Pampered Consort's Acting Awards - Chapter 45

The third stage of the imperial examination was the palace examination.

The Honglu Office and the Guanglu Office had prepared test tables a day in advance, and the next morning, the officials from the Ministry of Rites led the candidates to Taihe Hall.

All the candidates stood in a row according to their names on the list, waiting for the imperial bodyguards to do a body search.

[T/N: The Honglu Office is in charge of ceremony and protocol. I cannot find anything about the Guanglu Office on the internet.]

Huai Jing was the first in line. When he raised his head, aside from the bodyguards, who were doing their job, all the officials in the hall were observing him. They were probably wondering how he could rank so high. They had known He Wenyi, Chu Jiangya, and Mu Zhengting, but knew nothing of the top scorer.

This person had a presence, but unfortunately, his appearance could only be slightly above average.

Lu Ze turned his head and ordered, “Some of you go search from behind.”

“Yes.”

Huai Jing took a step forward. Lu Ze patted his whole body and checked his bosom, cuffs, hairpins, and palms. After it was confirmed that he had no weapons, notes, and other prohibited items, he said, “You may enter.”

Huai Jing replied, “Thank you, my lord.”

An hour later, still in line, the candidates and the officials present kowtowed to the emperor as the sound of the whip rang.

Xiao Yu told them to rise and handed an imperial decree to Chief Assistant Liu Wenshi.

Inside the imperial decree were two of this year’s test questions.

The first question: Explain the meaning of the scriptures <The Great Learning> and <Learning for Justice>

The second question: How does one preserve the accomplishments of the previous generation in governing?

Chief Assistant Liu Wenshi read out the test questions aloud, and as soon as he finished, all the candidates took their seats, and the executive officers handed out brushes and paper for them to write their answers.

During the Yongchang era, the political situation was unstable, and party disputes were serious. Emperor Jiaxuan had no intention of promoting talent. For every palace examination, he would just sit at the top for an hour and pretend to go through the motions, letting the cabinet be responsible for the rest. Today, times had changed, and everything was different.

After three incense sticks, the candidates put down their brushes and left in order. Eunuch Sheng presented the thick stack of test papers to the emperor.

After reading it, Xiao Yu discussed it with the cabinet before personally selecting the names of the top three scorers.

Later at dusk, a minister from the Ministry of Rites summoned the candidates outside Taihe Hall, with the music <Celebrating a New Chapter> playing all the way to the throne.

He shouted, “On the fourth year of the Yanxi era, the nineteenth day of the second month, the top three scorer of the palace examination have been chosen among the candidates who stand under the sky.”

After a while, the minister took out three imperial decrees and said, “First place Huai Jing, accept the decree; Second place He Wenyi, accept the decree; Third place Chu Jiangya, accept the decree.”

The three stepped forward and knelt to receive the decree, saying, “This official accepts the decree and thanks the emperor for his kindness.”

… …

Taihe Hall was extremely lively for two days. Although the subsequent official career road would not be as smooth as the imperial examination, the conferred official grade for the first time still depended on their exam rank.

Eunuch Zhang presented all the rosters in his hand to Empress Dowager Chu.

“Your Ladyship made a good guess. Beside the top scorer, many of this year’s successful candidates were students from poor families.” Eunuch Zhang flattered, “But His Majesty still gave the third place to the Chu family.”

Empress Chu knew Xiao Yu wanted to change the court, so she snorted coldly and said, “What of the martial examination? Aijia heard that Jieyu Qin’s elder brother was also on the list. What kind of official position did he confer?”

Eunuch Zhang bowed and said, “Thousands Households of the Imperial Bodyguards.”

“A fifth-rank? Did His Majesty actually name him the top scorer of the martial examination?” Empress Chu frowned. “But I recall he was merely third in the capital examination, not the first. By what means did His Majesty promote him?”

“This servant heard that although the eldest son of the Qin family wasn’t excellent in horseback archery and infantry shooting, his strategy theory was good. The elders praised him, so His Majesty made an exception and named him the top scorer of the martial examination. Your Ladyship must’ve known that the strong men who participated in martial examination could lift iron but not brush. The martial examination also includes a written test, so this can’t be regarded as intentional promotion…”

After speaking this far, Eunuch Zhang added meaningfully, “But one can’t be sure whether he has selfish intention or not.”

Empress Dowager Chu sneered and furrowed her brows. “The emperor is getting more and more absurd. Jieyu Qin’s maternal family is but a merchant. How could the miscellaneous martial arts of a merchant be used in the court? Does he think that aijia won’t be able to move the Qin family just because one has entered the imperial bodyguards?”

A few days ago, Xiao Yu had demoted Imperial Physician Wei and sent him to a region to give Qin Ling justice. This had hurt the dowager’s face, and she had long wanted to clean up the Qin family.

Eunuch Gong naturally understood her intention. “Don’t worry, Your Ladyship. There isn’t Qin Suizhi alone in the Qin family. This servant has inquired that Jieyu Qin also has one younger sister born from a concubine, Qin Rong. Why not…” Eunuch Zhang whispered the following words in the dowager’s ear.

The empress dowager replied, “You shrewd thing.”

Eunuch Zhang said, “This servant still has another matter to report.”

“Speak.”

“Some subordinates said that a large amount of rammed earth has been transported to Mount Li under Grand Princess Changning’s order to repair the garden.”

“Again?” Empress Dowager Chu circled the beads in her hand and said, “She promised to return to the palace by spring. This is spring already, so why is she repairing the garden again? What is she up to in Mount Li?”

“Your Ladyship, is it possible for the grand princess to still have contacts with Su Huai’an?”

“Impossible.” Empress Dowager Chu shook her head. “Xue Xiangyang had personally escorted Changning to the Garden Bei of Mount Li. He brought 5,000 troops to the border of Mount Li and almost turned the garden upside down. If Su Huai’an was there, Xue Xiangyang would’ve found him already.”

“This servant was too careless.”

Empress Dowager Chu thought for a while, squinted her eyes, and said, “Send a letter to Changning. Say that aijia has a headache and often dreams of the consort dowager telling her to return earlier.”

***

Jingren Palace.

Zhu Xin said, “Congratulations, Master. Young Master Qin has become a fifth-rank official of the Thousands Households of the Imperial Bodyguards. You will have someone to support you then.”

Qin Ling sighed in shame.

Initially, she had entered the palace to protect the Qin family and repay his kindness, but he had become an imperial bodyguard in just a few months.

Although she had known that Qin Suizhi’s talent should not be buried, she had never expected him to become the top scorer in the martial examination.

Thinking of Qin Suizhi’s lonely eyes before the gongyuan’s gate, Qin Ling was happy for him.

How happy he must be to become an official through the martial examination.

After Qin Ling finished the letter in her hand, she handed it to Zhu Xin. “Give the letter to Registrant Chen and tell her to send it to the Qin family.”

“As you ordered.”

Since there was a happy event in Jingren Palace, all the palaces sent their congratulations. Everyone should do this kind of superficial work regardless of the thought in their hearts.

Consort Xue and Consort Liu, and others whose status was higher than Qin Ling would naturally not come to Jingren Palace to congratulate her in person. Still, some who had lower status and had fallen out of favor tried to befriend Qin Ling.

Jieyu Qin’s elder brother had just become the top scorer in the martial examination. It would be better if they could meet the emperor in Jingren Palace today.

Shuyi He came in the afternoon.

He Yuru gave her a pair of high-quality mutton fat jade pendants and said softly, “I know that jieyu has everything, but hopefully, you won’t dislike this.” 

Qin Ling looked at her. She was actually different from others.

There was no other reason. He Yuru was the eldest legitimate daughter of the He family, He Zichen’s biological sister. If it wasn’t for the imperial decree seven years ago that made Su Ling Princess Consort Jin, He Yuru should’ve called her sister-in-law.

After all, the Su family had already discussed marriage with the He family then.

Who would have thought that they would become the emperor’s concubines together in this day and age?

Qin Ling said slowly, “Thank you, Shuyi He.”

He Yuru stared back at Qin Ling and couldn’t help clenching her fists.

A few days ago, a letter from the He family arrived. It had seemed lukewarm but secretly implied that she was useless. She remembered clearly the sentence from her mother’s letter—Had I known it’d be so difficult for you there, I would’ve sent your elder sister instead.

The harsh words almost made her tear up.

She had also “met” the emperor since entering the palace, but the man had walked past her in his imperial carriage without raising his eyes. Since that path had been blocked, she had sought the empress dowager’s assistance, but the dowager’s authority in the Six Palaces had also been taken away.

So her visit to Qin Ling today had been thought of very clearly.

There were so many people in the harem, and the emperor favored Jieyu Qin alone, not only because of the rumored face resembling the previous empress but also because of the eldest prince.

The emperor would naturally protect Jieyu Qin with the eldest prince.

She would befriend Jieyu Qin first, sincerely win her over, and talk about the rest later.

After thinking for a while, Shuyi He said, “I heard that Jieyu’s elder brother not only topped the martial examination, but also the praise of the elders. That’s something worthy of celebration.”

“It is.” Qin Ling bent her eyes and said softly, “Didn’t Second Young Master He also get the second place?”

As soon as Shuyi He heard that, she answered casually in a hurry before saying, “I don’t want to hide it from Jieyu, but the reason I’m here today is because my mother has something she entrusted to me.”

Qin Ling asked, “What could it be?”

“This might be a bit abrupt to say…” Shuyi He paused for a while. “There’s a younger sister in my second uncle’s family, my mother asked me to inquire if Young Master Qin is already engaged.”

Although it was well known throughout the city now that the eldest daughter of the Qin family was favored, everyone used to look down on the Qin family. No matter how favored Qin Ling was, it would only be a matter of a few years with that small family of a small population.

But things would be different if her elder brother became an imperial bodyguard.

What were the imperial bodyguards?

They were the emperor’s confidants.

The emperor threw Qin Suizhi toward the Marquis of Chun’nan’s side, which meant he was determined to promote the Qin family.

Qin Ling naturally couldn’t understand the He family’s intention.

Marriage at this moment was to win over the Qin family on the surface, but with the He family’s power, why did they need to win over the Qin family, which had no foundation in the capital? In her final analysis, this was to conform to the emperor’s heart.

In all fairness, this marriage was a win-win situation.

But unfortunately, Qin Ling wouldn’t trade Qin Suizhi’s marriage.

Qin Ling nodded. “Although my brother isn’t engaged, he already has someone in his heart. It’ll be inconvenient for me to speak of this, so I’ll have to trouble Shuyi to thank the madam on my behalf for her thoughts.”

Shuyi He hadn’t expected that she would refuse. Her face turned slightly stiff, and after a while, she replied, “Well, what a pity…”

As soon as Shuyi He left, Li Yuan came.

With a water-blue floor-length dress, she walked slowly, just like three years ago, no matter whether it was spring, summer, autumn, or winter. She’d been born with extremely fair skin; it had never reddened or tanned.

Qin Ling rose and said, “This concubine greets Consort Li.”

Li Yuan stretched out her hand to help her up and said in annoyance, “You’re being too polite.”

The two sat in the yard together. Li Yuan beckoned, and a maid dragged the lacquer tray slowly over.

On top of the tray were a set of black jade ink stick and one white jade inkstone.

Without thinking, they must’ve been gifts from the emperor.

Li Yuan said, “Since your brother has passed brilliantly, the sisters in the palace will surely come to congratulate you. After mulling for a while, I think it’d be best to gift you this. The eldest prince can also use it to learn calligraphy.”

“Thank you, Your Ladyship.”

“Don’t be in a hurry to thank me. I brought something else.”

A mahogany box was brought before them. After Li Yuan opened it, Qin Ling saw a colorful glass bottle lying on it. At the mouth was not an ordinary lid, but a butterfly made of gold. The wings were inlaid with gemstones of various colors. It was gorgeous.

Li Yuan picked up the bottle, placed it in a good position, and said, “Try to press the wings.”

Qin Ling stretched out her hand to do so and saw that the wings sprayed out fine mist with the pressure of her fingers.

The water mist rose into the air and fell on Qin Ling’s hair, producing the faint fragrance of orchids.