe and held it up respectfully.

Liang Ke took the memorial and presented it to Emperor Zhao Shen, who then opened it and began to read.

In the memorial, Yang Wanshi detailed the origin and source of the Maofeng tea, mentioning the tea competition in Langya Mountain and the name Ye Yu.

"Such a young person has some ability..." Emperor Zhao Shen nodded in approval as he read Ye Yu's resume in the memorial.

But then he seemed to think of something and turned to Liang Ke, "The person mentioned by Pan Zhi and Shen Jinchuan, is his name Ye Yu?"

"Yes, Your Majesty! He is from the same hometown as them, Chuzhou..."

"Could it be the same person?" Emperor Zhao Shen mused to himself.

At that moment, an inner eunuch entered the hall, "Your Majesty, Minister Yang from the Bureau of Astronomy requests an audience!"

"Oh? Summon him in!" Emperor Zhao Shen then said to the tea official, "You may leave!"

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

After the tea official left, Yang Hui entered the imperial study.

"Your humble servant pays respects to Your Majesty!" Yang Hui, who was in good spirits despite his age, bowed respectfully.

"Minister Yang, why have you come to see me? Has Prince Dun not been studying well?" Emperor Zhao Shen asked with a frown, knowing that Yang Hui would not come without a reason.

The Bureau of Astronomy, also known as the Astronomical Office, was responsible for astronomy and calendar studies and teaching students. It generally did not involve political matters. Emperor Zhao Shen had four sons, but the eldest, Crown Prince Zhuangwen, had recently died of illness, and the fourth son had died before he ascended the throne.

Now, he had only two sons, Prince Qing, Zhao Kai, and Prince Gong, Zhao Dun. Emperor Zhao Shen was particularly fond of the third son, Zhao Dun.

After the death of Crown Prince Zhuangwen, the position of crown prince should have gone to the second son, Zhao Kai. However, due to Emperor Zhao Shen's favor, he had not yet named a crown prince. The court and officials understood that the emperor intended to leave the position to Zhao Dun.

Prince Gong, Zhao Dun, was studious and particularly interested in astronomy and mathematics. Therefore, Emperor Zhao Shen had ordered Yang Hui to teach him these subjects.

For this reason, Emperor Zhao Shen thought Yang Hui had come to discuss Zhao Dun's studies.

"Your Majesty, there is no need to worry. The second prince is very intelligent and will soon surpass his teacher!" Yang Hui bowed and replied solemnly.

Hearing his son praised, Emperor Zhao Shen was pleased but did not show it. He waved his hand and sighed, "Minister, there is no need to praise Prince Dun. What brings you here today?"

"Your Majesty, your humble servant is here to request leave. Please grant it, Your Majesty!"

"Leave? Is Minister unwell?"

"Your Majesty, your humble servant is not unwell, nor is there any family matter. I am going to Chuzhou to take on a student!" Yang Hui dared not hide the reason and explained respectfully.

Emperor Zhao Shen was surprised and thought, "Whose child is so important that my minister must personally seek a student?"

With this question in mind, Emperor Zhao Shen smiled, "Minister, are you joking? You are the Director of the Bureau of Astronomy, and you are requesting leave to take on a student personally..."

Yang Hui was very serious, "Learning has no hierarchy. The wise are the teachers. Your humble servant, as an official, is taking on a student to show respect. In terms of mathematics, I will soon be surpassed by him!"

"Oh? A person who can earn such praise from Minister must be a talent! There is no need for leave. I will send an envoy to bring him to the capital, and you will save the journey!"

"Your Majesty, please grant your humble servant a half-month leave!"

Yang Hui knelt on the floor and said earnestly, "My son informed this person of my intention to take him as a student, but he was unmoved. As the saying goes, 'Sincerity can move even the hardest stone.' I must go in person!"

Ah! What a proud person! Emperor Zhao Shen was somewhat angry, wondering who this person was to be so arrogant.

Looking at the white-haired Yang Hui, he thought, "You are so stubborn. Is it worth lowering your status for a student? This is not taking on a student; this is begging for a student!"

He took a sip of tea and asked impatiently, "Who is this person, and why are you so determined? Is there no one in the Imperial Academy who can match him?"

"Your Majesty, his name is Ye Yu, from Qingliu County, Chuzhou! The students in the Imperial Academy are all talented, but they are merely continuing the teachings of the sages. This person, however, has profound knowledge and has already surpassed me in mathematics!"

Yang Hui explained earnestly to Emperor Zhao Shen, but he did not notice that after mentioning Ye Yu, Emperor Zhao Shen did not hear a word he said...

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