Chapter 65

Chapter 65

Jia Fangping spent a fortnight recuperating at the Yan residence before his injured leg fully recovered. The inn employee’s earlier claim that his leg had been broken was somewhat exaggerated; otherwise, he might have needed two or three more months to heal.

Yan Xizheng had reported the matter to Emperor Xingwu a day earlier, inquiring whether the emperor wished to meet this scholar renowned for his mental arithmetic.

Emperor Xingwu had already heard about his daughter’s remarkable encounter outside the palace, but since both the elder and the younger had kept it from him, he was content to play along.

"If even you praise his genuine talent, of course I must meet him. Tell him to wait outside the palace at 3 PM tomorrow. I will summon him as soon as I have a moment."

The young princess, diligently studying in the Chongwen Pavilion, was unaware of her father’s new arrangements. The next day, after her midday rest, as Qingyang was preparing to go to the front court for a stroll, Zhao Cai, a eunuch from Qianyuan Palace, arrived with a smile, saying her father had summoned her.

Baffled, Qingyang went to the Imperial Study. There, she found her father reclining on a luohan bed by the window, holding what seemed to be a memorial… though it was larger than a typical memorial.

Qingyang slid the small table in the middle of the luohan bed to the other side and sat down beside her father, leaning over to look. To her surprise, she realized her father was holding Jia Fangping’s exam papers from this year’s spring imperial examinations!

"Chancellor Yan told you?" Qingyang turned to her father.

Emperor Xingwu: "Yes, he mentioned it yesterday and asked if I wished to meet Jia Fangping."

Qingyang understood—Jia Fangping would likely arrive soon.

The spring exams consisted of three sections: classics interpretation, policy essay, and poetry. Noticing her father was reviewing Jia Fangping’s policy essay paper, Qingyang moved to the small table and picked up the other papers. In addition to Jia Fangping’s two other papers from the current year’s exams, there were also his three papers from the eighth year of Xingwu’s reign.

Impressed by her father’s meticulousness, Qingyang carefully examined them.

The classics interpretation section tested the scholars’ understanding and exposition of the Four Books and Five Classics, with largely standardized answers for each question. Mistakes were clearly marked by the Ministry of Rites examiners. The policy essay section assessed the scholars’ insights and solutions to state affairs, revealing their governance capabilities. The poetry section showcased their literary talent.

In the eighth year of Xingwu, Jia Fangping received grades of C for classics interpretation, B+ for policy essay, and C+ for poetry. With a C grade, it was no wonder he failed.

This year, his grades were B+ in classics interpretation, A+ for policy essay, and B- for poetry. Compared to the other candidates, who had at least two A grades, his failure was again expected.

Qingyang felt inexplicably frustrated: "His penmanship is decent, so why are his classics interpretation and poetry so poor?"

Emperor Xingwu laughed. "His talent lies entirely in mathematics. If he were equally gifted in classical studies and poetry, he might attract heaven’s envy. It’s like how you prefer reading over martial arts."

His daughter practiced archery out of a desire to ride and hunt, and learned swordsmanship for its elegance and grace. If forced to practice horse stances and lift stone locks daily until drenched in sweat, she would likely follow her third brother’s example, albeit with more clever excuses.

Hearing her father’s teasing, the young princess gave him a light push in displeasure.

Emperor Xingwu feigned collapsing against the luohan bed’s armrest. Seeing his daughter smile, he sat up again and pointed to the papers. "Jia Fangping has always been somewhat unlucky. Last time, the policy essay topic was border defense, and his answer was too vague. Otherwise, with two A grades, he might have made the top three candidates. This year, the topic was flood control, and he finally excelled in allocating manpower, resources, and funds. Yet, his other two subjects were only B grades."

Qingyang: "Serves him right. While talent in poetry can’t be forced, mastering the Four Books and Five Classics is just a matter of memorization. He performed worse than last time."

Emperor Xingwu: "Shall we not use him, then?"

Qingyang: "…"

Just then, footsteps echoed outside, and He Yuanjing announced that Peng Kai, the Minister of Revenue, and Jia Fangping were waiting outside.

Without waiting for her father’s instruction, Qingyang quickly gathered the six exam papers, placed them on the small table, and moved the table back to the center. She then sat in an empty seat nearby, smoothing her skirts.

He Yuanjing went out to bring them in.

Jia Fangping had thought the journey to the palace would steady his nerves, but as he approached the door that would lead him directly into the emperor’s presence, his hands began to tremble uncontrollably, and his palms and back became clammy with sweat.

He struggled to keep his shoulders straight, keeping his eyes lowered respectfully. His gaze swept briefly over the emperor and princess sitting side by side, though he barely took in their appearances before he instinctively knelt and kowtowed. "This commoner pays respect to Your Majesty and Her Highness!"

"Rise."

Changing position helped Jia Fangping calm slightly. After thanking the emperor, he slowly straightened up, still keeping his eyes downcast but now able to see the hem of the emperor’s dragon robe and the young princess’s skirts.

The young princess…

Remembering her courtesy and the third prince’s gentleness from that day, Jia Fangping’s racing heart gradually slowed.

Qingyang studied Jia Fangping closely. Last time, his face had been bruised and haggard, but after days of rest, his pale complexion had regained its color, revealing features that were both scholarly and determined. He looked several years younger, around twenty-six or twenty-seven.

Emperor Xingwu instructed his daughter to hand Jia Fangping’s flood control policy essay paper to Peng Kai for review. To Jia Fangping, he said, "The Left Chancellor praises your mental arithmetic skills. I have prepared three questions to test you. Are you confident?"

Jia Fangping cupped his hands. "This commoner is willing to try."

Emperor Xingwu took out a prepared slip of paper from his sleeve and asked his daughter to read it.

The first question was the sum of three two-digit numbers. As soon as Qingyang finished reading and began calculating the sum of the first two numbers, Jia Fangping announced the answer, which matched the one on the paper.

The second question involved three three-digit numbers. While Qingyang was still calculating, Jia Fangping stated the answer, so fast that even Peng Kai, who was ostensibly reviewing the exam papers while calculating himself, glanced over at him.

The third question was the sum of three four-digit numbers. Qingyang gave up entirely and looked at Jia Fangping, who had shed his earlier nervousness. After closing his eyes for a few breaths, he opened them, smiled, and accurately announced the answer.

Emperor Xingwu looked at Peng Kai.

The fifty-something Peng Kai exclaimed in admiration, "Truly remarkable! This old official is ashamed of his own inferiority!"

Emperor Xingwu laughed. "I doubt anyone in the entire court can calculate faster than him. It’s a pity his classics interpretation and poetry are lacking, or he wouldn’t have been delayed until now."

Jia Fangping’s face flushed with embarrassment at the praise, and he grew uneasy again.

Emperor Xingwu began inquiring about Jia Fangping’s family background. He learned that Jia Fangping’s great-grandfather had once served as a Senior Fifth Rank official in the Ministry of Personnel during the previous dynasty but was dismissed after offending a powerful minister. The Jia family had declined since then, and by Jia Fangping’s generation, they owned only two mu of poor land and half a room of books. Jia Fangping supported his ailing mother and two young children solely by teaching at a private school.

After several questions and answers, Emperor Xingwu said to Peng Kai, "Some talents enter the court through imperial examinations, while others require opportunity to serve. I believe Jia Fangping is suited for the Ministry of Revenue."

Peng Kai nodded and praised Jia Fangping based on his flood control policy essay.

Emperor Xingwu: "Are there any vacancies in the Ministry of Revenue now?"

After a moment’s thought, Peng Kai listed five vacant positions. The highest was a Senior Fifth Rank Director in the Jinzhou Bureau, whose predecessor had left to enter mourning for his father. The lowest was an eighth-rank Clerk in the Resources Section of the Yangzhou Bureau, whose predecessor had been dismissed for repeated negligence.

The Ministry of Revenue had fourteen bureaus, each divided into four sections. The Resources Section was responsible for the finances of its designated prefecture, including the collection of summer and autumn taxes and the distribution of officials’ salaries and rewards.

Emperor Xingwu decided to appoint Jia Fangping as the eighth-rank Clerk in the Resources Section. Encouraging him, he said, "No matter how great your talent, you must be grounded and progress step by step. Learn well—the officialdom isn’t just about calculating accounts correctly."

Jia Fangping knelt again. "Thank you for Your Majesty’s promotion. This commoner will heed your instruction, learn diligently, and perform his duties to the best of his ability."

Emperor Xingwu waved his hand. "Go now. Minister Peng will take you to the Ministry of Personnel to complete the appointment documents."

Jia Fangping thanked him, stood up, and bowed deeply to the young princess beside him. "This commoner will never forget Your Highness’s grace."

Qingyang smiled. "You suffered injustice, and I saw justice done. This is the duty every royal owes to the people—it is not kindness. I only hope you will serve the court with integrity and diligence, and not go down a path that would make me regret having recommended you."

Jia Fangping hurriedly replied, "This commoner would not dare."

After the two withdrew, Emperor Xingwu got ready to resume reviewing memorials. Being emperor had its perks, but there was always endless state affairs to attend to.

Qingyang stayed behind and asked her father, "Aren’t you curious why Jia Fangping is so impoverished?"

Emperor Xingwu, still looking at a memorial, asked, "Why?"

Qingyang then explained the two disreputable ways scholars used to profit, which Jia Fangping had scorned.

Emperor Xingwu leaned back against the armrest upon hearing this, closed the memorial, and gently tapped it while gazing thoughtfully at his daughter. "It has always been the case since ancient times that wealthy merchants befriend imperial scholars and even curry favor with officials—this cannot be entirely eradicated and relies on the self-discipline of the literati. However, when common people register their farmlands under the names of imperial scholars, it is often because the land tax imposed by the court is too high, and the people cannot afford it, so they seek ways to evade taxes. After ascending the throne, I set the land tax at one-fifteenth to allow the people to recuperate, which is even lower than the 'offerings' collected by imperial scholars in the previous dynasty. Surely, the people would not need to register their lands under others’ names anymore?"

Qingyang: "Father, most common people are frugal. The court collecting one-fifteenth of their land produce is indeed not much. But if imperial scholars collect only one-twentieth or even one-thirtieth as 'offerings,' the people would have to give away even less grain. Why wouldn’t they seek out imperial scholars to register their lands? Moreover, can Father guarantee that the land tax in Great Qi will never increase?"

Increasing taxes does not necessarily mean the emperor does not care for his people. Sometimes, in the face of natural disasters or wars, the emperor must raise taxes to make up for the court’s shortfalls in disaster relief or defense.

And this is under a wise emperor. If a tyrant who indulges in pleasure comes to power, raising taxes would be a matter of a single decree.

The common people may not care who sits on the throne, but they care deeply about the grain from their own fields. Saving a little is always better than nothing, and by registering their lands early under imperial scholars, they protect themselves in case the court suddenly increases land taxes in the future.

Emperor Xingwu was actually stumped by his daughter’s questions. Throughout history, most founding emperors were wise, but among their descendants, there were always a few incompetent rulers who led the court into corruption, eventually replaced by a new founding wise ruler.

So, if he merely reduced land taxes but allowed literati to collude with ignorant common people to evade taxes owed to the court, over time, the literati would grow richer while the court grew poorer. A cash-strapped court would inevitably impose harsh taxes on the people, who would then remain poor—so poor that they would have no choice but to rebel.

As his daughter’s image came back into focus, Emperor Xingwu pinched his forehead and put on a worried expression. "This is indeed a problem. Since you’ve thought of it, do you have any wise solutions?"

Qingyang had naturally considered this and stated bluntly, "The common people register their lands under imperial scholars, or even officials and nobles because the court exempts these individuals from land taxes. If Father does away with this privilege, the people would gain no advantage anywhere and naturally would no longer register their lands elsewhere."

Emperor Xingwu sighed, he protested, "It sounds simple, but the court still relies on the literati to help govern the realm. Offending all of them at once could easily lead to chaos."

Qingyang replied, "Then restrict the amount of land they can exempt from taxes. Any land beyond that limit should be taxed the same as for common people."

Emperor Xingwu shook his head. As long as their interests were infringed upon, no matter how slightly, they would protest.

The young princess had no solution and worriedly said, "If even Father dare not offend them, Elder Brother certainly wouldn’t dare. Two generations would mean several decades. By then, the land Father worked so hard to distribute to the people would likely all be registered under their names."

Emperor Xingwu fell silent...