Volume 1, Chapter 2: Attaining Top Marks in the Imperial Examination (1/2)

Volume 1, Chapter 2: Attaining Top Marks in the Imperial Examination.

In the sixth month of the sixteenth year of Xiande, Suiyun arrived in Jianye. In the eighth month, he attained the top marks in the imperial examination, becoming the zhuangyuan. At the celebratory feast, a Yong envoy arrived to propose a marriage alliance.

In the twelfth month, Princess Changle of Great Yong arrived in Southern Chu. In the first month of the new year, Princess Changle was wed to Southern Chu’s Crown Prince, Zhao Jia. Princess Changle was appointed as Crown Princess.

</sup> of Yong. As Princess Changle’s birth coincided with Gaozu’s ascension to the throne, she was much favored by the Emperor and was granted the t.i.tle of Princess Changle.Southern Chu Dynastic Records, Biography of Jiang Suiyun</blockquote>

After leaving the examination grounds, I stretched my tired body. These last several days had worn me out. The individual examination room was narrow and small. As I did not have money for bribes, by the third day, the entire room had been engulfed by the smell of the chamber pot. If my father and I had not previously wandered far from home, and lived through some difficult times, I probably would not have been able to eat anything while in that room.

Even though I was frugal with my money, I had not a single coin left in my possession. There was still half a month before the results were announced. What should I do until then? Perhaps I should sell calligraphy and paintings, or help others write letters.

Returning to the inn, I calculated that my deposit would run out the next day. Gathering the four treasures of the study, I decided to set up shop before the Confucian Temple. After talking with the owner of a teahouse and promising to help him write two letters, I was allowed to set up a stall in front of his store. Unfortunately, business wasn’t too great. Those who came asking for help writing letters were all mostly illiterate and did not care about the calligrapher’s skill. After waiting for a long while without any customers and growing increasingly anxious, a young housewife in an azure dress walked over. Judging by her attire, I could tell that she was a widow. But she seemed to be only eighteen or nineteen years old. What a pity.

Timidly, she said, “Sir, I wish to file a complaint for a lawsuit.”

Picking up the brush, I questioned, “What kind of lawsuit? Who are you suing?”

Blus.h.i.+ng, she replied, “My husband was unfortunate and pa.s.sed away. I wish to remarry, but my father-in-law will not permit it.”

After asking for some details, I wrote a few lines:

<blockquote cla.s.s=”Quote”></sup> should I wed or not?</blockquote>

Baffled at the words that I had written, she asked, “Sir, just these words … aren’t they too few?”

Proudly, I replied, “Rest a.s.sured, as long as you file the complaint, I promise you that the authorities will agree to your wish to remarry.”

She gave me ten copper coins as payment. I looked at the coins gratefully and thought to myself, Here is today’s dinner. I have to work harder. Afterwards, once again, there was no more business.

Before two hours had pa.s.sed, the widow returned delighted, thanking me as soon as she saw me. “Sir, thank you for writing the complaint. Once the daren saw my lawsuit, he approved my wish.”

Of course he did, I thought. The current Imperial Capital Magistrate of Jianye placed a high value on ethics and morality. A widow remarrying would only cause her to lose her chast.i.ty. However, if she had an affair, then it would become a big problem. After the young widow left, my business became much better. By nightfall, I had earned enough money to pay for three more days of living expenses. Of course, I did not dare to write too many complaints for lawsuits. If someone wished to file a lawsuit, I would try to think of ways to dissuade them from doing so. Simply put, writing too many pet.i.tions for lawsuits would harm my reputation.

After several days, I had earned enough money to able to stay in Jianye until the results were released. Closing the stall, I spent my days in the teahouse listening to other people converse. A pot of tea was enough to last me the whole day. Although I had closed the stall, if people were to look for me, I would continue to write letters for them. I had to pa.s.s the time anyway.

After a few days, I had the urge to use what I had learned from the Book of Changes to help predict other people’s fates. Quite honestly, my predictions weren’t all that accurate. But with the help of my observations aided by my keen senses, I swiftly became an oracle. Of course, I only wanted to earn enough money to use, so I limited my fortunes to three per day with one additional fortune told for free. Strangely, this quickly piqued the interests of others and the money swiftly came rus.h.i.+ng in. To protect my reputation, I changed my attire and even changed my appearance by adding some medicine to make my face look more yellow.

On one particular day, noon was fast approaching. I had already told three fortunes and decided to close up shop once I had told the free fortune. A young man rushed over in a hurry and asked, “Sir, I am a merchant. A few days ago, a fellow townsman brought word that my wife was about to give birth. But she was unwell. I rushed back, but have not yet returned home. I don’t know why, but my heart is very uneasy. Would you please divine whether the labor will go well and the gender of the baby?”

Fiddling around with the divination tools, I calculated for some time before responding, “No problem, minor risks but overall safe. It may be risky for your sick wife, but as you both have performed good deeds, the labor should go well. You will have children of both genders. Brother is really fortunate.”

How did I know this? I actually did not. This was not something that one could predict, but surely I couldn’t say something unpleasant to hear and agitate him half to death. However, his face looked honest and considerate and his body looked healthy. From the tone of his voice, he had a good relations.h.i.+p with his wife. There shouldn’t be any problem having additional children. As for the health of his wife, I put it down to his absence. Without the husband present, of course a wife about to give birth would become unhappy. Once the husband returned, his wife would undoubtedly be happy and would give birth without any problems. I did not clarify whether the child would be a boy or a girl, allowing me to prevaricate when the time came. Just as the young man was about to happily pay, I informed him that this fortune was free. As he was thanking me, a middle-aged man ran over and happily said, “Third brother, you’ve returned! Sister-in-law has given birth to twins of mixed genders! Come quickly, come quickly!”

The young man froze for a moment when he heard the news before suddenly running off. I took a deep breath. As I reveled in my good luck, I noticed the looks of admiration on the faces of others, and quickly became embarra.s.sed.

A man dressed in gray seated by the entrance stood and walked before me. Calmly, he asked, “Sir, please predict my fortune.”

I raised my head and regarded him. He seemed to be about twenty-seven years old. He possessed a tall and vigorous body, and had a calm look on his handsome features. Behind him followed a middle-aged man dressed in azure and an attendant dressed in black. Hesitating, I responded, “I have already completed my divinations for today. This …”

The gray-clothed man replied, “I know it would be difficult for Sir, but I am leaving the capital tomorrow, thus would like for Sir to help, however reluctant you may be.”

I looked at the three individuals. I could see from the commanding expression on the gray-clothed man’s face that he was probably someone used to giving commands and being obeyed. Although the green-clothed man seemed somewhat disdainful, there was also a look of hope on his features. As for the attendant, there was a menacing look on his face. It seemed that I could not afford to offend them. After calculating the days and realizing that the results of the imperial examination would be released the day after tomorrow, I replied, “Fine, it’s almost time for me to close up shop for good. This divination will be my last before I retire.”

The gray-clothed man seemed surprised, thinking that I was retiring because of his actions. Puzzled, he could only ask, “I am about to embark upon a journey and would like to know whether it will be ominous or auspicious.”

After using the divination tools for some time, I answered, “The abysmal, water, six at the top. Bound with cords and ropes, shut in between thorn-hedged prison walls, for three years one does not find the way, misfortune. I am afraid that sire’s journey will be difficult with every step.” After concluding, I stole a look at his facial expressions and thought, People like you are usually confident; for you to waver with indecision, then the situation you face must be troublesome.

His expression dull, he asked, “May I ask: what is the difficulty?”

How could I know? Thinking, I concluded that the man must be a soldier from his demeanor. Of the two others, they must be an advisor and a personal guard, respectively. The gray-clothed man must be someone of influence. Was there something big happening in Southern Chu? Regardless, I only needed to be a bit ambiguous to respond. Thinking of this ambiguity, I replied, “In-fighting within, strong enemies without, things will be difficult. As long as sire is careful and prudent, there may be a way.”

Although I was ambiguous, my words directly catered to the gray-clothed man’s mental and psychological state. Heaving a sigh, he turned and left. The green-clothed middle-aged man took out a banknote and left it on the table. When I took a look at the banknote when they had gone far away, I discovered that it was worth a thousand taels of silver. I almost yelled with surprise. Swiftly shoving the banknote into my clothes, I quickly closed up shop and left.

After a few more days pa.s.sed, the results of the imperial examination were released on the fifteenth day of the eighth month. I was a bit hesitant. If it was a few days earlier, I hoped for nothing more than to have a great result. But now, with a pocketful of money, I was a bit regretful of my earlier decision to take part in the examinations. As a result, I did not go to see the results. Instead, I stayed in my room, looking over the drafts of my poems. Soon afterwards, I heard firecrackers go off outside. A shop a.s.sistant and the owner of the inn excitedly pushed the door open and entered. In a loud voice, they proclaimed, “Congratulations lord! Lord has come first amongst the three candidates of the imperial examinations, becoming the zhuangyuan! It is this small shop’s great fortune to be able to cater to you! Would the lord zhuangyuan please write a few characters for this humble shop?”

Somewhat confused, I looked out the window, not knowing my future prospects. Then I thought I might not necessarily chance upon the fall of Southern Chu. Furthermore, I had heard that Hanlin Academy’s Library possessed over a million books and was the world’s largest library, and I once again became happy. I had also heard that last year, the King of Southern Chu had issued an edict to collect books and calligraphy from all over the world in order to build the Palace of Sublime Culture. I probably would have the chance to partic.i.p.ate.