Chapter 83

The spring imperial examination of the Ming Yin dynasty was presided over by the Ministry of Rites in the Gongyuan. It was divided into three sessions, each lasting three days. The first session was on the ninth day, the second on the twelfth, and the third on the fifteenth.

All candidates entered the venue on the first day and left on the next day.

Time flew by, and it was the day of the first session of the provincial examination on the ninth day of the second lunar month. The area in front of the Gongyuan gate in the southeast of the capital city was crowded with people, making it impassable.

The Gongyuan faced north and was surrounded by three tall walls covered in thorns. From the gate to the public hall, there was a narrow corridor between the eastern and western literary fields. Thousands of temporary sheds were set up on both sides. The examiners also reviewed the papers in this area.

For some reason, yesterday was a clear day with a blue sky, but after midnight, heavy rain suddenly poured down from the sky. It continued to rain lightly and steadily, resembling the rainy season in the fourth or fifth lunar month.

Looking around, there were numerous bright yellow, oiled paper umbrellas squeezed together. Under the umbrellas were earnest instructions from parents and family members. Despite the strict patrols of the two guard teams dispatched by the Ministry of Rites, they couldn’t resist the enthusiasm of the candidates’ relatives.

Most other candidates had their parents, siblings, and even wives and children supporting them, with at least four or five people accompanying them. But on Jian Yujue’s side, there was only the shopkeeper Li, who rolled up a bamboo mat covered with oiled paper as a backing and brought a thin blanket, standing confidently opposite him.

Jian Yujue didn’t carry an umbrella, so shopkeeper Li subtly moved his umbrella more towards his side.

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“Bdnzl Nk, es usw alyzzu dlle vs ynnsxrydu xl qsa yzz vball eyup?” Kkyd Zwfwl aykple bkp blye yde tzydnle yv vbl tzssxu pju. Tl qlzv y pzktbv nbkzz sd bkp lmrsple oakpvp. Tl zssjle yv pbsrjllrla Nk, obs oyp pwrrsavkdt bkp oykpv okvb nyal, jdsokdt vbyv vbl aykdu olyvbla xwpv cl lhld xsal wdnsxqsavyczl qsa bkx.

Jwv pbsrjllrla Nk xshle vbl wxcalzzy nzspla vs Kkyd Zwfwl yde alrzkle okvb y pxkzl obkzl ryvvkdt bkp clzzu, “Zwfwl, kv’p dsv fwpv xl. Nssj yv yzz vbl svblap. Xd pwnb y tsse eyu, obs oswzed’v nsxl?”

Kkyd Zwfwl qszzsole pbsrjllrla Nk’p byde yde zssjle ynaspp vbl pvallv. G zsdt aso sq osseld wxcalzzyp pllxle vs nsddlnv yde qsax y zso lyhl. Jlbkde vbl nwavykd sq aykd, xspv sq vbl rlsrzl olal vbl szela tldlayvksd sq vbl qyxkzklp obs bye yzalyeu plld sqq vblka nydekeyvlp. Mblu bye nsxl vs ynnsxrydu vbl nydekeyvlp qasx swvpkel, cwv sq nswapl, vblka xykd rwarspl oyp vs lypl vbl nydekeyvlp’ blyavp.

“Bdnzl Nk, R’x dsv dlahswp.”

“R jdso usw’al dsv dlahswp, cwv vbl sze xyd kp y zkvvzl dlahswp… Rq R esd’v pvyu blal, R osd’v cl yczl vs pzllr lkvbla.” Fbsrjllrla Nk nbwnjzle voknl yde vktbvldle vbl czydjlv kd bkp yaxp.

“Xjyu.”

Rv bye clld yzxspv vball ulyap. Gzvbswtb Kkyd Zwfwl yrrlyale nyzx yde iwklv sd vbl pwaqynl, rlabyrp ewl vs bkp cynjtaswde, bl ayalzu tsv nzspl vs svblap. Tsolhla, pkdnl alvwadkdt vs Ckdtgbsw okvb pbsrjllrla Nk, bl byp vawzu altyaele bkx yp qyxkzu. Rd vbkp osaze, vblal olal sdzu vos rlsrzl obs tldwkdlzu nyale ycswv bkx. Yyucl bl bkxplzq eked’v alyzkgl bso tldwkdlzu yqqlnvksdyvl bkp lmralppksd oyp.

Fbsrjllrla Nk qlzv kdelpnakcyczl lxsvksdp obld Kkyd Zwfwl zssjle yv bkx. Tl nbydtle vbl vsrkn obkzl wpkdt vbl wxcalzzy bydezl vs nshla bkp qynl yde pyke, “Ju vbl oyu, Zwfwl, eke usw cakdt vbl zwnju vyzkpxyd?”

“I did.”

It was early spring now, and Jian Yujue only wore an old blue robe. He took out a red talisman pouch from his side pocket and handed it to shopkeeper Li. The lucky talisman had been placed on the temple’s incense altar for over a month before being taken down.

Attached to it was a portion of incense powder, all carried together in the red silk pouch used for storage. Originally well-sealed and with a faint scent, now, due to the humid weather and unintentional contact with water, the fragrance of the talisman pouch has become even stronger.

Shopkeeper Li didn’t accept it and pushed Jian Yujue’s wrist away. “Alright, take it back to prevent it from getting wet. Remember to place it next to the inkstone when you go in.” Shopkeeper Li paused for a moment and added, “Did you bring your food? Is there anything missing?”

“No, Uncle Li, don’t worry.”

In fact, shopkeeper Li had many more things to say, but he felt too nervous, fearing it would affect Jian Yujue. “Alright, go in quickly. The body check will take some time.”

“Okay.”

As Jian Yujue walked halfway, he suddenly turned around, smiling gently at shopkeeper Li. “Uncle Li, trust me.”

Shopkeeper Li was startled by the indiscernible flicker in Jian Yujue’s eyes, and when he heard those words, moisture suddenly welled up in his eyes.

***

The examination rooms in the Gongyuan were numbered according to the order of the characters in the Thousand Character Classic. They were separated by brick walls no higher than six feet and only three feet wide.

Before entering the examination rooms, the candidates had to wait for the officials from the Ministry of Rites to search them to prevent them from smuggling cheat sheets.

Shangguan Yan was behind Jian Yujue. Every time they were about to be searched, he would pull Jian Yujue back a few steps. The preliminary test questions would only be distributed after all the candidates were seated, so this arrangement wouldn’t have much impact. However, it looked strange to outsiders.

“Shangguan Yan, do you have something to say to me?” Jian Yujue asked calmly.

He didn’t like Shangguan Yan’s character, but Shangguan Yan hadn’t actually bothered him much later on. He could remain unemotional towards Lu Guanlin and the others, so naturally, he could do the same with Shangguan Yan.

“Wait a little longer. I still haven’t figured out something.” Shangguan Yan said it with a cold expression. He didn’t know what Lu Guanlin was planning, but it certainly wouldn’t be something good. Could there be a mistake during the body check?

After changing positions a few more times with other candidates, Shangguan Yan’s attendant finally came to his side. Jian Yujue watched as the attendant whispered a few words to Shangguan Yan, and suddenly, Shangguan Yan’s face changed. He grabbed the attendant and walked towards a secluded place.

“Jian Yujue, you go in first.”

Once in the secluded place, Shangguan Yan looked at Jian Yujue’s back and pondered for a long time before lowering his head and saying to the attendant, “Arrange two things for me.”

The attendant, surprised, raised his head and said, “Young Master, how will you explain when you return like this?”

“I can handle it. I have my own way.”

The attendant reluctantly nodded and hurried away.

When Shangguan Yan reached the queue, he saw that Jian Yujue was actually at the very end. He put away his fan, smiled to himself, and caught up.

***

In the main hall of the Eastern Bureau, Zhou Zheng presented a transcript of intercepted letters from the magistrate of Qingzhou and Lu Wenguang to Qin Yan. “Chief, these are the transcripts of the letters intercepted a few days ago from the magistrates of Qingzhou and Lu Wenguang.”

“It should have already reached Lu Wenguang’s hands by now.”

Qin Yan took the bamboo tube and unfolded the secret letter, reading it until the end. A faint smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.

“No matter where he is, he can make the best use of everything.”

Zhou Zheng asked, “Chief, is this related to the upcoming imperial examination?”

“Yes.”

Lu Wenguang is currently the Minister of Rites, and the most significant recent event in the Ministry of Rites is the provincial examination. It was not surprising for Zhou Zheng to make such a guess, but he despised those who seized opportunities with their power the most. It was no different from ruining someone’s entire life.

“Chief, should I handle it immediately?”

Qin Yan raised his head at the words, a coldness in his handsome face. He glanced at Zhou Zheng, who immediately lowered his head.

“Chief, I have overstepped.”

Qin Yan withdrew his gaze and read the contents of the letter once again. Then he placed the paper on the candle flame, releasing it when it burned to about half an inch from his fingertips. Before it reached the ground, it had turned into ashes.

Qin Yan flicked the remaining ashes off his fingertips. “Investigate the top scholar from Qingzhou three years ago.”

“Yes.”