Chapter 382: Chapter 352: Xue Qinghe's Upcoming Ascension
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Over the past year, Tian Dou City has developed rapidly, but the major noble powers have begun to obstruct the production and sale of advanced living soul tools.
When living soul tools become widespread and even ordinary people in the city can use them, the nobles' sense of superiority diminishes... But what the nobles find most intolerable is that Xue Qinghe has somehow conceived the idea of the "imperial examination," a method to select imperial officials through exams.
This is simply outrageous!
Anyone who passes the relevant exams can become an imperial official and even a noble?
This is like trampling on the achievements of their ancestors!
Their ability to inherit noble titles is because their ancestors established the vast empire of Tian Dou. Even if imperial officials are to be selected, they should be recommended by the nobles.
At the very least, students from various academies should participate in the five-yearly Continental Elite Tournament for observation and selection.
But Xue Qinghe went ahead and established the imperial examination, with the only requirement for participants being a clean record and no criminal activity.
If he had added a condition that examinees must be soul masters, the nobles might have grudgingly accepted it. But Xue Qinghe declared that all citizens of the empire are eligible to take the exam... Does this mean that future civil officials could be commoners?
How could they tolerate this?
As news spread rapidly and transportation improved, Xue Qinghe's plan to establish the imperial examination quickly became known throughout the cities of the Tian Dou Empire, and even the Star Luo Empire received the news.
At this point, the hereditary nobles realized the downside of the rapid development of living soul tools... Now that the news had spread, if they tried to stop it, they would likely be scorned by the entire populace of Tian Dou.
Xue Qinghe had given the common people a path to rise up, and if the nobles tried to block it, the news would surely spread.
"Uncle, what is Xue Qinghe trying to achieve?" In Prince Xue Xing's mansion, Xue Beng angrily slammed the newspaper on the table after reading the news. "Is he trying to make enemies of the hereditary nobles? These are all royal relatives whose ancestors made significant contributions to the founding of Tian Dou!"
"He is severing the roots of the Tian Dou Empire!"
"The Tian Dou Empire will surely be destroyed by his reckless actions!"
Prince Xue Xing picked up the Tian Dou Daily and read it for a while before speaking slowly after a moment of silence, "Perhaps he is trying to establish his authority. You know the noble children at the Tian Dou Royal Academy, right?"
"You are pretending, but they are genuine wastrels."
"Moreover, these hereditary nobles are indeed drawing salaries from the empire without doing any real work; they are parasites."
"This might have my brother's— the emperor's— instructions behind it."
Unlike the somewhat naive Xue Beng, Xue Xing had seen more of the world and understood the grand ambitions of Emperor Xue Ye. His imperial aura could move even soul masters.
Emperor Xue Ye had once attempted to reform these hereditary nobles, but their deep-rooted influence could not be eradicated by one emperor alone.
Now, Xue Qinghe is merely trying to accomplish what Emperor Xue Ye couldn't finish.
But is it really possible?
Xue Xing didn't know what the future held... Moreover, Emperor Xue Ye was already old. Having ultimately chosen to compromise with the hereditary nobles, would he allow Xue Qinghe to act so boldly?
"Father?" Xue Beng couldn't believe it. Deep down, he couldn't accept it, as Emperor Xue Ye had always been polite and cordial with the hereditary nobles, without putting on much of an air.
"You're still young, you don't understand." Xue Xing shook his head, increasingly disappointed in Xue Beng. He said slowly, "In the future, just be a stable prince like me."
Xue Beng had no response, but after a moment of silence, he asked, "Are we included in this?"
Xue Xing's face showed a hint of confidence. "Of course not. No matter what, we share the same bloodline with Xue Qinghe..."
At the same time, Emperor Xue Ye sought out Xue Qinghe, scolding him, "You are too hasty. Eradicating the hereditary nobles within the empire is not something that can be done overnight!"
When he was younger, he had similar thoughts, but reality had slapped him in the face—
Although many of the hereditary nobles appeared to be wastrels on the surface, within those large families, there were always a few talented individuals. Their accumulated heritage was significant, and they had ties with the top three sects, the bottom four sects, and even the Spirit Hall, making it impossible to uproot them all at once.
"Father, I wanted to take the slow approach, just like you, but time does not wait for us." Xue Qinghe had a different perspective, primarily driven by the fact that she didn't want to have children, nor did she want to adopt a child for the sake of the plan. "With the development of Spirit City, the research on living soul tools has become increasingly diverse and innovative. News now spreads rapidly. If this continues, the entire continent will soon learn about the misconduct of those hereditary noble children, and the Tian Dou royal family will become a laughingstock."
"Moreover, my actions are also for the sake of the Tian Dou Empire's talent pool."
"In all these years, I've realized one thing: the world is not lacking in talent, but these parasites occupy positions, preventing capable individuals from rising."
"The Continental Elite Tournament is indeed a way to select talent, but it is limited to elite soul masters. Many commoners and commoner soul masters also have management abilities but lack the strength to even qualify for participation."
"I am willing to give these people a path."
Emperor Xue Ye's expression fluctuated, and after coughing three times, he slowly said, "Very well, the empire's foundation is strong enough to endure your upheaval."
"Father, please rest assured. Even if I am labeled a foolish ruler, I will eradicate these parasites for the future of Tian Dou!" Xue Qinghe declared firmly. The determined look in her eyes moved Emperor Xue Ye, as if he saw his younger self—though he lacked the courage to speak so boldly to his now-deceased father.
"Good!" Emperor Xue Ye laughed heartily. "Cough, cough! I support you! At the end of this month, I will convene the court and officially pass the throne to you!"
"I will not disappoint you, Father!" Xue Qinghe was overwhelmingly excited. Years of patience and planning were finally coming to fruition, with Emperor Xue Ye personally passing the throne to her.
At this moment, Qian Renxue began to envision Bibi Dong's surprised, regretful, proud expression when she ascended to the throne—From the beginning, Qian Renxue's sole purpose in impersonating Xue Qinghe in Tian Dou was simple:
To gain her mother's recognition and love, nothing more...
...
"Xue Qinghe is set to officially ascend the throne of the Tian Dou Empire next month," Hu Liena announced as she walked into the Pope's Hall, delivering this piece of intelligence.
(End of Chapter)
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