Marrying The Imperial Elder Chapter 45

Yang Qionghua had always had one particular flaw. Put kindly, she was intensely curious. Put less kindly, she loved gossip.

The moment she heard there was “a long story,” it was as though someone had scratched an unbearable itch in her heart. She dearly wanted to grab hold of Zhen Tingyun and hear every detail. Unfortunately, this was only their first meeting. Since Zhen Tingyun clearly had no intention of elaborating, Yang Qionghua could only suppress her cat-like curiosity and refrain from asking further.

Instead, she smiled behind her hand and asked, “It’s getting late. Would you like to have lunch together?”

Zhen Tingyun shook her head. “I promised Madam Chu I’d wait for her. She said she’d take me to the dining hall when she came back.”

Yang Qionghua didn’t insist. “In that case, I’ll be going first.”

Zhen Tingyun nodded and watched her leave.

Unexpectedly, when Yang Qionghua reached the doorway, she turned back with a bright smile. “Madam Chu has never accepted a disciple before, nor has she ever recommended anyone. If she made an exception for you, then you must have something extraordinary about you. I have a feeling you’ll pass this entrance examination. So we’ll probably be classmates soon. In that case, I won’t bother saying goodbye.”

As she spoke, her fair hand rested lightly against the doorframe. Bathed in sunlight, the back of her hand shone with the whiteness of fresh winter snow. Her slender fingers curled slightly, each joint graceful and distinct, delicate as newly peeled bamboo shoots.

Even her slightly curved fingernails glowed with a soft rosy luster, like polished mother-of-pearl.

Truthfully, Zhen Tingyun hadn’t been entirely confident about the entrance examination. Yet hearing Yang Qionghua say those words somehow settled her heart.

Raising an eyebrow with a smile, she replied, “Then I’ll gladly accept your kind prediction.”

At the same time, she thought to herself: With hands as beautiful as Miss Yang’s, she must be exceptionally skilled at playing the qin.

***

Zhen Tingyun waited in the examination room for nearly a quarter of an hour before Madam Chu finally returned.

Madam Chu apologized first. “I was also responsible for inspecting the examination halls today. A small problem came up and delayed me.” Then she asked, “How did the exam go?”

After a moment’s thought, Zhen Tingyun answered conservatively, “I think… it went fairly well.”

She had answered most of the general knowledge questions, was confident about the arithmetic section, and had written the policy essay quite smoothly. By her estimation, she should at least achieve a passing score.

Madam Chu didn’t press for details. Instead, she changed the subject. “What did you think of the other two students who shared your examination room?”

Zhen Tingyun considered the question before replying, “We only met briefly and exchanged names. Beyond that, I really couldn’t say much about them.”

Madam Chu nodded and, as they walked, began introducing Zhen Tingyun to the various aspects of the Capital Women’s Academy. She also shared a number of amusing anecdotes about the school. Talking all the while, the two of them made their way toward the dining hall.

The academy’s dining hall was actually quite spacious. However, there were simply too many young women taking the entrance examination that day, and by the time they arrived it was already crowded.

Fortunately, besides the staff responsible for keeping order, a number of the academy’s own students had volunteered to help maintain discipline. Although there were many examinees, everything remained orderly thanks to their efforts.

More importantly, the afternoon examinations would cover the four subjects of Rites, Music, Charioteering, and Archery. Since many of the academy’s instructors were also dining in the hall, most of the candidates behaved with remarkable restraint. Every young lady carefully maintained the graceful bearing expected of a well-bred gentlewoman, fearful of committing even the slightest breach of etiquette.

After all, if poor table manners cost them points in the Rites examination, it would be a terrible loss.

Because of this, although the hall was packed with people, there was no noisy chatter. Even the clinking of bowls and chopsticks was kept to the barest whisper. Everything proceeded in perfect order. The young women lined up patiently to collect their meals, quiet and impeccably mannered.

Zhen Tingyun, however, did not have to squeeze into the line with everyone else.

Madam Chu led her directly inside and seated her at one of the tables reserved exclusively for the academy’s female instructors.

The moment she sat down, Zhen Tingyun felt countless eyes turn toward her. It was like having needles prick her back.

She was unaccustomed to attracting so much attention. Though her shoulders stiffened slightly, her expression remained composed. Looking toward Madam Chu, she asked tentatively, “The two girls who took the exam with me, Zhou Qingjun and Yang Qionghua, aren’t they coming here for lunch? Or have they already finished eating?”

Madam Chu was frowning faintly at the green peas mixed into her rice. Without any change in her leisurely tone, she replied, “Those of you who were admitted to the entrance examination through recommendation are naturally different from the other candidates. Since you’re different, you’re bound to attract more attention. They probably wanted to keep a lower profile, so they chose not to come.”

Zhen Tingyun had just reached for her chopsticks. Hearing that, her hand froze halfway.

They wanted to keep a low profile… I wanted to keep a low profile too! You’re going to be my teacher, couldn’t you have warned me before bringing me here?

Although she said nothing, Madam Chu seemed to read her thoughts.

Methodically, she picked the peas out of her rice one by one, placing them onto a small side dish as she spoke. “If you truly possess ability and confidence, why concern yourself with the gaze of others? Only mediocrities escape envy. If people watch you and talk about you, then at least you’re no insignificant nobody.”

Zhen Tingyun thought it over and found herself persuaded. Seeing Madam Chu still patiently sorting out the peas, she quickly changed the subject. “Teacher, you don’t eat peas? Shall I pick them out for you?”

“No.” Madam Chu refused without hesitation. “You are my student, not my servant.”

Although she appeared gentle and spoke softly, anyone who truly came to know her would discover that she was a woman with remarkably firm convictions, soft on the outside, cool and resolute within.

Besides,” she added calmly, “I prefer picking them out myself.”

Zhen Tingyun fell silent.

Teachers really are all different. If this were Yuanhui, he’d probably enjoy having me do it for him.

Before becoming her teacher, Madam Chu had seemed endlessly gentle and approachable. Only now did Zhen Tingyun realize that beneath that gentle exterior lay an unyielding character.

She admired Madam Chu greatly and liked her very much. Yet in terms of closeness, she still couldn’t compare to Yuanhui.

Or perhaps, she wondered, Madam Chu’s relationship with her was what a teacher and student were actually supposed to be like. The relationship between herself and Yuanhui… seemed more like that of friends than master and disciple.

Having never experienced anything like this before, Zhen Tingyun couldn’t help feeling puzzled by the comparison.

Fortunately, the entrance examination remained the more pressing concern. She didn’t dwell on the matter for long and quietly finished her meal.

While continuing to remove peas from her bowl, Madam Chu also corrected a few details of Zhen Tingyun’s table manners. “One’s surroundings shape one’s bearing, and one’s habits shape one’s posture. A person’s temperament and deportment are cultivated little by little. Your foundation may be somewhat lacking, but that doesn’t mean you can’t be taught. Just learn gradually, step by step.”

Zhen Tingyun nodded earnestly.

After finishing their meal, Madam Chu led her to the collection area to return their dishes.

First they emptied the leftover food into a large waste barrel. Then they sorted the bowls, plates, saucers, and serving dishes separately, making it much easier for the kitchen servants to wash everything afterward.

Looking at the enormous barrel of leftovers, Zhen Tingyun couldn’t help remarking, “This would make excellent pig feed.”

Back when she had lived in the countryside with Old Lady Zhen, they had raised pigs themselves, so she knew a thing or two about it. Pigs couldn’t grow fat on grass alone. Besides cutting pigweed every day, people also had to feed them leftover rice and scraps. Only then would the pigs grow plump and produce plenty of meat.

Madam Chu glanced at her with a smile. “Indeed. The academy keeps a few pigs for exactly that reason. By the end of the year they’ll be nice and fat. Students with outstanding academic performance receive portions of the pork as rewards. The best performers can get a pork knuckle. Others might receive pork offal, while some are given a slab of pork or perhaps a pig’s ear.”

Zhen Tingyun stared at her. “…I’ve never heard of such a thing.”

Seeing her astonished expression, Madam Chu laughed. “Actually, it’s quite practical. It takes care of the dining hall’s leftovers and gives the students an extra dish to bring home. When you think about it, the girls carrying home a whole pork knuckle attract quite a bit of attention on the streets.”

Zhen Tingyun couldn’t help imagining it.

A delicate little young lady walking through the city carrying a freshly butchered pork knuckle. Her face would probably be smaller than the knuckle itself. The smell might even make her dizzy before she reached home. How could that not attract attention?

She had to admit, the Capital Women’s Academy was nothing like she’d imagined.

Even the little village school she had attended rewarded outstanding students at the end of the year with silver or books.

Never pork.

After all, many scholars believed that learning was an elegant and lofty pursuit, something too refined to be tainted by everyday concerns. They disdained matters like oil, salt, soy sauce, and vinegar, and considered things such as pork, or especially pork offal, far too vulgar even to mention.

However, imagining the scene Madam Chu had just described, Zhen Tingyun couldn’t help finding it rather amusing. A smile crept onto her face as she whispered, “Perhaps this year I’ll be carrying home a pork knuckle myself.”

Madam Chu raised an eyebrow at her, her eyes holding a trace of encouragement. “You’ll have to work hard.”

After all, a pig only had four legs, and pork knuckles were among the most coveted prizes.

***

After leaving the dining hall, Zhen Tingyun realized there was nowhere else she particularly needed to be, so she simply returned to the examination room to wait for the afternoon tests.

To her surprise, Yang Qionghua and Zhou Qingjun were already there.

Zhou Qingjun looked just as aloof and elegant as she had that morning. Sitting perfectly upright, she was quietly reading a book. Even when she heard footsteps, she didn’t spare Zhen Tingyun so much as a glance, remaining completely absorbed in her reading.

Yang Qionghua, on the other hand, secretly waved Zhen Tingyun over. As soon as Zhen Tingyun approached, Yang grabbed her sleeve and whispered conspiratorially, “Don’t let her fool you. She may act like she doesn’t care, but she’s definitely paying close attention to you.”

Zhen Tingyun blinked in confusion and looked at her.

Yang Qionghua lowered her voice even further. “She’s admired Madam Chu for years and has always wanted to become her disciple. But Madam Chu kept saying that taking students depended on fate, that the two of them simply weren’t destined to be teacher and student, so she never accepted her. In the end, Zhou Qingjun had no choice but to study under someone else.”

Yang Qionghua spread her hands with an exaggerated sigh. “And then, just when she’d finally given up, Madam Chu, who absolutely refused to take her as a disciple, suddenly accepted you instead…”

The truth was, there were no real secrets in the capital. Since Zhen Tingyun had introduced herself that morning, it hadn’t taken either Yang Qionghua or Zhou Qingjun long to learn who she was.

Originally, Zhou Qingjun had already been upset. When she discovered that Zhen Tingyun was the younger daughter of the Zhen family, only recently brought back from the countryside, she became even more indignant.

I begged and pleaded for years, and Madam Chu still wouldn’t accept me as her student… Yet she turns around and takes in a country girl? Am I really inferior to a country girl? Even if Madam Chu insists it’s all about “fate,” surely her judgment can’t be that poor!

One could only say that fate worked in mysterious ways.

Zhen Tingyun had never imagined this was the story behind Zhou Qingjun’s attitude. She almost laughed but managed to suppress it, sneaking another glance toward Zhou Qingjun.

Perhaps it was just her imagination, but although Zhou Qingjun’s expression remained icy as ever, the tips of her ears seemed ever so slightly pink.

Maybe she’d overheard every word Yang Qionghua had just whispered.

Zhen Tingyun nodded inwardly.

She’s actually rather interesting.

Yang Qionghua truly loved gossip. Since there were only three people in the examination room, and Zhou Qingjun clearly wasn’t interested in talking, she happily poured out an entire basketful of capital gossip to the newly acquainted Zhen Tingyun.

Although Zhen Tingyun had lived in the capital for several months, she’d spent nearly all of that time buried in her studies at home and had heard almost none of these stories.

Listening to Yang’s lively narration, she found herself completely engrossed. Without realizing it, her nervousness about the afternoon examinations gradually melted away. Only when the bell rang did all three young women finally fall silent once more.

Soon afterward, the same female instructor from the morning entered the room. She looked around to confirm everyone was present before nodding in satisfaction. “This afternoon you’ll be tested in Rites, Music, Charioteering, and Archery. Each subject will be examined and evaluated by a specialist instructor.”

She added, “By the way, will any of you be substituting another talent for either Charioteering or Archery? If you choose a substitute subject, the highest grade you can receive for that portion is a B.”

All three girls shook their heads.

They intended to take both the charioteering and archery examinations.

The instructor raised her brows slightly before smiling with approval. “You’ve all got ambition. I was thinking that although there aren’t many of you, at least this examination room won’t look too empty.”

With that, she led them to the room where the Rites examination would be held.

The four subjects, Rites, Music, Charioteering, and Archery, were all tested separately.

This also included the optional substitute subjects for those who chose not to take Charioteering or Archery. Each subject had its own dedicated examiner.

Because there were so many candidates, the academy had carefully staggered the examination schedule.

For example, candidates in Examination Room One would take Rites first, then Music, followed by Charioteering, and finally Archery.

Examination Room Two, meanwhile, would begin with Archery before moving on to the other subjects in a different order.

By rotating the schedule this way, the academy could spread students across different testing locations and avoid overcrowding.

Of course, this arrangement wasn’t without its drawbacks.

Some candidates had to complete Charioteering or Archery first. After racing horses around the practice grounds or repeatedly drawing heavy bows, they would be sweating, exhausted, and out of breath.

Then they would immediately be sent to take the Rites and Music examinations.

Needless to say, fatigue could easily affect their performance. Still, there was little that could be done.

Even the imperial civil service examinations weren’t perfectly fair.

Some examination cells were spacious, dry, and well lit.

Others leaked whenever it rained, forcing candidates to hold umbrellas while writing.

Still others happened to be next to the latrines. In the height of summer, the overpowering stench alone was enough to make even grown men faint.

Examinations, after all, were usually only relatively fair, not absolutely fair.

Lost in such thoughts, Zhen Tingyun followed the instructor through the academy corridors.

Along the way she noticed many smaller examination rooms with wooden placards hanging outside. They bore names such as Incense Making, Dance, Medicine, Poetry, Flower Cultivation, and many other specialized subjects that could substitute for Charioteering or Archery.

Those rooms were nearly empty.

By contrast, the examination halls for Rites and Music occupied several large rooms, each staffed by instructors responsible for grading candidates.

The instructor led Zhen Tingyun, Yang Qionghua, and Zhou Qingjun into the hall for the Rites examination.

After giving a few brief instructions, she quietly withdrew.

The room was spacious and brightly lit.

Rows of rosewood display shelves lined both sides, exhibiting objects associated with etiquette, jade ruyi scepters, tea sets, ceremonial vessels, and other ritual implements.

Aside from a long table at the front, the center of the room had been deliberately left empty, providing ample space for the examinees to demonstrate the required formalities.

Seated at the front of the hall was a middle-aged female instructor with slightly dark skin and a stern expression. She was looking down at the roster in her hands.

Without even raising her head as the candidates entered, she spoke in a practiced tone. “One at a time. First you’ll draw your examination topic in order. Then, in that same order, you’ll demonstrate the appropriate etiquette for evaluation.”

Only then did the middle-aged instructor lift her eyes to examine the three young women. “Now then,” she asked, “who will draw a question first?”

The three girls all hesitated.

The subject Zhen Tingyun dreaded most was Rites.

She had grown up in the countryside with Old Lady Zhen. As a child she had spent her days running wild with the other village children. It was only after she began studying and gradually learned proper conduct that she had become somewhat more restrained, at least knowing how to behave appropriately in public.

Compared to the daughters of noble families, who had been instructed in etiquette from childhood by experienced governesses, Zhen Tingyun’s understanding of ritual propriety was largely pieced together through guesswork.

She was completely out of her depth.

At this moment, all she could hope for was to draw an easy topic.

For that reason, she regarded the drawing of questions with great solemnity. Nervous and apprehensive, she had no desire whatsoever to be the first to go.

Just as she was still hesitating, Zhou Qingjun, standing beside her, spoke up crisply, “I’ll go first.”

Zhou Qingjun had pride enough for ten people. After glancing briefly at both Zhen Tingyun and Yang Qionghua, she bowed respectfully toward the instructor before walking forward to draw her question.

The middle-aged instructor was visibly pleased by Zhou Qingjun’s willingness to take the lead. Approval filled her eyes. It was obvious that as long as Zhou Qingjun didn’t perform poorly, she’d receive an excellent score.

Yang Qionghua, meanwhile, clearly regretted her own moment of hesitation. She had allowed Zhou Qingjun to seize the opportunity first.

Still, Yang Qionghua was clever enough to realize that only the first candidate really stood out. Once someone had already gone first, there was little advantage in competing for second or third.

So she smiled at Zhen Tingyun and said, “In that case, after Sister Zhou draws her question, Sister Zhen, you should go next.”

It was clearly meant as a friendly gesture.

But Zhen Tingyun could only lament inwardly.

…Actually, I’d much rather be the last one.

Then again, she thought, whether the executioner’s blade fell now or later, it was still the same blade.

Better to stretch out her neck sooner and get it over with.

So she said nothing.

After Zhou Qingjun finished drawing her question, Zhen Tingyun stepped forward at the instructor’s signal.

The drawing process resembled fortune-stick divination at a temple.

A bamboo cylinder small enough to hold in one hand contained numerous numbered bamboo slips. Drawing one determined the candidate’s examination topic according to the number carved into it.

Old Lady Zhen had always been fond of visiting temples to burn incense and draw fortune sticks, and Zhen Tingyun had accompanied her often enough that the habit had become second nature.

So when she saw the bamboo cylinder, she instinctively picked it up and gave it a little shake.

A single bamboo slip flew neatly out.

Zhen Tingyun froze.

…!!!

No, no, no! I’m drawing an exam question, not telling my fortune!

But the slip had already come out or rather, she’d already “drawn” her question.

Keeping a perfectly straight face, she calmly set the bamboo cylinder back down before picking up the fallen slip.

The end of the bamboo stick bore the number eighteen, written in vermilion.

She quietly glanced at the reference list beside it.

Question Eighteen: Tea Ceremony Etiquette.

At that moment, Zhen Tingyun suddenly understood Old Lady Zhen’s faith in fortune sticks.

Luck might be intangible and unreliable but perhaps it really did exist.

Perhaps somewhere beyond human understanding, fate truly had its own designs.

These past months she had suffered one streak of terrible luck after another.

She’d ended up with a mother like Madam Pei, who had actually given away her daughter’s examination credentials on the eve of the entrance exam.

Yet today…

Everything had turned around.

She had met Madam Chu just in time.

She had successfully become her disciple.

She had made it to the academy entrance examination.

And now she’d drawn the one topic she knew best.

Tea ceremony.

That was something Yuanhui had taught her properly.

True, she’d often suspected afterward that Yuanhui’s real motive had simply been finding an excuse to brew himself drinkable tea. Even so, he had genuinely devoted time to teaching her, guiding her hand step by step. She was confident that, at the very least, her tea ceremony skills would stand up to scrutiny.

With a bit more luck, she might even earn the highest grade, or at least the second highest.

Thinking this, the anxiety in her heart melted away.

Her expression relaxed, her posture grew straighter, and she descended from the platform with light, confident steps.

Next came Yang Qionghua.

Apparently amused by Zhen Tingyun’s fortune-stick-style method of drawing questions, Yang Qionghua deliberately imitated her, shaking the bamboo cylinder in exactly the same way.

But the moment she picked up the bamboo slip, her sweet peach-like face instantly collapsed into one as bitter as a melon. Judging by her expression, she’d drawn a very unfavorable topic.

Seeing Yang Qionghua return looking utterly dejected, Zhen Tingyun was just about to offer a few comforting words.

Before she could speak, however, the middle-aged instructor gave a light cough. “There are still many candidates waiting. Let’s begin the examinations immediately.”

Zhou Qingjun, who had clearly been confident all along, stepped forward without hesitation. She was evidently very familiar with examination protocol.

First she bowed respectfully to the instructor then she presented the bamboo slip with both hands. Without arrogance or timidity, she said, “This student has drawn Question Twenty-Seven: The Etiquette of Receiving Guests.“

The instructor accepted the bamboo slip, examined it carefully, and nodded. She then began asking questions based on the topic. “For a banquet hosted at home, what preparations are required? How should guests be seated? How many reserve seats should be prepared according to the number of guests?”

…

The questions did not necessarily have fixed answers.

The candidates were graded according to the soundness and appropriateness of their reasoning.

Zhou Qingjun truly possessed ability worthy of her reputation.

No matter what the instructor asked, she answered fluently. Every response was logical, well supported, and fully in accordance with proper etiquette.

The instructor had already admired her from the beginning. Now, seeing such polished answers, she nodded repeatedly. Taking up her brush, she made a notation beside Zhou Qingjun’s name before saying with unmistakable approval,

“You are the first candidate today to receive an A.”

The academy’s grading system consisted of four levels:

• A (甲) ,  Excellent
• B (乙) ,  Good
• C (丙) ,  Passing
• D (丁) ,  Failing

Each examiner was allowed to award only a limited number of A grades.

And human nature being what it was, examiners often thought: Perhaps the next student will be even better.

To avoid using up all their top marks too early, instructors were generally quite reluctant to hand out A grades. Receiving one, especially as the first candidate of the day, was no small distinction.

For that reason, Zhou Qingjun’s A was truly well deserved.

A faint smile appeared on her face as she returned the bow. “Thank you for your instruction, Teacher.”

She then stepped gracefully aside and waited respectfully, calmly watching as Zhen Tingyun prepared to take her turn.

Ever since learning Zhen Tingyun’s identity, Zhou Qingjun had been deeply curious.

Why would Madam Chu choose this girl as her disciple?

Very well. She would stand here and see for herself exactly what abilities Madam Chu’s newest prized student possessed.

Author’s Note – A Little Extra

The Capital Women’s Academy’s final examinations had ended.

Zhen Tingyun, Outstanding Student: “I originally planned to carry home a pork knuckle… but somehow it turned into a whole pig’s trotter instead!”

(A joke: “pork knuckle” and “pig’s trotter” are different cuts, with the latter often being much larger.)

Want to show your support? Go donate at Paypal or Ko-fi to show your appreciation! Want to get early access to 5+ chapters in advance? Go to my Patreon to join now! :)