#121: The Spring Examination (1)

After that day, Qi Yin became genuinely busy and could no longer find time to return to Fenghe Garden to see Shen Xiling.

This was all because the spring examination was about to begin.

In previous years, the metropolitan examination was usually held in February, but after the Southern Migration of the Great Liang Dynasty, it had been moved to March. The examination consisted of three sessions spread over nine days, with each session lasting three days. The first session began on the ninth day, the second on the twelfth, and the third on the fifteenth. The subjects tested included essays on the Four Books, five-character poems with eight rhymes, essays on the Five Classics, and policy questions. Besides the chief examiner, there were eighteen additional examiners, mostly from the Hanlin Academy, showcasing the flourishing literary governance of Jiangzuo.

Before the examination began, Lord Lu Zheng of the Ministry of Justice delivered his response.

Lord Lu Zheng was a man of swift action. On the very day he received instructions from his superior, he immediately launched an investigation into the Weaving Guild and thoroughly examined Yang Dong as well.

The Ministry of Justice was not an office to be trifled with. They only needed the will and determination to investigate. Once they set their minds to it, no trace was too small to uncover. In this investigation, Yang Dong’s true identity was revealed. Upon seeing the significance of the matter, Lu Zheng dared not act independently and rushed to the Privy Council to seek the opinion of Lord Qi.

Qi Yin was also greatly shocked by this news.

When the Shen family fell abruptly, many lawsuits were hastily concluded due to the chaos. Otherwise, Shen Xiling would not have been so easily protected by him back then.

However, he never expected that there were still male descendants of the Shen family alive.

Shen Cheng…

He indeed possessed some skills, managing to align himself with the powerful Fu family. It seemed that his control over the remnants of the Shen family’s influence enticed the Fu family to take the risk of saving him and even changing his name.

Technically, he was still Shen Xiling’s uncle, yet he nearly...

Had he met Shen Xiling before? Had he recognized her?

Qi Yin’s gaze grew colder.

Upon seeing Lord Qi’s stern expression, Lu Zheng assumed that he must have had some past grudge against the Shen family and immediately became cautious. He tentatively said to his superior, “My lord, there are some difficulties in handling this matter, and I need your decision.”

Upon hearing this, Qi Yin reined in his sharp demeanor, softened his expression, and said to Lu Zheng, “Lord Lu, please speak your mind.”

Lu Zheng bowed slightly and continued, “Although the guild has many dirty secrets, pinning them on Yang Dong is not easy. If he finds someone to take the blame, the matter becomes complicated. It might be better to expose his identity as a remnant of the Shen family. However, doing so…”

Lu Zheng paused, unable to continue.

Once Yang Dong’s true identity was exposed, there was no escape for him; death was inevitable. However, the Fu family would face greater repercussions. This matter could escalate, and if the Emperor decided to investigate further, it would inevitably stir up a storm in the court, making the situation difficult to control.

Qi Yin naturally considered this point, but more importantly, he thought of Shen Xiling.

She was also a descendant of the Shen family. If Shen Cheng’s affair angered the court and prompted the Emperor to investigate the remaining members of the Shen family, Shen Xiling would face increased danger—he couldn’t let his little girl be at risk.

However, upon learning Yang Dong’s true identity, Qi Yin hesitated about whether to tell Shen Xiling the truth.

He was her uncle, possibly the last remaining male descendant of the Shen family. She had always lacked familial affection, and having an elder by her side might comfort her. Yet Yang Dong was far from virtuous, harboring vile intentions towards her and being intricately connected to both the Shen and Fu families. Such a person was too dangerous… He couldn’t allow him near her.

With this resolve, Qi Yin’s intent to kill deepened, and he became even less inclined to inform Shen Xiling of the truth.

She was soft-hearted and pure, unlike him—Lord Qi’s heart was always hard when it came to outsiders. Killing someone who deserved it wouldn’t make him bat an eye.

“There’s no need for such trouble,” Qi Yin said indifferently to Lu Zheng. “Handle it simply, my lord.”

Among officials, there was no need for explicit explanations. Lu Zheng understood that his superior did not wish to reveal Yang Dong’s true identity as a remnant of the Shen family. He merely wanted this person dead—clearly, justifiably, and without any room for gossip. Even if Yang Dong had many tricks up his sleeve, the Ministry of Justice could devise some less-than-clean methods to incriminate him. That would be the simplest solution.

Lu Zheng understood and promptly went to handle the matter.

By the ninth day of the third month, the spring examination finally commenced.

Jiankang City was at its most beautiful season of the year, filled with lush willows and blooming flowers everywhere. The scholars of Jiangzuo gathered here, each entering the small booths of the Jiangnan Imperial Academy, which measured five feet long, four feet wide, and eight feet high. They painstakingly wrote their essays, hoping to pass the examination and bring glory to their families.

The candidates were both nervous and excited. Entering the academy, they saw colorful banners on either side inscribed with grand words: “Choosing Scholars Through the Classics,” “Seeking Wise Men for the Nation,” “Rising to Prominence,” “Opening the Gates of Literature,” “Winning Three Consecutive Titles,” “Rising Quickly,” “A Promising Future,” and “Becoming the Top Scholar.” Passing through the thorny gate and crossing the Feihong Bridge, they finally arrived under the Mingyuan Pavilion.

The candidates looked up to see nineteen examiners seated above, with the central figure being their mentor—the once-renowned young scholar, now the famous Grand Secretary of the Liang Dynasty, Qi Jingchen.

Seeing such a legendary figure before them, the candidates were naturally thrilled and excited. They heard their mentor speak softly: “The rules are strict as frost, but our hearts are as clear as the moon. I hope you all cultivate virtue and think carefully. Today, the gates of literature open, and in the future, your pens will illuminate the world.”

After these words, the examination halls opened, and the sound of gongs rang out. The candidates sat down and began answering their papers.

During the nine days Qi Yin supervised the examination from the Mingyuan Pavilion, Lu Zheng efficiently pinned a crime on Yang Dong, quickly arresting him and throwing him into prison. Before the spring examination ended, Yang Dong was already on the execution grounds. The efficiency and swiftness of this operation were rare in history.

When Yang Dong was first arrested by the Ministry of Justice, he remained calm, believing that Fu Zhen would surely plead with the elders of the Fu family to save him. The Fu family was one of the three great clans—how could Qi Jingchen dare challenge the elders of the Fu family? He was still useful to the Fu family, and those old men wouldn’t let him die.

But as days passed, help from the Fu family didn’t come. Growing anxious, Yang Dong made it easier for the executioner, who swiftly decapitated him on the execution grounds. To his dying breath, Yang Dong kept his eyes wide open, unwilling to believe that after surviving the catastrophic downfall of the Shen family, he could lose his life just by carelessly offending a young girl.

As Yang Dong’s head fell, Fu Zhen naturally felt indignant on his behalf.

Though their relationship was illicit, they had been entangled for many years, and she did have some feelings for him. When Yang Dong came to her to discuss the matter, she had already spoken to her third uncle, Fu Hong, who promised to protect him. She was shocked when Yang Dong was arrested by the Ministry of Justice and hadn’t had time to plead with her uncles before hearing that he had been executed.

... How absurd!

What kind of place was the Ministry of Justice? They had countless unresolved cases, many old ones left untreated. Unless someone pressured them from behind the scenes, how could they move so swiftly against Yang Dong? And how dare they oppose the Fu family?

Qi Jingchen was truly overbearing!

Fu Zhen was furious and immediately sought out the elders of the Fu family to demand justice, urging them to teach the Qi family’s young master a lesson. Otherwise, would the Qi family not look down on the Fu family entirely in the future?

Fu Zhen came in anger, but to her surprise, the usually domineering elders of her own family adopted an attitude of non-involvement.

Even her third uncle, known for his fiery temper, advised her to let the matter rest, saying, “Zhen’er, it’s not that Uncle doesn’t want to help you. But Qi Er now holds the position of chief examiner for the spring examination. Whether our children pass or fail depends on his whim. To provoke him at such a critical moment would be inviting trouble. It’s better to endure for now and discuss this matter after the examination.”

Indeed, many of the Fu family members were taking the examination this year, including younger branches of the family. Fu Zhuo, Fu Rong, and Fu Ran, the half-brother of Fu Rong, were among the candidates. If they offended Qi Yin, the futures of these youths would hang in the balance. Sacrificing one Yang Dong for the bright futures of their own descendants seemed like a worthwhile trade-off.

Although Fu Zhen outwardly showed no disagreement, inwardly she seethed with discontent.

She knew that she was considered useless to the family. The Fu family valued profit above all else and treated her with superficial politeness. No one truly shared her sorrow or anger. Yang Dong’s death brought them only humiliation and disdain from the Qi family, not genuine grief or rage.

Hmph, wasn’t this reality?

Discuss the matter after the spring examination? Knowing the nature of the Fu family, what wouldn’t they do for immediate gain? Would they even remember Yang Dong’s death by then?

Fu Zhen returned to her unnamed small building, sitting in front of the mirror lost in mournful thoughts.

Nine days passed, and the spring examination ended. The candidates emerged from their cramped cubicles, bidding farewell to the examination halls, and dispersed to their homes or inns. After indulging in food, drink, and sleep, they anxiously awaited the results.

This waiting period highlighted the differences among the candidates: those from prestigious families remained relatively calm and composed, as if assured of their futures, while candidates from humble backgrounds prayed fervently. Even after praying, most wore worried expressions, seemingly resigned to the idea that they wouldn’t pass.

The nineteen examiners graded the papers quickly, producing results within three days. The golden list was hung outside the academy, drawing crowds of carriages and pedestrians who surrounded the small list three layers deep, craning their necks to see if their names appeared. They also glanced at the successful candidates to see who these remarkable individuals were.

To their astonishment, the top three ranks—Zhuangyuan, Bangyan, and Tanhua—were all unknown names, none from prestigious families. The second rank of Jinshi included the Chuanlu, also from humble origins, and the rest were rarely from noble families. Among the third rank of Tong Jinshi, numbering over a hundred, there were more people from prominent families, but what use was merely being a Tong Jinshi? They would still need to undergo another round of examinations to be listed as Shujishi—what difference did it make from failing?

Roughly counting, seven out of ten successful candidates on this spring examination list were from humble backgrounds! This was utterly absurd, unprecedented since the Southern Migration.

Author’s Note: The eight phrases on the banners are based on historical records of the Jiangnan Imperial Academy and are not original content.