Chapter 674: The Young Tanhua Zhang Ji

Liu Chengyou's interest grew keener. Glancing at Zhang Ji, he said, "The practical questions were set by the Emperor himself to test the candidates' practical ability and thinking. Do you dare to object?"

Hearing this, Zhang Ji replied, "The court has the observation-of-government system. If, after the observation period ends and when official posts are assigned, practical questions were used to assess us, that would equally distinguish the superior from the inferior, and we would have nothing to say!"

"Heh heh!" Liu Chengyou curled his lip and retorted, "The practical questions tested are all the most superficial and basic. As long as one has some experience, has read the laws, and has studied official documents, one will gain something. The court does not require every candidate to answer perfectly.

Moreover, you all have qualified for the metropolitan examination and hold scholarly honors in your localities, so you have some exposure to current affairs. Is it only upon arriving at the Eastern Capital, after the exams and the posting of results, that observation of government must begin under the court's arrangement?

Do you know why the Emperor specially added practical questions? It is because he fears that some scholars only know how to bury their heads in books and do not look at the world beyond them. If one's experience is shallow, no matter how many books one reads, one is merely a bookworm!

Since the court has added practical questions, scholars across the realm—even if only for the sake of becoming officials—should, beyond reading books and understanding principles, also go and learn about such matters!"

Liu Chengyou's tone was somewhat severe, and Zhang Ji was rather startled. But after thinking it over seriously, he seemed lost in thought, though he still appeared unconvinced.

Looking at Liu Chengyou, the look of surprise gradually faded, replaced by a hint of suspicion in his eyes. He said, "May I ask, sir, how is it that you understand the examination questions and His Majesty's considerations so well?"

"Take a guess?" This single sentence left Zhang Ji momentarily speechless.

His expression relaxing, Liu Chengyou said casually, "I am also a candidate in this examination!"

Hearing this, Zhang Ji immediately shook his head.

Liu Chengyou said, "What, I don't look like one?"

"Don't look like one?" Zhang Ji shook his head and said in a deliberating tone, "I observe that you, sir, have an extraordinary bearing and must come from a noble family, but you are certainly not a candidate! The examination has just ended, and the candidates are all anxiously awaiting the results. None of them would be like you, sir—accompanied by a beautiful lady, at leisure and free!"

"That is because I am certain to pass this examination!" Liu Chengyou raised his head slightly, his tone exceptionally firm.

His brows slightly furrowed, Zhang Ji said, "Why is sir so confident?"

Liu Chengyou's smile grew wider: "The Chief Examiner, Minister of Rites He Ning, is on close terms with my family, and I also have deep connections with the Pacification Commissioner Zhao Shangjiao. With these two connections, I dare not claim the top rank in the palace examination, but passing as a jinshi is certainly no problem!"

Hearing this, Zhang Ji laughed along, his demeanor growing more relaxed: "Sir must be joking. Who would be so ostentatious? This examination employs the sealed-name and transcription system, which almost entirely eliminates favoritism and fraud. Moreover, we are strangers who met by chance. If you tell me this, are you not afraid I might report you to the authorities? Therefore, this is merely a jest from you, sir!"

Watching him reason it out, Liu Chengyou's interest grew even stronger. His expression suddenly turned cold: "You are still too young! The sealed-name and transcription system is certainly good, but it still requires people to implement it. As for the rest, with my family's power in the Eastern Capital, we can cover the sky with one hand. If you wish to report me, I can guarantee you will not leave this Shangxian Ward. Even if you reached the Kaifeng prefectural office, the result would be imprisonment..."

The gaze released from those eyes was as sharp as a knife, making Zhang Ji momentarily unable to distinguish truth from falsehood. He could not help but swallow. But after a moment's thought, he shook his head again.

"What, you don't believe me?" Liu Chengyou turned his head to look at Zhao Kuangyin: "Yuanlang, take him to the Kaifeng prefectural prison!"

Zhao Kuangyin clearly saw that Liu Chengyou was teasing Zhang Ji. His face cooperatively turned stern, and he turned his head to shout outward: "Guards!"

Guards burst in and stood at attention. Hearing the order, they immediately stepped forward to seize Zhang Ji. Zhang Ji, a mere scholar, had almost no ability to resist. Seeing this, he grew anxious and hastily said, "Wait! Wait!"

"Release him!" Waving his hand, Liu Chengyou leaned forward and looked at Zhang Ji with a smile: "Do you believe me now?"

Zhang Ji twisted his shoulders, straightened his disheveled clothes, and bowed to Liu Chengyou. His handsome face regained its composure as he said, "My vision may be shallow, but observing your speech, bearing, and knowledge, you are clearly a man of great talent. Passing the jinshi examination would surely be as easy as turning over your hand—why would you need to resort to favoritism and cheating?

Moreover, if what you say is true and your family's power is overwhelming, why participate in the examination at all? You could directly enter officialdom through hereditary privilege. And the Governor of Kaifeng, Jing Fan, has always been upright and impartial—how could he accept an innocent man like me and throw me into prison..."

As he spoke, Zhang Ji's brows furrowed again. No matter how he analyzed it, Liu Chengyou's words were full of holes and could not withstand scrutiny.

"Speaking recklessly about the examination system and criticizing the Emperor—is that not a crime deserving punishment?" Liu Chengyou demanded.

Zhang Ji muttered, "I merely expressed some personal shallow views, speaking freely and speculating on the Son of Heaven's intentions. But you, sir..."

"You and I are different!" Hearing this, Liu Chengyou laughed heartily a few times and said to those around him, "I never expected this visit to the Jinshi Tower to be so entertaining. It seems this year's candidates do include some talents!"

As he spoke, Liu Chengyou examined Zhang Ji once more, his expression turning serious: "From your dress, manner, and speech, you are no ordinary scholar. In particular, you seem to know something about the court's institutions and officials. Your background must not be simple!"

Zhang Ji did not answer, and his gaze toward Liu Chengyou carried a hint of wariness again. However, it was directly ignored.

Withdrawing his gaze, Liu Chengyou rose and extended his hand to the elder Lady Zhou. The young lady also gracefully extended her slender jade hand. Taking her hand, he was about to leave when he tossed back a parting remark: "I hope you pass with distinction! Farewell!"

Zhang Ji stood there stunned. Turning to watch the receding figures of Liu Chengyou and the elder Lady Zhou leaning against each other, he could not help but ask, "May I ask your honorable surname, sir!"

"I think we will have the chance to meet again!" Having shown off, Liu Chengyou departed leisurely under the escort of Zhao Kuangyin and the others.

"Your Majesty, should we investigate Zhang Ji's background, or retrieve his examination paper?" Before boarding the carriage, Zhang Dejun shrewdly requested instructions.

Liu Chengyou's response was equally crisp. He waved his hand directly and said, "No need! If nothing unexpected happens, this man should be on the palace examination list!"

It was already getting late, and dusk was approaching. On the streets of Kaifeng, many households had already lit their lamps. The light was not bright, but viewed from afar, it had a kind of hazy beauty.

Inside the carriage, the elder Lady Zhou lay gently in Liu Chengyou's embrace and asked curiously, "His Majesty seems to admire that Zhang Ji?"

Gently inhaling the fragrance from the young lady's hair bun, Liu Chengyou shook his head, his tone somewhat cold: "No, I envy him!"

The elder Lady Zhou was startled by this. A hint of confusion appeared on her beautiful face: "That Zhang Ji does seem to have some talent and a quick mind, but he is hardly worth His Majesty feeling envious..."

His other hand encircled the elder Lady Zhou's slender waist, pulling her body against his with some force. Liu Chengyou said softly, "I envy him because he is far better looking than I am..."

The elder Lady Zhou was taken aback. After a moment's pause, she realized Liu Chengyou was joking. She opened her mouth to say something, but the Emperor's lips were already upon hers, and only a few alluring moans escaped her.

In this private carriage, intimacy easily arose, and the slight vibrations during travel only stirred the imagination further. Whatever happened, when they returned to the palace and alighted from the carriage, Pure Consort Zhou's pretty face was flushed red, delicate and tempting. Despite her weariness and the dust of travel, she was pulled directly toward the bedchamber...

The more delicate the flower, the more it needs care and nourishment.

On the second day after Liu Chengyou's outing, the Jinshi Tower in Shangxian Ward changed its plaque and its name. The reason was simple: the Emperor did not like it. As for its owner, he was a man from the household of Pacification Commissioner Zhao Shangjiao. Zhao Shangjiao was the father of Zhao Yan, and the web of connections was already quite clear.

A few days later, after the examination officials had worked overtime to transcribe, seal, grade, and evaluate the papers, a result was finally reached. The posting of the official list marked the climax of this spring examination. Naturally, the scholars who had come to the capital experienced mixed feelings of joy and sorrow.

This year's quota for selecting scholars was indeed generous. In the jinshi category alone, 339 men were admitted into the three ranks. Zhang Ji, who had met Liu Chengyou once, was initially ranked first in the first rank, but during the palace examination he was placed third, becoming the new tanhua—the third-place graduate.