Imperial Palace
Inside the Imperial Study, the Emperor stretched his body, then slowly walked back to his desk. Just as he was about to sit and continue reviewing memorials, Eunuch Zhao slipped in soundlessly and handed over a document. "Your Majesty, these are the materials this old servant has gathered. Please review them."
"Prince Qi held his literary gathering today as well?" the Emperor asked before looking at it.
Bowing at the waist, Eunuch Zhao replied, "Your Majesty, Prince Qi indeed held his literary gathering today."
"The same day as Marquis of Dai's." The Emperor spoke blandly and first opened Marquis of Dai's materials. They listed the time, place, number of attendees, and the names, hometowns, backgrounds, reputations, and standings of every participant.
At a single glance, the Emperor's brows drew together slightly.
Though he had sensed it long ago, nothing compared to having the real evidence laid before his eyes. The Emperor sighed inwardly.
Only two could barely be called talented scholars, and neither was native to the Capital City. They had merely come from elsewhere and had no roots in the Capital City.
Most of the remaining Provincial Graduates came from poor families. There were scarcely any sons of officials, and even those were the sons of minor officials.
He had originally worried that the imperial grandson's registration would raise the Crown Prince's banner and draw a host of followers with one call. Now, it seemed he had taken things for granted. This situation was not merely far from answering one call with a hundred responses—it was simply a deserted doorstep.
It was not that Su Ziji lacked talent, but that his foundations were too shallow. Though he was the Crown Prince's son, as a mere Marquis of Dai, he simply could not accomplish anything through his own