MFMH C74

Chapter 74 – The Palace Examination

Confined by the Lady of the Duke of Zhen’s household and ordered to reflect upon his mistakes, Gu Changfeng sat in his old and dusty bedchamber, unattended by anyone, and yet felt no ripple of emotion in his heart.

This place could only be called the house he had lived in for nearly twenty years, but not his home. His home was in Shen Family Village, Dongjiang County, Qinghe Prefecture—where that youth who respected and cherished him lived.

After tidying the room, Gu Changfeng found the military texts his father had once given him.

As his fingers brushed the yellowed pages and aged handwriting, his gaze grew as dark and unfathomable as ink.

That day, his father had suddenly returned home, discovered that woman mistreating him, and flew into a great rage. After quarreling with her, his father punished a number of servants. That night, his father likely had not returned to the main bedchamber. If his father had not lain with her, then where had that so-called younger half-brother of his come from?

Putting down the military text, Gu Changfeng slipped quietly out of his room under cover of deep night. Other than the gate boy, no one paid him any mind, which made it convenient for his purpose.

Having lived here for nearly twenty years, he knew the place like the back of his hand. Avoiding the patrolling guards, he made his way to the main courtyard.

Now, everything in the Duke of Zhen’s residence was under that woman’s control. The main courtyard had been altered in many ways to suit her tastes. Gu Changfeng searched through two or three houses before finding where the second young master lived.

Compared to his own dusty, neglected chamber, the room of the not-yet-three-year-old second son was decorated with lavish extravagance, valuable ornaments everywhere.

Inside, the room was brightly lit. Several maids in green uniforms knelt trembling on the floor. An elderly physician with white hair and beard was taking the pulse of a child on the bed, his face streaked with tears from crying. A maid dressed slightly more ornately than the others lay prostrate on the ground, covering her swollen face and weeping softly. The Lady of the Duke of Zhen stood with a dark expression, scolding coldly: “This is how you care for the young master?”

“Forgive me, Madam! The young master insisted on playing hide-and-seek with this servant, I could not stop him!” the maid sobbed miserably.

“If you cannot stop him, what use are you?” The lady’s fury blazed. “Guards! Drag this wretched slut away!”

“Madam, spare me! Spare me, Madam!” The maid’s eyes widened in terror as she scrambled to the lady’s feet, knocking her head desperately against the ground. The lady kicked her away and ordered her taken out.

The old physician stroked his beard and sighed. Seeing this, the lady’s brow furrowed with undisguised anxiety: “Imperial Physician Zhang, how is my son?”

“The young master caught a chill and has a fever. After taking medicine, his fever has broken and it should not be serious. However, the young master’s body is extremely frail, he should not exert himself…” the physician cautioned.

Gu Changfeng’s eyes fell upon the child. The boy’s features resembled his mother’s somewhat. Yet though almost three, his body was thin and weak, clearly unwell.

After being fed medicine and washed, the Lady of the Duke of Zhen cradled the child, trying to lull him to sleep. But the boy whimpered miserably, saying he felt uncomfortable. Her heart ached, and she coaxed him softly for a long time before he finally, exhausted, closed his eyes.

The lady gently smoothed the boy’s sparse hair, kissing his cheek with tender affection, her apricot eyes full of guilt: “Good child, it is all Mother’s fault. If I were to let you again…”

Her voice was nearly a whisper, too faint for Gu Changfeng to hear. His gaze lingered on the pair of mother and son in each other’s arms, then turned away and left.

His return to the Duke of Zhen’s residence would, once it reached the Emperor’s ears, convey his attitude clearly. If the Emperor intended for him to assume his father’s duties, there would soon be some indication.

As for the Duke of Zhen’s residence… he would not remain long.

In the imperial study, the shadow guard Zhao Yu had sent to investigate the situation in Prince Jinyang’s inner court bowed and reported:

“Prince Jinyang is elegant, handsome, and romantic. Many daughters and sons of officials and wealthy families are infatuated with him. Prince Jinyang refuses no one. For those of high rank, he offers them the position of side consort, enticing them into his residence, and in this way binds their families to his service…”

At present, the condition of Prince Jinyang’s residence was that the princess consort was fixed, while side consorts and concubines came and went like flowing water. Only the princess consort, Gu Qingyao, stood immovable, while the rest were replaced batch after batch.

“Not all those in the rear court are enamored of Prince Jinyang. Some entered the residence only because they were discovered disheveled and alone with him in a room…”

The truth was unbelievable. Who would imagine that a prince of such rank would, for unspeakable purposes, sell his body, even scheming to entrap women who disliked him into marriage!

“Utterly vile.” Zhao Yu immediately recalled the time when Prince Jinyang had almost seduced Su Qingze during the Su family’s birthday banquet. His handsome face grew frosted over, his dark eyes surging with killing intent. He said in a low voice: “Continue to keep him under watch.”

“Yes.” The black-clad man accepted his orders and departed.

On the imperial desk lay an exam essay, the handwriting free and flowing, the argument logical and well-founded. Zhao Yu’s gaze rested on the signature—“Shen Yan”—and his brows furrowed in thought.

Just then, a eunuch outside announced: “Reporting to Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager requests your presence!”

Zhao Yu, pulled from his thoughts, was displeased. But remembering how he had recently angered the Empress Dowager by refusing the woman she sought to arrange for him, he calmed himself, suppressing his irritation. “Prepare the sedan.”

The Empress Dowager’s residence, Cian Palace, was filled with the drifting fragrance of calming incense, yet its mistress’s heart was far from calm.

The well-kept noblewoman frowned as Zhao Yu entered unhurriedly: “What, if not for my summons, would the Emperor not deign to visit this old woman at all?”

“Forgive me, Mother. It is not that I do not wish to come, but the affairs of state weigh heavily. My heart is unsettled, and I fear saying something that would offend Mother.” Zhao Yu approached and sat down.

The Empress Dowager waved it aside: “Affairs of state? What is there to trouble you? I hear it is nothing more than the matter of peace talks with the barbarians. Now the realm is at peace, the people live in contentment, no one wishes for war again. What harm is there in peace?”

Such words would draw scorn from any wise man as the shortsightedness of a woman. But the Empress Dowager had once been a palace maid, with narrow vision and shallow experience. By fortune she had become the most exalted woman of Great Qi through her son, but she understood nothing of statecraft.

Zhao Yu only drank tea in silence. The Empress Dowager grew displeased: “So you scorn my ignorance? Fine, then. But there is another matter you must heed!”

“Prince Jinyang has long been married, yet still has no children…” She looked troubled.

Had the shadow guard remained, he would have reported that Prince Jinyang indeed had many women, and indeed sowed countless seeds. But the man was perverse; his exertions were too brief, his seed poor. Over time, his perversity only worsened.

“It is not that his concubines never conceived, but they all miscarried!” The Empress Dowager’s face grew grave as she declared, “Clearly, those women’s bodies are too frail!”

Zhao Yu frowned, sensing her next words would be absurd.

Sure enough, the Empress Dowager said: “I hear the eldest son of the Duke of Zhen has returned—tall, robust, and healthy. Why not bestow him upon Prince Jinyang as a side consort?”

Zhao Yu’s eyes turned cold as he set down his cup: “Mother, do you mean to place me in what position?”

The Empress Dowager was startled. Zhao Yu’s voice grew sharp: “The princess consort of Prince Jinyang is already from the Duke of Zhen’s household. And Prince Jinyang is licentious by nature. Yet you would have me give the Duke of Zhen’s legitimate son—whose father died in service to the country—as a side consort to him?

“Does Mother not realize that while you dote on Prince Jinyang, you would chill the hearts of the million soldiers guarding the frontier!”

The Empress Dowager’s face flushed with embarrassment, yet she persisted: “That eldest son is of marriageable age, yet still unmarried. What harm is there in granting him as a side consort to Prince Jinyang?”

But seeing Zhao Yu’s face darken with fury, she knew she was in the wrong. Still unwilling to yield, she muttered: “Enough! That eldest son disappeared for so long, and upon returning to the capital, he’s seen behaving intimately with a man. Clearly he is no decent person! Though Prince Jinyang may be frivolous, he is sincere to his beloved. That eldest son is not worthy of him!”

Gu Changfeng’s return had surprised the families of the capital, but they soon accepted it. After all, the Duke of Zhen’s residence had only ever erected an empty tomb for him.

Zhao Yu no longer wished to hear about Prince Jinyang. He said coolly: “Tomorrow the palace examination will be held. I must prepare. I shall take my leave.”

At once, the Empress Dowager’s face grew sour. After he left, she wept before her attendant matron: “The older the Emperor grows, the less he cares for this poor old woman. Have I not suffered endless humiliation and pain to give him life?”

The matron hastened to comfort her: “Your Majesty, the Emperor is simply overburdened with affairs and neglects you. But you still have Prince Jinyang!”

The Empress Dowager sighed: “Prince Jinyang is stationed in his fief. It is difficult even for me to see him…”

Zhao Yu left Cian Palace with a dark face and ordered an attendant: “Investigate who the Empress Dowager has met these past few days.”

For her to bring up Prince Jinyang was nothing unusual. But to mention Gu Changfeng without cause—clearly someone had been whispering in her ear.

Back in the imperial study, Zhao Yu reread Shen Yanbei’s exam essay. After pondering for a long time, he spread out a blank edict and began to write.

The next day, at the palace examination, Shen Yanbei, alone in his chamber, rose before dawn to prepare himself.

This imperial examination admitted three hundred and twenty tribute scholars. The results were divided into three ranks. The first rank, three men, would be granted the title of “jinshi of the first class” and awarded the titles of Zhuangyuan, Bangyan, and Tanhua, with immediate office appointments. The second rank, one-third of the successful candidates, would be granted “jinshi of the second class.” The remainder, the third rank, would be granted “jinshi of the third class.” Second and third ranks could also be appointed as officials, though only the best might enter the Hanlin Academy. The others would wait for vacancies in the provinces.

To take first place among three hundred and twenty was no easy feat. Shen Yanbei sighed, feeling that without his wife by his side, he could hardly summon motivation.

He wondered how his wife was faring…

Looking toward the Duke of Zhen’s residence, his expression grew somber.

The palace examination was held at Zhaohe Palace. Inside, low desks were arranged. The tribute scholars entered one by one, each taking a desk. None were granted seats; before the Emperor, all must kneel.

After a moment, a eunuch’s sharp voice rang out: “His Majesty arrives!”

Clad in a bright yellow robe embroidered with a soaring five-clawed dragon, crowned with a ceremonial diadem, Zhao Yu entered at a measured pace.

The scholars knelt as one, voices rising together: “We greet Your Majesty!”

Shen Yanbei, staring at the patterns on the floor tiles, felt some irritation. The worst part of this era was the kneeling etiquette! Thankfully, as a licentiate, he need not kneel before every official he met. But before the supreme ruler of the realm, he had no choice but to bend the knee.

“Rise.” Zhao Yu seated himself and ordered them to stand and write. Then he nodded to Grand Secretary Zhang Youzheng. At once, the exam papers were distributed. At the toll of a bronze bell, the examination began.

The question was a policy essay on current affairs. There was also an additional question, listing foreign instruments and asking how they might be used for the people.

Shen Yanbei’s lips twitched—this question seemed tailored to him!

He did not rush to write, but first organized his thoughts and drafted on scrap paper. With the exam lasting the whole day, he had plenty of time to polish his essay before copying it neatly.

On the dragon throne, Zhao Yu leaned his chin on his hand, his face cold as he looked over the scholars. Time crawled by. Restless, he rose and began walking among them.

Some, seeing him draw near, trembled with excitement, tense all over, not daring to glance aside. Others’ legs gave way and they nearly knelt. Zhao Yu, expressionless, waved them off and walked on.

“Your Majesty!” Seeing how the Emperor’s presence unsettled the scholars, Grand Secretary Zhang Youzheng hurried forward to intervene.

At that moment, Zhao Yu stood beside Shen Yanbei. Shen Yanbei felt no awe toward the Emperor. Seeing him, he only smiled lightly, nodded, and continued writing.

Zhang Youzheng was about to urge the Emperor back to his seat when he noticed the unusual composure of this scholar. Curious, he looked closer—

“It’s you!” Zhang Youzheng’s eyes lit up, recognizing Shen Yanbei at once.

Thus, he too remained at Shen Yanbei’s side, watching him write.

Shen Yanbei rubbed his nose helplessly. This palace examination, without food, water, or even a trip to the privy, was already cruel enough. Now the chief examiner was watching his writing over his shoulder—how could candidates with weaker nerves survive?

But though inwardly complaining, his pen never faltered.

Watching, Zhao Yu frowned in thought. Zhang Youzheng’s eyes grew brighter and brighter, itching to clap in praise.

Gradually, the sun reached its zenith. Zhang Youzheng, legs growing sore, urged Zhao Yu to return to dine and rest.

Knowing he could not read the entire essay immediately, Zhao Yu said: “There is still time. Write at leisure.” With that, he returned to his throne, where palace maids promptly brought him cakes and fruits.

The exam lasted until the sun sank in the west.

When the bronze bell tolled again, the scholars laid down their brushes, stood, and filed out in order.

“Bring me the papers.” Zhao Yu said to Zhang Youzheng. Understanding, Zhang went to fetch Shen Yanbei’s essay and presented it for imperial review.

“Brother Shen, congratulations!”

No sooner had Shen Yanbei left Zhaohe Palace than Zhang Cheng and several others rushed to offer their congratulations. The Emperor’s attitude had not gone unnoticed. All believed that Shen Yanbei had caught the Emperor’s eye and would surely rise to glory.

Shen Yanbei cupped his hands with an embarrassed smile: “Do not tease me!”

They praised him for his humility. Not wishing to stand out, Shen Yanbei exchanged a few polite words, then excused himself.

On the second day, the essays were reviewed. Eight examiners selected the ten best papers and presented them to Zhao Yu.

He flipped through them. When an essay was deemed outstanding, the examiners drew a circle upon it. Zhao Yu noticed that two had received the same number of circles. He asked the eight examiners for their opinions.

The old chancellor frowned: “This candidate Shen’s ideas are indeed novel, but far too fantastical. Better to favor Candidate Liu’s steadiness.”

“I beg to differ,” Zhang Youzheng interjected. “Candidate Shen’s views are logical and substantiated. He even provides practical examples, demonstrating the breadth of his knowledge and the thoroughness of his thought!”

“Then, Lord Zhang, tell us—what is this telescope he mentions? And what is this chili pepper?”

…

After quietly hearing all their arguments, Zhao Yu took up his brush and personally selected the three names for the first rank.