Chapter 360: Chapter 221: The Frightened He Lianfang
Zhao Yao looked at He Lianfang, puffed up his cheeks, and said, "Second Uncle, are you so sure I have a way?"
He Lianfang had a look of "don’t try to be clever with me" on his face.
Under He Lianfang’s penetrating gaze, Zhao Yao knew he couldn’t bluff his way through and had to honestly tell He Lianfang.
"Second Uncle, I haven’t told anyone this method, not even my mother consort."
He Lianfang didn’t speak, but his gaze urged Zhao Yao to stop dawdling and speak up quickly.
"Second Uncle, you must promise me that after I tell you, you won’t tell anyone."
This request made He Lianfang slightly surprised: "Why is that?"
Zhao Yao straightforwardly said, "Because my method will shock the entire Great Zhou, and then I’ll become famous. I don’t want to be famous now; I just want to quietly be an unfavored prince."
Upon hearing this, He Lianfang thought to himself: This little rascal indeed has a way, and what’s more, it’s a way that could shake the world.
"I promise I won’t tell anyone."
"I originally planned to implement this method once I grow up, become a king, and head to my fief." Zhao Yao dared not drag it out any longer, fearing his second uncle would get angry if he didn’t get to the point. "I call this method the Imperial Examination."
"Imperial Examination?" He Lianfang understood what an examination was, but what did ’imperial examination’ mean? It was his first time hearing this term. "What does this mean?"
"The imperial examination is a system for selecting officials through exams..." Zhao Yao explained in detail how the imperial examination would be conducted to He Lianfang. He was describing the historical imperial examination system from the Ming and Qing periods of Zhao Yao’s dream world.
The more He Lianfang listened, the more shocked he became. After hearing it, he stared wide-eyed at Zhao Yao, utterly astonished.
Seeing He Lianfang’s stunned expression, Zhao Yao knew that the imperial examination had indeed shocked him.
The word "shocked" wasn’t enough to describe He Lianfang’s feelings; a term like "tempestuous waves" might be more appropriate.
Zhao Yao sat quietly beside him, waiting for He Lianfang to process what he had said about the imperial examination.
After a while, He Lianfang finally regained his composure, but his gaze towards Zhao Yao had changed. Before Zhao Yao mentioned the imperial examination, He Lianfang realized he had underestimated him. After listening, he discovered Zhao Yao was a genius beyond imagination.
"How did you come up with the imperial examination?" He Lianfang’s expression remained calm, but if one listened closely, there was a slight tremble in his voice.
In front of He Lianfang, Zhao Yao didn’t want to say he dreamt it. He could only say, "The Imperial College has monthly assessments, a quarterly assessment every three months, and an annual assessment at the end of the year, selecting the best students to enter the court as officials. I came up with the imperial examination through the college’s assessment system."
He Lianfang was so shocked he almost gasped inwardly, barely maintaining his composed expression.
"I’ve always thought that selecting the best students from the Imperial College to enter the court as officials is too..." Zhao Yao raised his hands to form a circle, "the scope is too small, and getting into the Imperial College is a hurdle that causes many to miss the opportunity to become officials. So I think the imperial examination should be open to everyone in the world."
"What you’ve described as the imperial examination is indeed an excellent method." Steadying his mind, He Lianfang continued, "You’re right, if you reveal this method, it will indeed shock the entire Great Zhou and would be remembered through history."
"So I can’t reveal the imperial examination now." Zhao Yao said nervously, "Second Uncle, you promised not to tell anyone."
He Lianfang knew that if Zhao Yao revealed this method of selecting officials, scholars across the world would be grateful to him, and he would gain immense prestige among them, perhaps even beyond... This was something Zhao Yao was not yet capable of handling.
Zhao Yao was still young and didn’t have the backing of a powerful maternal family or any influence in the court. Making such a significant move would evoke a lot of wariness and jealousy, even resentment.
Seeing Zhao Yao’s talent at such a young age, his elder brothers and their supporting ministers would surely try to win him over. If they couldn’t, they might attempt to destroy him.
"Rest assured, I will never tell anyone about this matter." He Lianfang said, letting out a gentle sigh, "Once the imperial examination is revealed, your life will be in danger." This child is truly astounding. If he hadn’t revealed his identity today, how could anyone have known he possessed such ’world-shocking’ intelligence?