WSMTATMC C173

Chapter 173

“Rumble… rumbles…” Dark clouds churned across the sky, and thunder rolled incessantly as the candidates in the Capital’s Imperial Examination Hall conducted their final reviews.

The nine-day-long provincial examination had been an immense trial for all participants. Minister of Rites Yan Song, one of the chief examiners, sat upright in his chair. Lifting his gaze to the sky, he frowned slightly at the threatening weather.

“What time is it?”

“Reporting to Your Excellency, it has already passed the hour of Si. In two more hours, the papers will be collected.”

The final day was grueling not only for the candidates but for the examiners as well. Once this day was endured, the provincial examination would be complete.

Yan Song rose to stretch his limbs and walked to the doorway. Fine rain fell like a delicate thread from the clouds, drenching the courtyard. Observing the candidates feverishly writing, he wondered which of them might emerge as the top scholar this year.

Chen Qingyan had already completed his answers and was now meticulously copying his final draft. True to expectation, the last essay question of the provincial examination closely followed current events: the Qiang and Turkic tribes had repeatedly raided the northern borders, troubling the populace. What strategies should one employ to achieve lasting peace and stability?

Before the exam, he had discussed this topic with Qinghuai and Changyi. Each of the three had shared their own perspectives.

Chen Qingyan composed a comprehensive essay, proposing measures such as achieving peace through decisive military action, fortifying borders, exploiting divisions among enemies, and using foreign powers to counter each other. His arguments were articulated with breadth and depth.

By the time he finished transcribing the last few characters, time was nearly up. At the sound of the gong, all candidates put down their brushes and sat upright on their stools, waiting for the exam proctors to collect their papers.

Due to the inclement weather, four attendants held oil-paper umbrellas over the exam papers, carefully placing them into boxes to prevent them from getting wet, after which they were entrusted to officials for submission to the Ministry of Rites for grading.

Once the examination concluded, the candidates filed out in long lines.

When Chen Qingyan emerged, he saw that Qinghuai and Changyi had already finished and were waiting beside the carriage for him.

“Big brother.”

“How was the exam?”

Qinghuai replied, “I think it went fairly well.”

“And Changyi?”

“Certainly better than the provincial exam,” said Qinghuai. Last time, Changyi had barely rested, collapsing from exhaustion immediately after leaving the examination hall. This time, well-rested and fully alert, his performance naturally exceeded that of the previous exam.

The results of the provincial examination would be released in five days. Those who passed would proceed to the palace examination, so the three of them needed to conserve their energy in the meantime.

Back at the Liu residence, Chen Qingyan bathed and changed into clean clothes. He then went to the experimental field to write a note to Wang Ying, informing him that he had completed the provincial exam and felt his performance had been satisfactory, adding that he would wait for the results in five days before attending the palace examination.

Wang Ying saw the note only that night. He had been so occupied with matters concerning the houses that he had almost forgotten about the provincial examination.

After reading the note, he picked up a brush to add a message beside it: “Rest well after the provincial examination. Do not be nervous during the palace exam. I hope you achieve a high rank in one go.”

After leaving the note, Wang Ying took out another ledger, which contained the property deeds for Zhenghe Street.

In recent days, many refugees had arrived in Jizhou from Xiguan. Ordinary townspeople, without travel permits and official documents, could not enter the city. Most of the refugees had instead taken detours to nearby villages and townships.

Merchants, however, traveled widely and generally carried the necessary permits and money, allowing them relatively easy access to Jizhou.

As more people entered the city, the demand for housing began to rise.

All the city inns were fully booked, and even the large communal dormitories had risen to fifty wen per day. The duration of the war remained uncertain, and long-term stays in inns were impractical. Many merchants began purchasing or renting houses in Jizhou.

It was reported that a two-courtyard house on Zhengtong Street had sold for six thousand taels of silver—double its previous value.

Property prices on Zhengyang Street had also risen. A house that Wang Ying had rented for one hundred eighty taels per year had now risen to four hundred.

Yet wealth remained limited; small merchants were reluctant to pay hundreds of taels in rent and instead sought houses along Zhenghe Street.

The houses Wang Ying had acquired earlier appreciated along with the market. Annual rents that had been ten taels now tripled to thirty.

This was not all; houses previously purchased for eighty taels could now sell for two to three hundred, doubling or tripling in value in an instant.

Wang Ying did not sell his houses immediately but first rented a few out, waiting for further increases in value before selling.

On the third day of the third month, the provincial examination results were announced.

The weather was unfavorable that year, and light rain began early in the morning. The three set out early for the Ministry of Rites, holding umbrellas as the fine spring drizzle pattered upon them.

“I wonder if I passed,” Liu Changyi felt uneasy. Only the top one hundred fifty candidates would advance, and based on his performance in the county exam, he feared he might fail.

Chen Qinghuai said, “Stop worrying. The exams are over; whatever the results, we must accept them.”

“Yes. Passing as a provincial scholar would already be remarkable. Many who never studied a lifetime would still fail.”

Liu Changyi was content. He had no lofty ambitions, having been indulged since childhood. The greatest hardship he had endured was simply studying. Failing the provincial exam would not matter; returning to Jizhou to be with his wife and child and living a modest life would still be satisfactory.

Many gathered to see the posted results, eagerly awaiting the red notice.

Around the hour of Chen, officials came to post the red list. As the cloth was unfurled, the first name read: Huang Yuanzhou… second place: Chen Qingyan of Jizhou Prefecture!

“Big brother took second place!” Chen Qinghuai and Liu Changyi leapt in excitement, drawing curious glances from bystanders.

Chen Qingyan took a deep breath, suppressing his exhilaration: “Calm down, you two, speak quietly.”

After the excitement, they hurriedly searched for their own names. Chen Qinghuai scanned in order; Liu Changyi started from the end, fearing that his provincial exam failure meant a low ranking.

Chen Qinghuai found his name in the eleventh position, ten places ahead of his county exam result.

Do not underestimate this ten-place improvement; if he performed steadily in the palace exam, this ranking would largely remain unchanged. Only the top three of the first class and the top ten of the second class could enter the Hanlin Academy.

The Hanlin Academy, also called the Imperial Academy of Talents, was a place to cultivate and reserve future officials. Admission granted opportunities to serve in the capital.

Take Chen Qingyan’s fourth uncle, Chen Jing, for example. Though he passed the second-class examination, he never entered the Hanlin Academy and spent years serving in distant posts. Even with outstanding achievements, he could not secure a position in the capital.

Chen Jing held high hopes for his son: to pass the examinations and remain in the capital. Chen Qinghuai did not disappoint, achieving a commendable result.

Overjoyed, Chen Qinghuai wept; Chen Qingyan patted his shoulder, saying, “You did very well this time. Later, we will write to our fourth uncle to inform him.”

“Mm.”

Liu Changyi had not yet found his name. Scratching his head, he counted each spot backward and had reached the fiftieth when he finally discovered it.

“Could it be… I failed?” Despite his preparation, he could not accept the possibility. He searched again and finally located his name at seventy-second place. “I passed! Big brother, I passed!”

“Which place?”

“Seventy-second!”

Chen Qingyan confirmed, “Seventy-second. Well done!”

Liu Changyi could hardly contain his joy. Based on this ranking, if his palace exam went smoothly, he was assured of a second-class placement.

The difference between the second and third classes was significant. Normally, second-class scholars were appointed directly to official posts, while third-class graduates had only supplementary positions available.

“I must hurry home and write to my wife and parents!”

“Let’s go, write the letter!” The three, all beaming, mounted the carriage.

Returning to the Liu residence, they coincidentally encountered Liu Yao, who had just returned from the court. He called out to ask about the provincial exam results.

Chen Qingyan and Chen Qinghuai needed no explanation—their nephews’ outstanding performance was evident. He was surprised that his nephew had made it into the top one hundred.

“Do well in the palace exam,” he said, hurrying off to his study.

Recently, it was clear that he had been busy; after returning from court, visitors arrived continuously each day, often discussing the war in the northwest. Sometimes, the noise could be heard from afar.

The three could not worry on his behalf and returned to their rooms to rest, preparing for the palace examination the next day.

At dawn the next day, Chen Qingyan rose early. Today was the palace examination, and they were to gather at the palace gates at the third quarter of the hour of Yin.

The three mounted the carriage and proceeded northward to the imperial palace, passing many other examination candidates along the way.

Arriving at the palace gates, they dismounted, shivering in the lingering chill of early spring.

Due to the lengthy duration of the palace exam, candidates were prohibited from eating or drinking to avoid any breach of decorum, which would be considered an offense.

“Qinghuai, over here!” Cai Jingqi waved from a short distance.

The three approached, joining other scholars from Laizhou.

“I knew you all would succeed!”

Chen Qinghuai replied with a smile, “Brother Jingqi, you did well too. I saw yesterday that you ranked thirteenth on the notice.”

“No, no, nowhere near Brother Qingyan’s level.”

During the county examination, Chen Qingyan had ranked third, causing quite a stir among academies. Previously unknown beyond Jizhou, he had suddenly surpassed many talented scholars to claim a top position.

This time, his performance in the provincial examination was even more outstanding, securing second place and drawing widespread attention.

After a brief reunion, the candidates formed a long line according to their provincial examination rankings. Chen Qingyan stood in the front alongside the first-place scholar, Huang Yuanzhou.

Both were young and handsome, their features refined. Their green scholarly robes and caps enhanced their stately appearance.

At the first quarter of the hour of Yin, palace attendants led the candidates through the side gate into the palace, beginning with lessons on proper ceremonial etiquette.

Inside the dimly lit palace, only a few lamps illuminated the surroundings, shrouded by the high walls in an aura of secrecy.

The candidates walked with heads lowered, following the attendants to the ceremonial hall in silence. They dared not speak, hearing only the rhythmic clatter of footsteps.

Those who reached this stage were no fools. Any affront to the nobility could have grave consequences.

Finally arriving at Wuyang Hall, the attendants halted. “Candidates, please wait here briefly. Officials will soon instruct you in the proper etiquette for greeting the Emperor.”

The candidates bowed respectfully. The attendants returned the gesture and departed, leaving the hundred candidates alone. They dared not move about and stamped their feet to keep warm while waiting for the etiquette officials.

By the end of the hour of Yin, the sky had begun to lighten, and the officials arrived. The Minister of Rites instructed them in how to kneel and perform all necessary ceremonies before the Emperor.

The candidates learned diligently, showing no negligence, until the third quarter of the hour of Chen, when the session concluded.

The Minister allowed them to rest briefly, awaiting entry into the main hall for the examination.

Chen Qingyan wiped the sweat from his brow, gazing at the slowly rising sun through the window. His excitement made his body tremble slightly—he was about to see His Majesty the Emperor!