Chapter 208: Zhang Jingxiu's Metropolitan Examination

The news of the scuffle between He Zheng and Huang Cheng soon spread throughout Beijing.

Instantly, it sparked no small amount of controversy.

Some said he was devoid of loyalty to his sovereign and father, reckless and audacious, while others said he was a master from beyond the world who viewed advancement through the Imperial Examination as dirt and took the enlightenment of the masses as his own duty.

However, this minor matter became insignificant with the release of the results for the Spring Examination of the fourteenth year of Wanli.

Early this day, the Grand Secretary Mansion was decorated with lanterns and streamers, bright with lights, and filled with joy everywhere.

Because Zhang Juzheng had left the capital, this mansion was managed by his eldest son, Zhang Jingxiu, while Zhang Yunxiu had purchased the courtyard house next to the Grand Secretary Mansion.

The two families lived side by side, and sometimes they would visit the Grand Secretary Mansion.

At this moment, three people were sitting in the living room of the Grand Secretary Mansion.

Sitting in the seat of honor was the eldest brother, Zhang Jingxiu; sitting on the left was Zhang Yunxiu; and sitting on the right was a youth of seventeen or eighteen.

He had a fair face, soft features, and was slightly plump; he wore a currently popular cyan Daoist robe and a Chengzi Cap on his head, looking every bit the part of a scholar.

He was precisely Zhang Yunxiu's sixth younger brother, Zhang Jingxiu.

Today, the Metropolitan Examination results were released, and he was ranked seventy-fourth in this session.

Seeing that his sixth younger brother had also made it into the Imperial Examination and was about to be honored as a presented scholar, the eldest brother, Zhang Jingxiu, wore a beaming smile and was the first to speak in praise: "Jingxiu, it is worth celebrating that you passed this session, but I hope you will guard against arrogance and rashness and perform well in the upcoming Palace Examination."

"Do not worry, Eldest Brother, I will certainly do my utmost." Zhang Jingxiu hurriedly stood up, cupped his hands toward his eldest brother in the seat of honor, then turned to look at his fifth brother, who had been keeping a straight face, and asked with mustered courage, "Fifth Brother, now that I have passed the Imperial Examination, what about the matter between me and Lan'er..."

"You lecherous scoundrel, you've only just tasted success and you're already thinking about this?" Zhang Yunxiu raised his tone and shouted loudly.

Zhang Jingxiu was so startled he shivered, froze in place, rubbed his palms together, and looked uneasy.

It is said that after the New Year's Eve of this year, Zhang Jingxiu came to Beijing to participate in the Metropolitan Examination.

Zhang Fu went to receive him, and when the two met, Zhang Fu pulled him to a small courtyard, and because they were old acquaintances, they drank a few extra cups.

After three rounds of drinks, Zhang Fu's daughter, Zhang Lan, entered the room.

Zhang Jingxiu and Zhang Lan were of similar age and had grown up almost together.

Seeing her now with a slender figure and a face blooming like a peach blossom, his heart could not help but flutter; Zhang Fu had long had a scheme and had come today specifically to hook this sixth young master.

Thus, he found an excuse to exit the room.

A lone man and a lone woman, sharing a room.

It was like dry wood and raging fire, ignited at a single touch.

When he woke up the next morning and saw the stark-naked Zhang Lan, Zhang Jingxiu could not deny it. But he was somewhat afraid of his brothers, so he had only told Zhang Jingxiu and Zhang Yunxiu about this seven days ago.

At this moment, the hall was so quiet that the sound of a needle hitting the floor could be heard.

Zhang Jingxiu's cheeks flushed red, and a dense sound of drums rang in his ears.

Seeing his younger brother's nervous appearance, and since Zhang Lan was someone he had watched grow up himself, Zhang Yunxiu could only pinch his nose and accept it: "Fine, fine, get out, get out, get out! If you let yourself be tricked again next time, see how I deal with you!"

"The elder brother has agreed?" Zhang Jingxiu asked happily.

"If I don't agree, should the child be born without a father?!" Zhang Yunxiu glared fiercely at his younger brother and added, "Whether she is a concubine or what, you must treat her well. I have always looked at her as half a younger sister."

"Understood... understood." Zhang Jingxiu was so happy he danced, stumbling as he ran out of the hall.

He could not wait to announce this good news to Zhang Lan.

Zhang Yunxiu shook his head repeatedly, while Zhang Jingxiu in the main seat smiled faintly and sighed: "Little Six has reached the age of marriage in the blink of an eye; it is only human nature for him to have such thoughts." "He doesn't learn anything good; sooner or later he'll be tricked into a ditch," Zhang Yunxiu said, his old face turning red.

He remembered Sun Yahan, whom he had met on the Woguo warship.

Zhang Jingxiu did not notice his brother's abnormality; he thought of He Zheng, who had been jumping high recently, and reminded him: "Yunxiu, that He Zheng is a madman; you had better stay far away from him, lest you be implicated."

"Do not worry, Eldest Brother, I know what I am doing." Zhang Yunxiu smiled, signaling his brother to be at ease, and added, "Besides, my Learning Academy is also recruiting disciples. Who knows, I might be even crazier than him by then."

Seeing his brother's devil-may-care attitude, Zhang Jingxiu put on the dignity of an eldest brother and retorted: "I know you are in high favor with the Emperor, but now that Father has left office and the Grand Secretariat is being reshuffled, you must not act as you did in the past."

"Oh... I know, I know." Zhang Yunxiu brushed him off with a few words and turned to run.

Zhang Jingxiu chased him to the door, nagging incessantly until they reached the entrance.

He watched Zhang Yunxiu return to the courtyard next door before waving his sleeves and turning back into the mansion.

Once inside the mansion, Zhang Yunxiu immediately locked himself in the study. He leaned over the desk, picked up a brush, and wrote "Memorial for the Recruitment of the Beijing Learning Academy"; one look at the title, and the content was clear.

The Learning Academy was finished.

Naturally, it was time to recruit students.

To expand its influence, he had to obtain the Emperor's consent.

Thus, this memorial came to be.

"Your subject, Zhang Yunxiu, submits: The ancients said, a foot has its shortcomings, and an inch has its strengths. People are the same. The Imperial Examination focuses on the Four Books and Five Classics but does not teach people practical skills. Many who are naturally intelligent spend their whole lives lost in it without result. Until their hair turns white, they have no skill to rely on; this is truly lamentable.

Therefore, your subject requests that Your Majesty allow the opening of a Learning Academy to teach the scholars of the world a hundred skills. Once they have completed their studies and passed the examinations, the imperial court shall arrange their placement."

Having written it in one breath, Zhang Yunxiu's forehead was covered in beads of sweat.

He rolled up his sleeves to wipe the sweat, blew gently to dry the ink on the paper, and then let out a long breath.

Looking at his masterpiece, Zhang Yunxiu could not help but smile from the bottom of his heart.

Everything is difficult at the start.

As long as there is such a source, things will naturally spring up everywhere like bamboo shoots after rain, one after another.

Moreover, because there was a madman like He Zheng in front, his Learning Academy seemed less heterodox.

After all, in his Learning Academy, there were also scholars studying the Four Books and Five Classics for the sake of the Imperial Examination.

Come to think of it, he was using He Zheng as a shield.

This guy was also happy to play along; the two of them had their own agendas while walking the same path.

However, Zhang Yunxiu was different from He Zheng, who only spoke empty words and big talk.

If one raises a problem, one must naturally solve it; if one only raises a problem without thinking of solving it, what is the point? The two were merely traveling the same road.

There would sooner or later be a battle between him and Mind Learning.

No ruler likes things that are heterodox and hinder unity.

Just as he was thinking this, a knock sounded outside the study, followed by a voice as pleasant as an oriole: "Young Master, it is time to eat. The Young Miss told me to come and call you, and to tell you to go eat quickly."

"Oh." Zhang Yunxiu replied to the outside, placed the Memorial into the folder, and strode toward the door.

(End of chapter)