For candidates in Chang’an, the Spring Examination was still a long way off. They had plenty of time for social engagements before the exams. This year, a new rule was introduced for the Spring Examination: the examination papers would be anonymized and transcribed, meaning the examiners would not know the identity of the candidates when grading, judging only by the quality of their essays.
In previous years, the Imperial Examinations took many factors into account, including family background, reputation, and talent. If an essay stood out, the examiners would add points accordingly during the grading process.
This year, it was unclear who came up with this anonymization idea, but it effectively put an end to those seeking to impress the examiners with their poetry or essays before the Spring Examination. The candidates who had arrived in Chang’an before the New Year were all taken aback. They could only turn their poetry gatherings into simple gatherings, their visits into mere social calls, abandoning their hopes of shortcuts.
As a result, Chang’an was unusually peaceful this year. As the New Year approached, the streets and alleys buzzed with festive energy. Li Yuanying, thinking about his impending departure to his fiefdom, had an idea: he wanted to take his mother, Liu Baolin, out of the palace and show her Chang’an, where she had spent over a decade.
Liu Baolin had been sent to the palace at a young age. On the journey, she had been well-behaved and dared not act out, so she never had the chance to witness the city’s prosperity. After that, she had remained within the palace walls and never had the opportunity to go out. They were about to leave Chang’an, and Li Yuanying wanted to take Liu Baolin to see it.
Li Yuanying knew that if he discussed it with Liu Baolin, she would decline. She always tried to live as if she didn’t exist, avoiding unnecessary attention. So, he went straight to Emperor Li and explained that he wanted to take Liu Baolin to a temple to offer incense.
Emperor Li, considering it a trivial matter, agreed.
Li Yuanying excitedly planned the route before informing Liu Baolin. Realizing that Li Yuanying had already arranged everything and received Emperor Li’s permission, Liu Baolin could only allow him to excitedly pull her out of the palace. Of course, she had her attendants prepare all the necessary veils and accessories for a woman’s outing, so as not to be caught in a breach of protocol.
Chang’an City was bustling with pre-New Year festivities. Not only were the main streets overflowing with people, but the markets were also vibrant. Li Yuanying encouraged Liu Baolin to get out of the carriage and walk. She couldn’t resist him, so she put on her veil and stepped out. The moment her feet touched the cobblestone street, she felt as if she had been reborn.
The last time she had walked on the street had been over a decade ago.
Mother and son walked for a while on a relatively quiet street. Li Yuanying told Liu Baolin, “Once we get to the fiefdom, Mother, you can go out whenever you want.”
Liu Baolin replied, “What’s out there to see? I’d rather stay home and cook for you.”
Li Yuanying continued strolling with Liu Baolin, soon reaching Wei Zheng’s residence. Without any hesitation, he went in and dragged Wei Jiu out to accompany Liu Baolin to the temple.
Wei Jiu, having heard from Li Yuanying that Liu Baolin was coming, felt a bit nervous. Li Yuanying gave her a pep talk, “Don’t worry, it’s said that even an ugly daughter-in-law has to meet her in-laws. Besides, you’re not ugly!”
Wei Jiu, already anxious, was now filled with anger at his words. What kind of encouragement was that?
Li Yuanying pulled Wei Jiu out of the house and led her to the carriage where Liu Baolin was seated. Liu Baolin took her hand and guided her to sit down, saying that Li Yuanying was being disrespectful by dropping by so unexpectedly and that he shouldn’t have done so.
As always, Liu Baolin was kind and welcoming. Wei Jiu’s little bit of anxiety disappeared, and she began chatting with Liu Baolin. By the time they reached the temple gate, they were still engaged in a lively conversation. Li Yuanying shouted from outside, “We’re here, we’re here!”
There were many noble wives and concubines at the temple offering incense. In the tranquility of the temple, there were fewer restrictions, so Liu Baolin took off her veil and entered with Wei Jiu, hand in hand, to offer incense.
Seeing Liu Baolin and Wei Jiu holding hands, leaving him out, Li Yuanying grumbled, then reluctantly took on the role of a gentleman, escorting them to the prayer hall, which was only accessible to women, for incense offerings and blessings.
Liu Baolin sent him away to play on his own.
Li Yuanying was disgusted by this act of abandonment but couldn’t bring himself to act childish. He could only wander around the temple, eventually ending up at the front where a monk was telling stories. The monks had a range of techniques to keep their devotees engaged. Those seeking quiet were led to secluded prayer halls and Zen gardens, while those who craved excitement were kept at the front, listening to Buddhist teachings, often referred to as “secular preaching.”
Today’s story was about Mulian rescuing his mother. Mulian’s mother had fallen into hell, and he had endured countless hardships to rescue her. The audience loved to hear about the horrors of hell and the twists and turns of Mulian’s rescue mission. This temple’s secular preacher was skilled, not only telling the story with thrilling climaxes but also incorporating sounds like the wooden fish and other effects to keep the pilgrims engrossed.
Li Yuanying was also listening with great interest, considering whether to donate some incense money when he heard someone greeting him, “Your Highness.”
Li Yuanying turned to see Su Qiuniang and Chengxin approaching. These two had devoted themselves to the arts and had no other obligations except focusing on creating new dances and music.
Li Yuanying was surprised, “You’re here to offer incense?”
Su Qiuniang replied, “No, we heard that the secular preaching here was the best, so we came to listen. We didn’t expect Your Highness to be here too.”
Li Yuanying understood; they were there to learn. Whether it was dance, music, or secular preaching, anything that could capture people’s attention must have its strengths. If they could learn those strengths, it would be wonderful. Li Yuanying commended their eagerness to learn, “Then study hard.”
Chengxin presented Li Yuanying with an idea, “The temple can hold secular preaching, and Fengtai Tower could offer more than just dance and music.” They were already working on setting poems to music, but after listening to a few days of secular preaching, he and Su Qiuniang had some new ideas. They wanted to try that style of storytelling at Fengtai Tower. Chengxin continued, “We want to try telling stories from Your Highness’s ‘Hanzi Fables,’ and then find some new stories to continue with.”
Of course, they couldn’t tell Buddhist stories in a restaurant, so they planned to start with the stories written by Li Yuanying, a way of conveying some wisdom from books to the people.
Li Yuanying was very supportive of their unique ideas, “Try it if you want to. If you need more stories, I’ll have someone tell you a few.” He believed in trusting those he entrusted with tasks. Since he had placed the musical troupe in Chengxin’s hands, he would let them do their thing.
Su Qiuniang and Chengxin expressed their gratitude to Li Yuanying. Seeing that Li Yuanying had lost interest in the secular preaching, Su Qiuniang suggested, “I heard there are scholars holding a literary gathering on the mountainside. Your Highness, would you like to go take a look?”
Li Yuanying considered that Liu Baolin and the others might still be offering incense and chatting for some time, so he agreed to go with Su Qiuniang and the others towards the mountainside.
Indeed, there were scholars holding a literary gathering on the mountainside, and quite a few people were present.
Li Yuanying, who always loved a crowd, immediately quickened his pace. However, as he approached, he heard someone complaining, “I don’t know who came up with this idea, but this year, the Jinshi examinations will be anonymized and transcribed. I’ve spent years honing my calligraphy skills, which is now useless! Those lazy bums are benefiting from it.”
They were complaining about the newly introduced anonymization system for the Jinshi examinations.
Li Yuanying waved his hand, signaling Su Qiuniang and the others to stop, and stood there to eavesdrop. As soon as this topic was raised, everyone had complaints. Some felt their excellent calligraphy was being wasted, some thought they might have been able to build up their reputation before the Spring Examination, and some felt they were being treated like villains. In short, no one was happy about it.
Upon hearing this, Li Yuanying decided not to join them, avoiding the risk of being held accountable. The idea had been Wu Mei’s, and he thought it was feasible. He then asked the System to refine the entire anonymization process and organized it before submitting it to Kong Yingda.
This method wasn’t just aimed at preventing cheating but also at preventing factionalism. For now, the Jinshi examinations weren’t very prominent. The government primarily recruited specialized talents, such as those specializing in Confucian classics, mathematics, or law. The Jinshi examination selected very few people.
Unfortunately, the System told Li Yuanying that, in the future, the Jinshi examinations would become the mainstream, even the sons of prominent families wanting to gain prestige by passing it. However, his brother’s plan to use the civil service examinations to suppress the aristocratic families would be futile. The civil service examinations would become a new avenue for factionalism among officials, those who passed the same year being called “same year” and the examiners being called “seat masters,” creating a natural bond between them.
Because the Jinshi examinations weren’t anonymized, the examiners could refer to the candidates’ past essays during grading. As a result, it became customary for candidates to submit their essays to the chief examiners and other prominent officials to seek their favor. While aristocratic families nurtured their own children, they also used the civil service examinations to recruit talent. What was originally meant to select talents for the government gradually became a means for “seat masters” to select talents.
Li Yuanying, understanding this, submitted the anonymization process to Kong Yingda. He also suggested the term “Son of Heaven’s Student,” implying that Emperor Li could become the nominal chief examiner. Since “seat masters” were so powerful, why let others be in charge? It would be best if his brother held that position!
Kong Yingda partially agreed with Li Yuanying’s idea, but he had reservations about the term “Son of Heaven’s Student,” believing that Li Yuanying was trying to find a way to associate the royal family with prestige. Nonetheless, Kong Yingda felt the method was viable and considered it before handing it back to Li Yuanying for revisions. He then submitted it directly to Emperor Li.
Emperor Li, a bit narcissistic, though he had seized the throne quickly, believed that he was well-versed in literature and had a deep understanding of culture. Naturally, he fell for the term “Son of Heaven’s Student.” It was a brilliant idea! All the talented scholars in the world should be his students!
Emperor Li immediately ordered the revision of the Jinshi examination rules for that year. The other examinations, which selected specialized talents, remained unchanged!
Actually, Emperor Li thought that if the candidates of other examinations strongly demanded to be called “Sons of Heaven’s Students,” he wouldn’t have objected. However, seeing the dark expression on Kong Yingda’s face, looking like he was about to explode, “I’m so tempted to scold you,” “If you speak another word, I’ll blow up!” Emperor Li wisely swallowed his words and reluctantly limited the reform to the Jinshi examination alone.
Li Yuanying, seeing the scholars dislike the anonymization idea, decided not to hang around with them and left with Su Qiuniang and the others. Only then did someone notice Li Yuanying’s arrival and departure, prompting them to inform others. As Li Yuanying walked away with his entourage, the scholars couldn’t help but discuss him.
Someone said, “Could that be Prince Tang?”
Another said, “Is that Su Qiuniang next to him?”
A third commented, “He came and left. Does he look down on us?”
Those who knew the rumors started filling in the others. They spoke of Prince Tang’s talent for winning the hearts of beautiful women, his secret romance with a beautiful young lady, his encounters with widows during his countryside visits, and his latest rumored attraction to a charming princess. In short, despite his young age, Prince Tang was known for his carefree lifestyle! Rumor has it that he’s taking the Jinshi examination this year, aiming to become a dashing scholar!
Someone raised a question, “Didn’t Prince Tang get engaged to the granddaughter of Grand Tutor Wei?”
The rumor-monger confidently responded, “That’s precisely the point!”
Their tone seemed quite envious.
Indeed, someone who was about to marry the granddaughter of Grand Tutor Wei, renowned for his honesty and integrity, dared to flirt with other women. Yet, Grand Tutor Wei seemed to turn a blind eye, as if he had no idea. This was truly remarkable!
Li Yuanying had no idea he had become the object of envy. He figured he had had his fill of sightseeing, so he told Su Qiuniang and the others to go about their business, while he ran to the prayer hall to pick up Liu Baolin and Wei Jiu. On the way out of the temple, Li Yuanying grumbled to Wei Jiu about the scholars’ words, criticizing them, “They lack foresight!”
Wei Jiu nodded in agreement, “Not everyone is as clever as you.”
Li Yuanying, flattered, immediately puffed up with pride. He started telling Wei Jiu about the various drawbacks of not having anonymous transcription, all the things he had learned from the System, proudly showing off his newfound knowledge.
Liu Baolin listened to Li Yuanying and Wei Jiu chatting happily, her heart filled with joy. Her son’s temperament was such that he needed to be stroked the right way, and if he was happy, everything else could be negotiated. Her future daughter-in-law had a good grasp of this, so their future relationship should be trouble-free.
This outing had not changed Liu Baolin’s daily life, but it had given her more hope for the future. Her son was filial and becoming more sensible. Her daughter-in-law had a kind heart and got along well with her. What more could she ask for? She only wished for her family to live happily together.
The only thing she worried about was whether Emperor Li would still be reluctant to let Li Yuanying go to his fiefdom. Fortunately, judging by Li Yuanying’s recent cheerful mood, it seemed Emperor Li had softened his stance!
…
After the New Year, Li Yuanying and Chengyang turned fourteen.
Emperor Li ordered preparations for Chengyang’s wedding. Du He had been diligently handling his duties recently and was also of marriageable age. During the New Year, when Emperor Li ascended Lingyan Pavilion and missed Du Ruhui dearly, he recalled this marriage that had been postponed for a year or two. He immediately asked Li Chunfeng to choose a good date and set the wedding date for the closest auspicious day after the Spring Examination.
Li Yuanying felt a pang of sadness at the thought of his niece getting married soon, unable to watch over her all the time. Luckily, Du He’s family was simple, and he didn’t inherit the title of Duke of Guo. After Chengyang’s marriage, she would set up her own household with her husband, sparing her from any potential abuse.
When Li Yuanying heard Emperor Li set the wedding date, he often visited Du He to chat about life and aspirations. Compared to before, when he could only drag Li Zhi along to test Du He and Fang Jun, Li Yuanying was now quite open. He shared some profitable ventures with Du He, inviting him to join and make money together.
Du He was smart enough to reciprocate the favor. He dismissed all the maidservants who served him, ensuring his surroundings were clean and tidy, determined to avoid adding any burdens to Chengyang.
This wasn’t because Du He coveted the benefits Li Yuanying offered, but because he had witnessed Fang Jun’s misfortunes and observed the close relationship between Li Chengqian and Li Yuanying, the Crown Prince’s son also being quite attached to Li Yuanying. He wasn’t stupid; he knew what he had to do!
Li Yuanying still felt that Du He lacked exceptional talent but reluctantly accepted him as a suitable future husband for his niece.
Just as Chengyang’s wedding date was confirmed, Li Zhi brought good news from his side. He had not returned for the New Year because his wife was pregnant. Now that spring had arrived, his wife had given birth to a healthy baby boy. Li Zhi sent a messenger on horseback to deliver the news to Emperor Li, announcing the happy event and requesting that Emperor Li give their son a name.
Li Yuanying hadn’t expected Li Zhi to be so efficient and felt a bit sour when he heard the news. He went to Emperor Li and said, “Zhinu has a child so soon. Brother, you’ve become a grandfather again!”
Emperor Li, noticing his sour tone, said leisurely, “Yes, I’ve become a grandfather again. Some people haven’t even become fathers.”
Li Yuanying puffed up his chest and said, “I’m young, of course I haven’t become a father!” Moreover, both Sun Shi and the System had told him that having children too early was not good, especially for girls. He couldn’t bear to see his beloved Jiu have a child so young! He then stated his true purpose for coming, “After the Spring Examination, let me go to Taiyuan to visit my nephew-grandson!”
Emperor Li glanced at him and agreed.
Li Yuanying, overjoyed, scurried away, leaving his cheerful mood behind to complete the final sprint for the exams with his friends.
Before long, the day of the examinations arrived. That morning, Li Yuanying and the others arrived at the Ministry of Rites Imperial Examination Hall with their examination materials, ready to take the test. Although they were all dressed in the robes provided by the Imperial Academy, the three female candidates made them stand out, and many people cast curious glances their way.
Li Yuanying had never cared about other people’s opinions, and Wei Jiu and the others remained composed. After a few glances, those watching realized that Li Yuanying’s group was completely unfazed, and they began to feel awkward, even apologetic, and stopped staring. However, a few individuals who were particularly cynical and resentful grumbled, “Anyone can take the exam now. It’s good to have power and influence!”
Some murmured softly from afar, but Li Yuanying couldn’t hear them. A middle-aged candidate in his forties, as if he was afraid Li Yuanying wouldn’t hear, shouted, “I don’t know who decided this, but women taking the exam is a defilement of sacred learning! Women should stay at home and tend to their husbands and children, not flaunting themselves and attracting attention. Even if women have knowledge, it shouldn’t be used in civil service examinations. They should focus on raising their children!”
Li Yuanying scoffed, “I see you’re not young anymore and haven’t achieved anything. You must be lacking in talent, afraid that if all the ladies start taking the exam, you’ll have no chance to pass!”
The middle-aged candidate, who had been hit where it hurt, angrily retorted, “Since ancient times, it has been this way. How can women participate in the Imperial Examinations?”
Li Yuanying had debated this point with Mr. Ma countless times and wasn’t afraid of his blustering. He retorted without hesitation, “According to you, the Imperial Examinations didn’t exist before. So, when they first started, should they have said, ‘Since ancient times, there have been no Imperial Examinations. How can one become an official just by taking an exam?’ They should have simply abolished the Imperial Examinations and kept things as they were ‘since ancient times’!”
The officials from the Ministry of Rites, hearing the commotion, rushed over and saw Li Yuanying arguing with someone. They sternly shouted, “How dare you make noise outside the Imperial Examination Hall!”
The middle-aged candidate shut his mouth.
Li Yuanying was a bit unwilling to back down, but he let Wei Jiu and the others persuade him. If those people had objections, they still passed the Imperial Academy exams and earned their eligibility for the Spring Examination. They had earned their place through legitimate means and weren’t afraid of what others said.
The candidates entered the Imperial Examination Hall one after another. Compared to previous years, the examination hall was more sophisticated this year. Each person was separated from others, preventing any communication, so they could only focus on their own exams. Li Yuanying found his designated seat, sat down, and waited for the exam to begin.
While things were peaceful at the Imperial Examination Hall, Emperor Li had also learned about the argument outside.
Chengyang, Wu Mei, and Wei Jiu were all brought into the Imperial Academy by Li Yuanying, but it wasn’t accurate to say that they were admitted based on their status. Their knowledge and essays were solid, and their scores from each exam were meticulously recorded. There was no deception or fabrication.
Moreover, one of them was his beloved daughter.
Emperor Li and Li Yuanying shared the same sentiment: they had earned their eligibility through hard work. Why shouldn’t they be allowed to take the exam? The middle-aged candidate was ignorant, lacked vision, and lacked magnanimity.
As the nominal chief examiner, Emperor Li, after discussing government affairs with Wei Zheng and others, wouldn’t simply sit idle. He planned to visit the Imperial Examination Hall to inspect the exams and get a glimpse of the young talents of this year, to see who had the potential to become his “Sons of Heaven’s Students.”
Of course, he would also take a look at his troublesome younger brother if he encountered him.
After making up his mind, Emperor Li didn’t hesitate. He discreetly went to the Imperial Examination Hall with Wei Zheng and others. Perhaps because of the new rules for the Jinshi examinations this year, particularly the “Son of Heaven’s Student” clause, many candidates were invigorated. They all diligently wrote after receiving their examination questions, engrossed in their answers, completely unaware of Emperor Li’s arrival.
Emperor Li wasn’t there to show off his authority. He walked from one examination room to another, pleased with the candidates’ mental state. It was only after inspecting for a while that Emperor Li finally saw Li Yuanying, who was also diligently answering questions.
Li Yuanying, lost in his writing, hadn’t noticed Emperor Li’s arrival. He was writing with utmost concentration, his drafts a whirlwind of scribbles, feeling as if his train of thought had never flowed so smoothly. He was completely immersed in his work and didn’t have time to pay attention to anything else. Even as Emperor Li continued his rounds, prompted by Wei Zheng, Li Yuanying didn’t realize his brother had been there.
Seeing Emperor Li with a straight face, Changsun Wuji laughed as they left the Imperial Examination Hall, “Prince Tang is so focused on his writing. He’s likely to get a good rank.”
Changsun Wuji’s praise made Emperor Li feel quite pleased. The frustration of being ignored by his troublesome younger brother had vanished. Of course, he maintained a humble and objective evaluation, “This kid has only been studying seriously for a few years. How can he compare to others who have spent a decade studying day and night?”
Fang Xuanling chimed in, “Prince Tang is exceptionally intelligent. He has been studying diligently for a few years, naturally surpassing many others.”
Emperor Li was overjoyed, bursting into laughter. With a light heart, he led them back to the palace.
Wei Zheng remained silent throughout the journey. He thought Changsun Wuji and Fang Xuanling were shameless. He hadn’t even praised Li Yuanying when he was about to marry his granddaughter, but they were showering him with praise!
**Author’s Note:**
Emperor Li: I’m just going to take a look at my troublesome younger brother, just a casual visit!
Little Prince: Focused on the exam, oblivious to your presence. .jpg
Update!
This chapter!
A whopping six thousand words!
What does that mean?
It means that my daily bonus for today is secure!
I only need to update tomorrow for this month’s bonus! The bonus is safe!
Note: The anonymization of exam papers, the “Son of Heaven’s Student” idea, etc., are based on Baidu Encyclopedia and some creative liberties.
Previous Chapter | TOC |