Chapter 87 Not the top scholar, but a triple champion! ...
Even before the names were announced in the Hall of Heroes, imperial edicts were simultaneously posted outside the capital. Naturally, the number of people trying to find a husband under the list of successful candidates was no less than during the autumn imperial examinations. But it was no longer as brazen as when the Chai family robbed people on the road.
Those who passed the imperial examinations were all exceptional individuals, selected from among the best. Merchants and families tried their best not to offend them. Unlike the newly successful candidates in the autumn imperial examinations, who were weak, inexperienced, and easily manipulated.
Those who lamented the selection of the top scholar were probably the merchants. What they regretted most was the top scholar, Zhao Zongsu. Even if he were twenty years older—no, even ten—he would be a promising young man everyone would fight over to be their son-in-law. But why was he only four years old? To openly snatch a four-year-old child as a child son-in-law? Even the most shameless person wouldn't do such a thing.
But the common people of Bianjing City paid no heed to the merchants' petty thoughts. They were hoping the top scholar was as young as possible! Only then would there be more excitement to watch. Oh, by the way, hasn't this young scholar broken the record held by Prime Minister Yan and ascended to the throne of the youngest child prodigy of the dynasty? I must watch the parade closely later!
This is why the people lining the streets were chanting his name when Fusu was paraded through the streets. Countless people were waiting to see the spectacle! The moment his open-air sedan chair appeared, it immediately sparked a flurry of discussion. When people learned that it was specially commissioned by the Emperor for the young scholar, the atmosphere reached a new climax. And it was clear that for the next month, the streets and alleys of Bianjing would be filled with talk! Zhao Xiaolang, Zhao Xiaozhuangyuan—enough for everyone to chat about!
"No, no! He's not the top scorer!"
"What's wrong? If Zhao Xiaolang isn't the top scholar, then who is? Could it be you?"
"You forgot! He was the same person who won both the provincial and metropolitan examinations!"
"Really? That's like achieving the highest honors in all three levels of the imperial examinations?"
"Zhao Zhuangyuan, Zhao Sanyuan!"
"Zhao Xiaosanyuan!"
Fusu: "…………"
I understand the logic, but could you please remove the "Xiao" in "Zhao Xiaosanyuan"? It sounds weird!
Unfortunately, the people of Bianjing wouldn't respond to his inner grumbling. The way people addressed him changed rapidly, and Fusu's already thin face turned bright red. From Su Xun and Fan Chunren's perspective, they could easily see his reddened ears. They exchanged a glance, a knowing look in their eyes, and continued to leisurely enjoy the limelight that wasn't theirs.
Suddenly, someone threw a handkerchief at Fusu's face. This action immediately ignited the enthusiasm of the crowd, and just like the historical record of "fruits filling the carriage," many things flew towards Fusu's hand-made sedan chair.
His complex emotions, a mixture of pride, smugness, and embarrassment, instantly transformed into pure shock: "Don't throw it away! Don't throw it away!"
Most of the crowd stopped, but a few still refused to listen to advice.
Fusu had no choice but to cover his head and shout, "Don't hit my head! My head is worth a lot of money!"
The onlookers immediately burst into good-natured laughter and stopped making a scene. Just as the young scholar had said, he had the brain that allowed him to achieve the highest honors at the age of four—what if it were damaged? Who could compensate for the loss to the entire nation?
Fusu immediately bent down and asked the nearby eunuch, "How far is it to Kuajie?"
The eunuch, one of the insiders in the Jiying Hall and having received prior instructions from the Emperor, was determined to show off their Prince Cheng to the world. Upon hearing Xiao Fusu's question, he assumed he also enjoyed boasting and excitedly replied, "There are still seven whole streets to go!"
Fusu: "..."
"Seven more?"
The eunuch's misunderstanding deepened: "You think it's not enough? How about this, we'll come back again later?"
Startled, Fusu waved his hands repeatedly, saying, "No, no, no, that's fine, let it be like this!"
"..."
Later, according to an old Bianjing resident, the parade of the top scholar never reached the grandeur of the fifth year of the Qingli era. When asked why, he first praised Zhao Zongsu in three hundred words: "Who else can be as gifted as Xiao Sanyuan, who achieved the top three honors at the age of four? No one can compare, none of them can compare."
"And another thing," he paused, "starting from that year, the palace examination stopped eliminating people, and there were just too many people taking the imperial examination. So many people had to parade through the streets, it was so noisy and boring."
Yes, Fusu only learned later that in his year's palace examination, the emperor, pleased with the talent he had found, issued a decree: except for those who violated taboos or defaced the examination hall and had to be expelled, no one else was dismissed. The emperor also announced that future palace examinations would only rank candidates, and no one would be dismissed. In other words, as long as a scholar passed the spring examination, he would be granted an official position!
According to a highly reliable but unsubstantiated rumor, the reason for this was actually because the Emperor was favored by the Little Scholar Zhao during his reign, and in his great joy, he bestowed his blessings upon all the scholars in the land. If you must thank someone, thank the young scholar Zhao!
Furthermore, because one person was only four years old and two others were seven years old when they passed the imperial examination, the fifth year of the Qingli era was known as the "Prodigy List" or the "Triple Top Scholar List." As a result, Fusu's name gradually spread from Bianjing to every corner of the Song Dynasty through one anecdote after another.
Fusu's reputation grew ever stronger, and more and more people wanted to associate with him, sending gifts in advance to make a good impression. But they discovered one thing: they couldn't find anyone who could achieve the three honors.
Just like during the autumn imperial examinations, everyone who went to the Imperial Academy and the Prince of Pu's residence ended up empty-handed. But this time, the Imperial Academy couldn't even use the excuse that "it's inconvenient to receive guests while preparing for the exams"—because they themselves couldn't find a trace of the young top scholar!
Mei Yaochen said indignantly, "I was hoping he would say a few words to his fellow disciples!"
Yang Anguo: "Are you sure this is meant to boost morale? Or to undermine their confidence?"
Mei Yaochen fell silent.
After a while, he opened his mouth, but swallowed the words back, leaving only a look of hesitation and embarrassment on his face.
Yang Anguo said, "Shengyu, I know what you want to say. But isn't this better?"
"Regardless of Zhao Xiaolang's identity, he is a student of the Imperial Academy, a junior disciple of Master Fan, the top scholar selected by Uncle Tong, and the top scholar selected by Master Fu. He has long been classified as one of our factions. At this moment, there must be someone, and many people, eyeing him covetously."
Mei Yaochen was silent for a moment: "That's right."
He added, "I only hope his family can protect him well and not give others any leverage against him. Otherwise..."
Indeed, they had long since realized that although Zhao Xiaolang was a member of the imperial clan, he was definitely not some unknown collateral relative. Rather, he was backed by a powerful imperial clan force with close ties to the emperor.
Otherwise, why would he have so confidently said, "Yang Jijiu, just submit a memorial to invite the Emperor, and he will definitely come"? It must be that someone behind him informed the Emperor.
But Mei Yaochen and Yang Anguo's most frequent assumption was that it was the Eighth Prince, Zhao Yuanyan—exactly the same guess Su Shi had made. As for the Emperor himself standing behind Zhao Yuanyan? That speculation didn't even cross their minds for a second.
Otherwise, what family's only son, the prince, would rather not have a life of luxury and ease than come to the Imperial Academy to study hard and take the imperial examinations, just to become an eighth-rank official?
Fusu: It is I.
Not only did he toil away for nearly a year to pass the exams, but after achieving success, he didn't even hold a grand banquet or a thank-you feast for his teachers. He turned away everyone who wanted to see him, leaving them to wait in vain at the gates of the Prince Pu's mansion every day.
(King Pu: I've suffered this calamity out of nowhere...)
As the one who caused the storm of public opinion in Bianjing, he was at this moment on an imperial estate, happily... fluffing cotton.
Indeed, the second batch of widely planted cotton has all borne fruit. Upon hearing this news, Fusu immediately rushed to the planting area. Seeing the fluffy, slightly yellowish white velvet bursting from the cotton bolls, he was even happier than when he heard he had won the triple crown.
He even leaned close to the cotton bushes and took a sniff. Although there was no fragrance, his open mouth made it seem as if the cotton flowers contained some kind of extraordinary fragrance.
Hehe... cotton-padded jacket... cotton gloves...
Emperor Renzong couldn't help but chuckle: "Look at you."
Fusu turned his head and glared at him: "There's nothing I can do. Are you unhappy, Your Majesty? I think even Fan Zhongyan would find it hard to remain unmoved by external gains or losses, would he?"
He had just received a letter from Fan Zhongyan the day before yesterday, and what he found inside was astonishing. It contained the timeless masterpiece "The Yueyang Tower," which is included in textbooks.
This article was originally written by Fan Zhongyan to comfort him, advising him to maintain a calm mind during the palace examination. However, for some reason, the post horse from the northwest was delayed by two days. By the time Fusu saw it, everything had already been settled, and he was already the renowned top scholar.
However, he still read Fan Zhongyan's handwritten version of "Yueyang Tower" several times and treasured it along with Su Shi's original work written when he was seven years old. When chatting with Emperor Renzong, he casually quoted a famous line from it.
Emperor Renzong paused for a moment: "'Not elated by external gains, nor saddened by personal losses,' is this a quote from Fan Qing? His new article?"
"yes."
Emperor Renzong didn't ask any more questions. He stared at the snow-white expanse before him, seemingly lost in thought.
-
The imperial edict announcing his transfer to the Northwest arrived half a month later. Amidst the congratulations and reluctant farewells of his colleagues, Fan Zhongyan stood there dumbfounded.
According to reliable sources in the capital, it was His Highness Prince Cheng who quoted his article, which reminded the Emperor of him and led to his reinstatement to the capital.
But here's the problem: he and King Cheng had absolutely no connection whatsoever.
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Author's Note: Fusu: Not at all [dog head with rose in mouth]
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