ITIEQ C3

Chapter 3 – Enrollment Pamphlet

The donkey cart stopped at the side gate of the Vice Minister’s residence. The high wall, built of bricks and stone, tightly enclosed the compound, sealing it from the outside.

Shen Qinghe knocked on the gate. At once a young servant answered. The moment he saw who had come, his face changed drastically, and he rushed to run inside. Shen Qinghe, quick-eyed and swift-handed, grabbed the boy by the arm.

“Settle my cart fare first,” he said, pointing at the driver waiting outside.

…

Inside the Vice Minister’s mansion, the Lady of the House sat solemnly at the top seat. On both sides sat the four brothers and sisters. Shen Qinghe stood in the middle, all eyes upon him, like a man under interrogation.

It was almost amusing. He had not been interrogated in the Heavenly Prison; even though His Majesty had hidden barbs in his words, he had outwardly treated him with gentleness. Yet on returning home, he was immediately met with wolfish glares—it truly was interesting.

Shen Qinghe looked about. In the armchair with a screen back sat his father, Shen Zhao, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites,¹ and beside him his stepmother, Lady Qin.

The eldest sister was already married. On the left sat his second brother and fifth younger brother. On the right sat his fourth and sixth younger sisters. Over the years, Shen Zhao had married three times: his first wife bore him one daughter and one son before passing away. Shen Qinghe was the only child of the second wife, while the younger three were the blood children of the current wife, Lady Qin. Outside of these, there were still numerous half-siblings. Truly, it was a family rich in offspring.

Each of them had their own alliances and support. Only Shen Qinghe stood alone, without strength or backing. Among the sons, his elder brother was already a distinguished scholar and official, while his younger brother was clever and precocious, outstanding in talent. Shen Qinghe, the second son, was stuck in between, neither here nor there.

He thought to himself: No wonder no one in the family cared to include me. So naturally, I had to make friends outside—spending wealth to buy influence and donations to buy office.

Shen Zhao saw this disgraceful son still idly looking around, unashamed, and his anger flared. He shouted:

“We are a family of pure and noble descent! How could we produce a son who brings disgrace to his ancestors! Servants, bring the family rod!”

The so-called “family rod” was brought—seven inches long, as thick as a finger, made of black sandalwood. Its restrained gleam inspired fear at a glance, as if the skin would crack from a single strike.

Just then Lady Qin spoke: “Husband, anger harms the body.”

The eldest son, Shen Qingfeng, also interjected: “Father, calm yourself.”

Shen Zhao was tall and well-built, with refined features, bright eyes, and a neat beard. Even in middle age, he remained dignified and handsome; all his children were similarly outstanding. He turned in frustration, unable to fathom how this son of his turned out to be but a decorative pillow².

He scolded bitterly: “Hold out your hand!”

Shen Qinghe obediently stretched out his hand. Shen Zhao raised the rod to strike, but suddenly noticed the ring on his son’s finger. He froze.

“Well, even after staying in the Heavenly Prison, you still wear gold and jade?”

“Father, look more closely,” Shen Qinghe said.

Shen Zhao scowled. The others also turned to examine the ring. It was an excellent piece indeed—mutton-fat white jade, carved with pine and deer motifs, with ‘Ten Thousand Years of Life, Bestowed Blessings’³ engraved at the base.

It was an imperial ring, bestowed only upon emperors!

“You—how could you have such a thing!” Shen Zhao exclaimed.

Shen Qinghe tilted his head back, watching the shock play across their faces: “Of course His Majesty gave it to me. He said I was wrongfully accused, that I had performed great service, and that I was a talent above the common flock.”⁴

Everyone was startled. Even the poised Lady Qin trembled enough to rattle the porcelain cup in her hand. The sisters gawked. Was this a joke? Shen Qinghe—praised as exceptional?

Shen Zhao, naturally, did not believe. He knew what sort of person his son was.

“Father,” Shen Qinghe said innocently, “His Majesty himself praised me. Yet as soon as I come home, you beat and scold me, even brandishing the rod. How have I wronged Father? My heart is shattered, it truly is.”

“You—”

Before he could finish, a servant of the household rushed into the hall. Seeing Shen Zhao still holding the rod over his son, he hesitated a moment, but then hastily reported: “Master, he passed—our young master has passed!”

Shen Zhao blinked, confused: “Passed what?”

The servant, puzzled at the family’s looks of shock rather than joy, repeated: “Second Young Master has passed the imperial exam for the county degree⁵!”

Shen Qinghe himself was surprised—it seemed the emperor had gone further than expected. Quickly straightening his expression, he waved modestly:

“Nothing much. Just the provincial exam, no great difficulty. Why do you all look so surprised? Surely no one here would fail the exam, right?”

Everyone was overwhelmed with mixed feelings. Their gazes toward him changed completely.

Shen Zhao’s hand, frozen mid-swing with the rod, trembled. Unsure of what to do, he coughed twice, ordered the rod put away, then stroked his beard, saying lightly: “Do not let pride and arrogance take root.”

The atmosphere was stuck in awkward silence. Shen Qinghe, always cheerful and considerate, decided to ease the tension.

“It feels a bit embarrassing to say, but even I think I’m rather clever. If I had read a few more books, perhaps I could have even aimed for top scholar⁶. Father, surely passing counts as something less than bringing disgrace to the ancestors?”

“…”

“Haha, I jest, I jest. The ancestors had broad hearts, they would not mind. But truly, these days of stress have left me weary and worn.” He beamed as he finished.

…

Leaving the hall casually, Shen Qinghe stepped out to find Lü Song waiting at the door. The youth’s eyes reddened the instant he saw his master.

Shen Qinghe motioned hastily: “I just passed the exam, yet you look sadder than ever. You little crybaby.”

“I am happy, Young Master. It’s tears of joy.” Lü Song wiped his cheeks, half laughing through the tears.

Returning to the courtyard, Nan Hong greeted them with steaming bathwater already prepared, charcoal brazier glowing, ready to wash away ill omens from his master.

After bathing, Shen Qinghe found the table laid with rich dishes. He invited his two close servants to sit and eat together. He had always been easygoing with them, and they were both loyal as precious stones.

After dinner, Shen Qinghe revealed his intent: he asked them to bring out all his private property.

Stacks of land deeds were laid upon the table. Shen Qinghe clicked his tongue—truly wealthy indeed, a genuine rich second-generation heir!

Nan Hong, fearing his master found the pile too scant, sighed: “It used to be more. But in recent years, Young Master often hosted feasts and horse races. The silver flowed like water… now only half remains.”

His maternal grandfather had been a wealthy Jiangnan merchant, and the ample dowry his mother brought had left him a deep private treasury.

Looking at the heap of deeds like a small mountain of gold, Shen Qinghe wrestled with himself, struggling, before finally sighing: “Well. Money is useless without a life to spend it. I really am destined for hard labor.”

He picked out the deed to a three-courtyard residence, drew upon paper with brush and ink, and gave it to his attendants: “I trust no one else but you two. Bring in some competent craftsmen. Follow this design. Renovate the house.”

They accepted the somewhat abstract sketch, confused, but obeyed without question.

Alone again, Shen Qinghe lounged by the window couch. Sunlight fell on his jade-like features; he half closed his eyes in drowsy comfort.

Suddenly, the system chime rang.

【Imperial Ink still wet, the Emperor’s favor renewed. Congratulations, host, on completing the first stage mission: achieving examination honors!】

【Beginning second-stage main mission: Testing the Waters. The fate of the nation rests upon all. Please, host, take the next step upon the official road, and shine amidst the treacherous seas of power!】

Shen Qinghe kicked the window shut with a bang.

“System, this is not good. Not good at all.”

System: ? What is not good?

Hands behind his head, Shen Qinghe said: “I thought I could retire early with this crossing, live a life of ease. But alas—leaning on mountains, they collapse; leaning on men, they depart. The Emperor plans to strike at the aristocratic clans. My father, as the Ministry of Rites’ overseer of the examinations, and belonging to one of the proud ‘pure-stream’⁷ families—just look at that. What better target could there be?”

“If I don’t gain some ability for myself, forget retirement—I’ll end up back in prison again.”

System: “That is simple. With the classics and tomes I hold across a thousand years, we can surely carve a blood-soaked path through the bureaucracy.”

Shen Qinghe chuckled slyly: “No, no. Too old to compete. Let others fight. Your library of books—keeping it to myself is too stingy. Better to enjoy together than alone.”

Then he changed his tone.

“Interested in doing something big?”

…

Never in two lifetimes had Shen Qinghe been so idle. Not only did he pass the exam and gain His Majesty’s attention, even Lady Qin had grown more attentive to him. His father, Shen Zhao, actually started to suspect that his seemingly frivolous son was secretly a hidden genius—so he frequently sent him good paper, brushes, ink, to encourage study. Only to be angered again and again at his son’s lazy disregard.

Thus a month passed: eating, drinking, strolling. Meanwhile, the renovations he ordered had taken shape. Visiting the site himself, Shen Qinghe grew excited, personally writing four large characters: “Qingbei Academy.”

Lü Song frowned: “Young Master, these characters…”

Shen Qinghe gave him a thumbs up: “Sharp eye. Just hearing the name, doesn’t it feel like a place with a great future?”

Utterly pleased, he ordered Lü Song to make the signboard bold and noticeable, so big that one could see it from across the street.

He then drafted a flamboyant flyer and had Nan Hong make hundreds of prints, sending servants to distribute them specifically to those students queueing at noble houses with their writings. Everyone must get one—if anyone missed it, it would mean poor advertising.

Nan Hong, from a scholarly family, decided to painstakingly copy over Shen Qinghe’s strange handwriting before printing them.

The next day, every household shut tight, long queues of students at mansion gates received this curious pamphlet—

【Enrollment Pamphlet:

At the foot of the Son of Heaven, here stands the Summit Academy.

Scenic views of water, enjoy the highest noble privilege.

Galleries of landscape, a paradise of learning.

Elite teachers, ancestral classics as guides.

Cradle of Top Scholars, seedbeds of Prime Ministers.

Leading the times, at the forefront of education.

Qingbei Academy awaits you!

(Now presenting our “Imperial Exam Deluxe Package”⁸—limited seats, first come, first served.)

Address: end of Sajin Alley, Qingbei Academy】

The students murmured.

“Qingbei Academy? Does it relate to the Yue family’s Shangqing Academy?”

“Never heard of it before.”

“Enrollment pamphlet… does that mean they are admitting students?”

In these turbulent times, official schools had long since crumbled, while private academies flourished. Yet such schools were more like noble academies: not only did they charge exorbitant fees, but they prized family heritage. Commoners could never enter.

Why labor away at home study? Because the great clans had accumulated generations of writings by scholars and masters. Ordinary families only had access to flawed copies circulating in the markets. That was why the so-called “five surnames and seven clans”⁹ haughtily regarded themselves above all, holding sway over education.

Thus, this “Qingbei Academy,” claiming to welcome poor students, stirred hearts.

Some immediately abandoned their queues and rushed toward Sajin Alley. Soon, the noble mansions’ doorsteps, once crowded with scholars, were half deserted.

But at the academy’s gate, all were shocked. Above the door hung a gaudy golden signboard, its characters scrawled like worms. Unlike lofty academies hidden in forests, this one sat in a noisy marketplace.

“Summit Academy”? It was just a dusty courtyard. “Scenic views”? Only an uncleared pond. “Galleries of landscape”? No such thing in sight. Clearly a fraud.

Shen Qinghe emerged unhurried, hair like ink, lips stained with vermilion, clad in smoke-blue robes, holding a folding fan, his appearance elegant, so unlike the disheveled scholars panting from hurrying.

“Greetings, gentlemen.” He bowed politely. Noting their skepticism, he added, “This is a newly founded school. The environment may be as you see. For now, I alone teach here. If you wish to try, you may stay. If you doubt, you may leave.”

Seeing how young he was, and his appearance like any idle aristocrat, most felt deceived—that this was merely a rich youth making sport at their expense. One, furious, even declared: “A boy like you is unworthy to discuss the Way!” and stalked off.

One after another, groups of students departed.

At the end, only seven remained. Their patched clothing and worn shoes showed them to be the poorest of the poor.

Without a word, Shen Qinghe only smiled when he saw their resolve. Then he spoke:

“Despised by all, yet little do they know: every arrogant man who thinks himself able proves to be capable of nothing.”

He waved his fan with ease and told the seven:

“Come with me. Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west—the day of your glory has yet to come.”

Footnotes:

1. Ministry of Rites (禮部, Lǐbù): One of the six ministries in imperial China, responsible for education, examinations, and rituals.

2. “Decorative pillow” (繡花枕頭): An idiom meaning “beautiful outside, useless inside.”

3. “Ten Thousand Years of Life, Bestowed Blessings” (萬壽進福): A phrase associated with imperial longevity and blessings, carved only on objects belonging to the Emperor.

4. “逸群之才”: Literally “talent above the group,” indicating extraordinary ability.

5. “Passing the provincial exam” (中舉): Refers to becoming a juren (舉人), the degree achieved before jinshi (進士, metropolitan graduate). Step below the highest exam but a great honor.

6. “Top Scholar (狀元)”: The single highest-ranking candidate in the imperial jinshi examination. A position of immense prestige.

7. “Pure-stream (清流) families”: Aristocratic gentry who prided themselves on moral integrity and scholarly tradition, seeing themselves as uncorrupt defenders of Confucian orthodoxy.

8. “Imperial Exam Deluxe Package”: Clearly Shen Qinghe’s playful invention mocking private tutors charging for exam prep in modern commercial jargon.

9. “Five surnames and seven clans (五姓七望)”: Powerful aristocratic clans in medieval China, who preserved dominance in politics and education across generations.