Chapter 147: Entrance and Adaptation

The county, prefectural, and provincial examinations all consisted of three sections: memorization of the classics (*tiejing*), miscellaneous essays (*zawen*), and policy discourses (*celun*). Because each section determined advancement independently, and the final policy discourse carried no risk of elimination, it had not been heavily emphasized since the Kaiyuan era.

Among today's five policy questions, the first asked about the nature of the *Liuzhi* (Six Jades) and *Jiuyi* (Nine Ceremonial Rites), and the origins of the Yong *Zhi* and Bo *She*, inquiring into various ancient rituals. The second question concerned the gradual decay of the prefectural militia system (*fubing*) and how choices should be made to rectify it. The third was even more ethereal, asking about the very essence of the Dao! As for the fourth on the Classic of Filial Piety and the fifth on the Duke of Zhou's establishment of rites, they were relatively more formulaic.

Compared to the second session's test composing a fu of three to four hundred characters, answering all five policy questions in this third session made time much more pressing. Yet today's questions varied greatly from those of previous years, clearly because the metropolitan prefectural examinations allowed the senior official to make slight modifications. Even so, not a few people furrowed their brows after perusing the questions. The first inquired about ritual, the second evidently asked about current affairs and governance strategies, and the third simply asked about the Dao. Although the fourth and fifth were simpler, they were still not easy to answer. Such a wide-ranging policy examination was rarely heard of before, and for a moment, almost no one believed these questions had been set by Yu Feng.

The examining official, Lantian County Magistrate Yu Feng, evidently knowing the doubts in everyone's minds, took the initiative to clarify: "These five policy questions were personally set by the Metropolitan Governor, Lord Yuan. Please apply your utmost diligence in answering them. After grading the papers, if any are found to be inconsistent with the first two sessions, Lord Yuan will personally re-examine them."

While this news brought joy to some and sorrow to others, those of aristocratic birth and inflated self-importance, such as Liu Ximing and Du Wenruo, were naturally invigorated and set about mustering their spirits to answer the questions. When Du Shiyi heard that Yuan Qianyao had authored this third session's examination, he naturally formed his own conjectures. With various influential families lobbying and contending for the ranking and even the top spot (*jietou*) of the metropolitan examination, this Metropolitan Governor was likely compelled by pressure to step in personally and restore balance.

If a contest of strengths resulted in a deadlock, victory would naturally go to those with true talent!

Therefore, gazing at the first policy question, he took a deep breath, then picked up his brush and let it fall heavily. First transcribing the prompt of the policy question, he proceeded to answer: "The court has established regulations, and assemblies have their standards of deportment. The 'Spring Official: Grand Master of Rites' chapter of the *Rites of Zhou* states: 'By means of the commands of the nine ceremonial rites, regulate the ranks of the state and the nation.' A first appointment confers office, a second confers vestments, a third confers position, a fourth confers ritual vessels, a fifth confers standards, a sixth confers official post, a seventh confers territory, an eighth makes one a shepherd of the people, and a ninth makes one a leader of the feudal lords. As for the six jades and silks, the feudal lords hold skins and silks, the ministers hold lambs, the grand masters hold geese, the officers hold pheasants, the commoners hold mallards, and artisans and merchants hold chickens. In former times, the First Emperor ascended Yong and sacrificed at the *Zhi*, hence the Yong *Zhi* originated in the Qin dynasty; while the Yin-Shang established its capital at Bo, hence the Bo *She* was founded in the Yin-Shang..."

After briefly elucidating this historical anecdote and analyzing the rituals of the Zhou dynasty and subsequent dynasties, spanning some three hundred characters written in one fluid stroke, he turned his attention to the second policy question. This time, he pondered for a full half-hour before focusing his mind and letting his brush descend. Absorbed in intense concentration, he failed to notice that Yu Feng, who was patrolling the examination hall, had once again drifted behind him at some unknown moment.

"The physician who administers medicine based on illness is a good physician. The government that remedies abuses according to the times is a good government. When times differ, governance must differ. Today, the *fubing* system exists in name only, and the Sixteen Guards of the Southern衙 (Southern Courts) still suffer from a shortage of soldiers, let alone the frontiers!"

Last night, upon re-examining Du Shiyi's *Rhapsody on the Nine Virtues*, Yu Feng had felt that its rhythm was harmonious and resonant, and its agile and versatile structure in particular gave one a completely refreshing sensation. Therefore, weighing the matter repeatedly and steeling his resolve, he had rated it first. After making a round of inspections today and discovering that Du Shiyi had already finished the first policy question, his appreciation for this youth—whose mind and hand were equally swift—grew even deeper. Little did he expect that standing behind him now, he would see such startling words!

The five policy questions and five answer sheets could be answered separately, so he had just noticed many examinees starting with the relatively urgent current affairs and governance strategies of the second question. Almost uniformly, what they wrote praised the wise governance of the ancestors, arguing that the problems of the *fubing* system were mere minor ailments and that as long as capable people were employed and indolence eradicated, remedies could be applied immediately. Who among them was as alarmingly blunt as Du Shiyi? However, watching Du Shiyi gently turn the paper with every sentence he wrote, Yu Feng read along while pondering deeply in his heart. Seeing that his brushwork flowed without the slightest hesitation, presenting facts and reasoning logically, touching not only upon the Sixteen Guards of the Southern Courts but also the Northern Gate Imperial Guards, he broke out in a slight cold sweat for him. By the time he finished reading the final three hundred-odd words of the policy discourse, he felt the back of his shirt had grown slightly damp.

Previously, he had only considered this youth to be well-versed in the classics and histories with outstanding skills in poetry and rhapsody, never expecting him to be someone of... such peerless audacity!

Therefore, when Du Shiyi picked up the final sheet, Yu Feng no longer had the heart to keep reading. Naturally, he could not know that Du Shiyi, who had once shared quite an association with Sima Chengzhen, had also copied numerous Daoist scriptures from the Songyang Guan during his studies at Mount Song. Thus, as his brush descended this time, it was entirely different from the impassioned policy discourse that preceded it.

"The entity known as the Dao is nameless and formless. According to the *Tao Te Ching*..."

Having answered all three policy questions in one breath, Du Shiyi finally set down his brush and gently massaged his wrists. Although he was capable of writing at such length, the accumulated fatigue of recent days combined with answering everything in one go left him thoroughly exhausted. Realizing that the afternoon was already far advanced, and recognizing that his stomach was once again completely empty, he had no choice but to partake in the final meal of the examination hall. Bolstered by a lightened heart and the absence of any need to ration food for another session, he swept away the remaining braised meat, millet rice, and pastries all at once. Finally, letting out a satisfying burp, he turned to the remaining two questions.

This time, no one had the leisure to pay attention to him anymore, not even those who harbored the deepest animosity toward him. Naturally, when he spent less than an hour finishing the last two questions, neatly copied out the examination papers, stood up to present them to Yu Feng with both hands, and finally turned around to stride out of the examination hall with effortless grace, he still drew a wave of gasps. Not until his shadow had vanished entirely did Liu Ximing resentfully raise his head, his eyes revealing deep vexation and hatred.

He had never imagined that Du Shiyi could escape alive from such a certain death trap! Fortunately, Wang Shouzhen was coarse and unintelligent, and moreover, given the massive rewards he had been promised, he would surely never betray him to Wang Chongzhong! Consequently, since Du Shiyi had blown the matter wide open, Wang Chongzhong would naturally step forward to handle the confrontation!

As today marked the final session of the metropolitan examination, relatives, household servants, and even numerous scholars who had been eliminated in the first and second sessions began gathering in front of the Metropolitan Prefecture's official gates from the afternoon onward. Among them, Du Shiniang appeared particularly conspicuous. Her expression was somewhat haggard, one hand tightly gripping Qiuniang's hand beside her, and her lips were slightly chapped.

"My lady, it will be fine. Rest assured." Qiuniang recalled the Cui family retainers who had previously accompanied Du Shiyi back from Luoyang, all of whom, just like Du Shiyi, had never emerged once they entered the Metropolitan Prefecture offices. In her heart, she knew how hollow these comforting words sounded. Yet, to help rally Du Shiniang's spirits, she forced a smile and said, "Besides, didn't people coming out from the first and second sessions say that the young master's *tiejing* and *fu* were the absolute finest in the entire examination, unmatched by anyone?"

"If it comes down to genuine talent and learning, elder brother can naturally capture the top spot, but as for other matters..." Du Shiniang gently bit her lip with teeth as neat as rows of white shells, completely unconcerned about leaving a mark, and murmured after a long silence, "Right now, I only hope elder brother, and those who protect him, remain safe."

"He's out! Someone is coming out!"

Amidst her words, she suddenly heard a shout rise from the crowd of onlookers and waiting people. Raising her head, she froze on the spot. The person slowly emerging from the Metropolitan Prefecture offices before dusk was none other than the elder brother she had been yearning for! Seeing that Du Shiyi had also spotted her, and then waved at her with a radiant smile on his face, she felt a sudden rush of bitterness in her nose, eyes, and heart, and tears flowed silently down her cheeks. Were it not for Qiuniang supporting her by her side, she would have doubted whether she could even move her feet.

"Elder... brother..."

Seeing such a dense crowd gathered outside the official offices, and that Du Shiniang had been waiting there for a long time, Du Shiyi felt a warm current wash over him. Yet before he could open his mouth to offer a few words of comfort to this easily tearful little girl, he heard someone in the clamoring crowd ask why he had emerged so early. He promptly patted the little girl's hand gently and said in a clear voice, "Thanks to the kind concern of you all, Du Nineteen has finished all three sessions. Being exhausted to the point of near-death, rather than sleeping soundly in the examination hall and making others unhappy, I might as well hand in my paper and leave early!"

Realizing that Du Shiyi had traveled back and forth between Chang'an and Luoyang just before these three sessions of the metropolitan examination, although murmurs still rippled through the crowd, more people broke into continuous sighs of admiration. Only then did Du Shiniang recall the most crucial matter. Grabbing Du Shiyi's sleeve, she said urgently, "Elder brother, those Cui family retainers who escorted the villains who tried to waylay and assassinate you into the Metropolitan Prefecture offices—not a single one of them has come out!"

"I know. The things I asked you to bring—are they all here?"

"They're all in the carriage. Zhuying stayed behind to watch over them."

Although this was the worst-case scenario he had anticipated, hearing the news now instantly swept away the sense of relief that had accompanied finishing the three examination sessions. Surveying the crowd, he made a decisive judgment: "Get in the carriage, and go to Yuzhen Temple in Fuxing Ward!"

While the news of Du Shiyi leaving the examination hall reached certain individuals who had been keeping a close eye on the Metropolitan Prefecture offices, Du Shiyi had already taken Du Shiniang's ox-cart to Yuzhen Temple in the southwest corner of Fuxing Ward. Although the construction of these two Daoist temples when Princess Yuzhen and Princess Jinxian took their Daoist vows had initially provoked repeated remonstrations from court officials leading to a suspension of work, the main structures of the temple had actually been completed by the time work was halted. Compared to the ubiquitous Daoist temples scattered throughout the capital, this Yuzhen Temple resembled a small palace; within it, ethereal music never ceased and incense smoke coiled endlessly, directly facing Jinxian Temple across the crossroads in the southeast corner.

Stepping down from the carriage outside the temple gates to send word for an audience, Du Shiyi said in a profound voice: "Please announce to the Abbess: Du Nineteen of Duling in Jingzhao, accompanied by his sister, has come here to respectfully present two items to the Abbess."

The reputation of nineteen-year-old Du Shiyi of Duling in Jingzhao had been like thunder to the ears of everyone in recent days, known to all. At that moment, the middle-aged Daoist nun at the gate was utterly astonished. After Du Shiyi handed the leather pouch to her with both hands, she hesitated for a long time before hastily asking Du Shiyi to wait there, rushing inside without even having time to properly receive the items. After a short while, a sixteen-year-old maiden emerged with her—it was none other than Huo Qing, whom Du Shiyi had met before.