The Rebirth of Han Yuxi

Chapter 0799 Talent (2)

In the final round of the examination, Yuxi set the question, Yun Qing served as the chief examiner, and Han Jianming and Tan Tuo assisted with the supervision. The question Yuxi had set this time could be considered simple, yet it could also be considered difficult.

When Han Jianming received the question, he froze for a moment, then smiled and shook his head. Turning to Tan Tuo beside him, he said, "This Si Mei of mine really dares to set any kind of question, doesn't she?"

The question Yuxi had set asked the candidates to give their views on a woman taking charge of the government. In truth, Yuxi simply wanted to know what these candidates thought about her governing.

Tan Tuo, however, thought further ahead. Yuxi's purpose in setting this question was to cultivate people of her own. He made a seemingly plausible but ambiguous remark to Han Jianming: "Wangfei is thinking far ahead!" If the candidates below disapproved of a woman governing, they certainly would not receive Yuxi's important assignments. Yet, given Yuxi's temperament, she would not like anyone who sang of her achievements and praised her virtues either, and such a person likewise would not receive a good ranking. Therefore, it would not be easy for an essay to stand out.

On the evening of the examination, Yuxi and Yun Qing reviewed the papers together. Pointing at the examination paper of a candidate named Zong Siyuan, Yun Qing asked, "Yuxi, how can handwriting like this actually pass?" Yun Qing had always thought his own handwriting was poor, but compared to this man's, he suddenly felt that his was quite good.

Yuxi glanced at it and said, "This man is called Zong Siyuan from Yao County. His father passed the Jinshi examination in the thirty-fifth year of Emperor Guangzong's reign and died of illness six years ago. This man was renowned for his talent from a young age and became a xiucai at thirteen. However, while preparing for the Provincial Examination, he was involved in an accident and sustained serious injuries. He only recovered a year ago, but he can no longer write with his right hand." Zong Siyuan could still move his right hand, but the tendons and nerves had been damaged, leaving it weak.

There were actually quite a number of juren and xiucai in the northwest. However, Yun Qing and Yuxi knew that most of these juren and xiucai had paid to pass their examinations and possessed no genuine talent or knowledge. Therefore, Yun Qing and Yuxi refused to recognise any of them, and all the benefits they had previously enjoyed were cancelled. Though, Yuxi did not prevent these people from participating in this examination. However, those who passed among them could be counted on one hand. Zong Siyuan was one of them.

Yun Qing stared at the examination paper in disbelief and exclaimed, "His right hand is disabled? Does that mean he wrote this paper with his left hand?" If it had been written with his left hand, then this ugly handwriting would be understandable.

Yuxi smiled. "You could say he was fortunate." Zong Siyuan's right hand had become useless, classifying him as disabled. And a disabled person was not qualified to participate in the Imperial Examinations. As it happened, the assistant magistrate of Yao County was Zong Siyuan's paternal uncle, so he had the opportunity to participate in the local preliminary examination. Zong Siyuan had already taken that examination before, and he had not neglected his studies over the past few years. Apart from his ugly handwriting, the examination was not difficult for him. Later, during the provincial examination, Fu Minglang happened to be the person grading the papers. He valued talented individuals, and Zong Siyuan was one of them. Thus, despite his ugly handwriting, Fu Minglang allowed him to pass.

Realising that the paper had been written with the left hand, Yun Qing read it carefully from beginning to end. After finishing it, he nodded. "This man can be put to use." For Yun Qing to say that someone could be put to use meant that the man was truly talented.

Yuxi took the paper and read it carefully. When she had finished, a smile appeared on her face. Although the question had asked for views on a woman governing, Zong Siyuan's essay discussed the tremendous changes that had taken place in the northwest over the past two years and the benefits those changes had brought to ordinary people. He concluded that the ruler's gender was irrelevant; what mattered most was that people had enough food and clothing and could live and work in peace and contentment.

Among the eighteen examination papers, one candidate went on at great length singing the praises of a woman governing. Another believed that a woman in power would cause endless trouble in the future. To support this view, he even cited how, after Lu Zhi📹 took control of the government, she nearly wiped out the descendants of the Liu clan and brought about a change of dynasty.

After reading the paper, Yuxi smiled and said, "Why didn't he also write about how Empress Lu📹 had Lady Qi🔗 mutilated into a human swine? If he dared to include that, I really would admire him." This examination paper was clearly pointing at the mulberry tree while cursing the locust tree. He certainly had some nerve. Yuxi was not angry. Ever since she took charge of the government, people who opposed her had been everywhere. If she cared about every one of them, she would have died of anger long ago.

Yun Qing suggested, "Then disqualify him!" This man had a narrow vision and generalised the whole from a single aspect. A person like that was not worth employing.

Yuxi shook her head. "Why disqualify him? Just put him in last place!" Although Yuxi did not take his words to heart, she certainly would not entrust such a person with an important position.

However, Yuxi believed that no matter what one did, one had to follow the rules rather than act according to personal likes and dislikes.

When the results were announced, the first-place candidate was Liu Dongfeng of Lanzhou City; second place went to Du Mutao, the eldest legitimate son of the former Governor Du Xingguo; and third place went to Xie Youting of the Xie family. Yuxi ranked Zong Siyuan tenth. Although both Yun Qing and Yuxi liked Zong Siyuan's examination paper, his handwriting was simply too ugly. It would not have looked proper to rank him near the top.

Seeing the name of the first-place candidate, Yun Qing laughed. "Dongfeng? That's an interesting name. Could his family also have a Xifeng, Nanfeng and Beifeng?"

Yuxi smiled and explained, "There is a line in Songs of Chu · Nine Songs · Mountain Spirit): 'The east wind drifts, and the divine spirits send down rain; I wait for my lord, lost in thought and forgetting to return'📹. His name, Dongfeng, probably comes from there."

Yun Qing gave an 'oh' and exclaimed, "So there are reasons behind it!" Having a profoundly learned wife who could make him look like utter trash by comparison at any moment required quite a strong capacity for psychological endurance. Otherwise, one could accidentally develop an inferiority complex.

After the results were announced, Yun Qing summoned the successful candidates. Yuxi, however, did not appear. After meeting them, Yun Qing assigned them official posts on the spot. Among the eighteen men, Liu Yao received the highest-ranking office, becoming a seventh-rank county magistrate, while the last-place candidate received the lowest position, merely an auxiliary eighth-rank zhishi. Zong Siyuan was appointed a seventh-rank zhoupan.

Yuxi found a calligraphy copybook and asked Han Jianming to deliver it to Zong Siyuan.

When Zong Siyuan received the copybook, he knelt and kowtowed three times. Excitedly, he exclaimed, "This subordinate official thanks His Highness Wangye and Her Highness Wangfei for their reward." He had never imagined that Yun Qing and Yuxi would value him so highly.

In truth, Zong Siyuan had to summon all his courage to come to Haocheng for the examination. He was well aware of how terrible the characters he wrote with his left hand looked. In an ordinary imperial examination, he would not even have passed the first hurdle. Yet now, he had made it all the way to the end. Even though he had only placed tenth, he was immensely grateful. Yun Qing and Yuxi had given him the chance to fulfill his ambitions.

Han Jianming said, "Wangye and Wangfei both liked your essay very much. Had your right hand not been injured and your handwriting not suffered as a result, you would have been ranked first. However, Wangye and Wangfei also said that your ranking is not the most important thing. What matters most is that once you arrive at your posting, you can achieve something tangible for the people.” The calligraphy copybook Yuxi gave Zong Siyuan was a rubbing of Master Liu’s calligraphy. This was particularly significant because Liu Gongquan himself had come from Yao County, the same place as Zong Siyuan.

Zong Siyuan nodded heavily and declared in a clear voice, “This subordinate official will certainly not disappoint the great favour His Highness Wangye and Her Highness Wangfei have shown me.”

Han Jianming then handed Zong Siyuan another piece of calligraphy bearing the four large characters 'Heaven rewards diligence'. Han Jianming smiled and said, “This is an additional gift from Wangfei.”

Zong Siyuan accepted the calligraphy with both hands, feeling rather apprehensive. He did not understand why Wangfei had written these words especially for him.

Seeing his reaction, Han Jianming smiled and gave him an explanation: "Wangfei wrote these characters with her left hand. By giving you this calligraphy, she wishes to tell you that as long as you practise diligently, the characters you write in the future will certainly be no worse than these."

Zong Siyuan stared at the four large characters written in a bold, free-flowing style like dragons flying and phoenixes dancing, scarcely able to believe it. "Daren, are you saying that Her Highness Wangfei wrote these four characters with her left hand?" Could Wangfei be left-handed?

Han Jianming nodded. "Wangfei can write with both her left and right hands; she simply seldom uses her left hand normally. She specially bestowed this piece on you precisely to encourage you."

Zong Siyuan was deeply moved.

Looking at Zong Siyuan, who appeared ready to smear his liver and brains across the ground for Yuxi, Han Jianming thought Yuxi's method of winning people over was quite effective.

By the time the imperial examination matters had been dealt with, it was already the twelfth month. Looking at Liu-er with a worried expression, Yuxi asked, "Momo, this girl will be two years old in a few days. When do you think she'll finally start talking?"

Momo Quan replied calmly and unhurriedly, "She'll talk when she feels like talking." Momo Quan was so calm because, firstly, there was nothing wrong with Liu-er's voice, and secondly, Liu-er was slower than other children at everything she did. It was therefore within expectations that she would begin speaking later than other children.

Yuxi said to Liu-er, who was in her arms, "Because of you and your elder sister, Mom's hair is practically turning white with worry." One of them absolutely refused to study, no matter what, while the other still refused to speak. Yuxi sighed, thinking that there was a reason the old saying went, 'Children are all debts'.

Hearing this, Momo Quan hurried to comfort her. "Don't be so anxious. We've been teaching her to talk during this period! I'm sure she'll soon open her mouth and call you 'Mom'.'"

Yuxi replied bitterly, "How could I not be anxious?"

Momo Quan responded helplessly, "Being anxious won't help." There was no point in worrying. If Liu-er didn't want to speak, they could hardly force her to.

Yuxi sighed. "And these are only two children. If I have several more and they all turn out like these two, won't I worry myself to death?" If all her future children were like these two girls, Yuxi was certain that her life would be cut short.

Momo Quan could not help laughing. "What are you saying? Zaozao and Liu-er are both doing wonderfully. Other people's children can't even compare with them! If you ask me, you're just worrying needlessly. As long as the important things are fine, there's no need to demand perfection in everything else."

After pausing for a moment, Momo Quan asked, "Your health is fine now. When are you planning to have another child?"

Yuxi replied, "After the New Year." She had recently been dealing with both the Imperial Examinations and preparations for winter, which had left her so busy that she felt like she was spinning around in circles. Therefore, Yuxi did not dare try for another child yet.

Momo Quan nodded. "Having another child after the New Year would be good as well."

Yuxi then discussed finding a teacher for Zaozao with Momo Quan. "Momo, what sort of teacher do you think we should find for Zaozao?"

Momo Quan did not have any suitable candidates in mind either. "An ordinary teacher wouldn't be able to keep Zaozao under control." Given Zaozao's mischievous, troublemaking nature, an ordinary teacher would struggle to handle her.

Yuxi tapped Liu-er on the nose and advised her, "You mustn't follow your elder sister's example in the future, understand?" Her two daughters were two opposite extremes. More than once, Yuxi had thought how wonderful it would be if the two children's personalities could balance each other out. She could not imagine how much less she would have to worry then.

Seeing this, Momo Quan helplessly shook her head. In front of outsiders, Pingxi Wangfei was commanding awe in all eight directions, but once she returned to the inner residence, she was merely an ordinary woman who worried endlessly about her children.