Everyone in my harem is talented

Chapter 546: Yanshenggong

"what news?"

"Your Majesty ordered the Crown Prince to handle the Kong family's desire for the position of Duke Yansheng."

"If the Crown Prince can confer upon the Kong family the title of Duke of Yansheng, with such great prestige, wouldn't all the Confucian scholars in the world want to become his disciples?"

The eighth prince's eyes turned red instantly.

The previous emperor Renzong conferred the title of Duke Yansheng on the head of the Kong family and ordered him to preside over the sacrifices at the Confucius Temple. The current emperor Taizu not only recognized the Duke Yansheng conferred by the previous dynasty, but also personally went to the Confucius Temple in Qufu to preside over the sacrifices once. Since then, he has shown concern for the sacrifices at the Confucius Temple every year.

During major celebrations, the Minister of Rites and the Minister of Rites would often go to Qufu to offer sacrifices on the emperor's behalf. However, the person who most often presided over the sacrifices at the Confucius Temple was naturally the descendant of Confucius, the head of the Kong family.

As the descendants of the sage, it is legitimate to worship their ancestors, but without the title of Yanshenggong, worshipping the Confucius Temple for the whole world is just a title without name. Although it is an empty title, the Kong family has had 15 Yanshenggongs in the previous dynasty, and the position of Yanshenggong has long been regarded as a promise by the Kong family.

The imperial court has yet to officially confer the title of Duke Yansheng on the head of the Kong family, causing great anxiety among the entire Kong family.

Over the years, they have been begging for help and asking indirectly for the central government's attitude towards their Kong family. The only clear attitude of the court is that it respects Confucius.

The Kong family was wealthy and powerful in the local area, but was not taken seriously by the emperor.

The last Duke Yansheng conferred by the previous dynasty had served through two dynasties and three generations, and was personally called Duke Yansheng by the current Emperor Taizu. However, he has been dead for more than ten years, and the position of a new Duke Yansheng has not yet been decided.

The memorial requesting that the eldest son of the late Duke Yansheng be appointed as the new Duke Yansheng had landed on Qin Zhi's desk as early as the first year after Duke Yansheng's death.

However, Qin Zhi kept the memorial on Duke Yansheng's affairs in his palace and did not send it out. The court officials then speculated whether he should wait until the three-year mourning period for Duke Yansheng was over before conferring the title on his son, and then the matter was settled.

After the mourning period for the head of the Kong family was over, officials from the Ministry of Rites submitted another memorial requesting that the head of the Kong family be conferred the title of Duke Yansheng, but the memorial was still kept in the palace and not issued.

Although sacrifices in the Confucian Temple are a national affair, sacrifices in local Confucian Temples are presided over by local officials. The Confucius Temple in Kyoto is presided over by the Minister of Rites, and the Confucius Temple in Qufu has descendants of Confucius. The fact that they were not given the title of Yansheng Duke does not prevent sacrifices from being made according to the traditional rules. The emperor had high prestige and was not easily influenced by others, so this matter was shelved for more than ten years.

The follow-up came only when the emperor remembered it and wanted to deal with it.

"The tenth prince married a daughter of the Kong family. I'm afraid it's not just because the Kong family is related to the Queen's family, the Shen family, but also because the Kong family wants a position. Perhaps the Shen family and the Kong family married for this purpose."

The Eighth Prince rubbed his brows and asked, "If Father wants to confer the title of Duke of Yansheng, why did he have to wait for more than ten years?"

Jiang Lanzhi nodded, "Your father doesn't like the Kong family."

"What about the Crown Prince's mission?" The Eighth Prince placed his hand on the table, supporting his forehead, his face thoughtful.

"My tenth brother wants to marry a daughter of the Kong family. Father doesn't like the Kong family, but he agrees with the Empress to choose a daughter of the Kong family as her daughter-in-law?

If you don't intend to confer the title of Yansheng Duke on the current head of the Kong family, why ask the Crown Prince to handle this matter? If it's been shelved, there will be no more custom of conferring the title of Yansheng Duke on the descendants of Confucius."

"Disliking someone doesn't mean I hate them. Speaking of which, in all the years I've been in the palace, I've never seen Your Majesty dislike anyone. I've also met the daughter of the Kong family once. She's truly outstanding and worthy of being a royal wife."

"Su'e was able to be chosen as the consort of the Eighth Prince. If the daughter of the Kong family can excel on her own, then the Emperor won't care what happens to the Kong family."

The Eighth Prince glanced at the Eighth Prince's wife lightly.

The Eighth Prince's Consort Song Su'e, who was inexplicably stepped on again, smiled unhappily and rolled her eyes in her heart.

"Mother, I will go and find out about this matter."

A test from his father to the crown prince? He wanted to try it too.