Chapter 37: Strategic Maneuvers

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The Wang family had for generations been a house of distinction, renowned for its noble lineage and scholarly honor.

Wang Ruofu’s father, Grand Preceptor Wang, had come first in all three stages of the civil examinations in his youth and eventually risen to the office of chancellor.

Several years ago, he had died in the line of duty. Upright and incorruptible, he had been deeply beloved by the common people, and at his death he received several Umbrellas of Ten Thousand People from those who mourned him.

The sovereign, profoundly moved by his loyalty and integrity, had granted him the extraordinary honor of being enshrined in the Imperial Ancestral Temple. Wang Ruofu had always taken great pride in this.

It was a pity that her elder brother, Wang Shiping, was mediocre in both talent and ability.

In former days, protected by Grand Preceptor Wang, his official career had proceeded smoothly enough. But ever since the old grand preceptor had passed away, Wang Shiping’s position in officialdom had declined with each passing day.

With Old Madam Wang constantly scheming and maneuvering behind the scenes, Wang Shiping had been posted away from the capital for years, never receiving an opportunity to return. The gap between him and Sheng Hong had grown wider and wider.

Before long, the carriage came to a smooth halt outside the Sheng residence.

The newly hung plaque beneath the eaves gleamed in the sunlight with the distinctive luster of ebony.

A month earlier, Sheng Hong had sent a letter ahead, instructing the household stewards to repair and put everything in order, inside and out.

This five-courtyard estate was magnificent in scale, far more spacious than the Sheng residence in Yangzhou.

The bluestone passage through the front courtyard alone was more than twenty feet wide.

After passing through the ornamental gate, one found the front hall, central hall, rear courtyard, and rear servants’ quarters arranged in succession along the central axis.

The side rooms and ancillary chambers on either side were laid out with elegant symmetry, while covered walkways connected the various courtyards with ingenious ease.

Old Madam Sheng’s residence was called the Hall of Longevity and Peace, a name signifying blessings, long life, peace, and good health. Two sturdy Buddhist pines stood before its entrance.

Wang Ruofu’s residence was called the Verdant Orchid Pavilion, named after the line, “In spring the orchid leaves flourish; in autumn the osmanthus blossoms shine clear,” while also echoing Hualan’s name.

Lin Qinshuang’s residence was the Pavilion of Woodland Rest, while Sheng Hong had arranged for Madam Wei to live in the Snow-Listening Residence.

When the household stewards learned that Sheng Hong had returned, they hurried over with a crowd of maids and young servants to welcome him.

Seeing as well that honored guests had arrived, a quick-witted servant went to the kitchen to order tea before anyone even gave instructions.

Though the household was bustling, everything proceeded in orderly fashion, without the slightest mishap.

All the young ladies followed Old Madam Sheng and Wang Ruofu to the rear courtyard to take tea.

Shulan was gentle by nature and especially close to Hualan. The two sat together on a cushioned couch beside the window, whispering about intimate girlish matters and occasionally covering their mouths as they laughed.

Rulan had inherited Wang Ruofu’s temperament in every respect. Having grown up under her influence, she too had always looked down somewhat upon the senior branch of the family.

She therefore sat alone in utter boredom, teasing the cricket in a celadon jar and casting occasional sidelong glances at Minglan and Pinlan.

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Molan, meanwhile, held a collection of Xie Daoyun’s poems and savored it by herself.

In the front hall, Sheng Hong was still unable to contain his delight.

Looking at Zhao Han, he said, “The palace examination will take place in a few days. Fortunately, His Majesty is benevolent and has abolished the practice of eliminating candidates during the palace examination.”

“Even so, my worthy son-in-law, you must prepare in advance, lest you make some error when answering His Majesty’s questions.”

Once the golden list had been posted, the palace examination was generally held within a month at the latest, in order to prevent the successful candidates from forming private ties with officials of the court.

In the early days of the Great Zhou, the palace examination had been an eliminatory one.

Even those fortunate enough to have their names placed on the golden list could still be dismissed during the palace examination, their dreams of an official career shattered.

There had even been cases in which candidates, resentful after being eliminated, defected to Western Xia and became a grave threat to the imperial court.

For that reason, the current sovereign had announced the abolition of the eliminatory system.

All candidates whose names appeared on the golden list would be employed and appointed to office by the court. The palace examination would serve only to determine their ranking.

In other words, although Zhao Han was the foremost candidate in the metropolitan examination, his rank could still fall during the palace examination if his policy essay failed to accord with the sovereign’s wishes, if his literary style proved unsuitable for the times, or for any number of other reasons.

Rank directly affected both the grade of one’s appointment and the starting point of one’s official career.

Those who passed with the highest degree could enter the Hanlin Academy directly or receive important posts in the capital, with the prospect of one day rising to the rank of chancellor.

Those who passed with the regular degree were generally sent out as assistant prefects in the provinces and had to undergo years of practical experience before receiving promotion.

Those who passed with the equivalent degree might receive no more than a minor post as a county commandant in some remote district, or even have to wait for a vacancy.

“Your son-in-law understands. I shall certainly return and prepare diligently,” Zhao Han replied with folded hands. After all, he had come this far; he could hardly stumble at the palace examination.

Sheng Hong then turned his gaze toward Sheng Changbai and Sheng Changfeng.

“With such a shining example before you, the two of you must work even harder and never grow complacent. Prepare yourselves properly for the provincial examinations two years from now.”

Sheng Changbai nodded with grave solemnity.

“I understand, Father. I shall take my elder brother-in-law as my example, study day and night, and strive to have my name appear on the list at the provincial examinations.”

Sheng Changfeng hurriedly echoed him, though his tone was noticeably lighter. Clearly, he had not taken Sheng Hong’s words entirely to heart.

“Rest assured, Father. I shall follow my elder brother-in-law as well and will never disappoint you!”

“If you possess such ambition, then I can set my mind at ease. It will not have been in vain that I exhausted every effort to persuade Scholar Zhuang to travel all the way to the capital with us.”

Sheng Hong stroked his beard with a smile, then turned to inquire about Sheng Wei.

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Sheng Wei said, “The Marquis of Mu gave his reply yesterday. Once Changwu arrives in the capital, he will take up a post under the marquis’s command.”

“Changwu has always been steady and dependable. He will surely make a name for himself in the army.”

“Once Changwu has settled in the capital, you must bring him to the residence for a visit.”

“Grandmother was mentioning him just the other day. She said it had been a long time since she had seen that grandnephew of hers.”

Sheng Hong stroked his beard with a smile. He knew full well that the fortunes of the senior branch and his own were bound together: when one prospered, the other prospered; when one suffered, the other suffered.

Whenever matters concerning the senior branch arose, he had always done everything in his power to lend a hand.

As noon approached, two tables of exquisite dishes had been laid out. The Sheng family ordinarily seated men and women separately.

But since this was a family banquet, the tables had been set in the same room, with the servants instructed to bring in a folding screen to divide the inner and outer sides.

Beyond the screen, Sheng Hong was drinking and exchanging cheerful conversation with Zhao Han, Sheng Wei, and the others.

Within it, the women chatted and laughed merrily.

Hualan sat beside Wang Ruofu, occasionally glancing through the screen at Zhao Han from the corner of her eye.

When she saw that he was still wearing the scented sachet she had given him, the blush on her face lingered all the longer.

Zhao Han naturally noticed Hualan’s gaze as well. Unfortunately, with Sheng Hong present, it was impossible for him to say much.

Old Madam Sheng was the best at seeing into people’s hearts. As she placed food into Hualan’s bowl, she murmured, “If you do not eat a little more, girl, your soul will be flying straight into that young man’s arms.”

Hualan smiled, her eyes shimmering with a trace of coy reproach.

“Grandmother is always teasing me. Am I not eating now?”

Old Madam Sheng chuckled and leaned close to her ear.

“The next time Young Master Zhao comes to the Hall of Longevity and Peace to pay his respects, I shall have Nanny Fang secretly inform you, without letting your father know.”

“Grandmother, can we truly do that?” Hualan lowered her head, though the corners of her lips rose uncontrollably.

“If this old woman misses her granddaughter, is she not allowed to call her over for a little conversation?”

Hualan’s smile grew brighter. “Of course she is. Father is most afraid of you, Grandmother.”

With everyone in high spirits, cups passed freely across the tables, and the meal lasted a full half hour before it finally came to an end.

After leaving the Sheng residence, the first thing Zhao Han did was write a letter and send it posthaste to Yangzhou.

It was time at last to purchase a home in the capital, where every inch of land was worth its weight in gold!

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