Chapter 8
Over one hundred and twenty newly minted imperial scholars had passed the examinations, yet typically only the top three were remembered by name. Unaware officials whispered among themselves:
“I heard this year’s top scorer achieved the triple triumph, and after being personally selected by His Majesty, was directly appointed to the Hanlin Academy. The Grand Princess must be referring to him, right?”
“To rank first is no small feat. His policy essay must be exceptional. It has to be him.”
“But the champion’s surname is Wen, isn’t it? I recall Dean Jiang mentioning someone with that name. Yet, I thought the person was surnamed Du... Wait, is there a Du among the top three? If Dean Jiang favors him, even if he’s not the champion, he must at least be the runner-up?”
As they spoke, all eyes scrutinized the young scholar opposite them. Meanwhile, the others also whispered, their gazes fixed on one individual. Someone said, “Brother Wen, the Grand Princess summons you. Why don’t you step forward?”
The elegant young man who attracted all the attention was indeed the top scorer this round. Shaking his head, he replied, “This year’s examination gathered many talents; my essay might not be the best.”
Others took it as modesty and said, “Brother Wen, you are too humble. Among all the scholarly graduates here, who could rival the champion in talent?”
“Exactly, Brother Wen is just teasing us.” Laughter followed as they flattered him.
The champion glanced toward a corner with a faint smile but said nothing.
While the atmosphere here buzzed with excitement, the Marquis of Wude reacted more slowly than the others. He stared at the bowl of grapes in front of Pei Shao for a long moment, smacking his lips and murmuring, “It seems the Grand Princess also has old feelings for Pei Shao... Tsk. Do you think she might be swayed by him to abandon the greater cause? If that’s true, and no one steps up to fund and arrange grain supplies, with the current state of the six ministries, those officials might just devour her whole. I wonder if your niece has a plan to handle this. She’s still quite young after all...”
The Marquis fretted over this, but no one responded. Turning his head, he saw Xu Jingqing gripping his cup, his face dark as iron.
Assuming Xu Jingqing was still angry about the earlier matter, the Marquis sighed, “Minister Xu, you underestimate me. At a time like this, how could I not be aware? Rest assured, I’m not one to be easily fooled by a young lady.”
Xu Jingqing glanced sideways at him, his expression complicated before finally saying, “Trouble may arise today. But no matter what, we must remain calm.”
The Marquis looked puzzled. “What trouble?”
Before Xu Jingqing could explain, Jiang Qianwang, who had been silent, straightened his robe and stepped forward. “Your Highness, among this batch of scholars, many essays were outstanding. But if I may speak from personal experience, the one I praised most was a policy essay I saw before the palace examination at the academy. It concerned agricultural administration and was truly remarkable. The author,” he turned to scan the scholars’ seats twice or thrice, finally spotting someone in the corner, “is Du Linyi.”
Following Jiang Qianwang’s gaze, the poorly dressed scholar in the corner immediately drew attention.
“That man...” The Marquis peered at him, pondering for a while. Suddenly, a buzz sounded in his mind, and in his haste, he nearly overturned his cup. Xu Jingqing steadied the wine pot, his heavy gaze forcing the Marquis to compose himself.
Standing nearby, Cheng Muning observed their expressions out of the corner of her eye, then turned toward the reluctant young man who had been urged to approach.
He bowed and lowered his eyelids. “I am Du Linyi, greetings to Her Highness the Grand Princess.”
He had a clean, handsome face but his simple attire, with frayed collar threads, betrayed his humble origins. Such poverty was common among scholars pursuing imperial exams, as more than half came from modest families. Yet, the despondent, weary look in his eyes was rare.
From his bowed posture, Cheng Muning sensed not a trace of respect.
She smiled gently and asked, “Since even Dean Jiang praises you, you must be quite learned. May I ask where you currently serve?”
Before Du Linyi could answer, Jiang Qianwang spoke for him, “He did not pass the selection exam and has not yet been appointed to office.”
The palace examination was not the final step for entering officialdom. After passing the regular exam, candidates had to pass the Ministry of Personnel’s selection exam to receive appointments. Failure there meant losing the chance to serve in the court that year.
Cheng Muning was surprised. “That shouldn’t be. If Dean Jiang favors him, how could he fail the selection exam?”
Jiang Qianwang fell silent this time, while Du Linyi remained expressionless, as if mocking himself. “I am grateful for the Grand Princess and Dean Jiang’s high regard, but I am but a shallow scholar. Even my palace exam ranking was barely passing last place. It’s no surprise I failed the selection.”
“Then it seems Dean Jiang was mistaken.” Cheng Muning smiled sadly.
Murmurs of regret echoed among the audience.
For the dean of the Hanlin Academy to misjudge a candidate’s abilities was not trivial. If Jiang Qianwang could not explain this matter convincingly, malicious gossip could seriously damage his reputation.
Those present, many seasoned officials, could not help but feel anxious on his behalf.
Jiang Qianwang did not rush to defend himself. After a moment of contemplation, he said slowly, “Your Highness, I did greatly admire several of Du Linyi’s essays. With his talent, ranking in the top three would be no doubt. However, his submission this time cited a few examples without solid evidence, which was a grave flaw. After consulting with the other examiners and informing His Majesty, we had no choice but to assign him the lowest passing rank.”
“Grading has always been the responsibility of the Hanlin Academy and the Ministry of Rites.” Cheng Muning paced the cobblestone steps casually and asked, “What sort of remarkable essay could have even alarmed His Majesty?”
Du Linyi tightened his lips but remained silent.
Jiang Qianwang glanced at him before continuing, “His essay mentioned last year’s floods in Longzhou, which devastated agriculture. It accused the Marquis of Wude, as transport commissioner, of reselling disaster relief grain, causing food prices in afflicted counties to soar, and bandits to rise.”
“Nonsense!” The Marquis of Wude could no longer restrain himself and interrupted angrily.
Jiang Qianwang ignored him, pausing briefly before proceeding: “The words in the essay were heart-wrenching, almost unbearable to read. Yet, the truth was difficult to verify, and it involved the court. The examiners were all troubled and dared not judge on their own, so we submitted the essay to His Majesty.”
“Fortunately, His Majesty is wise.” Xu Jingqing set down his cup and smiled. “Young people are passionate but sometimes too impulsive. Bringing hearsay before the Emperor is improper. Thankfully, His Majesty and the Marquis appreciate talent, and Dean Jiang spoke on your behalf, allowing you to remain on the list despite accusations against court officials. You must cherish this chance going forward.”
Xu Jingqing’s calm words reassured the Marquis, who added, “Indeed, I sympathize with your hard study and would never wish to ruin your career. Otherwise, you would be punished.”
Du Linyi clenched his teeth, chest heaving with anger, but said nothing.
Cheng Muning regarded him with the same gentle expression, as if the entire episode were merely a lighthearted chat. But most officials, seasoned in court intrigue, knew better. The matter was serious—a celestial battle unfolding. The earlier gossip vanished; all fell silent, wary of inviting trouble.
Even Ji Fang froze, the cup he was pouring suspended mid-air.
Pei Shao steadied the wine pot in time, preventing any spill, and smiled faintly. “It seems the Grand Princess did not inform you of this banquet in advance.”
He sighed, “Master Ji, your future looks grim.”
Ji Fang was still dazed, wondering what “banquet” he meant, but before he could ask, Cheng Muning spoke softly, “So that’s how it is.”
She descended two steps and said, “The Marquis is kind-hearted, but kindness cannot replace the law. If court officials are falsely accused without severe punishment, how can others be deterred?”
“Your Highness speaks wisely!”
Xu Jingqing could not stop the Marquis, who hurriedly said, “A private warning is one thing, but now that this is public, with so many new scholars present, a precedent must be set.”
Cheng Muning nodded thoughtfully. “Then the law must take its course. Strip him of his scholar’s title, thrash him thirty times, and expel him from the capital. He shall never again sit for the exams.”
“Very well!” The Marquis clapped his hands. “That is fitting.”
Their voices harmonized, and the swift turn of events caught many off guard. Xu Jingqing closed his eyes briefly, while Jiang Qianwang looked astonished. Seeing the Grand Princess was serious, he stepped forward, “Your Highness—”
At that moment, the usually silent Du Linyi suddenly clenched his fists and asked, “How does Your Highness prove my accusations are false?”
The Marquis opened his mouth to retort, but Cheng Muning interrupted, “Empty words hold no weight. How is that not slander?”
“The evidence lies in Longzhou!” Du Linyi declared. “The disaster relief grain dispatched by the court was resold at high prices, forcing starving peasants to sell their land and become displaced refugees. If the court sent investigators, they would find half the farmland in several afflicted counties held by high officials!”
The Marquis hastily cut in, “Selling land during famine is normal. I govern heaven and earth; should I also dictate whether poor people sell their land? Preposterous!”
“Then is killing those people also normal?” Du Linyi’s voice grew stern. “Tens of thousands of refugees in several counties were feared uncontrollable, so those who reported them to the county office were taken to the mountains and buried alive overnight. So many lives lost! Such a large-scale atrocity cannot leave no trace. It’s just that Longzhou is remote and ignored. If investigated thoroughly, what wouldn’t be uncovered? Naturally, the Marquis dared such acts because no one would dare investigate.”
Veins bulging, Du Linyi’s tone became mocking. “From the county magistrate to the prefect, officials colluded. Who dares expose the Marquis’s corruption? Even the capital’s powerful factions conspire, including His Majesty—”
“Enough!” Jiang Qianwang’s face darkened as he sharply cut him off.
“Let him speak,” Cheng Muning said, lowering her gaze calmly. “Are you suggesting the Emperor deliberately shields the Marquis? Du Linyi, choose your words carefully. Each office has its procedures. Local cases are handled locally; unresolved cases are sent to the capital. If still in doubt, they are reported to the court. To accuse the throne directly breaks protocol.”
“Then pray tell, Your Highness, what if there is no recourse from local to capital?” Du Linyi lifted his head to face her closely, his eyes sparking like embers.
Yet those sparks failed to unsettle Cheng Muning, who asked, “Have you submitted a petition? If so—”
She glanced downward. “Is Minister Zhao of the Supreme Court present?”
When cases are appealed, they must be submitted to the Supreme Court. The current Chief Minister of Justice is Zhao Zongzheng. The crowd looked around but did not see him. After a moment, another official appeared.
“I serve as Assistant Minister of the Supreme Court, fourth rank. All cases judged here are compiled and submitted to the Ministry of Justice. I recall the case Du mentioned was already processed by the Supreme Court.”
It was Jiang Lanyun, Jiang Qianwang’s eldest son.
“Oh, it’s Minister Jiang,” Cheng Muning said familiarly.
Jiang Lanyun had studied alongside Shen Wenjie for many years and was somewhat acquainted with Cheng Muning. He had requested to serve in the provinces over three years ago, and by the time he returned, Cheng Muning had been away from the capital for two years. It was normal she did not know the current Assistant Minister was him. Zhao Zongzheng had only recently assumed office, so her knowledge of him indicated prior inquiry. Today’s developments were no accident. Jiang Lanyun glanced at his father thoughtfully, stepped forward, bowed, and said, “I remember the case clearly. The Longzhou matter was not reported by local authorities but by some officials. Coincidentally, the files passed through my hands. I am certain I transferred the case to the Ministry of Justice two months ago, though approval is still pending.”
According to regulations, Supreme Court decisions require Ministry of Justice approval.
Wei Zhen from the Ministry of Justice, who had come just to observe, unexpectedly jumped in, “Impossible. Cases from two months ago have long been approved. I’ve never seen this one. Minister Jiang, if the Supreme Court made a mistake, don’t blame the Ministry of Justice.”
Jiang Lanyun remained silent.
The situation grew intriguing. Cheng Muning turned to Xu Jingqing for counsel.
After a pause, Xu Jingqing said, “Likely there was a procedural oversight during the handover between departments. Such lapses are not unusual.”
“Should we investigate?” she asked.
With the matter so public, how could they not? Xu Jingqing’s eyes darkened. “Of course.”
But he added, “As Minister Feng said, priorities matter. With rebels imminent, the most urgent task is to prepare grain and cavalry. The Marquis’s matter is not immediate. The Supreme Court and Ministry of Justice should investigate first. Our main concern is to discuss the Ministry of Revenue’s difficulties.”
“Wise words, uncle,” Cheng Muning agreed. “The Marquis’s case is likely a misunderstanding. I trust he would never commit such evil. But it concerns His Majesty’s reputation, so how can it be insignificant? A private warning is one thing, but today, with so many eyes upon us, future gossip will only harm the court’s prestige. The Marquis is loyal and would not trouble His Majesty.”
The Marquis’s face turned ashen, realizing he had fallen into Cheng Muning’s trap. He glanced at Xu Jingqing, but the latter said no more.
Seeing no hope in resistance, the Marquis clenched his fists, thought deeply, then strode forward, declaring sternly, “Of course. I am innocent and welcome investigation!”
He was not speaking lightly. Careful by nature, even if something incriminating were found, it would be superficial at best. Besides, Xu Jingqing had his back. To truly end him would not be so easy.
With that thought, his posture straightened.
Cheng Muning tilted her head and smiled. “Very well, Marquis. Since you cooperate, the truth will soon be revealed. Our commander is present today as well. Perhaps later, the Imperial Guards can escort you to the Supreme Court?”
She looked to Pei Shao.
Though she spoke casually, the Grand Princess’s true intent was unmistakable. The Marquis was no fool; agreeing to an investigation was one thing, but going to the Supreme Court’s prison? And under guard? That was no escort—it was imprisonment. If the case was jointly tried by the Palace Watch and the Supreme Court, he would fall into Pei Shao’s hands. Even Xu Jingqing would struggle to save him then.
Desperately signaling Xu Jingqing, who seemed oblivious, the Marquis bit his lip, pondering how to break the deadlock when Pei Shao surprisingly spoke for him.
“It’s not appropriate,” Pei Shao said.
The preliminary proceedings concluded, his hand paused tapping the scabbard. A martial artist’s bearing had settled perfectly into his official demeanor—straight and poised, but not stiff. Meeting Cheng Muning’s gaze, he said calmly, “This matter is not yet settled. How can you detain the Marquis of Wude? I suggest we summon Minister Zhao to clarify the truth first.”