The Kingdom That Never Sleeps CH 034 Crafty Official Wang Zifeng Part 1
On the rice paper, the elegant and graceful writing of the Guange style was neat and tidy. However, the irrepressible sense of grandeur burst through the meticulously written small regular script, surging on the paper like rivers and seas, creating waves.
"The perilous tower rises a hundred feet, hands could pluck the stars...
Not daring to speak loudly, for fear of startling those in heaven."
In the main hall, the examiners repeatedly recited the short four-rhyme poem. Dean Lin, holding Tang Shen's paper, read it again carefully and commented, "The topic this time is ‘the stars are clear,' focusing on a poem about climbing a mountain to observe the stars. Tang Shen's poem doesn’t mention mountains even once, yet every line is steep and thrilling. It achieves the effect of having mountains without mentioning them. Truly marvelous!"
One of the examiners said, "The height of the mountains and the vastness of the stars are all captured in this poem."
Dean Lin read the poem three more times, not to check for mistakes, but to fully understand and appreciate each of the twenty characters. He praised, "Earlier I said that Liu Fang would surely be the top scorer of this examination. Now I see that my old eyes were mistaken, nearly causing a grave error. Tang Shen's eight-legged essay was already outstanding, with novel ideas, ample reasoning, and elegant language. Now, looking at his test poem, he undoubtedly deserves the first place! Colleagues, what do you think?"
"Tang Shen as first place is well-deserved."
"Excellent!"
Tang Shen had never expected that he could place in the top three of the examination even without copying Li Taibai's masterpiece. He wrote the Immortal Poet's work just to secure a top-three spot, not realizing it would instead earn him the top position.
The next morning, after the court session, Dean Lin quietly approached Fu Wei.
"Fu daren."
Fu Wei turned to see Dean Lin and said, "Lin daren."
Dean Lin respectfully bowed. Like Dean Lin, Fu Wei was currently a third-ranked official, so he returned the salute.
Dean Lin said, "Yesterday at the Imperial College examination, Fu daren’s outstanding student Tang Shen, Tang Jingze was truly astounding! As they say, a great teacher produces great students. Fu daren taught the distinguished Wang Zifeng, earning immense respect from all the lecturers at the Imperial College. Now, your newly admitted student also shows great talent. I wonder when Fu daren might have the time to come and lecture at our Imperial College so that we can all learn from your teaching methods."
Fu Wei thought: Tang Shen wasn't taught by me at all. But he didn't show it and instead smiled slightly.
In officialdom, one must have a thick skin and a dark heart. The higher the rank, the thicker the skin, and the darker the heart. Fu Xiru, when he held significant power as the Right Chancellor of the Palace Secretariat, had very thick skin. Fu Wei, with a pleasant smile, said, "Lin daren overpraises me. What has my student Tang Jingze done?"
Dean Lin had already had a copy of Tang Shen's paper transcribed and brought it today for Fu Wei to see.
Fu Wei took a look. The eight-legged essay was excellent and could rank among the top three even in the talent-filled Imperial College. As he read the test poem, Fu Wei raised an eyebrow. Just as Dean Lin was about to speak, Fu Wei said, "My students enjoy writing poetry and painting. Ai, this must be when they say such striking expressions come out unexpectedly. This essay still needs improvement, so I must trouble Lin daren to teach him."
Dean Lin: "Not at all."
The two exchanged formalities, and Fu Wei bypassed the matter.
Upon returning to the Fu Residence, Fu Wei immediately went to his study and wrote down Tang Shen's test poem.
"My student, is he hiding his talents, or was it just a flash of brilliance?"
Meanwhile, in the lecture hall of the Imperial College.
Usually, the examiners took three days to grade the students' papers after the monthly evaluation. But this time was different. They spent a night grading the papers and focused all their efforts on preparing for the upcoming visit of the emperor to Biyong Palace.
The students of the Imperial College had never waited for the evaluation results as anxiously as they did today.
In the morning, a gray-haired examiner entered the lecture hall carrying a thick copy of the "Analects." He placed the book down and looked at the students seated below. There were more than forty students in the Zhengyi Hall, including Tang Shen and Mei Shengze. The old examiner said, "I know you are all very concerned about the results of this evaluation, so before the lesson, I will announce the names of the students who placed in the first and second ranks."
There was a stir among the students.
Who wouldn't want to witness the first visit of the emperor to Biyong Palace in twenty-six years?
"Second rank, twenty-sixth place, Qi Jian, Qi Rushan."
"It's me, it's me!"
"Second rank, Zhou Gong from Youzhou Prefecture..."
There were twenty-six students in the second rank, and among the more than forty students in the Zhengyi Hall, five achieved second rank status. These students beamed with joy, unable to contain their excitement. The students who didn't make it into the second rank knew they had no chance of being in the top rank, and their faces turned pale with regret for not studying harder and missing such a great opportunity.
Among them, only Mei Shengze and Tang Shen still held out hope.
Usually, in each class at the Imperial College, Tang Shen was always among the top in the second rank. His eight-legged essays were always well-written, and his Guangge style calligraphy was impeccable, but his test poems were somewhat mediocre and overly crafted. Mei Shengze noticed that Tang Shen was not in the second rank this time and became worried for him. However, upon seeing the hopeful expression on Tang Shen's face, he asked in surprise, "Jing Ze, are you confident?"
Tang Shen didn't hide anything: "I have given it my all."
Mei Shengze replied, "Good! Let us witness the grand event of 'The Son of Heaven Comes to Biyong' together!"
There were only six people in the top rank class at the Imperial College. The old lecturer announced, "Third place in the top rank, Mei Shengze from Shanxi."
Mei Shengze was overjoyed, and his fellow students congratulated him.
Next, the old lecturer continued, "First place in the top rank, Tang Shen from Gusu, Tang Jingze!"
The hall was abuzz with astonishment.
Before this, the first place in the top rank was either Liu Fang or Mei Shengze. Although Tang Shen was exceptionally talented, he was indeed young and lacked depth, having never achieved the top rank. However, no one doubted Tang Shen's abilities, as his eight-legged essays were truly excellent and witnessed by everyone.
Mei Shengze congratulated him, "Jing Ze, congratulations, your scholarship has improved again."
Since Tang Shen hadn't yet become an official, his face wasn't thick enough to hide his embarrassment, and he blushed at these words.
At this time, the old lecturer said, "Tang Shen wrote an outstanding test poem this time. Everyone, come and appreciate it." With that, he recited Tang Shen's poem aloud. The hall was once again filled with astonishment. Mei Shengze, who was skilled in poetry and loved it, looked at Tang Shen with amazement, as if discovering a great treasure.
"Jing Ze, this masterpiece is truly remarkable!"
Tang Shen's face blushed so much that it almost seemed he would turn red on the spot. He bowed and said, "The composition is natural; a skillful hand may occasionally grasp it. This was just a moment of inspiration, far inferior to you, Brother Sheng Ze."
The Imperial College spent the entire morning discussing Tang Shen's test poem. It was only the next day that they began preparing for the upcoming grand event of 'The Son of Heaven Comes to Biyong' in half a month.
As usual, Tang Shen came to the Minister Residence. This time he brought a basket of Gusu white pork, which Tang Huang had sent from Jiangnan a few days ago. Unsurprisingly, Wang Zhen was not at home, and Tang Shen waited for him in the flower hall until dark. When Wang Zhen finally returned, he came to see his junior brother without even changing out of his official robes.
Tang Shen immediately stood up and said, "Senior Brother Zi Feng."
Wang Zhen looked at him for a moment before saying, "Stay for dinner at the residence today."
"Okay."
After dinner, Wang Zhen asked Tang Shen to write something for him. He said, "Just write that 'afraid of startling those in heaven' poem."
Tang Shen: "..."
Good news never goes beyond the door, bad news spreads a thousand miles; the ancients did not deceive me!
As he was leaving the Minister Residence, Tang Shen earnestly said, "Senior Brother Zi Feng, you know how my test poems usually are. It's rare for me to write a good one, and I've been worried for days that I won't be able to write something as good next time. What should I do?"
In his previous life, Tang Shen was just an ordinary science student, and all the poems and essays he had learned were returned to his Chinese teacher after the college entrance examination. He didn't remember many poems. Tang Shen never intended to use these poems to gain an advantage in this era permanently; he neither had the conditions nor the intention.
Wang Zhen looked at Tang Shen steadily, smiling: “Little Junior Brother's talent is remarkable, so what are you worried about.”
Tang Shen suddenly understood.
Yes, what he relied on in this era was not the works of ancient poets. His eight-legged essays had been recognized by the lecturers at the Imperial College, Liang Song, Fu Wei, and even Wang Zifeng. With five thousand years of glorious Chinese history, only a few poets had reached the pinnacle. Tang Shen was not without talent; the imperial examination was merely his means to enter the officialdom, not his foundation!
"Thank you, Senior Brother Zi Feng."
Wang Zifeng, indeed, was as insightful and rounded as Mr. Liang said, and could be somewhat trusted.
Having figured things out, Tang Shen was about to leave when Wang Zhen stopped him again. Wang Zhen told the steward, "Give the snacks bought from Caiqi Villa today to my junior brother."
Tang Shen: "..."
Wang Zifeng was still that inexplicable Wang Zifeng!
Half a month passed quickly. On the fifteenth day of the sixth month, Tang Shen put on his brand-new scholar's robe, a light blue long robe, and donned a square cap. When he arrived at the Imperial College, he saw that all the students were dressed in new scholar's robes. Even those who could not enter the Biyong Palace to listen to the emperor's lecture were unwilling to be left out.
Before entering the Imperial College, the entire alley was sealed off, prohibiting entry.
Tang Shen and the other students entered the Imperial College from the back alley, where Dean Lin and other lecturers had been waiting for a long time.
At the appointed time, the main gate of the Imperial College opened wide, and the side gates on both sides were also opened. Officials dressed in bright red official robes filed in, creating a grand spectacle. All officials above the fourth rank in Shengjing at this moment held their jade tablets and entered the Imperial College, walking along the central official path to the front of the Biyong Palace.
They stood on both sides, where mats had already been placed on the white jade official paths.
The doors of Biyong Palace were wide open, and an elderly eunuch with a white face and a thin build shrilled, "Kneel!"