Chapter 33: The Imperial Academy (7)

Li Kuo examined the young man before him carefully but couldn’t relate him in any way to the sacred second floor of the library. His head, covered by a black headscarf, seemed to struggle to break free from its constraints, with a bulging forehead; his barrel-shaped waist made his dark blue robe appear too short, preventing him from bending over. His eyes, tinged with mockery, narrowed into slits, staring so intently that it made one’s legs tremble.

Taking a few steps, he came to a pearwood table. The young man in green struggled to climb onto the table, then said with a smirk, “There’s no need to stare at me like that. Though I, a genius, have just graduated from the Imperial Academy and even earned high praise from the teachers, geniuses still feel pity for ordinary people like you. I certainly won’t hide any knowledge that could help you.”

Li Kuo found it amusing but suppressed his laughter and said seriously, “I wonder what your name is, this genius?”
“Wu Zui.”
“No surname?”
“My surname is Zhou!”
“Age?”
“Seventeen.”
“Hometown?”
“Xingyang.”
“Uh… then what are you here for?”
“I find you rather boring. Of course I’m here to study, not to learn how to cook or mend clothes! Ordinary people really are ordinary—asking such questions. In these times, a genius like me is truly lonely.”
“…”

Seeing Li Kuo’s pitiful expression, Wu Zui softened his heart and shook his head. “Don’t give up on yourself so easily. Though ordinary people like you may not become elites like me, as long as you humbly accept my guidance, crushing other mortals won’t be a problem.”

His cheeks puffed up as he spoke, looking like a milk skin bag filled with nectar. Seeing that Li Kuo seemed unimpressed, Wu Zui grew anxious. He jumped down from the table and stepped forward, pointing at the partition at the head of the table. “Do you know who lives up there?”

Li Kuo shook his head lightly with an awkward smile.
Wu Zui shrugged. “Only three people in this dynasty have ever been to the third floor of Siyuan Tower. The first, of course, is the teacher himself. The second is that self-proclaimed dashing third senior brother.”

Rubbing the tip of his nose, Wu Zui moved behind Li Kuo and whispered, “And the third is none other than me, this genius!”

Li Kuo could no longer hold back his laughter and burst out laughing.
“Wu Zui, you’re really funny…”
He laughed so hard he coughed.
“Stop laughing! Don’t you believe that I, a genius, have been to the third floor?”
Zhou Wu Zui’s cheeks turned red instantly as he puffed out his cheeks and demanded.

Li Kuo suppressed the smile in his heart, straightened his back, and said seriously, “Hmm, I believe you. Of course I do. But since Brother Wuzei has been to those three floors, does he know what books are hidden there? What mysteries lie within?”
Zhou Wuzei curled his lips and said proudly, “The paths to learning vary in width, and the knowledge gained can be of varying quality. The Imperial Academy is a place where the elite of our dynasty gather, while this Siyuan Pavilion is a secret venue for our Tang Dynasty to cultivate talents. The knowledge in the world consists mainly of classics and historical texts, as well as military strategies. Yet these three floors employ extraordinary methods, carry out extraordinary tasks, and train extraordinary people…”
Seeing him act like a learned scholar and speak in an official tone, Li Kuo found it extremely amusing. He didn’t interrupt him but followed up, “So, what kind of people does this pavilion aim to cultivate? Might Wuzei be willing to tell me a bit?”
Seeing Li Kuo’s respectful attitude, Zhou Wuzei became interested and, abandoning his shy demeanor, waved his hand and said, “It doesn’t hurt to tell you. Actually, these three floors are designed specifically to train hermits for the Emperor.”
Seeing his sincere expression and no signs of deception, Li Kuo also wanted to learn more, so he pulled Wuzei to sit behind a bookshelf and said cheerfully, “Oh, then I really want to hear it. If you’re loyal enough, I’ll acknowledge you as a brother.”
A hint of joy appeared on Zhou Wuzei’s face, but it quickly vanished from his expressionless face. “Brothers? Everyone talks about them as if they’re perfect, but when real trouble comes, they still turn on you. In this world, the only one you can trust is yourself!”
Li Kuo didn’t know what else to say. He smiled slightly and waited patiently for Wuzei to continue.
Feeling like his efforts were in vain, Zhou Wuzei rubbed his nose irritably and said solemnly, “Actually, you’re quite alright. From the first moment I saw you, I felt a sense of familiarity.”
After a brief pause, Wuzei reverted to his cynical tone, “As for hermits, as the name suggests, they are secret agents secretly trained by the Emperor. Their role is unparalleled—they act as the Emperor’s voice inside, investigating traitors and secret cases; outside, they travel across the Western Regions and northern deserts as spies to gather military intelligence. How can such people handle these tasks without skills? Both literary talent and military prowess are necessary, but the most important thing is unwavering loyalty to the Emperor.”
Li Kuo shook his head and said, “Since these candidates are so important, discussions about them must be avoided. How can you be so open with me? Besides, given your age and experience, it’s unlikely you’d be chosen by the scholars easily.”

Zhou Wucui snorted disdainfully and said, “You scholars are truly foolish. How can one judge talent and ability by age? As for my own knowledge and skills, aside from that showy Third Senior Brother, no one dares to challenge me!” Rubbing the tip of his nose, Zhou Wucui sighed, “As for being a hermit, there’s nothing to hide. First, I’m not yet a hermit, and second, I haven’t revealed any confidential matters to you, so it’s no problem.” Li Kuo was surprised by Wucui’s openness and awkwardly bowed in apology, saying, “Then it seems I’ve judged you unfairly with a petty mindset.” Zhou Wucui waved his hand and said, “Forget it. If I got angry at someone like this, I’d have died of anger by now.” “So, do you think I can be a hermit?” “You?” Zhou Wucui supported his chubby chin with one hand and studied him for a long time before saying, “Well, you do have decent aptitude. Those who can reach the second floor of Siyuan Pavilion must be knowledgeable. Your build also suggests you might be a cultivator who has already laid the foundation. Although there’s a gap between you and me, as long as you’re willing to learn humbly, there’s still a chance…” “Then will you help me? Having a genius like you to guide me is better than stumbling around blindly on my own!” Li Kuo said earnestly with a sincere smile. The muscles on Zhou Wucui’s cheeks twitched slightly as he gritted his teeth in frustration and glared at Li Kuo, saying, “Although a hermit is a confidential advisor to the emperor, they don’t hold official positions or receive noble titles. Those who try to seek fame and fortune through it should give up now!” “My father often tells me that fame and wealth are like dust. As long as I have enough money to buy half a pound of braised mutton from a street vendor, what’s the need for all those trivial things?” Wucui’s eyes took on a pleading look. “Though hermits are highly valued by the emperor, their training is extremely tough. They must endure loneliness beyond what ordinary people can imagine. Can you endure that?” “With a pot of wine and you by my side, what’s there to be lonely about?” Seeing Li Kuo’s stubbornness, Wucui blurted out, “Let me be straight with you. As a hermit, one must hide their true name and identity and disappear from this world. I’m an unloved son of a noble family with nothing to hold onto. Can you give up everything you cherish in the world?” Li Kuo’s mind exploded with a loud noise, and all his previous joy vanished. Images of his past flooded his thoughts.

As a child, his mother would always sit under the old locust tree, holding him in her arms, combing his hair, and saying gently, “Fei’er, you must study hard. Your mother doesn’t expect you to become a high-ranking official; she only hopes you’ll grow up to be a man as upright as your grandfather!”

In the teahouse, A Tian would always snuggle beside him. Under the soft, moonlit glow, she would coo, “Little Seventh Brother, did all those Turks move west after being defeated? Why didn’t General Wang Zhongsì wipe them out completely?”

On the outskirts of the city, Yan Ji would always ride with him across the vast fields, heading aimlessly to an open space. Once they had fun enough, they would lie back on the grass and laugh heartily. When they grew tired of laughing, they would count together the countless stars in the night sky over Chang’an.

At the lantern festival, Uncle Sun would without hesitation take out two Kaiyuan Tongbao coins from his thin wallet, bargain with the vendor, and buy two gold-painted rabbit-head lanterns for himself and A Tian. Seeing their delighted expressions, he would gently pinch his own cheeks…

Could he really forget everything from the past without any concern? Could he truly ignore the feelings of his relatives and friends? Ever since the battle at the pharmacy on the outskirts of the city, he had been avoiding everything—avoiding the position in the Eastern Palace that Yan Ji had fought for him, avoiding the marriage arranged by his uncle, avoiding A Tian’s enchanting face, and avoiding what seemed like an unchangeable fate.

“If you can’t let go, then don’t force yourself. I can see that there are many people who love you. You surely don’t want to hurt their feelings, right?”

Zhou Wucui sighed softly and tried to persuade him.

“Everything has exceptions. Being a hermit doesn’t necessarily mean giving up one’s past identity. Your official position is actually the perfect cover for being a hermit.”

A voice as warm as polished jade came from the roof of the pavilion, followed by a figure in white robes.

The man was around thirty years old, dressed in silk robes that were spotless, clearly someone who valued cleanliness. His face was sharply defined, with arched eyebrows that gave him a slightly mocking look as he sized up Li Kuo.

Feeling uneasy under his gaze, Li Kuo bowed to the man and asked, “I wonder what advice this gentleman has for me?”

But the man didn’t reply. With a slight lift of his lips, he quickly moved to Wucui’s side, raised his folding fan, and tapped Wucui’s shiny forehead three times.

“I say, Little Fourth, haven’t you introduced me to this young man yet? How does your senior brother train you? Respecting teachers and elders is the foundation of a scholar in our Tang Dynasty. Or do you plan to make me wash your clothes for half a month again?”

Wu Zui shyly hid behind Li Kuo, only his round head visible as he shouted, “Third Senior Brother, you’re wronging me! This kid is just a naive newcomer. I was teaching him the rules of Siyuan Pavilion when you barged in—how can you blame me?”
The Third Senior Brother seemed quite amused and continued to tease his junior brother, tapping his folding fan while saying with interest, “Oh? So it’s the senior brother who’s wronging you? The master has been away for just a few days, and you’ve already become so sly. Not only do you neglect your studies, but you also discuss secrets with outsiders. If the master returns, I wonder how this so-called genius can escape punishment.”
Wu Zui immediately panicked and, disregarding his dignity, pleaded with the Third Senior Brother, “Third Brother, you’ve always been the best to Xiao Si. Please don’t tell the master, okay? Otherwise, I’ll wash your clothes for another half month!” He looked at the Third Senior Brother expectantly.
“Half a month?”
The Third Senior Brother seemed to want more and raised his voice slightly.
Wu Zui’s cheeks puffed up into two small bulges. After thinking for a moment, he gritted his teeth and said, “Then one month. But you have to let me watch the polo match next month—you know I love that sport the most.”
The Third Senior Brother propped his chin in one hand, thought for a moment, and said, “That’s easy. The master only said to keep an eye on your studies. With Xiao Si’s intelligence, those papers are no problem. It’s fine to go out and play when you’re tired. I believe in you.”
After saying that, he patted Wu Zui’s shoulder and strode away.
Seeing Wu Zui’s dejected expression, Li Kuo found it amusing. He shook his head and said to Wu Zui, “Is that your Third Senior Brother? He seems pretty nice, huh? He can even make our great genius Zhou do laundry. Interesting, really!”
“You! Even you are teasing me. He’s just an arrogant guy who pretends to be refined all the time. Boring, so boring!”
“Alright, I’m not joking anymore. But is what the Third Senior Brother said about hermits not needing to hide their identities true?”
Seeing Wu Zui get angry, Li Kuo stopped teasing and spoke seriously.
“Hmph. It’s possible, but you need to hold an official position. Looking at you, a poor kid like you—how could you get any kind of official role?”
Li Kuo shook his head and said, “Still claiming to be an all-knowing, once-in-a-generation genius. Not even aware of what’s going on outside the pavilion. Not only do I have an official position, but I’m also a real eighth-rank official. Oh, and I also serve in the Eastern Palace.”

Wu Zui glanced at Li Kuo with suspicion, circling him a few times before exclaiming in surprise, “Hey, the Tang Dynasty never grants official positions to scholars without merit. Since you’ve come to the Imperial Academy to study, you must not have taken the imperial examinations yet. If you got an official position through your family’s influence, it’s unlikely just by looking at your attire. If everyone were as lucky as you, why bother studying at all?”
Hearing Wu Zui’s sarcastic reply, Li Kuo wasn’t annoyed and said, “It’s a long story. First, tell me if what you said is true.”
The young man was eager to change his lifestyle and give his family some time to adjust, so he wanted to know the outcome quickly.
Wu Zui shrugged and said, “It’s true, but I’m afraid you’ll have to give up on the imperial examinations. Although hermits can be granted positions, they can’t be too prominent. If you pass the examinations and become a Jinshi, with your current status, you’d likely end up filling a minor position in one of the six ministries. With all the official paperwork and social obligations, you wouldn’t even have time to investigate for the emperor.”
Upon hearing this, Li Kuo’s heart sank. He came from a family of scholars. Since childhood, his grandfather had taught him that for scholars, the highest pursuit in life was to serve the country and assist the emperor. Although he already held an official position and received a salary from the court, without passing the imperial examinations, it was almost impossible for him to reach a high position in the ministries. If he couldn’t speak up in front of the emperor, he couldn’t clear his grandfather’s name.
Seeming to read Li Kuo’s thoughts, Wu Zui had an idea: “But you can apply to the court to join the military. After all, you have an imperial-awarded position, so it shouldn’t be hard to become a low-ranking officer. First, military officers aren’t as prominent as civil officials, so they draw less attention, making it easier to get things done. Second, it will help strengthen your body, which will be useful for your future duties.”
Thinking that becoming a hermit would allow him to become close to the emperor and wait for the right time to explain his grandfather’s injustice, Li Kuo felt that fame and status were trivial. Once he saw the way forward, he felt greatly relieved and said to Wu Zui, “I’ve made up my mind. If I can become a hermit, I don’t need to take the imperial examinations!”
Wu Zui scratched his head and sighed, “I don’t understand your reasoning, but since you’ve made up your mind, I have no reason not to help you. This can’t be rushed; we need to wait for the teacher to return before discussing it further. For now, the most important thing is to start preparing.”
“Preparing?”
“Isn’t there a polo match at the palace next month? Let’s start with that!”

Note 1: Wang Zhongsi: A famous general of the Tang Dynasty who served as the governor of Hexi and Longyou. He was originally Geshu Han’s direct superior.