CHAPTER 1142: CHAPTER 1121: ENVY

Adults, especially those of a certain age, cannot help but test a child’s knowledge when they encounter one so young, which everyone understands.

However, it’s unusual when the one doing the testing is the emperor himself, and even more so in such a solemn occasion.

Regardless of how everyone appears on the surface, in their hearts they are undoubtedly envious, as speaking a single word with the emperor in this context is worth more than many years of plotting outside.

Who knows how many have gone to great lengths just to earn such an opportunity.

Bai Shan was not a fool; he did not understand why the Fifth Prince suddenly brought him out, but indeed this was an opportunity for him.

Hence, quickly he reviewed in his mind what he intended to say, and to avoid any mistakes, he deliberately slowed down his speech.

He was a bit nervous at first, his palms sweating, but the moment he looked up and saw the emperor’s face—unfamiliar yet somewhat recognizable—their previous encounter during the journey flashed through his mind. Realizing the emperor had orchestrated their path to this point, his heart calmed down.

The corners of Bai Shan’s mouth tilted up slightly. What was there to fear?

Wasn’t this all part of his arrangement?

Bai Shan’s mind raced, casting aside many of his books, he simply said, "I have been studying ’The Spring and Autumn’."

As students from the Imperial Academy, what books could they read that those present did not already know?

It was mainly about what content he wanted the emperor to ask about.

Upon hearing that it was ’The Spring and Autumn’, the emperor’s eyebrows lifted slightly and he smiled, "I remember Duke Jing of Qi asking Confucius about governance; do you know how Confucius replied?"

Bai Shan bowed and replied, "Confucius said: ’Let the ruler be a ruler, the subject a subject, the father a father, the son a son.’"

The emperor laughed and asked, "Do you think what Confucius said was correct?"

Bai Shan looked up at the emperor, then lowered his gaze, "The words of the sage are naturally correct."

The emperor laughed heartily, stroking his beard while nodding, "Indeed, very good. Five, it seems you’ve made yourself a good friend. Come, sit by the secretary, will you record today’s ’Spring and Autumn’?"

Immediately, Bai Shan knelt, performed a salute, and replied, "Yes."

The secretary sitting next to the emperor raised his eyebrows, exchanged a look with his colleague assisting him, then took up his pen and wrote in the ledger, "The emperor questioned the youth about ’The Spring and Autumn’, asking about Duke Jing of Qi’s confusion, and the youth replied..."

After recording this segment, he nodded at Bai Shan who approached, stood up, and gave up his seat for him.

Of course, this ledger was not for Bai Shan to record in or read from, so he turned to a blank ledger for him and provided a set of pen and ink as well.

Bai Shan expressed his thanks, kneeling by his side, and also began to observe the events within the great hall.

His vantage point was especialy good because it allowed him to oversee the entire scene, including the expressions of both the emperor and the empress dowager.

What is the role of a secretary?

That is to serve as a historian, dedicated to recording the words and actions of the emperor and all those present, to be sealed and stored. After the emperor’s death, the new emperor ascending the throne will have these sealed ’Daily Records’ brought out for compilation into a historical text.

The merits and faults of an emperor are primarily derived from these records.

Therefore, as a secretary, the most important aspect lies in factual recording. Bai Shan and his peers were taught this from reading history.

Teachers have said that when writing articles, as long as you remember the main points and stick to them, no matter how you write, you’ve already won half the battle.

The other half depends on the quality of the writing.

Having written numerous essays and having read through various storybooks that Manbao brought out, Bai Shan believed his own writing to be quite adequate.

As a historian, isn’t the most critical aspect to have a clear and comprehensible prose that also evokes imagery?

The first thing to remember is the Emperor’s words and deeds, followed by some important remarks from the ministers.

Bai Shan set two key points for himself in his heart and began to observe the people in this great hall openly, especially focusing on the Prince of Yizhou.

Knowing the inside story, Bai Shan watched the friendly interactions between the Emperor and the Prince of Yizhou, he really wanted to write something down, but sadly, he didn’t have the courage.

He feared that if he wrote it, things would be ruined.

Bai Shan held his pen and tried to record the dialogue between the Emperor and the Prince of Yizhou without personal emotion, yet in his heart, he couldn’t help but hum continuously.

Mingda noticed her peeking around and reminded her, "Don’t look anymore, Father is nurturing your Junior Brother."

Manbao nodded, "I know."

But she couldn’t help but still worry, this palace is really too dangerous, and besides, Bai Shan hasn’t eaten anything yet, right?

Manbao glanced at the mutton in front of her, picked up her chopsticks and tried a bite. Speaking of which, it was really delicious.

She glanced across at Bai Erlang and Yin Huo, signaling with her eyes for them to hurry up and eat, they would later find a way to send some food to Bai Shan.

She also glanced at the Fifth Prince who had started talking to Bai Erlang, then turned her head to ask Mingda, "Is his cousin named Zhangbo? It can’t be Yang Changbo, can it?"

Mingda was eating and didn’t have time to answer when Princess Changyu sitting next to Manbao pulled her arm, eyes sparkling, "You know Cousin Yang?"

Mingda couldn’t help but cover her mouth with her handkerchief and chuckled for a while before saying, "Aren’t you ashamed, he is not your cousin."

"What’s wrong with that? I refer to Five as brother, naturally I can also call his cousin ’cousin’."

Manbao said, "The County Magistrate of our Luojiang County, his style name is Zhangbo and he is named Heshu."

Princess Changyu couldn’t help but clap her hands in laughter, "That is Cousin Yang, have you seen him?"

Manbao nodded.

Princess Changyu eagerly shook her arm and asked, "Do you think he is good-looking?"

After thinking for a moment, Manbao nodded, "Indeed, he is handsome."

"What do you mean ’indeed handsome’?" Princess Changyu dissatisfied, "Is there anyone more handsome than Cousin Yang in this world?"

Mingda thought seriously for a moment, then shook his head, "Seems like there isn’t."

Manbao also thought seriously, "Really, the County Magistrate Yang is indeed the most handsome man I have ever seen."

Princess Changyu became proud, lifting her head and saying, "How about that, I wasn’t wrong, was I?"

After saying this, she sighed with regret, "It’s a pity I was born a few years too late, if I were born a few years earlier, I would definitely have asked Father to grant me marriage."

Mingda: "You might not have been able to outcompete the girls from other noble families, I heard that a few years ago, Ms.Cui and Ms.Wang nearly came to blows over him, it’s also fortunate that the direct line of the Ms.Lu family didn’t have an eligible young lady, otherwise, it would have been fiercer."

Manbao: "..."

Princess Changyu didn’t accept this, "I am a princess, how could I be inferior to them?"

Mingda smiled, "Sister, you are certainly perfect in our hearts, but Father cannot simply issue an imperial marriage decree, the Yang Family must also be consulted."

Princess Changyu naturally understood this as well, people in this world can’t just marry whoever they want to.

Now, she had also reached the age of discussing marriage.

She lifted her gaze towards the nephews sitting behind the ministers on the opposite side, after scanning them she sighed, "Compared with Cousin Yang, they fall far short."

Manbao also looked up along with her. Although they were not as handsome as Yang Heshu, there were quite a few who were still strikingly handsome; she felt there was nothing to regret.