Chapter 672: Repeated Entries on the Yellow List
As it was the first year of a new emperor’s reign, the once-every-three-years imperial examination held particular importance. At the end of the first month, the Ministry of Rites submitted a request for examiners, and Zhu Gaochi attached great significance to this matter. Ignoring the fact that many cabinet ministers had already been promoted to positions such as vice ministers, he personally appointed Huang Huai, Grand Secretary of Wuying Hall, and Jin Youzi, Grand Secretary of Wenyuan Hall, as co-examiners for the imperial examination. When this news was announced, all the candidates were overjoyed, and the highly renowned civil officials received countless manuscripts every day.
The crown prince led a delegation to the South to pay homage at the Xiaoling Mausoleum, leaving many officials absent from the court. As a result, tasks piled up, and cabinet ministers had to handle work usually done by two people. Even the youngest among them, Yang Rong and Du Zhen, were in their fifties, not to mention Yang Shiqi, who was already in his sixties. One day, when Du Zhen finally got a day off, he invited the Shen brothers, who were also not on duty, to his home.
The weather in early February was still cold despite occasional warmth. The three of them set up a wooden table in the study. Du Zhen personally brewed tea to entertain his guests, discussing everything from poetry to current affairs. As old friends from the same hometown with similar interests, they became so engrossed in their conversation that Shen Du recited three seven-character poems about willows in one go. Shen Can, who was taking notes, hurriedly recorded them. When they came to evaluate the poems together, all three reminisced about their childhood and couldn’t help but smile. Qiu, who had brought snacks in a tray, had just left when the sound of arrows being released was heard outside.
“Master, someone has brought more manuscripts to the door.”
“Have them bring them in. It’s a good chance for the two Shen scholars to take a look.”
Shen Du had just praised Qiu’s delicious snacks when he heard this and laughed, saying, “Great! So your so-called kind invitation to relax and talk about literature was just an excuse—your real intention was to make us work hard! I also have quite a pile of manuscripts at home. With my failing eyes, they all seem like my own writings at first glance, but they look awkward no matter how I look at them! Although I do like the reputation of ‘golden scripts on jade tablets,’ if all the handwriting looks the same, it becomes rather boring. Yishan, this is all because of your excellent son-in-law!”
Seeing Du Zhen smiling silently, Shen Can joined in, saying, “Although my elder brother’s handwriting was famous throughout the land back in the day, if it weren’t for the emperor’s favor during the New Year Festival due to his handwriting, not all scholars would have spent so much time practicing his style. When it’s unique, it’s precious; when there are two, it becomes ordinary. If there are more, even the best handwriting will seem ordinary in the eyes of examiners. My elder brother’s handwriting is elegant and enduring. Aside from a few occasions like the New Year Festival, most people only imitate its appearance without capturing its essence.”
“You all overestimate me too. I simply learned calligraphy from Min Ze since childhood, inheriting some of his true skills in character form and charm. With his handwritten practice sheets in hand, if I don’t teach Yuan Jie this, what else could he learn? As for practicing calligraphy with the wrist suspended from the wall, that’s something I learned from Min Yuan. Practicing with clean water saves ink and is a great habit!”
Shen Du, who was sipping tea, almost choked upon hearing this. After a moment of shock, Shen Can also couldn’t help but laugh. The two brothers exchanged a glance, and Shen Can couldn’t help but exclaim, “Brother Yishan, although we’ve been friends since childhood, we’re used to your cold demeanor. But now, your aloofness has changed, and you’ve even become more kind-hearted. If not for your petition a while ago, the posthumous conferment by Liang Qian would have been delayed even longer.”
“What kind-heartedness? It’s just what’s right to do. If one can do something but doesn’t, how can they feel at ease?”
Seeing Mo Yu coming over with a large stack of ink scrolls, Du Zhen instructed him to place them on the begonia table beside them. Then he picked up the top scroll, skimmed through it from beginning to end, and set it aside before moving on to the next one. Seeing his actions, the Shen brothers smiled at each other and also took a scroll to read. After all three had finished, Du Zhen waved his hand for Mo Yu to take away the scrolls, then let out a soft sigh.
“They’re all average works—neither particularly inspiring nor showing great insight. The writing is passable though.”
“The imperial examinations may select talents, but true great talents don’t come easily,” Shen Du remarked. Suddenly recalling some rumors he had heard, he said thoughtfully, “The fact that two cabinet scholars are overseeing the exams together shows how much the emperor values this examination. I heard you, Yishan, originally had the chance to oversee one of the exams, but since Scholar Huang had just been released from prison and was once part of the imperial household, he was given that role instead. I heard there’s some tension between him and Yang Mianren—is that true?”
“Huang Zongyu is narrow-minded, and Yang Mianren is hot-tempered. When the two meet, it’s like sparks falling into oil. But with Brother Shi Qi in charge, there shouldn’t be any major problems. Besides, this time he’s working with Youzi, who probably won’t clash with him, so there shouldn’t be issues with the exams. Also, among those taking the exams are Yang Mianren’s disciples and one of Yuan Jie’s brothers. If Mianren and I were to oversee the exams, others might suspect favoritism. Since Brother Shi Qi already oversaw the exams last time, it naturally has to be just the two of them.”
As soon as he finished speaking, Mo Yu, who had just left, poked his head out at the courtyard gate again: “Master, Lord Zhang the Fourth and Lord Fang have arrived. They say they’re here to deliver their ink scrolls too!”
Having seen only seven or eight scrolls so far, Du Wan couldn’t help but laugh when she heard that Zhang Jiu and Fang Jing had also come to join in. She immediately ordered them to be brought in. Once the two entered the courtyard one after another, the Shen brothers couldn’t help but examine them closely from head to toe. Both of them were candidates who had not yet been appointed officials, so they weren’t bound by the formal attire required for court officials. Yet Zhang Jiu and Fang Jing were both wearing white Lu silk robes. One was handsome and gentle, while the other was honest and simple. After bowing, they both carried themselves with ease, earning nods of approval from the Shen brothers.
“Indeed, they are outstanding in appearance. If they pass the exams this time, it will be a remarkable story!”
Hearing Shen Can’s praise, Du Zhen smiled slightly. After Mo Yu and Ming Di brought in two chairs and the two men sat down properly, he asked a few questions about their preparation for the exams. Then he handed their ink scrolls to the Shen brothers, Shen Du and Shen Can, and nodded in approval. “Over the past half year, Xiao Wu has often brought back their essays for me to see. Their skills are quite good. Please take a look and give them some advice.”
Seeing the two Shens nod in agreement, he said to them, “Before leaving, Yuan Jie must have told you that the imperial exams test not only knowledge but also opportunity. It’s extremely rare for someone to pass the exams at such a young age. And even if they become famous for a time, few can maintain that status for long. It’s already quite remarkable for you to become candidates at your age. So just rely on your true abilities and knowledge, without worrying too much about passing or failing. Although Yuan Jie was only sixteen when he made it onto the imperial list, if it weren’t for the special grant of the candidate title, he might not even have had a chance to take the exams, nor would his knowledge necessarily be superior to yours. But his strength lies in his calmness and sharpness—things you should learn from him.”
Zhang Jiu had put in tremendous effort preparing for these exams and was determined not to listen to anyone saying that passing or failing didn’t matter. But hearing Du Zhen’s advice, he initially agreed verbally but didn’t really believe it. Gradually, however, he became convinced. As for Fang Jing, he nodded repeatedly, his face filled with admiration and respect.
“The article and handwriting are both passable; you have a 70% chance of passing the imperial examination,” said Shen Du as he stood up, took the ink scroll from his younger brother’s hands, and handed it to both of them, smiling slightly. “What Brother Yishan said are all wise words. Neither my brother nor I came from a formal imperial examination background; Yang Shiqi, the chief minister, also did not come from such a background. Minister Lü of the Ministry of Rites and Minister Xia of the Ministry of Revenue were both promoted to high positions from being students at the imperial academy. Minister Wu of the Ministry of Works also started with a humble background… In short, even if one fails the imperial examinations, there are still other paths to success.”
Receiving these words of advice from the renowned Scholars Shen, Zhang Jiu and Fang Jing quickly thanked them. At noon, Du Zhen invited the two to dine with him. In the afternoon, after seeing Shen Du and Shen Can off, and noticing that the two young men also wished to leave, he did not try to hold them back. Watching them mount their horses and ride off full of enthusiasm, he couldn’t help but sigh softly.
Times have changed—imperial examinations are now more important than recommendations. It’s unlikely that one can be appointed to high positions like governor just through recommendation, as in the past. Unless one intends to live in seclusion, it will only be harder to gain recognition through recommendations or to be summoned to serve in government.
While Zhang Jiu and Fang Jing went to see Du Zhen, at Scholar Yang’s residence, Gu Bin also received valuable guidance from Yang Rong. From preparation for the exams to the style of writing and even writing habits, Yang Rong gave repeated instructions, before finally handing over a gift bag.
“This is the jade pendant I gave your father back then. Although you returned it long ago, I’m giving it to you now as a memento. Remember, with your talent, you will surely succeed in the imperial examinations. Keep pushing yourself to take the exams! As long as you pass the imperial examination, you’ll definitely make it into the second tier of the final exam. If you even manage to win the top spot, it will be worth all my efforts in nurturing you!”
The imperial examination consisted of three sessions, and candidates had to stay at the examination hall for nine days. Due to the cold weather in the north, the government provided firewood and charcoal, but it was still difficult to stay warm with such limited supplies. Therefore, before going to the examination hall, Zhang Zhuo had already prepared three identical sets of examination materials. Each person used their own pen, ink, paper, and inkstone, but everything else—firewood, rice, flour, eggs, oil, tables, and even the money to pay the guards—was fully prepared. On the day of the exam, he stayed up all night and personally escorted the three to the entrance of the examination hall. Watching them go in, he clasped his hands and murmured a few words.
Zhang Jiu was his direct nephew, Gu Bin had been supported by him since childhood, and even Fang Jing had lived at his home for a long time—his honest character won him great affection. Now, at the most critical moment in their lives, he could no longer offer much help.
The imperial examinations were scheduled for the ninth day of the second lunar month, with three rounds over nine days. The weather in the capital had already warmed up, but starting from the day of the exams, the wind outside grew stronger by the day. In some houses with weak roofs, the tiles were even blown off by the wind and smashed to the ground with a clattering sound. By the fourteenth day of the second month, it started to rain, drawing even more people to gather outside the examination hall to gather news. Whether they passed or not was no longer the most important thing; what relatives and friends were most worried about was whether the candidates could endure the cold, whether the examination rooms could withstand the wind and rain. Even Zhang Zhuo himself couldn’t help but check on things several times.
Finally, on the eighteenth day of the second month, the candidates left the hall, and the entrance to the examination street was filled with countless people eagerly waiting. It took two full hours for thousands of candidates to all emerge. Having stayed in small, dark, and damp places for nine days, everyone felt their bones stiffen. Some stretched and yawned as soon as they stepped outside, some chatted animatedly with relatives and friends, some cried in despair, and those who became ill due to their weak health were carried out on spring stools. On the day they left, a variety of human reactions were on full display. Zhang Jiu, Gu Bin, and Fang Jing, who came out together, were stunned.
Zhang Jiu immediately spotted Zhang Zhuo in the crowd and quickly led the other two over. Before he could bow and greet him, Zhang Zhuo asked directly, “With all the wind and rain these past few days, and the weather much colder than before, have you all been okay in there?”
“Third uncle, we’re all fine—nothing happened! There was someone next to me who fainted and was carried out; he cried bitterly as soon as he left the examination hall. It’s no wonder—this delay could mean years of delay, and it seems he wasn’t from a wealthy family.” With that, Zhang Jiu quickly pulled Gu Bin forward and said with a smile, “Young Seventh Brother just recited to me the three essays he wrote. They were truly excellent. I think he’s definitely going to pass this time! As for me and Young Fang, it depends on luck. After all, we’re not as good as Young Seventh Brother, but we’re not without a chance either.”
Zhang Jiu, who had been extremely arrogant in his early years, spoke such words, which filled Zhang Zhuo with relief. After encouraging him a few words, he called everyone to board the carriage. After sending Gu Bin back and comforting Gu’s parents, he took his own two children home. Although the results would not be announced for several days at least, his family still prepared a feast and celebrated lively for an entire afternoon.
Due to the abundance of scholars in the south, more candidates came from the south than the north in the imperial examinations. The incident regarding the southern and northern lists during the Hongwu era shocked the whole country. Although it was claimed that candidates from both regions were selected together, since the Yongle era, there was no separation between them, so in each examination, seven out of ten candidates were from the south and three out of ten from the north. Now that Zhu Gaochi had ascended the throne, following Yang Shiji’s advice that the selection process must be fair, it was decided that thirty candidates would be chosen—sixteen from the south and fourteen from the north. This decision was announced before the examination, causing dissatisfaction among the southerners but great joy among the northerners.
Reviewing thousands of exam papers within a few days was undoubtedly a daunting task for the examiners, so most of them just skimmed through them. The recommended papers from each examiner were then submitted to the chief examiner for ranking. This time, there were no chief or deputy examiners, and due to issues like the quality of the recommended papers, Huang Huai and Jin Youzi often argued fiercely, delaying the ranking by a whole day.
On the day the results were announced, Gu Bin and Zhang Jiu could hardly wait at home, so they agreed to go together to check the list. After finally making their way to the front, the three of them hurriedly searched for their names. In a moment, Zhang Jiu, who was looking from back to front, found his name among the last few entries and was overjoyed. But as soon as he turned around, he saw Gu Bin standing there, frozen in shock. Thinking his cousin had failed, he quickly tried to comfort him, but when Gu Bin didn’t react at all, he became panicked. Just as he was at a loss, he heard Fang Jing’s voice.
“Young Seventh Brother is second! Now you can go to the final examination together!”
Second again? Remembering that Gu Bin had been second in the provincial exam before, Zhang Jiu was overjoyed. Gu Bin finally came to his senses and tried to smile, but his lips were stiff and unmovable. Fang Jing stood on tiptoes and checked the list again and again but still couldn’t find his name, sighing deeply. Yet as soon as the sigh left his lips, he felt hands on his shoulders.
“You’re only sixteen—there’s still plenty of time ahead. You’ll have many more chances!”
“That’s right. With this experience, you won’t be afraid of the next one!”
Originally very sad, Fang Jing rubbed his eyes hard before gently nodding. Once he made his way out of the crowd, he couldn’t help but look up at the sky, thinking again of his elder brother who was somewhere out there. This time he hadn’t been able to help his brother fulfill his wish, but next time he would definitely do it!