In the Imperial Censorate of Jin State, the chief censor serves as the head, with left and right censors set up below as his deputy assistants.
The left censor is already advanced in years. His surname is Qi and he is close to retirement.
Upon hearing that Yu Qing had come to see him, he felt somewhat surprised but still had someone call him in.
As soon as Yu Qing entered the left censor’s office, he bowed low and said, “This lowly official A Shihuang pays respects to Lord Left Censor.”
Censor Qi sat upright behind his desk, stroking his grey beard and maintaining his dignified posture. With some impatience he said, “So it is the top graduate. It is truly this official’s good fortune to meet you today.”
The dissatisfaction in his words was obvious. Of course, he could not help glancing a few more times at the official robe that Yu Qing was holding, unsure what it meant.
There was no helping it. He had never seen someone as clueless as Yu Qing. After coming to the Censorate to take up his post for so long, he showed no awareness at all of how to navigate officialdom. He had not come to pay a visit even once.
It was not that he wanted Yu Qing to give him any benefits. Rather, he felt that after latching onto the chief censor’s thigh, Yu Qing had begun to disregard him.
He showed not even basic respect. Was he not allowed to make a few sarcastic remarks?
Yu Qing was stunned for a moment. He was not a fool and could sense the undertone. He immediately stepped forward a few paces, placed the official robe on the other’s desk, then took out his resignation letter and presented it with both hands. “This lowly official knows he was wrong and has come specially to apologise to Lord Left Censor.”
Censor Qi took it and opened it. His eyes were not good so he held it farther away before he could make out the content on the document.
It would have been better if he had not seen it clearly. Once he saw it was a resignation letter, he let out an “ah” and quickly looked up. Glancing at the official robe on the desk, he asked with some stammering, “Apologise?”
Yu Qing cupped his hands and said, “This lowly official does not understand worldly affairs and is truly unfit for an official career. I hereby resign to Lord Left Censor. From now on we shall go our separate ways. Take care, Lord Left Censor.” With that he turned and left.
His intention to leave was firm. This time he was smart and did not linger. He dropped the items and ran.
The several officials standing below were stunned on the spot. The new top graduate had only been at the Censorate for a few days and was already resigning. This was no joke, was it?
Was this not a bit too much excitement?
In addition, having heard Yu Qing’s words earlier, the several officials all stared at Censor Qi with uncertain and shocked expressions. They all thought he had forced the top graduate to resign.
Apart from this reason, they really could not think of anything else that could make a top graduate with a bright future resign.
After being dazed for a while, Censor Qi also reacted. He let out another “ah”, his face changed greatly, and when he stood up urgently, there was a crack from his waist. This caused him to cry “ah” once more as he clutched his old waist.
The first “ah” was from shock, the second “ah” was because his big movement had strained his old waist.
He could not care about the pain in his waist. He waved his hand and shouted urgently towards Yu Qing’s departing back, “Top graduate, A Shihuang, wait. This old man did not mean that. You have misunderstood this old man.”
Yu Qing pretended not to hear and strode away.
His mood was one of great relief. You all play on. I will not accompany you.
How could Censor Qi sit still? He waved his hand and shouted to the several people in the hall, “What are you looking at? Hurry and stop him.”
The several officials responded in unison and quickly trotted after him.
A servant wanted to help the also-chasing Censor Qi, but was refused by him.
Censor Qi waved the resignation letter in his hand to signal the servant to quickly bring Yu Qing’s official robe. It needed to be sent back immediately to resolve this matter.
The old man clutched his old waist as he chased after him. In his whole life he had never dreamed he would encounter such a thing.
Ask yourself, what kind of situation was forcing a top graduate to resign?
Moreover, this top graduate was a rare one in a hundred years who had achieved full marks in all four examinations.
If word got out, never mind how the court would view it, the spittle from people across the world could drown him.
He was already close to retirement and would soon retire. Causing such a matter now was really unbearable.
Therefore, regardless of his own position or his old waist, he had to chase.
Waving the resignation letter with one hand and clutching his old waist with the other, bending sideways with his waist that could not straighten, he chased after him.
With such a group shouting and yelling, the entire Censorate was quickly alarmed.
Chaos soon broke out inside the Censorate.
A group of civil officials could not stop Yu Qing at all. Yu Qing, whose mind was made up, waved and pushed left and right, sending them staggering aside one by one.
“Brother Shihuang, you must not act rashly.”
Lin Chengdao, who had rushed over upon hearing the news, turned pale with shock. He also chased to the gate of the Censorate to block him but was pushed aside by Yu Qing with one hand.
The person holding his official robe blocked in front of him and was also pushed aside by Yu Qing. His official hat immediately rolled down the steps.
“A Shihuang, this old man orders you to stop.”
Censor Qi, who had come out chasing while clutching his old waist, shouted desperately.
Yu Qing, who had walked down the steps, stopped, turned around, cupped his hands towards the crowd, and finally bowed once to Censor Qi. “Everyone need not persuade me further. It is I who have no interest in officialdom. It has nothing to do with Lord Left Censor. From now on the mountains are high and the waters long. If fate allows, we shall meet again. I bid you all farewell.” With that he turned and strode away.
The group of people on the steps stood stunned, all looking at each other.
Censor Qi, clutching his old waist and bent over, also remained silent with a choked expression. His grey beard fluttered slightly in the wind.
Yu Qing’s words had given him an explanation in public. As a dignified fourth-rank official, it was truly not easy for him today to persuade a ninth-rank minor official.
Lin Chengdao in the crowd had an exceptionally complicated expression. Yesterday’s lavish banquet had unexpectedly led to such a farewell.
His mind kept turning over how Yu Qing had prepared the resignation letter before and after. After all this, it turned out the man was serious. Why exactly?
No one understood. The group on the steps could not figure it out. With such a bright future ahead, why resign?
The carriage waiting under the shade of the trees opposite immediately drove over. The two guards saw so many people pouring out from the Censorate and did not understand what was happening. Only when Yu Qing boarded the carriage did they ask, “Young master, what is wrong with them?”
Even though they had seen an official hat roll down the steps, they would never have dreamed that Yu Qing was resigning.
Yu Qing, stepping onto the carriage shaft, lifted the curtain and got in. After sitting down he grabbed his sword in hand. He found that the feel of this thing was still good. Laughing heartily he replied, “Let them do whatever they want. It has nothing to do with us anymore. Go, head to the address on the invitation. We are going to host guests.”
The coachman and guards naturally listened to him. A carriage and two horses carried the people away with a clatter.
On the high steps outside the Censorate gate, a group of officials big and small watched speechlessly, all feeling as if in a dream.
Censor Qi looked at the resignation letter still held in his hand and sighed, “Who knows where the chief censor is? Quickly send someone to report.”
He could not make the decision on this matter, nor did he dare to. Otherwise the hat of forcing the top graduate to retire might end up on his head again.
In fact, a minor official resigning was nothing much, but the person behind this minor official was not simple. With things having reached this point, no one knew what direction it would take. Censor Qi, who had been in the capital for many years, had a certain sense and already felt that a storm was coming.
Imperial Chief Censor Pei Qingcheng was not elsewhere but inside the Duke of Xuan’s mansion, strolling in the garden with Duke Xuan Ying Xiaotang, who was dressed in splendid clothes and a jade belt.
As they strolled and chatted, what the two discussed was precisely the matter of Yu Qing wanting to resign.
This was already the second time Yu Qing wanted to resign. Pei Qingcheng could see that Yu Qing truly did not want to stay and had come to ask Ying Xiaotang for advice on how to resolve this.
Before they had settled on a result here, a servant from the duke’s mansion ran over to report, “Duke, someone has come from the Censorate saying there is an urgent matter to see Lord Pei.”
Ying Xiaotang, whose sideburns were a bit reddish, glanced at Pei Qingcheng. Seeing his furrowed brows, he said, “Let the person come over.”
Before long, a sixth-rank Censorate official who was one of Pei Qingcheng’s trusted aides hurried over. After first cupping his hands in greeting to the two, he reported urgently, “My lord, it is bad. A Shihuang has submitted his resignation letter, handed over his official robe, and left his post.”
Ying Xiaotang and Pei Qingcheng both widened their eyes. They had seen people in a hurry, but never someone in such a hurry to resign.
Previously Pei Qingcheng had already stopped him once. Neither had expected that Yu Qing could still do something like this behind Pei Qingcheng’s back.
Pei Qingcheng’s face instantly darkened. He said in a deep voice, “Did no one stop him?”
“They did stop him but could not. He threw down the resignation letter and official robe and ran. In order to chase him, Censor Qi even strained his old waist.” The visitor roughly described what had happened inside the Censorate.
“Absurd.” Pei Qingcheng stamped his foot in uncontrollable anger and rebuked.
Ying Xiaotang looked somewhat dazed and asked in return, “A person who could achieve full marks in all four subjects of the imperial examination can actually do such a ridiculous thing?”
Pei Qingcheng looked furious and lost his composure. “The duke does not know. That fellow’s conduct is indeed puzzling. He has simply no awareness at all of things in officialdom. He is unlike his father who could manoeuvre between His Majesty and the Si Nan Mansion for so long. I really somewhat suspect whether he was taught by A Jiezhuang. It enrages me.”
Ying Xiaotang waved his hand. “Do not get angry first. Once this matter comes out, I am afraid some people will seize the chance to strike. This lad has actively sent his own neck to someone else’s blade.”
Pei Qingcheng stamped his foot again and said, “Before I came I had reminded him and made it clear that someone is creating momentum against him and intends him harm. I told him not to cause extra trouble at this critical juncture. Now it seems I do not know whether he did not understand or did not listen to a single word. It is simply outrageous to the extreme.”
Ying Xiaotang said, “Never mind that for now. First suppress his resignation letter. Without the resignation letter he can still change his mind. This matter must be handled quickly.”
“I will go back now.” Pei Qingcheng cupped his hands, turned hurriedly and left.
“Your Censorate supervises others. Your carriage is not good for racing and colliding inside the capital. Take my carriage. It will be faster.” Ying Xiaotang called out. After making Pei Qingcheng stay, he immediately turned and shouted, “Prepare the carriage.”
Soon the Duke of Xuan’s carriage was ready. Not only did Pei Qingcheng board urgently, but Ying Xiaotang also temporarily decided to go along. With him there, he could dispatch people at any time for emergencies. It was preparation in case of need.
With the crack of the whip, the duke’s carriage immediately rumbled off. Mounted riders led the way in front, followed by a group of guards behind.
Even so, some bumps and collisions could not be avoided along the way.
But there was no time to care. The group rushed urgently to the Censorate.
Pei Qingcheng got off the carriage and immediately strode quickly up the steps. Ying Xiaotang stayed in the carriage waiting for news.
Inside the left censor’s office, Censor Qi, who was having his waist rubbed, suddenly saw someone burst in. Seeing it was Pei Qingcheng, he slowly stood up intending to greet him.
Pei Qingcheng did not waste words with him and asked directly, “Where is A Shihuang’s resignation letter?”
At these words, the several people in the office looked at each other and none dared to speak.
Pei Qingcheng immediately realised something was wrong and shouted angrily, “Give me A Shihuang’s resignation letter.”
Censor Qi said awkwardly, “Chief Censor, you came one step too late. Just now, someone from the Ministry of Personnel suddenly came and took away A Shihuang’s resignation letter.”
Pei Qingcheng’s cold gaze swept around the room. Sure enough, what was feared had come. No need to say, it must be that the eyes and ears planted in the Censorate from outside had leaked the news. Otherwise the information could not have spread so quickly.
But it was understandable. In a place with so many people, having outside eyes and ears was normal.
“Old Qi, I misjudged you.” Pei Qingcheng coldly threw down these words at Censor Qi, then turned and strode away.
Censor Qi had a bitter expression on his face. If he had insisted, the Ministry of Personnel could not have taken that resignation letter. At least they could not have snatched it by force. He could at least have waited for the chief censor to return before deciding. But with retirement imminent, he did not want to offend anyone.