The spring of the fifth year of Jianning was exceptionally lively in the capital.
In truth, this liveliness had begun last winter. Students participating in the imperial examinations had started flooding into the capital. While some were focused on preparing for the exams, many more were drawn by the capital’s hustle and bustle, gathering with friends to compose poetry, appreciate scenery, and drink.
Women would also be participating in the imperial examinations. So besides men gathering for literary exchange, there were many competitions with women as well. Perhaps due to the many years of warfare in Da Xia, even the temperament of scholars had changed. Gentlemen not only used their mouths but also their hands. What started as proper literary gatherings would devolve into verbal battles, which would then transform into physical fights, with groups of scholars tearing and rolling around together, all civility lost.
Even more speechless-inducing was that it wasn’t just the men. Literary gatherings with female participants could end similarly, though with the distinction that the ones fighting were the female scholars’ maidservants and attendants, while the ladies themselves shouted commands from the sidelines.
The capital’s constables rushed east and west day and night, dealing with brawls everywhere. They couldn’t arrest them, couldn’t beat them, couldn’t reason with these scholars, and sometimes found themselves being lectured by these groups in the end. The officials of the Metropolitan Prefecture were at their wits’ end.
At least noble families weren’t causing trouble—families that could educate their children, especially those who could cultivate daughters capable of participating in literary gatherings, were either wealthy or powerful. Under the Emperor’s feet, there were powerful figures everywhere, and colleagues could bump into ten of them walking down a single street. The capital’s young masters were the most difficult to manage, with one person causing trouble and an entire family making a fuss.
But this time, the Metropolitan Prefecture officials were irritated precisely because these noble families weren’t causing trouble. They even went to these households to question them: “How can your sons and daughters’ fighting be proper conduct? Aren’t the elders going to discipline them?”
Parents of the young men involved were indifferent, saying, “Fighting for the sake of scholarship—how can that be called fighting? That’s the way of pursuing knowledge.”
As for the parents of the young women, they were surprisingly unconcerned as well, countering, “Who says women can’t debate? It’s all for the pursuit of knowledge. If men can do it, naturally women can too. Back when the Empress—”
Upon hearing “back when the Empress,” the officials immediately stopped asking, turned around, and left. What else was there to say? As the Empress goes, so go her subjects.
Amidst all this activity, the New Year passed. As more students poured in, suddenly another rumor emerged. This rumor didn’t cause an uproar but spread slowly, like something hidden underwater.
“The top scholar of Dengzhou.”
“It’s true, that’s the name.”
“There are many people with the same name.”
“His appearance is said to be very similar to.”
“They say the Dengzhou Prefect secretly went to look, and was so frightened after one glance that he sprained his ankle.”
“Is that true?”
“I don’t know, I haven’t seen him.”
“But now that he’s come to the capital, more people have seen him.”
Accompanying these strange conversations, one day the teahouses and restaurants along the streets suddenly filled with people. They ordered fine wine and good food, but all craned their necks to look outside.
“What’s happening?” the proprietor asked curiously, also looking outside. “Has some important person arrived?”
A customer whispered to him: “The top scholar of Dengzhou.”
The proprietor laughed. Yes, being the top scholar of a prefecture was impressive, but many top scholars had gathered in the capital. What was so special?
Extremely talented? Any top scholar could claim such ability.
Perhaps extremely beautiful? Or exceptionally ugly? Both qualities would attract attention, but for scholars, these were merely external traits, not worth such shallow observation.
But the man didn’t elaborate, saying meaningfully: “Just wait and see. You’re a capital resident—you’ll understand when you see him.”
All this mystery and strangeness made the proprietor somewhat disdainful. As a resident of the capital, what strange things hadn’t he seen in recent years?
As they spoke, someone ran in, saying in a low, excited voice, “They’re coming, they’re coming.”
Hearing this, everyone in the room looked outside with nervous excitement.
The proprietor casually moved his counting tokens, lifting his eyelids to look outside. He saw seven or eight men walking down the main street, all dressed as scholars, travel-worn, leading horses laden with bookshelves and luggage, just like all the other students entering the capital for examinations—
If this truly was the top scholar of Dengzhou, his entourage was not as impressive as other top scholars.
Although there were indeed poor students who rose to the top, they would inevitably be valued by local officials and prominent families afterward, who would gift them silver, money, and servants, ensuring their path to a brilliant future.
When top scholars from other prefectures entered the capital, they arrived in ornate carriages with fine horses, either surrounded by servants or escorted by other scholars.
These people looked no different from ordinary students. Was there a top scholar among them?
The proprietor lowered his eyes, thinking he’d be better off looking at his account books.
“It’s that one—”
“It’s him—”
“Look quickly—”
“Which one?”
“The one walking at the back.”
When the group on the street approached, the hall grew noisier. The proprietor looked up again. Was the one at the back the top scholar?
If so, this top scholar didn’t seem to have good relationships.
Though they appeared to be traveling together, the one at the back was separated from the others.
The others pointed and chatted about the capital’s liveliness, but no one spoke to the person at the back, obviously maintaining deliberate distance.
As that person walked by, the proprietor’s gaze fell on his face, and his hand holding the counting tokens froze.
This face—
This face wasn’t exceptionally beautiful.
Nor was it exceptionally ugly.
This face appeared ordinary.
This face showed not a hint of a smile.
This face had slightly dark skin, thin eyes, and thin lips.
Those thin eyes suddenly looked over.
The proprietor’s hand trembled, and the counting tokens clattered to the floor.
“Grand… Grand… Grand Tutor—” he mumbled.
At the same time, the customers leaning out to look also froze for an instant.
Until that person had walked past.
The next moment, commotion erupted.
“Is it him?”
“It is him—”
“I almost called out just now.”
“Not just you, I heard many people call out.”
It wasn’t just this establishment; the entire street was the same. The undercurrent that had been hidden beneath the surface finally leaped up, creating a whirlpool.
……
……
“Is it Deng Yi, or just someone who looks like him?”
“His name is Deng Yi, and he looks identical—how can you say he merely looks similar?”
The discussion was also heated at the Imperial Academy. Unlike the common people, they had received news earlier. Although many hadn’t had the chance to see Grand Tutor Deng Yi, some local officials from prefectures and counties had seen him.
But the information they sent was ambiguous.
Everyone could understand why, since the court had announced Deng Yi’s death.
If this person were Deng Yi, he should have hidden his identity and disappeared. Yet he openly came to participate in the imperial examinations, neither changing his name nor his appearance.
If there were something amiss, the Imperial Guard would surely know.
By now, the Imperial Guard had been fully established in prefectures, counties, and districts, capable of peering into mansions and fields, with not even ants and crickets escaping their notice, let alone someone who looked like Deng Yi and was also named Deng Yi.
Yet this Deng Yi could still participate in the examinations, even become a top scholar, and now walked confidently into the capital.
“Sir,” a minor official rushed in, interrupting the officials who were gathered inside drinking tea and chatting, “He’s here, that Deng Yi is here.”
Hearing this, the officials rose somewhat hurriedly and went to sit at their respective desks.
“Student Deng Yi, here to register,” came a voice from outside.
One official trembled slightly—even the voice sounded similar. He coughed lightly and said, “Enter.”
Several officials stared at the door, watching the shifting light and shadow as a person walked in, wearing a cyan-colored robe, with a clean face and head, his expression neither happy nor sad, as before.
His gaze swept over everyone as he walked up to one of the officials and presented a name card.
That official unconsciously stood up and extended both hands to receive it.
“Sir,” he blurted out.
Deng Yi suddenly smiled.
The official came to his senses, his face stiffening.
“It’s too early to call me ‘Sir’ now,” Deng Yi said, handing the name card to the man and said, “This student has come to register. After I pass the examination with high honors, I shall serve alongside you gentlemen in court.”
The official said nothing, holding the name card with both hands as he sat back down. He took a deep breath, picked up his brush to record the name card, then passed it to another person. That person verified it, signed his note, and passed it to the next person, who verified it again and pressed the Imperial Academy seal onto it—
Deng Yi accepted the returned name card and bowed: “This student takes his leave.”
After saying this, he turned and walked out.
The room returned to silence, the stiff atmosphere dissipating as the three officials all exhaled deeply.
“If he’s not Deng Yi,” one official said, “then I’ve seen a ghost.”
Another official felt this wasn’t right: “If he is Deng Yi, wouldn’t that be like seeing a ghost?”
That made sense. The three men exchanged glances.
“Perhaps because the capital has endured so many hardships, it seems we’re always seeing ghosts,” one official said. “Earlier, weren’t there rumors among the Imperial City guards that when Empress Chu returned to court, Master Yan of the Xie family also manifested his spirit?”
What nonsense was this? The officials’ brows twitched as they pressed their hands to their foreheads.
Forget it, forget it. No more guessing. They were only responsible for preparing the imperial examinations; human affairs or ghost matters were none of their concern.
……
……
All the candidate registers were placed on the Emperor’s desk.
Xiao Yu’s gaze lingered for a moment on Deng Yi’s name.
“Are you afraid, A-Yu?” Chu Zhao asked beside him.
Xiao Yu said, “Not at all.” He ran his hand over the name and smiled. “If he can pass the examination, I dare to employ him.”
The young man’s eyebrows arched upward, full of spirit and vigor.
Chu Zhao also smiled. No wonder Xie Yanlai didn’t like this boy, because he indeed resembled the Xie family’s appearance.
As Xiao Yu’s features matured, he looked even more like Xie Yanlai.
……
……
By the end of April, the trees on both banks were lush green, spring flowers were in their final days, and petals flew about in the breeze.
In the rushing river, a hand dangled from a moving boat, scooping up a few flower petals from the water.
The water-soaked petals, in the jade-white hand, seemed to regain vitality, appearing gorgeously crimson.
“So, Deng Yi passed the examination?” asked the young man leaning against the boat’s side, holding the petals.
Cai Bo gently rowed the boat behind him and nodded: “Yes, and he ranked in the top ten.”
Xie Yanfang turned back with a smile: “Having slept for over a year, I’ve missed quite a few interesting developments.”