163-170

Chapter 163: Spring Wind and Rain Enters the Imperial Exams [1]

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

The sun slowly rose, lessening the chill in the air of the exam hall. The nervous students finally had a chance to warm themselves. They rubbed their hands endlessly to make sure that their handwriting on the page did not appear too stiff; penmanship was one grading criterion for the examination paper, so although the exam had already started a while ago, many of them were still only making mental notes and weren't in a hurry to start putting pen to paper. It seemed that many of the scholars in the exam hall had experienced suffering of their own.

Fan Xian strolled through the exam hall with a smile on his face, his feet not making a sound so as not to disturb the candidates' thoughts. Strangely, what they usually feared most when writing their essays was an examiner passing behind them or looking their examination papers up and down. But when these students discovered that the one who had stopped to observe them was the brilliant and distinguished Master Fan at the entrance to the exam, they could not help but feel their self-confidence increase ever so slightly.

Fan Xian did not seem like the other two examiners, who supervised them with solemn faces; instead, a faint smile hung on his face, and so every student who dared to lift their head to look at Fan Xian felt that the smile on young Master Fan's face encouraging them.

Having patrolled every part of the exam hall, Fan Xian returned to the corner gate where Mu Tie was waiting for him with some well-steeped tea. He watched him take his seat, then laughed and spoke in a low voice. "This is rather boring. Master Fan, it's fitting that you've chosen to rest here. You have a connection to the outside world from here near the corner gate, so it's not so difficult."

Fan Xian smiled. If he were really to return to the main hall and sit down with Minister Guo, perhaps the minister would not be pleased. Fan Xian wouldn't feel comfortable either. Sipping his tea, he recalled something odd. The Crown Prince had given him a list of six names, but He Zongwei's name was not among them. After he had entered the capital, he had learned that He Zongwei was a student of the Grand Secretariat and that he was secretly an official in the Eastern Palace. Logically, he should now be sitting in the civil service exam.

He temporarily put the issue aside, casting his gaze over the countless separate little heavy doors, and then to the innermost part of the exam hall. He though up a slightly absurd notion; if he had not used his drunken stupor to frenziedly recite Li Bai and create the poetry anthology, then he would not be sitting here watching over the testers. Life really wasn't a level playing field.

If those students who were scribbling away knew the results of these grand examinations would be sorted through by the major players in the royal court and in the palace like watermelons, how would they feel?

Time seemed to go so very slowly. Fan Xian was already close to falling asleep in his chair at the corner gate before he discovered that the sun had risen in the sky. The relevant government offices had sent men with lunches, and someone was there to greet them at the corner gate. After they had carefully inspected the tableware and found that nothing was amiss, they delivered six boxes of food to the central hall.

Fan Xian went into the central hall to eat lunch with the other masters and listen to them describe their mornings. They had reprimanded a cheating student in the southeast corner. The supervisor shook his head and sighed. "I have seen cheating students, but I have never seen a student cheat so blatantly like that. To go so far as to overtly copy from an entire book of essays hidden underneath the writing desk, presuming that the curtains around them mean that no one will discover them. They had no idea that the officials around them have sharp eyes."

Guo You, Director-General of the civil service exam and Director of the Board of Rites, suddenly frowned. "How did they bring the book in?"

Fan Xian knew that this was his mistake. He smiled. "The security checks were going too slowly, and the official from the Overwatch Council was pressing us for time, so I was slightly worried. I feared breaching the time limits set by His Majesty, so I made a careless mistake. I ask your forgiveness, sir." He was asking for forgiveness, but was also foisting half the blame onto the Overwatch Council. It was very slippery slope.

Guo You looked at him and harrumphed, but did not give him any trouble. After all, this was something that was inevitable in every generation of imperial exams. He could not attack Fan Xian for it. He simply spoke quietly. "This is young Master Fan's first experience with this. He is inexperienced. You should all be helping him out."

Fan Xian smiled and cupped his hands in salute to the other officers around him, particularly to his superior at the Imperial College. "Principal, please forgive my ignorance. I ask for your guidance."

The principal, Secretary Shu of the Imperial College, was the one who had been glared at by His Majesty that night in the palace hall,. He was a student of Zhuang Mohan, but had always worked for the glory of the people of the Kingdom of Qing, so he did not remember the incident where Fan Xian had made Zhuang Mohan spit blood with any malice. Instead, he chuckled and pointed at Fan Xian. "Dear academic, if you are ignorant, then who in the Kingdom of Qing could dare call themselves knowledgeable?"

The other administrators and supervisors also laughed and poked fun at Fan Xian. "The greatest scholar in the illustrious Kingdom of Qing. If you weren't an astonishing scholar, young master Fan, you should now be in the hall writing at astonishing speed, gnawing at dry bread in hunger, rather than sit here with us eating lunch."

Even Guo You could not help but laugh at this. Fan Xian himself did not have an ounce of self-confidence in his own scholarly talent. But it seemed that no matter whether it was in the bureaucracy, or the entire nation, everyone else had far more confidence in Fan Xian than he did.

The students in the exam hall were still nervously scribbling away. The daylight began to fade, and Fan Xian strolled around the hall a few times, looking at everyone's test papers. He saw that a few of them were truly talented, and could not help but stop and look. Although in Danzhou he had read the scriptures of this world, he had not thought that he would be taking the official exams to enter a career, so when it came to composing such essays, he feared he would be worse off than most. But after all, he had lived in two worlds; it was somewhat of an exaggeration to say he read extensively, but he had a particular way of looking at things.

He secretly memorized the names of those people, then strolled to the corner gate and faked a yawn. Cocking his head, he found that Mu Tie was almost asleep as he leaned to one side on the chair. He couldn't help but laugh. This Mu Tie was a clever person, and extremely capable. Otherwise, Chen Pingping would not have made him head of the First Bureau. But his integrity was somewhat lacking. Perhaps he had only just learned how to flatter. Every time he saw Fan Xian he would be greatly respectful, and for some reason this made Fan Xian feel somewhat uncomfortable.

"Master, the corner gate must not be opened." Seeing the intermediary Fan Xian walk to the side of the corner gate, there was an uncomfortable look on the Overwatch Council officials' face. He blocked the way. "Other than for deliveries of food and water, the corner gate must remain closed."

"I am aware of that rule," Fan Xian laughed. "I just wanted to have a look around, and see if there's anything fun."

His talk seemed somewhat odd and not in accordance with decorum. In the Emperor's civil service exams of this mighty nation, Fan Xian was an examiner, and yet he wanted to look for amusement in the exam hall. But what was strange was that this official, hearing his words, also smiled in response. "There's a lot of fun to be had in the exam hall. Come around later."

Fan Xian was quiet as he looked at the official's ordinary-looking face. Suddenly he spoke. "Is it you I should be looking for?"

"Correct, Commander." The official lowered his head.

Fan Xian looked him in the eyes. He knew that this official was not of high status within the Overwatch Council, but he certainly was placed here as Chen Pingping's trusted aide. He couldn't help but smile. "Did Master Chen specify a time?"

"After the civil service exams, within three days," replied the official quietly.

"Very well, I still have something that requires your help. I need to check the background of a few people." Fan Xian told the official the names of the people he had memorized. "Don't look into their family background, just their conduct."

"Understood," said the official quietly. "Commander, if you could show me your token?"

Fan Xian took out the Overwatch Council commander's token from his waist, the one that had helped him countless times. The official took a look at it. "Have you memorized them?" Fan Xian asked gently.

"I have," replied the official, "but I will have to report this to the director."

"I understand." Fan Xian smiled warmly. "Before the exam papers are sealed, I want your report back."

"Yes sir."

"Do I need to know your name?"

"No need," said the official quietly. "I am but a lowly official of the Council. I dare not waste your faculties remembering my name."

The Crown Prince wanted to arrange for his backers of many years to be within the court. Perhaps the Great Prince was the same. As for his father-in-law and the Bureau of Military Affairs, it was the typical path of the corrupt official. Thinking about this, Fan Xian couldn't help but laugh bitterly. His own father-in-law was still not willing to make things easier for him.

But he understood that this was the normal state of affairs of the bureaucracy, and what he was about to do was rather unusual.

Fan Xian sighed slightly. In a few years, when he was older, should he also arrange for his own backers to enter the seeming playground of the bureaucracy? But at the moment, he had no way to do such a thing. The most important thing was to coordinate with the Overwatch Council and make sure that the civil service exams were dealt with properly. He didn't want to give himself too much trouble.

After his "speech-paper" had successfully ousted the eldest princess from the palace, he had wanted to make sure everything was a bit more stable. If it wasn't for the powerful tricks of the Eastern Palace trying to pull him closer, perhaps he still could manage it. And he considered his own plans to be low-risk. Whether it was his own overt power, the grandmaster who stood behind him in the shadows, or the terrifying Council, they were all powers that most people were yet to understand. He believed that as long as he did not interfere with the most basic interests of the royal family of the Kingdom of Qing, then in this seemingly formidable but actually mutually restrictive bureaucracy, he had great prospects for the future.

After his rebirth, he had lived for a good while, and he could not back down too much. Otherwise, would he not have wasted the efforts of the many interesting helpers his mother had left behind for him? Why couldn't he do the same things that the princes and the high officials did? Not only did he want to do them, he wanted to do them beautifully.

"At heart, I really am shameless." Fan Xian looked at the hall full of suffering students, and a smile arose on his face. "If a monk paws at the nun, then why can't I? Not only do I want to paw at the nun, I want to make sure that the monk can't." [2]

[1] "Spring Wind and Rain" is a Chinese idiom referring to the long-term influence of a solid education.

[2] A reference to Lu Xun's The True Story of Ah Q; the protagonist is the loser Ah Q, who bullies a nun to make himself feel better, accusing her of sleeping with a monk and trying to molest her by saying "if the monk paws at you, why can't I?"

Chapter 164: You're Confused, I'm Confused… Everybody's Confused [1]

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

"Troublemaker!"

Chen Pingping mumbled the insult, and the heads of the Overwatch Council felt a slight twinge of fear seeing the Director's anger. Chen Pingping pulled down the blanket over his knees and coughed. His messy white hair was not all that appealing to look at. "The Council regulations are extremely clear. We do not stick our noses in palace affairs, except on the Emperor's orders."

Fourth Bureau head Yan Ruohai forced a smile and shook his head. "Unfortunately, it really can't be helped. Before, we were checking for cheating in the imperial exams. But this sort of thing happens in the highest echelons, and we don't have enough people in those positions. It's hard to find the thread. Now that we have these names, we can follow the thread, and it shouldn't be difficult to find the official behind this. I just did not expect it to lead us to the Eastern Palace."

Internal discussions in the Overwatch Council had always been extremely bold and full of biting criticism. Except for their unparalleled loyalty to His Majesty, these secret police chiefs did not care in the slightest about the people around them.

Chen Pingping pushed his wheelchair over to the window, his white hair standing out against the black curtain, appearing especially clear as he said, "This commissioner's order is truly something. Last night His Majesty finally decided to look into this year's exam hall scandal. He has sent quite a gift."

Yan Ruohai was also thoroughly curious about this commissioner, whom he had never laid eyes on. He was not sure how he had gotten hold of this list of names. "We should look into it as soon as possible," he said quietly.

"Mm." Chen Pingping waved a hand, dismissing the gathered subordinates and sending them back to making arrangements for the big operation that was to happen in a few days' time. But Yan Ruohai stayed behind, and some time later, he spoke coldly. "There are plenty of people who know this commissioner's identity, so there is no way to keep this a secret. His Majesty wishes to ensure that the Crown Prince can save face, so we cannot move against the person in the Eastern Palace."

"And the Prime Minister?" Yan Ruohai had a sudden thought. Guessing at the commissioner's identity, he couldn't help but feel rather shocked.

Chen Pingping narrowed his eyes. "So you know who it is. Of course, we cannot move against his father-in-law no matter what, as you well know."

"The truth is that we can't move against any of these people." Yan Ruohai laughed bitterly. "Apart from the Crown Prince, one is a noble of the palace, one is the Prime Minister, and one is a senior figure in the Bureau of Military Affairs. The Council has always had a good relationship with the military. We can't sever it for the sake of such small matters."

"Mm." Chen Pingping let out a grunt. "We must move on these three threads. But we cannot follow them to their source, or there will be repercussions throughout all levels of society. Even His Majesty would be unable to escape it. These people are officials. Perhaps they have guessed that the Emperor does not have complete control over his officials as a result of the exam hall scandal and have become much more brazen recently."

He suddenly laughed, but there was a coldness in his smile. "But they didn't expect that someone might be even more brazen then they are. Someone has sold them out."

Yan Ruohai frowned. "Commissioner Fan has acted inappropriately here. When there are so many nobles transgressing like this, where does it end?"

"This is what he is doing by giving me this." It wasn't clear whether Chen Pingping's expression was one of fury or madness, but he was clearly not in a good mood. "He knows that the old man can't allow him to be at the heart of the struggle, and so that is why he gave me this list of names. He is telling me that he does not wish to be led around by the nose, and he wants me to help deal with this!"

Yan Ruohai did not dare say anything, but he felt rather alarmed. What really was the relationship between Director Chen and Count Sinan's eldest son? Why Would he all of a sudden act like this? And looking at his master's face, it looked as if he was really going to go along with Fan's plan.

Chen Pingping calmed himself down, then suddenly burst out laughing, though the laughter was barbed and ugly-sounding. "Interesting. Truly, truly interesting."

"What benefit does it bring Commissioner Fan to act like this?" asked Yan Ruohai, curious.

"There are always a few strange people in this world who do not act in their own self-interest." Chen Pingping seemed to have recalled something, and a rarely seen look of reverence appeared on his face. It was a look that Yan Ruohai had never seen on Chen Pingping's face, not even when he had met with the Emperor.

"Sir, if I may ask, how high up does this exam scandal go?"

Chen Pingping lifted his head slightly. "His Majesty feels that the Guo family has been in charge of the Board of Rites long enough."

"Understood."

"Currently there is no one at the First Bureau. Mu Tie is not clever enough, so I will put you in charge."

"Yes, sir."

The civil exams had reached the third round. Fan Xian dabbed at the corner of his eyes with a warm wet cloth, and found that the past few days had really left him feeling fatigued. The sleep in his eyes had increased, and he couldn't help but laugh bitterly as he stood up and stretched. He took a scrutinizing look at the students who were bent over asleep at their desks. If he had found it this hard just to be their examiner, he felt even more pity for the students.

This was the last day of the civil service exams. Fan Xian had already spent several days inside the exam hall located in the second office of the Ministry of Rites. Although they had frequently sent food and other revitalizing things from home, his body and mind were both extremely fatigued. He yawned and walked up to where Yang Wanli was to take a close look. Over the next few days, he discovered that this Yang Wanli was a very committed student. The things that he had wedged into his clothes had not moved an inch. He couldn't help but feel pleased.

What particularly surprised him was that Yang Wanli seemed to have a truly talented mind. Though his commentary were not completely without reproach, and his opinions did not fall on any overtly political line, they were conscientious, unadorned, and were very much in line with Fan Xian's own temperament. The nameless official from the Overwatch Council returned with his report. Yang Wanli was from a poor family. As a child, he had studied at a clan school in Quanzhou. His performance in the provincial exams had been excellent, and Fan Xian had uncovered his cheating, so he was inevitably more careful.

Yang Wanli had now finished the final exam question, and with tiredness across his face, he was checking to make sure he had not made any slip-ups. Out of the corner of his eyes, he caught a glimpse of young Master Fan once more coming toward him, and he couldn't help but feel nervous.

Although he was in the exam hall, Fan Xian obviously could not talk to any of the students. But having gone through days of torment, Yang Wanli's state of mind was somewhat distracted. Boldly, he took hold of his lapels, staring miserably at Fan Xian. It seemed that he was asking the young examiner a question: How had Fan Xian discovered the things he was hiding earlier in the exam hall?

Fan Xian couldn't restrain his smile. Was this how he made the most of his scholarly talent? It was inappropriate to speak with him; he only used the forefinger of his right hand to gently point at Yang Wanli's bedclothes.

Yang Wanli was confused and looked down. All he could see were the bedclothes lumped together behind him that looked like a big black jujube. Then he looked at the long satin gown he was wearing, which, while unwashed for several days, still projected an air of nobility. His heart skipped a beat as he realized how he had slipped up. How could an exam candidate wearing such a freshly washed silk gown carry such a dirty pile of bedclothes into the exam hall?

He couldn't help but laugh at his foolishness.

Fan Xian smiled. He had made his decision. With his hands behind his back, he strolled away.

It was night time, and the students were gradually making their way out of the exam hall at the Ministry of Rites. After several grueling days, they were on the verge of fainting, yawning incessantly, their bodies stinking, and their faces heavy with a dazed expression. There were still a few students left over who wrote slowly, bent over their desks chewing on their writing brushes. Some others had fallen asleep in the lamplight; it was still not yet time, so none of the examiners had come to deal with them.

Suddenly, there was the sound of a gong in Tongtuo Alley by the side of the Ministry of Rites. It sounded crisp and clear, and was seemingly meant to awaken all of the nighttime city.

"Your time is up; students, please put down your writing brushes."

Shouting loudly, the officials of the Ministry of Rites began to clear the hall, clearing out those students who had still yet to put down their writing brushes. There was one candidate in his forties, his hair already white, who had yet to finish the questions. He howled in despair as he refused to leave his writing desk, until eventually he was pitifully dragged out by some officers of the Overwatch Council.

They could still hear his sobbing some time later. It was not easy to listen to as it echoed all around outside the exam hall of the Ministry of Rites.

Fan Xian sighed. He had no sympathy. This world and that world were the same; whether you were able and suitable to do something depended entirely on your own effort, and nothing more. It was not that he was heartless, but as he saw it, their tests were finished, and his test... well, that had only just begun.

On the night that the civil service exams concluded, the scrolls had to be sealed; this was Fan Xian's job. The chief examiner, two examiners and two supervisors were all high-ranking court officials, and they did not dare leave. They all waited as Fan Xian led people in sealing the examinees' names on their examination papers and making copies of the answers. Then they could seal the papers and signed them.

The candles shone bright and clear on the busy scene within the second office of the Ministry of Rites. Outside, dozens of functionaries separated the exam papers and arranged them. In another room, Fan Xian rubbed his temples as he watched the officials from the Ministry of Rites seal the names on the papers.

Before all the test papers had been sealed, they had to be sent over to Fan Xian. Fan Xian did not dare show the slightest neglect, and he carefully pored over the names on each test paper, affixing corresponding names to the four sheets of paper. Some time later, he had gone through dozens of test papers, inconspicuously placing them on his right hand side.

By his side, the two officials from the Ministry of Rites lowered their heads and looked at each other. They knew that these dozen or so papers had been called for specifically by higher-ups in the palace and the royal court.

Having finished this, Fan Xian beckoned them over and indicated that they were to begin sealing them. The two officials from the Ministry of Rites did not dare miss a thing, and they quickly began covering over the names and birthplaces of candidates on the sheets with paper.

Fan Xian also didn't arouse suspicion, looking carefully to the side, eventually discovering how these officials of the Kingdom of Qing carried out such matters. It turned out that as they sealed the test papers he had gone through, the slips of paper they were using when pasting names were slightly shorter than the paper they used on the other exam sheets for the pasted names of the average sentence.

Watching the officials from the Ministry of Rites solemnly paste short slips of paper onto the exam papers he had gone through, Fan Xian couldn't stop himself from smiling. If Guo You knew that not these papers were from candidates hand-picked by the palace - that some of them were talented students that he had chosen personally, such as that foolish Yang Wanli - how angry would old Guo be?

But he did not know that if his little trick fell into the hands of the Overwatch Council, Minister Guo would perhaps not even have the chance to get angry.

Chapter 165: A Clap of Thunder

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

As the strips of paper being pasted onto the exams only differed very slightly in length, one would not notice anything unusual at just a glance. But if you were one of the officials making copies, who knew what was going on, you would be able to notice the difference. After Fan Xian saw that Yang Wanli's scroll had been affixed with a short strip of paper, he inexplicably felt quite pleased. He shook his head and laughed and couldn't help but say something. "Even if they've been chosen, when they're being copied out, how do you make the seal?"

The official next to him laughed a little uneasily. He knew that this new guy didn't have a good understanding of the customs, and responded carefully. "Young Master Fan, when copying, as long as the characters have been written with skill, then the examiner marking the papers will understand."

Fan Xian had a sudden realization. "That way even if the marker doesn't know who it is, they know it is the correct person," he exclaimed in admiration.

"Yes, master," replied the official from the Ministry of Rites politely, all the while silently cursing this talented youngster in his head who still did not know the customs of the bureaucracy.

At the same time, Fan Xian silently cursed these people's stupidity. If it weren't for the unbridled arrogance of the officials of the Kingdom of Qing, this custom - full of loopholes - would not have continued for so many years, and he couldn't exploit the loopholes himself to allow the true scholars to do something.

Of course, he understood, the reason that the whole bureaucratic system had tacitly agreed on this method was because whether or not they were political enemies, they had all tacitly agreed to this method of sorting. Save for madmen, no one in the system dared to rock the boat.

In truth, the Eastern Palace and the major players, even including the Prime Minister, had other methods of arranging such things. But they all happened to have found him by chance. One reason was because the proctor was in charge of sealing names; it was an important step in the cycle. Another reason was that other than Prime Minister Lin, they all wanted to see what Fan Xian's approach would be.

Fan Xian's approach was very simple: screw that. After all, no one could turn from an easygoing disposition to violent resentment like Fan Xian. After all, no one had as good a father as Fan Xian did, or a mother like Princess Iron Fan.

After a busy night, the civil service exams that decided the lives of countless scholars finally came to an end. Many officials gathered in the main hall, rubbing their tired eyes, listening to the exam director and Minister of the Board of Rites Guo You's admonishment of his subordinates.

After a raft of arguments lacking new ideas and lies about collecting material for the nation, Guo You, somewhat fatigued, waved a hand and allowed the subordinate bureaucrats to depart. Afterward, he looked kindly at Fan Xian. "Thank you for troubling yourself with this these past few days, young Master Fan."

"It was no trouble at all, sir," said Fan Xian with a vigorous smile. "Besides, I am still young."

Guo You smiled. "Everyone has gone to some trouble." At that moment, the high-level officials in the hall all understood the inside story of this year's exams, and the ones who had benefited from it had not only been Guo You and the two head examiners. Even Fan Xian was unaware that over the past few days, the sum of silver that he deserved had been sent to Fan Manor. The sum was even more formidable than half a year's profit from the Danbo Bookstore.

Over the several days of the examination, the whole exam hall had been filled with the unpleasant odor of urine and sweat. Fan Xian, standing on the stone platform, held his nose and looked at the dark exam hall. A satisfied smile floated across his face. He had come to this world many years ago now. He knew that he wanted to live, but he did not know how he should live; until he had made the firm resolution to do this sort of thing. He had discovered that simply being a generally good person was quite satisfying.

Of course, being a good person does not mean being unwilling to offend anyone.

Officials from the three departments had gathered up the exam papers. Under the command of a palace eunuch, and the protection of the palace guards, the Overwatch Council and the Bureau of Military Affairs, a team of people made their way through the slowly fading night toward the Imperial College. Within a few days, those exam papers, copied out with their names sealed, were fully evaluated. Thus the list of third-rank candidates who had passed was drawn up. The highest-level candidates were looked over by the Emperor, and it was decided who would be given the ranks of Zhuangyuan, Bangyan, and Tanhua - highest, second-highest, and third-highest scorers respectively.

Leaving the stinky exam hall, Fan Xian found that a carriage from Fan Manor was waiting for him at the corner gate. After he boarded the carriage, he took the towel that Teng Zijing handed him and wiped his face. "What does father think about my approach?" he asked, somewhat tired.

"He has said nothing." Teng Zijing moved his injured leg and responded quietly. "But your father seems somewhat displeased. I've always felt that you should inform the Prime Minister of your actions, young master. And this matter implicates a wide range of people. If you truly provoke the wrath of the people, I fear that the Prime Minister and your father will find it difficult to protect you."

Fan Xian smiled and said nothing. The Overwatch Council was still behind him, and crucially, Chen Pingping was communicating with him through Wang Qinian. His Majesty was planning to clean up governance this year, and he was just seizing the opportunity. He reckoned Chen Pingping would scold him for causing trouble, but he would finally have a pretext to act in secret.

Fan Xian had just provided the Overwatch Council with justification, which they would bring before the Emperor, who would make a decision. As for the Crown Prince and Ning the Talented, Fan Xian had also made arrangements. Before the names were sealed, whether they were asked for by the Eastern Palace or by the Great Prince, Fan Xian had chosen the names of some of the talented scholar and hidden them - somewhat to protect them, and also to give his counterpart an explanation.

When the matter came out, Fan Xian wanted to give people the feeling that he had done it not as a result of any bias for one side or another of court politics, but purely as a scholar. Out of a stubborn desire, he had made a "noble" and insane decision.

Over the next few days, all was quiet in the capital. As Fan Xian's exposé began to complement the hidden strength of the Overwatch Council, at least before the list of third-rank candidates was published, the unsurprising information made its way through the bureaucracy. Finally, the third-rank candidates were chosen, and the names that Fan Xian had hidden in there had not been weeded out. Clearly some of Chen Pingping's spies were inside the Imperial College and the Ministry of Rites, and were helping Fan Xian in secret.

Guo You and his high-ranking officials had perhaps made sure cheating was too easy to accomplish in the exam hall over the past few years. And behind him, he had the Eastern Palace as a supporter, so to not have seen such clear problems, they were clearly not paying enough attention.

On the 22nd of February, the trees gradually began to blossom, with little birds perching on the branches in pairs. It was a fine and happy spring day. In a tavern in the capital, not far to the west of the Imperial College, the flustered scholars gathered together awaiting the news. There were no snacks or drinks on the table, because these students did not have the heart to eat a thing, focusing only on the important news that was to come.

"Not a chance," said a student from Shandong Road with a bitter laugh as he shook his head. "I don't think I stand a chance this time."

"Jialin, brother, why do you say such a thing?" The student sitting by his side was ashen-faced - it was Yang Wanli, the one who Fan Xian had looked in the eye in the exam hall.

He came from Quanzhou, and made his living by the sea; he was very different from those other scholars who had come from wealthy backgrounds and spent their lives in libraries. You could tell from looking at him that he was of a thoroughly easygoing disposition. He grabbed a pair of chopsticks from the table and began snacking on some pickled peanuts, chewing as he spoke with his mouth full. "Jialin, you're one of the most well-known people on Shandong Road. You can write a marvelous policy essay, and everyone will shower you with praise for days afterwards. Me, I'm no good at it. I've not got the skill in writing. Although self-confidence is enough to govern a province, there's no way my name will be on that list."

Cheng Jialin was from Shandong Road. This was his third time taking the exam. He laughed bitterly and kept his voice low. "Do we really not understand these things? So many people take these exams each time. The major players at the court pick a couple, the palace picks a couple, and the Imperial Palace picks some. People like us from the provinces – maybe we've got some renown from taking the provincial exams, but what good does that do in the capital? Even if the royal court wanted to find a few more talented people to fill the gap, there's plenty of scholars in the capital. Why would they pick us?"

The other scholar at the table had a lean face. It seemed that he was not happy; perhaps he had drunk too much and had pent-up frustrations. He laughed coldly. "Jialin, you're right. As I see it, it's best you don't take it again, so as not to spend all your money on travel. Goddamn civil service exams. It's only for the high officials and the palace to pick their pet poodles!"

Cheng Jialin's face darkened with slight fear. "Jichang, keep your voice down. If the Overwatch Council is listening, never mind our careers, it'll be our lives we'll have to worry about."

Hou Jichang was an oddity, someone who did not want to walk the road of an influential official. Although he had some renown in the capital, and was once equally famous as He Zongwei, his sharp tongue and his temper left him somewhat lonely. Hearing his friend's anxious words, he couldn't help but laugh. "The Overwatch Council might be fearsome, but why would they bother to spy on people as worthless as us? If they're so great, why don't they stop the cheating in the exam hall?"

Yang Wanli shook his head. "Although nobody thinks well of the Overwatch Council, when it comes to supervising governance, they are quite good at it."

Hou Jichang waved his finger. "Is anyone in the entire bureaucracy clean and honest? If we're placing our hopes in the Overwatch Council, it's like asking a tiger to give you its hide." [1]

"The officials are also chosen from the scholars," retorted Yang Wanli. "They can't all be bad, I think..." he muttered for a moment, trying to think of a single clean person in the entire bureaucracy of the capital. Finally, his eyes lit up. "I think the academician Fan Xian of the Imperial Academy is a fine official."

The two others beside him both knew that he had been called up by Fan Xian for smuggling things into the exam hall, and they couldn't help but laugh. "So he lets you finish the exam and that makes him a good official? Being a good official seems pretty simple."

The three men chatted and laughed, and as the alcohol slowly went to their heads, they couldn't stop themselves from quietly bemoaning the abuses of the royal court. They wondered whether the Overwatch Council was really going to investigate the scandal properly - if so, maybe things would get better in the exam hall.

Suddenly, there was commotion within the tavern. The three of them stood up and heard a scholar frantically shouting outside. "There's been a scandal in the exam hall, and the Director of the Board of Rites, Guo You, is going to prison!"

A roar! The spring thunder rumbled above the capital, and fresh spring rain fell upon the students in the tavern.

[1] A traditional saying, meaning to make a doomed petition.

Chapter 166: Cheating at the Exam Hall

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

Sparse raindrops fell around the inn along with the sound of spring thunder. The students were all stunned as they stood stiffly in the rain. This alley was where students from outside the capital who had come to take the examination gathered. Despite the number of people, all was strangely quiet after hearing that shout.

Many moments passed. Finally someone came back to their senses. The student who shouted out was surrounded. There was a loud ruckus like an explosion. There were questions everywhere. Hou Jichang and Yang Wanli both had an excited expression, but they forced down their impulses, and just walked forward to listen.

There were too many people asking questions, and only one person was doing the answering. After a long time, it was finally made clear that the Overwatch Council sent out over a hundred secret agents last night. Splitting into five paths, one went directly to Guo Manor to the south, while the rest went to four other manors. Together, they caught four students from Jiangnan.

Due to how quickly they acted, the night covered their tracks. It was only this morning when His Majesty blandly mentioned to have given out the order to let the Overwatch Council thoroughly investigate this year's examination for cheating. As the Imperial court descended into chaos, the various officials realized why the Director of the Board of Rites Guo You wasn't among them.

The only ones who were calm amidst the chaos were the Prime Minister, the Minister of Revenue, and of course, Chen Pingping of the Overwatch Council, who had yet to make an appearance at the royal court.

The Overwatch Council had acted quickly and precisely, especially the groups that caught the four students. They were able to find letters to certain officials. Even more shocking was the amount of silver they found in Guo Manor. After the initial investigation, the families of those students were all quite despotic. Three of the families were salt merchants. They had brought with them large sums of money when coming to the capital and then, using various methods, were able to buy Director Guo's favor.

Guo You and those students had already been imprisoned. Since yesterday, the Fourth Bureau of the Overwatch Council began to order their branch offices in Jiangnan to apprehend those involved in this serious case. While those four students bribed the head examiner Director Guo, most of the money went to the eastern palace, meaning the one behind this case was none other than… the Crown Prince.

Of course, the students would never know such details. It was all they could do to curse Director Guo in the rain. They even cursed his poor mother and son.

His Majesty seemed to be determined to investigate this year's examination. Other than the Board of Rites, at least dozens of other officials had their positions suspended and subjected to investigations. According to rumors, the reason for the speed and accuracy of the investigation was due to a blacklist which contained the names of students and the officials involved in secret plots. Starting from those students, the Overwatch Council worked their way up to the officials. It was a very effective method.

Hou Jichang walked to the table, still shocked. He raised a cup and downed the alcohol in one gulp. As if not affected by the strong alcohol, he said to himself, "Never would I have thought this would happen. I really didn't."

"You didn't think what?" Yang Wanli and Cheng Guilin also came back to their senses and asked.

Hou Jichang laughed and slapped the table forcefully. "I never thought the Overwatch Council would be so accurate and so vicious. They were able to obtain a list which practically sentenced those nobles in Imperial court to death." He raised the jar of wine and poured some for his two friends. Hou Jichang raised his cup, his face full of joy. "Here's to the Overwatch Council!"

"Cheers!" The other two were all in agreement and completed the toast.

Currently, the inn was full of excited students drinking in sheer joy. The examination of Qing's political circles had been rotten for a long time. While they all knew it wouldn't be cleaned up overnight with the arrest of a single director, everything started with a single step. As long as His Majesty knew about the problem and was willing to solve it, those young, spirited, and extremely naïve students all believed that Qing was destined for a more beautiful future.

As the alcohol began to show its effect, Yang Wanli squinted and chuckled stupidly. "How exhilarating. Even if I don't pass the exam, I was able to experience such a momentous event. What a rush."

Cheng Guilin drank the least, so he was the most clear-headed. He asked hesitantly, "Since they uncovered the cheating, then… will they redo this year's examination?"

"They won't." After all the alcohol he consumed, Hou Jichang's thin face became calm. His eyes became extremely clear, "This is a warning from His Majesty. A similar case happened twelve years ago, when fourteen officials from the Board of Rites were executed. Back then, they went on to post the scores from the examination; only the students who had dealing with those officials got their names taken off and replaced by the students after them."

"Then… our chances just improved?" Yang Wanli chuckled stupidly. Being naïve, his question was simple too. "There are only so many openings. After the cheating ones get their names taken off, our chances to pass will increase by a lot."

Hou Jichang laughed coldly. "Only if there are not any other nobles even more powerful than them doing the same thing. Director Guo was only a single official. He wouldn't dare to do anything drastic to this grand national examination. I'm afraid there are even more cheaters who are under the nobles' protection. The loss of a few salt merchants' sons is not significant at all."

As the other two pondered this, they became a bit downcast. Moments later, Yang Wanli suddenly slapped the table and grinned. "Regardless, this is worth celebrating. The most shocking event last year was the propaganda that forced Eldest Princess back to Xinyang. And the most shocking event this year is probably this blacklist which toppled a director."

Cheng Guilin warned: "Let's talk more after the results are released tomorrow."

Hou Jichang and Yang Wanli knew his temperament. They were still hopeful about this year's spring examination. "I have to go and wake up that Shi Chanli to tell him the good news."

Yang Wanli laughed. "Remember to buy him some food."

"Beautiful. Very beautiful." Fan Xian was in a good mood as he went over the papers Wang Qinian had brought him. Wan'er sat next to him worried. "Aren't you afraid the Crown Prince will find out it was you?"

Fan Xian had been scolded severely by his father that day and was under house arrest. Forced to stay in the manor, he knew he was being overboard by disclosing this case. But of course, without the Overwatch Council obtaining intelligence first, Fan Xian wouldn't know that His Majesty was ready to set an example this year, and therefore wouldn't dare to make enemies in the royal court.

The blacklist itself wasn't much of a secret; all examiners had a few sheets. To cheat in such a bold and shameless way, one could see that the bureaucracy of Qing was used to it. That was precisely the reason why this investigation by the Overwatch Council turned out to be so shocking. For the moment, no one suspected Fan Xian.

Hearing his wife's question, Fan Xian showed a strange expression. "Your prince brother is too bold, and his methods aren't effective. Those officials at court are all idiots who don't know their limits. To cheat so openly during the spring examination – even if I don't report it, were they really going to get away if His Majesty decides to investigate?"

Wan'er raised herself up from under her blanket. She looked at Fan Xian's face quietly. "Dear, please don't take such risks in the future. There is no such thing as guaranteed safety in this world. What are you going to do if someone finds out?"

"What am I going to do? I'll make do!" Fan Xian made another one of his otherworldly puns. He smiled. "So what if they were to find out?"

Wan'er sighed. Her husband was learned and well-mannered on the outside, but no one knew when he would do something crazy like this.

Fan Xian knew his wife was worried. He said quietly, "The most crucial part is still in the palace. What's the point of examinations? It's a method for His Majesty to gather talented officials to serve him. One emperor from the past once laughed during the examination about how the heroes of the world all came to him under such methods. His Majesty could tolerate the various officials taking advantage of the examination to get rich, but he could not tolerate them using every student to get rich. Besides, two princes were involved in this. The emperor had to ask himself… what his two sons were planning to do."

Wan'er didn't completely understand. "To cultivate talented officials who would serve them in court, of course."

Fan Xian continued: "Then His Majesty is sure to ask why. The Great Prince led armies; why does he need officials in the royal court?"

Wan'er smiled uneasily. "And what about my brother? He is the Crown Prince, who will someday take command of the nation. It is only right that he tries to find talented people. The Imperial tutor of the Eastern Palace once said that the Eastern Palace cannot be powerless. It must not fear rumors. So it must prepare some people to become useful servants and officials. That is true loyalty to the crown."

Fan Xian shook his head and let his ridicule faintly show. "The Imperial tutor spoke well. He was certainly correct. But the problem is that His Majesty is still healthy. For the Eastern Palace to prepare subjects now, wouldn't His Majesty wonder if the Crown Prince was losing patience?"

Chapter 167: A Visitor in the Rain (Part 1)

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

Wan'er sucked in a breath of cold air as she discovered that this was how things were, and listened to Fan Xian, who continued to talk, smiling. "So, His Majesty can endure for a while, but not for an age. He can restrain the bureaucracy, but he cannot restrain his own son. If His Majesty has never thought about it, then fine. But when he begins to think about the first problem, then he will be unable to control his suspicions regarding many things. So rectifying the examinations scandal naturally becomes an issue."

Lin Wan'er leaned her head against his chest. "In truth, it's easy to talk of such things," she said quietly. "If I thought about it, I could understand it. Why does my brother the Crown Prince not wish to understand it?"

"It is not that the Crown Prince does not wish to understand, but that he has begun to feel unsafe." Fan Xian recalled the gifts that the Emperor had bestowed upon the three princes at the start of the year, which were all deep with hidden meaning that even Fan Xian could not understand. It appeared that whether it was the Crown Prince or the Great Prince, they were all nervous and uneasy, and so they had all tried to meddle in the exams.

Lin Wan'er sighed. "I don't want my husband to divide the land and rule over a part of it. I only want you to be a free and good nobleman. Such matters are always troubling."

"Riches and honor and an easy life; that has always been my desire," replied Fan Xian with a laugh, thinking of Jia Baoyu's nickname in Dream of the Red Chamber. "But there are some things I cannot bear to see. There will always be some enmity. Who said the name my father gave me was no good?" [1]

Seeing him make fun of her father-in-law, Lin Wan'er couldn't help but giggle. "Your father shouldn't have any problems, right?" she asked a little while later.

"Relax. My father went to visit the Prime Minister that evening." As Fan Xian began to speak, he shook his head and sighed in admiration. "So, as I said, the Overwatch Council handled things wonderfully. Look at the officials who have been caught recently. Other than Director Guo, they've been sacked from the Eastern Palace and the Bureau of Military Affairs. My father-in-law has lost his right-hand man, but there has been no serious harm. If the proper behavior had not been carried out by someone with many years of experience within the bureaucracy, they wouldn't have been able to understand it so perfectly."

"Is it very difficult?" asked Lin Wan'er with a smile.

Fan Xian softly ran his fingers through his wife's dark hair. "Very diffcult," he replied gently. "You want to cause those with power some pain, but not so much that it kills them, so as to avoid making it difficult for His Majesty to deal with things."

Having said this, faint worry lines appeared on his brow.

"What is it?" Wan'er grasped her husband's arm gently as she asked.

Fan Xian shook his head and tried to disperse his inner worries. "I thought this was exposing a scandal that couldn't be hidden from people, so I prepared carefully. I didn't expect the Overwatch Council to shield me so well. But you're right; there is no such thing as guaranteed safety in this world. The Eastern Palace can always find out about my connections with the Overwatch Council, and... there are too many madmen in the Kingdom of Qing. At the moment, I'm worried about that crippled madman."

"Chen Pingping?" Lin Wan'er immediately knew who he was talking about. But she wasn't sure why – other than he having exposed the scandal – it had anything to do with the terrifying spy organization of the Overwatch Council. So she was somewhat puzzled, and her doubts were so strong that they covered up her confusion as to what "safety" really was.

Fan Xian smiled. He didn't try to explain everything clearly, and instead simply spoke gently. "I am worried that Chen Pingping has never thought of hiding such things."

"How dare he!"

Every young woman wants her husband to be a righteous hero, so although Fan Xian's secret exposure of this scandal worried Lin Wan'er somewhat, it had also made her feel deeply proud of him. Hearing that Chen Pingping wanted to expose her husband to the people, the thought of the danger made her body shake. With the mien of a princess, she harrumphed. "Tomorrow I shall go to the palace and find the Empress Dowager!"

Fan Xian laughed and comforted her. "Even if Chen Pingping wants to entrust this to me, perhaps it is not a bad idea."

Lin Wan'er did not understand. But Fan Xian understood that this was a good opportunity. If the poetry recitation at the evening banquet had established his firm reputation among the common people of the Kingdom of Qing, the exposure of this scandal was undoubtedly the best opportunity. As Master Fei Jie had once said: as his mother's close ally, Chen Pingping had never been happy with him becoming rich off the palace treasury. He was determined to give him the power of the Overwatch Council. So considering what had been said of Chen Pingping's disposition, using the exam scandal to suddenly come to the forefront was not impossible.

The problem was the ratio of gains to losses. Of this, Fan Xian was somewhat unsure.

He climbed out of bed. He looked at the gentle rain that fell outside the window, and realized that it was already nearly noon; he had spent half the day in bed with his wife. He couldn't help but smile sweetly, though his smile was a somewhat exhausted one. His exposure of this scandal was firstly because he really had felt sorry for the truly talented scholars, and secondly because of how those indignant princes had pulled him between them like a rope. The most important reason, however, was that he wanted to finally test Chen Pingping.

Fan Xian was going to Northern Qi, so he wanted to be sure what approach that old man - with the terrifying power of the Overwatch Council - would have toward him. At the same time, he wanted to see more clearly what approach the Emperor behind the old man would have toward him.

The approach decided everything. It decided their relationship. It could show their history. It could make known... his life history. Fan Xian narrowed his eyes, looking through the window that beared his mother's mark. He saw the clouds in the sky, and felt that everything in the Kingdom of Qing seemed to have gone through an interesting change of mind. It seemed that he was walking on an unbounded path approaching the truth.

Perhaps his goal was already close.

The street was slightly wet outside Fan Manor. An unmarked carriage waited quietly. Suddenly, a figure floated from the manor like a falling leaf drifting to the ground. Its right palm hung from the edge of the carriage as it climbed aboard.

"Go." Fan Xian spoke the moment his buttocks hit the seat.

From the driver's seat, Teng Zijing looked back at his young master and laughed bitterly. "Young master, if your father knew that you were going out at this time of night, he would chide me."

Fan Xian laughed even more bitterly. "Then get moving. Not only will my father beat me for being an unfilial son, but my dear wife will tie me down."

At that moment, the people of the capital felt rather anxious. News that Guo You, Director of the Board of Rites, had been imprisoned had taken only an hour to spread through the city, but all of the officials linked to the civil service exams all remained anxiously in their homes. After a moment of fear, spies from the Overwatch Council came to knock on their doors, and politely invited them out for tea.

And Fan Xian was a major character in the scandal. Count Sinan, who knew the inside story, and Princess Chen would not dare let him make a move, so he he had to sneak out. He sighed. "Master Teng, I am lucky to have you as my trusted aide in the city. Otherwise it would be difficult for me to even walk outside."

Wang Qinian had been sitting by his side. His smile had clearly become pained, and he frowned as he spoke. "Master, I have always worked hard to become your trusted aide."

Fan Xian laughed and teased him. "Wang Qinian, you should be a comedian."

With the sound of a horsewhip, the black horse slowly trudged on, the carriage wheels splashing through puddles. The green trees around them were bathed in rainwater. Even more green and delicate, behind the carriage, were spies from the Overwatch Council, wearing raincoats and following the carriage from a distance; these were Wang Qinian's men, specially responsible for Commissioner Fan's safety. "If there are reprisals in the court bureaucracy, then what is to be done? I do not have enough men." Wang Qinian knew that Commissioner Fan had done something within the Overwatch Council, and he was concerned.

Fan Xian smiled. There was coldness in his eyes. "Things are different now. We are not going to Niulan Street. I want to see – other than that old madwoman – who in the capital would still dare to assassinate me under the watch of His Majesty."

"Where are we going?" asked Teng Zijing, his head forward, his voice low.

Fan Xian looked at Wang Qinian. Wang Qinian said the name of the place quietly, then explained. "Fortunately, the students that you took a fancy to are all staying in this tavern."

The carriage stopped outside Dieyi Alley. There was still drizzle in the air; after Fan Xian climbed down from the carriage with Teng Zijing, the two men walked with umbrellas. Wang Qinian had already disappeared into the crowd.

Dieyi Alley was filled with people from other provinces who came to stay here. As the exam scandal had been exposed that day, it was a boiling cauldron of voices. The place was completely packed. Holding his umbrella, Fan Xian carefully walked along the street. His umbrella sloped outward, so as to prevent rainwater from falling into the pots of the hawkers who lined the street under the eaves of the buildings.

"Excuse me, excuse me." A skinny scholar called out impatiently, holding two pots of wine. He brushed past Fan Xian and Teng Zijing, rushing onward, unafraid of the falling rain. As he was walking, he turned his head back and looked at Fan Xian.

Fan Xian held his umbrella aloft and watched the person disappear into the rain. He shook his head, laughing. "Doesn't this look like a group of crazy graduates? The minute they finish their exams, they get wildly drunk." He smacked his lips, feeling somewhat regretful that due to his health problems in his past life he had never been able to take part in his school's graduation feast.

Teng Zijing didn't understand what he was saying, but still explained respectfully: "I reckon it's Guo You's downfall that's made them so excited."

"Is Minister Guo's reputation so poor?" Fan Xian moved casually on, looking like the pampered son from a wealthy family who enjoyed strolls in the rain.

Teng Zijing laughed. "Few city officials have good reputations. In the countryside, there is a saying: If you lined up the officials of the six ministries and beheaded them, five of them would have deserved it."

Fan Xian laughed, thinking of a similar joke from his previous life. "So would my father be the one wrongfully executed minister?" he teased.

Everyone knew that Count Sinan, Fan Jian, who had been an assistant treasury minister, and then become a senior minister, had taken money from the public purse. When it came to corrupt officials, neither Fan Xian's father nor his father-in-law could escape the charge. But Teng Zijing did not dare say such things. Hearing his young master's words, a cold sweat ran down his back. He forced a smile. "Young master, I misspoke. Please do not be offended."

"What does a corrupt official fear? The people do not worry about corrupt officials, but they worry about officials who are both corrupt and incompetent."

"Sir, such talk is inappropriate."

Suddenly someone rudely barged under Fan Xian's umbrella to avoid the rain. In their hand they were carrying a paper bundle of roasted chicken. The smell of the slightly charred chicken was inescapable, even in the heavy rain.

[1] Fan Xian's name can also sound like the Chinese word for "enmity".

Chapter 168: A Visitor in the Rain (Part 2)

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

The rain continued to fall, and the umbrellas held by people in the alley opened like a garden full of pitiful flowers blooming.

Fan Xian smiled as he looked at this rude and impetuous youth. Seeing that he was completely soaked, he said nothing; if this were a bad person, then Fan Xian had at least five different ways to immobilize him within a split second.

Clearly, it was just a poor scholar who had bought some roast chicken for a feast, so Fan Xian did not stop moving, and held his umbrella aloft as he carried on. He moved confidently, as did the young man who had barged under his umbrella. Saying nothing, he stood on Fan Xian's right, using his umbrella to shelter his head from the rain, walking forward calmly.

As they walked a few steps under the umbrella, Fan Xian felt more and more that there was something quite loveable about the young man's disposition. If this were an ordinary scholar, they would not dare to barge under someone else's umbrella, and walking ten steps together in silence, an ordinary scholar would not have such an easygoing expression. So he turned his head slightly and took measure of him. The young man looked ordinary, with a set of thick eyebrows that looked like they had been painted on with a writing brush.

Teng Zijing followed two steps behind.

The two men under the umbrella continued to walk forward in silence. Unsure whether this was a contest of patience or something else, Fan Xian finally smiled and spoke. "I didn't say anything before, and now it's just awkward."

As the umbrella-holder spoke, the young man laughed politely. "If an official is corrupt, he cannot turn his thoughts to politics. So if you believe a corrupt official is capable, that I'm afraid that is a rather ridiculous thing."

Fan Xian laughed, and found that the umbrella could not accommodate two people. The right shoulder of the young scholar by his side was completely soaked, so he stealthily moved the umbrella over it. "Even though a corrupt official may neglect politics, it is better than a completely incompetent person taking charge and fooling around."

The young scholar's eyebrows shot up. He did not seem to understand. "As long as one is willing to handle things, it is better than neglecting government affairs."

Fan Xian gripped his umbrella more tightly and shook his head. "If a river dike is not maintained, then within a few years it will surely burst. If an honest official who has no knowledge of river work maintains it foolishly, it may burst several times each year. Do you believe that those living along the river hope that their local official is incompetent, diligent, and honest, or incompetent, lazy, and corrupt?"

The young scholar was quiet for a moment. Then he laughed. "Perhaps this is a special case. There are certain things that a county magistrate will always have to do, such as measuring fields and provisioning grain, providing disaster relief and aiding the people, passing litigation and determining prison sentences. If it is a lazy official, then perhaps there will be political chaos."

Fan Xian laughed. "So the important thing is competence, not corruption."

In truth, his view was not necessarily correct; he had been influenced by bureaucracy novels from his past life. But when it came to the people of the Kingdom of Qing, it was rather novel, and the young scholar sharing his umbrella could not help but feel interested. "If an official is competent yet completely corrupt," he asked, "would the royal court allow him to continue?"

He was unsure why, but when Fan Xian heard him say this, he thought of his own father-in-law, the well-known corrupt Prime Minister Lin Ruofu. Everyone knew that he was corrupt, but the Emperor was fully aware of his capability, and therefore had promoted him up to his present-day position. Thinking on the young scholar's question, he could only shake his head. "Politics is a complicated matter with no simple and effective answers. But if you only seek the supervision of the royal court, and study and cultivate virtue yourself, then demanding that the bureaucracy be well-ordered is something of a fantasy."

"If the royal court redoubles its efforts to supervise matters, then how can it not prevent political corruption?" The young scholar frowned, his thick eyebrows like roof beams. "Today, Minister of Rites Gou You has been imprisoned. If the Overwatch Council was the same a few years ago as it is now, then that is how the practices of the exam hall became as corrupt as they are today."

In truth, Fan Xian had no lofty opinions on political matters. But this light intellectual conversation, though perhaps seditious and confusing, had perked his spirits. "If Director Chen of the Overwatch Council were to bribe Guo You to allow his nephew to be ranked as a first-class scholar, then who would watch over that?"

The young scholar took exception. "Naturally, the Emperor would. Heaven's eyes are quick as lightning."

Fan Xian took even more exception. "Is it really so easy to have one person rule all under Heaven?" In truth, he knew that the Emperor had his own secret methods of checks and balances for the great and independent Overwatch Council. Those methods might even include the power that his father had never openly exerted. But in his previous world, a handful of young and inexperienced political ideas had caused Fan Xian to turn up his nose at the work of an Emperor. He had never believed that the Son of Heaven, who treated the land as his own piggy bank, could have the mind to understand all of the injustices of the bureaucracy. Speaking freely, the two men under the umbrella arrived outside the tavern. The young scholar smiled warmly at him. "Sir, thank you for sharing your umbrella. This is my destination."Fan Xian put the umbrella to one side and looked at the name of the tavern. It was truly a coincidence that this was also the place he was looking for. He smiled. "Let us enter together. I am meeting some people here."

The tavern's name was common, auspicious, and folksy - the Tongfu Tavern. [1]

As he entered with the young scholar, he learned that his counterpart's name was Shi Chanli, and that he had been an entrant in this year's exams. But it was not convenient for Fan Xian to say his own name, so he only told him that his surname was Fan.

"Master Fan, who are you looking for?" Shi Chanli at this moment realized from this man's clothing that he was no doubt the son of a noble, and so his speech was not as unrestrained as it had been under the umbrella, but instead much more reserved. "I have come to visit a friend," said Fan Xian. "I cannot say much more. Perhaps fate will bring us together again some day."

Having said this, he bowed toward Fan Xian, and headed toward a corner of the tavern, where there stood a table of drinks. By the table were two scholarly-looking types playing a drinking game. Next to them was another person who seemed completely dead to the world, slumped over the table asleep. As there was no food on the table, it seemed they had been waiting for Shi Chanli to return with the roast chicken.

Fan Xian narrowed his eyes, and then saw that the person drinking at the table was Yang Wanli, the person he had come to find. Following Shi Chanli, he walked toward their table.

Shi Chanli did not know that someone was following behind him. He placed the chicken in its greasy paper down on the table, and scolded the two others drinking at the table with a smile. "Hou Jichang, you send me out to get food, but you don't leave me any wine?"

Hou Jichang laughed. "This wine is the inferior stuff I bought off the street. It tastes bad, but there's plenty of it. Let me introduce you. This is Cheng Jialin, a talented scholar from Shandong Road." As he pointed a finger in Cheng Jialin's direction, he discovered with alarm that the delicately handsome son of a noble was standing behind Shi Chanli with a smile on his face, and that this young man looked somewhat familiar.

"Brother Shi, who's this?" asked Hou Jichang, confused.

Shi Chanli was startled, and turned around to see that Fan Xian had followed them to their table. He forced a smile. "Master Fan, I simply borrowed half your umbrella. I don't presume you want payment for it?"

Fan Xian saw that he seemed somewhat afraid of him, and had seemingly guessed that he was the son of a noble. He did not dare come too close, so he laughed. "I wouldn't dare ask for payment. But I wouldn't mind a little bit of that chicken that you have there."

"Master Fan, did you not say you were looking for someone?" Shi Chanli couldn't help but ask.

"It appears I have been searching far and wide, only to find them by chance," said Fan Xian with a smile. He had said this before, when he met with the Emperor on Liujing River. It had gained no reaction, but today, in front of these learned scholars, just as expected, Hou Jichang immediately understood his meaning. His interest was peaked. "Master Fan, did you come looking for us?" he asked.

Fan Xian pointed at the drunken Yang Wanli. "Master Yang and I are friends, so I have come to pay him a visit."

Hou Jichang laughed. "I never heard Wanli mention that he had such a wealthy friend in the capital. Come, please take a seat. We've wine and roast chicken, it's no trouble." Shi Chanli had quite enjoyed Fan Xian's style of conversation, and seeing that he was a friend of his friend, he decided to stop putting on airs and pulled out a seat, smiling.

Cheng Jialin tried unsuccessfully to rouse Yang Wanli for what seemed like ages. He could not help but mumble as he smiled at Fan Xian. Fan Xian however was interested in something else. He cupped his hands in salute toward Hou Jichang. "May I ask your name, friend?"

"Hou Jichang."

"Master Hou, why do you presume that I am the wealthy son of a nobleman?" Fan Xian, hearing the name Jichang, couldn't help but want to laugh. "I wonder if you are not also living a life of gluttony. It seems you spend all day eating and nothing else."

Hou Jichang laughed and apologized. "Your clothes are quite expensive. No ordinary scholar could afford to wear such an outfit. As for calling you 'wealthy', we're all used to cracking jokes; please don't take offense." At that moment, it struck him that this young man looked familiar, but drinking had blurred his vision, so he couldn't remember where he knew him from.

"Don't worry about it," said Fan Xian with a gentle laugh, as he sat self-consciously at the table. The scholars were all free and at ease, and none objected to the appearance of their uninvited guest. A moment later, Yang Wanli had yet to awake, so save for Cheng Jialin, who urged Fan Xian to have a few drinks, Hou Jichang and Shi Chanli both drank as if no one else was there. They began to pontificate.

They did not discuss the mysteries of the Dao, but instead matters of state, the economy, and the welfare of the people. Sitting to the side, Fan Xian grabbed a chicken leg and gnawed on it leisurely. Listening to their debate, he found that Hou Jichang's way of thinking was similiar to that of the Legalists, who emphasized the importance of law, and Shi Chanli was a sentimentalist who emphasized indoctrination.

Nonetheless, the one who advocated legalism did not blindly demand severity, and the one who advocated indoctrination did not blindly exhort orders from above. These were two wise scholars. Sometimes they would speak of the political affairs of each region, painstakingly analyzing and debating each one without blindly speaking out of turn. They were not like the average scholars who always fixed their sights on the entire world, without knowing that the world was far bigger than the vast majority of people ever saw.

The more Fan Xian heard, the more he was proud of himself. This Hou Jichang was one of the names he had sealed, and it seemed that his view had been correct. But Shi Chanli's nature was so gentle and unconstrained, how had he not made an impression in the exam hall?

While he congratulated himself, he suddenly heard the gentle Shi Chanli pound the table. "At least we can all agree," he rebuked indignantly, "it's all that young Master Fan's fault!"

Fan Xian was shocked.

[1] "Tongfu" means "common fortune".

Chapter 169: A Brilliant Day

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

The conversation at the table had turned from matters of bureaucracy to matters of literature. Naturally, they could not avoid talking about last year's astounding poetic performance by young Master Fan. Fan Xian pretended to be holding his wine cup up to his lips, but if this young fellow dared say anything bad to him, he was preparing to spill it, understanding the air of frustration.

To his surprise, Shi Chanli stood up, his face the color of peach blossom, his words sickeningly sappy. Tears were flowing from his eyes. "I have been reading the Banxianzhai Poetry Anthology for many months. How can I read any other poet again? How can I ever have the courage to put pen to paper again? Though some of the poems are odd, with young Fan before me, how can I control myself? It is a tragedy. A tragedy!"

Fan Xian beamed, thinking of those loveable people who criticized leaders and comrades, not paying attention to their own rest.

Hou Jichang took some exception. "Poetry and literature are irrelevant. How do they help statecraft and politics?" Having said this, he turned to the previously-snubbed Fan Xian for help. "What do you think, Master Fan?" He suddenly couldn't stop himself from looking him in the eye, and he suddenly yelped. "It's you!"

Fan Xian was startled again. How could they have recognized him? The exam hall was not brightly lit, and apart from Yang Wanli - who had dared to look directly at him and speak to him with his eyes - no one dared to scrutinize the faces of their examiners.

Hou Jichang's next words came quickly. "I brushed past Master Fan on my way to buy wine."

Fan Xian thought back. So he was the student with the two jars of wine. He didn't know why, but with this trivial thing, Hou Jichang quickly became much more friendly toward Fan Xian and began to talk to him warmly. Not only did Fan Xian feel it was a little strange, but it also left Shi Chanli scratching his head.

"Master Fan, as you are of the same clan as the young Master Fan, there's no harm in telling us your thoughts on the Banxianzhai Poetry Anthology."

"I can't say anything that you haven't already," said Fan Xian cheekily, embarrassed about boasting in front of other people.

No one expected Shi Chanli to be angered by this remark. He put down his chopsticks. "Could it be that Master Fan is the same as that Master Zhuang? I had always prized Zhuang Mohan's moral quality, but he turned out to be a silly old thief. Even if Master Fan had read books of poetry since his youth, he still wouldn't be able to make such fantastic and ridiculous remarks."

Fan Xian was taken aback. He finally realized that he already had a firm standing in the eyes of the scholars of the Kingdom of Qing. He was somewhat embarrassed, and unsure of what to say. Rather tipsy, Shi Chanli laughed as he scolded him. "Two young noblemen, both surnamed Fan, and yet there is such a gulf between them!"

At that moment, roused by Cheng Jialin, Yang Wanli finally awoke. Seeing Fan Xian's handsome face, he was shocked, and quickly stood up and saluted him. "Master... Master Fan... you're here?"

"Master Fan? Which Master Fan?" The others around the table couldn't help but feel confused. They didn't know why Yang Wanli was so nervous.

Yang Wanli laughed bitterly. "This is the one I was talking about – the Master Fan who allowed me to take the exam... Brother Shi, didn't you love the Banxianzhai poems? You should pay him your respects."

Shi Chanli finally realized that the one he had chided was indeed Fan Xian! His complete shock made him jump up from his seat. Feeling incredibly awkward, Hou Jichang and the previously-unflappable Cheng Jialin stood, their mouths agape, not knowing what they should say to convey the entirety of their respect and admiration.

Fan Xian had long been an established author in the eyes of the land's scholars, and then he had married the Prime Minister's daughter and become a fifth-level academician of the Imperial College at the age of 17. No matter how you looked at it, he was the target of every scholar's envy. And his Banxianzhai Poetry Anthology had become popular throughout the nation. His name emerged over the lands like a red sunrise.

"What?" laughed Fan Xian, a little embarrassed. "Is it that shocking to see me in the flesh?"

Hou Jichang was the first to come to his senses. He laughed bitterly. "Master, you are indeed that Master Fan. We were rude earlier."

Shi Chanli's eyes shined, and he bowed deeply to Fan Xian. "We did not expect that Yang's good fortune would allow us to meet Master Fan personally. We are truly lucky."

Fan Xian shook his head and laughed. "The exams are finished, and I did not want to stay in my mansion the whole time, so I decided to go out for a walk. I knew that Yang Wanli was staying in this tavern, so I came to find him. But I didn't realize my luck. Sitting at this table and listening to your high-minded discussions, I know this trip was not made in vain."

The scholars could not help but feel their embarrassed sweat drip from them. Thinking back on how they ran their mouths in front of one of the land's most eminent scholars, they felt ridiculous. Even the proud and arrogant Hou Jichang forced a smile. "It's all Wanli's fault; he was drunk this whole time."

At that moment, Cheng Jialin finally mumbled an introduction. "Master Fan, my name is Cheng Jialin." When he thought of how it seemed he could get closer to one of the palace's favorites, Cheng Jialin, scholar of Shandong Road, felt inexplicably nervous, and he spoke haltingly.

Everyone was stumped. Then they suddenly noticed the error in his speech, and couldn't help but laugh. Cheng Jialin's face went red, and he mumbled something nobody could hear. Thankfully this peal of laughter had diluted some of their shock.

Hearing that young Master Fan had come to find him, Yang Wanli couldn't help but feel puzzled and somewhat overwhelmed. "To what do we owe the honor of your presence, young Master Fan?"

Thankfully, all of them behaved appropriately. Mostly out of wanting to keep him to themselves, they all stayed quiet so as not to let any of the other scholars drinking in the tavern know that the young Master Fan that they had all talked about for days on end was right beside them in this very establishment. Otherwise, there would no doubt be chaos.

Fan Xian had originally only come to get in touch with Yang Wanli, but he had not expected such a situation. Naturally he did not want to say much. He smiled. "Anyway, it seems that a jacket connects me with Brother Yang." He turned to Shi Chanli. "And half an umbrella connects me with you, brother. And to you, Brother Hou," he said, turning to him, "it seems we were fated to brush past one another. So, brothers, there are a few things I wish to call your attention to."

As he said this, Cheng Jialin, who he had not mentioned by name, was worried. Hou Jichang also could not keep a calm expression. The scholars did not expect great prospects for their careers. To have Fan Xian - the proctor of the civil service exams - appear before them roused their suspicions; what he had to say was no doubt of the utmost importance.

Fan Xian paused for a moment, weighing his next words. "Court examinations are on the first of March. You should prepare yourselves."

They were shocked, and within their sleeves, they could not stop their hands from trembling. Though the words sounded normal, they had a hidden, startling meaning. Fan Xian was a favorite of the royal court, and he had the Prime Minister and Count Sinan behind him. If anyone knew in advance the names that would be on the list of third-rank candidates, Fan Xian would be one of the people with that authority. Since he had told them to prepare for the court exams, then that meant... they had passed!

Fan Xian put a finger to his lips in a gesture to silence them. He smiled. "It is not certain. I have just come to remind you."

Hou Jichang was somewhat despondent. "Minister Guo is imprisoned. Surely there will be changes to the list of names."

"Brother Cheng and Brother Shi - I cannot remember if your names are on it," he replied quietly. "But Brother Hou and Brother Yang, yours certainly are." Hou and Yang were both elated, and unable to contain their pride, they stood up and bowed deeply to Fan Xian, knowing that the young official had chosen them personally. As long as they had the ambition, their future was bright. Cheng Jialin and Shi Chanli were somewhat disappointed, but as Fan Xian had said he couldn't remember, they still comforted themselves with the thought that the next day might still end well.

The tavern was clearly not a suitable place for conversation. Yang Wanli respectfully asked Fan Xian to come to his room and offered him tea. After a while, he finally spoke. "Master Fan, I have no money, no authority, no mouth, and no face. I truly do not know what I could have done to deserve your attention, nor do I know why you chose to take such a risk in informing me."

"No money, no authority, no mouth, and no face" was a saying among scholars who felt powerless and miserable about their lack of social connections. Fan Xian smiled and shook his head. "As the exam system is now, everyone knows that while the list of third-rank names has not been released, it has already mostly been decided. As for why i came here today, it is because I feared that you would abandon yourself to despair, cast aside your books, and give up everything. If you lost face in the hall, I would perhaps lose face too. You should know that outside that exam hall, many people saw me let you in. There is no harm in telling you that I have taken a few risks in this matter, but there was no harm in it."

Today, the examiners of the capital were all anxious. When Fan Xian said there was no risk, the scholars were inevitably astounded.

Now, these clever men naturally understood Fan Xian's meaning. They looked at each other, and Hou Jichang bowed. "You have my deepest gratitude, master." Yang Wanli also bowed, and even Shi Chanli and Cheng Jialin got up and bowed.

Fan Xian looked at the four scholars, who were all some years older than him, and he couldn't help but feel rather strange. He laughed. "I am not my father-in-law, nor am I Minister Guo. I have money, and in the future I shall have more money, so do not worry. I only care about your scholarship and your morals. As for what happens after the court examinations, and entering the court to become officials, as long as you are loyal and diligent in matters of state, and work for the good of the nation, then I will know I have not misjudged you, and I will be pleased."

His words were warm, but there was a great coldness underneath. The four of them were scared, and responded sincerely. Changing the subject, Fan Xian asked why He Zongwei had not attended the exams. They told him that an elder in his family had died of an illness. He sighed and took his leave.

As he left and climbed into the carriage, Fan Xian frowned as he spoke with Teng Zijing. "Why do I feel so unaccustomed to such things?"

Wang Qinian, ever the comic foil, piped up from inside the carriage. "Because, master, deep down, you are a scholar, not a master."

Chapter 170: A Royal Proclamation

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

Once Fan Xian had left the Tongfu Tavern, the four scholars in the room looked at each other in dismay. It seemed they had not expected such fortune to fall from Heaven straight into their laps.

"This is good... right?" Yang Wanli sat on the bed, dumbfounded. Cheng Jialin and Shi Chanli congratulated him and laughed. "From now on, Brother Yang, you'll be rubbing shoulders with the Prime Minister and the Minister of Revenue. Perhaps your career will turn out just fine."

There was a certain look of dejection on Yang Wanli's honest face. "I have always greatly admired young Master Fan's talent. And I am thankful for his willingness to bend the rules in the exams. I presume that behind the scenes of the grading, young Master Fan expended considerable effort. But... I wish Master Fan had not come here today."

Cheng and Shi were both astounded and lost for words. They knew that Yang Wanli felt that Fan Xian seemed to be trying to win his favor.

Hou Jichang, who had always considered himself the group's leader, smiled and shook his head. "If Master Fan was trying to win your favor, then he wouldn't have come here personally. Wanli, you think too much. I've decided that from this moment on, at court, I shall devote myself to Master Fan in all I do in my career."

Shi Chanli was stunned. Why had the always-virtuous Brother Hou suddenly had a change of heart?

Yang Wanli shook his head. "I am also aware that at each exam, this is the custom. But Brother Hou, you know that I have always prized Master Fan's scholarship. Because of the notes I smuggled into the exam, and because I like his temperament, I hope Master Fan is different from some of those court officials."

"Don't let the perfect be the enemy of the good," Cheng Jialin reproached him. "Although Master Fan is an immortal poet, he is still a court official and the son of a noble. For him to come here himself was not easy for him. Brother Wanli, don't tell me you hoped that he was something more than a mere mortal? Besides, having an immortal spirit come to the material world is not necessarily better than having a competent official who is adept at plotting."

Shi Chanli clapped his hands and sighed in admiration. "Jialin, though you do not speak much, your words are incisive." He turned to Yang Wanli. "When it comes to admiration, Wanli, you're nothing compared to me. I often carry the Banxianzhai Poetry Anthology with me to read aloud. I might know those poems so well that I can recite them by heart. But today, meeting with Master Fan, I wasn't disappointed in the slightest. Why? Because his poems show the emotions of his heart. Master Fan truly has interceded for us. How can he be spoken of as being the same as those corrupt court officials?"

He laughed and continued on. "Earlier when I was bringing back the roast chicken, there weren't many people in the alley with umbrellas. I don't care much for stuffiness. I saw a young man with an umbrella and a handsome face. He looked neat and agreeable, and he was having a very interesting discussion. So I barged under his umbrella and walked along with him, as if I were a bigwig just like him. How could he allow me to be so rude? And yet Master Fan simply smiled and walked along with me, his face completely natural. When I learned in the tavern that he was Fan Xian – to tell you the truth, I was absolutely flabbergasted. Fan Xian didn't disappoint me at all."

They finally realized that this was what had happened - no wonder Fan Xian had talked about being linked to Shi Chanli with half an umbrella. When they thought about it, they couldn't help but smile. Yang Wanli rubbed his head awkwardly. "Perhaps... I just feel that my delusions have been shattered? I always felt that Master Fan was the kind of noble and pure official who lay in a vineyard, studying literature and verse, paying no attention to the dirty matters of the court."

Hou Jichang shook his head disapprovingly. "That sort of person may appear to rise above the dirt of this world, but they are of no use to the state and no benefit to the people," he said coldly. "If Master Fan really were that sort of literati type, I wouldn't care for him."

"Not necessarily. Not necessarily." Yang Wanli sighed.

Hou Jichang laughed a little. "I don't care if you laugh at me. A scholar can only dedicate himself to the service of the country if he enters the court as an official. And court politics are terrible and complicated. How can outsiders like us even begin to understand them? So the reason that Master Fan came to us today was not because he needed us. It's because he knew we needed him."

He paused for a moment. "Though I may be somewhat lofty and unyielding, I am not stubborn and lacking in propriety. Since we have this opportunity, we must seize it. If we must follow someone in the court, then I think Fan Xian is the best man to follow. I think, as future officials, that this is the only way that we will not come into conflict with our everyday ideals."

The others all spoke at once. "Why?" Everyone was somewhat puzzled by Hou Jichang's resolute attitude. Hearing him stress it again made them even more curious.

Hou Jichang raised a teacup from the table. He looked at the tea that Fan Xian had left behind. He seemed somewhat lost in thought, and took a while to speak. "A palace favorite, walking on a rainy day, goes so far as to make sure that the water dripping from his umbrella does not fall into the pots of the street-side food peddlers hiding from the rain. He would rather he got wet himself, so he walks further to one side. Such an attentive and kindhearted person – if he is not evil, then he must be a great sage."

He smiled. "A seventeen-year-old boy cannot hide himself so easily anytime and anywhere he pleases. So I believe that Master Fan is a great sage. My judgment is simple because I was moved by the incident in the rain."

There was silence in the room. Sometime later, there was the sound of sobbing.

The next day, on the vermilion wall on the left side of the exam hall, they had finally pasted up the sheet of yellow parchment that the students had been waiting for. The custom of choosing scholars in the civil service exams was simple. First were the provincial exams, then the metropolitan exams. From the metropolitan exams, the third-rank candidates were chosen, but they were not given ranks; instead they were arranged upon the royal announcement depending on the stroke order of the characters of their names.

The number of third-rank candidates varied from year to year, because a special extra exam was held every third year, so the other two years had fewer candidates. This year, the royal proclamation contained 108 names. Because fewer people had been chosen, whether they were students from the Imperial College in the capital, or those who had come from all the other regions of the land to take the exam, everyone was anxious and uncomfortable.

On the west side of the exam hall was a bridge. If you wanted to see the scroll on the vermilion wall, you had to cross the bridge. A crowd of students had already gathered beneath the vermilion wall wearing their long scholars' robes, craning their necks to nervously scan for their own names on the large yellow parchment.

Already reassured, Hou Jichang and Yang Wanli made their way slowly across the bridge. It was still soaked from yesterday's rain, and the moss on the stones looked particularly slippery. The four of them walked along. Cheng Jialin almost fell over, which provoked laughter from the others. Cheng Jialin laughed at himself too. Although he and Shi Chanli were just as slow as the other two men, they were inevitably much more nervous.

Coming to the vermilion wall, the four of them made their way through the crowd with some difficulty and started from the left-hand side. Quite some time passed. Suddenly, they heard Shi Chanli shout happily: "Brother Hou, Brother Hou! You passed! You passed!"

When the other three heard, they rushed to Shi Chanli's side. Sure enough, astonished, they saw Hou Jichang's name on the top of the third line. They couldn't help but feel excited. Yang Wanli gently clapped his hands on Hou Jichang's shoulder. He had a big smile on his face.

Hou Jichang smiled, wanting to show off a little, but this was a major event! Although he called himself noble and virtuous, he thought of the decade he spent studying, the earnest hopes of his parents at home, and the envious glances of his fellow scholars, and he couldn't help but feel elated. He couldn't stop his lips from forming a delighted smile.

At that moment, the characters for "Hou Jichang", written in golden ink, seemed to glitter in the sunlight. They looked priceless beyond measure. His future was boundless.

The four of them stuck together, and decided to start reading from the right-hand side. And some time later, they finally found Yang Wanli's name. Finally, he believed what Fan Xian had said the day before. Seeing his name on the Emperor's list, Yang Wanli was overcome with emotion. His eyes reddened, and he mumbled to himself. "I passed. I really passed."

He suddenly gave a strange yell, burst out of the crowd, ran to the side of the bridge, and howled as he faced the water under the bridge. The sound reverberated from underneath the bridge, making a humming sound.

The three friends laughed as the watched him, knowing why he was so excited. Yang Wanli had lost his mother at eight years old. He had hardship bitter upbringing in Quanzhou. His father, enduring hunger and cold, had bought him a large collection of books, and urged him to enter a clan school and study. With great difficulty, he had gone through the provincial exams, and had finally come to the capital.

But in the capital in January, Yang Wanli had finally discovered that although he had talent, and his grasp of policy and reason was more practical than his peers, his distant mountain home and his ramshackle clan school had not taught him the flourishing rhetoric of the other scholars in the capital. His essays were always dry and uninteresting.

So even his close friends Hou Jichang and Shi Chanli did not believe that he would be chosen. And neither did Yang Wanli. So he had spent a lot of money on a very fine padded jacket, hiding Shi Chanli's essay inside it, thinking he would take a gamble.

He had not expected that before entering the exam hall, he would be called up by the proctor Fan Xian. At that moment, he wanted to die, thinking that his decade of assiduous studying would have been wasted. He had not expected young Master Fan would give him a second chance.

After he finished the exam and left the hall, he had not dared to use the cheat sheet stuffed inside the jacket. Naturally, his policy essay and his poetic essay had not gone well, so he put all thoughts out of his mind, and turned to drink and merriment. But when he heard that Miniser Guo had been arrested, there was a smile on his face. He never imagined that Master Fan would come to the Tongfu Tavern the day before to tell him personally, in secret, that he had achieved third rank.

His grief had turned to joy; his despair had turned to hope. He had been battered by that state of mind until today, after he had crossed the bridge and stood beneath the vermilion wall, believing more and more that Fan Xian's visit the day before had been a dream – that he could not have passed.

And yet, he had passed!

Yang Wanli looked at his distorted appearance in the rippling waters and calmed himself slightly. Naturally, he understood why his fortune had turned in such a short span of time. He felt truly grateful to that young master.