Deep in the night, lamps blazed at the entrance of the examination grounds as the candidates filed in one by one in an orderly line, stretching like a long dragon.
Pei Shaohuai stood before the carriage and watched in silence for a long while before turning to board. Three years ago this same place had also been lit by the dim glow of lamps, and seeing the candidates standing in anxious anticipation once more, Pei Shaohuai found his own state of mind had changed greatly.
Confined in the cell, brush in hand to write his examination answers, he had once thought to himself — nine cold nights without anyone to share them; a page of verse to determine the rest of one’s life.
He had placed such weight on the examination that it had bred anxiety.
But after experiencing the golden list of successful candidates, the announcement ceremony at the Golden Hall, and then three years as an official — only then did he understand: no page of verse could determine the rest of one’s life, and even seeing the imperial court up close was nothing more than this.
Sitting in the carriage, Pei Shaohuai felt that thinking this way was perhaps a touch too much the attitude of a victor, and he gave himself a wry, self-deprecating smile. He then lifted the curtain and said: “Chang Fan, back to the residence.”
In his heart, he quietly hoped that the spring cold over these nine days would be a gentle one, and not leave the candidates’ hands too stiff to write.
As for Pei Shaojin and Xu Yancheng — Pei Shaohuai had every confidence in them.
The next morning at dawn, the sky brightened fully — a good omen.
Pei Shaojin quickly and neatly arranged his writing board, ground his ink with patience, and waited for the presiding examiners to release the questions. From his many discussions of scholarship with his elder brother, he had already internalized something of Pei Shaohuai’s quality of unhurried deliberateness.
With the sunrise came the mao hour; a single stroke of the gong rang out from the four corners of the examination grounds, and the questions for the Metropolitan Examination were released.
The first session centered on the Four Books and Five Classics, testing candidates’ mastery of the eight-legged essay form. On the question board, three Four Books questions were displayed —
The first: “In serving one’s lord, attend first to the duty, and make the emolument a secondary concern.” From the Analects, Chuan Cheng – Chapter “Wei Linggong.”
The second: “One who has achieved the synthesis of all excellence rings out like metal and reverberates like jade.” From Mencius, Chuan Cheng – Chapter “Wan Zhang II.”
The third: “In personal conduct he is reverential; in serving his superiors he is respectful; in nourishing the people he is benevolent; in directing the people he is just.” From the Analects, Chuan Cheng – Chapter “Gongye Chang.” [1]
Two of the three Four Books questions came from the Analects, and both dealt with matters of serving one’s lord and one’s superiors, calling upon candidates to write about the proper conduct of a minister. Pei Shaojin privately reflected that Chief Examiner Elder Hu had chosen to be extremely cautious in his selection of questions this time — yet thinking further, given the consecutive downfalls of Lou and Shen in the court, selecting ministers through this examination with an emphasis on the proper conduct of a minister was both reasonable and the safest approach.
Pei Shaojin understood clearly: “reverence” and “loyalty” were the governing themes of this examination.
Though the Metropolitan Examination comprised three sessions, the eight-legged essays of the first session carried the most weight. Rankings were determined primarily by reference to these essays. If one wished to have one’s paper elevated for consideration, it was not necessary to be ingratiating — but one could not deviate from the governing theme set by the chief examiner in his questions.
Pei Shaojin took out his draft paper and began to think. For the first question, Zhuxi had annotated: “When a gentleman takes office… he must not have in his heart a prior desire for emolument,” meaning that a minister ought to put diligent service first and receiving salary second.
Had he not traveled south for study and experience, had he not received his elder brother’s counsel, Pei Shaojin would certainly have constructed his argument around “the sovereign treats the minister with proper ceremony and salary; the minister serves the sovereign with loyalty and diligence.” This approach would easily yield a respectable eight-legged essay that stayed close to the question’s intent.
But his understanding had long outgrown that.
Since the official salary was granted by the Son of Heaven, yet what the Son of Heaven possessed was ultimately drawn from the people, Pei Shaojin added an additional layer of meaning to his argument.
For the second question: the phrase “one who has achieved the synthesis of all excellence” and “rings like metal and reverberates like jade” referred specifically to Confucius. The achievement of such synthesis drew together the purity of Bo Yi, the sense of duty of Yi Yin, and the harmony of Liuxia Hui — and so the constructed argument needed to give proper weight to purity, duty, and harmony alike.
Though it looked demanding at first glance, in truth this type of essay was among those candidates had practiced most. Breaking open the argument was not difficult; writing it with brilliance was another matter. Fortunately, Pei Shaojin had a remarkable memory and was particularly skilled at drawing upon classical references, so the essays he produced were steeped in the classical tradition, wholly integrated without a seam showing.
The third question addressed the conduct of a gentleman. Pei Shaojin held that if one had truly absorbed refinement and moral grace into one’s innermost self, then it would naturally manifest in the words and actions of daily life — achieving naturally the qualities of being “reverential in personal conduct, respectful in serving superiors, benevolent in nourishing the people, and just in directing them.”
Shortly after, the presiding examiners released the Five Classics questions. Pei Shaojin’s chosen classic was the Book of Documents, and he copied down the four questions on its interpretation.
Following his elder brother’s advice, Pei Shaojin took advantage of the mental clarity and sharpness of the first day to work out the opening arguments for all seven questions and set out the structural framework for each essay. He would then fill them out into complete essays gradually over the second and third days.
Inside the examination grounds, paper rustled and brushes swept, as candidates bent over their work with intense dedication through the long, grueling nine days.
Outside the examination grounds, life went on as always, and the nine days passed in the blink of an eye.
Nine days later, Pei Shaohuai took another day’s leave and went to wait at the Eastern Gate of the examination grounds for Pei Shaojin and Xu Yancheng to finish and come out.
As the last rays of sunlight faded, the gong sounded inside the grounds, and the Metropolitan Examination was over. Outside, the crowd surged forward and pressed against the archway of the examination grounds, gazing ahead and waiting anxiously for their family members to emerge safe and sound from the examination hall — nine consecutive days of examinations were grueling enough under any circumstances, and the unusual cold of this spring had made things harder still.
There was a rather contradictory feeling in the air: hoping that their children and grandchildren had done their utmost and would find their names on the successful candidates’ list, yet dreading that those same children and grandchildren might have a frail constitution and be unable to withstand nine days of bitter cold.
Knowing that it would take some time for the papers to be collected, Pei Shaohuai remained in the carriage rather than stepping out.
Yan Gui, young and finding everything novel, kept lifting the carriage curtain to peek at what was happening outside. “Little Uncle Huai,” he asked, “how can you be so calm? Are you not curious how Little Uncle Jin and Elder Brother did?”
In a little over two years, Yan Gui would be sitting for the provincial examination, which was why he was so curious about what the examination grounds were like.
Pei Shaohuai smiled and teased: “In my view, the only thing they needed to think about was who between them could take first place… It makes no difference to me which of them tops the list, so naturally I have nothing to be curious about.”
Just as he was speaking, the noise of the crowd swelled up — the gates of the examination grounds had opened.
First, those candidates who had fallen ill were carried out and rushed to various medical establishments for treatment. Then, one by one, groups of candidates began to emerge — some still reasonably steady on their feet, others stumbling along, barely upright.
Before long, Xu Yancheng came out first. Spotting the carriage, he could still manage a short trot, suggesting his spirits were good and his examination had gone well.
Yan Gui took the bundle and examination basket from his elder brother’s hands. “Elder Brother — how did it go?”
Xu Yancheng hugged his warming pouch for the heat and replied, “All answered, and steadily.” Then with cheerful confidence he added: “As for where I will place — that depends mostly on how Little Uncle Jin did.”
After nine straight days of examinations, the sudden ease of it being over left Xu Yancheng feeling tired and drowsy, and he climbed into the carriage to rest.
Not long after, Pei Shaojin emerged as well, walking at a composed and unhurried pace.
“Little Uncle Jin — how did it go?” Yan Gui asked.
“All is well.” Pei Shaojin replied, and then, as though following a script, said something almost identical to what Xu Yancheng had said, with a smile: “As for who ranks above whom — that still depends on how the examiners choose to rank us.”
Yan Gui turned to face Pei Shaohuai and said with admiring conviction: “Little Uncle Huai really is able to predict things before they happen.”
Pei Shaohuai said: “Both of you, head home and rest well first — everything else can be discussed when the list is posted.”
The two carriages went their separate ways — one to the Pei residence, one to the Xu residence.
At the Earl’s residence, after Pei Shaojin had rested for a day and his exhaustion had largely passed, he could not resist making his way to his elder brother’s study for a conversation.
He first told his elder brother what the questions in all three sessions had been, then shared his own assessment: “Whether it was the eight-legged essays or the policy questions, Elder Hu constructed everything around ‘loyalty’ as his central theme.”
Pei Shaohuai nodded in agreement.
Elder Hu had only just assumed the role of Senior Grand Secretary, and his position in court was not yet stable. With the River West faction still refusing to die out entirely, it was natural that at such a juncture he would seek stability — in selecting new ministers, placing loyal and virtuous candidates first.
Pei Shaohuai speculated that Elder Hu, serving as chief examiner for the Metropolitan Examination, would not merely seek stability in setting the questions — he would also apply careful and thorough judgment when reviewing the papers alongside the eighteen room examiners. He said: “With the Senior Grand Secretary serving as chief examiner this year, the review of papers will be careful and impartial — that is a favorable thing for you and Xu Yancheng.”
Elder Hu would absolutely not use this moment to select candidates for the sake of factional interests.
Hearing his elder brother’s analysis, Pei Shaojin felt an added measure of confidence and his delight showed on his face. He then said: “If anything was unexpected, it was that a rhyming prose piece appeared in the second session — the question itself was rather strange.”
“What was the question?”
“Write a rhyming prose piece on ‘Climbing a Mountain in Search of Pearls.'”
Pei Shaohuai understood immediately. For the second session to include a rhyming prose piece at all was already unusual — that was the first peculiarity; jade grows within rock, and pearls are born in the sea, so one would naturally climb a mountain to seek fine jade and dive into the sea to gather pearls — yet the question said “climbing a mountain in search of pearls.” That was the second peculiarity.
Elder Hu was seeking stability — so why would he put forward such a strange question?
Pei Shaohuai had a good eight or nine parts of a guess, and said: “In all likelihood, that was a question put forward by His Majesty himself.” It also rather suited the Emperor’s privately somewhat unconventional temperament.
He asked Pei Shaojin: “How did you respond to it?”
“Climbing a mountain to search for pearls is like climbing a tree to catch fish — it runs contrary to common sense, and so I naturally argued against it by speaking plainly from facts.” Pei Shaojin replied.
Pei Shaohuai smiled. “Then it was answered well.”
The Emperor had put forward this question because he did not want obsequious ministers who would agree to anything and point at a deer and call it a horse.
Xu Yancheng, though often startling in the novelty of his perspectives in everyday life, was at his core a pragmatist — he would not have gone astray in answering this question either.
Slender gusts of east wind, a scattering of light rain; against the wall, apricot blossoms bloomed in dense clusters.
The slanting sun and the apricot blossoms falling in the breeze at last brought a few degrees of warmth to this lingering cold spring.
Pei Shaohuai was on his way back from the palace. Coming home, he bought a few branches of apricot blossoms in full bloom from deep within the lanes, and had Chang Fan deliver them to Pei Shaojin’s courtyard. Then a momentary selfishness came over him, and he kept one branch for himself, bringing it back to his courtyard and giving it to his wife.
The next morning, the whole family sat in the main hall in a state of mild tension, for today was the day the examination grounds would post the apricot blossom list.
Pei Shaojin was considerably more composed than most young men his age, but before a matter of such importance to his life, he was still young at heart. He could not quite settle into his chair — barely a moment after sitting, he would get up again and look out toward the entrance.
When the tea in the cup on the table began to ripple, and the sound of hurried hoofbeats came from outside the gate, everyone in the main hall rose to their feet at once, turning to look toward the outer gate with the same expression of hopeful anticipation.
To have brought news from the examination grounds this early in the morning meant Pei Shaojin’s ranking would not be low.
Just as three years before, Steward Zhang leaped down from his horse, not even pausing to tie the animal, and strode with great purpose into the main hall. His words were concise: “The Second Young Master has also taken first place — he is the Metropolitan Examination’s top candidate!”
The single word “also” captured in full the honors of this generation of the Earl’s residence.
Both brothers had claimed the top position on the list beneath branches of apricot blossom, three years apart — different moments, yet how remarkably similar the scene.
Pei Shaojin was overcome with joy. He rushed first to his elder brother’s side, and the two embraced. Even though many had long said that his learning was more than enough to compete for the top of the list, the moment he actually heard the news, there was still a note of disbelief in his voice: “Elder Brother — did I truly take first place?”
“It is true.” Pei Shaohuai was overjoyed as well — somehow even more moved than when he himself had received the news three years ago.
He teased Pei Shaojin: “Now you can prepare in peace for the wedding.” The auspicious date had been set for after the Palace Examination — Pei Shaojin would soon have both great and small causes for celebration, double joyous occasions arriving at once.
Three years earlier than in the original story.
Pei Shaojin’s face, which had been flushed with joy, turned red with a different kind of warmth.
Pei Bingyuan, seeing both his sons bringing him such credit and showing such growth, was deeply gratified.
In the midst of all the happiness, Pei Shaohuai asked Steward Zhang: “Where did Xu Yancheng place?”
Steward Zhang replied: “The eldest young master of the Xu family placed second, just behind the Second Young Master.” He went on of his own accord: “The eldest young master of the Yang family took third place.”
All rankings were as expected. The Pei household gave itself over to another round of celebration.
After the Pei residence had distributed gifts of money to share in the joy and the festivities had settled, word also came down the street of the “Five Classics Champions” and the “Eighteen Room Champions.” The so-called “Five Classics Champions” were the top-ranked candidates in each of the five classics — Poetry, Documents, Rites, Changes, and Spring and Autumn — placing in the top five; the “Eighteen Room Champions” were the top candidate nominated by each of the eighteen examination rooms, placing in the top eighteen.
On the list of the Eighteen Room Champions, Pei Shaohuai saw the name of Pei Shaofeng.