On the way, Yu Qing saw an acquaintance. He spotted Master Zhong by the roadside. Many people from the Zhong residence had come and gathered together, making them quite conspicuous.
He did not know what that old woman Wen Jianhui meant by standing with a group of women and pointing at him.
He also did not see that two young ladies were hiding inside one of the Zhong residence carriages.
For such a once-in-a-lifetime moment of glory, at the earnest request of his youngest daughter, Zhong Su agreed to let his two daughters come and watch, but they must not show their faces.
The two girls hid inside the carriage compartment and secretly parted the curtain to peek out.
“Brother-in-law is here, brother-in-law is here. Quick, look, the one on the right in the front row.”
“Oh? If I run into that cheap woman who threw flowers at brother-in-law, I will tear her face apart and stomp her fingers to pieces.”
Wen Ruowei watched with excitement and shouted, her two feet stomping around non-stop from time to time.
Zhong Ruochen, on the other hand, watched with eyes full of tender affection. Although there were many people in the parade, in her eyes there was only her future husband.
She could see that all the parading successful candidates looked very happy, but only her future husband remained consistently calm and composed. He truly deserved to be that unrivalled talent of the world.
In her eyes, her future husband was the genuine top scholar in the true sense. No one else could compare with him!
Even Zhong Su, after watching, could not help praising to the steward Li beside him, “This young man remains unmoved by favour or disgrace. His temperament is very good. He looks like someone who can achieve great things!”
Along the way there was constant noise and endless glory, but in Yu Qing’s eyes and ears it was all just a jumble of noise.
Fortunately they only walked through the main streets once, and it was soon over.
But nearly two hours of parading had already left some people so hungry that their chests stuck to their backs, while others were desperately holding in their need to relieve themselves.
After the group dispersed, the successful candidates immediately scattered in all directions in a rather sorry state.
With this dispersal, from then on everyone would go their separate ways, marking the formal end of this year’s journey to the capital for the imperial examinations.
Yu Qing checked the time and saw it was already close to mid-afternoon. Lord Pei had asked him to report to the Censorate in the afternoon. Since there was not enough time, Yu Qing did not return to the Zhong residence. Instead he joined up with Yin Jizhen, who had the same idea. The latter treated him and had the coachman buy some food so they could make do with a simple meal.
The two were successful candidates from the same examination cohort. In future they would be colleagues in the Censorate. Coupled with Yu Qing’s great fame for scoring full marks in the metropolitan examination, Yin Jizhen did not dare to put on airs in front of him. He adopted a rather humble attitude and showed sincere intent to build a good relationship.
Yu Qing did not mind. Since he no longer needed to hide his identity, he happily went along with it. The two thus became acquainted.
After filling their stomachs, the two took the same carriage to head to the Censorate, with the Zhong residence carriage and guards following behind.
Upon arriving at the Censorate wearing their official robes, they found that someone was already waiting for them with quite an enthusiastic attitude, especially towards Yu Qing.
When it came to meeting the superior to assign their positions, only then did Yin Jizhen learn the truth. His own post as proofreader was the normal placement according to usual practice, while Ah Shiheng had a rather special placement. He was directly assigned to serve as proofreader by the side of the Censor-in-Chief himself.
In plain terms, he would be the secretary working beside the Censor-in-Chief.
Although both were proofreaders with the same rank and salary benefits, their actual status changed in an instant to be vastly different.
It was easy to imagine that being a secretary beside a high court official meant developing towards becoming a close trusted aide, someone who could often speak in the presence of the high official, especially beside the Censor-in-Chief who oversaw the monitoring of all officials.
That kind of work only required satisfying the Censor-in-Chief alone. Success or failure was entirely up to what the Censor-in-Chief said. If done well, reaching the seventh rank would probably take only a few years.
However, Yu Qing did not think this way at all. As soon as he heard that he was to serve as secretary to Lord Pei, which clearly meant doing work involving writing and drafting, his heart instantly rose to his throat. He immediately raised an objection to the superior, “Sir, this subordinate feels that Yin Jizhen is more suitable to serve as proofreader beside Lord Pei. Why not let this subordinate swap with Yin Jizhen?”
Both the superior and Yin Jizhen were stunned into silence at the same time.
Fortunately Xu Fei was not nearby, otherwise he would have let out his usual sigh again.
Yin Jizhen did not know whether this brother was speaking seriously or not. It did not look like a lie, and there was no need to tell such a false story anyway. For a moment he could not help but admire Yu Qing’s broad-mindedness.
Faced with such humility and yielding, he really did not know what to say. Such a good opportunity, if he were to refuse it, even he himself could not convince himself. He was left speechless and full of unease, secretly glancing at the superior’s reaction.
The superior almost suspected he had misheard. This was an opportunity that many people dreamed of but could not obtain. Had this lad taken the wrong medicine?
Besides, the matter of placing personnel beside the Censor-in-Chief was not something he could decide. It required the Censor-in-Chief’s own approval.
In truth, the Censor-in-Chief had already made arrangements. This was the person the Censor-in-Chief had specifically named.
The superior’s expression immediately sank. “Ah Shiheng, do you think this is buying vegetables where you can bargain? Whatever position you are assigned, you should do it properly. Speak less nonsense!”
Yu Qing felt helpless. After thinking for a moment, he decided to let it go. After all, he would resign and leave office very soon.
The matter thus ended there.
A once-in-a-thousand-years opportunity had suddenly come, only to be lost again. Yin Jizhen’s heart was left feeling melancholy. He could not help envying Yu Qing’s family background and connections.
He had also heard some rumours. Even with his backside he could guess that it was his father’s old network of former colleagues providing support.
Yet no one could really say anything about it. Ah Shiheng’s own strength was there for all to see. A metropolitan examination top scorer with full marks in all four subjects was a rare sight in a hundred years. It was not excessive to make use of the momentum and give him important responsibilities. Even the new top scholar probably would not have the courage to claim in front of Ah Shiheng that he was better.
The two were then led away separately to their respective places.
The person leading Yu Qing reminded him all the way about what he would need to do in future beside the Censor-in-Chief, such as inevitably writing some documents, sorting official papers, or relaying and delivering messages, as well as handling some reception and sending-off duties.
Of course, there were others beside the Censor-in-Chief besides Yu Qing, including people of higher rank, and the level of matters each handled also differed.
He was also reminded of some matters to pay attention to, and told that if he did not understand anything in future he could come and ask.
Yu Qing listened casually. Sure enough, when he heard that he would indeed have to write things, his head immediately began to ache.
After several turns inside the Censorate building, the guide delivered Yu Qing to the place where the Censor-in-Chief handled official business.
“Sir, Ah Shiheng has been brought here.” The guide announced.
Pei Qingcheng, who was reviewing documents at the desk, raised his eyes, gave a simple sound of acknowledgement, and continued with his own work.
As the guide withdrew, he silently signalled to Yu Qing to wait where he was.
Yu Qing quietly observed the furnishings in the room and found that the connected space between the inner and outer rooms was even larger than the house in the eastern courtyard where he lived.
After finishing reviewing a document in his hand, Pei Qingcheng put down his brush, raised his eyes, and met Yu Qing’s gaze.
Yu Qing quickly paid his respects. “This subordinate pays respects to Sir.”
Pei Qingcheng waved his hand to indicate there was no need for excessive courtesy and asked directly, “I have seen the family situation you filled in when registering for the examination. In just over ten years, why have all your parents and family members passed away? Is there some unknown reason behind this?”
Yu Qing thought for a moment and did not hide too much. “My father passed away last year. The rest of the family encountered an ambush when leaving the capital that year…” He recounted roughly what he knew, with a clear sense of what could be said and what should be concealed.
Hearing that the Ah family had nearly been wiped out when leaving the capital, and that the lucky survivor Ah Jiezhang had ended up with a lifelong disability before passing away, Pei Qingcheng’s fists on the desk clenched tightly. His eyes looked as if they would split open. His breathing became heavy as he listened. After finishing, he asked in a deep voice, “Who were the murderers?”
Yu Qing observed his reaction, not knowing whether the other’s emotional change was genuine or fake. He shook his head and said, “I do not know. My father tried to investigate, but found that the relevant clues had either been silenced or deliberately cut off. We do not know who the mastermind behind it was.”
Pei Qingcheng remained silent for a while, then said slowly, “No wonder. No wonder after suffering such a catastrophe your father did not contact us. He simply did not know who the real culprit was, because anyone could have been involved. No wonder we could not find any trace of your father for so many years!”
From these words, Yu Qing understood that this person had been on the same side as Ah Shiheng’s father.
Of course, he only listened. As the other had said himself, anyone connected with Ah Jiezhang could possibly have been the mastermind behind the events of that year.
After slowly loosening his tightly clenched fists, Pei Qingcheng sighed and said, “Someone will investigate this matter. I do not believe the truth can be hidden forever. Sooner or later there will be an explanation for your family. What is important for you right now is to do your own tasks well. You should know that many people are watching you now. Has someone already explained to you what you need to do?”
Yu Qing replied, “They have explained, but this subordinate is ignorant and fears he may not do it well.”
Pei Qingcheng said, “Take it slowly. No one knows everything from the start. If you do not understand, just ask. Someone will teach you. Just do not act blindly or recklessly. If there is anything, you can come directly to me at any time. By the way, right now there happens to be a task that suits you and only you can do it.”
Yu Qing’s heart felt cold. Without even asking what the task was, he directly declined, “This subordinate is young and inexperienced, with limited ability. Please allow this subordinate to learn a bit more first.”
Pei Qingcheng stood up, smiled and said, “There is no need for you to learn this. Everyone will probably have to ask you for guidance instead.”
Yu Qing immediately sensed trouble. “What?”
Pei Qingcheng walked out from behind the long desk with his hands behind his back and said, “Have you been living in a daze? Have you not seen that various places in the capital are already starting to clean up and make all kinds of preparations in advance? In another half a month, it will be the grand six-hundred-year celebration of the founding of our state of Jin!”
Yu Qing had not really paid attention to this matter. With a start he asked in alarm, “What does this have to do with this subordinate?”
Pei Qingcheng was left dumbfounded by his words. He looked Yu Qing up and down and said, “What are you thinking, lad? For such a grand celebration, how could the various ministries of the court not present gifts? The ministries cannot present gold, silver or jewels, can they? Presenting elegant and beautiful poetry and fu would naturally be the best choice!”
Yu Qing said righteously, “Then we should invite venerable elders of high virtue and prestige to compose the pieces!”
Pei Qingcheng waved his hand. “There is nothing for you to decline in this matter. What is needed is excellent poetry and fu. It has nothing to do with high virtue and prestige. When the various ministries present their gifts, our Censorate naturally cannot be lacking. This is the six-hundred-year grand celebration of the state of Jin. Forces from all over the world will come to congratulate, including those from the demon realm. If you paid attention while parading today, you should have seen that quite a few figures from the demon realm have already arrived early.
Therefore the poetry and fu from the various ministries will be presented in front of forces from all over the world. I will inevitably have to hold the Censorate’s poetry and fu and step forward to recite it loudly in congratulations. If the poetry and fu are careless, it will inevitably invite ridicule from all sides, which concerns the dignity of the state. That is why this time it must be handled with particular care. Previously when discussing with my subordinates, we were still struggling over who to entrust with drafting it. Who would have thought that you suddenly appeared, and the unanimously recognised choice was immediately settled.
Your foundation is clear for all to see. Sometimes talent really cannot be compared. You possess heavenly-endowed talent. This time it can only be you.
Not only will you draft the poetry and fu for the Censorate, but with the appearance of a metropolitan examination top scorer with full marks in four subjects at the time of the six-hundred-year grand celebration of the state of Jin, you have already become famous throughout the world. On the day of the grand celebration, how could the guests from all sides miss the chance to witness your talent? There will inevitably be people from various sides who call you out to perform, and it is probably unavoidable that they will assign topics for you to compose poems to add to the excitement. You need to prepare yourself mentally in advance.”