Chapter 85: The Imperial Examination is Held, and the Person is Framed
As scholars from all over the country traveled thousands of miles to gather in the capital, teahouses and bookstores became bustling with activity, and the city was filled with a vibrant literary atmosphere, ready to erupt at any moment.
The air was still filled with biting snowflakes, yet it felt so hot it was almost boiling.
Countless people spend half their lives studying hard, just for this one imperial examination.
Inside a private room of a teahouse.
"These scholars from small places are so noisy." Qiu Yuan impatiently tapped the teahouse table with her fan. Today was their first gathering with Sister Zhang in three years, and the good gathering had been ruined by these poor students from a remote place. She was in a bad mood.
At this moment, Qiu Yuan seemed to have forgotten that her beloved Zhang Meimei also came from a small town.
Amidst the clamor and bustling crowd around her, Zhang Ting held her cup, swirling it gently. Her heart was as still as water. Her eyes were soft, and a faint smile played on her lips. "It's quite a rare spectacle."
Fang Ting glanced at Qiu Yuan without making a sound, then looked at Zhang Ting and echoed, "Sister Ting is absolutely right."
Luo Zijun sat close to Zhang Ting, and seeing that her teacup was only half full, she quickly refilled it, like a diligent little bee. Unlike Qiu and Fang, she had visited her sister's house early after receiving the news and was even invited to have a meal with her sister's family.
Seeing that they didn't seem to care, Qiu Yuan didn't say anything more. She yawned, her eyes narrowing, but her gaze inadvertently fell on the half-finished jade pendant of two fish hanging from Zhang Ting's waist. She paused for a moment, then looked at Zhang Ting with a teasing look in her eyes. It seems that Zhang Ting is not only good at studying, but also quite lucky in love. I wonder which handsome man gave her this gift?
Luo Zijun followed Qiu Yuan's gaze and caught sight of the jade fish pendant, causing her to curl her lip in disgust. She truly didn't understand what was so good about that wicked, troublesome husband? He actually made her sister willingly submit to him.
Fang Ting looked to the left, then to the right, puzzled. One had a slanted eye, the other a crooked mouth. She frowned, even suspecting her two classmates might be suffering from a serious illness. Were they driven mad by the pressure of the upcoming imperial examinations?
Just then, an angry shout erupted from the next private room, followed by a chorus of rebukes.
The four looked at each other, all bewildered, and couldn't help but prick up their ears to listen.
It turns out that someone had placed a bet at the teahouse on the top scorer in this year's imperial examination.
"What do you know?! I think the top scorer in this imperial examination must be Xu Zhengrong, the Imperial Academy Scholar! She was also the top scorer in the previous year's examination in the capital."
Qiu Yuan's face twitched uncontrollably when she heard that someone had bet on Xu Zhengrong to win the championship.
If Heaven were to allow this poisonous hedgehog to win the championship, it would truly be an injustice!
The others booed, "Xu Zhengrong hasn't been a supervisor for two years, who are you trying to fool?"
"Don't try to curry favor with Prime Minister Xu just because she's related to him. He doesn't even look at you!"
"The chief examiner for this imperial examination is Lord Han Bingyue, a close advisor to His Majesty. He has nothing to do with Prime Minister Xu."
Hearing that everyone else shared her opinion, Qiu Yuan felt relieved.
"If you're talking about the top scholar in the Imperial Academy, why don't you bet on the top scholar from the last two years? I heard that three years ago, she was only sixteen years old when she took the provincial examination and got the second-highest score in Huzhou Prefecture."
"Grandma, she is indeed a genius. I think she has great potential, so I'm betting on her! Thirty taels."
One of them brushed her aside and mocked, "She was sixteen three years ago, and she's only nineteen now. Luo Zijun is still a little girl who hasn't even grown her first hair yet. Does she have the qualifications to be the top scholar?"
Zhang Ting turned her gaze to her stepsister, Luo Zijun. Luo Zijun, with her round, almond-shaped eyes and a fawning smile on her fair face, looked at her like a little white dog wagging its tail. Zhang Ting pursed her lips. Three years had passed; her sister had shed her childishness and clearly grown into a graceful young woman. She was no longer some immature little girl. These people were talking nonsense.
Those who supported Luo Zijun were also furious, "She's not qualified, but you are?"
"Although I am not qualified, this year's top scholar from Zhangzhou Prefecture is certainly qualified. The essay written by Scholar Fang is truly impeccable!"
"Absolutely! Absolutely!"
The three people in the private room all looked at Fang Ting with teasing eyes, as if to say, "Fang Jieyuan, you have quite a few fans, huh?" Their stares made Fang Ting blush with embarrassment.
Another person said, "I heard that Yang Fuchen, a virtuous scholar, once studied in Zhangzhou Prefecture, worked for the benefit of the people, eliminated epidemics, and was even the second-highest scholar in Taizhou Prefecture. Why is no one mentioning her?"
Students from Taizhou Prefecture echoed, "Sir Yang is a model and exemplar for us students from Taizhou Prefecture!"
The atmosphere was noisy, as if a fight was about to break out at any moment. Suddenly, the person who had been silent just moments before spoke hesitantly: "Why don't you mention Zhang Xianshi...?"
The noise in the room instantly subsided, and everyone fell silent as if their mouths had been gagged, all looking at the person who had spoken.
The man hesitated for a moment before continuing, "She was a wise woman who stabilized prices and relieved the summer heat. Didn't you all read her examination paper and praise and admire her so much? Why is it that... no one mentions her?"
After a long silence, a student from Huzhou Prefecture hesitated and asked, "Is Zhang Xianshi also going to participate in this year's imperial examination? Didn't she just participate in the provincial examination last year?"
"Yeah, yeah, she probably won't participate in this imperial examination."
Someone immediately turned and flipped through the roster to confirm: "She is indeed in this imperial examination..."
This Zhang Ting was different from the previous ones. The students of Huzhou Prefecture suddenly felt as if a mountain was pressing down on their heads, so heavy that they wanted to give up the exam.
They whispered amongst themselves, "...Why is she taking the exam in such a rush?"
"Last time you confidently told me she wouldn't participate in this imperial examination, which is why I came. Now look what's happened!"
"You can't blame me for this... Zhang Xianshi did many great things for the country and the people before she even entered officialdom. Didn't I subconsciously assume that she had already entered the court as an official?"
The students from the other prefectures were puzzled. "Since you think so highly of Zhang Xianshi, why don't you want to be her classmates? Wouldn't that be a good thing?"
The students from Huzhou Prefecture all looked at her, sighed deeply, and said in unison with deep weariness in their eyes, "You will know when the time comes."
If it were just an ordinary prodigy, that would be one thing; the imperial examination system is full of geniuses, and they could simply choose not to compete with them. But the problem is, Zhang Ting isn't just any genius; she's a monster!
When the teacher introduced this person's background to them, the whole room was in an uproar. Who could believe it? She was an unknown scholar from a small county. She had failed the provincial examination three years ago and her ranking was not outstanding. However, she could easily crush this group of candidates who had passed the provincial examination. Not to mention, even the previous top scholar from Zhangzhou Prefecture could not compare to her!
They had never seen anything like this in all their years of life, and there was something even more astonishing. This person was not only extremely learned, but also exceptionally skilled in governance! Their prefectural school's instructor had mentioned her, saying that her writing was clear and insightful, every sentence meticulously crafted, unlike that of an ordinary student, but rather like that of an official well-versed in the ways of the court.
Compared to them, this was a ruthless crushing defeat! Unfortunately, she was a poor student, and her talent and reputation were not obvious at first. Therefore, she was often used by her teachers to encourage and spur them on, hoping that one day her students could also transform from earthworms into dragons like her!
That's terrifying, absolutely terrifying!!
The three people in the private room were all looking at Zhang Ting.
Luo Zijun felt no embarrassment at being outdone, only joy and admiration for her sister's growth. Three years ago, her sister still needed to consult her on academic matters. In the years since they parted, she had also studied diligently and never indulged herself. Yet, in just three short years, her sister's knowledge had far surpassed hers.
Moreover, not only is her knowledge more profound, but her calligraphy and painting skills have also improved significantly, making her worlds apart from her previous self.
How could she not admire him?
Qiu Yuan, fanning herself, teased her, "Our Zhang Jieyuan is truly extraordinary. He clearly prefers to stay at home watching horses, yet he is renowned among students and admired by many."
Zhang Ting's face fell. Qiu Yuan was teasing her for not attending the gathering she had organized last time. "Sister Yuan, please don't make fun of me." That day, the young stallion in the manor had a difficult birth, and Dun Dun, the anxious little horse, grabbed her clothes and wouldn't let her leave.
Fortunately, all was well and the young colt and foal were safe.
The foal that was born was as black as obsidian, just like Dun Dun, and was stunningly beautiful.
However, Zong Suyi's reaction to the stallion giving birth was unusual. He paced anxiously in the room that night. Zhang Ting knew he wanted children but that having children couldn't be rushed, so she advised him to let things take their course. She even felt that not having children was fine, as it wouldn't affect their normal married life or cause them to have to clean up the messes of unruly children.
Unexpectedly, she got a mouthful of dust, and Zong Suyi retorted sarcastically, "Some people aren't in a hurry, but some are willing to have your babies~ Humph!"
Good heavens! Zhang Ting cried out in her heart that she was wronged. She admitted that although she was sometimes a bad person, she had never been fickle and had created a love rival for Zong Suyi to annoy him.
How can he never believe her? Hmm?
Zhang Ting felt extremely helpless and aggrieved, so she could only try to deepen her trust with Zong Suyi again that night.
After that night, my trust level definitely increased a lot, and I didn't see him chattering away for several days.
Thinking of Zong Suyi's teary-eyed yet furious glare at her, Zhang Ting couldn't help but want to laugh, but thankfully she held back, still in the teahouse outside.
Her smile wasn't outwardly visible, but her joy was undeniable. Qiu Yuan assumed she adored the foal, and gently tapped the table. "Sister Zhang is so happy to have acquired such a fine horse; it must be quite extraordinary. Why don't we go and see it today?"
Fang Ting stood up first without objection, "There's nothing to do at the old teahouse, and I'm tired of reading books, let's go."
Zhang Ting naturally agreed, smiling gently and with a kind and humble demeanor, she invited everyone to her home to see the foal.
However, she doesn't show her real 'beloved horse' to the public; she only shows it to them.
......
Time flies like lightning, and the imperial examinations are here in the blink of an eye.
At the end of the Yin hour, the spring chill was still lingering.
The sky was pitch black, but the courtyard was brightly lit.
Zhang Tingzheng, carrying the examination basket, exhaled a breath of stale air, intending to go to the examination hall with his senior sisters.
"Wait—" came an urgent call from not far away, clear and melodious like jade falling onto a plate.
Zhang Ting stopped in her tracks upon hearing the familiar voice and turned around. Zong Suyi was rushing towards her, carrying a bamboo basket in her arms.
"Why are you here? Didn't I tell you to keep sleeping..." Before she could finish speaking, someone still panting shoved a mouthful of pastry into her mouth. The pastry was fragrant with osmanthus and steaming hot; it was obviously freshly cooked in this cold weather.
Zong Suyi gradually calmed down and, not daring to delay her, quickly fed her another zongzi.
His eyes were filled with a gentle tenderness as he smiled and said, "This is Ding Sheng Gao (a type of rice cake), eating this rice cake will surely bring you success in the imperial examinations!" He then handed her a cup of water to help her drink.
Zhang Ting didn't believe in any of this, but she was still very happy. Her heart felt as sweet as honey. The dim light illuminated her eyes and brows, which shone with tiny rays of light. She smiled and gently rubbed Zong Suyi's head. "I've eaten enough. Go back and rest for a while."
Zong Suyi tilted his head back and smiled. Suddenly, he opened his arms and hugged her tightly, nuzzling her neck and giving her a light bite. The thought of not seeing her for the next ten days or so made his heart ache. His eyelashes trembled, his eyes reddened, and he said in a thick, nasal voice, "You must come back to see me soon!"
The imperial examination would take a long time, and Zong Suyi was fond of fooling around and stubborn. Although Zhang Ting had carefully arranged the household affairs, she was still a little worried. Hearing how sad he was, she was even more reluctant to let him go.
She patted his thin, bony back, reassuring him, "Don't worry, Xiaoyi, I'll be the first one home."
Yang Fuchen, who was standing to the side with a steamed bun in his mouth, remained silent: "..."
Could it be that the imperial examination wasn't held for a few days, but for several years?
She glanced at her two junior sisters, who were both walking ahead with great insight, quickly finishing their steamed buns and speeding up to catch up.
It was getting late, so Zhang Ting bid farewell to her husband and turned to follow her senior sisters.
As she reached the door, she couldn't help but turn back for a look. The bamboo lantern cast a soft glow, illuminating Zong Suyi's face. He was leaning against a wooden pillar, gazing at her from afar. His eyes, which had been filled with worry, brightened with a smile when he saw her looking at him, and he waved to her. Her teacher stood silently behind the pillar, his gaze gentle, his eyes filled with affirmation, as if saying, "I'm waiting at home for your good news."
Zhang Ting pursed her thin lips, turned around abruptly, her eyes dark and filled with determination.
Years of painstaking effort, countless days and nights of tireless dedication, have finally come to fruition today.
As dawn broke, crowds thronged the area in front of the examination hall.
The scholars were chatting quietly with their familiar companions when a commotion suddenly erupted from the crowd.
"Zhang Xianshi has arrived—"
The faces of all the candidates immediately turned solemn, and they all turned to look at them.
The group of four were all tall and elegant, and all were students who were famous in various places, but the one at the very end attracted a lot of attention.
With ink-black hair and a red dress, she possessed an extraordinary aura.
She is Zhang Ting.
The candidates present only knew Zhang Ting's virtuous reputation, unaware that in the future, her name would be one that everyone would have to look up to.
A moment later, the sound of drums rose, and officials arrived.
The official in charge of ceremony held up a yellow silk banner and announced the names. Four thousand three hundred and forty-three successful candidates, like bees, swarmed into the cramped, honeycomb-like examination cells. They were the elite talents painstakingly nurtured by each prefecture and state. If they were to pass the exam this time, wealth, honor, and fame would be within their grasp in no time.
Not far from the examination hall, thousands of women carried heavy logs to the north of the city. Their festering, ulcerated feet sank into the icy snow, their bodies drenched in sweat and reeking of sweat. Their eyes were filled with numbness. The overseers cursed and whipped them in their ears. Like desperate ants, they quickened their pace toward the unknown destination or grave.
His Majesty's Hall of Longevity is only half-finished.
......
It wasn't until she received the exam questions that Zhang Ting realized this year's imperial examination had a deeper meaning.
The Four Books and Five Classics all contain some tricky and unusual questions, which are both obscure and strange. In particular, some angles are so difficult that only the sons of the powerful and wealthy can understand the key to solving the questions.
The proportion of students studying the Four Books and Five Classics is extremely important. What else could this be but a deliberate attempt to filter out students from poor families?
If she hadn't found a renowned teacher and made friends with powerful and influential people, she would very likely have failed on this question.
Since the examiner was using the question to make things difficult, Zhang Ting decided to use it as an opportunity to elaborate. She ground the ink, dipped her brush in ink, quoted a line from a classical allusion, and slowly began to write.
The students in the room scratched their heads, staring at the tricky question, unable to find a starting point to solve it.
Qiu Yuan angrily bit her pen, scratching her head in frustration, rarely showing any composure, and cursed under her breath. What kind of ancient bastard came up with this question? She could recite the Four Books and Five Classics backwards, yet she still couldn't understand its meaning!
Fang Ting pondered the exam questions for a long time, vaguely grasping a certain detail, but ultimately unable to find a way to solve them. She frowned deeply. Was this really an exam question? It was nothing compared to the questions from three years ago.
He Ying came from a family with a strong academic background, so she could find the source of the exam question, but she still couldn't solve it. She sighed; this question was far too tricky! Did the examiner not want anyone to squeeze into the palace examination?
Suddenly, a figure appeared in He Ying's mind. If it were her, she would definitely be able to solve the problem easily. She just didn't know from what angle.
Thinking of this, He Ying felt his blood boil and wanted to finish the imperial examination as soon as possible so he could see the articles written by his close friend!
After a moment's thought, Wu Pingliu came up with a solution. He had just asked his junior sister for advice and had told her about it.
Zhang Ting spent two hours finishing the exam paper. Just as she was about to hand it in, she felt a sinister gaze upon her. She paused, looked up, and saw the other examinee writing furiously, extremely busy.
Perhaps it was just her imagination.
Day after day, everything remained calm until the final exam arrived amidst the students' painful wails.
Zhang Ting answered the five questions on classics, history, and policy essays very slowly. When she felt she could finally hand in her paper, she smiled with satisfaction, stretched, immediately struck the board to get her token, and walked out of the examination hall.
Suddenly, a furious shout rang out from behind: "Stop!"
Zhang Ting paused upon hearing this, but before she could turn around, the voice continued, "Reporting to Your Excellency, this student wishes to report this person for cheating!"
Zhang Ting frowned slightly and turned to look. It was Xu Lan. Although she and Xu Lan had some minor conflicts, it had been three years since then. Back then, Xu Lan had deliberately provoked the incident. Surely he wouldn't hold a grudge and then frame her?
"Xu Lan, why are you framing me?"
The students in the cells, who were engrossed in writing, were startled by what they heard and looked up in surprise.
Chief examiner Han Bingyue came over upon hearing the noise, accompanied by two other examiners.
Han Bingyue glanced at Zhang Ting with a stern face, then turned to look at Xu Lan: "The imperial examination is solemn and cannot be framed. Is what you said true?"
Xu Lan, brimming with confidence, sneered at Zhang Ting, then bowed respectfully to Han Bingyue, saying, "My accusation is true, and I beg Lord Han to see the truth!" She was Xu Shan's legitimate daughter, and she had paid her respects to Han Bingyue with her mother.
Han Bingyue had dated Zhang Ting for a while and knew her character and education. Although she didn't believe it now, her heart sank and she frowned: "Tell me in detail."
Xu Lan glanced at Zhang Ting with a fierce look in her eyes. "Reporting to you, sir, I just glanced up and saw this person acting suspiciously. I became suspicious and have been keeping a close eye on her movements ever since." As she spoke, she bowed to Han Bingyue. "I saw her passing cheat sheets to the next examinee. Please allow me to report this, sir."
Zhang Ting's face was as cold as if covered with frost, but he didn't even glance at Xu Lan, as if he disdained to talk to her. He turned to Han Bingyue and said, "Your Excellency, I have studied hard for many years and was fortunate enough to pass the provincial examination last year. However, it is really not necessary to go through so much trouble to pass the metropolitan examination."
Xu Lan was furious that she had ignored him and was showing off her knowledge. He gritted his teeth and said maliciously, "Your provincial examination results were probably obtained by cheating, weren't they?"
"This is an important examination venue, you dare not be disrespectful!"
Seeing her stomping around in a fit of rage, Xu Lan felt a surge of triumph. She turned her gaze to the cell next to Zhang Ting's and shouted sternly, "Now that the evidence is conclusive and Zhang Ting refuses to confess, do you think you can escape punishment?!" Her voice was like thunder, striking the examinee's ears and making him tremble in fright.
The woman seemed terrified and completely disoriented. Trembling, she crawled out of her cell and knelt down as if unable to bear the pressure, saying, "Your Honor, I...I only worked as a ghostwriter for Zhang Ting because I was paid by her!" She crawled a few steps on her knees, tears streaming down her face, and cried out, "Your Honor! My elderly mother has been seriously ill for many days and we desperately need money to save her life. I beg Your Honor to show mercy! I beg Your Honor to show mercy!"
These words caused an uproar in the room.
No one believed that a scholar would risk his future by falsely accusing someone else. All the candidates stared at Zhang Ting in shock; she was a petty thief, a fraud! Those who had previously praised her were filled with revulsion and spat on the ground in disgust. If it weren't for the rule against noise in the examination hall, they could have cursed this thief who had stolen their way into the examination hall to death!
Zhang Ting was already seething with anger, and seeing the disgusted and contemptuous looks from the other scholars only fueled his rage. He bowed to Han Bingyue and said, "Please, Your Excellency, judge for yourself. I have never done such a thing!"
“Achievements obtained through deception cannot be taken seriously. Zhang Ting, you still won’t admit your mistakes until you see the coffin!” Xu Lan sneered, then looked at Han Bingyue with an upright and firm expression, as if he were a student who was trying his best to uphold the fairness of the imperial examination, and said: “Please check this worm’s exam paper and you will know whether it is true or false.”
The two examiners exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with disgust for the person who had passed the document, and said in unison, "Please, Your Honor, examine the paper!"
Han Bingyue glanced at the clerk beside him and said in a deep voice, "Check the files!"
The clerk picked up the examination papers from Zhang Ting's examination room table, then grabbed those from the next room, and presented them to the three officials.
Zhang Ting remained calm and focused, clearly confident in her exam paper.
Xu Lan glanced at her sideways, her eyes like a vicious snake coiling tightly around her, wanting to strangle her and crush her into a pile of rotten flesh. Didn't the world yearn for the imperial examinations? Then she would destroy Zhang Ting at this most sublime and glorious moment! She would watch her be scorned by thousands, never to rise again! Hahaha!
The three adults gathered together to compare their answers. It was clear that the answers matched the beginning and end of the passages.
The examiner gritted his teeth: "What a shameless thief of fame!"
The other students in the cells were outraged at the sight, but unfortunately they could not speak. Xu Lan shouted on their behalf, "Please, Your Excellency, punish these parasites!"
At this moment, Zhang Ting's face was full of disbelief. She staggered a few steps, grabbed the exam paper, and looked at it. How could this be?! How could her exam paper be the same as everyone else's?!
"No, no, no, this can't be real!"
The candidate kneeling on the ground even cried and pleaded with her: "Zhang Ting, don't pretend to be a virtuous person and then lose sight of yourself. This is clearly the answer I'm giving you. I've already confessed and will be treated leniently, so just confess!"
Zhang Ting was so angry that her face turned red, and she retorted, "You, you're framing me! I don't even know you!"
Those who truly understand Zhang Ting, such as her senior and friends, frowned as they watched everything unfold on the field, stroking their chins thoughtfully.
Han Bingyue looked at this absurd scene, sighed wearily, and then shouted sternly, "Enough!"
Han Bingyue naturally wanted to believe Zhang Ting, who was an excellent prospect in her eyes. However, Xu Lan was the legitimate daughter of her colleague, with an excellent reputation. She would never frame a candidate. Now, with accomplices pointing the finger, the evidence was conclusive, and the truth was so clearly laid out before her that she had no choice but to believe it!
Hearing the students' cries for justice, Han Bingyue closed his eyes in sorrow, unable to understand how such promising young people had gone astray.
Finally, in utter desperation, she pronounced Zhang Ting's death sentence: "Guards!"
Xu Lan stared at Zhang Ting with ill intent, feeling smug. But as her panicked face gradually returned to normal, a sudden chill ran down his spine, and a bad premonition arose.
The criminal, facing his death sentence, glanced at her casually, then suddenly smiled, his gaze as clear and peaceful as ever, just as he hadn't taken her seriously three years ago.
"Wait a minute—"
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