Chapter 79 Ouyang Xiu did nothing, except…
Emperor Renzong reflected on his life as a father to his children and said honestly, even if he wasn't the best father to his children in the world, he was at least much better to them than Emperor Zhenzong was to him.
But Emperor Renzong knew Sima Guang's character well and would not make baseless accusations. So what was it that aroused his dissatisfaction, leading him to issue a special impeachment letter?
The Emperor examined the memorial more carefully and finally discerned a clue: there were many details that outsiders could not easily obtain. Furthermore, Sima Guang was exceptionally upright and incorruptible; he neither had the means nor the opportunity to spy on the inner court.
...So, that kid is definitely talking nonsense again!
And what about "those who wear white dragon and fish clothes should be able to distinguish between clear and turbid water, and between mud and sand"? Doesn't he know there are bad people among the masses? Is he really comfortable with his four-year-old son living alone outside the palace? Isn't it because Su'er is so headstrong that even he, as a ruler and a father, can't control him and can only offer some assistance from the sidelines?
As it turned out, Sima Guang was unaware of the details and only criticized him!
Emperor Renzong was about to laugh in exasperation as he thought about it, and his palms suddenly began to itch. If Fusu himself were here, he would have been subjected to a good rub on the head and a pinch on the nose. But the Emperor looked around and saw only respectfully standing, silent eunuchs, like lifeless sculptures, blending into the solemn and quiet background of the Chui Gong Hall.
He slammed the impeachment memorial onto the table. He wanted to summon Fusu back immediately, but the father and son had always communicated through letters. The Emperor calmed himself, suppressed his emotions, picked up the next memorial, read only half of it, then slammed it shut. He picked up another sheet of paper and, in the Chui Gong Hall, began to write a letter home in a grand manner.
—That's right. When the emperor summons the feudal lords to pay homage to him, how can that not be considered a matter of state?
Emperor Renzong wrote a sternly worded letter ordering his son to "come home and visit his parents more often." The bitterness and helplessness of the elderly father being forced to take the blame is palpable on the page. What does it mean? "I've been unfairly burdened with this huge burden for you; it wouldn't be too much to ask for your immediate return to the palace to visit your parents, would it?"
Fusu received a letter from home that night.
Unexpectedly, his chance encounter with Sima Guang had such a follow-up. But seeing the empty-nest official's earnest pleas, he looked troubled. It wasn't that he was unfilial, but rather that he simply couldn't get away.
A few days after their chance encounter with the "marriage candidate selection" incident, Fusu and Su Shi, to avoid any further complications, skipped the festivities and strolled the streets, returning directly to the Imperial Academy. However, upon their return, they discovered that their classmates, whether familiar or not, were looking at them differently.
Fusu considered a possibility: "Really? Does news travel that fast?"
"Think about it, it's obvious that it wasn't just the two of us who went to see the results of the autumn imperial examinations. And as long as the news is shocking enough, it will spread quickly enough. Zhao Xiaolang, do you think the news of you becoming the top scholar isn't shocking enough?"
Taking advantage of the opportunity to tease, Su Shi reached out and pinched Fusu's cheek. He felt the smooth and tender touch on his fingertips and sighed inwardly: "Oh dear, this is the face of the top scholar in this year's imperial examination. Every time I touch it, it's one less time I'll get to touch it."
When Zhao Xiaolang becomes an official in the future, he can pinch it again whenever he wants.
Fusu, unfazed, slapped the hand off his face: "What do we do now? Go back to the dormitory and wait for the Chief Priest to come looking for us? Or should we go find him ourselves?"
"Don't hesitate any longer." Su Shi pointed in a certain direction: "Look, who's coming?"
In Fusu's mind, Mei Yaochen had always been someone who appeared stern and unsmiling on the surface, but was actually quite shrewd and had a rich inner life—a kind of "tsundere" persona. This was the first time Fusu had ever seen him so openly express his emotions. The moment their eyes met, the deep wrinkles on his face, etched with worry for the country and its people, all smoothed out. His steps also became noticeably lighter than usual.
"Come with me, the Grand Master has something to discuss with you."
Su Shi chuckled and pushed Fusu in front of him: "How about it, Mr. Mei? Zhao Xiaolang has really made you proud, hasn't he?"
"So you already knew." Mei Yaochen was slightly surprised, but quickly smiled and readily admitted, "That's right, I and even the Imperial Academy are indeed honored. But isn't the one who has truly made something of himself Zong Su? Now it's truly a case of 'who in the world doesn't know you'?"
He even had the mood to joke: "However, Zong Su is capable and hardworking. The one who benefited the most is probably Fan Gong, who is far away in Shaanxi. He only wrote two letters and got a top scholar as his disciple for free. Who wouldn't be envious?"
Fusu was so flattered by the praise that he began to suspect that Mei Yaochen had been possessed, otherwise why would he say something so different from his usual personality? Coupled with the extremely exaggerated "catching a son-in-law after the exam" incident, he still felt that it was all unreal.
Is it really that big of a deal to get the top score in the provincial examination?
"I was just lucky, right?"
After all, Fusu really didn't think that his last-minute cramming and his history background would be enough to surpass the other students who had studied hard for years and win first place.
“Indeed, that’s how we should be.” Mei Yaochen placed his hand on her shoulder: “To gain fleeting fame but not let it blind one’s eyes is the true nature of one who achieves great things. Young Master Zhao, Ouyang Gong has told me all about your ambitions…”
Fusu was immediately filled with question marks.
My ambition? What ambition do I have?
Little did he know how much his essay and family letter had shaken the vast examination room and how much Ouyang Xiu had imagined? It had even led a complete stranger to risk his reputation.
But Mei Yaochen knew that his friend Ouyang Xiu had written him a letter overnight, telling him about the various difficulties he had encountered in grading the papers. In the end, Ouyang Xiu somewhat embarrassedly referred to Zhao Xiaolang as a close friend. He also said that after this matter was resolved, Mei Yaochen, as his teacher, should definitely introduce him to this friend despite their age difference.
As for when this matter will be considered "resolved"?
Mei Yaochen and Yang Anguo answered in unison, "Of course, he'll be the top scholar!"
Fusu: "Huh?"
He pointed to himself: "Me? The top scholar?"
Mei Yaochen said with absolute certainty, "That's right."
Of course, he should become the top scholar! Otherwise, wouldn't all the criticism Ouyang Xiu endured be for nothing? The top scholar is personally selected by the emperor, who is the most selfless and impartial official. He wouldn't care whose disciple or student Zhao Xiaolang is. With the emperor's endorsement, how could he not silence the public's opinions and prove Zhao Xiaolang's true talent?
"But I can't become the top scorer in the exam."
Fusu felt like he'd been forced onto a pirate ship. To be honest, he was even less impressed than Mei Yaochen had been with his awkward praise earlier. He counted on his fingers, trying to reason with his two teachers: "This autumn examination was only held in Bianjing. In Bianjing, most of the candidates are sons of officials, and their level... well, those who know, know. Besides, I study at the Imperial Academy, so I can refer to past exam questions. I don't know how much of an advantage I had. Or maybe it was because the examiners favored my style that I managed to come in first place."
"But the imperial examinations in spring and at the palace are different; they gather the best talents from all over the country. If I could still become the top scholar, wouldn't that mean all the scholars of the Song Dynasty are doomed?"
Fusu spoke with conviction.
Mei Yaochen: "...It's not that bad, is it?"
Fusu frowned suspiciously and squinted his eyes: "Or are you, Yang Jijiu and Mr. Mei, planning to strike while the iron is hot and create another big news?"
Mei Yaochen's face burned with embarrassment at having his little scheme exposed. After coughing to cover it up, he offered a reason that Fusu couldn't refuse.
“Young Master Zhao, if you are complacent and unwilling to take the exams again, you will remain a four-year-old top scholar, and people will mention you every year. It would be better to take all the exams at once, and after the selection of officials, it will be as natural as salt in water. No matter how shocked or concerned the public may be, it will only last for a year at most.”
...That makes so much sense, I can't even refute it.
Fusu fell into deep thought, while Su Shi secretly chuckled to himself: "Is Mr. Mei cunning? Or has he underestimated Zhao Xiaolang? Like salt in water, he'll blend into the officialdom's gentry? How could that be? With his talent, he'll cause a major incident that will shock the court within a month of being selected as an official."
Moreover, the man's father is the current emperor. How could he bear to watch his youngest son, dressed as a minor official of the sixth or seventh rank, suffer humiliation at the hands of his superiors and sit on the sidelines?
But that's not entirely wrong. The people of Bianjing will probably be shocked until they become numb and gradually get used to it, just like he was back then.
Recalling his interactions with Fusu, even the optimistic Su Shi couldn't help but sigh: He initially thought Fusu was just a rich but foolish landlord's son. What was he thinking?
Seeing that Fusu seemed to be softening, Mei Yaochen offered another condition that he could not refuse.
"Until next year's imperial examination, Zhao Xiaolang, you can stay in the Imperial Academy and focus on preparing for the exam. Don't worry about any trivial matters. Your teacher and the Chancellor will take care of everything for you."
And of course, trivial matters include... the celebratory feasts, and all sorts of people, whether acquaintances or strangers, who come to visit.
For ordinary candidates, these were crucial steps in cultivating connections, expanding social networks, and even using the opportunity to amass wealth. But in Fusu's eyes, they were all troublesome matters: he was already the emperor's son, what did he need connections for?
But this matter rendered the secrecy meaningless for the emperor, or rather, those in the palace. Secondly, the palace staff were being too obvious; he feared their identities would be guessed, causing further trouble. Asking Prince Pu for help? That would be too much trouble for him; hosting a banquet is no easy task.
Fusu was initially troubled by this matter.
With Mr. Mei's guarantee and the Imperial College's intervention, it's like a pillow being delivered to someone who's just fallen asleep.
“Mr. Mei, I agree. But I really can’t guarantee that I’ll be the top scholar. You know my own limitations best, Mr. Mei.”
Mei Yaochen secretly grumbled to himself: "With your insight to pinpoint the deep-seated problems of the Song Dynasty at a glance, and your ability to make Ouyang Xiu consider you a confidant with just one article, you are more than just a top scholar; you could be a vice minister or a privy councilor."
But he said on the surface, "Do your best in everything, and you will be able to face heaven and earth without shame."
Fusu breathed a sigh of relief and nodded heavily: "Yes."
As long as we don't force him to become the top scholar, it's fine. If we're talking about ordinary Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations), with his years of experience in major examinations and his historical insight, he should be lucky enough to get lucky... right?
But suddenly, two faces appeared in his mind. Actually, he wasn't entirely without vanity. Otherwise, why would he have secretly taken the imperial examination without the Emperor and Empress's knowledge? Wasn't it to give them a surprise?
Why not just go all the way and see how those two react then?
...
Bianjing has been in an uproar these past few days.
The autumn imperial examinations are held every three years, and are not something everyone cares about. But what if this autumn's top scholar was a four-year-old child?
What are you talking about in your sleep?
This was everyone's first reaction upon hearing it.
But where there's smoke, there's fire, and more and more evidence emerged along with the rumors. For example, my uncle's aunt's grand-nephew was in charge of keeping the candidates' family records, and he said it was true. My aunt's cousin used his connections to ask the examiners, and they didn't deny it.
As the "rumors" became more and more believable, the identity of this mysterious child prodigy was gradually revealed, layer by layer, like a lotus seed: a member of the imperial family protected by the emperor's decree and a student of Mei Yaochen, a doctor at the Imperial Academy.
"You may not know who Mei Yaochen is, but he is a close friend of Ouyang Xiu, the chief examiner of this examination and a leading figure in the literary world. Now you know what's going on, right?"
"Oh~"
"I understand, I understand."
Confessional voices rose and fell, and secondary rumors of "black box operations" continued to spread, with gossip intensifying.
Ouyang Xiu, who was at the center of the storm and could be swallowed up by rumors at any moment, did nothing but post an article.
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