Chapter 60: Jinling City (29)
The master and attendant immediately rushed out to the examination courtyard. The list of successful candidates was usually posted at several places throughout the capital, but the examination courtyard always posted first, and the examinees couldn’t wait to catch the earliest glimpse.
Out of over five thousand candidates, only just over three hundred were selected as Gongshi (successful provincial scholars). That meant the majority left in disappointment: “How could my name not be there? How? Maybe I missed it… No, I have to check again!”
This caused severe crowding at the announcement site.
The names were neatly arranged across the yellow placard. Every now and then, joyful cries could be heard—“I made it! I made it!”
People around would congratulate them with envy.
Lin Zikui stood on the outer edges, sweating from the effort of tiptoeing to look. He was far too refined and scholarly—he simply couldn’t push through the crowd. Mo Liu was growing frantic and decided to crouch down and crawl through the gaps on the ground. “Move aside! Make way—ah, don’t step on me…”
Mo Liu finally squeezed his way to the front, his face red from the pressure. He could only start reading from the names directly in front of him. Young Master, where are you…
The Prime Minister had said that Young Master would surely be ranked Huiyuan—the top scorer in the provincial exams.
Mo Liu squeezed toward the very top of the list.
That line, reserved for the Huiyuan, was posted separately.
The name Lin Zikui entered his view. It felt like a dream. Mo Liu’s eyes welled with tears. He couldn’t help rubbing them again and again to make sure, holding his breath as he confirmed it—
“Young Master—!” he cried out in joy, bursting into sobs, his voice carrying over the noise. “You made it, Young Master! You’re the Huiyuan!”
The area was noisy and crowded. Some people turned in surprise to stare at him.
“Lin Zikui? Who’s that?” Most of the top scorers were already well-known talents. This Lin Zikui, though, was someone they were hearing about for the first time.
“He’s my Young Master! Lin Zikui! That’s my Young Master!” Mo Liu shouted through tears, forcing his way back through the crowd. Lin Zikui faintly heard his voice but didn’t dare believe it.
He took a step back—until Mo Liu emerged from the crowd, his eyes red, his hair and clothes dusty from being trampled. He was beaming, his round cheeks scrunched with joy as he called out, “Young Master, you did it!”
Lin Zikui held his breath, momentarily stunned.
“Are you serious?”
“It’s true! You’re the Huiyuan! The Prime Minister was right—since the court is cracking down hard on fraud, and corrupt officials have been beheaded, the new examiners truly recognized talent. You—you finally made it!”
Immense joy washed over him. Becoming a Gongshi meant being recognized as a Jinshi already—the Palace Exam was mostly just for ranking first-, second-, and third-tier graduates.
“I passed… My wife…” Lin Zikui’s first instinct was to rush home and share the news with Xiao Zhaoling.
But then he remembered that Zhao Ling wasn’t home. So, in a hurry, he ran off toward Prince Shuo Residence to find his teacher.
At that moment, Xiao Fu was with the young emperor, finalizing the topic for the upcoming Palace Exam.
During Emperor Wen Tai’s reign, the exam topics were usually prepared by the Imperial Cabinet, from which the emperor would select one. The Cabinet members—the Chief Minister, Deputy Minister, and scholars—would all collaborate to prepare the drafts, allowing plenty of room for manipulation. No matter which topic the emperor picked, it remained within their pre-written range. Originally, it was supposed to be the same this year. But during interrogation, the Brocade Uniform Guard discovered that Pang Xiang’s father had close ties with certain Cabinet ministers and could even get hold of the Palace Exam topic in advance.
Xiao Fu immediately ordered the Cabinet’s draft topics to be burned to ashes. Every stage of the exam process had the potential for corruption—better to handle it himself.
Naturally, he wasn’t someone capable of writing exam questions himself. Let alone the Palace Essay, he couldn’t even understand most of the Provincial Exam papers.
The young emperor had now become quite composed. “What the court needs now are talents who can help me stabilize and govern the nation. So naturally, the exam topic should focus on livelihood and governance. What does Royal Father think?”
Even the common scholars could usually guess the court’s direction, and many had prepared accordingly. The young emperor listed several pressing issues the nation needed to address. Xiao Fu realized that Lin Zikui had written essays covering all of them—and every one had hit the mark.
As they deliberated on the questions, time slipped by. Suddenly, Xiao Fu remembered that today was the day the list was posted. Looking outside, he exclaimed, “It’s already the you hour? Damn!”
The young emperor asked, “Royal Father, what’s wrong?”
“I have other matters to attend to outside the palace. You hold on to the draft of the topic yourself. Don’t let anyone else see it.”
The young emperor held the paper over a candle flame. The edges of the draft blackened and curled as it began to burn. “Don’t worry, Royal Father. I already have it memorized—I don’t need the paper.”
Xiao Fu frequently left the palace. After all, as the son of Duke Chang, it was normal for him to visit his parents often. Yuwen Xuan had never doubted it—and wouldn’t dare send anyone to follow him. He hadn’t even built up his own faction yet. The only one around him was a young eunuch of similar age, someone he had personally mentored and trusted—not someone planted by his Royal Father.
Xiao Fu changed into plain clothes, rode a carriage out of the palace as usual, stopped first at Marquis Dingbei Residence, then switched carriages to head to Lin Zikui’s residence.
But Lin Zikui wasn’t at the estate. Only a few servants were there sweeping the courtyard. They reported to Xiao Fu, “Master, Young Master passed as Huiyuan and has gone to Prince Shuo Residence to share the good news!”
Xiao Fu looked up at the darkening sky. “Did he say when he’d be back?”
The servants shook their heads—they didn’t know.
Because the estate was close to the examination courtyard, the sound of students celebrating their success, hiring people to beat drums and gongs, could be heard in the distance from time to time.
By dinnertime, Lin Zikui was still at Prince Shuo Residence. When the prince heard the news, he hosted a banquet on the spot to celebrate, even telling his own son Can Ge’r to learn from Lin Huaifu.
“They say: gold for the provincial top scorer, silver for the Huiyuan. My dear nephew, you’ve earned both titles! If you win first place at the Palace Exam too—what a feat that would be! The legendary triple crown!”
“Your Highness flatters me. I truly do not deserve such praise.”
Prince Shuo beamed with pride, claiming that Lin Huaifu was his sworn brother. He sent out invitations to relatives and friends for a grand feast. Duke Chang and his wife, who lived next door, were also invited. When Princess Minghua saw the invitation, she frowned in confusion: “When did Prince Shuo get a sworn brother? For a royal to adopt a sworn sibling—that’s outrageous. Only someone as reckless as him would do something so absurd!”
Duke Chang was fastening the buttons of his robe, looking at his wife in the bronze mirror. “As if Yuwen Duan hasn’t done worse. I’ve seen this so-called sworn brother before—he’s a student of Xue Jian, highly favored and appreciated by him. It’s no surprise he earned Huiyuan. He might even win first place in the Palace Exam. He’ll be a key pillar in the court one day. Yuwen Duan isn’t stupid—do you really think he’d casually call someone brother?”
Prince Shuo had just called him “dear nephew,” and now he was “dear brother”—his titles changed at will. He dared to claim kinship, but Lin Zikui didn’t dare accept it. The guests all turned their attention to the star of the banquet—the newly crowned Huiyuan, only eighteen years old, elegant and refined, extraordinary in both demeanor and talent. Those with daughters of marriageable age were already considering their chances.
If he ended up ranking among the top three in the Palace Exam, the number of marriage proposals would skyrocket.
Xiao Fu’s carriage stopped across the street from Prince Shuo Residence. He didn’t go in. Reclining inside the carriage, he listened to the lively sounds coming from within the manor—people talking, toasts being exchanged.
Even the Minister of Revenue raised a cup to Lin Zikui. “I heard the Hanlin Academy scholar mention Young Master Lin by name. He said your writing is truly unparalleled.”
Lin Zikui only responded with the same few modest phrases, “I don’t deserve such praise, not at all.”
Having learned the hard way about the dangers of standing out too much, he now exercised greater caution.
Princess Minghua saw Lin Zikui and quietly nodded in approval. “The Duke was right—he’s good-looking, learned, and not arrogant. Even after winning both Jieyuan and Huiyuan, he hasn’t gotten proud? His temperament is steady, and he comes from humble roots. Just my type. Our Second Young Miss has already come of age. Duke, why not ask her what she thinks?”
The Second Young Miss of the Duke’s household was none other than Xiao Fu’s younger sister.
Lin Zikui had caught the interest of more than just Duke Chang’s family. Many dukes and marquises—families that didn’t need to strengthen their power through marriage alliances—simply wished to find a worthy son-in-law for their daughters.
Lin Zikui’s character made a strong impression on the older generation.
As the banquet wound down and guests dispersed, Prince Shuo invited Lin Zikui to stay the night. Lin Zikui had lived at the manor for a month or two before, so he was quite familiar with the place. Mo Liu helped him along. Lin Zikui hadn’t drunk at all—he’d only had plain water. He sat under the grapevine trellis in the courtyard, looking up at the thin crescent of the early-month moon.
“Mid-Autumn Festival is almost here. Will Zhao Ling come home? He still doesn’t know I placed first in the provincial exam,” he murmured. Mo Liu brought over a basin of water to wash his feet and said, “Young Master, Madam Xiao hasn’t come home more than twice this whole month. I don’t think she likes you. You’re not in her heart. If you were, how could she not come home? What kind of woman behaves like that?”
Jinzun sat far off, listening but saying nothing in disagreement.
Lin Zikui shook his head in silence, removed his shoes and socks. The water was still too hot, so he rested his feet on the cold rim of the copper basin.
Then Mo Liu started muttering again, “The Minister’s daughter isn’t good enough? And yet you told people you already have a legal wife.”
Just as he said that, a voice came from outside the courtyard: “Is the Minister’s daughter prettier than me?”
Lin Zikui instantly looked up.
Mo Liu fell silent at once.
“I’m asking you, attendant. Is she prettier than me?”
Mo Liu’s face flushed red when he saw Madam Xiao’s tall figure in the moonlight. It was truly strange. If his young master hadn’t always spoken of her as a woman, he might’ve started doubting her gender. “Madam, I’ve never even seen her… How did you get here all of a sudden? No wait—this is Prince Shuo Residence! How did you get in?”
“I said I was looking for my husband, so they let me in.” Xiao Fu first gestured for Jinzun to disappear, then told Mo Liu to leave too. “Go on, don’t stay here.”
Mo Liu protested, “If I go, where am I supposed to go?”
Lin Zikui spoke up, “Mo Liu, go to the Prime Minister’s residence.”
“…Alright then.”
Lin Zikui’s gaze remained fixed on Xiao Zhaoling. The unease he felt toward him was growing stronger, like a kite about to break loose from its string. He stared at him without speaking. Xiao Fu looked down at him and asked, “Which Minister tried to arrange a marriage for you?”
“N-no one proposed anything directly. He just said he had a daughter and asked if I was already married.”
Xiao Fu lifted his robe and sat down on the short stool where Mo Liu had been moments ago. “And that’s not considered proposing? Who was it? What’s his surname?”
“The M-Minister of Revenue… His surname is Zhou. But I already turned him down.” Sitting on the low stool put him at eye level with Lin Zikui.
Xiao Fu dipped his hand in the copper basin to test the temperature, noticing that Lin Zikui’s feet were still dry—he hadn’t started yet.
“The water’s ready. Go ahead and wash.”
“Mm.” Lin Zikui nodded, lowering his feet into the water. The surface rose to cover his pale, nearly translucent ankles. Xiao Fu also removed his shoes and socks, placing his feet into the basin—pressing directly onto Lin Zikui’s.
“Even your feet are pretty, little husband.” Xiao Fu deliberately poked at him with his toes, rubbing his foot against Lin Zikui’s. Embarrassed, Lin Zikui curled his ten round toes slightly and tried to change the subject. “I… the provincial exam results were announced.”
“They were? When? I bet you passed!” Xiao Fu pretended not to know.
“They were posted at noon. I passed… I’m the Huiyuan,” he said softly.
“You really did make Huiyuan!” Xiao Fu laughed heartily. “I knew Lin Lang would succeed. You’re incredibly clever—you never let anyone down. Anything you set your sights on, you achieve.”
“I can’t get ahead of myself just yet. There’s still the most important one: the Palace Exam.” Lin Zikui was happy too, but he kept a level head.
“It’s just one policy question. You don’t need to worry. When do you want to take it?”
Lin Zikui replied, “The court hasn’t issued a notice yet. Based on past years, it usually takes place three days after the provincial exam results. But I heard today that the Prince Regent dismissed a large number of corrupt Cabinet officials. The exam question won’t be coming from the Cabinet anymore, and it still needs to be redrafted. They say… it might be delayed for a month.”
Xiao Fu stared at him intensely. “How could I let my little husband wait an entire month? You say three days, then three days it is.”
Lin Zikui smiled. “It’s not up to me. I’m not someone important. I don’t own the palace—I can only go with the flow. If the exam happens earlier, I’ll be able to stop worrying sooner.” He didn’t ask what Xiao Fu had been doing all month while away from home, though he wanted to. But if he started asking, he feared he wouldn’t be able to stop, so he chose not to ask at all. He would wait until after the exam to talk it all out calmly.
That night, they lay down together. Despite having not seen each other for so long, they didn’t talk much. Lin Zikui was almost asleep in Xiao Fu’s arms when he heard a voice whisper in his ear: “By the way, Lin Lang—never look directly at the emperor’s face. Not during the Palace Exam. Keep your head down.”
Three days later, on the fourth day of the eighth lunar month, Lin Zikui was already waiting at the palace gates before dawn. Alongside him stood other successful candidates from different provinces.
Just after the mao hour (5-7am), an elderly eunuch in a deep maroon robe led the candidates into the palace. First, they were called by name, then changed clothes, received their papers, and performed formal bows.
Everything inside the palace was a novelty. Lin Zikui couldn’t stop his eyes from wandering. He sneaked a few extra glances.
By the second quarter of the chen hour, over three hundred successful candidates were lined up inside Fengtian Hall, surrounded by rows of palace eunuchs.
Before long, a eunuch’s loud voice rang out: “His Majesty has arrived—His Highness the Prince Regent has arrived—!”
All the scholars respectfully knelt and saluted: “Long live the Emperor! Long live the Prince Regent!”
The young emperor’s childish voice replied, “You may all rise.”
Lin Zikui had worn a headpiece from Ai Dai that day. He was afraid of making a fool of himself by not wearing it, so now he stood with his head low, rising to his feet. He was in the second row, with people still standing in front of him. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of two figures seated above—the child emperor in dragon robes on the throne, and the Prince Regent seated just below. The latter was much taller, and Lin Zikui could just make out the hem of his robe: a deep black robe embroidered with a coiling serpent.
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