The Fallen Nation System, Turning the Tide - Chapter 88: Cold Wind

Chapter 88: Cold Wind

“Your Excellencies caught a chill in the night air yesterday.”

Zhou Jin and his colleagues had once again been confined to Taiping Lane this year to grade examination papers. Fortunately, having prior experience, they weren’t overly panicked by the sudden summons. After entering Taiping Lane, they even managed to find amusement in their hardship, requesting the guards to relay messages to the kitchen maids to prepare a few homestyle dishes for them to savor.

Upon rising today, they suddenly heard orderly footsteps. Zhou Jin, disheveled and unkempt, abruptly came face to face with Xu Ying and Xu Lang. His eyes widened in surprise, heart skipping a beat as he hurriedly bowed: “Your humble servant Zhou Jin pays respects to Your Majesty and the Grand Princess.”

Xu Ying said: “No need for formalities. You may begin grading papers starting today, following the same requirements as last year. Additionally, the examination papers for officials will be graded separately by Huaiyang and myself.”

Zhou Jin bowed deeply, keeping his eyes lowered and submissively repeating his assent.

Taiping Lane soon buzzed with activity. Xu Ying and Xu Lang settled in a temporarily arranged low-roofed house. Xu Ying handed the multiple-choice answer key to Xu Lang, who would grade the objective questions while she herself tackled the subjective essay questions.

The number of officials taking the examination remained considerable. After just one day of grading, Xu Ying already felt dizzy and overwhelmed, with thick stacks of ungraded papers still waiting. She finally understood the saying about reaping what one sows.

By evening, candles were lit, illuminating Taiping Lane brightly. While Xu Ying continued working without rest, Zhou Jin and the others dared not rest either. Yawning repeatedly, they strained to keep their eyes open while maintaining constant movement in their hands. To maximize speed, they divided the work among themselves – you grade this section, I’ll grade that section. The longer they graded, the stiffer their hands became, until their minds nearly ceased functioning.

At the first night watch, Zhou Jin sent someone out: “Go check if His Majesty has retired. If he has rested, we can take a break soon too.”

Hope rose among the group. Normally they would sleep right after sunset, only occasionally working until the first watch. Now, as drowsiness intensified, they struggled to keep their trembling eyelids open, barely holding on.

After a while, the clerk returned and shook his head under everyone’s expectant gazes, cautiously reporting: “Your Excellency, His Majesty hasn’t retired yet. His Majesty said the examiners may rest first.”

How could officials sleep before their sovereign? The light in the officials’ eyes instantly dimmed as they forced their eyelids open to continue grading.

At the second night watch, Zhou Jin sent the clerk again to investigate: “Go see if His Majesty has retired.”

Rubbing their tired faces and brightening their eyes, the group renewed their hope. This time the clerk returned quickly, but still brought no good news. Shaking his head awkwardly, the clerk reported: “Your Excellency, His Majesty still hasn’t retired…”

Zhou Jin turned to the other officials: “It’s only the second watch. Everyone persevere a bit longer until the third watch.”

By the third watch, everyone sat before their desks, heavy sleepiness weighing on their eyelids which involuntarily drooped closed. The characters beneath their brushes grew increasingly faint and distorted, clarity alternating with haziness as the Duke of Zhou tempted them into illusory realms, while the flickering candlelight repeatedly dragged them back to reality, tearing and tormenting them.

Zhou Jin glanced at the sky through the window and decided the time was right. Setting down his brush, he stood and walked to the door, bending to wake the clerk who had fallen asleep at the entrance. “Go check on His Majesty,” he instructed.

In an instant, everyone’s eyelids felt lighter, their brushstrokes steadier, their spirits refreshed and clear-headed.

The minor official was abruptly awakened, too drowsy to even open his eyes, his sleepiness heavy. Since Zhou Jin had given the order, he dared not vent his irritation. Rubbing his eyes until they turned red to dispel the fatigue, he turned his back to Zhou Jin and secretly yawned before walking out. Once out of Zhou Jin’s sight, he stretched lazily and ambled away.

The officials were all filled with anticipation, but it was a long while before the minor official returned. He sighed deeply and shook his head helplessly, leaving everyone disheartened.

Zhou Jin said, “It’s already the third watch. Why hasn’t everyone rested yet? Continuing like this will harm your health. Go quickly and persuade them to take care of themselves.”

The minor official accepted the order and stepped outside. The cold wind jolted him fully awake. If everyone went to sleep, he wouldn’t have to endure the ordeal alongside the other officials. This time, his steps lightened immediately.

Xu Ying, equally exhausted, was still hard at work. When the minor official came to convey the officials’ concern, Xu Ying looked up in surprise. “Why haven’t they gone to bed yet?”

The minor official smiled wryly. “The officials wish to stay up with you.”

Xu Ying was taken aback. This wouldn’t do. Most of them, like Zhou Jin, were over thirty, their physical resilience declining. She couldn’t risk wearing them out before herself.

“Everyone, go back to sleep!” Xu Ying’s expression turned stern. Fearing that Zhou Jin and the others might insist on keeping her company, she decided to go in person.

Passing by Xu Lang, who was already fast asleep with her head on the desk, Xu Ying beckoned two palace maids to help her back to bed.

Xu Ying and the minor official went together. At the sight of Xu Ying, the officials were startled and hurriedly rose to pay their respects. But as they stood, dizziness washed over them, and they nearly stumbled.

“No need for formalities. Go back and sleep. I’ll be retiring soon too,” Xu Ying said hastily.

The officials finally breathed a sigh of relief. Zhou Jin raised his hand and said, “We will wait until Your Majesty has retired before settling down.”

Xu Ying replied helplessly, “Very well, I’ll go back to sleep now. You should all return quickly. Since we’ve stayed up so late today, there’s no need to rise early tomorrow. Come back in the afternoon instead, and make sure to rest well. We mustn’t risk careless mistakes in grading the exams.”

Everyone was delighted, feeling as though Xu Ying had never been so kind-hearted. They tidied their desks, locked the doors and windows, and returned to their quarters to sleep.

After persuading everyone to leave, Xu Ying went back and continued working diligently on her plan.

By the fourth watch, the lamp in Xu Ying’s room was still lit. A palace attendant went to rouse Zhou Jin. “Governor Zhou, Her Majesty has not yet retired at this hour. Please go and check.”

Zhou Jin rose grudgingly and went to find Xu Ying, catching her red-handed. Feigning surprise, he asked, “Your Majesty, why are you still here? Didn’t you say you were going to sleep?”

Xu Ying smiled awkwardly, shooting a covert glare at the palace attendant who had informed on her. Turning back with a smile, she pretended to tidy a few papers and said to Zhou Jin, “I’m going now, I’m going now. You should go back to sleep first…”

But Zhou Jin stood motionless, his gaze fixed firmly on her. Only by seeing it with his own eyes could he be completely assured.

“Alright, alright, I’m really going to sleep,” Xu Ying said guiltily, secretly rolling up a few exam papers and tucking them into her sleeve, planning to continue grading after everyone was asleep.

Zhou Jin clenched his fist and pressed it to his lips, his eyes falling on the edge of Xu Ying’s sleeve. He cleared his throat dryly and reminded her sternly, “Your Majesty!”

“Alright, we’ll continue tomorrow.” Xu Ying sighed helplessly, taking the exam papers from her sleeve. She jumped up and down to prove she wasn’t carrying anything else.

Lying in bed and pulling up the covers, Xu Ying stared wide-eyed while organizing her thoughts – today’s graded papers, tomorrow’s plans… Chaotic thoughts crowded her mind until her eyelids grew heavy. She immediately became alert, widening her eyes and repeating silently: “Mustn’t sleep, mustn’t sleep!”

The noon sun had already passed when Xu Ying woke the next day. Having slept dreamlessly through the night, she rose groggily from bed with little strength. A single night of staying up late had drained her considerably, leaving her feeling sleep-deprived and wanting more rest. Yet her mind was clear, her thoughts organized, and her stomach empty.

After washing up, Xu Ying joined Xu Lang for breakfast when a palace attendant rushed in panic, announcing: “Your Majesty, terrible news! All the ministers caught chills last night and are now running high fevers…”

“What!” Xu Ying’s eyes widened as she sprang to her feet.

Taiping Lane was currently under lockdown with restricted access. Even memorials were delivered to the entrance for special transfer to Xu Ying. With illness striking, the only solution was to summon imperial physicians inside. No one except Xu Ying could leave.

“I’ll fetch the physicians.”

Xu Ying hadn’t expected that while she remained unaffected by one night’s overtime, Zhou Jin and others had fallen ill.

Perhaps due to their advancing age, staying up late had taken a greater toll on them. The freezing conditions outside and exposure to cold wind during their return journey had triggered high fevers.

Xu Ying urgently brought all imperial physicians into Taiping Lane. Outside observers, unaware of the situation within, watched in speculation as the entire medical bureau was summoned. People craned their necks trying to glimpse inside, anxious guesses circulating about who might be ill to cause Xu Ying such concern.

Upon entering Taiping Lane, the physicians were shocked to find a row of officials lying bedridden with flushed faces, immediately proceeding to check their pulses.

“How are they?”

The head physician reported: “Your Majesty, the ministers have all contracted chills. They’ll recover after taking fever-reducing medicine.”

Confirming her suspicions, Xu Ying sighed in relief and ordered medicines to be delivered to the entrance.

With no replacements available for Zhou Jin’s team, they would have to grit their teeth and complete the remaining papers after their fevers subsided.

Xu Ying sighed helplessly and stopped Zhou Jin from attempting to work while ill. “There’s no hurry. I’ll distribute the remaining papers to others. Focus on recovering first.”

She feared any negligence might cost them their lives, turning Winter Examination grading into perilous work.

Zhou Jin found himself incapable despite his willingness, his mind foggy and head throbbing when attempting to think. Left with no choice, he remained bedridden.

The remaining papers were temporarily assigned to disgraced officials in Taiping Lane, who handled multiple-choice questions while surviving, healthy officials took charge of subsequent questions and verification.

Noticing everyone hesitated to rest before she did, Xu Ying suspended her original overnight work plan, deciding to resume after leaving Taiping Lane. She implemented strict rest hours, ensuring everyone retired on time.

“By imperial order, return to your quarters immediately! No lingering – hurry along!”

At the designated hour, Xu Ying dispatched guards to enforce the curfew.

The official, having experienced an all-nighter once, remained spirited and showed no signs of drowsiness. Without looking up, he responded, “We’ll leave shortly.”

The sooner they finished grading the exam papers, the sooner they could depart from this place and bid farewell to sleepless nightsvowing never to return again.

The guard made a round, thinking to himself that these officials were usually the first to leave after their shifts. Perhaps they were just putting on a show, deliberately feigning diligence for the emperor’s benefit, and would depart on their own soon enough. Thus, he refrained from urging them further.