Chapter 27: Benefiting the Country and the People

Fang Jinglong unconsciously furrowed his brows while listening to Manager Yang’s words, appearing thoughtful.

“Moreover, this student heard outside…” Manager Yang hesitated, then continued, “that this matter has already spread through the literati circles. Many scholars are very indignant about it, so…”

“Hmm…” Fang Jinglong nodded. “Scholars are indeed not to be provoked. If provoked too far, they might cause trouble.”

Manager Yang’s eyes lit up, and he hurriedly said, “Then… will Earl go and talk to Young Lord?”

“No,” Fang Jinglong answered firmly.

Manager Yang was stunned. “Earl, this…”

Fang Jinglong narrowed his eyes and spoke with deep feeling, “Manager Yang, you have followed me for so many years. You know that I conduct myself with integrity and have never done anything to feel guilty about in my life, right?”

“You don’t understand. My decision to not intervene is also for the benefit of the country and the people.”

For the country… and the people…

Manager Yang felt a chill. “May Earl please enlighten me?”

Fang Jinglong widened his eyes. “You, how muddled you are! I know you sympathize with those three scholars, but do I not know my own son? My son has been a troublemaker since the day he was born! Think about it: isn’t it better now? He stays home every day, doesn’t step foot outside, and only torments three Xiucai. Though that’s not ideal, it’s certainly better than letting him roam around idly and harm even more people outside. At home, he only hurts three people. But if he goes out, who knows how many he might harm?”

“…” Manager Yang was dumbfounded.

Fang Jinglong sighed and continued, “Don’t you scholars have a saying: ‘Better one family weep than a whole district mourn’? Isn’t it better to sacrifice three Xiucai and save countless common people from suffering? Can’t you calculate this clearly? So, I will not intervene. It is indeed a pity for the three Xiucai, but sacrificing them benefits the country and the people—isn’t that good? When looking at issues, one must not focus on individual gains and losses but consider the overall situation and take a long-term view.”

Manager Yang, feeling rather foolish, found that Earl’s words made some sense. He nodded subconsciously.

“That’s right.” Fang Jinglong breathed a sigh of relief. “I am quite content with life now. Look, the Fang Family’s lands and shops have been recovered—not just that, they’ve multiplied several times over. The silver in our storehouse is piled high like a mountain. And my son, by some twist of fate, was even granted a Golden Belt. Sooner or later, the Imperial Palace will summon him to serve, starting with a position in the Imperial Guard. If he doesn’t mess up, he might even succeed me.”

At this point, Fang Jinglong felt so happy he wanted to cry. Tears welled up in his reddened eyes, and he couldn’t help but lift his sleeve to wipe them away. “This is due to the virtue of our ancestors, a stroke of good fortune from our ancestral graves. We are truly blessed.”

“So…” Fang Jinglong said with a stern face, “Self-awareness is precious! It is indeed a pity for the three Xiucai, but for the well-being of more people in the Capital, they must endure this injustice.”

“…” Manager Yang felt he had been put in his place. What was clearly a bad situation had somehow turned into a cause for celebration. Yet, he still found it somewhat reasonable and nodded repeatedly, silently mourning the three Xiucai in his heart.

Ouyang Zhi and the other two had already written seven or eight Eight-Legged Essays in a row. Now, just seeing the topics “Wealth and Honor Cannot,” “There Must Be No Litigation,” and “Benevolent Governance in Current Times” made them feel sick.

But Fang Jifan simply insisted that their essays were not good enough and told them to keep answering the questions.

They had to rack their brains, thinking repeatedly of better ways to approach the topics, and pick up their brushes again and again. They went from inner struggle at the beginning to despair, and finally… they simply stopped caring, like a dead pig fearing no scalding water.

Let him fuss over them all he wanted—they were sure to fail the upcoming exam anyway. They could only play along with their Mentor’s whims.

Meanwhile, the news spread throughout the Capital. Scholars were in an uproar, many expressing pity for Ouyang Zhi and the other two and indignation at Fang Jifan for finding amusement in tormenting scholars.

Half a month passed in the blink of an eye. It was the Beginning of Autumn, and the weather gradually turned cooler. The Provincial Examination began.

Early in the morning, His Majesty traveled to the Warm Pavilion. Although the Provincial Examination was not as grand as the Metropolitan Examination, it was a means of selecting Provincial Graduates. For Emperor Hongzhi, who was devoted to good governance and selecting talented individuals, it was particularly important. He was quite eager to know how many outstanding talents Northern Zhili would produce in this exam.

Because of his emphasis on this year’s Provincial Examination, the chief examiner was none other than Wang Ao, the Minister of Personnel.

Wang Ao was known for his integrity and had once been Emperor Hongzhi’s teacher. Emperor Hongzhi held him in high regard. Now, Wang Ao held a high position, and the Ministry of Personnel was no small matter. The Minister of Personnel was referred to as the “Heavenly Official,” meaning he was in charge of evaluating and appointing officials across the land, making it a core department. Wang Ao’s appointment as Minister of Personnel reflected Emperor Hongzhi’s trust in him.

Moreover, Wang Ao had an excellent reputation and was widely respected in both the imperial court and beyond. In Emperor Hongzhi’s view, having Wang Ao oversee the Northern Zhili Provincial Examination demonstrated the Imperial Palace’s seriousness about the exam.

Today was the day the exam began. As soon as Emperor Hongzhi arrived at the Warm Pavilion, several Grand Secretaries of the Grand Secretariat were already there.

These Grand Secretaries were Emperor Hongzhi’s key ministers, from Liu Jian to Li Dongyang to Xie Qian—each was a renowned minister of the era.

Before the three old ministers could bow, Emperor Hongzhi smiled and said, “No need for formalities. Today is the Imperial Examination for the court. I hope that many Provincial Graduates will pass in various provinces this year, so that in the future they can serve me and share the burdens of the imperial court, just as you all do.”

Liu Jian stroked his beard, looking quite emotional, and nodded. “Your Majesty is right. Since Your Majesty ascended the throne, you have treated scholars well and selected the talented. Scholars across the world all hope to enter officialdom through the Imperial Examination and serve Your Majesty.”

Emperor Hongzhi took a sip of tea and smiled, as if Liu Jian’s remark about his kindness to scholars made him forget his recent worries.

But then, a discordant voice arose: “Your Majesty, yesterday I received an Impeachment Memorial from a Censor. I wish I hadn’t read it, but after doing so, I was so worried I couldn’t sleep all night.”

Emperor Hongzhi looked toward the voice and saw it was Grand Secretary of the Grand Secretariat Xie Qian.

Xie Qian was different from Liu Jian and Li Dongyang. Liu Jian was steady, Li Dongyang was wise, while Xie Qian was eloquent and, moreover, a man of quick temper who hated evil.

Emperor Hongzhi smiled and said, “Xie Qing, here to lodge another complaint. Tell me, what matter is troubling you now?”

Xie Qian said indignantly, “Censor Lin Han of the Northern Zhili Office in the Censorate reported that Nanhe Bozi Fang Jifan, who is usually unrestrained and bullies good civilians, has now gone even further by humiliating scholars. He made three Xiucai acknowledge him as their Mentor and ordered them to come to the Nanhe Bo Mansion, claiming he would personally teach them. Your Majesty, these three scholars have studied hard for half their lives. With the Provincial Examination approaching, because of Fang Jifan’s reckless behavior, their studies are neglected, and they will miss their chance at an Imperial Examination Degree. Your Majesty, this matter has caused dissatisfaction in the literati circles. Many scholars are crying out for justice on behalf of these three. I implore Your Majesty to sternly reprimand Fang Jifan and rescue these three Xiucai from their plight.”

Emperor Hongzhi couldn’t help but frown. Fang Jifan again.

That fellow really knew how to stir up trouble and commit all sorts of misdeeds.

To be honest, Emperor Hongzhi had long wanted to teach a lesson to this guy who called a copper belt golden.

However…

Xie Qian was presenting an Impeachment Memorial on behalf of a Censor. Disciplining Fang Jifan privately was one thing, but responding officially to such a memorial was another matter entirely.

Wouldn’t that directly embarrass the Nanhe Bo Mansion? Moreover, this fellow had just been granted a Golden Belt and praised. If he were to reprimand him now, wouldn’t that prove that he himself lacked judgment in recognizing people?