“Xu Ci Jiu can’t write poetry for shit. I could casually write a few lines that would put him to shame. If I hadn’t written that poem for his cousin Xu Qi An that day, the jade pendant from the Purple Sun Cultivator should have been mine,” Zhu Tui Zhi grumbled, recalling their past grievance.
“Could it be examination fraud?” Liu Jue probed.
“Nonsense!” The Yunlu Academy students were furious upon hearing this, glaring at him.
Examination fraud… The phrase surfaced in Zhu Tui Zhi’s mind, suddenly connecting all the questions and reasonably explaining why Xu Ci Jiu could write an immortal masterpiece and achieve the top rank.
But then Zhu Tui Zhi shook his head: “Impossible. Poetry isn’t like an essay where knowing the topic in advance allows for thorough preparation. Brother Liu, if I gave you the theme ‘Spring Scenery’ and three days, could you write an immortal masterpiece?”
Liu Jue shook his head: “I’m ashamed to say, even with three years I probably couldn’t produce such a work.”
He took a sip of wine, revealing a meaningful smile, and lowered his voice: “But, Brother Zhu, what if the person who wrote the poem for him was Silver Constable Xu Qi An?”
The atmosphere at the table quieted. Neither the Yunlu Academy nor the Imperial Academy students immediately refuted this. Instead, they carefully pondered it in their minds.
Indeed, if it were the Poetry Magistrate Xu, and if he knew the topic in advance, he might be able to write it in just one day, let alone three.
The farewell poem, the plum blossom poem, and that half-finished verse he sang before his “sacrifice” in Yun Province were all composed on the spot.
The Yunlu Academy students even recalled the “Exhortation to Study” poem posted on the academy’s wall of honor. According to the academy’s great scholar, Xu Ning Yan had composed that poem in just ten breaths, showcasing his extraordinary talent.
“Hmph, how would Silver Constable Xu Qi An know the examination topic?” Although they thought this way, they wouldn’t admit it out loud. The Yunlu Academy students are challenged.
“I don’t know, I don’t know,” Liu Jue waved his hand, smiling. “It’s just drunk talk, wild guessing. But that Xu Qi An is a Silver Constable, and it’s rumored in official circles that he’s deeply trusted by Wei Yuan…”
He didn’t continue further.
After this interlude, the Yunlu Academy students lost their mood for drinking. They sat for a while longer before getting up to leave.
The sociable Liu Jue personally saw Zhu Tui Zhi and the others off, then took care of the bill. Everyone dispersed outside the restaurant.
A quarter of an hour later, Liu Jue returned and slipped into a carriage parked outside the restaurant.
Inside sat a middle-aged man dressed like a wealthy merchant, wearing a jade thumb ring and rolling walnuts in one hand while holding a teacup in the other.
“Manager Zhao!” Liu Jue bowed respectfully.
The middle-aged man nodded, set down his teacup, turned over the inverted tea cup on the small tea table, poured a cup of tea, and frowned: “You reek of alcohol. Have some tea.”
“Thank you, Manager Zhao.” Liu Jue cupped the teacup with both hands, slurped it down in one go, and slowly said:
“I’ve found out some things. According to those Yunlu Academy students, Xu Ci Jiu can’t write poetry at all, his level is terrible. That ‘Difficulty of the Road’ poem was almost certainly ghostwritten by someone else. Of course, I don’t have any evidence.”
Hearing this, the middle-aged man revealed a satisfied smile and sneered: “We don’t need evidence. This is enough.”
…
In a courtyard planted with willows in the outer city.
Daoist Master Jin Lian, who had just taken a Blood Embryo Pill, basked in the warm spring sunshine. He felt his body was no longer cold and was no longer transforming into a yin entity. Though some yin energy remained in his body, another Blood Embryo Pill would be enough to eliminate it.
“This physical body doesn’t match well with my primordial spirit. It won’t last too long, but fortunately, the Transformation Golden Lotus is about to mature. Its seeds can reshape my physical body, and it’s time for me to leave the capital.
“I hope nothing unexpected happens by then.” Daoist Master Jin Lian prayed silently.
…
“Young Master, that, that young lady doesn’t seem to be from Great Feng,” Old Zhang’s son thought for a moment, then described: “She’s a dark-skinned ugly girl, with blue eyes. Her hair is unattractive too, all curly.”
Number Five?!
Damn, why did she come to my house? Did Daoist Master Jin Lian send her? Does she know I’m Number Three?
Daoist Master Jin Lian asking him to help find Number Five instead of asking Number Three could be explained away as “Number Three’s rank is too low.” After all, the later stages of the Confucian school’s “words become law” ability are terrifyingly powerful.
But in the early ranks, from ninth to seventh rank are all trash. Only at the sixth rank, the Confucian Scholar realm, can one copy others’ skills, gaining considerable combat power.
In the eyes of Chu Yuan Zhen and Heng Yuan, although Number Three Xu Ci Jiu is incredibly intelligent when real action is needed, his formidable cousin Xu Ning Yan is more reliable.
It seems I’ll have to skip work today… Xu Qi An nodded and said: “I understand. Let me ask for leave, then I’ll return to the mansion with you.”
After asking for leave, Xu Qi An sat on horseback, trotting towards the Xu mansion. Old Zhang’s son, Little Zhang, jogged alongside.
Two-quarters of an hour later, they arrived at the Xu mansion, not far from the Constabulary. Xu Qi An handed the reins to Little Zhang and entered the mansion directly.
Just as he entered the outer courtyard, he saw the kitchen maids carrying plates of hot dishes, steamed buns, and rice towards the inner courtyard.
“Young Master is back…” The kitchen maids sighed in relief, speaking while casting glances toward the inner courtyard:
“A young lady came to the mansion, saying she was looking for you. When asked about her relationship with you, she couldn’t explain clearly herself, mumbling and muttering, nine out of ten sentences were incomprehensible.”
Nine out of ten sentences are incomprehensible, Number Five’s southern accent must be quite heavy… Xu Qi An thought sarcastically as he entered the inner courtyard with the kitchen maids. From afar, he heard Xu Ling Yue’s gentle voice coming from the inner hall:
“Miss Li Na, you’ve come from the South to find my elder brother. What business do you have?”
“I’m not here to find your elder brother, I’m here to find some friends, just to gain some experience…” A heavily accented voice responded, speaking in the broken Great Feng’s official language.
However, the voice was like silver bells, crisp and pleasant to the ear.
“So you’re saying you don’t know my elder brother?”
“I don’t know him.”
In just a few words, she had figured out the situation. This girl doesn’t seem very smart, and she has no connection to my brother… Xu Ling Yue warmly entertained Li Na.
Aunt sat in a chair not far away, her brows slightly furrowed, her gaze somewhat hostile as she scrutinized Li Na.
This foreign woman sure can eat. In half an hour, she’s eaten three days’ worth of food for the family. If converted to silver, it would be… several taels, right?
This was with Aunt specifically instructing the kitchen maids to prepare some rice, noodles, steamed buns, and vegetable dishes. If it were meat and fish, how much silver would it cost?
Who could afford to raise such a girl?
“Miss Li Na? What brings you to my mansion?” Xu Qi An stepped over the threshold, looking at the southern barbarian girl with surprise. Compared to her pale, injured appearance yesterday, her complexion was now rosy, her eyes bright, seeming to have fully recovered from her injuries.
“Daoist Master Jin Lian told me to come find you, saying that during my time in the capital, I’ll be staying here. Thank you, Lord Xu, for saving my life,” Li Na quickly put down her chopsticks, swallowed her food, and frankly examined Xu Qi An.
She had originally thought that upon arriving in the capital, she would be received by either Daoist Master Jin Lian, or Number Three, or Numbers Four and Six. Who would have thought that she would end up staying at a stranger’s home?
Daoist Master Jin Lian had already told her about yesterday’s events, so Li Na knew that this handsome young Silver Constable was her lifesaver.
Since he was a friend trusted by the Daoist Master, Li Na trusted him without reservation.
She calls me Lord Xu, not Number Three… Xu Qi An stared at Li Na for a moment, unable to discern anything from those clear, innocent blue eyes.
Why did Daoist Master Jin Lian arrange for her to stay with me? What’s the deeper meaning behind this?
The old schemer didn’t consult with me before doing this. Based on my experience dealing with these old schemers, if they consult beforehand, there’s usually no hidden agenda.
If they don’t consult beforehand, there must be a deeper meaning.
So, Xu Qi An asked: “What else did the Daoist Master tell you?”
Li Na took a bite of a steamed bun and said indistinctly: “Daoist Master Jin Lian said you’re a close friend he made in the capital, and that I should feel at ease staying at your mansion.”
Swallowing the bun, she added somewhat angrily and grievously: “The Daoist Master said I eat too much and he can’t afford to keep me.”
Ah… Xu Qi An’s face froze. So the reason Jin Lian sent her to me was because she eats too much and he can’t afford it?
This was truly an irrefutable reason. By the same logic, Number Six living in a nursing home, and Number Four relying on old friends for food and lodging couldn’t afford to keep the southern barbarian girl either.
Damn, it feels so unpleasant to be treated as a rich fool. Life in the jianghu is all about either you freeloading off others or others freeloading off you. This is karma… Xu Qi An sighed: “I see.”
“Ahem!” Aunt coughed forcefully, asserting her presence as the mistress of the house.
But Xu Qi An ignored her and continued: “Alright, I’ll have someone arrange a room for you right away.”
“Xu Ning Yan!!” Aunt shouted angrily, rising from her chair, hands on her hips, glaring at him: “I’m your aunt, have you, have you not thought about consulting with me?”
As she spoke, her eyes kept darting towards the messy dining table, telling her unfortunate nephew that this girl was a bottomless pit.
This… Xu Qi An hesitated. His aunt’s considerations were very reasonable. The capital’s prices were high, and this girl ate so much, it would indeed cost a lot of silver.
Moreover, my luck has changed recently. I no longer pick up silver, but instead accumulate a reputation. And then, Wei Yuan docked my salary.
“Brother, have you forgotten about the chicken essence?” At this moment, Xu Ling Yue spoke up. She did some calculations for Xu Qi An: “Last year, the Salt Transportation Office in the capital issued salt tickets for 2,000 catties, making a profit of 5,000 taels, of which you have a 10% share, that’s 500 taels. You haven’t even claimed this silver from the Astronomical Bureau yet.
“I asked the clerk at the Salt Transportation Office, and the court plans to set up at least ten workshops this year to produce chicken essence. By the end of this year’s accounting, it will be an unimaginable fortune.
“So, our family is no longer short of silver.”
The “salt tickets” Xu Ling Yue mentioned specifically referred to chicken essence. Now, chicken essence, like salt, has become an important strategic resource for the court. It emerged out of nowhere last year and couldn’t be mass-produced then, but after expanding the production scale this year, the profits are immeasurable.
If you hadn’t mentioned it, I would have forgotten… It must be that old codger from the Astronomical Bureau who blocked my memories of the chicken essence, making me forget about it. He wants to cheat me out of my silver.
Xu Qi An was delighted to discover that he was already the Ma Yun of this era.
As Li Na completely failed to understand, she still felt it was impressive. She had traveled thousands of miles from the Southern Borderlands to the capital and knew what a copper coin or a qian of silver could buy. At the same time, she also knew how difficult it was to earn silver.
Subconsciously, she looked at this “Lord Xu” with pure admiration in her eyes, like a young girl watching the neighbor’s brother dancing in his yard with permed hair, wearing jeans and a decorative chain on his waist.
“How come I don’t know about this?” Aunt asked suspiciously.
“Aunt, didn’t you know? I asked Ling Yue to tell you,” Xu Qi An smoothly turned to look at his sister.
Xu Ling Yue looked confused: “Mother must have forgotten.”
Aunt opened and closed her mouth, unable to speak. She wasn’t sure if she had forgotten, having no recollection of such a large “profit.”
At this moment, Li Na asked with an admiring tone, “May I ask for Your Lordship’s full name?”
This way of asking was something she had learned while wandering the jianghu in Great Shang.
“Xu Qi An!”
“Xu… Xu Qi An…” Li Na tilted her head, pondered for a while, then suddenly screamed: “You’re Xu Qi An? Didn’t you die in Yun Province?”
Aunt and Xu Ling Yue looked over suspiciously.
This foreign girl claimed to know Xu Qi An, yet didn’t know about his resurrection. So, why was she here at the mansion?
“Let’s talk privately.”
Xu Qi An pulled Li Na out of the side hall, stopped by the flower bed, and explained:
“I didn’t die. Li Miao Zhen made a mistake. Well, I’m an outer member of the Earthly Spirits Society. Although I don’t have the corresponding Book of Earth fragment, I’m well-informed about your affairs.”
“No wonder Golden Lotus Daoist told me to find you,” Li Na revealed a happy smile, easily believing Xu Qi An’s words without any doubt.
So gullible… Xu Qi An said seriously: “This is a secret. You can’t reveal it to anyone, not even within the Earthly Spirits Society.”
“Alright!”
Li Na smiled brightly, nodding vigorously. When she smiled, she was very cheerful. The Southern Borderlands were hot, so Li Na’s skin was a healthy wheat color, but in the Great Shang aesthetic that favored fair skin and beauty, she would be considered dark-skinned.
“Let’s go eat.”
If only everyone in the world could be as pure and naive as Number Five… Xu Qi An gazed at her bouncing, lively figure, sighing sincerely.
He still had many questions for Number Five, such as how she knew it was Number Three herself who picked up the silver, rather than an imaginary friend.
No rush. People with simple personalities are usually quite stubborn; if they say they’ll keep a secret, they definitely will.
But eating someone’s food makes one feel indebted. After she eats at his home for a few days, if she has any conscience at all, she’ll know that freeloading isn’t right.
…
In the Imperial Cabinet.
Wang Zhen Wen, wearing a crimson robe, was bent over his desk reviewing memorials. He had been sitting for two hours, taking a few trips to the latrine in between, but otherwise devoting all his time to official business.
The Imperial Cabinet was essentially the emperor’s secretariat, wielding enormous power, far above the Six Ministries.
All memorials, large and small, from the court, and even suggestions from commoners to the emperor, were compiled by the Transmission Office, presented to the emperor for review by the Ceremonial Office, and then handed over to the Imperial Cabinet.
The Imperial Cabinet was responsible for drafting handling opinions, which were then presented to the emperor by the Ceremonial Office for a final decision on how to handle them, and finally proofread and issued by the Six Ministries.
By Emperor Yuan Jing’s reign, the Transmission Office directly transferred memorials to the Imperial Cabinet, which drafted handling opinions, and then passed them on to Emperor Yuan Jing.
A step in the middle was omitted.
This was because Emperor Yuan Jing believed that the extra step in the middle interfered with his Dao cultivation.
Ironically, it was this omitted middle step where the most irregularities occurred. Because now, what Emperor Yuan Jing saw were only the memorials that the Imperial Cabinet wanted him to see.
Of course, although Emperor Yuan Jing wasn’t a good emperor, he was an emperor skilled in power tactics. To curb the excessive power of civil officials and prevent them from overshadowing imperial power, he came up with a win-win solution.
This solution was named “Wei Yuan.”
From a macro perspective, various factions were at odds with Wei Yuan’s faction. From a micro perspective, the various factions were locked in bitter struggles among themselves.
Emperor Yuan Jing sat comfortably on the sidelines, responsible for maintaining balance while focusing on cultivating the Dao.
Wang Zhen Wen opened the last memorial, read its contents, and then pondered silently for a long time. Then, he took out a slip of paper, wrote down his suggestions, and attached it to the memorial.
After finishing all this, it was just time for the evening dismissal.
…
By nightfall, a mortal enemy of Xu Ling Yin had appeared at the Xu family’s dinner table.
Xu Ling Yin both loved and hated this sister who had suddenly emerged. She loved her because since “Big Sister” arrived, the amount of food at home had multiplied.
She hated her because this big sister ate far too much…
Her mouth was so small, that she simply couldn’t eat as much.
Second Uncle Xu frowned, scrutinizing Li Na, then turned to ask his nephew: “Is she from the Gu Tribe of the Southern Borderlands, the Strength Gu branch?”
Li Na raised her face from her bowl, rice grains stuck to the corners of her mouth, and said crisply: “I am from the Strength Gu branch. How did Second Uncle Xu know?”
Who’s your Second Uncle? Xu Ping Zhi snorted coldly.
During the Battle of Shanhai Pass years ago, he had personally experienced the great war and witnessed the terrifying strength of the Strength Gu branch barbarians. Their characteristic was their ability to eat.
A robust member of the Strength Gu branch could easily eat a whole cow in a day.
Back then, Wei Yuan never took prisoners from the Strength Gu branch, always killing them outright to save on provisions.
“Brother, I have something to tell you,” Xu Xin Nian suddenly spoke up.
“I knew you had something on your mind, your brows haven’t relaxed. Tell me,” Xu Qi An replied while competing with Li Na for meat.
“The eldest daughter of the Wang family has invited me to go boating on the lake tomorrow,” Xu Xin Nian said vigilantly.
“What do you think?” Xu Qi An pondered.
Xu Xin Nian snorted, put down his chopsticks, and said disdainfully: “There are only two reasons. Either it’s out of personal grudge, wanting to get back at me for that Minister of Justice’s niece, or Prime Minister Wang doesn’t want to let me off and is secretly plotting something.”
“Which do you think it is?” Xu Ping Zhi chimed in.
Xu Xin Nian thought for a moment and said regretfully: “Although I might become Prime Minister Wang’s greatest threat in the future, I don’t think he would be so fixated on me. I think Miss Wang wants to cause trouble.”
Hearing this, Xu Ling Yue put down her chopsticks, her small face serious: “Second Brother, you’re not good at dealing with women. I’ll go with you…” She quickly glanced at Xu Qi An and corrected herself: “Although I don’t know much about those messy conflicts either, women still understand women best.”
Xu Xin Nian mocked his elder sister’s intelligence: “Who said I have to go? Miss Wang invited me to go boating, not Prime Minister Wang. Since that’s the case, it would be improper for an unmarried man and woman to go boating together. I’ll simply refuse.
“The Art of War says: ‘When the enemy advances, we retreat. When we are weak, we must not engage the enemy’s strength.'”
Not bad, handled quite well… Xu Qi An nodded: “If you’ve already decided, why ask me?”
The family continued eating and talking, the atmosphere harmonious.
…
The next day, Emperor Yuan Jing finished his meditation, studied scriptures for half an hour, took his medicine, then rested for the time it took an incense stick to burn, concluding his morning routine.
At this time, he would spare some time to review memorials, but not for too long, as the Imperial Cabinet had already prepared the “vote drafts.” He only needed to approve them with red ink.
He opened the first memorial, which was from the newly appointed Left Censor-in-Chief, accusing the Grand Secretary of the Eastern Hall, Zhao Ting Fang, of accepting bribes and leaking exam questions to Xu Xin Nian, a student of the Cloud Deer Academy.
The memorial also provided evidence, stating that during the provincial examination, this student’s poetry was ranked fourth class (the lowest being fifth class). How could he possibly have written a timeless masterpiece like “The Difficulty of the Journey”?
At this point, Emperor Yuan Jing wasn’t too concerned. Poetry wasn’t the same as prose; leaking exam questions for prose would be a very serious matter. Poetry was somewhat lighter. Even if you knew the exam topic, finding someone with poetic talent would be harder than getting the exam questions.
But then, the memorial mentioned that the student had a cousin who was a Silver Gong in the Night Watchmen’s Office, named Xu Qi An.
As everyone knew, Xu Qi An was the Poetry Champion of Great Shang.
After reading the memorial, Emperor Yuan Jing’s pupils sharpened, but he didn’t express an opinion. He then removed the Imperial Cabinet’s “vote draft,” which contained their recommendation:
“The imperial examination has always been of utmost importance for the court to select talented individuals. Exam fraud cannot be tolerated. We hope Your Majesty will investigate this matter thoroughly.”
Emperor Yuan Jing pondered for a moment, then picked up his brush and approved it with red ink.