Chapter 172: Who Else But Him?
Chapter 172: Who Else But Him?
The exams were over, but Wang Shouren was confined to his home, with servants watching him closely.
His father was clearly very dissatisfied with this son. As a pure member of the Qingliu Faction, why did he spend his days fooling around with that fellow Fang Jifan?
Yes, that scoundrel Fang Jifan was indeed very popular now. Many Mingfu and noble families in the capital were beginning to favor him.
But that had nothing to do with the Wang family!
The Wang family was one of scholars and poets. And he, Wang Hua, was the purest of the Qingliu Faction. No matter how popular you, Fang Jifan, became, no matter how much the Grand Empress Dowager doted on you, no matter how close the Crown Prince was to you, so what? The Wang family’s spotless reputation, built over generations, could not be ruined in a day. To tarnish the family name would be to let down their ancestors.
Wang Hua returned home from his duties and saw the light still on in the study.
His face darkened again.
It went without saying. That foolish child was in the study again. Despite being confined, he was still like a man possessed, staring obsessively at those four characters: Unity of Knowledge and Action.
Ah…
What sin had he committed to deserve this?
Wang Hua could not hold back anymore. With a stern face and hands clasped behind his back, he entered the study.
Just as he expected.
He saw Wang Shouren in a dazed stupor, completely lost in thought.
Wang Hua coughed and said, “Bo’an.”
Wang Shouren snapped out of his reverie and glanced at Wang Hua. “Father…”
“You are still looking at this?” Wang Hua frowned, a trace of anger in his expression. “You should wake up now. You must not waste your energy on such useless things. You are grown now. Though the Palace Examination is over, the results have not been posted. Do you not care at all whether you rank in the Top Three Candidates? This… concerns your future and the future of the Wang family.”
Although as a Tribute Scholar, Wang Shouren was guaranteed to become a Metropolitan Graduate regardless of his Palace Examination results, the ranking—whether Top Three Candidates, Second Rank, or Third Rank—determined his future path and destiny. Those who ranked in the Top Three Candidates were directly appointed as Hanlin Editors or Compilers. Such a high starting point and prestigious reputation were rare in the world. In a few years, they might even go to the House of the Crown Prince to serve as tutors to the Crown Prince, or enter the palace to await appointments. How many people dreamed of such opportunities?
As for the Second Rank, although there was a chance to enter the Hanlin Academy, one had to start from the very bottom as a Probationary Hanlin Academician. Who knew how many years of seniority one would need to accumulate before matching the Top Three Candidates?
The Third Rank need not even be mentioned. To Wang Hua, so-called Third Rank graduates were a bunch of poor scholars—Metropolitan Graduates bestowed by the imperial court as if out of charity, like minor concubines, unfit for elegant company.
Seeing his father’s worried expression, Wang Shouren felt a pang of guilt. He knew his father had worried himself sick over him. So he said, “Father, please rest assured. There is no need to worry about the Palace Examination.”
“No need to worry…”
You are so carefree! Your father, today at the House of the Crown Prince, was distracted all day. Even when preparing lessons for the Crown Prince, he made repeated mistakes!
Wang Hua flared up, his beard seeming to bristle. “Why should I not worry!”
“Because…”
Faced with his father’s anger, Wang Shouren remained composed and smiled faintly. “Because your son is certain to take the top spot in the Top Three Candidates.”
“…” Such confidence, almost rivaling Wang Hua’s own when he was the Zhuangyuan. Confidence was good, but overconfidence…
“Hmph! You do not know the meaning of humility.”
Wang Shouren thought for a moment and said, “It is not that your son lacks humility. The Policy Essay was on the topic of pacifying Mi Lu. Your son has always been familiar with Horse Administration and has been closely following the Mi Lu rebellion. I regularly read the court’s Capital Gazette carefully. Also, when Uncle Li and several other uncles discussed the Mi Lu rebellion, your son was always listening nearby. Your son firmly believes that my exam paper is sufficient to rank first. The others are not worth discussing.”
To be honest, after hearing Wang Shouren’s words, Wang Hua felt quite pleased inside. What his son said was not without reason. This son had loved Equestrian Archery and military strategies since childhood. He had even personally inspected the border regions and often conversed with people like Lord Li. These were advantages that ordinary Tribute Scholars could not match.
However…
Wang Hua still disliked Wang Shouren’s arrogance and could not help but say mildly, “Regarding the Palace Examination, before the results are posted, anything is possible. You should not be so self-satisfied. His Majesty may not necessarily choose you.”
Wang Shouren fell silent.
Seeing Wang Shouren silent, Wang Hua frowned. “Nothing to say?”
Wang Shouren thought it over and decided to speak his mind honestly: “If the Emperor does not choose your son, it would be due to His Majesty’s incompetence and poor judgment.”
“…”
Silence. A deathly silence.
Wang Hua felt the back of his robe was already soaked through, drenched in cold sweat.
Although this was a private conversation between father and son, he knew this son who was naive about the ways of the world all too well.
Not choosing you means the Emperor is incompetent and has poor judgment… How dare you! The proper Ruler and Subject Relations—have they been eaten by dogs in your view? This is insulting the sovereign, utterly reckless! You are worse than a dog, disloyal and unfilial…
“You unfilial son!” Wang Hua finally roared!
Veins bulged on his forehead, devoid of his usual dignified demeanor. He rolled up his sleeves, like a country ruffian, cursing foully in his Jiangzhe accent.
…
Early the next morning.
The sky was just beginning to lighten.
After Liu Jian and the others entered the palace, they did not go to the Grand Secretariat but instead turned directly toward the Warm Pavilion. They knew that at this time, His Majesty should be waiting there.
Sure enough, Emperor Hongzhi was up early as usual.
This had become his habit—always sleeping late and rising early. Sometimes, when he was too tired, he would take a nap in the Warm Pavilion.
He saw the three Grand Secretaries of the Grand Secretariat and, before they could bow, shook his head with a smile. “No need for formalities. The scholars must be anxiously waiting for the posting of results. Until the Palace Examination results are posted, who knows how many are burning with anxiety? We must all put in more effort to review these papers quickly. We need speed, but we cannot just seek speed. Seeking speed is to post the results early. But we cannot just seek speed; we must not neglect our duty and harm the scholars’ futures due to oversight. Come… be seated.”
In truth, the prolonged drought had made Emperor Hongzhi quite anxious, but he kept these worries hidden in his heart. For the Imperial Examination, he could not afford to look worried.
He ordered tea to be served and continued reviewing the papers.
Liu Jian and the others did not dare be negligent and also focused their attention intently.
The day passed quickly.
Essentially, all the papers had been reviewed.
Of course, although they had been hastily reviewed, over the next day or two, all the papers would need to be rechecked.
But by now, Emperor Hongzhi had a general idea in his mind.
Before Liu Jian and the others prepared to take their leave, he rested his hand on the Imperial Desk and said, “Our dynasty has never had a father and son both achieve the Zhuangyuan title, has it?”
“Reporting to Your Majesty, there have been father-son pairs who both became Metropolitan Graduates, but both becoming Zhuangyuan… that is truly unheard of. Even in the previous Song dynasty, such a thing was never seen.”
Emperor Hongzhi roused himself and shook his head. “What great fortune that would require! The Wang family would become famous throughout The World.”
Liu Jian glanced up at Emperor Hongzhi. He already understood. “The Wang family’s fortune is bestowed by the Son of Heaven. If the Son of Heaven grants his favor, the Wang family naturally receives fortune. This is the grace of the sovereign.”
But Emperor Hongzhi shook his head. “This is not the grace of the sovereign. It is what they deserve. ‘In the morning, a farm boy; by evening, entering the Son of Heaven’s hall.’ This is not due to the Son of Heaven’s favor, but the result of their hard studying by cold windows.”
Li Dongyang smiled and said, “Your Majesty, do you intend to select Wang Shouren?”
This time, Emperor Hongzhi smiled freely. “Who else but him?”
The general outcome was essentially decided.
However, these matters could only remain in the hearts of the Emperor and his ministers within the hall. Before the results were announced, they absolutely must not be leaked.
Still, Liu Jian and the others could not help but marvel inwardly. The Wang family… their ancestral graves must really be smoking!
However… this time, His Majesty did not mention Fang Jifan’s disciples at all. It seemed Fang Jifan’s luck had run its course.
Liu Jian and the others had also seen the exam papers of Fang Jifan’s several disciples. They were not bad, just… compared to Wang Shouren, they clearly lacked much maturity. Wang Shouren… was truly a talent for practical statecraft.
That day, after Liu Jian and the others took their leave and left the palace, each had their own thoughts.
At that moment, what everyone was thinking was: What a pity Wang Shouren is already married.
…
A fast horse, kicking up dust, arrived at dawn the next day, its hooves clip-clopping on the blue bricks outside the Northern Garrison Command.
The Northern Garrison Command was a yamen that frightened everyone. Thus, even during the day, it was deserted, let alone at this hour.
At the third mark of the mao hour, a rooster crowed in the distance.
The Brocade Guard’s fast horse, panting heavily, arrived at the gate of the Northern Garrison Command. The rider was an Enlisted Soldier of the Brocade Guard.
The Brocade Guard was different from other yamens. They had their own communication system, sometimes even faster than the Express Delivery Stations.
The Enlisted Soldier dismounted deftly, his expression stern.
Approaching him was a Chief Banner Officer, who said expressionlessly, “What is the matter?”
“Extremely urgent!” The Enlisted Soldier was silhouetted against the firelight, so his face was unclear. But his voice was cold, not diminished in authority despite facing the Chief Banner Officer. However, his voice was hoarse, bearing unmistakable fatigue.
The Chief Banner Officer instantly understood and did not reprimand the Enlisted Soldier for his rudeness. “Commander Wu Huiyou is on duty in the hall tonight. Please!”
He stepped aside. The Enlisted Soldier strode forward proudly and quickly entered the main hall of the Northern Garrison Command.
Someone had already reported the situation to Wu Huiyou. That an extremely urgent dispatch arrived at the break of dawn… This… struck Wu Huiyou as strange.
He had been in the Brocade Guard for thirty years. What great storms had he not seen? He could not help but wonder inwardly. Was there an Earthquake somewhere… or… had another popular uprising occurred somewhere?
In such a situation, he naturally did not dare delay. He promptly took his seat. Moments later, an urgent dispatch was placed in his hands.
Wu Huiyou looked down. On the cover of the dispatch, two large vermilion characters appeared before his eyes—Great Victory!
Wu Huiyou’s body trembled, his eyes full of astonishment. Great victory… Where did this victory come from…
In recent days, the imperial court had not received any good news for a long time.
After impatiently opening the Victory Report, his pupils contracted further, seemingly utterly shocked. Then, he slammed the desk and shouted, “Someone! Come here!”