Chapter 253: Abuse of scum
Everyone was bewildered by Marquis Xuanping's actions.
What's going on? The dignified Marquis Xuanping would actually straighten the clothes of a candidate? This is no ordinary sign of affection. Generally speaking, only people with very close relationships, or those who value one highly, would do such a thing.
Xiao Liulang may not be very famous in the capital, but he is extremely famous in the imperial examination circle. He came from a poor family, but he ranked first in the spring examination with Prince An, which made him famous.
His physical disability only drew more attention to him.
He was very easy to identify, after all, there was no other cripple among those who came to participate in the palace examination.
Most people's first reaction upon seeing him was, "Wow, this kid is so handsome!" The second reaction was, "How come he's a cripple?" And only after these two reactions did they realize, "This little cripple actually passed the imperial examination with top honors?"
People felt sorry for him, envied him, or disdained him... In short, their emotions were very complicated.
But no one present could have predicted that he would catch the eye of Marquis Xuanping.
Indeed, even though Marquis Xuanping showed great regard for Xiao Liulang, no one suspected that the two were father and son.
The crowd murmured amongst themselves, "Isn't Marquis Xuanping a military general? Doesn't he look down on those pedantic scholars? How many outstanding talents have emerged from the imperial examinations over the years? Why hasn't Marquis Xuanping shown any favor to any of them?"
What was it about this little cripple that impressed Marquis Xuanping so much that he, who never held court in the morning, got up early to escort him to the examination hall?
Xiao Liulang remained unchanged, showing no sign of joy or gratitude.
Marquis Xuanping was not annoyed, and still shrugged his clothes with great arrogance.
Marquis Xuanping was never a very good father. He spent most of his time in the military camp and paid little attention to his son at home.
Xiao Heng's ability to become a genius youth who surpassed all others in Zhaodu was largely due to Princess Xinyang, aside from his exceptional talent.
Princess Xinyang was both a loving and strict mother. She was well-versed in poetry and literature from a young age, and she hoped that her son would also be learned in the future. She taught him carefully, and thus Xiao Heng came to be in the eyes of the world.
When Xiao Heng was very young, he would eagerly wait at the gate of the mansion every day, wanting me to recite poems to him.
But he always came home very late, and Xiao Heng would be asleep on the doorstep by then.
Or Xiao Heng recited it, and Xiao Heng listened perfunctorily, nodding and saying okay. Then Xiao Heng got angry and said, "You didn't listen! You didn't listen! I clearly recited three words wrong!"
The young and impetuous Marquis Xuanping couldn't afford to lose face in front of his son, so to cover up his lack of knowledge, he would feign anger and yell at his son: "What's so great about reciting poems? A real man's ability lies in fighting on the battlefield and protecting his country! Can you handle a gun or a sword?"
Xiao Heng was very hurt.
Before Marquis Xuanping could learn how to be a good father, Xiao Heng died in that fire. Only he knew how much regret and remorse he felt.
Marquis Xuanping stared blankly at Xiao Liulang for a moment, then quickly regained his senses, patted Xiao Liulang's shoulder, and squeezed his sleeve: "Go in."
When it was his first time escorting someone into the examination hall, he had little experience and didn't know exactly what to do. He had learned how to straighten his clothes from Grand Tutor Zhuang and Chief Minister Yuan when he got off the carriage.
Xiao Liulang went inside without looking back.
Du Ruohan was a little dumbfounded behind Xiao Liulang. He was the closest person to Marquis Xuanping besides Xiao Liulang. Marquis Xuanping was taller and more handsome than rumored. Every move he made exuded nobility, and his eyes were deep and profound.
This is a man who makes you fearless even if the sky falls or the earth cracks, just by standing next to him.
The aura was so powerful that Du Ruohan felt like she was suffocating.
Yet this powerful man stopped for Xiao Liulang and treated him like a parent.
Du Ruohan was going crazy with jealousy! What incredible luck did this guy have?!
Xiao Liulang was unaware that he had been receiving jealous eye rolls from Du Ruohan all the way. They entered the main hall of Taihe Hall, found their seats according to their examination numbers, just like during the preliminary examination.
The palace examination lasted only one day and consisted of only one subject. The papers were distributed at 4:45 AM and collected at 5:00 PM. Papers could be submitted early, but eating was not allowed during the examination, and students were not permitted to bring their own food.
Candidates who survived the provincial and metropolitan examinations were in good physical condition; going hungry for a day wouldn't cause them any problems. Their only worry was that they might not perform well.
After all, the emperor himself is supervising the exam today. He will only come after the morning court session, but no one knows how long the morning court session will last. What if the emperor suddenly appears behind you while you're writing?
The scene was quite chilling to think about.
After a series of tedious worship procedures, the examination officially began. Officials from the Ministry of Rites distributed examination papers to each candidate. The Minister of Rites, the Minister of the Court of State Ceremonies, and four Grand Secretaries of the Cabinet sat on benches on both sides of the front of the examination hall. A table and chairs were placed in the middle, presumably reserved for the emperor.
Besides the few officials supervising the examination, there were also imperial guards and eunuchs on duty in the hall. Therefore, although there was no separate examination room, it was still very difficult to cheat under so many eyes.
Furthermore, policy questions are not like the rigid questions in the classics, so there is little point in cheating.
Xiao Liulang soon received his test paper, which contained questions set by the emperor: "How can the emperor govern the country and ensure its stability?"
After the life-or-death questions of weakening the power of princes and prioritizing the eldest son and virtuous heir, this question seems much milder. At least there's no wrong answer; the only question is whether the content has any practical effect.
One can engage in grandiloquent discourse, as long as the writing is ornate enough; or one can address current issues and clearly state one's position.
It is true that the emperor is selecting talents, but none of these candidates have ever served as officials. To put it bluntly, they are all just armchair strategists. The emperor does not expect to solve the problems that civil and military officials have not been able to solve in one palace examination. Otherwise, what would be the point of having so many experienced court officials?
What the emperor really wanted to see was the candidate's overall character.
A prime minister's belly can hold a boat; the greater one's vision, the wider one's future path.
Most test takers were unaware of this, racking their brains and trying to come up with innovative ways to govern the country and ensure its stability.
Xiao Liulang didn't rush to put pen to paper; he first drafted a mental outline.
He doesn't actually have the habit of making drafts, but drafts are an important piece of evidence when checking grades.
He carefully considered his words, making revisions and cuts, and after about an hour, he began to formally answer the questions.
This is a policy question. Before answering, you must first write a "subject's reply" to indicate that you are answering the emperor's question.
Your subject replied:
Your Majesty has heard that when an emperor governs the world, he must have practical policies to manage the people, handle all the complex affairs, and achieve a peaceful and prosperous reign; he must also have a sincere heart to lead by example, so as to encourage all the workers, revitalize all affairs, and achieve a state of great prosperity.
Establishing discipline and laws, displaying them on the eaves of the palace, and inscribing them in the official documents, first in the imperial court and then spreading to all government offices and prefectures, extending to the counties, states, and coastal regions, covering everything from the grand to the minute, ensuring comprehensiveness and strictness without any omissions.
"What does it mean to truly invigorate laziness and encourage intelligence? It originates from the deepest recesses of the heart, arises from the most secretive places, begins in the tranquil palace, spreads throughout the capital and the capital region, and permeates even the most remote borderlands. When it permeates and integrates with all, the spirit and mind are completely free of obstruction, and the body and mind are without any hindrance or stagnation..."
Xiao Liulang mainly emphasized the importance of governing the country according to law and implementing practical policies. Laws and regulations must permeate the people, and the voices and sentiments of the people must reach the ears of the emperor.
At the same time, it was also proposed to educate the people with Confucian classics and to vigorously punish corrupt officials so as to replenish the national treasury.
Of course, he also emphasized that the emperor is the Son of Heaven, and everything he does is ordained by Heaven—appointing officials is Heaven's appointment of virtuous people, eliminating evil is Heaven's punishment of the guilty, and everything is the right path.
Compared to his sharp words in the previous exams, Xiao Liulang's choice of words this time was much gentler.
After all, someone has staked their entire fortune; they can't just act recklessly and have fun on their own.
As Xiao Liulang wrote on, he realized that the question was really difficult. The ease that everyone had when they first received the test paper was gone. Everyone buried themselves in writing and no one handed in their paper early.
Perhaps he was so engrossed in writing that he didn't even notice the emperor standing behind him for quite some time.
From the emperor's perspective, he could only see Xiao Liulang's head.
The emperor didn't look for long. He didn't have the perverse pleasure of adding pressure to the candidates in the examination hall. He had just entered and happened to pass by Xiao Liulang, where he saw Xiao Liulang's neat handwriting.
He glanced at it quickly; the handwriting was quite good.
Then I looked at the candidate's name—Xiao Liulang.
Oh, is that the poor scholar who ranked first alongside Prince An?
There are crutches next to him. Is he injured or disabled?
In fact, the selection of officials in this dynasty was somewhat based on appearance. The main reason was that the good looks of Marquis Xuanping raised the emperor's aesthetic standards for civil and military officials. Those who were too ugly were sent out after a few years.
The emperor was somewhat disappointed when he saw the cane, worried that the person holding it might not be very good-looking.
It wasn't that the emperor only cared about looks; the old chief priest was not good-looking, yet he was chosen by the emperor. It was simply that the old chief priest was too powerful.
The emperor quickly walked past Xiao Liulang and sat in the chair at the very front.
The examiners all knew that the candidate had caught the emperor's attention, but they didn't know whether the impression was good or bad.
After the emperor sat down in the examination hall, he no longer paid attention to Xiao Liulang, since he was too far away to see clearly.
He had someone bring him memorials, and while proctoring the exam, he silently reviewed them until the exam was over.
The candidates rose and bowed to the emperor. The emperor randomly selected a few candidates and asked them a few questions. Prince An and the grandson of Chief Minister Yuan were among those selected.
Xiao Liulang was not chosen.
At three quarters past the hour of You (5:45 PM), everyone left the palace.
Although the exam only lasts one day, everyone is more exhausted, both mentally and physically, than during the provincial and imperial examinations.
Apart from a few candidates, most of them had never seen the emperor in their lives. Living under the same roof as the emperor, they almost forgot how to write.
"I'm so nervous." Feng Lin's back was soaked with sweat.
His exam number was relatively high, so he sat in the first row, right under the emperor's nose. However, he dared not look up at the emperor, fearing he would be accused of disrespect.
"I felt like I failed the exam. Towards the end, I didn't even know what I was writing."
He said dejectedly.
Du Ruohan comforted her, "Don't be discouraged. Everyone is just like you. When His Majesty arrives, everyone forgets what they were thinking."
The emperor was considerate of them, arriving after noon. By then, everyone had almost finished their drafts; otherwise, if he had sat there from the beginning, half of them would not have been able to even finish their drafts.
When the emperor stood behind Xiao Liulang, he was startled. Their examination numbers were next to each other, and Xiao Liulang was right behind him. He could smell the ambergris on the emperor's body, and he was so nervous that his scalp tingled.
However, thanks to the provocation from Marquis Xuanping early in the morning, he seems to be able to withstand it a bit better.
"How did Liu Lang do on the exam?" Feng Lin asked Xiao Liu Lang.
Xiao Liulang said, "It's alright, I've written down everything I wanted to say."
Feng Lin then asked Du Ruohan and Lin Chengye. Their performance was also normal, but the policy questions were too subjective. Whether they could pass the imperial examination and become Jinshi depended on the examiners' preferences.
That's beyond their control; they can only do their best and leave the rest to fate.
The group returned home.
Inside the Hall of Supreme Harmony, the examiners began to grade the exam papers. The Minister of Rites and the Minister of the Court of State Ceremonies served as the chief and deputy chief examiners, respectively, while four Grand Secretaries of the Inner Cabinet served as examiners. This time, the exam papers were not graded in groups; each paper was graded by all six examiners.
The top twenty in the overall ranking will be sent to the emperor.
Doing well in the spring imperial examination does not guarantee a good performance in the palace examination. Being able to withstand the emperor's pressure and perform steadily is one part, and it is also another part that happens to fall into one's area of expertise.
However, candidates like Xiao Liulang, who had tied for first place with Prince An, had caught the emperor's attention, not to mention that the emperor even spent some time by his side during the palace examination.
Therefore, if his exam paper is not in the top twenty, the emperor will definitely ask about it and may even have someone bring his exam paper to see how he fell out of the top twenty.
The examination papers for the palace examination were not copied, since they were to be presented to the emperor, who would then examine the candidates' handwriting. However, before being presented to the emperor, the candidates' names would be simply obscured, meaning the examiners would not see them.
But if you really want to see it, it's not difficult.
Moreover, after the preliminary test, the examiners had already noted down some of the candidates' handwriting.
Xiao Liulang's exam paper quickly reached the hands of the Minister of the Court of State Ceremonies. He recognized Xiao Liulang's handwriting at a glance. Grand Tutor Zhuang had already given the order that Xiao Liulang should not be allowed to suppress Prince An.
If Xiao Liulang's writing is not outstanding and not enough to pose a threat to Prince An, the Minister of the Court of State Ceremonies will feel at ease placing him in the top twenty.
Clearly, Xiao Liulang's article was exceptionally brilliant.
This is an essay that no examiner, regardless of their taste, could find fault with, and it is definitely a huge threat to Prince An.
During a break from eating, the Minister of the Court of State Ceremonies quietly went to the latrine.
Near the urinal, Grand Tutor Zhuang had been waiting for a long time.
"How is it?" asked Grand Tutor Zhuang.
“I haven’t changed it to Prince An’s name yet,” said the Minister of the Court of State Ceremonies. “I’ve only changed it to Xiao Liulang’s.”
Grand Tutor Zhuang handed him a draft paper from his bosom. This was a rewrite of the Prince of An's paper from memory after he returned to his residence, and it was almost identical to the examination paper for the palace examination.
After reading the papers, the Minister of the Court of State Ceremonies' expression turned serious: "The two papers are evenly matched."
If they're evenly matched, what's going to happen?
Grand Tutor Zhuang frowned, as if thinking of something, and asked, "What's the matter with Marquis Xuanping? I think he seems to have taken a liking to this young man?"
The Minister of the Court of State Ceremonies said, "Grand Tutor, you... probably didn't take a close look at Xiao Liulang's appearance."
Grand Tutor Zhuang asked, puzzled, "What's wrong with him?"
She was so beautiful that she caught the eye of Marquis Xuanping? But although Marquis Xuanping was a womanizer, he was not into homosexuality.
The Minister of the Court of State Ceremonies said, "He looks like the late young marquis. I was quite startled when I first saw him. Perhaps that is why the Marquis of Xuanping favors him so much."
Grand Tutor Zhuang sneered: "So, when your own son dies, you just find someone who looks similar to replace him?"
His Majesty intends to suppress the dealers. If there were someone who was truly on par with Prince An, His Majesty would not likely have chosen Prince An as the number one. Before today, His Majesty would also not have chosen Xiao Liulang as the number one.
Xiao Liulang's background was too poor. If he became too prominent, he would be envied by others. If the emperor truly cherished Xiao Liulang, he would not have given him the title of top scholar.
His Majesty will appoint another person as the top scholar. If the ministers have any objections, His Majesty will bring up Xiao Liulang's exam paper and say that even someone like him did not get first place, so how could Prince An get first place?
As for the top scholar's exam paper, His Majesty will not allow anyone to see it.
This is the imperial court, this is the examination hall!
However, Marquis Xuanping stepped forward.
He was telling everyone that Xiao Liulang was someone he was protecting, and anyone who dared to touch Xiao Liulang would have to think twice.
This matter will eventually reach His Majesty's ears. Once His Majesty knows that Xiao Liulang has a powerful backer, he will have no worries.
A cold glint flashed in Grand Tutor Zhuang's eyes: "This kid is currying favor with my grandson on one hand, and with Marquis Xuanping on the other. What a master of playing both sides! What I despise most is this kind of person who is in Cao Cao's camp but whose heart is with Han!"
Five days later, all the exam papers were graded.
The top twenty were put into a box by the Minister of Rites and sent to the Emperor.
The emperor was in the Golden Palace, which was not far away.
However, the Minister of Rites had only gone halfway when he unexpectedly encountered the Marquis of Xuanping coming from the opposite direction.
The Minister of Rites was slightly surprised. Why was Marquis Xuanping in the palace so early in the morning? Has this guy stopped sleeping in lately?
With a faint smile on his handsome face, Marquis Xuanping asked politely, "Where is Minister Li headed?"
The Minister of Rites said, "I want to send the examination papers to His Majesty."
"Oh, it's out." Marquis Xuanping raised an eyebrow and reached out to touch the box containing the exam papers.
The Minister of Rites took a step back, his face darkening: "Marquis Xuanping! What are you doing!"
Marquis Xuanping smiled faintly: "Let me see if you have tampered with the exam papers."
The Minister of Rites frowned: "What nonsense are you spouting! We are all examiners appointed by His Majesty, how could we do such a thing? Aren't we afraid of being beheaded?"
Marquis Xuanping said, "I'm afraid there might be someone who isn't afraid at all."
"Who is the Marquis of Xuanping talking about that isn't afraid?" Grand Tutor Zhuang strolled over leisurely.
Marquis Xuanping turned around and gave Grand Tutor Zhuang a half-smile: "Oh, Grand Tutor Zhuang has arrived."
The Minister of Rites bowed and said, "Grand Tutor Zhuang."
Grand Tutor Zhuang nodded in return, then looked at Marquis Xuanping: "Marquis Xuanping, do you have some dissatisfaction with Minister Li? Or with the Cabinet? Or perhaps with His Majesty?"
Marquis Xuanping smiled faintly: "Don't put too much pressure on me. I just want to see if these exam papers have been tampered with."
The only person in the entire world who dares to question the cabinet in this way is Marquis Xuanping.
Grand Tutor Zhuang chuckled and said, "If Marquis Xuanping doesn't believe me, he can see for himself."
Minister Li looked at Grand Tutor Zhuang in surprise. Grand Tutor Zhuang said, "I believe that Marquis Xuanping will not take the opportunity to tamper with the candidates' exam papers. Minister Li, please let Marquis Xuanping take a look. I will take responsibility for any problems that arise."
Having said all that, Minister Li could no longer refuse to show it to Marquis Xuanping.
Marquis Xuanping opened the box and flipped through each exam paper. The papers had anonymous names, but he could still recognize Xiao Liulang's handwriting, having reviewed them many times in private.
He saw Xiao Liulang's exam paper.
Grand Tutor Zhuang glanced at the exam paper, then at Marquis Xuanping, and sneered, "Is there a problem?"
Marquis Xuanping gave Grand Tutor Zhuang a deep look.
Grand Tutor Zhuang said frankly, "If there's nothing else, these exam papers should be sent to His Majesty. He's waiting to review them."
Marquis Xuanping put down the examination paper, hesitated for a moment, and his doubtful gaze lingered on Grand Tutor Zhuang's face for a instant.
Grand Tutor Zhuang was unparalleled in his integrity from beginning to end.
Marquis Xuanping eventually let Minister Li leave, and he himself stepped out of the palace.
Watching his retreating figure, which had returned empty-handed, Grand Tutor Zhuang gave a cold smile.
He knew this would happen; he had been on guard against Marquis Xuanping. Did Marquis Xuanping really think he was seeing Xiao Liulang's exam paper? The handwriting was exactly the same, and even the content was largely the same, with only a few key changes made.
Marquis Xuanping, that reckless fellow, couldn't see through it.
Don't underestimate these small details; they are enough to anger the emperor.
So what's the point of putting it in the top 20?
Xiao Liulang probably wouldn't even pass the second-class imperial examination!
Grand Tutor Zhuang left the palace triumphantly.
His carriage was waiting at the palace gate. When the servants saw him coming, they quickly lifted the curtain for him. He was in a good mood and got into the carriage with a smile.
But to his utter surprise, there was someone sitting in the carriage!
Grand Tutor Zhuang trembled with fright: "Marquis Xuanping?!"
What was his coachman doing? How did he let Marquis Xuanping get on board?
"Guards!" he shouted.
Marquis Xuanping said calmly, "Let's go."
The carriage has departed.
Grand Tutor Zhuang's face turned pale. He abruptly lifted the curtain and looked at the coachman in the front seat, only to realize that the other person was not his coachman at all.
Where is his coachman?
Where did they go?
His carriage was always parked at the palace gate, where the Imperial Guards were stationed. How did Marquis Xuanping manage to switch his coachman?
Grand Tutor Zhuang glared at the other man, his anger barely contained: "Marquis Xuanping, what exactly do you want to do?"
Marquis Xuanping sneered: "Put Xiao Liulang's exam paper back, otherwise your horse will be startled, and I can't guarantee you'll land safely. After all, you don't know martial arts, do you?"
Grand Tutor Zhuang was stunned: "You..."
Marquis Xuanping chuckled and said, "You want to know how I found out? I don't understand exam papers, but I do understand you, Grand Tutor Zhuang."
Grand Tutor Zhuang was speechless and his face turned ashen. Marquis Xuanping's arrogance and conceit often made people think that he was just a brute, but look at what he did today!
Grand Tutor Zhuang gritted his teeth: "How dare you!"
Marquis Xuanping: "Likewise."
Grand Tutor Zhuang sneered, "You...you think you can threaten me like this?"
Marquis Xuanping shrugged: "No, I was just giving you a suggestion. Since you don't want it, I have another gift for you."
An ominous premonition welled up in Grand Tutor Zhuang's heart.
The carriage soon came to a stop on an empty official road. There were no pedestrians in sight, only a carriage stopped opposite the two of them.
Grand Tutor Zhuang lifted the curtain, and someone in another carriage also lifted the curtain, revealing Prince An, who was bound hand and foot and had his mouth gagged with cloth.
Prince An looked at Grand Tutor Zhuang with excitement, muttering "uh-huh" but unable to utter a complete sentence.
Grand Tutor Zhuang was almost speechless with astonishment at Marquis Xuanping's audacity.
They left the palace almost one after the other. After checking the exam papers, Marquis Xuanping did not have time to arrest anyone. In other words, before checking the exam papers, Marquis Xuanping was certain that he would tamper with Xiao Liulang's exam papers and arrested Prince An early on!
"Do you know what you're doing? You're not just holding the imperial court hostage, you've kidnapped the Prince of Zhao!"
Marquis Xuanping leaned back in his chair, looking at him with a leisurely air: "So?"
There was not a trace of fear in his eyes.
It was as arrogant as a wild horse that could trample everything at any moment.
Grand Tutor Zhuang was not in the right either; both were guilty of crimes punishable by death. It was a matter of who could be the most stubborn in the end.
Grand Tutor Zhuang clenched his fists and glared intently at Marquis Xuanping.
Marquis Xuanping said casually, "I don't have much patience. I'll say it one last time: put the exam paper back."
Grand Tutor Zhuang never admitted to tampering with the examination papers, but this did not seem to affect Marquis Xuanping's threats against him. Grand Tutor Zhuang felt like a scholar encountering a soldier, unable to reason with him.
If he were a scholar, he could still subtly entangle the other person in a roundabout way.
Marquis Xuanping, however, did not.
He doesn't give you any chance to beat around the bush.
Grand Tutor Zhuang felt a deep sense of powerlessness, but he was not about to admit defeat so easily: "Marquis Xuanping, don't be too arrogant!"
Marquis Xuanping looked at Grand Tutor Zhuang and casually raised his finger.
Inside another carriage, Chang Jing pulled out a dagger and, without hesitation, stabbed Prince An in the thigh.
Blood spurted out, and Prince An gritted his teeth, yet still managed to utter a shrill sound from between them.
Grand Tutor Zhuang's expression changed drastically: "Heng'er!"
Marquis Xuanping leaned lazily against the carriage wall, raised an eyebrow and said, "Remember this, this is what arrogance is all about."
Grand Tutor Zhuang was trembling with rage, his entire body contorted with fury: "Aren't you afraid of causing a death? My grandson is dead, do you think you won't have to pay with your life?"
Marquis Xuanping sneered: "Do you think I'm afraid?"
Grand Tutor Zhuang was stunned.
The two updates are combined into one.
Note: The original text of the exam paper comes from the palace examination paper of Zhao Bingzhong, a candidate from the Ming Dynasty. Some of the translations are from Sohu.com - Calligraphy Classroom.
(End of this chapter)
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