Green Mountain-Chapter 578 - 438: Top Scholar

Today is the palace examination.

The Yulin Army, dressed in armor, lined up in two arrays in front of the Imperial Palace Gate, the white pheasant tails on their helmets swaying in the wind.

The examinees were lined up outside the Imperial Palace Gate, being searched one by one by the Jiefan Guard.

They had changed into green official uniforms and black soled boots, looking no different from the Daning officials, except for the lack of official rank emblems on their chests.

Qi Zhenzhuo glanced around and then turned his head to Li Xuan: "I just saw Zhang Zheng stop you in front of the Governor Mansion. What did he say? Will my mentor appear today?"

Li Xuan looked straight ahead and did not answer.

Qi Zhenzhuo smirked: "Fine, fine, you don’t trust me, right?"

Feeling bored, he gazed at the examinees, seeing Shen Ye standing in the very front yawning.

Qi Zhenzhuo teased: "Didn’t Brother Shen boast about winning first place? Why so listless?"

Shen Ye wiped the corner of his eyes: "The national exam focuses on classics, the palace examination on policies. In classics, I am no match for Wenzong, my younger brother, naturally inferior to him. I originally thought to compete in the palace exam, but Wenzong went back to Lu State for mourning. Even if I win first place today, people will say ’Times with no heroes make a mere lad famous’."

Shen Ye yawned greatly again: "I would rather go home and wait for Wenzong for a term, and compete again in three years."

Qi Zhenzhuo opened his eyes wide: "You’re not planning to strive for first place today?"

Shen Ye laughed: "Still plan to, since I’m here."

Jiefan Guard loudly proclaimed at the Imperial Palace Gate: "Strictly prohibit noise, any impropriety in front of the Emperor will lead to permanent disqualification from official ranks!"

After the body search was complete, a Jiefan Guard waved the Command Flag at the top of the gate tower, and the side doors swung open.

The examinees streamed in through the side doors heading to the Imperial Extreme Hall.

Outside the Imperial Extreme Hall, 312 tables with ink, paper, and inkstones had been set up early on, and Shen Ye directly went to the front line, lifted his hem, and kneeled down.

Wu Xiu emerged from the hall, reading the Imperial Decree aloud: "I, inheriting the grand enterprise, wish to look up to our ancestors’ virtuous legacy and cooperate with the ministers and citizens. Observing current affairs, lamenting the populace’s hardships, the system of imposts and duties nurturing numerous flaws. Of land spanning fields yet yielding no stone weight, of land barren yet burdening descendants. The poor poorer, the rich more indulgent, depleting national revenues."

"Employ your worldly strategies, investigate thoroughly. Wish for you to express your unbiased views, validating antiquity with the present, neither resorting to empty platitudes nor floating in timely discourse."

"I will personally review."

Astonishment filled the ministers.

Examining governmental shortcomings in a palace exam was unsurprising; the astonishment stemmed from the words "I will personally review" at the end of the Imperial Decree.

In previous years, so many exam papers were never personally reviewed by Your Majesty.

They were first sent to Wenhua Palace, where cabinet ministers and ministry officials selected ten to be presented in front of the Emperor, who would choose the top three laureates and the top seven of the second tier.

This year, Your Majesty wishes to review all the exam papers?

The palace examination commenced.

Shen Ye shook off his prior fatigue, rolled up his sleeves, and started writing: "I have heard that a sage ruling the world must cautiously assess circumstances, adapting to changes to ensure the population is energetic. Now Your Majesty, worried about the unequal distribution of duties and the corruption of petty officials, though I am ignorant, dare not hold back in display of sincerity."

"I respond, laws must not be abolished, yet flaws must surely be reformed. There are three essentials in law change: one in clearing boundaries, measuring fields as the base for fair imposts... two in paying silver instead of labor... three in performance appraisal, which is the whip for enforcing laws... Annually checked, those who fulfill are rewarded, those who shirk are demoted."

"I respond, the benefits of this governance are threefold: firstly, simple laws easy to follow; secondly, assigning duty to land, alleviating people’s burden, hiding nothing from powerful families; thirdly, sufficient national provision without harming the populace..."

While other examinees still racked their brains, Shen Ye had already written two thousand characters in flowing script.

He picked up the Xuan paper, blew on it, and loudly proclaimed: "Yangzhou tribute scholar Shen Ye presents his strategies before the Imperial Extreme Hall, requesting Your Majesty’s personal review."

Wu Xiu beckoned forward, with a little eunuch holding Shen Ye’s paper scurrying into the hall, and Wu Xiu presented it to the Emperor.

Emperor Ning glanced through with calmness, saying: "Great talent, send it to the officials for review."

Wu Xiu responded in a low voice: "Yes."

He exited the Imperial Extreme Hall, whispered a few words to a little eunuch, who then hurriedly carried Shen Ye’s paper to Wenhua Palace.

...

...

Wenhua Palace was quiet, cabinet officials sat comfortably inside the warm hall, resting with closed eyes, awaiting the papers.

The ministry officials clustered in small groups, whispering to each other, but not about the palace examination; rather, they frequently cast secret glances toward Official Chen.

The palace examination was a matter of great significance, yet the ministers’ thoughts were led astray by another issue.

At this moment, Official Hu spoke leisurely without opening his eyes: "Official Chen, these days you haven’t been resting well, I suppose."

Official Chen also kept his eyes closed, impassively replying: "To what is Official Hu referring?"

Official Hu chuckled: "Naturally speaking of your Chen family’s Chen Wenzong, clearly having won the examination, but needing to return to Lu State to mourn, futilely wasting three years. Otherwise, in today’s palace exam, the Chen family would be at the center... otherwise, what does Official Chen think old me is referring to?"

Official Hu spoke with sarcasm and innuendo, comparing the Chen family to the main characters on stage, while actors are regarded as the lowest class, his words were openly flattering yet secretly disparaging, and the last sentence pierced straight into Official Chen’s private concerns.

Suddenly a silence fell inside Wenhua Palace, with the ministers only daring to quietly observe the two people, fearing they might unwittingly involve themselves.

Official Chen slowly spoke: "Official Hu, your words are mistaken. Our Ning Dynasty is founded on filial piety; how could mourning be called a waste of time? Do not say such things again, or else the Imperial Censor will impeach you in a memorial."

Official Hu smiled: "My Hu family has not yet had an unworthy child; rather it is your Chen family’s boy, I have heard, who severed ties with his father in Luocheng City, and caused his family chaos upon returning to the Imperial Capital."

With matters brought to light, Official Chen finally opened his eyes: "Official Hu, you indeed seem very concerned about my Chen family affairs."

Official Hu mocked: "It’s not that I’m concerned, but the whole matter has become widely known, and impossible even for me to avoid knowing."

Official Chen replied unhurriedly: "Some commotion is good. Official Hu, we are now old, knowing both of us are but a speck in the universe, also knowing there are too many things in this world that cannot be accomplished, many regrets must be taken to the grave. But that boy from my Chen family still doesn’t believe in fate; he thinks that as long as he dares to act, there’s nothing he cannot achieve..."

However, suddenly, Official Chen spoke with conviction: "But, not believing in fate is a good thing."

Official Hu paused for a moment: "I thought your Chen family was going to act out another scene of rupture, but it seems I was mistaken."

Official Chen chuckled: "I know, Official Hu, today you spoke intentionally provoking, hoping I would get angry, so he would rebel against the Chen family, and join your Hu family’s border army. But family matters still must be polished within by family members to understand true nuances, leaving them to outsiders is worrisome."

Official Hu snorted: "I always detest the word polish; if all your sharpness is polished away, how could you still accomplish things? Your Chen family has too many rules and lacks cohesion; don’t waste a good seedling."

As they spoke, the door of Wenhua Palace was pushed open, and a little eunuch entered with Shen Ye’s scroll paper in hand: "Honorable Officials and Ministers, this is the scroll of Yangzhou tribute scholar Shen Ye; His Majesty speaks of great talent and has sent it for all of you to see."

Someone received the Xuan paper and first passed it to Official Chen.

The little eunuch continued: "His Majesty has commanded that the results will be posted today, as well as to host the Qionglin banquet at the Imperial Academy, and he will personally attend."

The ministers inside Wenhua Palace were taken aback, then exchanged glances.

In past years, the posting of results from the palace examination would wait for two days after, first singing names at Imperial Extreme Hall, then announcing with the Golden List to the realm.

But what is happening today, not even willing to wait for two days of consideration?

Official Hu smirked and said: "His Majesty is impatient too, wants to see the show himself."

Official Chen did not respond to him, focused intently on reading the scroll, and moments later passed it out: "You all should take a look too."

A middle-aged official received it, glanced briefly, hastily passed out the scroll without showing any expression, took a step back, and said nothing. Shen Ye had written many bold words on new policies, but in this Wenhua Palace, some supported reform and others opposed it; offending either side was not something he could afford.

The scroll was passed around, yet no one dared speak.

Until it reached the hands of Official Hu, who shook the scroll paper and loudly said: "Lord Zhang, is this person your student? What’s written in this scroll, it’s clearly all the new policies you wish to promote!"

Wenhua Palace went silent, everyone looked toward the corner.

Only to see Zhang Zhuo buried in official correspondences, writing diligently, having not said a word while Official Hu and Official Chen had exchanged barbs.

If not for Official Hu’s words, everyone almost forgot this new cabinet minister, who entered the cabinet in his prime, was also inside Wenhua Palace!

Zhang Zhuo, upon hearing this, raised his head and slowly smiled: "Oh? Let me see what this Shen Ye has written."

Someone passed the scroll to his desk, Zhang Zhuo examined it for a moment and praised: "Earnest and pragmatic words, indeed, heroes of the realm have shared similar insights."

Someone quietly rolled their eyes.

No wonder Shen Ye dared to boast outside the Imperial Examination Hall; he was Zhang Zhuo’s man!

Previously, not a hint had been caught by anyone.

Today, this wasn’t a test of scholarly ability?

Clearly, it was about setting the direction of the court.

Official Hu praised: "Lord Zhang truly has foresight. If it hadn’t been decided in Renshou Palace several days ago about affairs in multiple states, this person today would have frightened many of the venerable officials."

Zhang Zhuo humbly responded: "I didn’t expect the new policies would progress so smoothly, thanks to the strong support of Official Hu and Official Chen."

As he previously mentioned to Chen Ji, if not for the Crown Prince’s matter, his entry into the cabinet and promotion of new policies wouldn’t have happened for five more years. During those five years, he would have had to keep stirring things up, the palace examination with Shen Ye was part of it.

Now, Shen Ye’s move seemed much less crucial.

Official Chen suddenly asked: "Lord Zhang, could it be that my Chen family boy has recently been staying at the Zhang family?"

Zhang Zhuo shook his head: "Official, you have misunderstood, Chen Ji has not been at my Zhang family these days."

At this moment, scrolls of other tribute students also separately arrived in Wenhua Palace, passed among the officials and ministers for review.

Someone handed a scroll to Official Hu: "Official, please take a look."

Official Hu, impatiently waved his hand: "His Majesty has already decided on the top scholar; what is there for us to review? Just await tonight’s Qionglin banquet."

Turning his gaze to Official Chen: "However, today there is something even more interesting than the Qionglin banquet, and I am quite eagerly awaiting it."