Spring Examination
“The gate of the examination hall faces north.”
Brother Money, let's change the topic.
Four or five young children, each holding a sugar figurine, played around Xuanwu Gate, humming a catchy nursery rhyme: "A commoner, adorned in red... a talented one sheds tears..."
Xiao An was heading to Xuanwumen South Street to pick up some freshly baked rose cakes and jujube cakes from Xu Ji. He also wanted to buy some Dingsheng cakes to take back, but with the imperial examinations approaching, these auspicious Dingsheng cakes had already sold out.
The children who were passing by overheard a few words, but didn't seem to care about the matter.
Such rumors have circulated every time the imperial examinations are held.
Last time, during the imperial examination, a minor official of the seventh rank took the matter seriously and presented evidence to the emperor to expose the matter. However, there was no such thing as leaking questions. It turned out that the person had fabricated the evidence and falsely accused a high-ranking official of the court, who was also the crown prince's teacher. As a result, he was executed along with his entire family.
Tsk, I never thought someone would come up with such a despicable trick to get promoted and make money. If that person isn't really stupid, then the waters here are much deeper than I imagined.
Xiao An delivered the carefully packaged rose cakes and jujube cakes to the Marquis of Wu'an's residence. It was Chun Yue who came to pick up the cakes, and she was also carrying a bag of cakes.
"You've come at the perfect time. This is a Ding Sheng Gao (a type of sweet rice cake) from Xu's shop, which has a very auspicious meaning. They just told me to send someone to deliver it to your residence."
Now that you're here, please take these pastries to your young master. Wishing Young Master Shen the best of luck in his examinations and a resounding victory.
Xiao An scratched his head, feeling that his young master and Miss Gu were a match made in heaven, how come they always happened to deliver pastries on the same day?
"This Ding Sheng Gao (a type of sweet rice cake) is really hard to buy. How did you manage to get your hands on it?"
"Miss has hired someone to wait outside Xu's shop before dawn, so they'll naturally be able to buy it."
"Miss Gu, you're very kind."
Xiao An, carrying the pastries, took a shortcut back to the Shen residence and heard another group of children singing the same nursery rhyme on the street.
"Young Master, the items have been delivered to the Marquis's residence. Miss Gu's maidservant personally took them there." Xiao An handed the pastries in his hand to Shen Changqing.
"I arrived late, and Xu's shop no longer sells Dingsheng cake. Miss Gu had someone wait outside Xu's shop before dawn to buy it."
"Put it on the table." His gaze didn't fall on the pastries; he continued drawing. "You'll see her now."
"No, I heard the illness hasn't improved yet."
"Hmm." Shen Changqing responded lightly, but stopped painting.
He placed the brush, dipped in ochre-red paint, on the brush holder. "Take a look, what do you think of this painting?"
Xiao An recognized at a glance who his young master had painted.
The painting depicts Gu Yu, dressed in simple and elegant attire. She stands under a red plum tree, her face as rosy as a sunset, smiling as she plucks a plum blossom, her eyes like a galaxy.
"Young master, your painting is excellent, truly superb! Miss Gu will surely love it when she sees it."
Xiao An glanced at Shen Changqing's expression. His gaze was also fixed on the painting of the lady, but it was impossible to tell whether he was happy or unhappy.
He said calmly, "You can go now. Later, frame and store this painting of mine properly."
Shen Changqing didn't look at him, but stared at the painting of ladies, a strange emotion welling up in her heart.
He knew Gu Yu was frail, but he didn't expect her to be this frail. She caught a cold after returning home for the Lantern Festival and fell seriously ill. He never saw her again after that.
With the imperial examinations approaching, his father told him not to leave the mansion and to stay in his study to prepare for the exams.
However, he found policy essays and poetry rather dull.
"Young master, the master wants you to go to his courtyard. He's waiting for you in his study."
It was a servant from my father's side who came to inform me; I guess they were talking about the upcoming imperial examinations.
Before his father was promoted to Minister of Personnel, he served in the Ministry of Rites as a fourth-rank official, and had only served as a deputy examiner once three years prior.
Then, after Tang Simiao's incident, he became wary. In addition, since his father had become the deputy examiner, he naturally could not participate in the last imperial examination.
Fortunately, apart from Tang Simiao's meddling, nothing else went wrong during that scientific expedition.
His father thus gained the emperor's favor and was promoted to Minister six months later, but not to the Ministry of Rites; instead, he was transferred to the Ministry of Personnel.
"Okay, I understand."
Shen Changqing continued his work unhurriedly, stamped the painting with his name on it, laid the inkstone flat to dry, and then closed the study door before heading to Shen Xiuwen's courtyard.
"Father, I've come."
"Changqing, come in." A refined and gentle voice came from behind the door.
Shen Xiuwen stroked his neatly combed long beard, glanced at the dignified Shen Changqing who pushed open the door and entered, and slightly turned his head.
"What does Father want with me?" Shen Changqing entered the study and closed the door behind him.
His expression remained somewhat indifferent, as he had been confined to the mansion for several days and was feeling rather listless.
"How are things at the Gu family's place?"
"Gu Yu loves me, and the wedding will proceed as scheduled." He spoke succinctly, clearly confident of success.
"Good, that's good. With Gu Yu secured, your future is secure."
Shen Xiuwen looked at his son, whom he had personally raised, with satisfaction; he could find no fault with him.
He is meticulous and shrewd, possessing a character inherited from his lineage.
Back then, it was his son who came up with the idea for Tang Simiao's matter. Not only did he successfully get away with it, but he also gained Guan Yiyun, a person who could do the dirty work.
Unfortunately, Guan Yiyun was in trouble this time and was exiled to the wasteland in the south to reclaim wasteland.
He sent people to Yunxian Pavilion early on to retrieve the letters that Guan Yiyun had left behind, which were then burned.
The evidence in the case of cheating in the imperial examinations pointed directly at Gongsun Li. The crown prince wanted to protect his teacher's reputation and insisted that Tang Simiao had made false accusations. Once the evidence on Guan Yiyun's side was burned, it had nothing to do with him anymore.
Wang Huaien took full responsibility for the things Guan Yiyun did for him, and it had nothing to do with him.
At most, he's just a soft-hearted, easily deceived, and easily swayed good-natured person who can't judge people well.
With Guan Yiyun gone, his subordinates immediately lost a capable lieutenant.
He lost his position as Minister, but as long as Sun Gu remains the Grand Secretary, he can regain his position as Minister.
If his understanding of the emperor's intentions is accurate, he might be able to advance further, enter the cabinet, and even replace Sun Gu in the future.
"The chief examiner this time is Shi Zhixuan, the Minister of Rites, who was personally promoted by Lord Sun. He will receive the exam questions three days earlier than the previous spring examinations. You can take a look at them first, write an essay, and I will review it for you."
Although the chief examiner had the overall authority to set the questions for the imperial examination, the cabinet had to prepare three sets of questions in advance. The chief examiner and the deputy examiner would then discuss and select one set to be sealed and stamped.
On the eve of the examination, the document was jointly presented by the Grand Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial, the Minister of Rites, and the Censor-in-Chief. After being approved by the Emperor in red ink, it was sent to the Examination Hall in a sealed letter with sealing wax.
Even under these circumstances, exam questions can still be leaked. After all, there are many people involved, and the deputy examiners are mostly of relatively low rank.
It is not uncommon for assistant examiners to be bribed or coerced into revealing information.
Therefore, in the early years of the Shengyuan era, the method of setting and selecting examination questions was changed. The cabinet still prepared three sets of examination questions, but the chief examiner selected them in advance.
Although the deputy examiner was unaware of the exam questions, he was responsible for oversight and, together with the Imperial Guards, monitored the entire process to prevent any potential problems from arising.
Before the exam questions were presented to the emperor and awaited his approval, only the chief examiner knew which questions he had chosen.
In this way, before the imperial edict was finalized, only the chief examiner had the ability to change or leak the exam questions. Therefore, if the exam questions were leaked, the chief examiner would definitely be the first person responsible.
“Father, I can get first place without those things.”
Shen Xiuwen frowned, seemingly sensing Shen Changqing's dissatisfaction with his arrangements.
"Changqing, you should know that nothing in this world is set in stone, so it's always good to be prepared."
“Father, you have watched me grow up since I was a child, you should believe me.”
Shen Changqing was unusually stubborn about this matter. He had been intelligent since childhood, and the imperial examinations were not difficult for him. So why do something unnecessary?
"Don't be so stubborn. There are many talented people here for this year's imperial examination. I heard that you didn't win first place in the last poetry competition."
"That was an unexpected situation, and I don't care about the title of champion of the poetry gathering. Miss Gu was there, and my poem was just to coax her."
Shen Changqing recalled the poetry gathering from last time, but didn't think it was a big deal. Gu Yu was present at the time, so naturally Gu Yu's matter came first.
"Although I asked you to marry Gu Yu, I also know that she is delicate and frail and it is difficult for her to have children."
Since the marriage is unlikely to go wrong, you don't need to worry so much. If she really passes away, I will find you a second wife from a respectable family and in good health.
A strange feeling spread through Shen Changqing, but he didn't know why. Could it be because his father said Gu Yu would die?
He had thought the same thing before, but now he felt unusually irritable.
Shen Xiuwen noticed the subtle change in Shen Changqing's emotions at that moment; how could he not know what his son was thinking?
"A bright future is more important than romantic love; don't lose sight of the bigger picture for the sake of small gains."
A hint of ambiguity flashed in Shen Changqing's eyes, but he still nodded respectfully, "I know, Father."
Every step he took was paved for him by his father, and he was cautious and careful, as if walking on thin ice, not allowing any mistakes.
Such days are like stagnant water, utterly boring.
His inexplicable infatuation with Gu Yu felt like a rebellion against his father's advice, and that sense of taboo was something he found sweet, like a fish in a pond tasting the sweetness of the stream. Therefore, he was unwilling to return to his original pond.
Moreover, Gu Yu is so easy to understand, kind and innocent. Her emotions are written all over her face. He won't ruin things because he can't control her, right?
"Should we still take this test paper out?"
Shen Changqing was originally unaware that Shen Xiuwen was selling exam questions.
It wasn't until Tang Simiao noticed something was wrong last time that her panicked father let slip the secret.
Even if Shen Changqing knew, he wouldn't stop him from doing anything, nor did he have the right to do so.
Three years ago, to avoid suspicion, he did not participate in the imperial examination because his father was the deputy examiner. Three years later, this matter will not involve him.
"Hmm. Once we get rid of Tang Simiao, this troublemaker, no one will dare to stand up for us. What can't we do?" Shen Xiuwen stroked his beard, his eyes slightly closed. "A thousand taels for each question. Do you know how much silver you can earn just from the imperial examinations?"
The imperial salary is not enough to cover all the expenses of the Shen family. If it weren't for me finding ways to make money, how could you live such a luxurious life?
"You went to the Treasure Pavilion last month and had a set of jewelry made, which cost five hundred taels. And then there are the jewelry and clothes your mother and sister bought; the expenses are outrageous." He took a sip of tea to moisten his throat.
“The monthly allowances for the servants and maids in the mansion, the daily cost of buying groceries in the kitchen, the gifts sent during festivals, and the customary charcoal and ice tributes for the superiors all amount to a large sum of money. If it weren’t for my financial support, this family would have fallen apart long ago, and we wouldn’t be where we are today.”
"I understand, Father." Shen Changqing nodded.
He still maintained that arrogant and aloof demeanor.
This time should be no different from the last, and no one will jump out again.
“However, given what happened last time, we will thoroughly investigate the family background of the person who bought the exam questions this time.” Shen Xiuwen said thoughtfully, then looked at Shen Changqing, who was still standing in the study.
"You don't need to worry about this. Just focus on preparing for the provincial examination, Changqing. Get the top score in the provincial examination, and the Emperor will notice you when you reach the palace examination..."
"If only you could achieve the highest honors in all three categories, then your name would be etched in history, and all your years of diligent study would not have been in vain."
He paused, then said again, "I will have someone deliver the test questions to your study. After you've read them, you must clean them up."
Shen Changqing left his father's study in silence. He knew that his father loved him and that everything he did was for his own good.
However, he still felt suffocated in the Shen residence, which is why he accepted the invitation from outside and preferred to stay overnight at Yunxian Pavilion rather than go home.
When Shen Changqing returned to his study in his small courtyard.
Xiao An had done everything he had instructed; the portrait of the lady he had painted for Gu Yu had been framed and hung on the wall of the study.
He sat in a pear wood armchair, unwrapped the oil paper from the Dingsheng cake, picked up a piece of cake, and put it in his mouth.
Crispy, sweet, and soft, it's sweet but not cloying.
It dispelled his frustration of the past few days.
The grand imperial examination was held at the Ministry of Rites' examination hall.
The North Gate will be opened at that time, and there will be yamen runners at the gate to conduct body searches, mainly to check whether candidates are carrying cheat sheets or other illegal items.
The imperial examination consisted of three sessions. The first session tested the understanding of the Four Books (three questions) and the understanding of the classics (four questions). The second session tested the judgment of imperial edicts. The third session tested the understanding of the classics, history, current affairs, and policy questions (five questions).
Once the imperial examination begins, the gates of the examination hall will be sealed off, and deputy examiners and other officials will patrol the hall. Anyone found to be smuggling will be immediately dismissed and punished.
A single imperial examination lasted fifteen days. Candidates were only allowed to bring dry food and their own writing brushes, inkstones, and inkstones. The examination hall only provided drinking water, charcoal, and paper for answering questions.
The calligraphy brushes, inkstones, and inkstones brought in would be thoroughly searched multiple times before entering the room. Hollow brush handles and brocade pouches with fillings were obvious methods, and problems would be quickly discovered.
The powerful and influential candidates knew the exam questions early on, and their families had already polished their essays and memorized the answers. It was a sure thing that they would be on the list of successful candidates.
In front of Chongwen Gate.
Even though the weather was warming up in February, it was still a bit chilly. Gu Yu, wearing a white fox fur cloak, stood gracefully in the gray morning mist.
"Shen Lang!"
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