Chapter 189: Another Year of the Autumn Examination

Time flows like a river, and the years slip away. More than a month has passed since Zhang Juzheng issued the two official dispatches. During this month, Hai Rui has already collected his appointment papers from the Ministry of Personnel and headed straight for Shandong once again.

Officials in the capital breathed a long sigh of relief, while simultaneously breaking into a cold sweat for the various levels of officials in Shandong.

At the same time, the arrival of another matter made the entire dry, autumn-parched Beijing feel even more restless and uneasy.

The triennial Autumn Examination had arrived!

Just past the hour of Chen this day, Zhang Yunxiu finished dressing and arrived at a teahouse located quite close to the examination compound.

Sitting by the window and pushing it open to look down, the Scholars from Shuntian Prefecture were bustling and jostling, nearly blocking the road.

Among them were both old and young.

The old were over fifty, while the young were barely twelve or thirteen.

The last time Zhang Yunxiu took the Autumn Examination was three years ago. At that time, he was still just an ignorant Scholar; today, sitting here with an official status, he watched these Scholars full of ambition.

It was quite a different state of mind.

Taking a small sip of tea, Zhang Yunxiu simply leaned his body against the window frame, seeking a trace of peace amidst this restlessness.

His mood lately had been excellent.

First, Han San sent an intelligence report, which included the scandal of the Kong Family.

At the same time, Song Ming managed to find a way from somewhere to obtain the Kong Family's account books. If these items, one by one, were to be exposed.

It would be difficult for the Kong Family to handle.

However, Zhang Yunxiu was not in a hurry. Just as Wei Qing said, he still had a bright future ahead, and there was no need to sacrifice it for this.

Let that "rooster" Hai Rui investigate this matter, while he provided assistance from the shadows.

Following a melodious shout that rang out, the gates of the examination compound made a teeth-gritting sound.

Creak.

Creak. Following that, an official wearing a green official robe walked out from inside.

He only coldly swept his gaze around, and the Scholars present all fell silent like cicadas in winter, consciously lining up according to the queues, forming several long snakes.

In a short while, they moved in order, wriggling into the examination compound.

Zhang Yunxiu stood up at this moment and hurried down from the teahouse.

Downstairs, Han San was chatting idly with Zhang Fu.

Seeing Zhang Yunxiu approach, the two stopped their conversation, stood up, and respectfully called out, "Young Master."

Zhang Yunxiu nodded and gave the two of them a few instructions.

He then headed straight for the Forbidden City.

Zhang Yunxiu was an old acquaintance of this place. How would the gate-guarding Eunuchs and imperial guards dare to block him? As soon as they saw this gentleman, they hurriedly accompanied him with smiling faces and sent him into the Forbidden City.

He arrived at the Qianqing Palace with practiced ease.

Outside the door, Wei Qing was scowling, sternly reprimanding two young Eunuchs.

Zhang Yunxiu walked up with a smile and greeted him; only then did Wei Qing suppress his anger and smile at Zhang Yunxiu: "Two useless things, let Minister Zhang see a joke."

After speaking, he turned his head and shouted at the two: "Why don't you get lost! What are you doing here being an eyesore?"

"Ah? Yes, yes, yes." The two Eunuchs felt relieved of a heavy burden and scrambled away.

Zhang Yunxiu wore a smile, reached out to drape his arm over Wei Qing's shoulder, pulled him to a pillar outside the palace gate, and asked carefully: "How has the Emperor been feeling lately?"

"Better than ever." Wei Qing glanced at Zhang Yunxiu and said with high spirits, "There are constant reports of victory from Woguo, the tax revenue from Songjiang Prefecture is pouring in like gold, and then there is that matter west of the city." "Now, even when the Emperor passes gas, it carries a scent of joy."

Zhang Yunxiu nodded and asked again: "And how is Zheng Niangniang's health?"

"She is doing well. Ever since Zheng Niangniang became pregnant, our entire inner palace has been silent as cicadas, and everyone is pinning all their hopes on this master." As Wei Qing spoke, his old face was filled with smiles.

After hearing what Wei Qing said, Zhang Yunxiu felt confident in his heart.

"Many thanks, Eunuch Wei."

"Hey, what are we thanking each other for?" Wei Qing pursed his lips, then suddenly lowered his voice and said, "Last time Feng Bao said he wanted to recommend Wang An to be the manager of the Qianqing Palace; it's not that I don't want to help."

"It's just that this kid is only twenty-something years old. I don't know how many people are eyeing this position of mine; I'm afraid he might not be up to it."

Zhang Yunxiu smiled and said nothing.

It was useless for others to say he wasn't up to it.

As long as Zheng Guifei spoke up, Wang An would be up to it.

Wei Qing was deliberately holding onto this position; firstly, he didn't want to admit defeat so quickly, and secondly, he was harboring a selfish motive.

Zhang Yunxiu knew the logic behind it and didn't bother with him: "Eunuch Wei, with your status before the Emperor, as long as you control the Eastern Depot, Wang An wouldn't even be fit to carry your shoes, so why bother holding onto this place?"

Wei Qing's murky eyes flashed, and he finally nodded in agreement.

The two entered the palace and went straight into the East Warm Pavilion.

The Wanli Emperor was wearing a bright yellow short shirt, sitting in the main seat, with a basin of ice placed in front of him. Behind him, two pretty palace maids waved cattail-leaf fans, bringing waves of coolness.

Seeing Zhang Yunxiu enter, the Wanli Emperor composed his expression and beckoned him to sit down.

Zhang Yunxiu thanked him and sat down on the small stool to his left.

Glancing at Zhang Yunxiu's appearance and seeing his dark circles, the Wanli Emperor couldn't help but tease: "Yunxiu, why have your dark circles become so heavy lately, and your waist is more hunched than before?"

"Working for the Emperor, I dare not speak of hardship." Zhang Yunxiu replied without blushing or skipping a beat.

"Good, you slippery fellow. You are clearly having fun with your wives and concubines at home, yet you insist on saying you are running errands for me." The Wanli Emperor shook his finger, pointing at Zhang Yunxiu and laughing, "Could it be that you having fun with your wives and concubines is running errands for me?"

Zhang Yunxiu said with a straight face: "Emperor, think about it, all the people in the world are your subjects. If the wives and concubines in my home give birth to offspring, they will also serve the Emperor in the future; if this isn't running errands for the Emperor, what is?"

"Hahaha." The Wanli Emperor laughed until he was leaning back and forth, tears swirling in his eyes.

Wei Qing also wore a smile, secretly marveling at the thickness of Zhang Yunxiu's skin. Looking at the whole world, Zhang Yunxiu was probably the only one who dared to joke with the Emperor like this.

After laughing for a long time, the Wanli Emperor stopped his laughter, pointed at the two palace maids, and said: "Since that is the case, then I will let you run more errands for me; these two palace maids are also bestowed upon you."

Zhang Yunxiu shook his head repeatedly, indicating his refusal.

"Why?" the Wanli Emperor asked.

"Too much is as bad as too little; for this subject, having a wife and concubines at home is just right." Zhang Yunxiu replied, then steered the conversation toward the Imperial Examination, "Your Majesty, this subject went to observe the Provincial Examination in Shuntian Prefecture today."

"There were both old and young among them; it could be called a magnificent spectacle."

The Wanli Emperor did not understand the point; wasn't the Autumn Examination always like this? Besides, when it came to grandeur, the Autumn Examination was not even close to the Metropolitan Examination.

"Your Majesty, this session in Shuntian Prefecture will only select two hundred Provincial Graduates. But the number of Scholars who came to participate has already reached ten thousand. The vast majority of them are destined to fail the examinations this session." Zhang Yunxiu took a deep breath and said with conviction.

"And then?" the Wanli Emperor asked, frowning.

"This subject wishes to place age restrictions on the Scholars participating in the Court Examination and the Provincial Examination."

(End of chapter)