Gu Qin watched her clean the brush, his gaze inevitably returning to those characters. After pondering for a moment, he asked: “Does Leyan have someone in mind now?”
His tone revealed a slight hesitation.
Shen Zhili lowered her sleeve and softly replied: “Yes.”
He was stunned, then asked again: “Which family’s young master?”
But she no longer spoke, only keeping her head lowered as she looked at the painting scroll on the table.
Gu Qin turned and paced a few steps, his brows furrowing. “A few days ago, His Majesty was discussing the matter of selecting a consort for the Crown Prince with several old ministers of the Central Secretariat. You…”
Shen Zhili’s expression suddenly collapsed, interrupting him: “I am grateful that His Majesty and the Minister think highly of Leyan. But doesn’t the Minister realize that the Crown Prince cannot be manipulated in such matters? Rather than discussing these things with me now, why not ask the Crown Prince what he thinks?”
He had not expected such a reaction from her and his face showed slight displeasure: “You grew up alongside the Crown Prince since childhood. It’s not unreasonable for people to think this way…”
She laughed coldly: “The Minister has also watched me grow up since I was young. By that logic, what would that make the relationship between the Minister and me?”
“Nonsense!” Gu Qin’s face showed anger. “How can you speak so carelessly about such matters?”
Shen Zhili’s long sleeves suddenly fell as she turned toward the door. Her eyes had unconsciously reddened. After composing herself, she spoke with a stiff voice: “I’ve said everything I came to say to the Minister today. It would be inappropriate to stay longer. I wish the Minister good health.”
Unable to bear hearing another word from him, she rushed out the door.
The warmth of his grip on the brush still lingered on her fingers, the fragrance of vermilion ink still faintly wrapped around her palm.
Fragments of grass scattered across the ground, touching her skirt. Peach blossoms in vain, with no one to respond.
On the eighteenth day of the fourth month in the twenty-fourth year of Qiande, the women’s jinshi examination in the Ministry of Rites began. A curfew was imposed on seven streets north of the Imperial Academy at the Southern Sparrow Gate and east of the Ministry of Rites Examination Hall in the capital city. During the day, carriages and horses were prohibited; at night, pedestrians were forbidden.
Three days later, the candidates left the examination hall. Gu Qin, the acting examiner of the Ministry of Rites examination, had the relevant officials lock the examination hall and grade the papers according to custom. All Central Secretariat matters at court were handled by Right Minister Xu Ting.
On the fifth day of the fifth month, the results of the women’s jinshi examination in the Ministry of Rites were announced. Meng Tinghui, the provincial top scholar from Chao’an North Road, ranked first and was declared the principal graduate of this Ministry of Rites examination.
This news spread throughout the entire capital within half a day. Everyone who heard it was astonished. No one had expected that Meng Tinghui, who had previously “struck lucky” in the provincial examination, could seize first place again in the Ministry of Rites examination.
Immediately, various opinions circulated. Some said she was the incarnation of the female literary deity, while others said she was blessed with extraordinary luck. But regardless of what was said, almost everyone was eagerly awaiting the Palace examination half a month later—
Could this Meng Tinghui also claim first place in the Palace examination, becoming the first female jinshi in the Great Ping Dynasty’s history to achieve the “Three Yuan” distinction by placing first in all three levels of examinations?
Night had fallen, and the area outside the Ministry of Rites Examination Hall was quite desolate. Inside, warm candlelight glowed through the paper windows, showing that many officials were still busy working.
While instructing someone to seal the examination papers for filing, Gu Qin asked an official from the Court of State Ceremonial beside him: “Having been locked in the examination hall for the past fortnight, I don’t know what essay topic the two departments of the Central Secretariat and Chancellery have decided on for the Palace examination. Has it been submitted to His Majesty for review yet?”
The official from the Court of State Ceremonial shook his head. “It hadn’t been submitted as of yesterday. I don’t know if it was submitted today.”
Gu Qin’s face revealed suspicion: “Not yet? In previous years, by this time the topic would have been decided, and the Grand Scholars would have sealed it and set it aside. Why is it so delayed this year?”
Everyone around him shook their heads, indicating they didn’t know.
Suddenly, a young man’s voice came from outside the door—
“Forgive my late intrusion, but would Minister Gu allow me to enter?”
Gu Qin turned his head, saw who had arrived, and hurriedly stepped forward, bowing low as if to perform a grand salute, saying: “I did not know Your Highness would come. I have failed to welcome you from afar.”
Ying Gua extended his hand to help him up. “It was a sudden whim on my part. I was just leaving the Six Ministries, and as my carriage passed the street corner, I saw the lights still on in the examination hall. I thought Minister Gu must be sealing the examination papers, so I came to see.”
Gu Qin quickly made way, “Please take the seat of honor, Your Highness.”
But he did not sit, only walking to the desk and glancing around before turning to ask: “I would like to review Meng Tinghui’s policy essay, the first-place candidate from the Ministry of Rites examination. Would that be possible?”
Gu Qin’s face froze slightly, and after a long moment, he said softly: “Your Highness, please forgive me, but this would not be by protocol.”
Ying Gua glanced sideways at the Court of State Ceremonial officials nearby, then looked at Gu Qin: “Minister Gu may not be aware that for this Palace examination, His Majesty has decreed that I shall preside in his place.”
Gu Qin was first stunned, then turned pale with shock, repeatedly saying: “This… this…” After a long while, he finally uttered a few more words: “…I truly was not aware of this matter.”
In his mind, thoughts rolled like a surging sea.
Those who passed the examination personally administered by the Emperor had always been called “the Emperor’s disciples.” Now that the Emperor wanted the Crown Prince to preside over the Palace examination instead, it was clear that the Emperor had truly made up his mind about abdicating and transferring power.
If so, wouldn’t this year’s cohort of female jinshi become the first batch of personal officials after the Crown Prince’s ascension to the throne, bearing even greater responsibilities?
He laughed bitterly to himself, though his face revealed nothing. He turned and called for the official beside him to bring the already sealed policy essays, found Meng Tinghui’s, and presented it with both hands: “Since Your Highness will be presiding over the Palace examination on behalf of His Majesty, there’s no harm in looking.”
Ying Gua took it, turned his back to the light, and opened the examination paper, first reading it carefully once, then quickly scanning it again. There was a darkness in his eyes as he turned back to Gu Qin and said: “Bring me the policy essays of the top five candidates for review.”
Gu Qin nodded, and the officials beside him hurriedly found the examination papers and presented them.
After reading them all, his expression grew cold. Raising his eyes to look at Gu Qin, he said: “Although Meng Tinghui’s essay is well-written, I don’t see how it’s significantly better than these others. Why did Minister Gu rank her as the principal graduate?”
Gu Qin was about to speak when he heard the Crown Prince add: “Could it be that she had the opportunity to send her card to Minister Gu’s residence before the examination?”
These words were cold in tone, clearly carrying an accusatory meaning.
Gu Qin slightly lowered his head. “I did indeed receive her card, but it wasn’t her who brought it to my residence. It was Shen Zhili who presented it on her behalf.”
Upon hearing this, Ying Gua suddenly turned around, his eyebrows raised askew. “Is this true?”
Gu Qin nodded. “How would I dare deceive Your Highness? Although Meng Tinghui’s policy essay may not be superior to these others, her understanding of worldly affairs is much more refined. Years ago, His Majesty decreed that examination papers for the jinshi examination in the Ministry of Rites should not be graded anonymously, intending to be more lenient in selecting officials. If the intention is to be lenient, then one should not judge rank based solely on essays. In my opinion, a person who can have Shen Zhili personally come to my residence to present a card on their behalf will certainly not be an ordinary figure in court in the future.”
Ying Gua’s fingers tightened on the examination paper, and he lowered his head again to look at the name on the paper, his brow inevitably furrowing.
After a long while, he placed the examination paper back on the desk without further comment.
Gu Qin thought for a moment, then added: “As for superior talent and better writing, Your Highness can carefully evaluate after the Palace examination.”
He slowly nodded, clasping his hands behind his back and preparing to leave.
But Gu Qin spoke again from behind: “Your Highness,” seeing him stop, he quickly continued: “I just heard that the topic for this Palace examination has not yet been submitted to His Majesty for decision by the Central Secretariat.”
Ying Gua turned his head and said softly: “His Majesty’s edict states that the topic for this Palace examination will be determined by me.”
Gu Qin was shocked again, and after a moment, he regained his composure. “May I ask Your Highness if I might see the decided topic?”
But he shook his head, his expression seeming unwilling to discuss the matter further with others. “When the day of the Palace examination arrives, Minister Gu will naturally know.”