Hostility.
Sun Shangxiang certainly felt hostility.
The captivating eyes of Zhang Qiying before her, her tender words – even a woman would fall for them, how could any man withstand such allure?
"You, a Saintess of the Five Dou Mi Sect? When did you start caring about the safety of Jiangdong?" Sun Shangxiang questioned. "If you say you have no ulterior motives, do you think I'd believe you?"
Sun Shangxiang puffed out her chest, adopting an arrogant demeanor. Zhang Qiying, however, was not intimidated. She slowly rose.
"Naturally, inaction and gentleness without contention. The purpose of the Five Dou Mi Sect is to save the world, not to poison it. The people of Bashu are citizens of this world, and how are the people of Jiangdong not also part of the myriad of living beings?"
"Just empty words..." Sun Shangxiang remained confrontational...
Beautiful women easily ignite mutual hostility.
"I just said earlier, if the Crown Prince does not believe me, you might as well accompany this humble woman to a few places. There... the Crown Prince will see the truth with his own eyes!" Zhang Qiying slowly stood up...
Sun Shangxiang was about to speak again, but Lu Yu stopped her. "Since it is the Saintess's kind invitation, perhaps we should go and see!"
This was considered accepting Zhang Qiying's invitation.
Sun Shangxiang tightened her grip on her sword. "In Jiangdong, you'd better not play any tricks!"
Zhang Qiying merely smiled faintly and led them out of the military tent...
...
...
Within Xudu City, the Crown Prince's Eastern Palace.
Cai Zhaoji paced leisurely, counting softly as she walked...
Xiahou Juan accompanied her, or rather, supervised her!
The imperial physician advised that walking like this was beneficial for the final delivery.
Princess Wannian, Liu Xue, entered to pay her respects. "Liu Xue pays her respects to my sister..."
Cai Zhaoji, being physically inconvenient, couldn't help Liu Xue up, but she smiled and said, "Didn't I always say that you are the Crown Princess and a Han princess? Why pay such a grand courtesy when seeing me? Quickly, get up."
Liu Xue rose and, replacing Xiahou Juan, helped Cai Zhaoji.
"Sister Zhaoji... today His Majesty is holding the imperial examination outside Sima Gate, but... but outside Sima Gate, it's become a chaotic mess!"
"What is it?" Cai Zhaoji's steps halted. Xiahou Juan signaled to the maids, and someone brought a low stool for Cai Zhaoji to sit on.
Liu Xue's tone was quite urgent. "Originally, with your current condition, Sister Zhaoji, I... I shouldn't really say this, but... but the imperial examination situation has clearly gotten out of control... Nearly a thousand individuals who failed the imperial examinations are shouting injustice outside the palace. Among them are juniors from military families, sons of clans, and disciples from humble backgrounds... It seems everyone is dissatisfied with the imperial examination system! They feel there's been manipulation! They believe their true talents have been buried!"
As these words spilled out...
Cai Zhaoji's brow furrowed deeply. Looking at the tears welling up in Liu Xue's eyes, Cai Zhaoji could understand Liu Xue's difficulties...
The Crown Princess of Great Wei, and the Emperor of Han... navigating between the two was truly not easy.
"Then... prepare the sedan chair. I will go and see!"
Cai Zhaoji hesitated for a moment, then gritted her teeth and made up her mind.
She was the Head of the Imperial Academy, and her father was the leader of northern literati. At such a time... regarding the scholars and officials of the realm, regarding the selection of future officials for the Han and Wei, only Cai Zhaoji could step forward.
"Sister Zhaoji... it's noisy over there, and your belly..."
Xiahou Juan spoke with concern...
At this moment, the commotion from the palace grew louder and louder, and even Cai Zhaoji, who was in the Wei palace, could hear some of it.
She glanced at her own belly with concern, then her lips trembled, unable to speak. She understood the significance of the imperial examination system for the future of Great Wei, and she understood the painstaking efforts and determination of His Majesty and Brother Yu in promoting it.
They absolutely could not let all their efforts and painstaking work be ruined because of this imperial examination.
"The nation's affairs are urgent... Lead the way!"
Cai Zhaoji bit her lip...
Seeing Sister Zhaoji's resolute expression, Xiahou Juan dared not say anything more and hurried to gather the Long Xiao Guards who were stationed here!
...
...
The crowd outside the palace was incensed.
The results of the imperial examination had been finalized, and Lu Ji of the Lu family from Jiangdong had undoubtedly secured the top position, the "Zhuangyuan"...
The second and third places, "Bangyan" and "Tanhua," were both taken by disciples from fallen humble families.
Countless clan disciples and descendants of military families shouted: "The Emperor shelters private interests, the Shangshu Tai manipulates the law, the imperial examination system is unfair in its laws; straight as a string, you die on the road; bent as a hook, you become a marquis!"
—"Straight as a string, you die on the road; bent as a hook, you become a marquis!"
—"Straight as a string, you die on the road; bent as a hook, you become a marquis!"
The crowd was agitated...
Clearly, in the eyes of these clans and military families, the imperial examination system was anything but fair. The Emperor, to win over "Lu Yu's" maternal clan, awarded the "Zhuangyuan" title to Lu Ji. To suppress the "clans" and "military families," he bestowed the "Bangyan" and "Tanhua" titles upon two fallen clans and humble disciples—Ma Jun and Zhou Buyi!
In this state of agitation...
It was clear that Emperor Liu Xie could no longer control the situation.
Cai Zhaoji, Liu Xue, and others, escorted by a contingent of Long Xiao Guards, entered the palace from the nearby Canglong Gate and reached Sima Gate, where they saw the overwhelmed Emperor Liu Xie.
Liu Xie saw his elder sister and rushed forward like a rescuer, grasping her hand and saying with a sweat-drenched forehead.
"Elder Sister, I... I never expected the imperial examination system to cause such... such a great reaction!"
Liu Xue turned to look at Cai Zhaoji...
"Your Majesty, do not fear. Sister Zhaoji... is the leader of the northern literati, the Head of the Imperial Academy... She... she must have a way!"
Liu Xie shifted his gaze towards Cai Zhaoji.
Cai Zhaoji then asked the Emperor, "Your Majesty, may I ask where the officials responsible for the imperial examinations are? And where are the top three from the imperial examination?"
Liu Xie quickly replied, "They are waiting outside. For the imperial examinations I wish to implement... I will bear all consequences and dare not let them face the people's anger!"
"The people's anger?" Cai Zhaoji smiled. "Is the 'people' Your Majesty speaks of truly the 'people' in the true sense of the word?"
Hmm...
Cai Zhaoji's words stunned Liu Xie.
Her expression held a deeper meaning. The so-called boiling public anger...
This "people" was not the people in our common understanding, because... in ancient times, the "people" never had a voice.
Those who could be recorded in history, those who could leave behind written words were always the clans...
The so-called "boiling public anger" was equivalent to the resentment and boiling of the clans! The true people? Where could they voice their opinions?
"What is Chief Administrator Cai going to do?" Liu Xie looked at Cai Yan in astonishment...
At this moment, Yang Xiu, Sima Yi, and other officials responsible for the imperial examinations, along with the "Zhuangyuan," "Bangyan," and "Tanhua," walked onto the city wall.
Upon seeing Cai Zhaoji...
Yang Xiu and Sima Yi bowed first.
Lu Ji, Zhou Buyi, and Ma Jun also quickly paid their respects...
Cai Zhaoji stood on the city wall with her swollen belly, facing the increasingly surging clamor and shouts outside the palace. She exchanged calm smiles with Lu Ji, Ma Jun, and Zhou Buyi.
Cai Zhaoji had not expected these three selected talents to possess such composure, as if they were deaf to everything outside.
Furthermore, Lu Ji was a junior from Brother Yu's maternal clan. Ma Jun had been working in the workshop, and Zhuge Jun had often mentioned his excellence to Cai Zhaoji. As for Zhou Buyi... Cai Zhaoji was slightly unfamiliar with him, but she knew he was Cao Chong's childhood companion.
All this gave Cai Zhaoji a bit more confidence.
The voices below the city wall? Did you hear them?
Lu Ji smiled faintly, "The slander of the masses is for the mediocre, not for the gentleman. A gentleman stands upright, and idle gossip is like a knife cutting the east wind; what concern is it of mine?"
Cai Zhaoji smiled, "Since you claim to stand upright as a gentleman, I trust you will not disappoint the imperial examination's assessment of you. On the way here, I heard that during the imperial examination, you answered His Majesty's questions fluently, possessing knowledge of astronomy, geography, policy, and military strategy, hence earning the Zhuangyuan title! However, this Zhuangyuan title only signifies the court's recognition of you. If there is no recognition from scholars and literati, this title will instead become your greatest burden!"
As Cai Zhaoji uttered these words...
The Emperor Liu Xie realized something. "Chief Administrator Cai, are you intending to send the Zhuangyuan out? To face the provocation of these scholars?"
Lu Ji blinked his eyes. "Please clarify, Chief Administrator Cai!"
Cai Yan spoke eloquently and with firm words. "The scholars who failed outside the imperial examination today all say you are from my brother Yu's maternal clan, and thus obtained the Zhuangyuan position by virtue of your relationship with the Crown Prince. This completely contradicts the 'fairness and justice' promoted by the imperial examination system. If you wish to prove that the Zhuangyuan position rightfully belongs to you and that you are not to be deterred, then go out and accept their test. Let them freely select any classics and questions, and then you are to answer them. If you cannot answer, not only will the Zhuangyuan position be undeserved by you, but the imperial examination system itself will be ruined by your hands! Young Master Lu Ji, do you dare?"
Lu Ji was initially surprised by this method of assessment. He was not old, and filled with scholarly ambition and vigorous spirit, how could he withstand Cai Zhaoji's provocation?
He immediately straightened his chest and said, "If Chief Administrator Cai dares, and His Majesty dares, how can a student not dare?"
As these words left his mouth...
"Bangyan" Ma Jun and "Tanhua" Zhou Buyi exchanged glances, then clasped their hands and said, "We also dare!"
Cai Zhaoji raised her hand. "Send out the Zhuangyuan, Bangyan, and Tanhua, protect their safety... Inform the scholars outside the palace that they may question and debate freely. Anyone who dares to lay a hand will have their nine generations of kin barred from official positions, forbidden from entering the Imperial Academy, and prohibited from participating in the imperial examinations!"
Uncharacteristically...
The usually gentle Cai Zhaoji became incredibly strong at this moment! She became resolute!
For a fleeting moment, many surrounding guards felt an illusion that Cai Zhaoji's words were like an order issued by the Wei Crown Prince Cao Yu!
Sima Yi and Yang Xiu exchanged glances... a shiver ran down their spines.
Yang Xiu whispered with emotion, "If among them there is someone who cannot answer the policy essays, military strategies, or classics, then this imperial examination, promoted by the esteemed teacher through His Majesty, will be stillborn!"
Hoo... Sima Yi also let out a sigh of relief. "The abolition of the recommendation system had already angered many. The promotion of the imperial examination system is dancing on the edge of a knife! His Majesty is gambling, and Master Zhaoji is also gambling!"
"If..." Yang Xiu continued, "If our esteemed teacher were in Luoyang, what would happen?"
Sima Yi's gaze was deep. "Our esteemed teacher would certainly do the same..."
Sima Yi's tone became firm. "The entire imperial examination system was conceived by our esteemed teacher. If the imperial examination cannot select the most outstanding talents, then our esteemed teacher... no, that's wrong... our esteemed teacher never makes a move without calculating everything. The imperial examination will surely select the empire's most outstanding talents! It is I, Sima Yi, who is worrying unnecessarily!"
Just then...
A guard on the city wall remarked, "Why have the shouts from outside stopped now?"
The guard beside him replied, "As expected of the Crown Prince's sister, Chief Administrator Cai Yan indeed has a solution. Without any fighting or killing, those scholars outside Sima Gate have stopped causing trouble?"
...
...
Along the banks of the Yangtze River.
Umbrella boats flew back and forth, stirring up the surging waves on the river's surface, undulating across the vast expanse of the river.
Large crates were carried out from within the umbrella boats...
One could smell a rich medicinal fragrance just by approaching the area.
Zhang Qiying walked to a crate and ordered it to be opened. It was filled entirely with Coptis chinensis.
She took out a few pieces of Coptis chinensis with her slender hand and offered them to Lu Yu, then explained, "This is what our Five Dou Mi Sect, having heard of the plague in Jiangdong, specially purchased from various regions... As the Crown Prince knows, our Five Dou Mi Sect is located on Mount Heming in Eastern Sichuan. Although there are some followers in various places, they are very few, and the medicinal materials that can be procured are extremely limited."
As she spoke...
Zhang Qiying then ordered a few more crates to be opened. They contained mint, Rubia cordifolia, Prunella vulgaris, and raw licorice. Lu Yu recognized these as traditional Chinese medicinal ingredients for treating the plague.
Before his transmigration, due to his dissatisfaction with the status of traditional Chinese medicine in the medical field, Lu Yu had read many medical books. He had once seen a method for treating "bubonic plague" in a medical text, which involved boiling and consuming ingredients such as Scutellaria baicalensis, Forsythia suspensa, Scrophularia ningpoensis, Coptis chinensis, mint, Rubia cordifolia, Prunella vulgaris, and raw licorice.
Of course, this was only one type of plague. A plague often gave rise to at least three different epidemic diseases.
The most common were bubonic plague, pneumonic plague, and septicemic plague, each requiring different traditional Chinese medicines. However, even so, it was not easy for the Five Dou Mi Sect to gather so many Chinese medicinal herbs.
"I never expected..."
Sun Shangxiang bit her lip slightly, somewhat astonished... She still found it hard to believe that the Five Dou Mi Sect would be so kind.
"Your Highness the Crown Prince, Crown Princess, why don't you come and see over here?" Zhang Qiying led Lu Yu and his party to a carriage.
Half an hour later...
What greeted them was an even stronger medicinal scent.
It turned out this was a "pharmaceutical workshop"...
Zhang Qiying introduced again, "Since the first Celestial Master, the Five Dou Mi Sect has passed down some medicinal formulas. Although they cannot completely cure this plague, they can alleviate the suffering of the plague... Your Highness the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess can inquire around. As early as half a month ago, our Five Dou Mi Sect began distributing medicines to the common people!"
As Zhang Qiying's words left her mouth...
Lu Yu did not reply, but quietly observed the pharmaceutical workshop, including the carts of boiled medicine being poured into buckets and transported into the city.
To achieve all this in this chaotic era where human lives were as cheap as grass was already incredibly precious.
Moreover, Lu Yu's impression of the Five Dou Mi Sect was not bad. Taoism, when classified by sect, was divided into Zhengyi School (Zhang Daoling), Southern School (Lu Chunyang), Northern School (Wang Chongyang), Zhen Grand School (Zhang Qingzhi), and Taiyi School (Huang Dongyi), totaling five major categories!
Simply put, the Five Dou Mi Sect belonged to the Zhengyi School. Unlike the alchemy faction of Wang Chongyang's Northern School, the Zhengyi School was a talismanic faction...
The "flying on swords" and "refining immortal pills" mentioned in the central texts had nothing to do with the Five Dou Mi Sect.
The Five Dou Mi Sect played with "talismans." Their method of attracting people to join the sect in Bashu was also very simple...
They used herbs to make talismans, then burned the talismans and sprinkled the ashes into water. Once consumed, it would prevent all illnesses!
In addition, the threshold for joining the sect by paying "five dou of rice" was also very friendly. The "talisman water for healing" and "talismanic exorcism" services received were considered excellent value for money...
Therefore, overall, Lu Yu was not against the Five Dou Mi Sect, nor was he against Zhang Qiying.
He just felt... it was a little strange.
"Saintess..." Lu Yu finally said aloud, "Let's not beat around the bush. What is the Five Dou Mi Sect doing all this for? And what is the Saintess guiding me to see all this for?"