Before dawn, lamps were already lit and stoves were burning in Fengtian Hall.

The enormous hall, which had previously seemed empty even with the presence of civil and military officials, was now unusually full.

The dragon throne on the third tier of the platform, as well as Ning-wang’s seat on the second tier below, remained unchanged.

But further down the hall, near the base of the high platform, sat nine wide mahogany chairs.

There were four on the right and five on the left, with a wide aisle down the middle.

The cushioned chairs had been prepared for the seven vassal kings and Jiannan-wang, as well as Grand Tutor Chu Jiubian, the chief examiner.

Logically speaking, Chu Jiubian was a first-rank official just like the six ministers, so it was somewhat inappropriate for him to sit on an equal level with royalty. However, not a single member of the court felt that there was a problem with this.

Unconsciously, everyone had begun to distinguish Chu Jiubian from normal officials, and believed that his status should be higher than theirs.

Further down, the area where officials usually stood was now filled with a total of sixty-five chairs for the students, arranged in an orderly fashion.

On both sides of these rows of chairs was an aisle more than a meter wide.

And across those aisles were three rows of wide, high-backed chairs that had been prepared for the ministers.

Unlike the morning court sessions, there was no telling how long the audience would have to remain on their feet, so Chu Jiubian had ordered that chairs be prepared for them.

However, although chairs were provided, tea and snacks were not.

This was a serious setting, and the audience should not be so leisurely while the students were taking the exam.

Aside from this, there were also some other changes to the hall.

For example, when the Emperor and the officials were present, the servants could not enter Fengtian Hall and could only come in and clean it after everyone had left.

But today, not only were there many servants standing in the shadows along both sides of the hall, there were also two rows of Imperial Guards.

Everything about the occasion was grand and solemn, which informed everyone of how much importance Chu Jiubian and his faction placed on this palace examination.

*

*

Carriages bearing officials gradually approached the palace gates.

Those of lower ranks needed to make way for the carriages of higher officials, so they all arrived quite a bit later.

Once they disembarked, the high-ranking officials in front of them also left their carriages and stood at the forefront of the crowd.

Today was a rare sunny day, and although it was still chilly so early in the morning, the air lacked its previous bite. 

The officials stood in neat rows, all clad in thick clothing.

Bai Lihong was a benevolent emperor. Fearing that his ministers would catch a cold in the dead of winter, he had decreed that they should wear thicker clothing to court. If they were wearing cloaks, they could just take them off after entering the hall.

Therefore, all of the officials were dressed warmly enough and held handwarmers in their hands, so they weren’t particularly cold, and were even at leisure to chat quietly amongst themselves.

However, the lower-ranking officials in the back didn’t dare talk too openly. Only those at the front were a bit less restrained, and discussed today’s palace examination without speaking a negative word about it.

At the forefront of the group, none of the six ministers spoke. They simply held their handwarmers and stared at the tightly shut vermillion gate before them.

Minister of Rites Wang Zhiyuan already possessed an air of youth that belied his age, and having recently witnessed the abilities of Young Master Wang Qichen and the good fortune of his own grandson, Wang Pengyi, he had been relieved of many of his burdens and thus appeared even more sprightly.

In contrast, Minister of Personnel Xiao Huaiguan standing beside him appeared even more stooped than before. His face was incredibly gaunt, cheeks sunken and eyes ringed with dark circles, his gaze cloudy and dull. To call him decrepit would be putting it mildly.

Were an ignorant child to see him in such a state, they might well think they had encountered a ghost.

Wang Zhiyuan observed the changes taking place in him day after day, and with the addition of the unverified reports brought back by his scouts, he began to harbor some suspicions.

It seemed that this old thing didn’t have long to live.

However, it remained to be seen how long the other party would be able to hold on, for in today’s Imperial Court, the entire weight of the Xiao clan’s influence rested solely upon Xiao Huaiguan’s shoulders.

If he had previously been able to capitalize on the situation with Cai Peng and the military provisions and secure a better post for him, then Cai Peng would have effectively become a member of the Xiao family.

The Xiao clan would have also been able to regain some influence within the Imperial Court.

Yet of all days, that was precisely the day that Xiao Huaiguan suffered a lapse in judgment. From start to finish, he was completely muddleheaded and failed to seize this prime opportunity.

Wang Zhiyuan cast a sidelong glance at Xiao Huaiguan beside him, his expression inscrutable.

If the incumbent Minister of Personnel were to suddenly pass away, the court’s political landscape would become even more complex.

But perhaps this was precisely the outcome that Chu Jiubian, Qin Xiao, and others desired.

Thus, rather than saying that there was no telling when Xiao Huaiguan would die, it was more accurate to say that his expiration date relied entirely on when Chu Jiubian and Qin Xiao needed him to die.

Wang Zhiyuan gazed deeply toward the vermillion palace gates, which were slowly opening.

That day should not be far off, he thought.

Meanwhile, a procession of carriages slowly departed from Splendid Plaza.

Knowing that today was the day of the Palace Examination, many people rose early to gather near the Western Market, specifically in the vicinity of Clear Sky Tower, in hopes of catching a glimpse of the excitement.

What a sight it was! Stretching out before them was a long procession of carriages and horses, flanked by Imperial Guards. It was a truly magnificent and imposing spectacle.

And as for the students, they had all donned the Imperial Academy uniforms that Chu Jiubian had previously commissioned.

The sky blue brocade was embroidered with subtle silver patterns, while the white collars bore the three characters for the Imperial Academy in matching sky blue thread.

The men wore long robes with belts girding their waists, while the women wore long dresses that were likewise cinched at the waist with belts of the same material as the men. Everyone had also received thick, cotton-padded cloaks from Chu Jiubian, which they were permitted to wear each day.

The only difference between the students was perhaps their hairstyles.

Without exception, whether they had reached their majority or not, the male students bound their long hair up with jade-colored guans, giving them a neat, fresh appearance.

For their part, the female students all wore their hair in the simplest of buns, adorned only with jade hairpins. Each appeared all the more slender and graceful, yet distant and aloof.

As the onlookers watched the students emerge from the building in matching attire, they were overwhelmed and scarcely knew where to look.

They had encountered these students before, but it was only at this very moment that they perceived the unbridgeable chasm between them.

It was also only now that they began to vaguely conceptualize just what kind of opportunity the Imperial Examinations truly represented.

It afforded these ordinary students, hailing from remote and impoverished backwater towns, the opportunity to come to the capital, as well as the opportunity to draw close to the Emperor and those powerful dignitaries. Even more importantly, it afforded them the chance to attain even greater power and status in the future!

As the crowd watched the long procession of carriages and Imperial Guards recede into the distance, a single thought arose in each one of their minds: from this moment on, these people were on a completely different level than them.

Since Lu Yao had ranked first in the last exam, he sat in the foremost carriage.

His eyes were closed and his breathing was even, making it clear that he was asleep.

Qin Chuan sat across from him with his arms crossed, unsure what expression he should be wearing.

Since the High Priest had instructed him to get a full night’s rest, Lu Yao, having risen early today, was racing against time in a desperate attempt to squeeze in a little more sleep.

Qin Chuan had thought he was all talk, but unexpectedly, the other person had actually managed to fall asleep.

However, Qin Chuan was not overly surprised. When it came to Lu Yao, any absurdity was perfectly rational. After all, the person in question had once conducted an experiment to see how long a human being could go without proper sleep, and had actually gone several months without rest.

He wondered how he would fare in today’s Palace Examination.

Qin Chuan glanced out the carriage window, his lips curving into a smile.

Fortunately, he knew the palace well, and had arranged in advance for Qin Chaoyang to secure a position for him among the palace attendants in Fengtian Hall.

And so, once the students had disembarked from their carriages, Qin Chuan entered the palace in a flicker of movement.

He entered Fengtian Hall through the rear chamber, and after changing his clothes, he joined the other palace attendants and strode openly into the main hall, taking up a position within the shadows along one side.

He stood in just the right spot, with his vision unimpeded by any of the pillars, and was able to take in the entire scene with a single glance.

The officials had already paid their respects to the Emperor seated high above. They then withdrew to their respective places, yet didn’t take their seats.

Standing atop the raised platform, Eunuch Hong Fu raised his voice: “May the princes enter the hall!”

No sooner had he finished speaking than a voice relayed the message outside the hall.

Immediately after, eight figures entered the hall in succession. Skirting the tables and chairs in the center of the chamber, they all proceeded to the very front and bowed to pay their respects to the Emperor.

Bai Lihong called out in his tender, childish voice, and the eight vassal kings rose to their feet.

“Have a seat,” Bai Lihong called out again.

They bowed again in unison to express their gratitude, and only then did these vassal kings take their seats. Chu Jiubian also took his seat in the same row, followed by the civil and military officials.

Chu Jiubian was situated on the side closest to Qin Xiao, and therefore met the man’s gaze the second he raised his eyes.

Their gazes met, then parted.

Although the display was not deliberate on either of their parts, keen observers were able to spot the subtle mood between them at a glance.

And as for the identities of these keen observers, other than Qin Chuan, who was lurking in the shadows to watch the show, there was Jiannan-wang Bai Lihai, seated closest to Chu Jiubian, and Dingbei-wang Bai Liyu, who was positioned just behind Anhui-wang.

Ever since he first laid eyes on Chu Jiubian during morning court, Bai Lihai had been thoroughly unable to suppress his ulterior motives.

He would even contrive frequent excuses to enter the palace to visit the Empress Dowager, ostensibly to keep her company. Yet in reality, he spent much of that time loitering around the palace in the vicinity of the front court.

Several times, he succeeded in encountering Chu Jiubian as he emerged from Yaotai Residence.

But Chu Jiubian had maintained an aloof demeanor each time, never once cracking a smile.

The more he acted this way, the more Bai Lihai yearned to see other expressions on his face. Even anger lent him a sense of vitality, making him seem less like a god.

Yet contrary to his hopes, Jiannan-wang found that he was incapable of stirring up even the slightest ripple in that deity’s mind.

He was not reconciled.

Time and again, he sought to bridge the gap between them.

But to his astonishment, he learned that Chu Jiubian had not returned to stay in Yaotai Residence in quite some time, and had instead been residing in Yangxin Hall. And invariably, he was accompanied by Qin Xiao wherever he went.

Coupled with the rumors sweeping through the capital of a ‘love tribulation,’ Bai Lihai was all but certain that the relationship between Chu Jiubian and Qin Xiao was anything but ordinary.

Now, having returned to this great hall, Bai Lihai’s heart was fluttering at the thought of being able to sit right beside Chu Jiubian. But at this very moment, he once again sensed the ambiguous atmosphere between Chu Jiubian and Qin Xiao.

Those closely involved were oftentimes unable to see the situation clearly, but outsiders had a better view.

Bai Lihai lowered his eyes, hiding the darkness in their depths.

Of all people, why did it have to be Qin Xiao?

What right did he have to enjoy the favor of this god? What right did he have to claim possession of him!

Bai Lihai was aware that what he felt toward Chu Jiubian could not be called “liking,” and was even farther away from “love.”

He was just incredibly attracted to him.

And the mere thought of conquering a god caused him to shiver all over.

Anything Qin Xiao could do, he could do as well. He was absolutely determined to claim Chu Jiubian!

Dingbei-wang Bai Liyu merely swept his gaze over Chu Jiubian and Qin Xiao with evident interest before looking away.

The situation between these two was indeed as the rumors claimed.

On the several previous occasions he had met with them, Bai Liyu had deliberately studied them, yet discerned nothing from his observations.

Today, however, was very different.

It seemed as if prior to this, nothing significant had transpired between the two, and their relationship was still one where each of them kept their emotions in check. Yet now, something must have happened that made their palpable intimacy impossible to conceal.

What was it?

Had they consummated their relationship?

Before Bai Liyu’s eyes, the young man’s tall, upright figure and beautiful silver hair once again came into view.

To think that a god would actually consort with a mortal.

It was really…..very fascinating.

Qin Xiao’s cool gaze swept over the vassal kings seated beneath the dais, lingering very briefly on Bai Lihai and Bai Liyu.

Anhuai-wang Bai Liming was timid by nature, and dared not even lift his head where he was seated between the other two. His entire body went rigid, and he even thought that Ning-wang disliked the mere sight of him.

Even he could sense Qin Xiao’s intense gaze, to say nothing of Bai Lihai and Bai Liyu.

Bai Lihai looked up and met Qin Xiao’s gaze, then immediately lowered his eyes again. There was an expression of alarm on his face, as if he had received a shock.

Yet in his gloomy eyes, not the slightest trace of fear could be seen.

Meanwhile, Bai Liyu looked back at Qin Xiao with a smile, neither flinching nor averting his eyes.

The students had not yet arrived, so the hall was currently rather quiet while everyone was sizing up those around them.

It was in the midst of such an atmosphere that Qin Xiao suddenly spoke up: “What was Dingbei-wang thinking about just now?”

Chu Jiubian paused, then raised his eyes to look at him.

The attention of everyone else was naturally drawn by this remark, and they looked over almost imperceptively.

Bai Liyu hadn’t expected Qin Xiao to inquire so directly, and was visibly taken aback.

“Is it so difficult to say?” Qin Xiao’s lips curved up, and he then cast his gaze toward Bai Lihai. “I imagine it aligns perfectly with what was on Jiannan-wang’s mind.”

Bai Lihai’s brow furrowed, and a frustrated look briefly contorted his expression.

Qin Xiao wore a smile on his face, but those who fell under his focus could distinctly sense a brazen, unbridled killing intent.

“What manner of words are those, Ning-wang?” Bai Liyu regained his smile. “Why is it that this lord can’t understand them?”

Qin Xiao turned to Bai Lihai: “And you?”

Bai Lihai fixed his dark gaze upon him, and his lips tugged upward: “This lord also doesn’t…..”

“In that case, you had best go find an Imperial Physician to diagnose whether or not your brains were kicked out by a donkey.” Qin Xiao’s tone was mild as he observed the two of them. “And while you’re at it, have your eyes gouged out, lest you spend your days coveting that which you have no business coveting.”

Bai Lihai gritted his teeth, yet in the end, he could only manage to squeeze out a faint smile, unable to utter a single word.

Bai Liyu, however, stared at Qin Xiao in complete disbelief.

How could Ning-wang speak such coarse words?

The other vassal kings were all shaken, while by contrast, the civil and military officials remained completely unphased.

This wasn’t the first time Qin Xiao had acted with such brazen disregard for convention. One just needed to get used to it.

“You –”

Bai Liyu finally found his voice, but was cut off by Qin Xiao’s abrupt call of “Your Majesty,” no hint of courtesy to be seen.

“Your Majesty,” said Qin Xiao, “the scholars have arrived.”

Bai Lihong couldn’t understand why his uncle had struck up such a conversation with the two vassal kings, but he still unconditionally sided with his Jiujiu. Seeing the sour looks on the faces of the other two, the child practically wanted to wave his tiny hands to cheer his uncle on.

The moment Qin Xiao spoke up, Bai Lihong knew that his uncle was deliberately trying to stump those two, leaving them no room for rebuttal.

The feeling of being cut off halfway through an argument, where the opponent got to vent to his heart’s content while you were completely shut down before you had a chance to speak, was terribly frustrating.

Bai Lihong said: “Let the students into the hall.”

Hong Fu’s lips curved upward, and he called out: “Scholars of the Imperial Academy, enter the hall!”

This was the very first time the Imperial Examinations had been held, and people had not yet grown accustomed to titles such as Xiucai or Juren,^[1] so Hong Fu simply referred to them all as “scholars” for now.

As his words rang out, the students who had just reached the hall entrance quickly smoothed their robes and fell into a formation of five columns and thirteen rows, marching inside.

Everyone turned to look as this group of students clad in sky blue robes stepped through the doorway, and were subsequently unable to tear their eyes away.

Not because these people made a particularly splendid sight, but because their spirit and vitality were so evident.

With their chests out and heads high, their eyes glimmering with light, they were like a cluster of blazing flames.

Many of the officials felt a brief moment of disorientation. These students looked just like them when they first entered officialdom in their youth, brimming with enthusiasm and ambition.

But as the years slipped by, they had been tossed about by the surging tides of power and had long forgotten their original goals.

Some of them also wore heavy expressions.

They had never actually laid eyes on the original exam papers, but they had heard the rumors. They knew that these students possessed genuine ability, yet they still didn’t hold them in particularly high regard.

But now, beholding these students who should have by all rights been languishing in some remote backwater, many felt a sense of crisis that defied description at the sight of their spirit and bearing.

It all depended on how these individuals performed in the Palace Examination.

Even those seated at the front, including the ministers and deputy ministers of the six ministries, regarded the assembled students with a mix of varying sentiments.

They were all aware of the purpose behind Chu Jiubian’s establishment of this Palace Examination – it was to showcase the talent of these scholars and seize the opportunity to make a name for them.

Then, whenever vacancies arose in the Imperial Court, these scholars would be able to step in and fill those positions as a matter of course.

It remained to be seen, however, how many of these scholars selected through the Imperial Examination system would actually prove to be of any practical use.

The vassals kings, too, each had their own plans.

With the advent of the Imperial Examination system, they had followed in the footsteps of the great noble families and expanded both the channels and the volume of their recruitment, siphoning off a significant number of individuals from the pool of those originally intending to sit for the examinations.

It could be said that each and every one of those standing here today consisted of their leftovers.

Of course, there were also those who wished to avoid any association with the vassal kings, such as the great Confucian scholars Tan and Yan.

Naturally, these two were the ones drawing most of their attention today.

Chu Jiubian’s thoughts as he gazed upon these students were not nearly so complex.

These were the very talents they intended to cultivate in the future. Just look at them – leaving aside the younger ones such as Lu Yao and Tan Yuzhu, even the somewhat older figures like Tan Ji and his companion exuded a high-spirited, vigorous air.

Led by the five top-ranked scholars, the assembled students made their way to the front of the hall, where they bowed deeply to pay their respects to the Emperor.

Chu Jiubian looked ahead and found that Qin Xiao was also watching these students.

As if sensing his gaze, Qin Xiao looked over at him, but Chu Jiubian averted his eyes.

Chu Jiubian understood perfectly well why Qin Xiao had flared up just moments ago and picked a fight with Jiannan-wang and Dingbei-wang.

But it was precisely because he saw this so clearly that he didn’t know how to face Qin Xiao.

His intermittent awkwardness and aloofness, coupled with the intimacy he showed with Qin Xiao from time to time and the way he occasionally allowed him to cross boundaries, appeared as a game of push-and-pull to outsiders. As if he was merely toying with Qin Xiao.

Qin Xiao eyed the young man’s tightly clenched jaw, his fingertips tapping softly against the armrest of his chair.

Seated on his throne, Bai Lihong commanded them to rise.

The students rose with impeccable grace and decorum. Even though some hands were trembling from tension and excitement, their outward demeanor remained composed and perfectly flawless.

They had learned all of this during their time in Clear Sky Tower, from the palace attendants who resided there.

Many of them had been unaware of the situation in the Imperial Court, but after spending so long conversing and exchanging views with one another, they had naturally come to learn some of the inside details.

For instance, the Emperor, Ning-wang, and the incarnated god Chu Jiubian constituted the “Imperial Authority” faction, and stood as a three-party opposition against the powerful noble factions dominating the Imperial Court, as well as the vassal kings.

The Emperor had instituted the Imperial Examinations in order to cultivate scholars like themselves, so that they might replace the powerful noble clans and officials within the Imperial Court.

Some among them were aware of the perils involved, but having already come this far, and having already spurned the advances of those nobles and vassal kings, it was only natural to wish to serve the Emperor and Great Ning.

Yet although the vast majority remained completely oblivious to the dangers ahead, they had nonetheless quite readily thrown their support behind the Emperor, who had created this opportunity for them to change their destinies. They now aspired to perform even better, so as not to bring shame upon him.

The scholars took their seats one after another, and the Palace Examination officially commenced.

From the shadows, palace attendants emerged in a single-filed line, bearing brand new brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones, which they set upon the tables before the assembled scholars.

Of course, only the students in the five disciplines of classical studies, mathematics, justice, engineering, and female medicine received these “Four Treasures of the Study.”

The first three went without saying, as they all required answering standard questions, as well as possessing literary knowledge and the ability to write.

Bai Lihong had long since prepared the questions that the students would be required to answer for the first round of the Palace Examinations, specifically those pertaining to these three subjects.

At this moment, he took three slips of paper from his sleeve and handed them to Hong Fu, who accepted them and read their contents aloud.

The content of the mathematical problems centered on Hexi Prefecture. Specific data regarding a plot of farmland was provided, and students were tasked with calculating the amount of taxes due, determining how the land should be equitably partitioned, and determining the population size that should correspond to such a plot of land according to the laws of Great Ning.

The criminal justice problems included one real-life case and one hypothetical one.

The real-life case pertained to two young masters of wealthy families, who despite being prohibited by the Imperial Court, insisted on ingesting the drug mandala and openly boasted that they were untouchable. Under these circumstances, how should they be judged by the court?

The hypothetical case involved a powerful, high-ranking official who had engaged in bribery and corruption for many years. He had made contributions to the Imperial Court, but had also persecuted the loyal and upright. With the evidence so meticulously concealed that it remained undiscovered, how then should this case be adjudicated?

As these problems were read aloud, the vast majority of those in the hall turned pale.

That mathematical tax problem was actually a direct indictment of the noble families’ land hoarding and tax evasion.

And as for the criminal justice problems, they brazenly trampled on the reputations of both the Xiao and Lu families, and then referred to an unnamed ‘powerful, high-ranking official’ while recounting that person’s acts of corruption and bribery.

This was all an explicit signal from Qin Xiao and Chu Jiubian, informing everyone that they were about to settle the final accounts.

Hong Fu proceeded to read out the classical studies problem.

This problem was simple, yet difficult in its simplicity.

Students were simply asked to consider how to improve the standard of living of Great Ning’s common people, with a specific focus on the economy.

The development of Great Ning’s economy could be described as particularly contradictory.

Despite the official policy of promoting agriculture over commerce, powerful noble clans, influential families, and even the Imperial household itself were all engaged in commerce. Thus, although merchants were of low status, their business remained unaffected.

The curfew in Great Ning was also quite late, with morning and night markets open within the capital.

Consequently, commerce was actually developing quite well in Great Ning, but it lacked a defined structure and was rather chaotic.

Having made it this far in the examinations, the classical studies students already knew how to write such a ‘policy essay.’

After carefully considering the problem, they were able to firmly grasp the crux of the matter, and soon put brush to paper as they set about organizing their thoughts.

These three subjects requiring brush and paper were already in full swing.

Hong Fu then read out the exam requirements for the subject of engineering, which required them to improve the plow used for tilling land. Alternatively, they could draft a plan for a large, sturdy bridge, specifically for the purpose of spanning a canal.

They were only required to choose one.

As he finished speaking, servants had already carried one of the plows that were currently used in Great Ning into the hall. Students who wished to tackle this project were invited to step forward and examine it closely.

There were a total of ten students participating in the engineering exam, but only two of them, including Yan Rui, had received any formal schooling. The remaining eight individuals were at least capable of drawing, and paper and brushes were provided so that they could sketch blueprints.

At this moment, some of the students were examining the plow, while others had already begun to scratch and scribble on their paper. Each and every one of them sported a deeply furrowed brow.

The three female physicians were all literate, or they would never have been able to master their medical texts.

Bearing in mind that their level of skill was not particularly high just yet, Chu Jiubian simply tested them on identifying ten relatively obscure herbs. Then three matrons were summoned, and the female physicians were called on to take their pulses, diagnose their ailments, and then prescribe appropriate remedies tailored to their specific symptoms.

All of these subjects required the use of brush and paper.

The remaining thirteen students in the needlework discipline received brand-new silk handkerchiefs from the Nanjiang Silk Shop, along with a plentiful supply of needles and thread.

Several design patterns were provided, and students were required to embroider a specific motif from the patterns within a designated timeframe. The only requirement was that they modify this pattern and incorporate their own creative touches.

The final group of agriculture students consisted of ten individuals, all seasoned farmers straight from the fields.

Perhaps because older people were more averse to taking risks, the agriculture students turned out to be exclusively young to middle-aged men. Their skin was a shade fairer than usual due to keeping themselves covered up all winter, but each of them was still tanned, healthy, and full of spirit.

Due to their illiteracy, from start to finish, their journey through the exams consisted of verbal questions on their knowledge of agriculture. They would also provide their answers verbally, while designated personnel stood nearby to record their words. These records were ultimately submitted to Chu Jiubian 

At present, they still required someone to read out the questions so that they could provide verbal answers.

And the one posing the questions this time was neither an examiner nor the Emperor, but Chu Jiubian.

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[1] Xiucai (秀才) is a county-level graduate and Juren (举人) is a provincial-level graduate. ⮐

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Chapter 82 << Table of Contents >> Chapter 84