Chapter 29: The Demonic Tome Emerges Again
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Su Ze silently recited the words of departure and left the Peach Blossom Spring. That was when he heard someone calling at the gate.
He threw on his clothes and stepped outside. When he opened the courtyard gate, he saw Wang Anshi standing there, his face clouded with worry.
Su Ze was somewhat surprised. After their gathering at Wang Anshi’s home, the three of them had agreed to devote themselves to their studies before the Ministry of Rites examination and meet again once it was over.
Why had Wang Anshi rushed over so early in the morning?
Wang Anshi said, “Brother Su, haven’t you heard?”
Su Ze asked in puzzlement, “Heard what?”
Wang Anshi squeezed inside, shut the gate, and said, “There are rumors that Brother Su cheated in the qualifying examination. I hear that several remonstrance officials have already set their sights on the matter. They intend to impeach Song Tianzhang, the current Director of the Imperial Academy!”
Su Ze’s heart gave a sudden jolt. He had expected the hidden enemy to make another move, but he had not imagined they would act so quickly—or so fiercely.
His predecessor had gained the right to sit for the Ministry of Rites examination by passing the Imperial Academy’s qualifying examination.
As far as Su Ze’s memories told him, his predecessor had not actually cheated. The problem was that the Imperial Academy’s qualifying examination was riddled with irregularities.
The imperial examinations of the Song dynasty had not yet reached the strictness of those under the Ming and Qing. Scholars could sit for examinations in their home prefectures and, upon passing, earn the right to take the Ministry of Rites examination.
The prefectural examinations were extremely difficult. Ouyang Xiu himself had failed the first time he sat for one.
There was another route: study at the Imperial Academy in Bianjing, then take its graduation examination. That path was far easier.
The Imperial Academy had originally been the foremost government school in the early Song dynasty. Yet throughout the reigns of Emperor Taizu, Emperor Taizong, and Emperor Zhenzong, the sons of powerful families had been continually sent there. Combined with the stagnation of the Academy’s own institutions, this drove away many capable teachers, and the quality of its education declined by the day.
By then, the Imperial Academy had become little more than a place where scholars in Bianjing could obtain qualifications for the Ministry of Rites examination. In Su Ze’s memories, his predecessor had hardly attended any classes there.
He had merely taken advantage of the system to obtain student status at the Imperial Academy, then smoothly passed its examination and secured the right to sit for the Ministry of Rites examination.
The Academy’s dismal teaching had led to the flourishing of private academies and schools throughout the provinces. The largest academy in present-day Jinling, the Yingtian Academy, had more students than the Imperial Academy itself. It offered high salaries to renowned scholars and had produced numerous successful candidates in the metropolitan examinations.
This had also become a frequent subject of criticism among the ministers at court. The Qingli reformers, including Fan Zhongyan, had all proposed reforming the Imperial Academy and reviving government education.
Wang Anshi said anxiously, “To attack the Imperial Academy at a time like this—how many candidates will be affected? What are those remonstrance officials thinking?”
He then looked at Su Ze in bewilderment. “Brother Su, why do you seem not the least bit worried?”
Su Ze smiled calmly. “What use is worry? If this matter is not aimed at me, then my conscience is clear. I never cheated in the Imperial Academy’s qualifying examination, so what have I to fear?”
“And if it is aimed at me, then even if I escape this affair, there will simply be another one waiting.”
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Wang Anshi was an exceptionally intelligent man. He immediately understood Su Ze’s meaning.
“Do you suspect this is connected to the Demon Book Case?”
Su Ze nodded.
How could there be such a coincidence? The Demon Book Case had barely ended before the Imperial Academy affair appeared.
The Academy had long been known for being strict about admission but lenient about graduation. That was an unspoken rule of the imperial examinations; otherwise, how could so many sons of powerful families pass the qualifying examination?
After all, nearly everyone studying there was the child of a noble or influential household.
That was precisely why reforming the Imperial Academy met with such formidable resistance.
Wang Anshi looked at Su Ze. “The mountains may collapse, yet you remain unmoved. Brother Su, what composure!”
Su Ze asked, “Brother Jiefu, where did you hear this, and what exactly is happening?”
“I heard it from Yang Zhi.”
“Yang Zhi?” Su Ze asked. “The same Yang Zhi who ranked first in this year’s qualifying examination?”
Wang Anshi nodded. “The very same.”
“Then the rumor may well be true,” Su Ze said. “Yang Zhi’s elder brother, Yang Cha, is the son-in-law of Grand Councillor Yan, the current Privy Councilor. Yang Cha is serving in the Palace Secretariat for Remonstrance, so Yang Zhi must have heard the news from him.”
Wang Anshi said anxiously, “Then what should we do?”
Su Ze was even calmer than before. “Please help me find out who is trying to destroy me, and how far this matter is really intended to go. If the Imperial Academy is declared guilty of examination fraud, the consequences will certainly be widespread. We must learn exactly how many people they intend to drag into it.”
He then added apologetically, “I am sorry to trouble you so close to the Ministry of Rites examination. I truly feel ashamed to impose upon you. If you can find something out, that would be excellent. If not, let it go.”
Wang Anshi immediately thumped his chest. “I have made nearly all the preparations I need for the Ministry of Rites examination. Losing a few days of study will make no difference. If a man of Brother Su’s talent were prevented from entering the examinations because of such matters, that would be the court’s loss!”
“Set your mind at ease, Brother Su. I shall wait for the day when we pass together and hear our names proclaimed.”
Su Ze was genuinely moved. As a friend, Wang Anshi was truly exceptional.
After seeing Wang Anshi off, Su Ze left the house as well.
Guided by his memories and by asking passersby along the way, he eventually arrived before a large residence.
When he reached the gatehouse, the servant saw Su Ze’s shabby scholar’s robe and could not help adopting a trace of arrogance.
“Go on, go on. The Zhang household is not hiring an accounts clerk!”
This was Zhang Daocheng’s residence. The gatekeeper had mistaken Su Ze for an impoverished scholar looking for work.
Su Ze did not take offense. Instead, he drew out a sheet of letter paper and handed it to the man.
“I am not here to seek employment. I have business with Elder Zhang. This is my letter.”
Seeing Su Ze’s bearing, the gatekeeper dared not behave recklessly after all.
The Zhang family was newly risen, but their status as imperial merchants came only through their connection with Zhang Xiuyuan.
Bianjing was a city where dragons and tigers lay hidden. Who could say whether this shabby scholar might not be acquainted with some powerful person?
The gatekeeper put aside his contempt and carried Su Ze’s letter into the inner quarters.
Sure enough, the moment Zhang Daocheng saw it, his expression changed again and again.
“Where is that scholar?”
“He is still at the gatehouse.”
Zhang Daocheng paced back and forth before saying, “Open the main gate and receive our guest!”
As a well-informed man, Zhang Daocheng naturally knew the whole story of how Su Ze had escaped disaster. He even knew that the emperor had written Su Ze’s name on the screen in the Hall of Sagely Governance.
Zhang Daocheng understood perfectly that if Su Ze passed the metropolitan examination, he was certain to rise swiftly through the ranks.
If he did not move quickly to secure such a son-in-law, was he supposed to wait until the examination results were announced and have someone else seize the opportunity?
But then another thought occurred to him. His daughter had no betrothal agreement with Su Ze. If he acted so obsequiously, others would surely mock them—and Su Ze might come to despise his daughter.
Zhang Daocheng turned back to the gatekeeper and said, “Wait! Bring him in through the side gate, and be courteous!”
The gatekeeper secretly congratulated himself on not offending such an honored guest, but his curiosity about Su Ze’s identity only deepened.
Just who was this man, that the master of the house should be so torn between hope and fear?
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