The aftershocks of the court discussion had not yet subsided when another turbulent undercurrent swept through Shengjing City. Du Hui, the right prime minister, was appointed as the chief examiner for the spring imperial examination, while the Sixth Prince and the Eighth Prince served as deputy examiners.
In less than half a day,
this news spread like wildfire throughout the streets and alleys of the capital.
Those with a discerning eye and a clear mind could quickly sense the extraordinary implications behind it.
After the former crown prince "passed away", the position of the crown prince was left vacant.
Undercurrents were surging both in the court and among the people. Everyone knew that although there was no explicit indication, the emperor had already been secretly selecting the next heir to the throne.
This spring imperial examination was clearly the first touchstone laid by the emperor.
Selecting scholars through the imperial examination was a matter of national importance.
This time, having two princes serve as deputy examiners was not so much about assisting the chief examiner as it was about allowing them to gain early experience in the power of the crown prince.
The scholars selected in the spring imperial examination
would be the backbone of the future court.
Whoever could display magnanimity, recognize talents, and win the hearts of the people in this imperial examination, and whoever could perform in a way that pleased the old emperor, would be one step closer to the supreme throne.
It was foreseeable that the two princes would inevitably go head - to - head.
This was a storm,
but it was also a great opportunity.
The higher - ups were testing the two princes. And this spring imperial examination, which was to be presided over by the future crown prince, was also a way to select suitable talents for the crown prince. Throughout the dynasties, when a new emperor ascended the throne, he would use the scholars he had selected during his tenure as an examiner.
The influence of "students and former subordinates" was no small matter!
If the scholars in this session could stand out in the spring imperial examination and catch the eye of one of the princes, once that prince ascended the throne in the future, they would become the emperor's students, with a bright and limitless future.
Even if they were not favored by the princes, as long as they did well in the exam and were noticed by Prime Minister Du, it would still be a great blessing.
Who in the court would dare to look down on the students of the right prime minister?
Those with good information were sitting around with tea cups, discussing animatedly; those who were a bit slow to catch on were squeezing into the crowd, pricking up their ears for fear of missing a single word. And those with quick wits didn't even finish their tea before hurriedly settling the bill and running off to the bookstores.
When it came to grading the exam papers,
every examiner would claim to be fair and just. However, human bias, preferences in writing styles were the most subjective things. To achieve a high - ranking on the imperial examination list, having talent alone was not enough. One also had to figure out the examiners' minds and cater to their preferences to achieve twice the result with half the effort.
The Sixth Prince was gentle and amiable, while the Eighth Prince was currently showing his sharp edges. No one could fully know their preferences.
But Prime Minister Du Hui had been an official for many years, and his articles and political views were widely circulated. Those with a mind to do so could easily find out what kind of ideas he advocated and what writing styles he preferred.
For a moment,
long queues formed in front of the major bookstores in Shengjing.
Du Hui's collected works and annotated classics were snapped up overnight. It was truly a situation where a single book was hard to come by. Those who came late stood in front of the bookstores, looking at the "Sold Out" signs, and could only stamp their feet in frustration.
Many scholars pulled strings and paid high prices just to get a copy.
They stayed up all night to study,
trying to figure out the prime minister's intentions.
Some even borrowed books at high prices in the teahouses. It cost five taels of silver to read for one night, but there were still people scrambling to pay.
Some smart shopkeepers even hired people to copy Prime Minister Du's old exam papers overnight, bound them into books, and wrote "Secret Papers of Prime Minister Du" on the covers. The price was ten times higher, but they were still sold out.
As for the authenticity of the content inside, no one bothered to investigate. At this critical moment, no one was willing to let go of even the slightest glimmer of hope.
Before this spring imperial examination even started, undercurrents were already surging.
In the study of Anleju.
The narcissus on the windowsill was at the end of its blooming period. The edges of the petals were slightly yellowing, but the fragrance was still delicate and refreshing. Mixed with the smell of ink on the table, it created a faint and reassuring atmosphere in the room.
On Pei Cijing's desk, there was a brand - new copy of "Collected Works of Prime Minister Du".
The pages still carried a faint smell of ink, and the edges were smooth, indicating that it had been carefully taken care of. The cover was made of high - quality gold - sprinkled paper, and the four characters "Collected Works of Prime Minister Du" on the title label were written in a regular and steady style.
This book could be considered a collector's edition on the market.
It was personally brought by his grandfather, Zhou Youfu, early in the morning. He and his third uncle, Zhou Dahe, had been going out before dawn for several days, visiting four or five bookstores in a row, only to be told that they were all sold out.
Finally, they found the last copy in a remote small shop. They didn't hesitate to pay a high price for it and carefully carried it in their arms all the way. When they arrived at the marquis's mansion, there was still a thin layer of sweat on his grandfather's forehead, and his clothes were dampened by the morning dew.
"Ci Jing," when the old man handed over the book, his smiling eyes were full of expectation, "Your grandfather doesn't understand much and can't help you much. Read this book well. When you achieve a high - ranking on the imperial examination list, grandfather will give you a big red envelope!"
Pei Cijing gently stroked the cover with his fingertips.
A warm feeling welled up in his heart.
This book, which had been obtained with great difficulty, was so heavy. It wasn't filled with just paper and ink, but rather the old man's most sincere expectations for his grandson. Now, this heavy expectation was weighing on his shoulders.
He looked out of the window.
The sunlight shone through the window lattice, casting mottled shadows on the ground.
The branches of the wisteria in the courtyard had begun to turn green, and the small buds were bulging, as if they were about to burst open at any moment. They were just waiting for a spring breeze to turn the courtyard into a sea of green.
The spring imperial examination was approaching.
Even the plants were gathering strength.
But there was a layer of meaning in Pei Cijing's eyes that others couldn't understand. While others only saw the imperial examination, he saw deeper.
This spring imperial examination was testing the scholars from all over the country.
It was also testing the two princes.
The emperor's mind was the most unfathomable.
Pei Cijing couldn't quite figure out what the old emperor's intentions were for the moment. Was he really considering the Eighth Prince as a candidate worthy of great responsibility and giving him a helping hand based on his meritorious service in saving the emperor? Or was he just using the Eighth Prince as a whetstone to polish off the greenness of the Sixth Prince and pave the way for him to become the crown prince?
If it was the former, then the spring imperial examination would be a stage for the Eighth Prince to win the hearts of the people and show his sharpness.
If it was the latter, then the Eighth Prince would just be a training partner for the Sixth Prince. Once the whetstone had served its purpose, he would be discarded like an old shoe.
The difference in this measure was as small as a hair's breadth, but the consequences could be a thousand miles apart.
"What are you thinking about, husband?"
A soft voice came from behind, interrupting Pei Cijing's train of thought.
Shen Ninghuan walked in with a cup of tea in her hand. Her lotus - colored outer garment set off her fair skin. Her hair was loosely coiled up, and she only wore a simple white jade hairpin. The hairpin was pure and smooth all over. It was one of the simplest items in her dowry, but on her head, it looked more elegant than any precious jewelry.
She walked with a very graceful posture. Her steps were neither too fast nor too slow, like a cloud floating gently over. Her skirt swayed slightly, but made no sound at all.
Only the white jade pendant around her waist gently collided with each other as she walked, making a delicate, tinkling sound of jade hitting jade, like a wind chime under the eaves in spring.
Pei Cijing took the tea cup and took a sip. The temperature was just right - neither too hot nor too cold.
He still loved the tea brewed by his wife the most!
The tea was this year's new Longjing. It was clear, refreshing, and sweet. As soon as it entered his mouth, a bean - like fragrance spread on his tongue, making him feel much more refreshed.
He didn't hide anything and told her all his thoughts.
"This spring imperial examination is probably not that simple. Two princes are serving as deputy chief examiners. It's said to be for experience, but it's more like a competition. The old emperor is setting the stage for them to see who can put on a good show," he said as he placed the teacup on the table.
His fingertips gently tapped on the "Collected Works of Prime Minister Du," one tap after another, lost in thought.
"I'm just not sure whether the old emperor really wants to support the Eighth Prince or just uses him as a whetstone."
Shen Ninghuan sat down opposite him. After listening to these words, she was silent for a moment.
"Don't worry too early about the matter of the crown prince, husband," she said. Her voice was soft but clear, like the melting stream in spring. "Currently, the most important thing is the imperial examination itself. Only by passing the examination and making it onto the honor roll can one truly enter the court. Before that, over - thinking will only distract you and is not beneficial for your studies."
Pei Cijing nodded.
This made sense.
No matter what the old emperor thought and how the two princes fought openly and secretly, the most important thing for him at the moment was to do well in this examination.
Without a title of merit, he didn't even have the qualification to stand on the chessboard, let alone deal with the storms.
Shen Ninghuan paused for a moment and continued, "There's one thing that I've thought about again and again, and I still think I should remind you, husband."
"What's the matter?"
"During the time when the former crown prince was alive, the palace coup was planned for the Eighth Prince. Many of the things in it - " She raised her eyes to look at him. Her eyes were filled with a bit of solemnity and a trace of deeply hidden worry. "were disrupted by us."
Pei Cijing squinted his eyes slightly.
Shen Ninghuan continued, "If I hadn't given an early warning to the Huaqingyuan, the queen might not have been able to prepare in advance. If it weren't for your grandmother's advice to the guards to hold back that bullet - proof strong man, the queen would have been in great danger."
"The Eighth Prince won't care that we disrupted his good deeds to protect ourselves. All he needs to know is that the Marquis of Weiyuan's Mansion didn't side with him in this matter. After the palace coup, although he got the merit of saving the emperor, none of the people he originally planned to get rid of died. The queen is safe and sound, and the Sixth Prince also walked out of the Hanyuan Hall alive."
"He may not forget this grudge against the marquis's mansion."
She paused, and her tone became even more solemn. "This time, as the deputy chief examiner, he has the power to review papers and select scholars. Although he can't openly manipulate things, if he wants to cause trouble secretly and find an excuse to make things difficult for you, it's not impossible. Husband, we have to be on guard."
After listening, Pei Cijing's eyes turned slightly cold.
After a moment, he slowly nodded.
"I understand."
His voice was calm but carried a sense of composure.
He had the confidence!
If the Eighth Prince really dared to send someone to play dirty tricks, he, the master of traditional Chinese medicine and the martial arts master, was not a useless person.
He might not take the initiative to take someone's life, but if someone was really reckless, it wouldn't be difficult for him to make that person half - paralyzed for the rest of their life.
The titles of "master of traditional Chinese medicine" and "martial arts master" were not for nothing.
One was the skill of saving lives, and the other was the ability to take lives. He had both, but usually kept them hidden and didn't like to show off.
But if someone really bullied him, he wouldn't mind showing that person what "hiding one's capabilities" meant.
Pei Cijing silently calculated in his mind, but his face remained calm. He just picked up the teacup and took another sip of tea, looking calm and composed.
Seeing his appearance, Shen Ninghuan couldn't help but curl her lips.
This man always seemed lazy, but every time it came to a critical moment, he knew exactly what to do. Since he said "I understand," he really took it to heart.
It wasn't a perfunctory response, nor was it bravado.
"Don't be overly worried, husband," she said gently. Her tone was a bit more relaxed than before, with a hint of comfort. "The Eighth Prince isn't stupid. This spring imperial examination is a test for him and the Sixth Prince from the emperor. If he dares to openly retaliate against the marquis's mansion in the examination hall and make a big deal out of it, he'll be sacrificing the big for the small and ruining his own future."
"He shouldn't be so irrational."
Pei Cijing pondered for a moment and nodded in agreement.
"You're right, wife. If he really dares to mess around, not to mention that the Sixth Prince won't just stand by because Miss Cheng is still in our mansion. The right prime minister was sent to oversee the examination, presumably to keep an eye on things and prevent anyone from causing trouble and disrupting the selection of scholars."
He paused and added, "The emperor has been watching how the two princes perform in this spring imperial examination. Whoever goes too far will lose points in the old emperor's eyes."
"The Eighth Prince won't fail to understand this principle."
He stopped thinking about the struggle for the crown prince and the worry of being harmed. He reached out to open the "Collected Works of Prime Minister Du," planning to study it carefully and figure out Du Hui's writing style and political views.
Just as his hand touched the page, it was gently held down by Shen Ninghuan.
Her hand was slender and fair, with cool fingertips, but it firmly pressed on the back of his hand. The force was not heavy, but it made him unable to move.
Pei Cijing was stunned and looked up at her.
Shen Ninghuan's lips curled up slightly, and her eyes were filled with a soft smile. The smile spread from the corners of her eyes and was warmer than the sunlight outside the window.
"Don't be in a hurry to read. Let's pack up and go to the Shen Mansion together. Just now, my father sent a message asking us to have dinner there tonight."
Pei Cijing paused for a moment and immediately understood the meaning.
"Does your father have something important to tell me?"
Shen Ninghuan nodded with a smile. "It should be related to the imperial examination. Father has always been very concerned about your participation in the imperial examination. Summoning us back this time is mostly to test your knowledge and give you important instructions and advice."
Pei Cijing was touched.
His father - in - law, Shen Zhongcheng, was currently acting as the Minister of Personnel and was extremely busy.
Since the palace coup in the Crown Prince's residence, a large number of positions in the court had become vacant. From the six ministries to the local areas, there was a shortage of people everywhere. Those who had rebelled with the crown prince, those who had known about it but didn't report it, and those with ambiguous attitudes were being dealt with one after another, leaving countless empty positions.
His father - in - law left home before dawn every day and came back late at night. He was so busy that he hardly had time to sit down. Sometimes, he didn't even have time to eat a hot meal, and the official documents on his desk were always piled up like a small mountain.
Even so, he still occasionally set test questions for him and graded his essays.
For the few policy discussions he sent to the Shen Mansion a few days ago, his father - in - law graded them one by one. There were dense comments written after each essay, pointing out what was good, what needed improvement, and even marking the inappropriate word - usages. He even pondered over the usage of a single punctuation mark for a long time.
Pei Cijing remembered his efforts in his heart.
It would be great to get his advice now.
Pei Cijing closed the unopened collection, stood up to tidy his robe, and said with a bit of solemnity in his voice, "In that case, let's pack up and go to the Shen Mansion right away."
Shen Ninghuan also stood up. She straightened his collar, walked around to the back to adjust his belt. Her movements were delicate and natural. She slightly tiptoed to pick off a thin fallen hair on his shoulder, then took two steps back to look at him, and nodded in satisfaction.
"This outfit of yours is fine. You don't need to change. It's just a family dinner. Being too formal will make you feel uncomfortable."
Pei Cijing let her fuss over him.
"Stand still obediently."
However, the corners of his mouth involuntarily turned up.
Whatever his wife said, he just needed to listen obediently.
After the two of them got ready, they told Yuanbao to prepare the carriage and then walked out of Anleju hand in hand.
The twilight was gradually thickening. The last glow in the sky had also disappeared below the horizon, leaving only a faint orange-red light band, like a faded silk ribbon spread out at the end of the sky.
The lanterns on the streets were lit up one after another, like stars scattered on the earth. The sound of silk and bamboo instruments came from the restaurants and teahouses, mixing with the evening breeze and drifting far away.
The carriage rumbled out of the Marquis Mansion's gate, turned the corner at the alley, and merged into the flow of carriages and people on the long street. Occasionally, the wind would lift a corner of the carriage curtain, revealing the gradually lit lights outside, echoing with the small sheep - horn lamp inside the carriage. The lights flickered on and off, as if separated by a thin veil.
Pei Cijing leaned against the carriage wall, his eyes fixed on his wife's quiet profile.
Shen Ninghuan was lowering her head to tidy up her cuffs. Sensing his gaze, she looked up and smiled.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing." Pei Cijing also smiled and reached out to hold her hand. "I was just thinking about what kind of questions my father - in - law will come up with to test me tonight. I don't want to let you down in front of him."
Shen Ninghuan let him hold her hand and the corners of her lips curved. "What are you talking about? There's no such thing as losing face between you and me. Besides, don't you have confidence in the results of your hard study these days?"
Pei Cijing thought she was right.
From the essays that were marked all over with red ink at the beginning to the ones that could occasionally get an evaluation of "not bad" now, although the journey had been hard, it had also been steady.
He tightened his grip on her hand a little more.
He closed his eyes.
Leaning against the carriage wall to rest.
The wheels rolled over the bluestone road, making a rhythmic sound, like an old - fashioned ballad slowly humming in the night...
