Chapter 236 For the sake of you, I'll take a beautiful woman; for the sake of the world…
Rotten wood cannot be carved, and a naughty child cannot be taught. For the next few days, Zhang Xiaozhu gave Zhang Ting a hard time.
For example, today, the sun rises in the east, and the morning light shines brightly.
Zong Suyi took her child out to bask in the sun.
Zhang Ting was on her way to the morning court session, but seeing the child, she couldn't help but feel a surge of maternal love, and greeted her by gently scratching the child's soft chin: "Suck, suck, suck—"
The baby had just woken up with rosy cheeks and dazed eyes. We let her play for a while, and when she came to her senses, she gave a particularly haughty "humph," turned her head away, and snuggled into her father's arms.
Zong Suyi bit her lip to suppress a laugh, slapped away someone's hand, and glared at her, the meaning clear: Go to court, stop playing around.
Zhang Ting, seeing that things were going well, decided to stop, and even pretended to ask, "What kind of toys does Tun Tun like? Do you want Mommy to bring them back for you?"
The child's ears twitched, and a joyful light shone in his round, black eyes—it was a new toy! But didn't the child have any pride? Just because she said she wanted it, did the child have to have it? The child hugged his father tightly, stubbornly ignoring her.
"Alright then." She feigned regret and turned to run away.
The child heard no other sounds for a long time, realized something was wrong, turned over, and exclaimed, "Hmm! Where did everyone go?"
Tun Tun climbed down from her father's warm embrace, looking left and right.
The child couldn't believe it at all and rubbed his eyes to look again.
There was no one there.
The child clung to his father's leg, eagerly asking, "Mommy's leaving already? Aren't you going to ask me anything else?" If he asked again, the child would agree!
Zong Suyi thought it over and over, then nodded emphatically and affectionately patted the child's head. "How did you fall into your mother's trap again?"
Winters are windy and snowy, so Zhang Ting always travels to court by carriage. Today the sun is shining brightly, and she's in a cheerful mood, humming a little tune as she walks.
Lifting the carriage curtain, one could see many scholars dressed in blue robes in the streets and alleys, all of them candidates for the imperial examinations. As the date drew closer, more and more students from all over the country were heading to the capital.
She wore that same dress eight years ago, and Zhang Ting looked on with nostalgia, sighing deeply.
The carriage slowly made its way to the palace.
As usual, the morning court session today consisted of a few young adults arguing, followed by an elder trying to smooth things over, all about the allocation of funds and provisions among the various departments.
A charcoal brazier was lit inside the hall, making it warm and cozy. The people chattered like sparrows, which made the environment feel more relaxed. Zhang Ting couldn't help but feel sleepy and dozed off with his head down.
"What are your thoughts, Zhang Qing?"
Zhang Ting held the jade tablet upright, motionless.
Emperor Chengjing frowned slightly. Why is my dear minister not speaking? Could it be that this matter is not as it appears on the surface, but rather that there is another hidden story?
"Does Minister Zhang have any concerns? Please speak freely. I am all ears."
Zhang Ting remained with her head down, motionless.
What was Lord Zhang hesitating about? Xu Qiushui stared at him for a long time, but couldn't figure it out. "Lord Zhang, please speak. You have foresight and wisdom; we must follow your lead in matters of state." Could it be that there are rebels within the court, that even Lord Zhang needs to be cautious?
The address "Lord Zhang" startled Zhang Ting awake. She trembled and saw all the officials looking at her. Realizing that she had been called out, she felt a chill run down her spine.
But having been around for so many years, she cleared her throat and stepped forward, "I believe this matter is inappropriate." She was joking; the money and grain collected from the land survey were meant to be used to repair the academy and supplement the students' income. If the Ministry of Works, the Ministry of Rites, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Revenue, and the Ministry of War wanted money, they should find their own ways to earn it.
Emperor Chengjing, resting his chin on his hand, echoed, "I also think it's inappropriate. A tiny country like ours only sends one handsome man as tribute—what kind of nonsense is that!" Every emperor throughout history had a bulging purse, so why is she so penniless!
Zhang Ting blinked: Huh?
However, her years of experience in muddling through were no joke; she quickly realized what was happening. "Your Majesty is wise." She subconsciously wiped away her sweat, thank goodness.
Xu Qiushui was still wondering if there were any remaining rebels in the court when he stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, our dynasty has just experienced a war and is in a weak state. However, at this time, the attitude of the Southern Mongols is arrogant and they are deceiving the emperor. This makes me wonder if there are any people in the court who are colluding with them and betraying the country?"
These words caused an uproar throughout the court.
Emperor Chengjing thought about it and realized that when his wife was still alive, although the people of Mo Nan were not very well-behaved, they were as obedient as grandsons when it came to paying tribute. So why did she become so perfunctory when she ascended the throne?
However, she did not want to directly provoke internal conflicts in the imperial court, so she waved for Xu Qiushui to step down first and let her beloved minister express his opinion.
Zhang Ting, who was initially puzzled by Xu Qiushui's admiring gaze, had no choice but to step forward again upon hearing Emperor Chengjing's call, and began to make up a story on the spot.
"While traitors and rebels certainly deserve to be punished by everyone, the matter is not yet settled. We should not let our own people fight each other over unfounded accusations, lest we lose more than we gain."
Xu Qiushui nodded. Was that why Zhang Ting had been lost in thought? Then she had some foresight.
The other civil and military officials nodded repeatedly, acknowledging that it was Lord Zhang who considered the overall situation.
Emperor Chengjing pondered for a long time, then agreed wholeheartedly, "What good plan do you have for the matter of the southern desert?"
There are two good strategies: one is the tribute treasures; the other is whether the southern desert region truly has ill intentions.
Zhang Ting thought for a moment and said, “Since the founding of the Mo Nan Kingdom, it has been a vassal state of my Dayong. Although it is barbaric and difficult to civilize, and often behaves rudely, my Dayong is a country of etiquette, inclusive and tolerant, and will not hold grudges against petty people. As long as Mo Nan presents its tribute on time, Dayong can forgive past grievances and continue to accept it as a vassal state.”
Emperor Chengjing clapped his hands, quite satisfied with his beloved minister's speech. It not only demonstrated the grandeur of his great nation but also allowed him to reclaim the tribute that Dayong was rightfully owed. Excellent, excellent! However, he still had one objection: "A group of barbarians in the southern desert. I may not bother with them, but they must show 'double' sincerity." Minister of Rites Ning Yuanzhi gave him a wink.
Ning Yuanzhi's eye twitched. She had heard that they were going to receive 'double' tribute. She lowered her head, unable to help but wonder: Was the new emperor being too stingy? How embarrassing.
However, the Vice Minister of Rites had some concerns and stepped forward to ask, "What if the Southern Mongols do not comply?" In recent years, the Southern Mongols' power has grown, and whether or not they become a vassal state of the Great Yong seems to have no impact on them.
Zhang Ting said matter-of-factly, "Although our Great Yong Dynasty cherishes peace, there is only the distinction between vassal states and enemy states." She bowed and said, "Your Majesty may try this out."
Emperor Chengjing immediately stood up and praised, "Well said! Minister Ning, you shall assign the Honglu Temple to handle this." After saying this, he specially instructed, "In relations between the two countries, tribute is nothing more than a matter of money and goods. Do not let this damage the harmony. Just let me see the sincerity of the Southern Desert."
Ning Yuanzhi bowed and agreed, but her lips twitched. What 'trivial gifts' and 'sincerity'? If she really didn't care, would she have been reminded of them repeatedly?
What exactly did His Majesty go through during those years after being deposed to become such a stingy person?
This was just a minor incident. After that, another official submitted a memorial requesting that His Majesty select a concubine to ensure the continuation of the imperial line and to solidify the foundation of the country.
Women are all lustful, and Emperor Chengjing certainly wanted to expand his harem. Since ascending the throne, apart from having private affairs with a few palace maids, she had no other men in public besides the Empress.
But Chen Liu had already spent all the money in the national treasury, and they were barely making ends meet this year. How could they possibly support a man? They'd just have to make do for now.
Emperor Chengjing refused his ministers' proposal, citing his obligation to observe mourning for the late emperor.
The courtiers below all breathed a sigh of relief. Thank goodness! If they had really held a grand selection for the harem, they would have been in debt for next year.
After the morning court session, Emperor Chengjing kept Zhang Ting behind him, and the two strolled together in the Imperial Garden. Zhang Ting walked behind her.
Emperor Chengjing pulled her to feed the fish, saying, "Now it's just the two of us, no need for formalities."
In the cold winter, the imperial garden is filled with blooming red plum blossoms.
Emperor Chengjing tossed out a few baits and chatted with her, "Xiaoting, you are in the prime of your youth, and you only have one daughter, so the house is inevitably a bit lonely. How about I take in a few beautiful concubines for you?" Women, no matter how many concubines or mistresses they have, are just playthings to be manipulated.
Emperor Chengjing often felt sorry for Zhang Ting, his beloved minister who had followed him in countless battles and made great contributions, and who had suffered many injustices. Although Consort Xiao was beautiful, she was spoiled, willful, and prone to giving him the cold shoulder. A husband should be virtuous, and Consort Xiao was not that kind of person.
She genuinely wanted to make amends and help the Zhang family continue its lineage.
Zhang Ting's eyelids twitched. Was he testing her?
But whether it was true or not, she answered truthfully: "My backyard has been empty for many years because I like peace and quiet. Being able to plan for the future of the Great Yong Dynasty in my spare time is my lifelong wish."
Emperor Chengjing turned his head to look at her, remained silent for a long time, and was once again shocked by Zhang Ting's character.
Emperor Chengjing patted her on the shoulder, expressing his sincere agreement: "You are a good person."
He did not succumb to lust when he was in danger, and he did not indulge himself after he achieved success. He adhered to his principles. How many people in the world can do that?
Zhang Ting was a man who loved money but did not covet it. Even when he swindled 100,000 taels from Magistrate Hu, he returned it intact and used it to help the people of Yinzhou Prefecture.
He was not greedy for fame but did not covet it. From the moment he rescued the people from the exploitation of unscrupulous merchants in Lvtian County, he intended to make a name for himself. However, after achieving success, he was willing to wade into unnecessary troubled waters and bear the infamy from both inside and outside the court in order to reform education and conduct land surveys to create a living environment for students and the people.
She is power-hungry but not attached to it. She climbed step by step from a lowly scholar to the position of Grand Tutor, second only to the emperor. She wields immense power, but she lives a secluded life, is humble and low-key, and rarely displays her power. As a result, the Duke of Zheng and his wife dared to criticize her in front of the emperor.
Emperor Chengjing looked at her with a strange yet delighted expression. Zhang Ting couldn't figure out her thought process and awkwardly laughed, "Your Majesty flatters me, flatters me." It was truly an unexpected "friend card."
Emperor Chengjing smiled and invited Zhang Ting to look at other scenery. What she didn't say was that she felt Zhang Ting was more like a saint than a good person.
She had a vague premonition that Zong Xuanyue had become a great literary figure in the past, attracting the admiration of the world, while Zhang Ting, as a literary star who achieved the highest rank in the imperial examinations, was renowned for his virtue and talent. He would not only go further than her but also become a sage whose name would be remembered for thousands of generations.
What kind of magnificent era will this young man create for her?
Living in the same era as a once-in-a-century genius, how will posterity evaluate her?
It's really exciting to think about.
...
After a month of uneventful events, Zhang Ting was imprisoned, along with several colleagues from the Ministry of Rites and the Hanlin Academy.
There was no other reason than that the imperial examination was approaching.
Zhang Ting sat in a round-backed chair, holding a cup of hot tea, her face expressionless, but inwardly cursing her father.
It was one thing for her to set the exam questions, but she also received numerous documents from the Ministry of Personnel, the Ministry of Works, the Ministry of Revenue, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of War, and the Ministry of Rites. Even the emperor seemed to have forgotten that she was the chief examiner, and kept sending her memorials.
She thought that being the chief examiner would make her job easier, but she was wrong; she underestimated the darkness of human nature.
After reviewing the last official document, the examiners from the Ministry of Rites sent over several draft examination papers.
Zhang Ting sat upright in the main seat, holding the examination paper, feeling quite strange. Many years ago, she sat in a cramped examination cell, buried in answering questions, and now it was her turn to set questions and examine this year's candidates.
The first one is relatively simple, and the second one is even simpler.
Zhang Ting thought to himself: The officials of the Ministry of Rites and the Hanlin Academy are quite insightful. Considering that the new emperor has just ascended the throne, they did not choose overly difficult questions for the special imperial examination.
She handed the first one to the examiner, saying, "This one will do." The imperial examinations needed to differentiate candidates; a simple one would not result in a good ranking.
The official from the Ministry of Rites hesitated for a long time before saying, "...Lord Zhang, isn't this set of examination papers too difficult?"
Zhang Ting frowned slightly, picked up the exam paper again, and read it over and over. Was it difficult? This was quite simple. But seeing the other person's expression, she suddenly had a flash of inspiration. She coughed and said, "Then I will correct a few questions."
"Yes, yes, yes." The Ministry of Rites official nodded repeatedly, afraid that she would change her mind. Lord Zhang was a literary master unparalleled in the world, so it was inevitable that he would think the exam papers were nothing special. However, not every candidate had even a tenth or a twelfth of Lord Zhang's wisdom. If it was too difficult and too many people were rejected, it would not look good for His Majesty.
Zhang Ting moved some of the questions from the second exam paper over, and then looked at the last essay question, which was about the relationship between agriculture and the country and the court. After a great war, it was a time when people needed to recuperate. This question was reasonable, but she pondered for a long time, picked up her pen and crossed it out, writing down six words in a long and elegant manner.
—Why fight? How should we fight?
Zhang Ting waved his hand and handed it to an official from the Ministry of Rites, saying, "Take it down and print it."
The other party respectfully accepted the question, glanced at it, and couldn't help but feel a headache for the students. They were all Confucian scholars, well-versed in the classics, and could answer the question about warfare, but as for how to wage war, they weren't monsters like Lord Zhang, born with the innate ability to conquer cities and strategize from afar.
Zhang Ting knew that this might be very difficult for students taking the imperial examinations, but she wanted to select truly capable people who could apply their knowledge to practical affairs for the Dayong Dynasty and its people, rather than Confucian scholars who spent their days talking about benevolence and morality.
This year is just the beginning.
The bells and chimes rang out, their echoes lingering in the air.
Inside the examination hall and in the examination cells, thousands of candidates were fine at first when they received the test questions, but when they got to the last question, they were completely lost halfway through their essays, sweating profusely. Some even let out painful wails and were dragged out by the yamen runners.
Zhang Ting heard the students' suffering from her high platform, but she lowered her eyes, her expression composed, remaining unmoved. Removing poison from the bone is always painful, but as long as one endures it, clean, healthy new flesh will grow back.
This applies to the rigid and inflexible imperial examination system, and also to the corrupt officialdom.
Nine days later, the examiners reviewed the papers, and the examination hall was locked.
Next door, the examiners seemed to be arguing over a certain exam paper. Zhang Ting simply did the final check of the scores, quietly sitting in his seat, enjoying a rare moment of peace and quiet.
Snow began to fall again outside the window, covering the courtyard and creating a unique atmosphere.
The teacher has probably already arrived in Kyoto. The temperature has dropped sharply recently; I wonder if she is feeling alright?
Zong Suyi is so reckless. Not to mention the child, will she even be able to take care of herself?
Has Tun Tun grown taller? Has she done anything naughty that made her dad angry?
She was filled with countless longings, but with important matters to attend to, she could only indulge in them briefly.
The Ministry of Rites, along with officials from the Hanlin Academy, invited Zhang Ting to review the examination papers.
This Hanlin Academy official was Zhang Ting's former superior. He was as arrogant as he used to be, and now he is as humble and obsequious as he is, for fear of incurring her disgust.
"We, the ministers, all rely on your brilliance, Lord Zhang. If it weren't for your literary influence, we wouldn't have been able to finish reviewing them so quickly. Now, we beg you to go and mark the top marks, and add the most crucial stroke." The head of the Hanlin Academy bowed low and flattered.
Zhang Ting stared at her for a long time before remembering who she was, but what was her name again? He couldn't remember, so he decided to ignore her and move on. She was an insignificant person.
She sat in the main seat and read carefully.
After a while, she held the test paper on her right. "Is this the core of your argument?" The test paper was well-written, but the idea was excellent. It should have been selected, but... her words were too radical.
"What do you mean by 'the whole country is mobilized for war'? Our mighty Yong Dynasty has a million soldiers, do we really need to go to this point? Where is the dignity of the royal family? This is rotten wood! I think this is unacceptable."
The two sides held opposing views, creating a tense and irreconcilable situation.
"With a massive army pressing in, the nation is on the verge of collapse. If we cannot mobilize the entire nation for war, will we simply wait until the enemy's iron hooves break through the city gates and we perish for our country? I believe we should be in the top ten."
The others pleaded, "This man's words are radical, indicating that he is mentally unstable. Please, Your Excellency, dismiss him."
Zhang Ting lightly raised her hand, and the surrounding area instantly fell silent. She had read through the entire article. Although it was radical, it was full of patriotism and love for the people. Many of its strategies were quite insightful. If the country were to face a true crisis, they would definitely be a fearless and resilient force.
He should be selected as a scholar, but being in the top ten is too much of an exaggeration. Being ranked in the upper-middle of the second class would be just right.
After finishing his review, Zhang Ting addressed the officials, saying, "We are paid by the emperor and are tasked with recruiting talented individuals for the court and the emperor, simply because the court currently needs such talent."
"I believe that the idea of the whole country being mobilized for war is not an exaggeration. My lords, we are not only officials of the Great Yong, but also citizens of the Great Yong. But if one day we are truly in danger, we must all step forward."
One official covered his face in shame, saying, "It was my shallowness; thank you for your guidance, sir."
Zhang Ting smiled gently and said that it's inevitable for one person to not be able to consider everything, so it's fine as long as everyone discusses it together.
After the title of "Dianyuan" was revealed, the title of "Huiyuan" was that of a talented woman with a good reputation in Huzhou Prefecture. But what everyone was more curious about was who that radical was.
The bailiffs removed the masked names and revealed the person's name to the public.
Li An, from Lvtian County, Tongzhou Prefecture.
Zhang Ting was taken aback; it was someone he knew. But he didn't pay much attention and went to the palace to report back with the newly completed exam papers.
As we exited the palace road, it was dusk, and we were finally able to go home.
As soon as she stepped into the mansion, a small figure rushed out, wagging its tail like a puppy and circling around her, smiling sweetly, "Mother! Mother! Come back. Your son missed you so much."
Zhang Ting picked up the baby, and the little pig had gotten quite fatter, showing that he hadn't been lacking in food over the past month and a half.
"Mommy misses her baby too." She nuzzled the child's face, then carried him inside. "Where's your dad?"
Tun Tun covered her mouth and giggled, "Dad gave birth to a little brother for Mom, and she's in her postpartum period now."
Zhang Ting nodded. So she was in postpartum confinement. No wonder I hadn't seen her... What?! Postpartum confinement? When did Zong Suyi get pregnant again? Why didn't anyone tell her?
She really only left for a month and a half, not a year and a half?
Zhang Ting felt it was all so surreal. Suddenly, she realized something was wrong. Before she left, Zong Suyi's belly was still flat. He wasn't a cat that could give birth in just over a month.
She blew on the air in anger, hoisted the brat onto her shoulder, and stepped into the inner courtyard, intending to find a secluded corner to give her a good beating.
If you don't discipline them for a month, they'll be climbing on the roof and tearing off the tiles.
Tun Tun clung to Zhang Ting's shoulder like a little sack, but she was a lively and active little sack. She twisted and turned because of the novel perspective, making noise and fuss. If her mother hadn't watched her in time, she would have fallen to the ground.
Zhang Ting was rendered speechless by the commotion.
She just couldn't understand how her calm and steady personality could have given birth to such a mischievous child as Tun Tun.
I can't figure it out. The problem must lie with the child's father.
Carrying a small burlap sack, I climbed the steps. The afterglow of the setting sun shone on the garden, making the scenery breathtakingly beautiful.
The little sack fluttered about, pointing excitedly ahead, "Look! Daddy gave birth to a little brother!"
Zhang Ting frowned and looked up. In the courtyard, there was a large and a small child. The large one was her husband, who was lying on a recliner enjoying the afterglow of the sunset. The small one was sprawled on top of her husband, with a white face and a beard, looking over with his heterochromatic eyes, blinking curiously.
Um, it's a Persian cat wearing clothes.
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