Chapter 27
“The son of the Xu Prefecture Magistrate’s concubine—the fifth wife’s child, Xu Ming.”
Xiao Mo Chi’s voice echoed in the Imperial Study.
“The Xu Prefecture? The fifth wife’s child?” the emperor repeated, his tone laced with disbelief. “Another one from the Xu family? Just what kind of fortune has blessed them?”
“Yes, Your Majesty,” Xiao Mo Chi nodded.
The emperor glanced at the poem again, then furrowed his brows, his expression darkening. “He’s a concubine’s son?”
Such a talented child, yet born of a concubine. It was a cruel reality. One hundred and fifty years ago, the late emperor had established a law: children born to concubines were prohibited from taking the imperial exams and could not inherit family estates. Since then, the status of concubines’ children had fallen drastically, barely above the children of servants. In fact, in some cases, their status was even worse.
“What a pity.”
The emperor closed the sheet of paper with a sigh, his face filled with helplessness.
“Your Majesty, I have something to say. I do not know if I should speak.” Xiao Mo Chi cupped his hands and bowed.