Li Er sat on the balcony of the academy’s administrative building’s second floor, contentedly sipping his tea, watching the chaotic scene outside the academy with great satisfaction. An exam paper lay spread on the table beside him. The academy’s examination had been very successful—just one question had distinguished the worthy and virtuous from the foolish. Excellent methods! You write the exam, I grade it. Those who don’t answer are virtuous and worthy; those who answer are treacherous and foolish. Splendid! This was truly “all the talented people of the realm fall into my net.”
Wu She appeared before Yun Ye, causing him to immediately transform his beaming smile into icy frost. This sinister eunuch appearing openly and aboveboard meant Li Er was not far away. When the crops were ripe, naturally it was time for harvest.
Xu Jingzong led these students to the academy’s logistics department to receive the academy’s uniform clothing and their allocated personal items. Seeing the students’ parents and family members calling out to their children, Xu Jingzong smiled and gave the students half an hour to bid farewell to their families.
Instructor Jin Zhu was very dissatisfied. They had already delayed him much time. Today’s bronze inscription research would have to stop again. He was especially annoyed when he saw a portly landlord stuffing silver ingots into his son’s arms.
He pulled over that equally portly student and said to him: “Return these things to your father, otherwise the academy will confiscate them. You get one string of cash each month at the academy, enough for your food and expenses. Outside money isn’t valuable at the academy.”
The old landlord smiled until his eyes squinted shut. While imitating others by cupping his hands, he said to Instructor Jin Zhu: “My good instructor, when a child enters the academy to study, how can there be any reason to spend the academy’s money? Besides, what can one string of cash do? This old fool has prepared five hundred strings. I don’t know if it’s enough for the child’s tuition. If not, this old fool will return home immediately and sell the hundred-some acres of fields by the river. Please, instructor, grant a few days’ extension.”
While speaking, his hands weren’t idle either, desperately trying to stuff ten-tael silver ingots into Instructor Jin Zhu’s sleeve. Jin Zhu took the silver ingot, and for some reason suddenly thought of his old father—a man of lifelong integrity who had carried young Jin Zhu on his back to the great clan families of Jinyang, begging them to allow his child to study in their family school. All his former pride and dignity vanished. He bowed and hunched his back, craned his neck, his face wretched, his appearance pitiful.
Under the instructor’s endless difficulties, his father had respectfully wrapped two strings of cash in new hemp cloth and presented them to the instructor. This was money his father had saved from rising early and working late weaving bamboo baskets, then going early to the market to sell them—three whole years of blood and sweat money, prepared to buy an ox. Yet as soon as Jin Zhu said he wanted to study, his father unhesitatingly took it all out and begged the instructor to accept it.
After the instructor agreed, his father smiled like a child, carrying Jin Zhu on his back and running all the way home, shouting as he ran: “My Jin family is going to produce a scholar! My son is going to be a scholar!” Thinking of this, Jin Zhu’s heart ached unbearably.
Turning his head, he quietly wiped away tears from the corners of his eyes and said to the old landlord: “The academy values virtue over wealth, old sir. Since your son has been admitted to the academy, he must be prepared to endure hardship. Yushan Academy doesn’t collect money; each month it even gives students money. This is an imperial academy. Old sir, don’t ruin the rules here.”
He stuffed the silver ingot back into the old landlord’s hand, then patted the portly student’s shoulder and said: “Today’s learning puts filial piety first. Remember your old father’s hardship in making a living. With each bowl of rice and congee, consider how hard it was to obtain. With each thread and strand, constantly reflect on how difficult material resources are. When you enter the academy, come with nothing but yourself. After four years of hard study, you will naturally bring glory to your family and repay your old father’s kindness in raising you.”
The portly student bowed to Jin Zhu and acknowledged his words. He took out all the money on his person, along with a large package of osmanthus cakes, prostrated himself on the ground, and kowtowed three times to his wealthy father. Then he went by himself to the academy gate to wait to enter. His portly father was already crying like a newborn baby.
This scene was witnessed by the other students. They consciously took out everything from their arms, also imitating the portly youth by kowtowing three times to their parents and relatives, then lifted their robes and returned to the waiting queue.
This scene fell into the eyes of the academy’s founding elders. Old Li Gang stroked his beard and laughed heartily. Master Yuanzhang also clapped his hands. Master Yushan said: “To obtain talented youths and educate them is truly one of life’s great pleasures.”
Only Xu Jingzong was extremely depressed. He had opened convenient doors for the students, yet not only did no one appreciate it, he even attracted a cold stare from Master Yuanzhang. The narrow-minded Xu Jingzong looked at Liu Xian standing at the academy gate like a fierce demon, thinking to himself: “A group of ungrateful little brats. Go taste the King of Hell’s severity. After passing through his hands, you’ll know how kind-hearted this old master is.”
Yun Ye climbed up to the administrative building. The first thing he saw wasn’t Li Er, but the teapot in his hands. His heart felt as if it were being gouged by a knife, hurting so much he trembled. That red clay teapot—he himself hadn’t been willing to use it! Every day he brewed a pot of tea, not to drink, but to season the pot. It had been two years already. The original red clay color was gone, now presenting an ancient, simple brownish-red. Old Master Li Gang had asked for it twice, but he hadn’t been willing to give it. My precious teapot! Now even without brewing tea, just pouring plain water into it would have a tea fragrance. He had always treasured it. Even when going to the grasslands, he hadn’t forgotten to instruct Huo Zhu to remember to brew tea every day.
Now his treasure was in Li Er’s hands, being slurped noisily without a trace of elegance. What a waste of heaven’s gifts! Yun Ye glared viciously at Li Tai standing nearby, fawning like a traitorous interpreter, his teeth itching with hatred.
“The academy director has graced us with his presence. I failed to welcome you from afar. Please forgive this offense.” Yun Ye knew that calling Li Er “academy director” was most appropriate at this moment.
Before Li Er could respond, a pest jumped out from the side: “Audacious! You dare privately alter His Majesty’s title? This is a crime of great disrespect. I request His Majesty issue an edict for severe punishment.”
Li Er named you Wu She to be tongueless, so don’t be so talkative. Jumping out at every occasion—aren’t you just looking for trouble?
Sure enough, Li Er looked at Wu She with displeasure and said: “Who says he altered it? I am the Emperor of the Great Tang, and I am also the director of Yushan Academy. In the academy, if he doesn’t address me as director, what should he call me? Stop meddling.”
Having said this, without paying attention to Wu She who was frightened into kneeling on the ground, he asked Yun Ye: “The academy’s examination is over? What are the results?”
“Reporting to the director, a total of three hundred twenty-six students all passed the examination. Not a single person chose compromise. The Great Tang’s civilizing influence spreads across the realm. This subject congratulates the Great Tang and congratulates Your Majesty here.” Yun Ye naturally knew what to say in what situation.
Li Er laughed heartily with delight. After laughing for a while, his face turned sinister again. He changed expressions like flipping pages in a book, saying in a dark voice: “Anonymous grading for examinations is such a good method—why didn’t you submit a memorial reporting it to the court? In the academy everything is calm and peaceful with cheerful voices, yet in the court hall they attack each other with endless harsh words. Yun Ye, do you enjoy watching the court’s jokes? If so, then you will attend every court session. I’ll let you watch your fill.”
Attending court was the greatest disaster. Yun Ye had no habit of self-torture and quickly said: “Director, your words are strange. This subject belongs to the academy, so naturally I consider the academy’s interests. As they say, ‘One should not devise policies for positions one does not hold.’ In the court hall there are countless famous ministers and brave generals—how could it be this subject’s turn to speak? Moreover, anonymous grading is also the first time at the academy. To rashly report it without knowing the results is not this subject’s way of conducting affairs.”
“Your heart deserves death. Do you think I lack reasons to deal with you? Just wait. As long as I’m unhappy, you’ll suffer the consequences. For now I’ll tolerate your arrogance. Show me around the academy.”
Yun Ye didn’t know what exactly Li Er had on him. These past days he’d been very careful and didn’t seem to have offended him. As for the matter with Princess Shouyang, aside from that little eunuch, no one knew.
Seeing he had spoken, Yun Ye could only accompany him on a tour of the academy. Since Li Er was in civilian clothes, those who recognized him stayed far away, afraid of provoking him. Those who didn’t recognize him naturally weren’t afraid. There were even some ignorant ones who kicked a ball over, loudly shouting for him to kick it back.
Li Er was in high spirits and didn’t feel offended at all. He lifted his leg and gave the leather ball a fierce kick. He kicked it crooked—the ball ran into the grove. The angry student ran to retrieve the ball and even gave him the middle finger.
“What does this mean?” Li Er was very curious. He hadn’t seen this gesture before. Yun Ye wiped away sweat and mumbled: “This is praising the director’s excellent footwork.” This explanation left Li Tai behind him covered in black lines, but unable to clarify, his face flushing bright red.
Li Er took another slurp of tea, waved the middle finger in front of Yun Ye’s eyes, then said: “Taking me for a fool to deceive? Do you think I was never young? I kicked the ball crooked, making him run extra distance. Would he praise me? Though I don’t know the meaning, it’s definitely nothing good. I’ve never taken losses in my life. I kicked the ball crooked—that was my fault. He cursed me, but I can’t lower myself to his level, so I can only return it to you. Who told you to be his teacher?”
Having said this, he laughed heartily again. Li Tai also laughed along, and even Wu She covered his mouth and snickered. It seemed quite pleasant.
Everyone who came to the academy thought themselves cleverer than others and wanted to try the academy’s legendary maze. Li Er’s head wife was like this—she walked through three times, all three times exiting from the opposite door. Finally annoyed, she had Yun Ye lead her through once more. Entering from the main gate, she said she had figured it out long ago, just wanted to verify it. Yun Ye really wanted her to walk through it once more by herself.
His two junior wives had stubborn personalities. They even ate lunch in the gate corridor. After walking all day, Li Tai finally went in to lead them out. According to Li Ke, his mother’s feet had developed blisters, yet she still exclaimed it was thrilling.
Li Er stood before the main gate, first surveying the enemy formation, then dispatched his vanguard officer Wu She to enter and scout the enemy situation. In no time, Wu She emerged from the opposite door completely bewildered, unable to answer any questions. Li Tai wanted to show off and explain carefully to his father, but was kicked aside. Li Er was still quite magnanimous.
After carefully observing the main gate for a long while, Li Er clapped his hands and strode into the gate. The loyal and devoted Wu She once again accompanied Li Er inside, even walking in front with an appearance of loyally protecting his master.
Li Tai stamped his feet in complaint, saying he should have been the one to accompany his father inside. What did Wu She understand? He had an air of lamentation as if fine bells were destroyed while clay pots thundered. Yun Ye sat on the steps, patted the spot beside him, signaling Li Tai to come sit. Be patient—Li Er loved face very much and would probably ponder for quite a while.
Li Tai had just sat down when Yun Ye pinned him to the steps and beat him fiercely. The teapot’s resentment had finally found an outlet for release.