Chapter 118: The End of the Palace Examination

Chapter 118: The End of the Palace Examination

The second session of the examination lasted three more days. This time, Qiu Huanian was not as nervous as he was in the first session. While waiting for Du Yunse outside, he also met with Guan Liu, a clerk from the silk shop.

Since Qiu Huanian had instructed him to manage all the fabric inventory, Guan Liu had been working diligently. In just over ten days, he had sold over fifty taels of silver worth of goods. Now, only the oldest fabrics, even at discounted prices, remained unsold.

"In the warehouse, there are still eight bolts of patterned brocade, ten bolts of faded gauze, and sixteen bolts of finely woven cotton silk. At their original prices, they would be worth about a hundred taels of silver, but their condition is not good, so they haven’t been sold. I had to come and ask for Lady Qishu’s instructions."

Qiu Huanian sipped the freshly brewed plum tea. In the cold weather, he was growing fonder of warm, sweet drinks.

"Why is there so much poor-quality stock? What was your shop’s annual loss before?"

Guan Liu wiped the sweat from his forehead, thinking Lady Qishu was hard to deceive, and he dared not try to be sneaky.

"Silk and satin are difficult to maintain. If they are stored for too long, the colors fade. Every year, the shop disposes of a batch of old stock."

"This year, there’s especially more because almost all the shop’s managers and clerks have left. The goods couldn’t be sold, and with fewer people to maintain them, they all became old..."

Guan Liu paused, then changed the subject by bringing up another matter. "Lady Qishu asked me to find the runaway managers and get back the money they stole. I’ve already taken care of it. As soon as they saw Lady Qishu’s waist token, they regretted their actions. Not only did they return all the silver, but they also sent gifts to Lady Qishu through me."

Guan Liu pulled a list from his sleeve, detailing the amounts of silver returned and the gifts sent.

Driven by Qiu Huanian’s promise of "making you the manager of Qiu’s Six Staples if you handle this well," Guan Liu wished he had eight hundred wits to handle this task.

Qiu Huanian glanced over the list. The managers had returned a total of one hundred and sixty taels of silver and sent valuable gifts as apologies.

Qiu Huanian laughed softly, "Did you tell them that as long as they behaved well, I wouldn’t report them to the authorities?"

These managers had left the shop during their contract period and stolen part of the shop’s silver. According to the rules, Qiu Huanian could have reported them to the authorities.

Guan Liu smiled, "I thought Lady Qishu’s intention was to avoid a big scene. To get the silver back quickly, I had to reassure them first."

Qiu Huanian nodded, thinking that Guan Liu was indeed quite clever.

They had just arrived in the capital and didn’t have deep roots. In a place full of powerful people, they had to be cautious in everything they did. Qiu Huanian indeed didn’t want to take this matter to court, which was why he had asked Guan Liu to handle it privately. As long as the amount of silver wasn’t short, there was no need to make unnecessary enemies right away.

Not only did Guan Liu accurately understand his intentions, but he also made the managers spend money to avoid disaster and sent valuable gifts, covering the losses and even leaving a profit.

Qiu Huanian said, "You did well. Don’t worry about the unsold goods. Pack them up and store them in the warehouse. I’ll find a use for them later."

The brocade, gauze, and cotton silk were all made of excellent materials, with impeccable craftsmanship and patterns. However, they had been stored for too long, and the colors were not as bright. Wealthy people disliked them and wouldn’t wear them, but for ordinary farmers, they were still rare and valuable items.

Qiu Huanian planned to take them back to Du Village after the Palace Examination as rewards for the outstanding students in the clan school.

The Du Village clan school had been running for almost half a year. Every month, Liao Cang sent a letter updating them on the situation. According to his letters, there were already several promising students in the clan school. Some were quick at memorizing, some were accurate in arithmetic, and some could even hand-draw maps of Du Village based on the maps in the books.

The clan school was thriving, and Qiu Huanian felt deeply reassured.

While reassured, he didn’t forget to write back to Liao Cang, reminding him to record all the problems encountered during teaching, the solutions, and the experiences gained, aiming to compile a "New Teaching Manual."

After receiving the letter, Liao Cang sighed but, enticed by the "writing fee" Qiu Huanian promised, took out a paper and began writing.

...

Thus, three more days passed, and the second session of the Palace Examination finally ended.

Qiu Huanian was still waiting for Du Yunse at the usual spot. He noticed that many scholars exiting the examination hall had subtle expressions—some were serious, some anxious, and some seemed secretly pleased. After coming out, these scholars gave a few instructions to their servants, who immediately ran off in different directions.

After Du Yunse got into the carriage, Qiu Huanian asked him in a low voice what was going on. Du Yunse shook his head, signaling that they would talk about it at home.

The content of the second examination was similar to the provincial examination, focusing on "official document writing." The questions provided specific scenarios, requiring candidates to write official documents such as edicts, judgments, memorials, and decrees based on the given requirements.

As a high-profile examination held in the capital once every three years, the questions for the imperial examination were never randomly chosen. They often reflected current political trends.

"In the second examination, there was an edict question about the proclamation of an heir apparent."

Qiu Huanian, who was accompanying Du Yunse while eating sugar-steamed cheese curd, almost bit his tongue in surprise.

"Proclaiming an heir apparent? But there is already an heir apparent..."

Such an edict might only be written once in several decades. Why would it appear in the examination questions now, especially at a time when the contest for the throne is intensifying?

"Who set the questions for this year's imperial examination?"

"The chief invigilator and several other examiners for this session. Additionally, the examination questions must be submitted to the emperor for approval before being issued."

This means that the appearance of the heir apparent proclamation edict in the examination was implicitly sanctioned by the Yuanhua Emperor.

Could this question be a test by interested parties, and does the emperor's implicit sanction indicate his intention to appoint a different heir apparent?

Qiu Huanian's heart raced a bit. Seeing Du Yunse calmly eating the sugar-steamed cheese curd, he felt a bit more at ease.

The two bowls of sugar-steamed cheese curd on the table were made by Qiu Huanian himself. When he went out in the morning and saw vendors selling milk and rice wine lees, he remembered this classic dessert and spontaneously bought the ingredients.

The method for making sugar-steamed cheese curd is simple: add an appropriate amount of sugar and rice wine lees to milk, pour it into a bowl, cover it, and steam it for a quarter of an hour. Then, sprinkle it with crushed walnuts, sesame seeds, and sliced red dates.

The finished cheese curd has a texture similar to double-layer milk pudding, with a hint of the fragrance of rice wine lees. Served hot with the toppings, it is extremely delicious.

Even though there was no one else in the room, Qiu Huanian instinctively lowered his voice, aware of how perilous the topic he and Du Yunse were discussing was in ancient times.

"Yun Se, what do you think the emperor really thinks of the heir apparent, and what does the heir apparent think?"

If one says the Yuanhua Emperor does not value the heir apparent, he has arranged many things for the heir apparent both openly and covertly, with Du Yunse and Qiu Huanian being part of those arrangements. If one says the emperor has no intention of changing the heir, he has indeed removed the heir apparent's allies and tacitly allowed other princes to continuously provoke the heir apparent, undermining his authority.

With the second examination's question about the "proclamation of an heir apparent" spreading, many forces that were previously on the fence might now support the princes they favor, undoubtedly increasing the pressure on the heir apparent.

Du Yunse meticulously finished the last spoonful of cheese curd, leaving not a single sesame seed at the bottom of the bowl.

"The emperor has his thoughts, and the heir apparent has his."

"..." Qiu Huanian gritted his teeth. This was just a load of nonsense!

Du Yunse chuckled and ruffled Qiu Huanian's hair. Brother Hua had grown a bit taller since they first met, but he could still easily reach the furry top of his head.

"With many things still uncertain, it's better to think less and know little. It's better to stay still than to act. When the moment is right, I will explain the ins and outs to Brother Hua."

...

In the blink of an eye, the third examination arrived. The age range of the candidates for this year's imperial examination was quite wide, ranging from those in their early twenties like Du Yunse to those in their seventies and eighties.

Qiu Huanian personally saw an elderly man with white hair, at least eighty years old, being escorted to the examination hall by his great-grandson. Even the officials checking identities treated him with extra courtesy, fearing he might collapse at the entrance and cause trouble.

All over the capital, people were betting on who would be the top scholar of this year's imperial examination. When Min Leyi visited a couple of days ago, he mentioned this, focusing on how his elder brother Min Leshi had raided many unauthorized betting houses.

Qiu Huanian took the opportunity to inquire about the hot candidates for the top scholar this year.

Since the husband of a close friend was taking the examination this year, Min Leyi had gathered a lot of information.

"Most of the bets are on the top scholars from various provinces, with more bets on those from the southern provinces than the northern ones. Your husband is not particularly favored—but that's just their lack of insight!"

The Yu Dynasty's southern regions have always had a stronger literary culture compared to the north. More southern candidates pass the imperial examination each time than their northern counterparts, and the top scholars often come from the south as well. Naturally, those who bet blindly tend to favor the top scholars from the southern provinces.

Noticing Qiu Huanian wasn't upset, Min Leyi went on, "But this year is somewhat different. Among the frontrunners for the top scholar, there's a northern candidate, who was the top scholar from Jinzhou last year."

"The top scholar from Jinzhou?" Qiu Huanian became interested. Even Du Yunse hadn't yet gained fame in the capital. How did this Jinzhou top scholar overcome the bias against northern literary talent and win so much favor?

"His name is Jie Tanguang, from the maternal lineage of Consort Ying in the palace. At twenty-four, he's a cousin of Prince Jin, the third prince."

To grasp these connections, Min Leyi had his sister-in-law, Ren Suyin, tutor him, cramming a lot of family and marital ties into his memory.

At twenty-four, Jie Tanguang became the top scholar in his province, coming from the esteemed Jie family of Jinzhou, with an aunt as a royal consort and ties to Prince Jin. His life appears flawless and illustrious.

Qiu Huanian noticed Min Leyi's discomfort when discussing the Jie family of Jinzhou behind Jie Tanguang.

Qiu Huanian felt a stir, "This Jie family..."

Min Leyi pouted, "They're the maternal kin of the Yu clan's first lady. These northern noble families are all intermarried. I only learned later. With a sister as a royal consort, no wonder she scorns me, but I don't need her approval."

Qiu Huanian laughed, "Leyi's right, we don't need such people's approval."

People are always mentioned inadvertently. A few days after discussing Jie Tanguang, Qiu Huanian saw him at the exam hall entrance after the third test.

After the three tests, the imperial examination concluded. Nine straight days of intense, high-pressure conditions left the candidates drained. Most exited the hall in tears or dazed, with only a few keeping their poise.

Jie Tanguang stood out. As he left the hall, many called his name, surrounding him with praise and flattery.

Qiu Huanian observed him quietly from the carriage. Jie Tanguang, as expected of a noble son fully cultivated by an aristocratic family, was handsome, elegant, and graceful. In appearance alone, he indeed lived up to his reputation.

Qiu Huanian quickly averted his gaze. After all, in his heart, this man was not as good-looking as Du Yunse, nor did he possess Du Yunse's unparalleled demeanor.

To celebrate the end of the imperial examination, Qiu Huanian and Deng Die prepared a large table of dishes in advance and bought a pot of clear wine. The two families went back and had a relaxed and enjoyable meal, toasting until the moon was high in the sky.

Wang Yinzhi and Du Yunse compared their thoughts on all the questions from the three examinations and found that they had answered most of them correctly, which naturally brought them joy.

"I don't aspire for a top rank, as long as I am on the list, even if it's the last place."

"After the Palace Examination, I won't aim for the position of a scholar-official. Instead, I will take my family and serve as an official in a remote county. Even as a magistrate of a small border town, life would definitely be better than before. I will diligently educate the people, encourage farming, and act as a just official, not wasting the many books of sages I have read."

Wang Yinzhi, drunk, held Deng Die's hand and tearfully expressed his feelings.

"After years of hard study, my elderly mother, Die'er, and I have finally made it!"

Some aristocratic sons study for the imperial examination to compete for power and achieve great ambitions, but Wang Yinzhi's wish has always been to repay his family and secure a small official position for them.

He doesn't have grand ambitions, but he will be a good local official.

Qiu Huanian and Du Yunse exchanged glances and led Du Yunse back to their own main room.

Xing Mi brought water for washing, and Bai Quan heated the brazier. After washing, Qiu Huanian threw himself into Du Yunse's arms and touched the dark circles under his eyes.

Even with vast knowledge and confidence, the physical toll of "nine days in a cramped examination cell" is undeniable.

Qiu Huanian murmured heartbrokenly, "The examination cells are too inhumane. If I ever have a say, I will change them sooner or later."

Such rebellious words could only be whispered in the quiet of the night under the covers.

Du Yunse did not find Qiu Huanian's words too presumptuous, nor did he say that the imperial examination has always been this way. He held Qiu Huanian's hand and kissed the warm palm of the person in his arms.

Not only were his palms warm, but from his voice to his tone to his entire being, Qiu Huanian was warm, making Du Yunse's heart melt with tenderness.

It was unclear who initiated it first, but the kisses expanded from the palms to the eyebrows, the tip of the nose, the soft lips, the sexy Adam's apple... The pair on the bed eagerly clung to each other, their kisses growing more intense. In the quiet room, only the rustling of clothes could be heard.

Qiu Huanian had initially worried that Du Yunse might be too exhausted after the civil service examination and planned to let him rest for a few days before getting down to "business." But once it started, Du Yunse, who had been holding back for many days, had no intention of stopping.

It turned out that Du Yunse's stamina was on a completely different level compared to his frail husband. Even after just completing the nine-day civil service examination, he left Qiu Huanian both satisfied and begging for mercy.

After more than an hour, Du Yunse finally got out of bed to fetch the large pot and towel that had been warming by the brazier, helping Qiu Huanian clean up.

He leaned down to kiss Qiu Huanian's earlobe, comforting him, "Brother Hua, didn't you say we were going to look at houses together tomorrow? Let's take it easy tonight and call it a day."

"..."

Qiu Huanian buried his face in the pillow, groaning, his body aching.

He really wanted to retort, "You call this restraint?" But reason warned him not to say it out loud, or else tomorrow's house-hunting plans would probably be shot.