Fifteen days slipped by in a blink, and the metropolitan examination of the 25th year of Emperor Shunyuan's reign kicked off right on schedule.
Wen Zhuo could still recall part of the roster of successful candidates from this cohort. Fifty of the new jinshi would be assigned to the Hanlin Academy and the Six Ministries after the palace examination, while ten others were granted the privilege of attending imperial court audiences.
Most of these ten men were staunch, uncompromising figures who had long taken issue with what they saw as Wen Zhuo's misconduct, and they would soon become the main force rallying behind Xie Langyang to lead impeachment efforts against him.
Back on that day, on the long street outside the imperial palace hall, Wen Zhuo's gaze swept across those faces brimming with righteous indignation, as their thunderous voices rose loud and clear, shouted in unison —
"Root out the treacherous court official, secure the peace of the realm!"
The memory flashed through his mind in an instant. Wen Zhuo pulled his thoughts back, smoothed the ripples of emotion in his chest, lifted his eyes, adjusted his bearing and official hat with a solemn look, and walked straight toward the Mingyuan Tower.
Outside the entrance of the Gongyuan, the imperial examination compound, music blared from ceremonial drums, and the crowd was so dense it felt like the air itself hummed. Common folk from all corners stood in a wide circle at a distance, craning their necks to get a look at the spectacle.
A subordinate official from the Ministry of Rites called out in a loud, solemn voice, "The Chief Examiner has arrived!"
The gate inspectors stood ramrod straight, their expressions grave and respectful.
Wen Zhuo wore a vivid cinnabar-red official robe cinched at the waist with a jade belt, his waist-length black hair tucked neatly under a black official cap. Over the white inner shirt's crossed collar, his face was as strikingly beautiful and fair as carved jade. His features were fine and delicate, yet his eyes held a sharp, commanding glint. Two vice ministers of Rites trailed right behind him, their manner deferential and cautious, never straying a step too far.
When the candidates, robed in the muted blue-gray scholar gowns that marked them as coming from every prefecture and county across the Great Qian Empire, heard the announcement, they all rose to their feet, held their breaths, and bowed respectfully.
This was supposed to be such a solemn occasion that they should have been nervous enough to break out in sweat, twisting the hems of their robes over and over, heads bowed and eyes lowered, terrified of drawing the chief examiner's piercing gaze.
But when they snuck a peek at Wen Zhuo, every one of them froze, their breath catching. All their fidgety little movements vanished in the same instant, as if they were afraid the slightest unseemly noise might disturb this young chief examiner of such otherworldly, ethereal bearing.
Wen Zhuo walked to the front of the Mingyuan Tower, turned to face the gathered scholars and swept his gaze over them. His bearing was majestic, his robes fluttering gently around him, like a celestial minister descended to the mortal realm, so bright and striking it almost dazzled the eyes.
His voice was clear and cool as he spoke. "This year, we select scholars based first and foremost on talent and learning, with no regard for their family background. The essence of writing lies in truth, not superficial flourish. You must take 'applying knowledge to real-world governance' as your core principle, and never give in to frivolous, impetuous ways. I hope each of you will observe the hardships of the common people closely, cultivate your virtue and spur yourselves to greater efforts, so that you do not fail all those years of diligent study by the cold window."
The candidates cupped their hands in front of them and bowed deeply to Wen Zhuo.
Wen Zhuo paused for a moment before continuing. "The Great Qian has stood for a hundred years, and the four seas are at peace. Yet if we look at the world today, hidden hardships weigh on the people's livelihood within our borders, and foreign tribes beyond our lands eye us with covetous intent. Today I put this question to all of you: in recent years, unseasonable floods and droughts have repeatedly struck, leaving vast stretches of fertile land untended. Merchants chase after profit, while state expenditures follow fixed rules. If we wish to stabilize the foundation of the nation and bring peace to the people, how should we promote agriculture, facilitate trade, and relieve the impoverished, so that every common person holds permanent property and no one suffers from cold or hunger? How can we fill the state coffers, cut down redundant spending, and lighten unnecessary costs without disrupting the lives of the people? How can we keep the mounted barbarian tribes quiet and make the remote southern tribal communities submit, so that our border regions do not fall into peril?"
After finishing reading over the exam questions he had personally drafted, Wen Zhuo flicked his sleeves, stepped up into the Mingyuan Tower, and sat down behind a sandalwood desk, looking down over the entire examination grounds.
The candidates bowed, took their seats, lifted the hems of their robes and rolled up their sleeves, dipped their brushes in ink, and put down the first carefully considered character on their exam papers.
The soft rustle of writing brushes on paper became the only sound inside the Gongyuan.
The full nine days of the metropolitan examination finally came to an end, but Wen Zhuo got no chance to rest. He immediately organized officials from the Hanlin Academy and the Ministry of Rites to grade all the exam papers together.
On top of the metropolitan examination duties, he still had to tend to all his work in the Cabinet and the Hanlin Academy. Those days, exhaustion hung heavy under his eyes, and the skin of his fingertips was rubbed raw red by the constant pressure of his brush, so much so that he nearly suffered a relapse of his chronic cold-induced ailment.
This nonstop rush of work stretched on for a whole month.
When the final review of the papers was finished at last, and the date for releasing the results was set three days later, Wen Zhuo looked at the stacks of exam papers piled on his desk and finally let out a long, relieved breath.
Emperor Shunyuan, seeing how thin and worn out he had grown, showed his leniency by granting him special permission to return home to rest, exempting him from attending court audiences for the time being.
Wen Zhuo slept deeply through an entire day, and the very next day he found himself wrapped tight in Shen Zheng's arms.
That small bed, not yet widened, was just barely big enough to fit the two of them tangled in an embrace.
The thin quilt only barely covered their shoulders, and for the first half a minute, all was quiet. But then a crumpled undergarment was flung out from under the covers.
The movements beneath the quilt suddenly grew more intense, as if the whole world was turning over. The bed frame creaked and swayed so hard it looked ready to collapse.
Wen Zhuo was pressed against Shen Zheng's chest, his hands clutching at his shoulders, eyes squeezed shut. Sweat beaded on his skin as he bit down hard, leaving a row of sharp, vexed teeth marks on Shen Zheng's shoulder.
He was terrified that Jiang Mannü and Liu Qiying might hear the commotion from outside the room, but that overwhelming, all-consuming passion swept every last bit of his self-control away.
When Shen Zheng pulled him back a third time, dragging him away from the wall he had pressed himself up against to try and escape, Wen Zhuo finally could not hold on any longer, and broke down in soft, tearful sobs.
"What was our esteemed teacher thinking?" Shen Zheng murmured, his lips brushing the sweat-damp curve of Wen Zhuo's ear, a teasing glint in his eyes. "Did you think if you pressed yourself tight enough against the wall to hide your shaking legs, you could get away?"
Wen Zhuo could feel a wave of pleasure that threatened to swallow him whole, yet this state of total loss of control, of being completely at another's mercy, filled him with a flustered dread.
He had never imagined he could be so unrestrained, that he would reveal such a shameless, unguarded side of himself in front of Shen Zheng.
He was soaked through, as if caught in a lingering, warm spring rain, his senses growing hazy and distant.
He even dared to take Shen Zheng's rough fingertips into his mouth, sucking gently, his tongue moving wetly against them, as if begging for a sliver of relief.
After that single night, Wen Zhuo was left with numerous faint and dark finger-shaped bruises scattered across his skin. The next morning, he could barely stand on his own two legs, his legs turning weak and wobbly the moment he tried to get out of bed.
Shen Zheng fed him spoonful by spoonful, sweet golden date soup, right to his lips.
Wen Zhuo swallowed it all in a hurry, and before the bowl was even empty, he rolled over, fell back onto the bed, and sank back into heavy slumber.
Let the world outside turn to day or night, he did not care.
Shen Zheng, in the prime of his youth and full of energy, felt hardly tired at all after that whole night of passion. Seeing Wen Zhuo sleeping peacefully, he quietly got up, pulled a plain face cloth over his features to stay unrecognized, and wandered out onto the streets for a stroll.
The next day was the day the metropolitan examination results would be posted. The area in front of the Ministry of Rites compound and the gates of the Gongyuan were already packed full of scholar students.
Shen Zheng watched from afar, then drifted over to blend in with the crowd.
He could empathize deeply with the anxious mood of these students, it felt exactly like the days back when he had sat staring at a computer screen, waiting to check his college entrance exam scores, and that familiar feeling drew him closer, a quiet sense of kinship rising in his chest.
He had assumed the students would be talking about the relative strengths of their fellow test-takers, or how difficult the exam questions had been, but to his surprise, every last one of them was chattering about Wen Zhuo.
"I heard long ago that Lord Wen placed as the second-ranked candidate in the imperial examination at only seventeen years old. Seeing him in person this time, he truly lives up to his reputation, bearing extraordinary grace and brilliant talent that no ordinary scholar could ever hope to match."
"Absolutely. Seeing what he has done, you know his fame is not just empty praise. Back in Bozhou, he resolved the devastating flood disaster, and also laid down long-term plans to secure the people's livelihood. He is a true role model for all of us."
"I heard that in Mianzhou, when the people had no food to fill their bellies, Lord Wen came up with a clever strategy that made all the grain merchants rush to sell off their stockpiles, saving the common folk from starvation. With that level of wisdom alone, I am completely, utterly convinced."
"I have watched Lord Wen's conduct as an official. He never seeks fame for show, nor chases after the empty reputation of being a part of the pure and lofty scholar circles. Everything he does is for the good of the country and the people. Those vicious slanders that treacherous men wove against him some time ago made all of us furious beyond words."
"Ah, if you ask me, Xie Langyang is just jealous that Lord Wen has amassed such great achievements, that the people adore him, and that he is as beautiful as a celestial being, far outshining Xie Langyang in every way. That's why his mind turned twisted, and he tried so ruthlessly to harm him."
"Exactly! On the day of the metropolitan examination, I caught a glimpse of Lord Wen's face. It is peerless in this whole world. How could a mediocre nobody like Xie Langyang even dare to covet him, writing all those flowery poems about him? Ugh, it makes me sick."
"Lord Wen has never taken a wife to this day. It must be that no one in the whole world is worthy of matching him. If you ask me, even a princess would be too good for him."
"What a pity, our dynasty has long had a rule that forbids imperial son-in-laws from holding political office, to prevent the power of the emperor's in-laws from overrunning the court. If he married a princess, he would never be able to serve in public office and bring his grand ambitions to life."
Shen Zheng stood with his hands behind his back, a faint smile curling at his lips as he thought to himself, There's no princess around, but there's a crown prince right here.
A man who noticed his sharp, distinguished features, tall and poised bearing, and extraordinary demeanor stepped forward, cupping his fists in a greeting as he asked with a smile, "Brother, are you from the northern prefectures?"
"Oh? What makes you say that?" Shen Zheng replied.
"Your stature is taller than most, the roots of your hair are slightly wavy, and your features are more chiseled than those of folks from the fertile river delta lands. I could tell at a glance," the man said.
"I see," Shen Zheng responded casually.
"Brother, I am Lu Zhang," the man said. "I can tell from your fine clothing that your family background must be notable. I wonder if you are familiar with the etiquette of official circles? Regardless of whether I pass the exam, I plan to pay a visit to Director Wen tomorrow to seek feedback on the strengths and flaws in my essays."
"That's too late," Shen Zheng said. "Normally, in the three days after the exam, candidates may bring their brush pens and books to ask about the grading standards. If you go now, it will only be for the post-results gratitude visit. Besides, Director Wen is worn out and exhausted today, I'm afraid he won't have the time to receive guests." With that, Shen Zheng stepped out of the crowd, planning to bring a box of sweet rice cakes back for Wen Zhuo.
If Wen Zhuo is happy after eating something sweet, he will temporarily forget the lingering discomfort in his body, and curl up to sleep peacefully in Shen Zheng's arms.
Shen Zheng had already developed quite a knack for handling his sharp-tempered little cat.
Lu Zhang thanked him repeatedly, then let out a long sigh, secretly blaming himself for missing the proper timing.
But then he paused, feeling confused. They were both exam candidates, so how did this man know that Director Wen was worn out and exhausted?
"Hey, brother! Wait up! Have you gone to consult with him before? Can you tell me a little about Lord Wen?" Lu Zhang called out, chasing after him.
Shen Zheng waved a hand back at him without turning around. "Study hard and strive to pass the exam, don't forget your original heart, and aim to serve in the same court as him in the future. Then you can get to know him on your own."
Lu Zhang could not catch up with Shen Zheng's strides, but he had a faint feeling that this man's status must be extraordinary, and that he was on familiar terms with Director Wen long before this.
Knowing that on the day the exam results were posted, countless exam candidates would come to the Wen Manor to pay their respects, that night Shen Zheng was especially careful, meticulously tying the strings of Wen Zhuo's undergarment properly, before holding Wen Zhuo to bed early.
Sure enough, when the next morning arrived, the entire capital's streets and alleys were thrown into a commotion by the news of the metropolitan exam results.
Cheers and celebrations rose one after another, gongs and drums clanged noisily, and the inns and taverns that had produced new jinshi scholars all set off firecrackers and brought out jars of fine wine to celebrate the students' success.
At the hour of the Dragon, Wen Zhuo had already dressed in his official robes and waited in the main hall.
Sure enough, before the hour of the Horse, the successful candidates had all arrived at the Wen Manor one after another, carrying their Compilation of Classical Interpretations in hand. They lined up in a neat row and bowed in unison.
"Your student Chen Ke, pays respects to my respected teacher."
"Your student Song Yao, greets my respected teacher."
"Your student Tang Xinian, having passed the exam today, thanks to my respected teacher's guidance, will never forget this kindness for the rest of my life."
"Your student Lu Zhang, greets my respected teacher. I have long admired your talent, and to meet you today fills my heart with nothing but gratitude."
"Your student Liu Liangze, will take you as my mirror, and never fail the common people!"
"I have long thought that the ancient sages, whether they were lone loyal ministers or capable good officials, all held the well-being of the common people close to their hearts. Your student Xiao Mu, greets my respected teacher."
"Your student Qian Mingfu."
"Your student Jiang Mang."
...
Wen Zhuo looked at the new jinshi scholars before him. Among them were naturally the people who had impeached him in his past life, their words on the palace hall sharp and biting.
But today, their eyes were bright with admiration, looking at him as the very model of a perfect official.
And so, the ferocious, snarling faces he remembered from the imperial palace's long avenue gradually blurred amidst the sound of their respectful greetings.
He could no longer recall who they had been in the past, or what harsh things they had said. All he saw now were pairs of eyes brimming with hope, just like his own self back in the 16th year of Emperor Shunyuan's reign.
Wen Zhuo parted his lips gently. "All of you have succeeded in this year's imperial selection. Though the title may seem like a grand honor, the road ahead is long. You must always hold 'integrity, diligence in serving the public' as your guiding principle, and never forget the heart you started with."
"Yes!" All the students responded in unison, their hearts full of sincere devotion.
Shen Zheng was hiding behind the door panel, listening. At first he was smiling, but slowly a sour, uncomfortable feeling crept over him.
He suddenly realized that all these people, these hundreds of scholars, would from now on address Wen Zhuo as their respected teacher. With this one meeting, they had all essentially become Wen Zhuo's students, and could come to visit and seek advice at any time.
This was very bad.
His and his alone teacher, had suddenly become everyone's teacher.
Even if he knew this thought was extremely childish, Shen Zheng had no intention of wronging his own feelings. So as soon as night fell, and after Wen Zhuo had seen the last jinshi off, Shen Zheng grabbed his wrists and pushed him against the wall in the study, blocking his way.
"They all call you teacher, what about me?" Shen Zheng demanded unreasonably, pressing close to him.
Wen Zhuo glanced at him, then let his eyes flick down to his own wrists, which were being held tightly. He curled his lips into a smirk and said, "Your Highness is jealous."
"Yes," Shen Zheng admitted openly.
Wen Zhuo rubbed his knee against Shen Zheng's through his official robes, chiding him playfully. "What on earth are you being jealous for?"
"No one knows better than me how unsafe it is to be a teacher. Wanshan has such unparalleled grace, how could I possibly feel at ease?" Shen Zheng said as he took the chance to kiss him on the lips.
Wen Zhuo laughed, his eyes glistening like rippling water. "Your Highness will be the emperor one day. No one could ever take me away from you."
"Even so, no. I don't like to force things," Shen Zheng said with a slight shake of his head, a hint of regret in his tone.
Wen Zhuo raised an eyebrow at his words.
Shen Zheng continued, "Wanshan now has so many students. All of a sudden I don't feel special anymore. I don't want to be just one of the crowd, your fellow student."
Wen Zhuo teased him on purpose. "Then how about Your Highness becomes the teacher's wife instead?"
Shen Zheng smiled, his palm drifting dangerously up to rest on Wen Zhuo's chest, squeezing it gently then firmly, in a slow rhythm. "Teacher, be good and say something nice to me. I'm still young, and I can be very unreasonable. I might stay jealous for a very, very long time."
The tips of Wen Zhuo's ears flushed bright red. He could hardly bear the endless nights of passion they shared, so he had no choice but to wrap his arms around Shen Zheng's neck, lean close to his ear, and call out in a soft, low voice, "My husband."
