Chapter 454: Discovery of the Recorded Talisman

On the first day of the third month, the wind was gentle, the sun bright, perfect for the palace examination.

Hmm, before Chenghua, the Great Ming's palace examinations were almost always held on the first day of the third month, two or three days after the metropolitan examination results were announced; during Emperor Chenghua's reign, it was said he pitied the candidates and deliberately extended the interval between the metropolitan and palace exams to the fifteenth, giving candidates more time to rest and prepare.

Today is the third day after the metropolitan examination results were announced, the fifth day since they endured nine days of metropolitan examination.

Most candidates looked worn out; some even had swollen faces, clearly having drunk heavily to celebrate these past two days.

The young man standing in the front row, full of vigor, stood out immediately.

Not only did the candidates gaze at him with envy and jealousy, but officials on both sides also turned to look at him, many nodding in approval.

"A scholar from Hedong—I heard Xue Jingxuan is his uncle."

"Xue Xuan? Where is he now? What does he do?"

"What else could he do? He's a teacher in Hedong. He spent his whole life studying Neo-Confucianism and has already founded his own school there—his achievements aren't smaller than ours."

"He certainly has his uncle's bearing. Didn't Xue Jingxuan also pass the provincial exam in one year and become the top scorer?"

"He's already won two top ranks. The Emperor surely wishes for a lucky omen in our dynasty—a Triple First—something worth commemorating. As long as he doesn't follow Jingxuan's path, his future is boundless."

Xu Cheng, standing behind the officials, looked up to study Xue Shao, his lips twitching slightly as he lowered his eyes—he feared these men would be disappointed. Xue Shao not only resembled Xue Xuan, he surpassed him; his official career could hardly be called smooth.

Time was up; candidates entered the hall in orderly fashion.

Seats were arranged by rank; Xue Shao sat in the center of the front row.

He lifted his robe and sat down; only then did the candidates behind him gradually take their seats, all falling silent as they waited for the Emperor's arrival.

But the Emperor was detained in the Kunninggong.

He should have departed for the hall fifteen minutes ago, but as he stepped out the door and descended the stairs, his foot suddenly gave way—he twisted his ankle and collapsed before a flowerbed.

When he looked up, his eyes met a tattered sachet crushed beneath wind-blown rain and drooping flower branches.

The young Emperor froze, his hand moving faster than his mind—he reached into the bushes and pulled out the half-burnt sachet.

Wang Zhen rushed to support him; seeing this mysterious object pulled from the flowers, his heart lurched and he instinctively slapped it away: "Your Majesty, beware—it may be poisoned!"

Zhu Qizhen frowned and picked up the fallen sachet again. "It's just a sachet—how could it be poisoned?"

Wang Zhen: "How did such a forbidden item appear in the palace?"

Zhu Qizhen: "It's just an ordinary sachet—where's the prohibition?"

He tore open the sachet at once and immediately shut it again.

Wang Zhen leaned forward curiously, but too fast—he didn't catch it. Seeing the Emperor's expressionless face, he asked: "Your Majesty, what's inside?"

The Emperor slipped the sachet into his sleeve and dismissed it: "Nothing. Mr. Wang, go check whether the candidates have entered the hall. Summon Yang Pu and the other examiners to the Study Hall."

The most important event today was the palace examination—Wang Zhen knew this well. The metropolitan examination's top scorer was Xue Xuan's nephew. Damn it—he'd been distracted by Pan Yun and hadn't noticed this candidate among them.

Now that it was too late, all he could do was intercept him at the palace examination—his rank there must not be too high.

Xue Xuan was his mortal enemy.

Wang Zhen bowed and withdrew to oversee the palace examination.

As soon as Wang Zhen left, the Emperor pulled the sachet from his sleeve, tore it open, and drew out a yellow talisman.

The Empress leaned in to look; seeing another talisman, she frowned. "Your Majesty, superstitions about spirits and ghosts are not to be trusted. This talisman's origin is unknown—please discard it at once."

Zhu Qizhen was utterly confident—he felt no threat from the talisman. He tossed the sachet to Cao Jixiang and unfolded the folded talisman himself. The moment he did, a familiar voice immediately emerged from it: "I'm so afraid…"

Zhu Qizhen froze. The Empress gasped, her knees buckling—she nearly fell, but the Emperor caught her. "Th-this… this paper talisman can speak!"

The next instant, Wang Zhen's voice came from the talisman: "Go ahead and try—see if I can."

The Empress's eyes widened. Zhu Qizhen was no less stunned.

Cao Jixiang snapped to attention and ordered: "Everyone, turn your backs and cover your ears!"

Fortunately, there were few people in the courtyard—all servants of the Emperor and Empress. Their hearts trembled, torn between curiosity and terror, but they obeyed, turning away and covering their ears.

Zhu Qizhen snapped: "Covering your ears won't hide what you hear—is it you who's foolish, or me?"

"Everyone, lower your hands and listen. I want to see who dares spread word of today's events," he said. "If even a whisper leaks out, everyone here—except the Empress—will be executed."

Cao Jixiang dropped to his knees with a thud, trembling as he replied: "Yes!"

Eunuchs and palace maids knelt on the ground, forced to listen to a recording from a prison cell.

The voice ended only when Wang Zhen ordered Pan Yun to be dragged away for torture; after that, no matter how the Emperor shook the yellow talisman, it emitted not another sound.

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The Empress came to her senses, realizing the time was late. She grabbed the Emperor's arm. "Your Majesty, nothing matters more today than the palace examination. The ministers and candidates are still waiting in the hall."

Zhu Qizhen snapped back to reality, his face dark with fury. He shoved the yellow talisman into his own sachet, swept his sleeve, and snapped: "To the Study Hall!"

Yang Pu and the others had been waiting anxiously; seeing the Emperor's delay, they grew increasingly uneasy.

The moment he arrived, they immediately presented the prepared questions. "Your Majesty, please choose one."

No pleasantries—time was clearly running out.

The Emperor glanced over them, paused, then pushed all three papers aside and turned. "'All things have roots and branches; all affairs have beginnings and ends. Knowing what comes first and what comes last brings one near the Dao.' This is the palace examination's topic."

Yang Pu and the other examiners were stunned, exchanging glances.

Why had the Emperor suddenly changed the question?

None were fools—they realized this question had just been thought up.

Could it be he suspected them of leaking the questions?

But these three questions had only been finalized last night and remained locked in the palace—today, the Emperor was to choose one from them.

The examiners felt uneasy—and displeased.

Only the aged, shrewd Yang Pu paused, then made a guess—he recalled the two imperial edicts the Emperor had issued last year.

He bowed slightly and replied: "Yes, this old minister will write it down immediately."

The other examiners, seeing the chief examiner comply, could only follow suit.

But…

A few blunt ones asked on the spot, "Your Majesty hasn't told this topic to anyone else, have you?"

The Emperor said, "I came up with this after entering the study. I haven't told anyone beyond those of you here."

Relieved, everyone immediately wrote down the topic, carried it to the main hall, and said, "Your Majesty, the auspicious hour has arrived. Please enter the hall quickly."

The examinees, who had waited long without seeing the Emperor arrive, shifted about restlessly, and the quiet hall gave off soft rustling sounds.

Xue Shao raised her head to look upward; the corner of her eye caught a flash of a yellow robe turning out from behind the great screen, and she immediately lowered her gaze. The next moment she heard the palace attendant announce the Emperor's arrival, calling out in a loud voice, "All ministers rise—"

Xue Shao rose and stood by the table, then knelt along with the civil and military officials on both sides to pay respects.

(End of chapter)