Chapter 82 - The Top Candidate in the Metropolitan Examination

The day before the results of the metropolitan examination were to be announced, the Minister of Rites, who was also the chief examiner, respectfully carried the answer sheets into the palace.

It was a late spring cold snap, with fine snowflakes drifting down, making a soft rustling sound.

Outside the Yangxin Hall, the Minister of Rites saw Fu Bin standing in the icy and snowy weather, and after a moment of surprise, he clasped his hands and said, "Eunuch Fu."

Fu Bin noticed the man's surprise and smiled, saying, "Minister Lu, are you here to deliver the answer sheets?"

"Yes," Minister Lu replied.

Fu Bin opened the door, and Chen Pan greeted the Minister of Rites.

Chen Pan was slender and small, with eyes that squinted when he smiled. Compared to Fu Bin, he more closely matched people's image of a scheming eunuch.

Chen Pan's voice was also higher and sharper than Fu Bin's, and at this moment, his face was full of smiles: "Minister Lu, please come this way."

Minister Lu could smell the incense; it was heavier than usual, as if the dragon's saliva had been doubled.

On the arhat couch, Emperor Chengde was cracking walnuts and feeding them to He Lanting. When she saw the arrival of the Minister of Rites, He Lanting got up from the couch, "This concubine will take her leave."

Emperor Chengde smiled and pulled He Lanting's hand, "My beloved, just stay here. It's frosty and damp outside."

He Lanting bowed gracefully to the Minister of Rites, who hurriedly returned the bow, "I have seen Concubine Chen."

"Minister Lu, are you here to deliver the answer sheets?" Emperor Chengde asked.

Chen Pan took the answer sheets from the Minister of Rites and presented them to Emperor Chengde.

Emperor Chengde lowered his head to read the essays.

After reading the top candidate's essay, his first reaction was that the language was too plain, not suitable for the top rank at all.

Seeing Emperor Chengde frown, He Lanting cracked an almond and fed it to him.

When Emperor Chengde was in a good mood, He Lanting would sometimes act a bit spoiled, but when he was unhappy, she would be the one to soothe his emotions.

While most women in the palace used Fengyang flowers to dye their nails, Concubine Chen's nails were adorned with fragments of gemstones, creating a gradient effect.

Under the candlelight, the gemstone fragments sparkled, catching Emperor Chengde's eye.

Such delicate fingers, actually cracking almonds for him, Emperor Chengde originally planned to flip through the other answer sheets to see if there was a better one, but now he lost interest.

"Alright, announce it as is," Emperor Chengde thought. The results of the metropolitan examination were not crucial. Since the officials had already reviewed them, even if the top essay's language was somewhat simple, the content was still good. The palace examination was the main event, and if he found the top candidate unsatisfactory then, he could change the rankings.

Emperor Chengde held He Lanting's hand, "My lady needn't do these things. Instead, why don't you open the seal on the top candidate's name? This year's metropolitan examination winner can be considered to have received the blessings of Concubine Chen."

He Lanting looked at Minister Lu, but he kept his head low, showing no emotion.

He Lanting smiled at the emperor and then opened the seal.

The five characters "Feng City Fu Jiaze" leaped into view.

She was momentarily dazed, suddenly recalling Fu Jiaze standing tall in the wind and snow, his cloak fluttering in the fierce wind.

Seeing He Lanting like this, Emperor Chengde leaned over and said, "This name seems familiar."

He Lanting thought of how Fu Jiaze resembled her grown-up Jier, and her heart ached, her eyes welling up with tears.

The emperor quickly embraced He Lanting and gently consoled her, "What's wrong?"

He Lanting wiped away her tears, "This person I met at Baifeng Temple bears a resemblance to my deceased child. When I saw him, I felt as if I was seeing my grown-up Jier."

If Minister Lu were not present, Emperor Chengde would have comforted He Lanting, promising another child. But with an outsider present, he could only say, "I must take a good look at Scholar Fu during the palace examination. Minister Lu, the top candidate you selected is excellent, with a very good essay."

Minister Lu thought that the emperor had clearly shown dissatisfaction with the top candidate earlier, but now, because of Concubine Chen's words, his attitude had changed.

Minister Lu responded affirmatively.

After this incident, the emperor casually and quickly opened the remaining seals, instructing Minister Lu to announce the rankings as decided by the examiners, and then dismissed him.

As Minister Lu held the answer sheets, he keenly sensed Chen Pan's bad mood. At first, he didn't understand why, but when he saw Fu Bin waiting outside, he suddenly understood.

Fu Bin gave some instructions to a nearby attendant and then said to Minister Lu, "Minister Lu, let me see you out."

Fu Bin even opened an umbrella to shield the snow.

Unbeknownst to when, the cold wind had scattered the snowflakes, which now fell in clumps.

"I dare not, I dare not," Minister Lu said, though he knew why Fu Bin was seeing him off.

After walking a few steps, Minister Lu quietly said to Fu Bin, "Eunuch Fu, the top candidate is Fu Jiaze from Feng City."

These five characters immediately made Fu Bin smile, and he repeatedly said, "Good, good, good."

Minister Lu turned his head, looking at the once glorious Nine Thousand Years, whose smile was sincere. At this moment, he no longer looked like a powerful eunuch but more like an elder genuinely happy for his child.

Minister Lu was also pleased that the rankings hadn't been changed. Fu Jiaze's essay was indeed the one that resonated most with him, and he smiled faintly.

Fu Bin said, "I won't leave the palace today, so don't worry about me spreading the news."

Minister Lu wasn't concerned about this, since the results would be announced the next day, "Congratulations, Eunuch Fu. I chose the top candidate, and his essay is very good."

Fu Bin's face lit up with joy, "He is indeed excellent. Even after getting married, he hasn't neglected his studies."

Minister Lu thought of Lin Yi, who had once competed with him for the position of Minister of Rites and was also Fu Jiaze's father-in-law.

Minister Lu declined Fu Bin's offer to see him off, but Fu Bin insisted on escorting him out.

Stepping on the snow, Fu Bin couldn't help but wave his duster in excitement. Even if Chen Pan served inside and he could only stay outside, it didn't dampen his spirits.

What was Chen Pan anyway?

Chen Pan's actions were too hasty. Fu Bin had spent over a decade to reach his current position. Chen Pan might have gotten an opportunity quickly, but whether he could stand firm was still uncertain.

In the past, Fu Bin had been somewhat wary of this Chen Pan, but now seeing him so eager, he felt less concerned.

Chen Pan's current favor was like the moon in the water or the flower in the mirror; it wouldn't last long.

Inside the Yangxin Hall, He Lanting, as usual, stayed overnight and waited until the emperor went to the morning court before she returned to Yutang Palace.

When no one was around, Chen Pan said, "Your Majesty, Concubine Chen, the top scholar of yesterday's examination is Fu Bin's nephew. Should Your Majesty speak to His Majesty about the shortcomings of this scholar before the palace examination?"

"Shut up!"

He Lanting slapped Chen Pan across the face and scolded, "Chen Pan, how dare you teach me what to do?"

Chen Pan immediately knelt down and kept bowing to Concubine Chen, "Your Majesty, I dare not. I merely thought that since the scholar from Feng City is Fu Bin's nephew, if this person rises again, won't it embolden that slave Fu Bin?"

He Lanting's sorrow at the time was genuine. Yan Ji's death was her greatest regret. If she could choose again, she would have entered the palace earlier to avoid having her child interact with that cunning old lady.

He Lanting had not conceived since entering the palace and even wondered if the old lady from Yongning Marquis's residence had done something. If the old lady hadn't died in the fire, she would have had her whipped.

He Lanting didn't think much about the old lady of Yongning Marquis at the moment but continued to think about Fu Jiaze. He was Fu Bin's nephew, and she had indeed considered whether to hint at his shortcomings before the palace examination to push him to the back.

But once Chen Pan pointed it out, He Lanting abandoned this idea. Seeing Chen Pan's eagerness reminded her of herself. If she meddled too much in political affairs, the emperor might not mind, but what about the ministers?

Moreover, Fu Jiaze was just a young man with a thin background. By not interfering, she might be able to use this favor in the future.

He Lanting thought that Emperor Chengde was healthy, and she had yet to conceive, so she should act more cautiously.

He Lanting said, "Don't teach me what to do, Chen Pan. I have my own plans."

/

The snow fell all night, and by dawn, the eaves and the ground were covered with a thick layer of snow.

The lights in the Fu family's courtyard were already on early in the morning. The gates opened, and two carriages drove out one after another, their wheels creaking as they rolled over the heavy snow.

Fu Jiaze said to the nervous Lin Yingxue, "There's no need to be so tense. If I don't pass the examination, I'll choose to serve elsewhere."

Lin Yingxue, who hadn't slept all night, had dark circles under her eyes. She had thought too much last night and only felt sleepy in the morning. Now, she had to go out, and her mind was buzzing, making her reactions a bit slow.

Seeing this, Fu Jiaze reached out and rubbed her temples.

Since her mother-in-law and sister-in-law were not in the carriage, Lin Yingxue let Fu Jiaze massage her head.

"What did you say?" Lin Yingxue asked.

Fu Jiaze didn't repeat his discouraged words but said gently, "It's rare for it to snow. Last time you said eating venison in the snow was good, right? I've had someone buy a deer. We can go to the hot spring villa later to eat and then soak in the hot springs. Wouldn't that be perfect?"

"If you pass, we can go anytime," Lin Yingxue mumbled.

Fu Jiaze didn't respond. He wasn't particularly eager to pass now; he just hoped for a quick result.

At first, when he left the examination hall, he thought he would definitely be on the list. As the days approached the announcement, he became increasingly nervous. One day, his anxiety peaked, and he even thought that failing might be better.

Last autumn, he passed the provincial examination and was imprisoned. If it weren't for the Empress, he might have been accused of cheating.

Fu Jiaze told himself to prepare for serving elsewhere and faced the results of this examination calmly.

Lin Yingxue didn't notice Fu Jiaze's expression. If she dozed off later, it would be impolite. She used mint oil under her nose to refresh herself.

Last year, when the provincial examination results were announced, Lin Yingxue also came to see the list, but she wasn't married to Fu Jiaze then and had to look secretly. This year, she could come as a family member.

The teahouse table was full, and several scholars from the Imperial Academy who were friends with Fu Jiaze were also waiting there.

Fu Jiaze greeted his teacher, mother-in-law, and friends one by one.

Beside Wen Hui was Pei Jin. She couldn't help but say to the person next to her, "Jinyuan looks very confident; he will surely be on the list."

Because the teahouse was noisy, Wen Hui spoke softly, her breath brushing against Pei Jin's ear.

Pei Jin resisted the urge to rub his ear. "Yes, I'm not worried about Jinyuan's studies."

They didn't talk for long because the bailiff arrived.

The bailiff's announcement of "posting the list" was loud, like a wave surging forward, each voice louder than the last.

The Fu family sent guards who had been part of the Brocade Guard to see the list. They were strong and had pushed to the front early.

But their efforts were in vain, for Fu Jiaze's name soon echoed through the air.

"Feng City, Fu Jiaze, first place."

This voice was like a thunderclap in Fu Jiaze's ears, and he stood up abruptly.

His mind buzzed with a cacophony of voices.

"You say this Fu Jiaze isn't Madam Fu's biological son, yet he keeps taking exams. Doesn't Madam Fu have some thoughts? If it were me, I would definitely have some thoughts. Studying all the time is like living off her."

"Before, I heard my son recite 'Injury to Zhongyong.' I think Fu Jiaze is like 'Injury to Zhongyong.' If I were him, I wouldn't continue the exams. It's a waste of effort. Some people just don't have the luck for office. He talks about buying an official position, but even if he buys one, he doesn't have the luck for it."

"Luckily, I didn't marry him. My current husband at least passed the provincial examination. Fu Jiaze, besides his good looks, has nothing else."

These voices faded like a receding tide, and the congratulatory noises rang loudly in Fu Jiaze's ears, reminding him of his success.

"Congratulations, Scholar Fu."

"Congratulations, congratulations."

"Congratulations, Master Pei, with such excellent judgment, you have gained such a fine disciple."

Fu Jiaze came to his senses, and he met Lin Yingxue's eyes. She said nothing, only smiled at him warmly.

Fu Jiaze took her hand.

Lin Yingxue blushed, intending to withdraw her hand, but she saw the faint traces of tears in Fu Jiaze's eyes, and her movement paused.

Lin Yingxue recalled the words she had overheard that time.

"He has talent but no luck, destined to be unknown in the imperial examinations."

But finally, his fate changed, and he achieved success as the top scholar in the metropolitan examination through what he had gained in the past.

After all, since the second year of Jiayou in the Northern Song Dynasty, the palace examination no longer eliminated candidates; passing the metropolitan examination meant one was already on the golden list, merely awaiting the ranking from the palace examination.

Lin Yingxue smiled and said, "Congratulations, my husband." She tiptoed to whisper in his ear, "I've never heard of anything going wrong after the results of the metropolitan examination are announced."

As Fu Jiaze watched the bailiffs struggle to push their way toward him, he also laughed, squeezing Lin Yingxue's hand tightly before letting go and kneeling before Fu Heng.

"I have not disgraced your trust, Mother, thank you for raising me."

Fu Heng, who had raised Fu Jiaze for many years, understood his mindset best. Seeing him like this, she helped him up, saying, "This is all due to your own hard work."

Fu Jiaze then performed the disciple's bow to Pei Jin and gave a deep bow to his friends.

He had mentally prepared himself for an external posting, but deep down, he still hoped to be listed on the golden roll.

After receiving the good news, Fu Jiaze held it close to his chest and said to Lin Yingxue, "My lady, we will have to wait a bit longer to eat the deer."

"We'll save it for after the palace examination," Lin Yingxue said with a smile, "as a small celebration, a little Deer Cry Feast."