This year’s Longevity Festival was to be held with great grandeur due to the arrival of foreign envoys offering their congratulations.
This is the first time since the founding of the Great Zhou Dynasty that foreign envoys have come to pay tribute. For Great Zhou, this is an extremely important matter. The court ministers are taking it very seriously, though the emperor himself, whose birthday is being celebrated, seems less concerned.
In recent days, the ministers have been discussing one matter. That is whether the emperor should go to worship at the Confucius Temple on the day of the Longevity Festival.
The foreign envoys admire the culture of the Central Plains and revere the two sages, Confucius and Mencius. Previously, the Prince of Wusun explicitly requested in advance that Great Zhou establish an academy in Wusun.
Upon hearing Wusun’s suggestion to establish an academy, envoys from Anran and other countries also expressed their agreement, hoping that Great Zhou would establish academies in their nations as well.
Seeing the foreign envoys’ admiration for the culture of the Central Plains, the ministers were very pleased and proud. Therefore, some ministers suggested that on the day of the Longevity Festival, they bring the foreign envoys to worship Confucius and Mencius together.
The foreign envoys also very much wish to pay homage to Confucius and Mencius; it would be an honor for them if they could do so.
There has been no precedent for worshiping Confucius and Mencius on the day of the Longevity Festival. Moreover, it is not necessary to worship Confucius and Mencius every year.
When Great Zhou was first established, the emperor worshiped Confucius and Mencius with the late emperor. Later, when the emperor ascended the throne, he worshiped once again. And since then, he has never worshiped Confucius and Mencius again. In fact, every year on the birthdays of Confucius and Mencius, the ministers remind the emperor to go and pay his respects. ɴᴇᴡ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀʀᴇ ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜᴇᴅ ᴏɴ ⓝovelFire.net
The emperor feels going to worship every year is too troublesome, so he has the Crown Prince lead the ministers and scholars of the Imperial College to pay homage to Confucius and Mencius.
At this moment, in the Imperial Study, the emperor’s feet were propped up on the imperial desk, his hands resting behind his head.
"Let the Crown Prince go."
Prime Minister He and Grandmaster Liu were not surprised to hear the emperor say this.
"Your Majesty, it may be inappropriate for the Crown Prince to perform the ceremonies on the day of the Longevity Festival."
Grandmaster Liu agreed, "Your Majesty, you have not worshiped Confucius and Mencius for many years."
"I haven’t worshiped, but the Crown Prince does every year," the emperor said with a pout, "I hate these troublesome things."
"This year, with foreign envoys joining in the ceremonies, it would be better for Your Majesty to lead them personally."
The emperor replied impatiently, "Such a hassle." In truth, the emperor preferred the School of Legalism over Confucius and Mencius. "Who suggested I lead the foreign envoys to worship Confucius and Mencius? Don’t they know I’m busy?"
"Marquis Xuanping suggested it. The foreign envoys are eagerly anticipating the opportunity to worship Confucius and Mencius with you," Prime Minister He advised, seeing the emperor’s reluctance, "Your Majesty, even if you dislike it, please attend this year."
"Your Majesty, at least put on a facade," Grandmaster Liu sharply remarked.
The emperor swung his feet, saying with great reluctance, "I don’t want to pretend." In fact, the emperor did not put much faith in the teachings of Confucius and Mencius, even if they were widely revered. "Besides, on my own birthday, I should be worshiping my parents and ancestors, not Confucius and Mencius. They didn’t give birth to me."
"To worship Confucius and Mencius on your Longevity Festival day demonstrates respect for the two sages," Prime Minister He said, "Moreover, among the recent major festivals, only your Longevity Festival stands out."
"On the day of the Longevity Festival, I will only worship heaven and earth, and my ancestors." The emperor was not happy with the overwhelming reverence for Confucianism in the world. "Hold a grand worship ceremony the day before my Longevity Festival." The emperor placed heavy emphasis on the word "grand."
Prime Minister He and Grandmaster Liu exchanged a glance, then nodded in agreement, "That will work."
Grandmaster Liu asked, "Should the Crown Prince continue to lead the ceremony?"
"No, this time let the fourth lead the ceremony."
Upon hearing this from the emperor, Prime Minister He and Grandmaster Liu were taken aback before quickly understanding the emperor’s intention.
"You might as well let Prince Dai lead the ceremony." Prime Minister He bluntly remarked.
"I would rather have that brat, the second one, lead the ceremony to worship Confucius and Mencius, but is he worthy?" the emperor said with disdain, "If I let him lead, the whole world would think I have deposed the elder for the second as Crown Prince."
Prince Dai is a military officer, and if he were to lead the ceremony worshipping Confucius and Mencius, the ministers would surely oppose.
"Having the fourth Prince lead the ceremony puts him in the spotlight," Prime Minister He said with a slight frown, "The fourth Prince is still underage; is it appropriate for him to lead the ceremony?"