Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
As expected, the Emperor turned a thoughtful gaze toward the Third Prince before shifting his attention to the Crown Prince, inquiring, âWhat are your thoughts?â
Before his arrival, the Crown Princeâs advisors had meticulously evaluated the advantages and drawbacks of the Palace Examination. They had cautioned him against revealing any vulnerability that the Emperor could exploit and had advised him to take deliberate actions to suppress Su Bin.
The Emperorâs initial query to the Third Prince had placed the Crown Prince on high alert. He contemplated the possibility that his father might have already discerned his involvement in Su Binâs suppression. However, he was reluctant to accept such suspicions and viewed it as a test of his loyalty.
To allay his fatherâs doubts, the Crown Prince chose to employ a strategy of deflection and counteraction. Consequently, he swiftly responded, âI share the same sentiments as Main Examiner Huang.â
âSu Bin is undoubtedly a rare talent.â
âHis literary abilities are also exceptionally commendable. Regrettably, my own talents do not measure up. I believe Su Binâs composition may even surpass that of the top nine candidates. His essays clearly reflect his extraordinary talent.â
âBut I find myself perplexed by one aspect: why would a candidate of such remarkable caliber be ranked only tenth?â
With this statement, the Crown Prince effectively shifted the blame onto the five examiners. The Emperor turned his gaze toward the examiners and called upon Main Examiner Huang to clarify.
Without hesitation, Main Examiner Huang openly disclosed, âI had initially recommended Su Bin for the first position!â
âHowever, the four other examiners pointed out numerous flaws in Su Binâs essay, and, as a result, they collectively suggested ranking him eleventh.â
âUpon my insistence, Su Binâs rank was elevated to tenth place.â
Main Examiner Huang did not withhold the truth in his response.
In his heart, Main Examiner Huang was well aware that the other four examiners were loyal to His Highness the Crown Prince.
The Crown Prince had, on various occasions, dropped subtle hints to enlist his support, yet he consistently maintained the guise of an upright official and feigned ignorance of the Crown Princeâs intentions. Observing Huangâs stance,
the Crown Prince opted not to press the matter further.
By adopting this approach, Main Examiner Huang aimed to both avoid offending the Crown Prince and steer clear of any entanglements that might implicate him with the Crown Princeâs faction. While he believed that the Crown Prince would ultimately ascend the throne successfully, he refrained from assisting in any covert machinations.
Regardless, Main Examiner Huang held little regard for the supposed merits of winning the Emperorâs favor. The four other examiners, however, were in a state of anxiety.
Nonetheless, the Emperor refrained from immediately reprimanding them. Instead, he instructed them to retrieve the examination papers that had secured Su Binâs rank. Fortunately, these four examiners were not inept and did indeed identify some flaws in Su Binâs answers, ranging from minor to substantial.
Their eloquence skillfully obscured these issues, diverting attention from Su
Binâs performance. Nevertheless, they remained acutely aware that the Emperor was not oblivious to the underlying circumstances. The Emperorâs willingness to entertain their explanations and withhold immediate punishment was largely due to the Crown Princeâs influence.
When the Emperor eventually announced that this yearâs Primus was Su Bin, everyone present was left utterly flabbergasted. The Crown Prince, in particular, found himself astounded by the unforeseen turn of events. He had never anticipated that his deliberate suppression of Su Bin would lead to Su Binâs triumphant ascension as the new Primus.
His father exhibited no concern about the potential ridicule and mockery this situation might incite among the courtâs civil and military officials. He seemed undeterred by the thought, showing a distinct lack of consideration for his sonâs reputation.
The fact that the four examiners were loyal to the Crown Prince was common knowledge, leaving little room for doubt that Su Bin had experienced suppression. Yet, to the astonishment of many, Su Bin had managed a remarkable resurgence during the palace examination.
Main Examiner Huang expressed his jubilation, proclaiming, âYour Majestyâs wisdom shines brightly. Su Bin is truly deserving of this recognition!â
In tandem, the Third Prince voiced his approval, âFatherâs wisdom knows no bounds!â
He articulated his words in a manner that implied his puzzlement over his fatherâs motivations in this scenario..