Chapter 52 The Top Scholar's Daughter
On the day the results were announced, the area below the list was packed with people, and all the surrounding high ground was occupied. If you arrived late, all you could see was a sea of heads.
Two overly relaxed candidates didn't even look at the results. When Jinghong found Lishan Villa, the two men were riding through the forest on two horses, crossing the hillside, and returning home in high spirits, bathed in the glow of the evening sun.
He Zheng pulled on the reins and slowed down, turning back to look at Yu Mingshu, who was gradually coming to stand shoulder to shoulder with him. "You are the most insightful student I have ever met."
"How many students have you taken on?"
"Including you, there are two."
This answer surprised Yu Mingshu. Her brow twitched slightly, and she looked into his eyes, asking, "Besides me, who else?"
He Zheng raised an eyebrow and said, "Who else could it be but your Sanlang?"
That's not surprising.
Yu Mingshu smiled with relief, "How long did he study?"
He Zheng said, "He's timid; he didn't dare to ride fast even after two months of training. Unlike you, who dared to gallop wildly after just ten days."
Seeing the two figures almost upon him, only to slow down again, Jinghong was so anxious he was practically grinding his own millstone on the spot. Gritting his teeth and stamping his foot, he jogged to meet them.
"My lord! Miss Yu! The results are out! The results for the imperial examinations are out today!"
The two, who had been strolling leisurely, finally felt a bit tense. He Zheng nimbly dismounted and put a hand on Jing Hong's shoulder, saying, "Stop beating around the bush, just tell me, have I won back my fifty strings of cash?"
Jinghong's smile stretched almost to his ears. He didn't answer his husband's question, but instead cupped his hands in congratulations to Yu Mingshu.
"Miss Yu, overjoyed! In the hundred years since the founding of our Great Liang Dynasty, our first female Jinshi (successful candidate in the highest imperial examination) has been born today! And she is at the top of the list of Jinshi!"
Yu Mingshu stood there stunned, while He Zheng, who was beside him, laughed, and laughed loudly.
"Let those ignorant fools laugh at my extravagance. Today I'll show them what it means to have a rare commodity!"
Yu Mingshu snapped out of her daze and couldn't help but retort, "Who's the merchandise?"
He Zheng quickly corrected himself: "Wrong, this is called having a discerning eye for people."
Although it wasn't the first time he had won the top scholar title, Yu Mingshu still couldn't contain his excitement. His heart was pounding, and he forced himself to remain calm as he asked Jinghong, "Don't just talk about me, where's your second son?"
Jinghong's smile widened, and he held up three fingers. "Our young master is not as talented as the young lady, and is slightly inferior, ranking third."
Yu Mingshu's eyebrows relaxed, and he smiled at He Zheng, saying, "Not bad, third-place scholar."
In Daliang, the terms "状元" (Zhuangyuan), "榜眼" (Bangyan), and "探花" (Tanhua) had not yet become widely used; it was only used by some people in the common folk to refer to the top three in the imperial examinations.
He Zheng pressed a smirk to himself and asked again, "Then who's second?"
Jinghong replied, "Who else could it be but Xie Sanlang?"
He Zheng clicked his tongue, wondering how he could have lost to him.
…
As curfew approached, Yu Mingshu rode home and knocked on the door five or six times, but received no response.
"Luo Yan? Open the door, it's me!"
After letting out a shout, I finally saw a figure rushing towards me through the crack in the door.
Luo Yan opened the door and let her in. Yu Mingshu couldn't help but ask, "We usually don't lock the doors at home. Why did you think of locking them today?"
"Young lady, don't you know what happened today?"
"I know, it's just the release of the imperial examination results..."
Luo Yan said excitedly, "That's right! The results of the imperial examinations have been released, and our family has produced the first female Jinshi (successful candidate in the highest imperial examination) of the Great Liang Dynasty. She has surpassed thousands of other candidates and was personally selected by His Majesty as the top candidate! This afternoon, countless people in Chang'an City have been eager to catch a glimpse of the young lady's beauty!"
"Is it really that exaggerated?"
Yu Mingshu frowned, then thought about it again and realized it was normal. After all, many people in later generations traveled long distances, even across provinces, to wait for Olympic champions at their homes.
Hearing the door open, Wu Qiuniang came out into the courtyard, her face beaming. "They're not all here to see you. The top three in this year's imperial examination all live in Yongningfang. What an honor! This afternoon, people have come to admire the scholars' achievements, to offer their congratulations and share in the glory, and to vie to propose marriage... Oh, and there are even matchmakers coming to look at the house. It hasn't stopped for a moment."
Yu Mingshu sighed, "Then it seems we won't have any peace and quiet for the next few days."
"You're definitely not going to have any peace and quiet."
Wu Qiuniang recalled the complicated procedures after her husband passed the imperial examination, and said in a rambling voice: "Starting from tomorrow, the newly appointed Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examination) must pay respects to their teachers and elders, visit the prime minister of the court, and attend various banquets and gatherings. This process will continue until the end of this month, when the court will issue an imperial edict to appoint officials. The Jinshi will then go to the palace to receive the edict and express their gratitude. Only after completing this whole process will this year's imperial examination be considered over."
Only when the topic of bestowing an official title came up did Yu Mingshu pull himself out of his joy and calm down.
The court had already shown great favor by allowing a woman like her to pass the imperial examination, and her ultimate achievement of topping the list was likely due to her essay resonating with the emperor. However, good grades did not necessarily mean the emperor would be so enlightened as to grant her an official position.
She recalled the little-known historical facts she had read, finding only one precedent in her fragmented memories.
During the Song Dynasty, there was a young girl named Lin Youyu who passed the imperial examination for children at the age of nine. However, she did not receive a formal official position and only received an honorary title as a reward.
However, she believes that this precedent is insufficient as a reference.
Firstly, different ancient times are not the same. The Great Liang Dynasty does not exist in the history she is familiar with, and the customs of the common people are much more enlightened than those of the Southern Song Dynasty.
Secondly, Lin Youyu participated in the selection of child prodigies, and she was too young when she passed the exam. Even if she were a boy, it would be impossible for her to be directly granted an official position.
The young woman, Xiaolin, later disappeared into the annals of history, most likely because her family never considered planning an unconventional path for her.
Seeing her deep in thought, Wu Qiuniang sighed softly, took her hand, and comforted her, "Don't think about it so much."
The next day at noon, the sun shone brightly.
Yu Mingshu wore a light blue round-necked robe, her long hair tied up, and a soft-brimmed turban, but she no longer made any effort to disguise herself as a man. As she walked alongside the other scholars, the eyes of passersby were always focused on her.
"This is the female scholar chosen by the emperor! She truly possesses extraordinary bearing and an air of scholarly refinement!"
"Which bastard said that Miss Yu was naturally alluring? That's an insult to the daughter of a top scholar! In my opinion, Miss Yu is the most talented woman in the Great Liang!"
"I don't know who spread the rumor that Miss Yu is charming everyone at the academy and seducing her fellow students. It's truly absurd. If I could pass the imperial examination, suitors would be lining up from outside the Zhuque Gate all the way to the outskirts of the capital."
"I wonder who that guy from Shancai Lane who raked in five hundred strings of cash is... If I had known, I would have bet on Miss Yu back then."
Some people sneered: "So what if a woman passes the imperial examination? Does she really think she can become an official and be ennobled like a man?"
"Don't spoil this auspicious day. It's truly remarkable that Miss Yu has achieved such a prestigious title. Any family that marries her in the future will be proud."
"But I've heard that there are some rumors about Miss Yu's fate..."
The chatter of the crowd swept past his ears on the late spring breeze, and Yu Mingshu gazed into the distance at the imperial city.
…
After half a month of banquets and gatherings, the newly appointed scholars successively received imperial decrees to be granted official positions.
On March 20th, Xie Huaijin was appointed as the Registrar of the Secretariat.
On March 21, He Zheng was appointed Right Guard Commander of the Eastern Palace.
Upon hearing the news, Yu Mingshu congratulated both of them.
When Xie Huaijin opened the door and saw it was her, he was quite flattered and thanked her repeatedly. He went back into the courtyard and brought her a basket of dried fruit.
“These were sun-dried by my mother herself. They’re sweet and sour, I don’t know if you’ll like them.” He smiled somewhat awkwardly. “The flat ones are persimmons, and the round ones are kumquats. They symbolize good fortune and a bright future.”
Yu Mingshu smiled and said, "I love sweet and sour snacks. Please thank Madam Su for me."
Seeing that she was about to leave, Xie Huaijin couldn't help but raise his voice and say, "No matter what, the rumors that were circulating recently were all caused by my elder brother, Minister Xie. I should apologize to you. I'm sorry."
Yu Mingshu paused, chuckled softly, and replied earnestly, "He is him, and you are you. Don't always apologize for other people's mistakes."
In stark contrast to the Xie family's quiet celebration, He Zheng's victory banquet was organized jointly by the Earl of Anyuan and his wife, Lady Tao. The date was set for March 27th, and it was held together with his birthday banquet.
Yu Mingshu was stunned when she received the invitation.
Because the invitation wasn't given to her by He Zheng, but was personally delivered to her by the steward of the Marquis of Anyuan's residence, who also urged her to attend.
When did the Yu family become so influential?
Yu Dan clicked his tongue in amazement: "Sister, you did well to pass the imperial examination. You've become a guest of honor at the Earl's mansion overnight."
Yu Mingshu had never seen such a scene before, and looked to his mother for help: "Mother, can you come with me?"
Wu Qiuniang readily agreed.
On the day of the He family's victory celebration, at noon, before leaving home, Yu Mingshu met Yuan Yi on the street outside the gate. Yuan Yi was on his way to the academy. They hadn't seen each other for a while, so she politely greeted him.
Yuan Yi stopped the carriage, lifted the curtain to see her bright and formal attire, frowned and asked, "Are you going to the Marquis of Anyuan's residence?"
Yu Mingshu nodded.
Yuan Yi said seriously, "The essay you wrote in the examination room is already well-known. There may be people who challenge you during the meal. Do not act impulsively and be careful with your words and actions."
When Yu Mingshu decided to write about such a sensitive topic, she anticipated that she would offend a number of people. It was quite heartwarming that Yuan Yi was willing to offer her such sincere advice.
She smiled and replied, "I understand, thank you for your guidance, sir."
Carriages flowed like water in front of the An Yuan Earl's mansion, but the Yu family's simple carriage looked particularly shabby among the many ornate carriages and brocade curtains.
As soon as this humble carriage came to a stop, Lady Tao, the wife of the Earl of Anyuan, personally stepped forward to greet it.
"Look, the most talented woman in the Great Liang Dynasty has arrived!"
Yu Mingshu felt a little guilty from the praise, but she didn't show it on her face and politely said, "May you be well, Auntie."
Wu Qiuniang could tell that she was not good at dealing with women in the inner quarters, so she gladly stepped forward and took over the conversation, ordering Qingque to bring down the prepared gifts.
This gift was delivered by Wu Qiuniang on behalf of the Yu family. Yu Mingshu did not bring the gift she had prepared for He Zheng. The two were separated by a wall, so she delivered it directly to his door.
That was a rare weapon manual that she had searched through bookstores all over the city for, and she had also found a few copyists in the East Market to bind it into a fine bound volume. He Zheng probably hadn't opened it yet, and she didn't know if he would like it.
Perhaps it was because He Zheng's reputation was so bad in his early years that he suddenly came back with the third place in the imperial examination, which changed the attitude of those who had mocked the Earl of Anyuan for his poor parenting. The Earl of Anyuan held this celebration banquet in an excessively ostentatious manner, as if he had the words "triumphant" written all over his face.
After entering the guest seating area, He Zhenglai greeted everyone, but before he could say a few words, he was called away again.
Yu Mingshu looked around, but he didn't see many young girls. Instead, he saw mostly burly men.
Wu Qiuniang whispered, "These are all An Yuanbo's old subordinates in the army, and they are also meritorious generals who fought alongside His Majesty to conquer the country."
They're both military officers, so why did Yuan Yi specifically remind her to be careful?
The answer to this question came shortly after the banquet began.
The He family did invite distinguished guests from prominent families, but these people loved to act like big shots, arriving late one after another and making up some high-sounding excuses.
He Xiao looked somewhat displeased. After telling them to sit down, he left them aside and went off to chat and laugh with his old subordinates.
After greeting all the guests, He Zheng was about to return to find Yu Mingshu when his elder brother abducted him halfway there, pressing his shoulder and ordering him to offer wine to his uncles.
Yu Mingshu saw his frustrated expression from afar and found it somewhat amusing.
After the banquet began, she had to deal with more small talk. Tao was particularly warm towards her, praising her to the ladies around her more than once, and even portraying her as the great benefactor who taught He Zheng to reform his ways.
Within half an hour, Yu Mingshu was feeling rather tipsy, and a faint blush rose to his cheeks. This could be due to the flattery he received, or it could be from the alcohol.
The plum wine served at the table was fragrant and sweet and sour, without any spiciness. Yu Mingshu was surprised to find it quite delicious.
A lady from some unknown family sighed in my ear, "If He Erlang hadn't punched the Duke of Yingguo's little darling in a fit of anger, he would have been appointed as the Right Guard Commander of the Eastern Palace last year."
"Good things come to those who wait. I think He Erlang has made a lot of progress in the past year at Chang'an Academy. With the title of Jinshi in his hands, who will dare to say that he will only rely on the Crown Prince in the future?"
The talking stopped for a moment.
After Tao had walked a little further away, the lady who had first expressed her feelings sneered again, saying, "Third Master Xie only got a seventh-rank official position, and the top scholar's daughter didn't even get an official post. He Zheng got a fourth-rank official position as soon as he entered officialdom! If he weren't the Empress's nephew, would he have such a promising future?"
The woman traveling with her quickly urged her to be quiet.
Yu Mingshu lowered his eyes and gazed at the reflection in the cup, lost in thought. Suddenly, everything went dark, and when he looked up, he saw an unfamiliar woman.
Wu Qiuniang greeted her on her behalf, and only then did she realize that the visitor was the wife of the Duke of Yingguo's heir.
The Crown Prince's wife picked up where the clueless woman left off: "Only in this way can one see the profound insight and broad perspective of the top scholar's daughter."
Yu Mingshu's brow twitched; the situation Mr. Yuan had been worried about had finally arrived.
The Crown Prince's wife looked at her and said with a smile, "Miss Yu's essay 'On Cultivating Talent' exposed the ills of the selection and appointment of officials and denounced the princes and nobles for usurping their positions without doing any work. It truly makes us ashamed."
Yu Mingshu's knuckles turned white as he gripped the jade cup tightly. After only a moment's hesitation, he rose and returned the compliment to the Crown Prince's wife: "You flatter me, Madam."
“My daughter has long heard that the Duke of England is strict in governing his family and often teaches his children and grandchildren to be diligent and frugal, and to never forget military strategy and martial arts even in times of peace and prosperity. If all the relatives in the world could emulate your family’s spirit of being prepared for danger in times of peace, then Daliang will surely prosper for generations to come.”
The Crown Prince's wife was surprised to hear such high praise, and she couldn't bring herself to say the sarcastic words she had originally intended.
Watching the other person go to the next table to offer a toast, Yu Mingshu secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Fearing that someone else might come to toast her and cause trouble, she said goodbye to Wu Qiuniang and quietly left the banquet hall.
In the distance, He Zheng, who was forcibly pressed onto the table, saw this scene and turned to Jing Hong, saying, "Go see what's wrong with Ming Shu."
After a few rounds of drinks, Jinghong returned with a message and whispered something in He Zheng's ear for a long time.
After hearing what happened on Yu Mingshu's side, He Zheng frowned.
"Okay, go keep an eye on her and make sure those clueless people don't make things difficult for her again."
After the celebration banquet ended and the guests left one after another, He Zheng did not rush back to Yongning Lane, but went to He Ting's study alone.
"Brother, I don't want to enter the Right Guard Commander's Mansion."
With the noise of the door being slammed open, his words came into the room from outside.
He Ting couldn't help but click his tongue, his tone displeased: "How many times have I told you, knock before you come in."
He Zheng didn't take it seriously, "What's so shameful about your study?"
He Ting glanced at him and put down the gift list.
"The decree granting official positions and granting amnesty has already been issued. What kind of trouble are you trying to cause now?"
He Zheng sat down in the armchair on the right and casually picked a grape from the plate. "Don't you think it's a bit of an exaggeration that a Jinshi who has never made any merits is immediately given a fourth-rank military position?"
He Ting remained silent for a long time, staring at him intently with a puzzled look in his eyes.
"What are you thinking about all day? Everyone else is scrambling to climb higher, but you, on the other hand, insist on flowing downhill like a waterfall! You can't stand being at the Chongwen Academy, and you only feel comfortable after a year of struggling at the Chang'an Academy. You even look down on this fourth-rank official position. Do you only feel comfortable starting from the lowest level, a guard, standing watch at the gate for the Crown Prince every few nights?"
“That’s not what I meant…” He Zheng was speechless for a moment, then said in a low voice, “I want to be transferred to the army, train soldiers, and do something worthwhile.”
After thinking for a moment, He Ting suddenly understood what his younger brother was thinking and laughed, "What if I said that His Majesty intends to let Miss Yu enter the Eastern Palace's Bureau of Classics?"
The boy in front of her paused for a moment, then his brow gradually relaxed.
She stood up briskly and said to him, "Never mind what I said, I'm leaving."
…
Late spring has passed, and early summer has begun.
Even after the celebration banquet, guests continued to visit the Yu family's gate from time to time.
Among them were matchmakers who came to propose marriage, and some even more outrageous ones who believed Tao's words and wanted to hire Yu Mingshu as a tutor to save their misguided, school-averse children.
That morning, there was another knock on the door. Luo Yan walked out with a long face, yelling as she went, "Who is it! What are you knocking for so early in the morning!"
Upon opening the door, Luo Yan was immediately captivated to see that the visitor was dressed in the robes of a palace eunuch. She promptly adopted a respectful expression and invited the person inside.
"Young lady, come out quickly! The decree of granting official titles and pardons has arrived!"
Yu Mingshu was counting the dividends He Zheng had sent her in the room. It was the money he had won by gambling with fifty strings of cash. In a way, this money was earned by her own abilities.
Hearing the call from outside, she was startled and immediately threw down the copper coin and ran outside, smoothing out the wrinkles in her clothes as she ran. When she reached the hall, she bowed and greeted the eunuch.
The eunuch was extremely pleased to see her humble attitude. Although he knew she had only been granted a minor official rank, he still read out the pardon in a gentle manner.
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