Chapter 62 The Third-Rank Scholar Among the Top Scholars!
April 30th, the first quarter of the hour of Mao (5-7 AM).
Before the first light of dawn, the deep, majestic sound of bells and drums rose from the highest bell tower, echoing layer upon layer, reverberating throughout the palace complex.
The more than 290 candidates for the imperial examination had already lined up outside the palace gates according to their rankings. After the clear and drawn-out announcement of their names by the eunuchs and the rigorous search by the Imperial Guards, they were finally able to follow the eunuchs leading the procession across the palace threshold.
According to the old system, the imperial examination for new scholars should have been held below the Dan Chi (red steps) of the Hall of Supreme Harmony. However, after the young emperor ascended the throne last year, he issued an edict to move the examination to the hall, citing his concern for the scholars and his eagerness to find talented individuals. He also specially ordered the Imperial Household Department to place more copper braziers in the four corners of the hall, with warm charcoal fires to ward off the spring chill, so that the scholars could concentrate on answering their questions without being disturbed by the cold.
Pei Ji, standing at the head of the assembled candidates, waited quietly outside the hall beneath the white marble corridor. A military officer of the Imperial Guard, clad in gleaming armor, stepped forward and, according to protocol, collected the candidates' waist tokens, which he then used to collect the standardized examination baskets, writing implements, and inkstones from the Ministry of Rites officials. Following him, two officials from the Court of State Ceremonial, dressed in light scarlet robes, led the candidates into two lines, where they filed in and stood solemnly on either side of the main hall.
The palace is spacious, with floors paved with gold bricks that gleam like mirrors. The dome is covered with colorful paintings, and the throne sits high atop the nine-tiered imperial steps.
Before long, elegant music began to play outside the palace, and three sharp cracks of whips echoed across the open square. The young Emperor Li Zhen, dressed in a bright yellow twelve-symbol imperial robe and wearing a winged crown, slowly stepped into the palace, surrounded by his entourage and eunuchs.
The young emperor's face still retained some immaturity, but his brows already held a composure and majesty beyond his years. He settled on his throne, his gaze slowly sweeping over the scholars below who were holding their breath and bowing their heads. After a moment's thought, he bent down on the yellow table beside the imperial desk and personally wrote down the essay questions with his imperial brush.
Upon seeing this, Grand Secretary Zuo Yongsi, who was standing to the side, stepped forward and respectfully took the still-wet ink on the yellow silk document with both hands, then turned and handed it to the kneeling Minister of Rites. The Minister of Rites knelt to receive it, walked to the center of the hall, faced the throne, and solemnly performed the three kneelings and nine kowtows ceremony.
After the ceremony, the examiners rose and placed the examination questions on the table that had been prepared in the hall. Then, the examiners, the officials in charge, and the scholars followed the officials of the Ministry of Rites in performing the three kneelings and nine kowtows, the rustling of their robes creating a solemn and quiet atmosphere.
The ceremony concluded, and the whips were cracked again.
The young emperor rose and left the Hall of Supreme Harmony, returning to the Hall of Zhangde where he conducted his daily affairs. Only after the bright yellow figure disappeared through the side gate did the Imperial Guards swiftly and orderly distribute the examination materials, and officials from the Ministry of Rites began distributing the fine, white imperial examination papers.
The candidates knelt to receive the questions, kowtowed again, and then took their places behind the examination tables that had been set up. They unfolded the questions and pondered them intently.
Pei Ji sat upright behind the examination table at the head of the left, his eyes slightly lowered. The white and delicate inkstone in front of him was as fine as jade, and the ink stick was of the finest Huizhou ink, emitting a faint scent of pine soot.
He did not rush to write, but calmly glanced at the essay topic written by the emperor himself on the yellow silk. It was a question about how to coordinate the three aspects of grain transport, border defense and people's livelihood in governance, which showed the thoughts of the question setter.
After a moment, he picked up the mixed-hair brush and gently saturated it with ink in the inkstone.
The pen tip hovered over the paper for a moment, then fell, the strokes steady and powerful, penetrating the paper, and a line of upright, vigorous, and powerful regular script appeared on the paper.
...
Because the Imperial Guards had already cleared the way, the palace path leading from the Hall of Supreme Harmony to the Hall of Zhangde was so quiet that only the slow footsteps of the ceremonial procession and the soft rustling of clothing could be heard. The imperial carriage moved forward smoothly, with the Chief Eunuch He Zhu bowing slightly and following beside it, his steps almost silent.
As the imperial carriage passed through Guiren Gate, a question emanated from within, the young emperor's voice devoid of emotion. Though not loud, it was clear: "Is the Empress Dowager feeling any better today?"
He Zhu lowered his head even further, his voice respectful and steady: "Your Majesty, Physician Zhu just went to Hanming Palace this morning to take her pulse and reported that the Empress Dowager's health is fine, but... she is tired in spring and inevitably thinks more and sleeps less, so she still needs to rest."
There was a moment of silence inside the carriage, with only the faint sound of the wheels rolling over the gold bricks.
He Zhu held his breath and dared not say another word.
Just as the imperial carriage was about to turn into the last passageway leading to the Zhangde Hall, the young emperor's voice rang out again: "I remember that last month, Nanzhao presented a batch of pearls and jadeite as tribute, and their quality was quite good. Pick out some of the better ones and send them to Hanming Palace."
"Yes, Your Majesty, I obey your decree." He Zhu immediately agreed, but secretly wondered: Was His Majesty's action purely out of filial piety, or... did he have other intentions? While the reward was certainly respectable, with the Empress Dowager claiming illness and not attending court, especially missing today's palace examination, the one in Hanming Palace might not be pleased with the reward.
The imperial carriage stopped in front of the Zhangde Hall. As soon as the young emperor alighted, he saw a man sitting leisurely in a rosewood armchair outside the hall. Instead of standing respectfully and waiting like ordinary officials, he was holding a steaming cup of tea and sipping it.
Upon hearing the noise, the man calmly put down his teacup, stood up, and bowed with his hands clasped in greeting. His movements were unhurried and exuded a unique and unpretentious air.
"Your subject Li Heng pays his respects to Your Majesty."
The young Emperor Li Zhen looked at his cousin before him, his tense brows easing slightly, and even a faint smile appeared on his face: "Cousin, there's no need for such formalities. How is the tea?"
Li Heng straightened up, savored the soup for a moment, and smiled, "The soup is clear and bright, mellow and rich, with a long-lasting sweet aftertaste, and it also has a rare, cool mountain flavor. Your Majesty's place is indeed full of good stuff."
"To hear you say 'rare' shows that my journey up Snow Peak and Emerald Peak wasn't in vain." The young emperor said as he walked into the hall, sat down behind his desk, and gestured for Li Heng to sit as well. "Tell me, you've been away for more than half a year. Are you getting bored in the capital? Have you encountered anything interesting while you were out there?"
Li Heng sat down at the lower end and recounted some of the interesting things he had seen and heard during his trip away from the capital. He naturally skipped over the matter concerning Pei Ji, only mentioning at the end: "In a certain prefecture, I happened to taste the dishes at a small family restaurant. The cooking skills were truly amazing. Ordinary ingredients were made into extraordinary flavors."
It's quite rare to hear this leisurely member of the royal family, who has tasted all the delicacies in the world, praise something to such an extent.
The young emperor raised an eyebrow: "It's rare to see you so interested in food. Now that you're back, stay in the capital with peace of mind. The Court of Imperial Clan Affairs or the Five Cities Garrison will need your help to do some proper work."
He paused, his tone slightly somber, "Furthermore, your uncle passed away early, and the Empress Dowager has always doted on you. Now that you've returned, you should frequently visit Hanming Palace to pay your respects and offer your regards."
Li Heng skipped over the earlier arrangements regarding serious matters and readily agreed, "Your Majesty is right. I will go to Hanming Palace later to pay my respects to the Empress Dowager. I heard that Her Majesty has been unwell lately, and her headaches have flared up again?"
When the Empress Dowager's condition was mentioned, a perfectly measured look of worry and concern crossed the young emperor's face. He sighed softly, "The Imperial Physicians have been taking my pulse every day, and they all say it's just spring fatigue and overthinking. They've prescribed calming and soothing remedies, but I haven't seen much improvement. I'm very worried."
Li Heng's expression turned serious, and he said, "In that case, I will go and visit her now, so that Your Majesty the Empress Dowager may be at ease."
"Let He Zhu go with you." The young emperor nodded and added, "If the Empress Dowager asks about the palace examination, you can also give a brief account on her behalf."
"I obey the order."
As Li Heng left Zhangde Hall, he saw the chief eunuch He Zhu standing outside the hall on the steps, whispering instructions to two burly imperial guards. Between them was a pale-faced, trembling eunuch whose mouth had been covered, only able to utter terrified whimpers.
"Drag him away and interrogate him carefully. Remember, keep your hands clean and don't let these filthy commotion disturb His Majesty's peace." He Zhu waved his hand.
"Eunuch He, this is..." Li Heng approached and asked casually.
He Zhu turned around, his face already plastered with his usual respectful smile, and bowed to Li Heng: "Greetings to the Prince. It's nothing serious, just a little brat who doesn't know the rules, with dirty hands, made a mistake, and even tried to disturb His Majesty to beg for forgiveness. I'm sorry for making you laugh, Prince."
Li Heng glanced at the eunuch who was quickly dragged away and disappeared around the corner of the palace wall, and nodded without comment, before heading towards Hanming Palace.
He Zhu lagged behind him by one step.
Passing through a gate and walking along the secluded palace path leading to Hanming Palace, Li Heng casually asked, "Your Majesty, your headaches have been acting up for quite some time now, haven't they?"
He Zhu replied cautiously, "Your Highness, it has been about half a month. A lot of medicine has been used, and several imperial physicians from the Imperial Medical Bureau who specialize in treating headaches have taken turns examining my pulse. Their diagnoses are different, and the problem has not been completely cured."
Li Heng did not stop walking. His gaze swept over the willow branches sprouting new buds by the palace road and he suddenly said, "This illness... I'm afraid it's a mental illness."
Upon hearing this, He Zhu's body stiffened almost imperceptibly. He immediately lowered his eyes and closed his mouth tightly, not daring to utter a single word.
The word "heartache" is far too sensitive in this deep palace, especially now.
To outsiders, things seemed fine, but ever since the young emperor ascended the throne, the Empress Dowager, who had been ruling from behind the curtain, had refused to relinquish power. At the beginning of this year, a group of court officials, led by Prime Minister Zheng, jointly submitted a memorial arguing that His Majesty, being older and more learned, should personally preside over the palace examination to select true disciples of the Emperor. Shortly after the memorial was submitted, news spread from Hanming Palace that the Empress Dowager was suffering from a recurring headache and needed to rest. Even today, during the palace examination, the imperial carriage has not appeared.
Is this headache real or fake? Is it just spring fatigue and overthinking, or something else? Isn't it the most unspoken, yet deeply unspoken, ailment of the heart?
Li Heng slowly added, "...Perhaps the crux of this heartache lies in the portraits of noble ladies that Hanming Palace peruses every day, and in the momentous matter of selecting a suitable empress for His Majesty and ensuring the continuation of the imperial line as soon as possible."
He cleverly pinned his worries on the Empress Dowager's choice of a wife for her son.
He Zhu raised his head, his face displaying a perfectly timed look of understanding, and followed Li Heng's lead flawlessly, replying:
"Your Highness is wise and insightful. The Empress Dowager is compassionate towards all under Heaven and is always concerned about His Majesty's affairs. The position of Empress is crucial to the foundation of the nation and the country. The Empress is extremely cautious about it and has been unable to sleep at night, which is indeed exhausting for her. If a virtuous Empress can be chosen soon, it will relieve the Empress's greatest worry, and her health will naturally improve."
...
The palace examination lasted only one day. The water clock dripped, and the incense sticks were changed three times to mark the time before the candidates began to hand in their papers. The officials who received the papers collected them and sent them to the sealing office. The sealing official first copied the papers in the duty room, then covered the names of the candidates, stamped them with a red seal, and sealed them before handing them over to the official in charge of the papers.
The official in charge of the scrolls quickly brought them to the reading room of the official in the east pavilion.
Zuo Yongsi led eight examiners to read the hundreds of exam papers by candlelight. The papers had to be divided into second and third tiers, and then the ten best papers were selected and sent to the emperor's desk to be appointed as the top three.
When the candle wax had piled up like a small mountain, the ten anonymous exam papers were finally selected, placed in a sandalwood box, and awaited the Emperor's judgment.
The scholars were led to the West Pavilion to rest. They had a long, sleepless night, and the palace servants on night duty in the corridor could hear the sounds of tossing and turning inside.
At 3:45 AM the following day, the official in charge of reading the scrolls carried the box into the Zhangde Hall. Zuo Yongsi led the officials in performing the three kneelings and nine kowtows ceremony before presenting the ten scrolls to the Emperor.
The young emperor ordered all officials to temporarily retreat outside the palace to await further instructions.
Only the young emperor remained in the hall. Li Zhen unfolded the examination papers and carefully examined them one by one. When he saw the third paper, his hand holding the paper paused slightly.
At that moment, a soft knock came from outside the hall. He Zhu bowed and stepped forward: "Your Majesty, Prime Minister Zheng requests an audience."
"Announce."
Zheng Xiang, with his white hair and beard, entered the room dressed in a dark scarlet robe embroidered with cranes, and paid his respects according to etiquette.
The young emperor offered a slight gesture of support, saying, "Prime Minister Zheng, please rise. You've come at the perfect time; let's take a look at this year's examination papers."
He first handed over the two exam papers that were on his hands.
Zheng Xiang accepted the document with both hands and read it carefully.
The first part takes the Grand Canal as its starting point, discussing river management and the transshipment of grain in a detailed and thorough manner; the second part focuses on border defense, discussing land reclamation, military training, and the innovation of weaponry, which is quite insightful.
"His writing is insightful and his insights address the current problems." Prime Minister Zheng nodded and then cupped his hands in a gesture of respect, saying, "Your Majesty's acquisition of such a talented individual is truly a blessing for the nation."
The young emperor smiled slightly and handed over the copy he had just read: "Take another look at this one."
Zheng Xiang took the scroll and began to read it.
The article is like a sharp blade cutting through bamboo, penetrating layer by layer.
In discussing the Grand Canal, he directly pointed out the embezzlement of officials at all levels and the rampant corruption in the river management department; in discussing border defense, he lamented the desertion of military households and the emptiness of garrisons; in discussing people's livelihood, he listed the harms of unequal land taxes and rampant corruption among clerks. The sharpness of his words was rarely seen in the past imperial examination essays, yet for each problem he pointed out, he always attached a practical and feasible solution, rather than just talking in generalities.
What's even more remarkable is the sudden shift in tone at the end:
"...However, the law is established, but its implementation depends on people. The current government is not without good laws; what is lacking is the power to enforce them."
It has both sharpness and the ability to know when to advance and retreat; it not only addresses long-standing problems but also provides solutions.
After reading it, Prime Minister Zheng pondered for a long time.
"What does the teacher think?" the young emperor asked, changing his form of address.
Prime Minister Zheng placed the three volumes side by side on his desk, and pointed to the first two with his withered fingers: "These two volumes, one is steady but lacks sharpness, and the other is sharp but slightly neglects practical matters."
His fingertip moved to the third volume, and he paused. "This piece... this old minister cannot find any fault with it. Not only is it without fault, but it is also a rare masterpiece in the last ten years. Its arguments are lofty, its analysis is meticulous, its countermeasures are practical, and its writing is full of vigor."
The young emperor smiled and said, "My views are similar to those of my teacher."
“However,” Zheng Xiang suddenly changed his tone, “Your Majesty cannot appoint this person as the first.”
The young emperor's smile froze. He knew this tutor was a man of great foresight, and there must be a deeper meaning behind his words: "Could it be that this person's family background is questionable? Or is there any suspicion of corruption?"
"No," Prime Minister Zheng shook his head. "This man is from Laizhou. His family has been farmers and scholars for three generations, and his background is impeccable. I examined his examination paper during the provincial examination, and the handwriting is exactly the same as the one in the palace examination. He is indeed a man of genuine talent and learning."
The young emperor's smile faded slightly: "Then why..."
"Your Majesty is puzzled. Since the names have been anonymously copied, how can I know his background?" Prime Minister Zheng sighed softly. "At the end of last year, a student from Laizhou came to the capital to report on his duties. He brought with him an essay written by a scholar from the prefectural school and asked me for my guidance. The essay was full of wit and arguments. When I read it, I broke out in a cold sweat. If such an essay had been written in the palace examination that year, I might not have been able to rank second."
He looked at the scroll on the imperial desk: "Seeing it again today, the writing style is consistent, so I know it."
"If that's the case," the young emperor asked, "why not appoint him as the top scholar?"
“It is precisely because of his background,” Prime Minister Zheng said in a low voice, “Your Majesty, please look at the list of candidates for this year’s imperial examination. Of the 293 candidates, less than 30 are from humble backgrounds. And these three top-ranking positions have always been contested by powerful families. If Your Majesty were to appoint a scholar from a poor family as the top scholar, I fear…”
He didn't finish his sentence, but the young emperor already understood.
In the current imperial court, the Empress Dowager's maternal family and various powerful clans are deeply entrenched.
Although the imperial examination was the proper way to select officials, the winners of each examination were the result of power struggles among various clans. To elevate a scholar from a humble background to the top spot would be tantamount to breaking the decades-long monopoly held by aristocratic families.
Zheng Xiang continued, "The Empress Dowager is already unwell because of the imperial examination. If the matter of the examination results causes further trouble... I fear it will put Your Majesty in a difficult position."
The young emperor remained silent. He recalled yesterday's palace examination, during which the Empress Dowager claimed illness and did not attend. After a long while, he raised his eyes: "In your opinion, teacher, how should this be handled?"
Zheng Xiang glanced at the three scrolls, pondered for a moment, and said, "This boy's talent is indeed worthy of being ranked first. However... perhaps he should be placed in..."
The young emperor looked at the scroll of sharp and incisive writing, and finally suppressed his anger, nodding: "Then we shall do as the teacher says."
At noon that day, the examiner returned to the palace. The young emperor personally selected the top three candidates with his vermilion brush.
Outside the palace walls, a completely different scene unfolds.
Yu Man felt like she had been on a hot plate all day – like an ant on a pan, being slowly fried over a low flame.
Ever since Pei Ji left with the palace envoy before dawn, she hadn't had a moment's peace. She wandered around the new house countless times, from the main house to the backyard, and then from the backyard to the front yard. She practically stared the newly planted osmanthus saplings until they were practically riddled with holes.
"My lady, why don't you sit down and rest for a while?" Xiao Tao couldn't help but say as she watched her pass by several times. "Young Master Pei is so talented, he'll definitely be fine."
“I know it’s okay,” Yu Man plopped down on the rocking chair under the eaves, which creaked, “but I just can’t calm my mind.”
She tried to find something to do. She went to the kitchen and found that Pei Ji had even prepared today's vegetables in advance, neatly arranged in a basket. She then went to the study and saw the book he had been reading last night still lying open on the table, next to a page of annotations he had written, his handwriting clear and strong.
“This person is really…” Yu Man touched the writing, her heart both soft and confused.
In the afternoon, she couldn't sit still any longer and pulled Xiao Tao along, saying, "Come on, let's go sit in that teahouse at the alley entrance and hear some news."
As soon as they stepped out of the alley, a group of guards in gleaming armor began clearing the way. Passersby quickly made way, whispering among themselves, "They're clearing the street; the results will be announced and paraded through the streets tomorrow..."
Well, the roads are all blocked.
Yu Man had no choice but to retreat, deeply experiencing what it meant to have "deep palace walls, making communication difficult."
Remembering that Pei Ji had told her to stay home and wait patiently before leaving, she could only suppress her temper and continue pacing around the courtyard.
That night, her dreams were filled with all sorts of chaotic scenes—one moment Pei Ji was writing furiously in the examination hall, the next he was riding through the streets after passing the imperial examination with flying colors, and then he was returning home dejected after failing the exam… Finally, she woke up in fright, and when she sat up, she saw that it was still dark outside the window.
"What is all this about!" She rubbed her throbbing temples, feeling that this was even more agonizing than waiting for her college entrance exam results back then.
As dawn finally broke, the faint sound of bells and drums drifted from the direction of the palace in the distance. Yu Man jumped out of bed with a start and peered out the window.
Before long, the sounds of people and horses' hooves began to mingle in the distance.
"My lady! The palace gates are open!" Xiao Tao ran in from outside, her eyes sparkling. "I'll go ask around!"
"Go quickly!" Yu Man urged her.
Then comes the most agonizing waiting time.
Yu Man kept thinking, "I'm sure I've won," and then he kept thinking, "What if I haven't won?" The two little devils in his mind were fighting each other.
After an unknown amount of time, the courtyard gate was suddenly kicked open with a bang.
Xiao Tao rushed in.
The girl was trembling all over, her face flushed red. She rushed to Yu Man in a few steps, her lips trembling, and she opened her mouth several times, but could only make breathy "ah, ah" sounds.
Yu Man's heart leaped into her throat: "What's wrong? What happened? Tell me, Xiao Tao!"
Xiao Tao took a few deep breaths and finally managed to squeeze out a voice, which trembled like a leaf falling in the autumn wind: "Mother...my lady...Master Pei...he's passed..."
"Did you win?!" Yu Man's eyes lit up.
"...The third-ranked scholar! He's the third-ranked scholar!"
The third-place winner?!
Yu Man's mind went blank for a moment.
He wasn't the top scholar, nor the second-place scholar, but the third-place scholar—the legendary scholar who not only had to be good at writing but also handsome!
"Third place? Is it really the third place?" She confirmed it again, and the corners of her mouth couldn't help but turn up in a smile.
Xiao Tao nodded vigorously and said with a smile, "It's true! I heard it clearly! Everyone in the streets is talking about it now!"
"Where is he? Has he left the palace?" Yu Man asked.
"They've left the palace!" Xiao Tao explained. "The Ministry of Rites has prepared all the ceremonial guards. Before long, the top three scholars—the Zhuangyuan, Bangyan, and Tanhua—will emerge from Chengtian Gate, adorned with flowers and red ribbons, and parade through the streets on horseback! I heard that Zhuque Street is already packed with people! My lady, shall we go watch?"
Look! Of course you should look!
This is practically an ancient version of idol worship.
Yu Man lifted her skirt and pulled her outside, saying, "Let's go see what the fuss is like!"
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