Chapter 213: The Road to High Office 13

Chapter 213: The Road to High Office 13

Xu Zeping and Gao Yan donated some incense money to the merit box before they were able to stay at Lingshan Miaosi Temple.

They set out from Changxiang Prefecture at 7:45 AM and arrived at the temple at 12:45 PM, just in time to catch a vegetarian meal.

The temple’s vegetarian meal was indeed famous in Changxiang Prefecture, refreshing and satisfying. A meal like this was enough to make one feel truly content.

After the meal and donating incense money, the monk guided them to their lodging rooms and informed them of the daily schedule.

There were three meals a day; lunch was the main meal, while breakfast and dinner were simpler, usually consisting of steamed buns and warm porridge.

Breakfast was from 5:45 AM to 6:00 AM; lunch, due to the flow of worshippers, lasted from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM; dinner was from 5:45 PM to 6:00 PM.

The most important reminder was that meals were served on time and not held for latecomers.

If they were interested in Buddhism, they could attend the Zen master’s lectures in the main hall.

After explaining these matters, the monk said “Amituofo” and took his leave.

It was still early, only 1:15 PM, so Xu Zeping suggested walking along the paths behind the temple. The temple’s environment was serene, and the air was fresh; Gao Yan agreed, but Little Tiger declined.

Little Tiger didn’t give a clear reason, and Xu Zeping didn’t press him further. After giving him a few instructions, Xu Zeping and Gao Yan went out for a walk together.

After they left, Little Tiger tidied up the lodging room and then headed to the main hall.

When he was with his young master, Little Tiger felt embarrassed.

He donated some incense money and requested the master to recite the sutra for his father’s rebirth.

Kneeling before the Buddha, he prayed that his father would live a peaceful and healthy life in his next reincarnation, marry a virtuous wife, and have a happy and fulfilling life.

He prayed that his father would never meet someone who didn’t love him.

Lingshan Miaosi Temple was nestled by the mountains and beside the water. Walking along the paths behind the temple, listening to the gentle sound of the stream and gradually ascending the mountain steps, one could feel a deep sense of tranquility.

By late August, the constant cicada chorus had quieted down, and the occasional chirp was no longer bothersome.

“Wuwei, if you pass the preliminary exam this time, would you consider advancing to the higher exams?” Brother once said that being an official required having your own network and connections... But among so-called peers or those who passed the exams in the same year, Xu Zeping trusted only his close friends.

And his close friends were few; one was his childhood friend Gao Yan, and the other was the carefree Zhang Xiaolin.

He hoped Gao Yan would aim for the higher exams.

“If I am fortunate enough, I will give it my all,” Gao Yan’s eyes flickered. “But I feel my studies aren’t quite ready, and I don’t plan to participate in next year’s spring examinations.”

“What about the spring exams the year after?”

Gao Yan hesitated when he met Xu Zeping’s determined gaze. “Are you talking about the special imperial examination?”

Regarding the special imperial examination, his teacher had been uncertain, which made him hesitant to explore the idea further.

“I won’t participate in next year’s spring exams either,” Xu Zeping said without reservation. “The spring exams this year were too hasty, and I lacked the energy... But I will definitely take the special imperial exam.”

Gao Yan understood what Xu Zeping meant without him having to say it explicitly.

There were only so many positions for the top scholars, and Xu Zeping wouldn’t easily participate without full confidence.

Moreover, this year’s regular spring exams would also include Xu Zeping’s brother, Zeli.

Zeping didn't want to go against Zeli.

Gao Yan was realistic about his abilities. If he could make it onto the secondary list this time, he would count himself lucky. When it came to the top list, he shook his head. "Zeping, whether it's next year's regular imperial examinations or the grace examinations the year after, I don't plan to participate. I need more time to refine my studies."

Although it was just a prediction, Gao Yan's words still disappointed Xu Zeping a little. "If you're not attending the grace examinations the year after, then you'll have to wait until the twenty-second year of Sheng'an..."

"No problem, this just gives me more time to study." Gao Yan said lightly with a calm expression. "In the future, you'll have to look after me a bit more~"

"You really know how to take shortcuts," Xu Zeping said, amused and exasperated.

Just as the two were joking, they ran into Shu Xiuyuan coming down the mountain.

Seeing Xu Zeping and Gao Yan, Shu Xiuyuan felt a wave of contempt. What rotten luck.

"What a coincidence, Scholar Shu!" Xu Zeping smiled gently and greeted him peacefully.

"Scholar Shu, it's fate that we meet. How about having a vegetarian meal at Lingshan Miaosi Temple together today?" Gao Yan first muttered to himself, wondering if Shu Xiuyuan had overheard his banter with Zeping, then quickly followed up with a greeting.

The two greetings, one after the other, made them seem a bit petty. This already unhappy Shu Xiuyuan felt even more annoyed. He forced himself to resist the urge to roll his eyes and replied with some irritation, "Yes, quite a coincidence. But I'm not here to pray or worship. It's getting late, and I need to head back. You two can have the vegetarian meal yourselves."

The three didn't exchange more than a few words before Shu Xiuyuan left with a flick of his sleeves.

Hearing that he wasn't there to pray and worship, Gao Yan felt quite angry and couldn't help but say, "Does Shu Xiuyuan have a problem or something?"

As if they were all here to pray for the Buddha's blessing to pass the imperial examinations!

Could it be that only Shu Xiuyuan in the world is noble and refined, and only he has literary talent, passing the examinations with flying colors?!!

Xu Zeping wasn't angry. Perhaps the rumors in Changxiang Prefecture about Shu Xiuyuan's weakness in the Arithmetic Classics were true. He patted Gao Yan on the shoulder, "Wuwei, why are you so upset? Maybe it's not us praying for divine help."

When Xu Zeping said this, a light appeared in Gao Yan's eyes.

Breakfast at 5:30 AM, followed by listening to Zen teachings.

Lunch at noon, followed by mountain climbing.

Dinner at 5:45 PM, followed by copying Buddhist scriptures.

This routine helped them relax and ease their pre-results anxiety.

Time flew by, and it was already the third day of September before they knew it.

Tomorrow would be the fourth.

They didn't know if the results of this year's provincial examinations would be released on the fourth or the fifth.

Concerned about wasting time, they quickly decided to head back to Changxiang Prefecture. During the imperial examinations, they had designated Xianhe Inn as the place to receive good news, so after returning to Changxiang Prefecture, they chose to stay at Xianhe Inn again.

With most of the candidates returning, business at the inns in Changxiang Prefecture had slowed down considerably. When Xu Zeping and Gao Yan returned to the inn, there weren't many guests coming and going.

Seeing Xu Zeping and Gao Yan return, Mr. Xu (the innkeeper) was somewhat surprised.

"Mr. Xu, not welcoming us?" Xu Zeping could guess the innkeeper's thoughts and teased.

"Welcome, welcome. You scholars are kidding, right? We're a business; how could we not welcome customers?"

"Then you must think our results were poor, and we're returning home in defeat?"

Gao Yan's sarcastic remark made Mr. Xu give an awkward laugh, not daring to respond further, only offering a helpless smile. "I didn't say that."

Little Tiger: He didn’t say it, but he was definitely thinking it.

Not only did the Great Jing Dynasty distinguish between ranks for the red lists of scholars, but the secondary list for juren candidates also had distinctions.

Xu Zeping couldn’t remember what the difference was between the primary and secondary lists in the ancient system of the Blue Star, but in the Great Jing Dynasty, making it onto the primary list of the juren examinations was a tremendous honor. The primary list included only the top six candidates, and only these six juren were entitled to official congratulations and the honor of receiving their juren plaques personally.

As for those on the secondary list, well, you’d have to check the list yourself!

After becoming a juren, you had to personally go to the Changxiang Prefecture government office to exchange your scholar's bronze plaque for a juren's silver-copper plaque.

These top-six juren not only enjoyed such special treatment but also had unique titles and distinct political and economic status: The first place was called Jieyuan, the second place Yayuan, those ranked third to fifth were called Jingkui, and the sixth place was called Yakui.

In the previous dynasty, when there was a shortage of officials, a juren could be appointed as a county magistrate, a prefect, or even a zhīfǔ.

However, with the establishment of the Great Jing Dynasty, such political opportunities were restricted. Except for the possibility of primary list juren being appointed as county magistrates, those on the secondary list did not have this option.

Thinking of this restriction, Xu Zeping couldn’t help but laugh. Those who made it onto the primary list were usually too ambitious to settle for a county magistrate position. Their goal had always been to strive for the top and become an imperial scholar (jinshi). Why would they ruin their future by accepting a county magistrate post?

Emperor Wenwu, the founder of the Great Jing Dynasty, was indeed quite frugal in his policies.

Juren on the secondary list, apart from their title, had the political privilege of exemption from labor services for two generations of male descendants and an economic benefit of tax-exempt land of up to 60 acres.

Primary list juren, in addition to special appointments, could increase their tax-exempt land to 70 acres, giving them an additional 10 acres compared to those on the secondary list.

After Xu Zeping’s older brother became a juren, Xu Songshan and his wife bought him an additional 50 acres of land, including 20 acres of high-quality paddy fields and 30 acres of medium-quality paddy fields. They also promised to provide more land if he succeeded further in the examinations.

According to the laws of the Great Jing Dynasty, as the eldest son, Xu Zeli was entitled to 70% of the family inheritance and was responsible for his parents' care.

However, Xu Songshan and his wife were somewhat unusual for the Great Jing Dynasty. They treated their two sons, daughter, and younger son fairly equally.

Whatever Xu Zeli received, Xu Zeping would receive as well.

Whatever Xu Zerou received, Cheng Ge’er would be provided with.

As Xu Songshan often said, it’s better when there is equality in distribution.

In truth, Xu Zeping was very grateful, grateful to have such wonderful family members in this lifetime.

Starting from 5:30 AM on the fourth day of the ninth month, Gao Yan couldn’t settle down. He stuck his head out every hour or so, waiting for the officials to deliver the good news.

Little Tiger was even more anxious, running to the Examination Hall gate four times a day—morning, noon, afternoon, and evening—afraid of missing the moment the results were posted.

Compared to the two of them, Xu Zeping appeared extremely calm. He was either drinking tea, practicing calligraphy, or doing some strange exercises.

*Crackle, crackle*

The results have been posted!

At noon on the fifth day of the ninth month, firecrackers rang out in the streets and alleys. This lively scene in Changxiang Prefecture only occurred once every three years.

The anxious Little Tiger wanted to rush to the front of the Examination Hall to see the list, but the area was already packed. He was pushed back several meters and couldn’t see what was written on the secondary list at all. All he could hear were cries of joy, tears of relief, and even some students losing control in the crowd.

— I passed the exam!

— Haha, I knew I could do it!

Little Tiger wanted to look back at Gao Yan, who was with him, but instead, he saw Gao Yan bending down, trying to squeeze through the crowd like a little dog.

In that moment, he was glad his young master hadn’t come along.

As he didn’t know what to do, he heard a shocked shout from the crowd —

Who is Xu Zeping?! How is the Jieyuan not Shu Xiuyuan but him?