Tong Tongzhi and Tong Xu waited anxiously. Whether they could apprentice with Grand Scholar Gu hinged on this one matter. If Lord Liu were willing to help, Tong Xu could participate in the competition on the twentieth, which was the first step to becoming a disciple.
After a long while, Liu Jian spoke coldly, "You two go back and prepare. Don't lose to a little girl then."
"Thank you, my lord." The father and son were overjoyed, thanking him repeatedly before finally withdrawing from the study.
"My lord." A figure emerged from the inner chamber. A middle-aged man in a blue robe poured a cup of tea and handed it to Liu Jian. "If Your Lordship intervenes, it might be difficult to explain to His Majesty."
The outside world was unaware, but officials of the third rank and above in the court knew the inside story. The merit of movable type printing had been attributed to the court and His Majesty, but the true contributor was Zhan Feiyu.
The young girl had not sought any rewards. It was only then that His Majesty allowed Scholar Gu to take her as a disciple, both as a commendation for Zhan Feiyu and to prevent Grand Scholar Gu from taking other disciples, thus avoiding factionalism in the court.
Liu Jian's expression was dark and unreadable. His hoarse voice suppressed his anger, "Zhan Feiyu, this little girl is a troublemaker."
She could defy the unbearable rumors for Tutor Lin; she could challenge Wan Yunhao to avenge Instructor Zhao. Liu Jian had to guard against the day Zhan Feiyu might confront him for Chen Weibin. The young girl herself was not to be feared, but Gu Qingzhou was someone he had to be wary of.
"Go and make arrangements..." Liu Jian's voice lowered, and his ruthless eyes showed undisguised killing intent.
The middle-aged man was startled, seemingly not expecting Liu Jian to have such intentions, but he nodded in agreement and quickly left the study to make arrangements.
...
The highest-ranking officials received at the Sanxing Hall of the County School were no more than the county magistrate and the prefectural school's academic director. Yet today, not only Grand Scholar Gu but also Prince Yu, a first-rank prince, had graced the hall with their presence.
Prefect Zhang and Tong Tongzhi, of their respective ranks, would normally have been seated in the place of honor. However, today, being granted a chair was already a sign of Prince Yu's respect for scholars.
"Xiao Yu, come and pay your respects to Prince Yu and the esteemed officials." Gu Qingzhou, seated at the head of the table, spoke loudly. His affectionate tone was far from perfunctory towards His Majesty; it clearly indicated his satisfaction with his new disciple.
"Hmph, truly, like master, like disciple!" Prince Yu, seated on a round chair to the left, snorted coldly.
Although he was from a military background, he was seventy years old this year. He had ridden at full speed from the capital to Shangsi County. Crucially, he had come because of the matter concerning Gu Qingzhou and his disciple. Prince Yu's face was darkened by annoyance; both master and disciple were trouble-makers.
"Your student pays his respects to Your Highness." Zhan Feiyu performed a kneeling bow. As his teacher's disciple, she could only bear the troubles his teacher stirred up.
Prince Yu looked at the rosy-cheeked, plump little girl. Well, his stern old face softened slightly. "Rise, take this jade pendant to play with."
Since Prince Yu had given a见面礼 (meeting gift), Liu Jian, Prefect Zhang, and others also presented their gifts. After accepting them, Zhan Feiyu stood behind Gu Qingzhou, appearing as well-behaved and sensible as a child, showing no signs of being a troublemaker.
Not bothering with pleasantries, Prince Yu, with his wrinkled old face, spoke in a booming, full-bodied voice, "As a Grand Scholar of the Hanlin Academy, you certainly know how to slack off!"
"Now that the country is peaceful and the seas are calm, your subordinate is merely stealing half a day of leisure," Gu Qingzhou said, selectively forgetting His Majesty's oral command for him to return to the capital.
"Then you might as well resign and return to your hometown. You'll have decades to be so idle you'll rot!" Prince Yu's beard bristled as he retorted without politeness.
Liu Jian, Prefect Zhang, and Tong Tongzhi suppressed their surprise and subtly glanced at Prince Yu and Grand Scholar Gu on the main seats. Hadn't they heard that the two had a rift? This didn't seem like it.
As for the Commander of the Imperial Guards, who had been absent the entire time, Prince Yu did not mention him, and Gu Qingzhou avoided the topic. Others dared not inquire.
A moment later, Liu Jian signaled to Tong Tongzhi, who was seated below.
His face slightly pale, Tong Tongzhi looked at the imposing and stern Prince Yu, and then at the inscrutable Grand Scholar Gu. Although he felt uneasy, for his official career and for the Tong family, he had no other recourse.
Tong Tongzhi rose and bowed, "Your humble servant pays his respects to Your Highness."
"What is it?" Prince Yu tossed out two perfunctory words, glaring at Gu Qingzhou, who was instructing Zhan Feiyu to pour tea. The young girl was his disciple, not a servant girl to be ordered around.
"Reporting to Your Highness, my son..." Tong Tongzhi knelt on the ground and stated how Tong Xu admired Grand Scholar Gu. As a father, he could only shamelessly request Prince Yu's grace to allow Tong Xu to participate in the competition.
Frowning, Prince Yu's expression turned cold, his fierce aura causing the kneeling Tong Tongzhi to tremble.
Prince Yu was a military man, but he was not a fool. To say "participate in the competition" was merely a pretext for seeking apprenticeship.
Gu Qingzhou smiled meaningfully and asked Chen Weibin, "County Magistrate Chen, how many scholars are gathered in Shangsi County?"
Standing up quickly, Chen Weibin bowed and replied, "Reporting to Your Lordship, according to my subordinate's statistics, there are currently over thirteen hundred scholars."
With scholars flocking in, County Magistrate Chen also became busy. The yamen runners patrolled three times a day to maintain order, while the minor officials went from house to house to spread the word that houses could be temporarily rented out, but price gouging was forbidden.
Various shops and stalls also had to follow the arrangements of the yamen. Food must be clean and hygienic, with prices slightly increased but not inflated.
"If Tong Xu wants to participate, then these thousand-plus people must also want to participate. Lord Tong, why not advance the provincial examination? We cannot show favoritism." Gu Qingzhou spoke casually, but he had cornered Tong Tongzhi.
Why should Tong Xu be allowed to participate, but not other scholars? If everyone participated, wouldn't a competition with over a thousand people be an imperial examination? Furthermore, if Gu Qingzhou was taking disciples, why should any Tom, Dick, or Harry interfere?
The questioned Tong Tongzhi's face turned pale, and he trembled as he stammered an apology, "Your subordinate has no such intention. I implore Your Lordship to see the truth. Your subordinate merely wishes to fulfill his son's aspiration for learning and advancement."
"Grand Scholar Gu." Liu Jian's lips curved into a smile, his drooping eyelids slightly raised. "As the saying goes, 'Without climbing a high mountain, one does not know the height of the sky; without facing a deep stream, one does not know the depth of the earth.' Wan Yunhao is the youngest Juren in Nanxuan Prefecture, and Xiao Yu is called a prodigy. It is only natural for Tong Xu to want to compete. What does Your Highness think?"
"Lord Tong, how old is your son? Does he hold any academic titles?" Prince Yu had intended to refuse, but upon seeing Gu Qingzhou's face, his anger flared up.
Tong Tongzhi quickly replied, "My son is twenty-one this year and already holds the title of Xiucai."
Prince Yu was dumbfounded. He had thought Tong Xu was also a prodigy and a distinguished talent, which was why he had gone to such lengths to seek apprenticeship. At over twenty years old, he had only passed the Xiucai examination. Such scholars, let alone in the capital, could probably be found in abundance in Nanxuan Prefecture.
Feeling deceived, Prince Yu's old face darkened, and he rebuked him unceremoniously, "Does he want to win against the little girl to gain fame?"
At his age, what was the point of competing? Even if he won, it would be an unfair victory!
"Your Highness, that is not entirely accurate. Tong Xu cannot defeat my disciple," Gu Qingzhou's voice sounded coolly, and he lazily continued, "Since he wants to compete, let him compete. The stakes remain the same. Lord Tong, have you thought it through?"
In this competition, whoever won would apprentice with Grand Scholar Gu, while the loser would have to abandon their brush and not participate in the imperial examinations, effectively ending their future prospects.
Tong Tongzhi's body trembled. Gritting his teeth, he accepted the challenge, "Thank you, Your Highness and Grand Scholar Gu, for granting this."
Tomorrow was the day of the competition, and the news that Tong Xu would also participate spread throughout Shangsi County again.
"Brother Zhu, don't think about it. With Juren Wan present, do you think you can win?" The young man patted his classmate's shoulder comfortingly. When they heard the news, who wouldn't be tempted? After all, winning meant apprenticing with Grand Scholar Gu.
But after calming down, who would dare to gamble their future on a competition?
"I understand, it's just that my emotions are unsettled," the man surnamed Zhu said with a wry smile. To put it bluntly, even if Zhan Feiyu lost, she was a girl, and she could still get married and gain status through her husband.
But they, as men, had studied diligently for decades. If they failed the imperial examinations, they could try again after three years. If they participated in this competition and lost, everything would be over.
...
The scorching summer sun was long, and sweat soaked the light silk as one leaned against the painted window. In the early morning, the sun was already blazing, and the cicadas chirped hoarsely. Fortunately, the county school was large enough, and the thousands of scholars were scattered in various places. All eyes were fixed on the north.
The row of rooms to the north was originally used for storing miscellaneous items. Instructor Zhao had five rooms tidied up, calling them "Self-Reflection Rooms," but they were actually solitary confinement rooms for punishing students.
"Inside each room, there is a table and a chair, and the brush, ink, paper, and inkstone are all prepared. After the three of you enter, the doors and windows will be locked from the outside and will only be opened after the competition ends," Instructor Zhao said before signaling the three to enter the rooms.
Scholars filled the covered corridors facing the rooms. Looking at the three empty rooms from afar, they couldn't help but joke, "This looks like the examination cells."
"Well, this is much more spacious and brighter than the examination cells," the scholars said with a shared sense of experience, thinking of the cramped examination cells during the imperial examinations.
The examination cells were narrow and leaky. If it rained, the roof might leak. Of course, the unluckiest were those assigned to smelly cells; the experience was unforgettable.
A slightly plump scholar wiped the sweat from his forehead and sighed, "I almost froze to death during the county examination. My hands and feet were numb with cold. But it's also hot enough today, and it won't be pleasant to be in the room either."
Uh... everyone thought about it and agreed. Once the doors and windows were locked, the room would not be ventilated, and there would be no ice basins for cooling. It would be like being steamed in a large pot. What's more, they had to answer questions, so the experience would likely be unpleasant.
"The competition begins." The bell rang. Instructor Zhao nodded at Zhan Feiyu. After the three entered the rooms, he walked over and locked the doors, placing the keys on a tray and having a斋夫 (dietary attendant) send them to Sanxing Hall not far away.
Compared to the stuffy heat inside the rooms and the scorching heat outside, Sanxing Hall was cool. Several ice basins placed in the corners emitted white mist, dispelling the heat.
"This time, this prince is biased towards your little disciple," Prince Yu's voice boomed, signaling Gu Qingzhou to pour him tea.
"Five hundred questions on classical texts, Your Highness. You've worked hard," Gu Qingzhou replied insincerely. He should be worried that the little girl might suffer heatstroke from being in the room for too long.
Liu Jian, Prefect Zhang, Master Qin, and County Magistrate Chen, seated below, were stunned. Their expressions cracked. The prince's actions were truly unrestrained. Answering five hundred classical text questions would take at least over an hour.
The key was, after answering so many classical text questions, wouldn't their minds become muddled, and would they still have the energy to answer the remaining three papers?
Gu Qingzhou glanced at the smug Prince Yu and then turned to Liu Jian, saying, "May I ask, Lord Liu, what topic did you set?"
Liu Jian recalled his conversation with His Majesty before coming about the salt tax and salt prices, and couldn't help but say, "There was once a foolish man who went to someone's house. The host offered him food, but the foolish man found it bland and tasteless. The host, hearing this, added more salt to the dish. The foolish man, finding the dish delicious, then thought to himself: 'The reason the dish tastes good is because of the salt. If a little is so delicious, how much more would a lot be?' The foolish man, lacking wisdom, ate only salt. After eating, his mouth became numb, which in turn became his misfortune."
"When I set the question, I thought of the foolish man eating salt, so I set a policy question on the salt tax," Liu Jian said, stroking his beard with a smile. He had previously worried that his policy question might not be chosen in the four-out-of-three selection. He hadn't expected Zhan Feiyu to be so unlucky; it was fate.
This story tells of a foolish man who once went to visit someone's house. The host invited him to a meal, but the foolish man found the dish too bland. The host, hearing this, immediately added more salt to the dish. The foolish man found the dish delicious after eating it. He then said to himself, "The reason the dish tastes good is because of the salt. If a little is so delicious, how much more would a lot be?" The foolish man, lacking wisdom, ate only salt (without the dish). (Eating only salt) his taste buds became numb, which in turn became his misfortune.
Prefect Zhang and County Magistrate Chen looked slightly solemn. No matter how intelligent Zhan Feiyu was, she was only an eight-year-old girl who had been studying for less than a year. Although she was intelligent and talented, she was only learning to write "zhiyiwen" (essay writing) now and had never studied policy questions.
Not to mention policy questions on salt tax and salt prices, which even they found difficult to write, let alone Zhan Feiyu. She would likely not know where to begin.
Prince Yu slammed his fist on the table and glared at Liu Jian, "How could you set such a policy question? Liu Jian, you are clearly making things difficult for Zhan Feiyu!"
"Your Highness, please calm down. Your subordinate was merely inspired," Liu Jian said as he stood up to apologize. However, the question had already been set, and Zhan Feiyu and the other two had likely started answering. It was too late to say anything now.
Gu Qingzhou looked at the furious Prince Yu and instead smiled to smooth things over, "Your Highness, there is no need for such agitation. Since Xiao Yu issued the challenge, she must accept the outcome, whether victory or defeat. May I ask what topic Professor Qin set?"
Prince Yu glared angrily. Gu Qingzhou was no pushover, and how could he tolerate Liu Jian bullying his disciple? There was likely a hidden agenda here.
Master Qin, being merely a prefectural school professor, had no standing before Prince Yu and Gu Qingzhou. In the end, it was Gu Qingzhou who had Master Qin participate in setting the questions to avoid suspicion. He was Wan Yunhao's father-in-law. If Zhan Feiyu won the competition, it would naturally silence the gossips, and no one would dare to accuse Zhan Feiyu of cheating.
"Reporting to Your Lordship, I set a five-character eight-rhyme poem with the theme of summer lotus," Master Qin replied respectfully. Given his humble status, he naturally dared not set questions like Lord Liu. If the news got out, the scholars' scolding could drown him. Therefore, Master Qin set a conventional question, a standard test poem. However, Zhan Feiyu was merely a young child, while Wan Yunhao was already a Juren. In terms of poetry, Wan Yunhao was far superior to Zhan Feiyu. The simpler the question, the more advantageous it was for Wan Yunhao.
"I Went to Ancient Times to Take the Imperial Examinations" unedited chapters will continue to be updated, with no advertisements on this site!
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