Chapter 528

The Tiqiqianhu told Hence Hai Rui that Li Kaizao's proxy writer was his cousin Li Kaifang—a fact easily verifiable, since Li Kaizao had come to the capital with only one servant and had extremely simple social ties; having someone else write for him would risk irreparable damage to his reputation, and in this era, damaged reputation meant heaven falling and earth collapsing, so Li Kaizao could only turn to someone close.

And Li Kaizao had another cousin, Li Kaifang; after a brief and friendly exchange, Li Kaifang revealed everything.

Originally, Hence Hai Rui had no intention of telling all the students, but Shen Li said the Great Ming Emperor had sent them to solve problems, yet they had solved none—how could they report back without doing something? Otherwise, what was the point of coming?

If you cannot solve the problem, solve the person who caused it—then the problem disappears.

Hence Hai Rui considered it: to break the cohesion of this group, he must strike at its core—the man who stirred up noise and ran around rallying others, Li Kaizao, was indeed a despicable Confucian; Hence Hai Rui did not coddle him, and directly revealed Li Kaizao's true nature to everyone.

If someone else had said this—even if Shen Li told the stipendiary students that this man was rotten to the core—they would have dismissed it as deceit, an attempt to sow discord among them; but when Hence Hai Rui declared it, the stipendiary students could not help but reflect, recalling how Li Kaizao's behavior had always carried a strange odor.

Hence Hai Rui had other matters to attend to and could not linger; Shen Li remained at the Imperial Academy, where, as Right Vice Minister of Rites, he had the authority to inquire into its affairs. Inside the Imperial Academy stood a notice board, which published each month's arithmetic scores.

The Imperial Academy's several halls housed over nine thousand stipendiary students, including scholar-candidates and juren; the notice board did not list every student's score, but only announced the top ten and bottom ten in each of the three levels.

The three levels of arithmetic were Du Shu, Pang Tong, and Ming Li; all stipendiary students were required to study arithmetic, meaning they attended Du Shu Hall as a mandatory course, took monthly exams, biannual assessments, and an annual summary—this pressure was immense, yet the Northern Ya Imperial Academy's arithmetic scores had always lagged behind the Southern Ya, even falling below Zhejiang's.

Shen Li noticed that the bottom ten in Du Shu Hall changed every month; no student appeared on the bottom list twice.

He briefly checked past bottom-ten scores and found that any student who made the bottom list immediately saw a sharp rise in arithmetic performance; Ming students still had a sense of shame, especially at this age where face meant everything.

Shen Li had been that age too—he knew well the humiliation of appearing among the bottom ten, even if no one knew you.

Shame breeds a sense of honor and disgrace; from honor comes self-respect; from self-respect comes personal freedom.

Shen Li passed through the Bi Yong, the circular academy built by the Zhou Son of Heaven, surrounded by a moat for instruction—a tradition upheld by every dynasty, with the lecture hall standing at the moat's center.

And Shen Li saw Li Kaizao, humiliated and desperate, being cornered and pursued by stipendiary students.

"Li Kaizao, why are you running? That brilliant essay published in the Minbao was written by your cousin, not you, right!" a Confucian shouted, grabbing Li Kaizao's collar; his belt ornaments had long vanished.

Li Kaizao stammered: "I I I..."

"Speak up! Hai Hai Zongxian is framing you! Say it!" the Confucian's face flushed red, voice hoarse with fury.

Li Kaizao could not speak—he silently admitted Hence Hai Rui's accusation: the essay was indeed written by his cousin, and so were all his previous dazzling arguments—Li Kaifang had written them. Li Kaizao had some talent, but not enough to astonish.

Li Kaizao could now deny it outright—but then what? Hence Hai Rui was the living embodiment of Ming moral authority.

To claim a second-rank official deliberately slandered Li Kaizao was absurd enough; but when that official was Hence Hai Rui, no one would believe it—and worse, false accusation carries counter-punishment.

Li Kaizao held official status; if he now denied it, he would be publicly accusing Hence Hai Rui of slander before all Confucian scholars, including the Director of the Academy and Grand Secretaries.

If proven, under the law of counter-punishment for false accusation, Li Kaizao would face at least imprisonment; Ming examinations tested criminal law, and Li Kaizao knew the law—counter-punishment was a burden he could not bear.

The Confucian shoved Li Kaizao hard, enraged: "Can't speak, can you? Utterly vile! Degenerate! A disgrace to learning—I refuse to be seen with you!"

The Confucians dispersed, each spitting contempt at Li Kaizao; the fallen Li Kaizao stood dazed, soulless—everything was over. All the reputation his parents had painstakingly built for him was now utterly destroyed.

Everyone must pay for their mistakes; now was Li Kaizao's turn.

A thin, wiry man in his thirties approached Li Kaizao, extended his hand, pulled him up, and brushed the dust from his clothes.

The man was Li Kaifang—ten years older than Li Kaizao, who had also passed the provincial exam last year and taken the metropolitan exam this year.

"The capital is full of hidden dragons; the Imperial Academy is the state's reservoir of talent. Here, using your hometown's tricks to stir trouble won't work. This setback is good—you're only twenty. Chasing fame won't help you understand principle. Don't let trivial reputation weigh you down," Li Kaifang said solemnly.

"Don't you dare tell me what to do! Who do you think you are? A beggar servant, lecturing me? Are you mad?" Li Kaizao went berserk, screaming at his cousin, as if dumping all his rage on him, blaming him entirely for today's humiliation.

Li Kaifang's expression hardened: "Have you had enough? Your father entrusted me to watch over you. I warned you—you refused to listen. Now you've suffered, and you're throwing tantrums here—do you think this is still home, where everyone coddles you? Wake up! This is the capital!"

Li Kaifang's sudden transformation stunned Li Kaizao—he had never seen such ferocity.

Li Kaifang knew he would become a Ming Jinshi; though the list wasn't out, he was certain—his arithmetic score was surely among the top fifty. He had cross-checked every answer against the Imperial Academy's official key, verified repeatedly—he could score full marks.

"Awake now?" Li Kaifang's harshness faded, returning to his usual gentleness: "Li Kaizao, remember this: you're young—only twenty."

"Passed the provincial exam at nineteen—rare in the empire. You have talent. Don't waste it. Go home, get drunk, vomit, cry, sleep—when you wake, it's over. In a few days, no one will speak of it; in a few months, everyone will forget. But remember—you're still you."

"Your father told you repeatedly: remain calm under pressure, avoid haste, practice patience, move steadily to achieve distance."

Your father has repeatedly told you to remain unmoved in dealings, unflustered in adversity, to curb haste and practice patience, to proceed steadily and achieve lasting success.

Shen Li had watched the entire scene from the Bi Yong. He stepped forward, curious: "You're still helping him? I'm truly surprised."

Wasn't this the classic script—endure humiliation, rise to glory, then strike back with even greater cruelty? And from what Shen Li had seen, Li Kaifang had no shortage of ruthlessness.

"He truly has talent. The family's indulgence, the praise from others—that's not him. A juren at nineteen," Li Kaifang shook his head. "Master, may I ask your name?"

"Shen Li." Shen Li gave his name calmly; every student in the capital knew him—or rather, as a forthright, upright minister, if not for Hence Hai Rui, he would be the Ming's foremost.

Gao Gong, Yang Bo, Wang Wang Chonggu, Wang Wang Guoguang, Tan Lun, Ge Ge Shouli—these were the ministers of Emperor Longqing's court, all from the Jin Party; even Tan Lun had been reinstated after mourning only because Yang Bo recommended him—a debt Tan Lun could never escape.

Gao Gong, Yang Bo, Wang Wang Chonggu, Wang Wang Guoguang, Tan Lun, and Ge Ge Shouli—these were ministers of the Emperor Longqing court, all of them members of the Jin Party; even Tan Lun was reinstated after his mourning period thanks to Yang Bo's recommendation, creating a debt of gratitude Tan Lun could never escape.

Interestingly, when Tan Lun stalled Wang Wang Chonggu's nomination list, Yang Bo did not force Tan Lun to approve it—he repaid the favor.

Was Yang Bo a gentleman or a villain? In his later years, Yang Bo was utterly confused—he knew shame, understood honor and disgrace, knew these acts were wrong, yet too many people pushed him forward; thus, his behavior was contradictory, giving rise to the question: gentleman or villain?

If he were truly a villain, Yang Bo would have invoked their debt to pressure Tan Lun; but he didn't. If he were truly a gentleman, he would have stopped the censors from using coughs to impeach Tan Lun; but he didn't.

In life, how many can follow their conscience without compromise?

Li Kaifang startled, quickly bowed: "Student greets Shao Shao Zongbo. Unaware of your presence, I have been most disrespectful."

Shen Li waved: "No need for formalities. Your brother was the one who was disrespectful before me and Hence Hai Rui. Hai Hai Zongxian never intended to pursue him—this is the age of mistakes. He merely wanted to know who wrote that essay in the Minbao. Li Kaizao insisted on denying it, as if Hai Hai Zongxian were framing him."

"You haven't answered my question: why help him? Do nothing, and Li Kaizao's life is ruined."

Destroying a man is simple—just one word. Li Kaizao and his parents' lifetimes of effort turned to dust.

Hence Hai Rui had no wish to expose Li Kaizao's true nature, but Li Kaizao refused to repent, instead escalating his accusations against Hence Hai Rui.

"He has real talent. And without his father, I wouldn't have been able to study. I owe him this debt," Li Kaifang answered honestly—it was not hatred, but gratitude.

True, this brat had stolen many honors meant for him—but Li Kaizao's father had given Li Kaifang the chance to change his fate: education.

"I see," Shen Li nodded, smiling. "What are your plans?"

"Are you asking whom I intend to take as my mentor? I believe I've made some progress in arithmetic—I plan to take the Five Classics Doctor examination!" Li Kaifang's face glowed with excitement. "I'm confident I'll score full marks in arithmetic this time!"

"Full marks?" Shen Li asked, astonished.

Li Kaifang nodded vigorously: "Yes. According to the Imperial Academy's posted answers, it's perfect."

"Remarkable. I can't even understand arithmetic—it gives me a headache," Shen Li sincerely praised him; those arcane calculations were beyond him—only the gifted could master them.

"It's out! The list is out! The list is posted outside Donghuamen!" a stipendiary student ran past, shouting.

Shen Li saw Li Kaifang's anxiety and smiled: "Go on, go."

"Student takes leave." Li Kaifang bowed deeply, then sprinted toward the academy's outer gate.

The chanting of names outside Donghuamen was a triennial grand ceremony—some rejoiced, some grieved.

When Li Kaifang arrived, few students were gathered—the news had not yet spread. He found a good spot and waited for the eunuch to post the golden list.

As the crowd gathered, Li Li Yougong arrived with the golden list and began posting.

"Zhu Guozuo, scholar-candidate from Xiushui, Zhejiang—first in the Ming Jinshi Classics!"

"Li Li Tingji, scholar-candidate from Jinjiang, Fujian—second in the Ming Jinshi Classics!"

"Liu Yingqiu, scholar-candidate from Jishui, Jiangxi—third in the Ming Jinshi Classics!"

"Li Li Tingji, a scholar from Jinjiang, Fujian, ranked second in the Classics Examination!"

"Li Kaizao, scholar-candidate from Yongchun, Fujian—thirty-fifth in the Ming Jinshi Classics!"

Li Kaifang stood among the crowd, staring at the thirty-fifth name for a long time—his brother had risen to thirty-fifth. Li Kaifang truly envied Li Kaizao's talent—even after such recklessness, he still made the list.

Soon, Li Kaifang saw his own name: sixty-first, Ming Jinshi.

Li Li Yougong stepped forward and announced: "Second list: Arithmetic Ming Jinshi! Li Kaifang, scholar-candidate from Yongchun, Fujian—first in the Arithmetic Ming Jinshi! The only candidate to achieve a perfect score in the metropolitan exam! The Emperor, delighted, bestows one hundred taels of silver, five bolts of zhusi silk, five bottles of Guojiao liquor—showing special favor, no need to decline."

Two lists, the sole perfect scorer—Li Kaifang's spirits soared. He had no talent for Confucian classics, but in arithmetic—he had genius!

After the golden list, another red-clad eunuch stepped before the list; two young eunuchs placed brush and inkstone before him. The man was Zhang Hong, the palace's second most powerful figure—he stood before the list.

All eyes turned to Zhang Hong. Li Li Yougong had finished reading the list—why was another eunuch here? Unusual.

Zhang Hong picked up the brush, blacked out Li Kaizao's name, then wrote a replacement name at the bottom of the list—no explanation, then left.

Emperor Zhu Zhu Yijun had sent Zhang Hong to erase Li Kaizao and add another—this was dismissal. No need to wait for Li Kaizao to stir more chaos, only to be stripped of his status and title—he was directly expunged, saving him decades of wasted path.

This was proper: the imperial examination was not the Emperor's grace to the ministry, but the Emperor's grace to the candidate. Passing the metropolitan exam did not make one a Ming Jinshi—only after the palace examination.

Zhang Hong picked up his brush, blacked out Li Kaizao's name, then wrote the name of the supplementary candidate at the very bottom of the gold list, offering no further explanation before leaving the gold list behind.

In the years Emperor Wanli 2, 5, 8, and 11—four special examinations—the Emperor had never dismissed a candidate before or during the palace examination. This was the first.

Everyone understood why the Emperor had acted alone, why only this one man was dismissed—he had offended the Emperor; the special examination no longer belonged to him.

Emperor Renzong of Song had despised Liu Yong's "Crane Soaring to Heaven." When Liu Yong passed the Ming Jinshi exam, Renzong said, "Go write lyrics." Liu Yong obediently followed the imperial decree, composing lyrics until a special imperial examination was opened, allowing him to finally earn his title—Renzong truly deserved the title "Ren," for even against one who offended him, he showed mercy.

Li Kaifang watched this scene, dizzy with shock—if Li Kaizao learned this, he would surely go mad. Such a rise and fall: arriving in the capital as a celebrated youth, showered with admiration before the exam, stirring chaos in the Imperial Academy, then exposed as a fraud and despised, suddenly named on the golden list, then abruptly dismissed by the Emperor's hand—what would Li Kaizao become?

Everyone understood why the emperor had suddenly acted alone and dismissed only this one man—because this man had offended the emperor, and thus had no claim to the special imperial examination.

Emperor Renzong of Song was deeply displeased with Liu Yong's "Crane Soaring to Heaven"; when Liu Yong finally passed the imperial examination, Emperor Renzong said, "Go write your lyrics," and Liu Yong obediently complied, composing verses until a special imperial examination was later granted, allowing him to finally earn his degree—Emperor Renzong deserved the title "Ren," for though Liu Yong had wronged him, he ultimately showed mercy.

Crowds continued to gather, but Li Kaifang stood before Wumen. A few steps forward would take him to the place of petitioning the palace. He hesitated—stepping forward meant risking life; not stepping forward meant he could not face his conscience. Li Kaizao was vile, but his father had been kind to him.

He hesitated for a long, long time—until the sun slanted west—then finally made his decision.

Li Kaifang was over thirty, only passing the provincial exam last year. He owed a debt—he must repay it. Now that Li Kaizao faced ruin, as an elder brother, how could Li Kaifang do nothing and face his uncle—or himself?

He stepped forward, then walked slowly to Wumen, shook his sleeves, knelt, and performed five prostrations and three kowtows.

The Hanjiang guards at Wumen had watched Li Kaifang's hesitation, waiting. The instant he finished his kowtows, the guard excitedly struck the Wumen drum. The sound reached Zuoshun Sect; the eunuch there listened, raised his brow, and sprinted toward Wumen. After learning the situation, he galloped to Zhao Wenhua Palace.

"Your Majesty! Someone is petitioning at the palace! Someone is petitioning at the palace!" a young eunuch rushed into Zhao Wenhua Palace, his voice tinged with excitement—just a hint, but Zhu Zhu Yijun heard it.

Since Wang Wang Chonggu had tricked the censors into petitioning at Huangji Sect and Hence Hai Rui had persuaded them away, no one had petitioned the palace—no one knew if it was genuine or manipulated, if someone had instigated the group. The eunuchs, who had not gotten to administer bastinadoes for so long, finally had work!

"Good! Perfect!" Zhu Zhu Yijun leapt to his feet, abandoning his half-built dragon boat. "How many? Who led them? The bastinado sticks were worn out last month—we just replaced them! Have the Tiqi prepare the instruments!"

"Your Majesty, someone has knelt at the palace gate! Someone has knelt at the palace gate!" A young eunuch rushed into the Zhao Wenhua Hall, his voice tinged with barely concealed excitement as he entered the side chamber—just a hint, but Zhu Zhu Yijun caught the thrill in his tone.

Zhu Zhu Yijun was eager. Petitioning the palace—such a rare event! He must go himself. When others came to his door, he would not retreat.

For the Emperor, courtiers' petitioning—demanding he rescind his decree—was not merely pulling his mouth shut, but accusing him, even indicting him as guilty before heaven and earth. To retreat was to issue a self-censure edict, admitting fault—a fatal blow to imperial authority.

"Go! Summon the carriage to the Huangji Gate!"

Zhu Zhu Yijun was already eager; the petitioning at the palace gate was such a rare event—he must go in person. Others had come to his door; there was no room for retreat.

For the Emperor, ministers' petitioning at the palace gate, demanding he rescind his decree, was not merely pulling at his mouth—it was accusing him, even indicting him for wrongdoing and guilt before all under heaven. To retreat would be equivalent to issuing a self-censure edict, admitting fault, and such a blow to imperial authority was utterly fatal.

It wasn't Zhu Zhu Yijun who started the precedent of killing memorialists—it was Emperor Wu Zong and Liu Jin; later, the Dao Master also killed a memorialist.

Zhu Zhu Yijun cannot retreat an inch; retreat one step, and the base Confucians will advance three!

"One person," the young eunuch said, his face awkward.

Zhu Zhu Yijun stopped walking and raised an eyebrow. "One person?"

"One person," the young eunuch said firmly. "Only this man named Li Kaifang has knelt outside the Wu Gate—not to petition for more slots in the imperial examinations, but because his younger brother, Li Kaizao, was falsely blacklisted."

"Let's go see," Zhu Zhu Yijun said. "Zhao Meng, bring me the files on Li Kaizao and Li Kaifang." Zhu Zhu Yijun had only known the two brothers by name; on the way, he learned that though both bore the surname Li, their personalities were utterly different.

Zhu Zhu Yijun did not ride in a carriage—he walked while Zhao Zhao Mengyou recounted Li Kaifang's past.

Li Kaifang's upbringing was tragic. His father suffered from chronic illness for about three years, and finally passed away when Li Kaifang was six. His mother erected a chastity tablet and vowed to raise Li Kaifang alone. Easy to say, hard to do: a widow struggling to raise a six-year-old boy, with no savings left after years of illness.

Li Kaifang's mother took him to beg at his father's ancestral home. But they were only distant relatives—and they turned their backs on the orphan and his mother.

Li Kaizao's father was the head of the main lineage, and ultimately took in the mother and son. He raised them for twenty-six years. Li Kaifang grew up properly, married at sixteen, continued studying, and finally passed the imperial examination at thirty-two. Though he called him "eldest uncle," this uncle was more than a father to him.

If Li Kaizao had been a fool, it might have been bearable—but from childhood, Li Kaizao was extraordinarily intelligent, far beyond ordinary men.

Who among parents doesn't wish their son to become a dragon? Li Kaizao's parents set their sights on Li Kaifang—and the campaign began.

In this imperial examination, in Confucian classics, the twenty-year-old Li Kaizao scored higher than Li Kaifang!

"This Li Kaifang is truly a man of feeling and righteousness," Zhu Zhu Yijun said as he reached the Wu Gate, having heard Li Kaifang's story. "He lingered outside for so long, yet still stepped forward. No matter how great the debt, kneeling outside the Wu Gate has repaid it."

Li Kaifang was no idle guest in the main lineage. His interest in mathematics began when he managed accounts for them, then expanded to astronomy, and later he helped run the family's business. His long failure to pass the provincial examination was deeply tied to his years managing the household affairs.

With someone kneeling at the gate, the palace's mechanism for handling such petitions was already activated. Countless footsteps echoed inside the Wu Gate; squads of Hanjiang generals stood ready before it. Zhu Zhu Yijun stepped out of the Wu Gate and stood before Li Kaifang.

"Beat him! Twenty strokes first!" Zhu Zhu Yijun extended his hand, asking no reason, ordering the punishment first.

When a commoner sues an official, the first blow is the "intimidation stick." The same applies when an official sues the emperor. Li Kaifang held an official degree—he came to kneel outside the Wu Gate. That alone was a crime. A son does not speak of his father's faults; a minister does not speak of his sovereign's failings. How could he come here to kneel?

"Take it easy," Zhu Zhu Yijun told Feng Bao as he ordered the Tingzhang prepared, detailing how the beating should be administered.

In the Great Ming, Tingzhang could be lethal or non-lethal. A lethal strike could kill with one blow; a non-lethal one could deliver a thousand strokes, yet the victim would be fine the next day. The noise was identical—loud, thunderous, terrifying.

Clearly, this was the non-lethal method. He was the only candidate in this imperial examination to score full marks in mathematics since its inclusion—and the Imperial Royal Academy of Natural Philosophy needed such a talent.

The Embroidered Uniform Guards laid Li Kaifang on the long bench and raised the intimidation stick.

The sound was loud, but Li Kaifang's expression was blank—he had braced for death, yet felt little pain.

Of course it didn't hurt. Zhao Zhao Mengyou, the Commandant, had openly placed thick cushions beneath him—openly favoring him. The emperor had said "take it easy"—clearly, this was just a formality. The Tingzhang landed on the cushions; how could it hurt?

"This is my first time using Tingzhang," Zhu Zhu Yijun told Feng Bao. "Good, good."

During the Emperor Wanli reign, there were only two petitions at the gate: one was peacefully persuaded away; the other, before the emperor even arrived, the Confucians had all fled.

This truly was the first time Tingzhang had been used—but no one was to be killed.

"Your kneeling today has repaid the Li family's debt to you," Zhu Zhu Yijun said, sitting on the stool Zhang Hong had brought. "As for his inciting the Imperial Academy's stipendiaries to gather and protest—I charge him with treason. His entire family will suffer."

Zhu Zhu Yijun explained in detail why this case constituted treason. He didn't need to—disobeying the emperor was treason enough. But Zhu Zhu Yijun cherished talent, so he explained clearly to Li Kaifang.

"Then… can Li Kaizao still take the imperial examinations?" Li Kaifang knelt on the ground, trembling but bowing his head. "In the past, Emperor Renzong of Song pardoned Liu Yong and eventually granted him a special imperial degree."

"Yes," Zhu Zhu Yijun said clearly. As long as he can still pass, he has two chances left.

If Li Kaizao, after this upheaval, gains true insight, Zhu Zhu Yijun will not hinder him from taking future examinations.

The final disposition was simply to publicly strike his name from the list—no need for further punishment. Either deal with it outright, or settle it and drop the matter.

Zhu Zhu Yijun looked directly at Li Kaifang. "But if he continues to defy imperial will and stubbornly obstructs the Great Ming's revival, I will throw him into the Heavenly Prison—and add this new crime to the old."

The restrained punishment was because Zhu Zhu Yijun's goal—adding fifty mathematics graduates—had already been achieved. No need to escalate tensions or create more instability. But that didn't mean Zhu Zhu Yijun would abandon holding him accountable.

He has already shown mercy because of Li Kaifang, the mathematical genius. If Li Kaizao still refuses to repent, Zhu Zhu Yijun will draw the executioner's blade.