The Prime Minister's Darling novel Chapter 386

Chapter 386: End of Chapter 198 (One more update)_2

The first old examiner wasn’t worried. Xiao Liulang could recite the Four Books and Five Classics from memory, and would have no trouble with the Four Books questions. On top of that, candidates also needed to write a five-character eight-line poem and four interpretational pieces.

Xiao Liulang recited the five-character eight-line poem he composed and his interpretation.

The old examiner nodded.

No problem at all.

The old examiner then asked Xiao Liulang about his eight-legged essay and policy question.

The old examiner internally held some opposition towards the eight-legged essay as it overly emphasized form, thus restricting the candidates’ performance. But these things are not up to him, or the emperor, to decide. These rules passed down by the ancestors are not easily abolished.

...

Xiao Liulang’s eight-legged essay performance was extremely good.

However, the policy question made the old examiner break out in a cold sweat.

Primogeniture was always a sensitive topic. The current Emperor was neither firstborn nor legitimate, and strictly speaking, couldn’t be considered virtuous either.

He had hidden these facts deep down, and at the time, he seemed a bit unfit for the position.

Of course, the series of stunning strategies and intelligence he displayed after ascending the throne were impressive, so much so, even the old examiner, who had served in two courts, dared not deny the Emperor was worthy of the Dragon Throne.

Compared to the previous Emperor, he was more ruthless by far.

At least the former Emperor never battled the Dowager Empress, but he sent the Dowager Empress to the palace.

In Zhan Country, the annual Imperial Examination’s questions are drawn up by the Hanlin Academy and sent to the Imperial Study Room for the Emperor’s selection. The Emperor would then choose a set of main examination questions and five sets of backup questions.

The old examiner was convinced that the topic of primogeniture would not have been sent by the Hanlin Academy; it must have been added by the Emperor himself.

“This Emperor really is hard to fathom,” the old examiner inwardly developed the same thought as the Prince of An County. Was the Emperor dissatisfied with the Crown Prince, or with the eldest imperial son who coveted the Crown Prince’s position? Or was he warning those royal sons who neither had legitimate birthright nor were elder sons, but considered themselves talented enough to emulate his ascent to the throne?

The candidates’ answers revolved around which type of successor is more beneficial to the state and society, or they cited classics to point out the pros and cons of each type.

Regardless of which argument they used, they all fell within the scope of hereditary rule. Only Xiao Liulang ventured beyond this scope.

Isn’t this suggesting to the Emperor that if his own son is incompetent, then he should replace him with someone else’s son?