The two of them stood less than two feet apart.
Xiao Jingxing held the Western Regions’ tribute cup of green jade in one hand and looked down at the scholar in blue robes before him, who had only just straightened up.
“Ziqin possesses talent of a thousand-jun strength, with a mind devoted to probing the principles of Heaven and Earth.”
Xiao Jingxing spoke.
Then the corners of his mouth curved into a smile as he extended the wine cup in his hand another half inch.
“In my view, as for the title of top scholar in this year’s examination, who else could claim it but you?”
The instant those words fell, the air on the top floor of Brightmoon Tower froze solid. A series of perfectly synchronized gasps rang out from the hall.
Xu Zijin knew that this was far more than a few words of polite praise.
The Great Qian Dynasty had stood for a hundred years, and its examination halls were governed by ironclad rules that permitted no outside interference.
Reviewing the papers, determining the rankings, announcing the results—that authority was something the Ministry of Rites and the chief examiners would defend with their very lives.
Yet now, the First Prince had openly overstepped the chief examiner in front of every person of consequence in the capital.
Using his own mouth, Xiao Jingxing had elevated a New Learning radical—one whom the Grand Academicians had branded a heretic—to the throne of the provincial top scholar.
Several Imperial Academy scholars seated in the second-tier seats on the right flushed crimson.
An old scholar with a beard and hair as white as snow trembled all over.
He opened his mouth, clearly intending to loudly denounce such outrageous words.
But the official from the Ministry of Rites beside him was still young, quick-eyed, and quick-handed. He seized the old scholar’s official sleeve and forcibly dragged him back into his grand chair.
“Sir, do you have a death wish?” the official whispered, his voice filled with fear. “Look at those soldiers!”
The old scholar turned his bloodshot eyes toward the exits.
The heavily armored guards of the Five City Military Command had already sealed every passage leading downstairs.
“This is His Majesty’s indulgence in keeping the matter suppressed… He means to wield that radical as a blade!”
The old scholar gaped, his face full of humiliation. In the end, he could only force the curse that had reached his lips back down his throat, close his eyes, and gasp heavily for breath.
From beginning to end, Xiao Jingxing did not spare those antiquated civil officials so much as a glance.
“This cup is an advance toast to your success.” Xiao Jingxing’s laughter echoed through the silent hall, carrying the absolute force of command. “To the future talent of Great Qian.”
At the back, Niu Dazhuang and the other examination candidates from humble families were so excited that their faces flushed red.
To them, this was the First Prince’s unparalleled elevation and protection of the New Learning scholars from humble origins.
But the powerful men who had spent half their lives immersed in officialdom immediately caught the lethal political poison hidden in those words.
What a vicious chain of traps!
Song Zhiyuan rapidly calculated the situation before him.
The First Prince intended to use this cup of wine to place a noose around Xu Zijin’s neck in front of everyone in the realm.
The moment this young man dared to reach out and accept the cup, a piece of news would spread throughout the capital’s circle of powerful families the very next day:
The Foremost Scholar of the New Learning, who had proclaimed his intention to establish an independent school of thought, was none other than the blade the First Prince kept in his household to charge into battle for him.
Before Xu Zijin could respond, the chief secretary made his move.
As one of the First Prince’s men, the chief secretary had no regard whatsoever for the murderous looks of the aristocratic officials. He strode out from the side of the elevated platform and walked toward Xu Zijin, his voice booming like a bell.
“Xu, the provincial runner-up! To preserve your essay on the true nature of principle, ‘The Void Is Qi,’ His Highness has spent these past few days shielding you from storms that could blot out the sky!”
The chief secretary stepped half a pace closer, but his voice dropped instead of rising—low enough that only those nearby could hear clearly.
“Does Mr. Xu know how many memorials denouncing you the Bureau of Transmission has received since the results were announced?”
Without waiting for Xu Zijin to answer, he asked and answered his own question, his tone harsh and urgent.
“I counted them myself. Three hundred and seventy in all! Abandoning the orthodox teachings, confusing the scholars of the realm! Every word and every sentence calls for Xu Zijin to be thrown into prison and exiled three thousand li away—a crime deserving the death of his entire household!
“Those memorials are being held in the Grand Secretariat only because His Majesty has ordered them suppressed. Every day they remain there, they are merely memorials. The moment they are submitted, they will become a case warranting the confiscation of your property and the extermination of your entire family!”
At this, he clasped his hands and bowed, his tone becoming respectful instead.
“Throughout the court, only His Highness is willing to shield you from this storm of public censure. You have made your position perfectly clear today. When those memorials become an actual case, will any of the honored guests gathered here dare to speak a word on your behalf?”
This performance—half cajoling, half coercion—actually made Xu Zijin laugh.
Drink this cup, and acknowledge me as your patron.
Refuse it, and wait to be punished.
At that moment, Xiao Jingxing suddenly spoke, giving a cold snort. “How presumptuous!”
The chief secretary immediately put on an expression of terrified obedience and bowed as he retreated. Yet beneath the hand covering half his face, a smile already calculated in advance appeared.
Xiao Jingxing turned to Xu Zijin, his voice gentling. “Ah! My subordinate is crude, ignorant of proper etiquette, and incapable of speaking tactfully. Mr. Xu, please do not take offense.”
He raised his cup and drained it in one swallow, then smiled.
“This cup is my toast to your integrity.”
Xu Zijin stood quietly where he was.
The brief span of fewer than three breaths stretched unbearably long.
Xu Zijin stared at the dark-red wine in the cup before him.
The distinctive sweet fragrance of Western Regions grape wine lingered around him.
At that moment, if Xu Qinghuan had been sitting nearby, cracking melon seeds, she would probably have slapped her thigh and laughed without the slightest restraint:
“Good heavens! When ordinary people offer a toast, they’re offering human warmth. But when this living King of Hell offers one, he’s offering a deed of indenture.”
With every eye upon him,
Xu Zijin moved and steadily took hold of the green-jade wine cup.
