Chapter 148

Chapter 148

Spring rain wove densely, falling continuously.

Spring in Shangjing arrived a month earlier than in Ping Prefecture, yet it began to rain on the final day of the imperial exams.

The imperial exams spanned three days, and during this time, Lu Yao and Zhao Beichuan's moods had shifted from relaxed to tense, and by today, they were anxious.

Early in the morning, the couple drove to the examination hall to wait. The end was approaching, and like any parent, they hoped their child would achieve a good rank.

This year, around three hundred candidates from various prefectures had come to take the exam. Of these, around two hundred would pass and earn the title of "Gongshi," granting them the qualification to participate in the palace examination.

While the odds of three hundred passing two hundred seemed favorable, it was important to remember that these candidates were the cream of the crop—geniuses among geniuses. Some hailed from scholarly families, others were descendants of great Confucian scholars, and still others were carefully cultivated noble sons. Standing out among them was as difficult as climbing to the heavens.

Zhao Beichuan held an umbrella in one hand and Lu Yao's hand in the other, noticing her fingers were cold. He reassured her, "Don't worry, Xiao Dou will be out soon."

Lu Yao nodded and kept her eyes fixed on the main gate.

As the bell rang, the examination compound's gates opened, and the candidates streamed out.

Lu Yao immediately spotted Zhao Beidou among them and waved, calling out, "Xiao Dou, we're here!"

Zhao Beidou pushed through the crowd and hurried over, "Big brother, sister-in-law, you came!"

"We're here to take you home. Get in the carriage."

"Not in a hurry. I want to see if Zijian is out first."

Zhao Beichuan handed him an umbrella, and the three waited at the gate. After a while, they finally saw Lin Zijian emerge, looking exhausted.

"Zijian, how did the exam go?"

Lin Zijian forced a tired smile, "Don't worry, I'll definitely make it to the palace examination."

Zhao Beidou laughed and patted him on the back, "Good man, that's what I wanted to hear."

Lin Zijian winced, "My whole body aches from sleeping on a wooden bed over the past few days. I’ll head back now."

Uncle Lin had already arrived with a carriage to take him home. The two bid farewell, and Zhao Beidou boarded his own carriage.

"How did the exam go this time?" Zhao Beichuan tentatively asked.

"It's hard to say. The other subjects were fine, but the policy essay in the third session was somewhat challenging."

Lu Yao's heart skipped a beat, "Was it wrong?"

"Not wrong, but I'm afraid I might have been too extreme for the chief examiner to appreciate." The chief examiner, appointed by the emperor, was specifically responsible for grading the examination papers this time.

There was no help if the examiners disapproved; the papers were already submitted, and it was too late to change anything. Besides, asking Zhao Beidou to answer in a way that would please the examiners would be like asking him to abandon the exam altogether.

The results of the imperial exams typically came out after seven days, sometimes a day or two sooner or later. Overall, this round of the imperial exams was drawing to a close.

Back at home, Zhao Beidou had a bath, ate a little, and slept until the wee hours.

The next morning, he received an invitation from the Prime Minister’s mansion!

Zhao Beidou carefully read it twice over to make sure he wasn't mistaken, then ran excitedly into the main hall, "Sister-in-law, Big Brother! The Prime Minister’s mansion has sent me an invitation!"

Lu Yao was also surprised, "I’ll prepare a gift for you to take when we go."

"Hmm!"

Lu Yao quickly opened the storeroom and selected a few precious gifts, making sure they weren’t too extravagant nor too shabby. He eventually settled on a valuable lingzhi mushroom and a painting of bamboo by Cui An, which was more suitable.

This painting was something Lu Yao had bought to hang in the Bamboo Residence. During the renovation, a bamboo design was carved into the room, making the painting feel redundant, so he put it away.

Zhao Beidou sat in the carriage holding the gift, his heart still pounding with excitement. Ever since he discovered that the person he dined with at the restaurant's opening was Liu Xiang, he had been regretful. He regretted showing off his limited skills that day, fearing the Prime Minister might think of him as frivolous.

Unexpectedly, the Prime Minister had sent him an invitation. He wondered what the Prime Minister wanted from him.

The carriage traveled north along Zhangtai Street towards Horse King Street. This area was home to high-ranking officials and nobles, from royal family members to prominent court officials. Anyone you met here could make the entire court tremble with a single word.

Zhao Beidou peered out the window and suddenly saw the Lin family’s carriage ahead.

"Quick, go see."

Lu Jia flicked the reins, and the horse trotted forward, quickly catching up with the other carriage.

"Zijian!"

"Ah!" Lin Zijian heard the call and poked his head out the window.

"Where are you headed?"

"Uncle Liu invited me over for a visit."

"Me too." Zhao Beidou grinned, showing his white teeth.

Soon, they arrived at the Prime Minister’s residence, and as the carriage stopped, the two of them hopped down. Lin Zijian also carried two gifts, and standing together, they didn’t look out of place.

After a brief wait, the gatekeeper opened the side door and let them in.

The Prime Minister’s estate was vast. It was said to have been a princess’s residence from the previous dynasty, granted to Liu Cheng'en by the Emperor.

A servant led them to the reception hall in the front courtyard and asked them to wait a moment.

Lin Zijian nudged Zhao Beidou. "I didn’t expect you to receive an invitation too. What did it say exactly?"

"Not much, just asked me to come for a meeting."

Lin Zijian lowered his voice. "From what Grandfather hinted, it seems he’s trying to introduce us to someone."

Zhao Beidou was stunned. He knew that Lin Zijian’s grandfather was Liu Xiang’s mentor. The fact that he might have the opportunity to be introduced was beyond his expectations. His heart pounded like a drum, making it difficult to breathe.

After a short while, Liu Cheng'en entered, his face wearing a warm smile. "You’re here. Please, sit."

The two quickly bowed in greeting. "Greetings, Prime Minister."

"No need for formalities. Just call me Uncle, as you did that day."

Zhao Beidou didn’t dare to call him that and awkwardly scratched his head. They sat down on the nearby chairs.

"I’ve called you both today to discuss your thoughts on the final policy essay from the imperial examinations." The question was his, concerning salt and iron.

In recent years, there has been a strong push suggesting that the court shouldn’t compete with the people for profit. Instead, salt and iron should be made more accessible so that common folk can afford iron tools and salt.

However, others disagreed, believing that salt and iron are crucial to the state’s lifeline. Complete deregulation might allow unscrupulous individuals to exploit the situation. Not to mention the threats from the Khitan to the north and the Tibetan Empire and Nanzhao to the south; any misstep could lead to irreparable disaster.

Lin Zijian answered first, opposing the deregulation of salt and iron policies. His focus was on how iron tools could be used as weapons. If every citizen had access to sharp blades, it would pose a threat to national security.

If salt were also liberalized, it would still be controlled by those wealthy merchants, and ordinary citizens would not reap the benefits. Over time, this would only make the rich merchants richer, and the country and its people poorer.

Liu Cheng'en smiled at him while stroking his beard, neither approving nor disapproving, making Lin Zijian uneasy.

"Beidou, please share your thoughts."

"My thought is that it should not be liberalized."

It was unusual for both of them to agree, and Lin Zijian perked up his ears to listen intently.

"Throughout history, many nations have fallen due to chaos, incompetence, and arrogance. Despite the Wu Dynasty's prosperity, it has only been established for a little over a hundred years, and internal and external challenges continue to arise. To achieve national prosperity and public strength, we must address the root causes, not merely through the liberalization of salt and iron."

As Lin Zijian heard the first sentence, he felt a sudden blackout before his eyes. "Bro, you're too bold! Daring to speak like that, aren't you afraid that the CEO will be so angered he'll invalidate your exam paper?"

Liu Cheng'en was also slightly stunned, changing from his previous amiable demeanor, sitting up straight and saying, "Go on."

"Running a household does not depend on a single asset, nor does governing a nation rely on a single principle. Rather than liberalizing salt and iron, we should tackle the fundamental issues of livelihood. The populace has long endured heavy corvée labor and taxes, which harm their well-being. If we aim to benefit the people, why not address these issues instead of focusing solely on salt and iron?"

Zhao Beidou also included his elder brother's experience, surviving a perilous corvée labor mission, an ordeal faced by every commoner.

"Those advocating for the liberalization of salt and iron focus only on short-term gains and overlook the actual needs of the people."

His youthful sharpness was beginning to emerge, and it was indeed remarkably sharp.

These words hit like a bolt of lightning, leaving Lin Zijian wide-eyed with surprise, before finally clapping his hands and saying, "I am not as good as you."

Liu Cheng'en also didn't expect this young man to have seen the implied meaning behind the question he set. Honestly, his astonishment was no less than Lin Zijian’s.

However, he soon understood that it was precisely Zhao Beidou's humble background that allowed him to better understand the hardships of the common people, rather than just talking empty rhetoric.

This young man is bold and meticulous, with a unique sword technique. He really reminds me of my younger self! The more he looked, the more he liked him, wishing he could take him under his wing and teach him personally!

"Alright, that's enough for today. You two come back tomorrow." With that, he stood up to escort them out.

Zhao Beidou stood up, still puzzled. As he reached the door, he asked, "Did I offend the Prime Minister just now?"

"He didn’t seem angry. Let’s go get some dishes from your family’s restaurant around noon. Grandfather is craving your roast duck."

"Let’s go."

*

Five days later, the results of the imperial examinations were announced.

Lin Zijian placed seventh, while Zhao Beidou placed sixty-third. Both of them passed and became Presented Scholars.

This should have been a joyful occasion, but Zhao Beidou couldn’t feel happy. He was embarrassed to have placed only sixty-third.

Lu Yao didn’t find it shameful. "At least we’re in the top tier, and you’ll get to enter the imperial palace for the palace exam!"

Although two hundred scholars were selected, only the top one hundred entered the palace for the examination. The rest took the exam outside the palace, and their rankings were unlikely to change. However, there was still some potential for movement among the top one hundred. It was said that in the seventh year of the Wu Dynasty, a scholar was exceptionally promoted from seventeenth to third place.

But Zhao Beidou didn’t think he had much of a chance. His rank was too low, so he could only console himself with the thought that at least he would get to meet the emperor, making the trip worthwhile.

The next morning, all the successful candidates had to change into the official green robes and caps of a Presented Scholar to report at the palace gate.

By the time Zhao Beidou arrived, quite a few people had already gathered there. Everyone was quietly discussing the palace examination.

Lin Zijian waved at him. Zhao Beidou strode over and said, ‘You came early.’

"I went to bed early last night and woke up early today."

The two of them were in the middle of a conversation when Lu Yuan retracted his gaze and walked over. Ever since that incident, they had grown distant from him. Surprisingly, he also passed the imperial examinations and ranked 97th.

"Zijian, Beidou, you're here."

Zhao Beidou nodded lightly at him with a faint expression, then gave Lin Zijian a nudge. "Go stand in line up front, they'll start calling names soon."

"Oh, I'll head over then."

After he left, Lu Yuan slowly retracted his gaze and forced a smile at Zhao Beidou. "Thank you for your kind words, Brother Beidou."

"Thank you for the well wishes." With that, he shook him off and walked to his spot.

Soon it was mao hour (5-7 AM), and the palace attendants began calling names. They lined up according to their rankings in the imperial examinations. Talking was not allowed, nor was making a scene or leaving the line to run. The palace guards were strict; anyone who trespassed into restricted areas would be executed without mercy.

Those who had made it to this stage were no fools. They were cautious, heads lowered, following the person in front as they entered the palace.

Inside the palace gates, the towering three-zhang (about 10 meters) high walls gave off a very oppressive feeling with their grey surface.

Walking along the clean stone path, it took about the time of a stick of incense to reach a side hall. There, they were briefed on palace etiquette and the rules for the upcoming palace examination.

The palace examination only lasted two hours. After the exam, the papers were collected, and the rankings were released in the afternoon—a nerve-wracking process.

Zhao Beidou clenched his hand, feeling a bit of sweat from nervousness. He discreetly wiped it on his sleeve, took a couple of deep breaths, and calmed his excited heart.

*

Outside the palace, at the Lu Family's restaurant, there were unusually many people today. The four street-facing private rooms were booked in advance because the new jinshi would be parading on horseback down the street, and everyone was eager to catch a glimpse.

The Zhao family had been waiting since the morning. Today, the restaurant wasn't selling food, but they offered free tea, melon seeds, and candies for people to snack on while chatting.

The palace examination began at chen hour (7-9 AM) and lasted until noon, ending at the third quarter of the hour.

During this time, the students were not allowed to use the restroom or eat, making it quite stressful.

Fortunately, Zhao Beidou had prepared in advance. He hadn't dared to drink water since morning and had only eaten two pieces of pastry to fill his stomach.

One hundred people were lined up, ten in each row, sitting in the hall. As the papers were distributed, the attendants lit incense to time the exam. Everyone buried their heads and began answering.

The palace examination only tested policy questions, which happened to be Zhao Beidou's strength. He carefully read the question: "On Labor and Taxation."

Suddenly, he remembered what he had said that day in the Prime Minister's residence. He had thought his policy essay was well-written, but he had only ranked 63rd. This made him doubt his perspective.

After some hesitation, Zhao Beidou decided to stick to his own thoughts. If he denied his own ideas just to improve his ranking, even if he placed higher, he wouldn't feel good about it. Better to follow his heart and take a chance!

With that in mind, he dipped his brush and began writing freely on the paper.

Emperor Longxing finally emerged from the back hall. Approaching fifty, he was tall and looked quite healthy, wearing a crimson robe and a pu hat, with his hands behind his back. He seemed like an ordinary elderly man casually dropping by.

Sitting in the first row, Lin Zijian caught a glimpse of the crimson robe, and his brush nearly slipped from his hand. It took him a moment to suppress his excitement and curiosity and continue with his exam.

Two hours, neither long nor short, passed in the blink of an eye.

As the attendants called for everyone to stop writing and hand in their papers, they all put down their brushes, straightened their backs, and finally got a glimpse of the emperor's face.

Zhao Beidou only looked once, then quickly retracted his gaze, not daring to look directly. His eyes felt warm, as if stung by heat, and his chest heaved with emotion, on the verge of tears with excitement.

Only at that moment did he realize what he had gone through—from a rural youth to now seated in the imperial hall. He had finally made it!

Many others felt the same way, and faint sounds of sniffling were heard, a true reflection of their sincere hearts.

After the papers were collected, they were led to the side hall where they had waited earlier. Ten senior academicians and the emperor would grade the papers concurrently, selecting the best to rank them. They would choose three for the top-tier jinshi, eighty for the second-tier jinshi, and the rest would be third-tier jinshi candidates.

Waiting was torturous, and no one dared to speak, each waiting for their fate.

The Lu family inn was also in a state of anxiety, and as the time drew nearer, everyone felt as if their hearts were being squeezed, not daring to breathe deeply.

"What time is it now?"

Zhao Beichuan said, "It’s just past Wei hour. Don’t worry."

Lu Yao was starting to feel hungry. "Is there any food left in the kitchen?"

"Yes, I’ll cook some noodles for you."

"Add two eggs." Lately, Lu Yao has been feeling hungrier. He couldn’t finish a bowl of noodles before, but now even a large bowl isn’t enough, making him feel like he’s put on some weight.

Just as Zhao Beichuan opened the door to go downstairs, he suddenly heard a shout from inside, startled, he hurried back. "What happened?"

Lu Yao and Xiaonian trembled with excitement. "It’s Beidou! Beidou is first!"