Chapter 533: Host Selection

"Alright, let this matter end here!"

Li Shimin, fearing Chen Yan would continue to give him trouble, quickly waved his hand, "Chen Aiqing, you may go back first."

"I can't leave just yet, Your Majesty; I still have something to report!"

Li Shimin: "......"

All the officials: "......"

"You......" Li Shimin's eyes kept twitching; seeing Chen Yan's attitude seemed firm, he simply threw caution to the wind.

Today is his first day attending court; let him do as he wishes.

"That's right, Your Majesty." Chen Yan bowed, "Since the beginning of the year, Your Majesty has announced the imperial examination; by now, at year's end, countless students across the land have already gone through several rounds of testing, and early next year they will undergo the final examination—the very exam Your Majesty promised to personally oversee."

"But Your Majesty overseeing is Your Majesty overseeing; this is the Tang Dynasty's second imperial examination since the Zhenguan era's first year, and Your Majesty promised to personally oversee the examination hall—doesn't that show Your Majesty values the examination?"

"Since you value it, then the various procedures and systems, as well as who will preside over the year-end imperial examination, still need to be decided in advance, lest we make a hasty decision later, mess up important affairs, and let the students across the land view us in what way?"

As his words fell, whispers spread through the court; many people's eyes flickered, as if thinking about something.

Even Du Ruhui and others fell silent.

This time Chen Yan didn't cause trouble; what he raised was indeed a rather serious issue.

Actually, regarding the various rules and systems of the imperial examination, they had spent a year continuously discussing and filling gaps, and already had a complete result.

But as Chen Yan said, while His Majesty overseeing is His Majesty overseeing, the question of who will preside remains.

Li Shimin habitually stroked his small moustache, pondered a moment, then looked up and asked, "Officials, who do you think should preside over this examination?"

Wei Zheng then proposed, "Why not let His Majesty also take on the role? His Majesty overseeing is actually serving as chief examiner; in that case, letting His Majesty also serve as host might excite the students across the land, and when the news spreads, for the next examination they might work harder."

At that moment, many people secretly nodded, thinking it was a good method.

Even Li Shimin found it quite agreeable.

Thinking that since he's already chief examiner, also being host isn't a problem.

Now the Tang Dynasty has movable-type printing, and Chen Yan's library; the imperial examination system is also gradually being perfected.

In the future, the imperial examination will certainly be the most important channel for selecting officials; emphasizing it further is not excessive.

"Impossible!" Chen Yan rejected Wei Zheng's proposal: "Since His Majesty is already overseeing the examination hall and serving as chief examiner, how can he continue to also serve as host?"

"His Majesty's awe-inspiring authority—being chief examiner is already a great honor; if we let His Majesty also serve as host, where would His Majesty's dignity be placed?"

"Or do you mean that His Majesty's awe-inspiring authority is more important than the imperial examination, more important than batch after batch of future national pillars?"

Wei Zheng refuted without hesitation, his words causing many to lower their heads: "Furthermore, His Majesty's willingness to serve as chief examiner while also being host doesn't that show His Majesty's closeness to the people?"

"With such a ruler who understands great principles and is close to the people, shouldn't the students feel even more honored and grateful?"

Upon hearing those words, Li Shimin's forehead bulged with black lines.

Good, this is very Wei Zheng!

But hearing the latter part, his mood instantly relaxed.

Yes!

That's exactly me!

Mainly about being close to the people!

At this moment, he almost couldn't help but directly agree to Wei Zheng's proposal.

However, Chen Yan shook his head, "Lord Wei has misunderstood; I do not mean that."

Knowing Wei Zheng's temperament, he didn't get angry and calmly said, "His Majesty is the ruler of a nation; he needs to maintain his dignity. Proper closeness to the people is good, but as the saying goes, excess is as bad as deficiency."

"If one is too close to the people, it may lead to the oblivious pushing their luck, thinking His Majesty is easy to bully—what then is a wise ruler?"

"One who can awe the court and govern the realm well is a wise ruler!"

"His Majesty has already far surpassed this; thus he must maintain his dignity even more, lest someone leap about and fail to recognize themselves."

All the officials, including Li Shimin, furrowed their brows.

Wei Zheng and Chen Yan each have their own reasoning; we cannot say who is right or wrong, only that the issues they consider indeed exist.

"If that's what you say, then better not let His Majesty oversee the examination hall or serve as chief examiner, lest it affect His Majesty's dignity!" Wei Zheng snorted coldly, flicked his sleeve.

He doesn't have a bad impression of Chen Yan, but in court, everyone having their own opinions and arguing is quite normal.

Du Ruhui often argues with Fang Xuanling as well.

"Alright!"

Li Shimin, seeing signs that they might continue arguing, sternly interrupted them, "What you two say is reasonable, but this matter is not small; we still need to discuss it slowly."

After saying that, he turned to ask Fang Xuanling below, "Fang Aiqing, which of their two proposals do you think is better?"

Fang Xuanling pondered a moment, then stood up, "My view aligns with His Majesty's; they each have their own reasoning, but the essence of this issue is nothing more than the question of who will preside over the imperial examination."

"The Secretary Director Wei thinks His Majesty serving as host is more suitable, while Minister Chen thinks it's not suitable; in that case, why don't we keep thinking to see if there might be someone more suitable than His Majesty?"

"I think there's no need to insist it must be His Majesty alone; others could also do it."

"That's right!" Wei Zheng continued, "But the chief examiner is His Majesty; the host's status must not be too low, otherwise it would backfire!"

"Or do we still need to look for......"

He spoke up to here, then suddenly paused; in an instant the fog cleared, and he fully grasped Chen Yan's deep meaning.

After pondering a moment, he shook his head and sighed, "I understand; Minister Chen is correct!"

Fang Xuanling gave a hehe laugh and said nothing.

Li Shimin also understood at this moment; he glanced at one person below and said, "Wei Aiqing, what have you realized? Why not share it?"

Wei Zheng remained silent, "I understand what Minister Chen intends to propose regarding who should serve as host."

"Oh? Who is it? Tell me, let me hear. Just now you were arguing with Chen Aiqing, yet now you approve of him; I'm really curious who this person actually is!"

He bowed deeply and said, "Your Majesty, I propose that the Crown Prince serve as host; only he is most suitable for this position, others are not qualified."

Li Chengqian, who had been eating melon seeds and enjoying the show all along, suddenly stared blankly.

Ah?

Me?

When Wei Zheng's words left his mouth, not only Li Chengqian was taken aback for a moment; besides the few who had guessed it, everyone else was stunned.

Soon after, everyone nodded.

If Li Shimin were the chief examiner, then as the Crown Prince, Li Chengqian would undoubtedly be the most suitable host.

The emperor oversees the examination hall, the Crown Prince presides over the imperial examination!

Is there anything more suitable than this?

"......"