Do you know that my grandfather was entitled to be enshrined in the Imperial Ancestral Temple?

Chapter 71 Heading to Bianjing

In the Song Dynasty, ordinary members of the imperial family did not have a high status. Even princes and dukes had a noble status but no real power.

While they wouldn't offend the officials in the court, they weren't afraid of them either.

Moreover, the imperial court stipulated that members of the imperial clan could not hold substantive positions and were not allowed to associate with court officials.

Therefore, the imperial family and court officials kept to themselves and had no contact with each other.

Although members of the imperial family could not participate in the imperial examinations, they could study at the Imperial Academy.

Wang Zhuo said that some officials in Bianjing transferred their children to the Imperial Academy in Luoyang in order to avoid the imperial family members at the Imperial Academy in Bianjing.

The reason is obvious.

It seems that some members of the imperial family couldn't resist and instructed their descendants to contact the sons of those officials.

Those members of the imperial family who remained in Bianjing were those closely related to the emperor by blood; those who were more distant were sent to secondary capitals.

Those who went further afield went to local government offices. They took on sinecure positions and just coasted along.

For example, Zhao Zongquan, although he held the position of militia commander, was actually only responsible for training local soldiers.

The so-called "village soldiers" were actually just local militia. They received simple training and acquired some military skills, but were essentially still ordinary people.

It can only be used to stop and deal with some bandits at crucial moments.

The death of the young prince has caused some discontent among the imperial family members throughout the land.

After all, the emperor was already over forty years old and only had this one son.

Now that his son has died young, it will be difficult for the official to have another child at his age.

Therefore, the only option left for the officials was adoption.

However, most members of the imperial family could only dream about it; those who remained in Bianjing had the best chance.

After all, they are closest to the government by blood.

Although the imperial court stipulated that members of the imperial family were not allowed to associate with court officials, there was nothing they could do.

However, it is permissible for one's offspring to make contact and curry favor with the offspring of those officials.

But the prince had only recently died, and these people dared to make a move. Weren't they afraid of incurring the Emperor's wrath?

Upon hearing this news, Wang You suddenly thought of Qi Heng.

Qi Heng's trip to the Sheng family to borrow capital was itself highly unusual.

Given the Qi family's social standing and Princess Pingning's emphasis on her son, what kind of educational resources couldn't they find?

Zhuang Xuejiu may have been a good teacher, but in the end, he only produced a few Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations).

They have a reputation, but Qi Jia isn't so bad that he can't find someone better.

If he were really that famous, why was it only Qi Heng who went to study there?

Don't those powerful and wealthy people in Bianjing care about the education of their children?

In this light, Qi Heng's intention in going to the Sheng family to study was also to avoid the controversy surrounding the succession.

The Qi family held a high position, and Princess Pingning had grown up in the palace, giving her some respectability in front of the Emperor and Empress.

Those members of the imperial family who coveted the throne began to hesitate to visit him directly due to their status.

However, it is possible to get his son to befriend Qi Heng.

Princess Pingning was unwilling to get involved, nor did she want to offend the imperial clan, and she was even more reluctant to send her only son out of Bianjing, so she sent Qi Heng to the Sheng family to study.

Those members of the imperial clan can't possibly chase them all the way to the Sheng family.

"So you still want to stay in Luoyang to study?" Wang Min asked.

"Um."

Wang Zhuo nodded and said, "Luoyang is not far from Bianjing, and I have been studying at the Imperial Academy in Luoyang for several years, so I am used to it."

It's a bit strange being in a new place all of a sudden.

"What you said makes sense. I didn't think things through before."

Wang Min nodded and said, "In that case, you may continue your studies at the Imperial Academy in Luoyang."

He wanted Wang Zhuo to study in Bianjing, partly to facilitate his participation in the imperial examinations, and partly to prepare for his future marriage.

However, there's no rush to arrange the marriage. Let's wait until Wang Zhuo finishes the imperial examination and see how far he can go.

It would be even better if one could pass the imperial examination with flying colors, but even if one fails, as long as one can pass the provincial examination, one can still find a better marriage partner.

The father and son talked until late at night, with Wang You simply listening without interrupting.

"Aha~"

As Wang Min was speaking enthusiastically, a yawn suddenly came from the side.

"Look at you! You have no energy at all, what kind of person are you!"

"father."

Wang You said speechlessly, "It's already late at night, and we'll find out what the situation is like in Bianjing when we get there."

All this back and forth is going on and on. By the time we get to Bianjing, who knows how the situation will have developed? Isn't that a waste of time?

Besides, my older brother has been traveling a long way and hasn't had a proper rest yet.

"Your older brother is more energetic than you..."

Before Wang Min could finish speaking, he saw Wang Zhuo's tired expression and waved his hand impatiently, saying, "You two, get out of here!"

"Father, I take my leave!"

The two brothers quickly bowed and withdrew.

"Thanks, big brother," Wang You said with a smile.

Wang Zhuo was just chatting with his father, and he was still thinking hard; he was quite energetic.

However, seeing what Wang You said, she deliberately pretended to be tired to cooperate with him.

"I am indeed sleepy."

Wang Zhuo laughed and said, "Besides, I also think Father is worrying too much."

Towards the end of their conversation, it was entirely Wang Min asking him about news from Bianjing.

Luoyang is very close to Bianjing (Kaifeng) and was also a secondary capital.

Any news would reach Luoyang very quickly.

The Imperial Academy in Luoyang was a gathering place for a large number of scholars, who were most fond of discussing politics.

Therefore, Wang Zhuo knew far more about the news in Bianjing than Wang Min did.

"yes."

Wang You laughed and said, "Father is just like a newlywed. He is very excited, but he is also afraid that the bride will be too ugly when the veil is lifted, so he is a little hesitant."

"What nonsense are you talking about?"

Wang Zhuo glared at his younger brother with annoyance and said, "Go to sleep. I forgot to give my sister the gift I brought. I wonder if she'll be mad at me tomorrow."

"Definitely not."

Wang You teased, "Your sister isn't close to you. When I came back, she kept pestering me for a present. But when you came back, she didn't say a word to you."

Wang Zhuo: "..."

When he went to Luoyang to study, Mu Jie'er didn't even remember anything.

Although I come back every year for the Lunar New Year, I can't stay for long.

Therefore, Mu Jie'er was unfamiliar with this older brother.

Moreover, given the age difference, he couldn't do what Wang You did to coax Mu Jie'er, so naturally Mu Jie'er couldn't get close to him.

…………

The New Year passed relatively uneventfully. The young prince died prematurely, which the common people did not care about, but officials and their families had to pay attention.

Therefore, officials and their families were not allowed to celebrate in a grand manner.

Wang Min was an official sent to a post and didn't have many relatives in Shouzhou. After the New Year, he would only need to visit the families of officials with whom he had good relations.

On the sixth day, the servants of the Wang family began to transport the luggage to the dock and load it onto the ship.

On the eighth day, Wang Min and Feng Shi helped Old Madam Wang, while Wang Zhuo and Wang You, who was holding Mu Jie'er's hand, followed behind.

The family set off by horse-drawn carriage to the dock.

Today is the day the Wang family travels to Bianjing, but Wang Min is not among them.

The old house in Bianjing has been vacant for many years. Although the servants have cleaned and repaired it, it still needs to be decorated as soon as possible.

Wang Min wanted to wait for the new prefect to take office and complete the handover, so after discussion, it was decided that Madam Feng and Old Madam Wang would lead Wang You and the others to set off first.

Wang Zhuo was also going back to the Imperial Academy in Luoyang, so they set off together.