Transmigrating to the Ming Dynasty’s Imperial Examination Ch. 100

Chapter 100

After a morning of swordsmanship practice at the Xie residence, Cui Xie was drenched in sweat, partly due to the scorching weather and the two cups of wine he had downed during lunch. Following the meal, Xie Ying had kindly arranged for him to bathe and change into clean robes.

Cui Xie’s clothes, which had been soaked through, had been sent for washing and would not dry in time, so he left them at the Xie Residence and planned to retrieve them during their next meeting. Fortunately, he had changed his yesa a close-fitting short garment for the training session, which had remained dry and comfortable to change into for his journey back home.

In the courtyard, under the shade of a flower trellis in the courtyard, a long bench was placed for Cui Xie to lay down and air-dry his hair. Xie Ying, too, settled himself nearby on a cooler part of the seat, casually flipping through the newly released 《The Six Talents and their Commentaries on the Romance of the Three Kingdoms》.

Despite Xie Ying’s recent reserved demeanor and certain distance in his attitude, his care for Cui Xie remained attentive as ever, evident in his allowing Cui Xie to use his facilities for bathing and changing without having to go home covered in sweat. Cui Xie found this quiet companionship quite agreeable. Under the trellis, the dappled shade and the sight of unripe, green grapes hanging in clusters like pearls above provided a refreshing and soothing ambience.

Lying in the courtyard with his eyes closed, Cui Xie recited his notes from his memory, refreshments within arm’s reach. Whenever he felt fatigued, his eyes would flutter open to gaze at the clusters of grapes dangling from the top of the trellis, luxuriating in the tranquility of the afternoon.

Occasionally, Xie Ying, engrossed in his book, would glance over and mistaking Cui Xie’s stillness for slumber, he wanted to consider suggesting for the other to retire indoors for a more comfortable rest. However, before he could act on this thought, Cui Xie would invariably open his eyes, looking around alertly. Xie Ying would then quietly retract his long legs. Leaning against the ancient tree behind him, he continued reading.

As the sun began its descent in the sky, Xie Ying suggested Cui Xie not to lay down any longer, concerned that the evening breeze might chill the other’s still-damp hair and bring on a cold.

Cui Xie’s hair was notably very thick and dense, having not directly dried even after half a day. Making do with how much had already dried, Cui Xie gathered his locks and put it into a gauze net, wrapping it up in a new cap prepared by the Xie Residence. Xie Ying did not keep him for dinner. Seeing that it was getting late, Xie Ying instructed someone to help him change into his outerwear from earlier and said, “It is rare for you to have a rest. I am afraid your family is waiting for you. Do not spend the entire day away from home.”

But truthfully, at this late hour, the whole day had almost passed anyway.

Smiling, Cui Xie shook his head, bowed and said his goodbye to Xie Ying and took a carriage back to the Cui Residence. His family had been awaiting his return all day. Spotting him alighting from the carriage at a distance, the doorman, too eager to inform the household, hurried to greet him. They eagerly relayed the news of the County Magistrate’s visit to present an commendation, chattering as they followed closely beside him.

Cui Xie first bid farewell to Xie Shan, asking the servant to convey his thanks to his master. He then asked the doorman, “Why did the County Magistrate come to our Residence?”

The doorman, with a wrinkled face, replied, “Did Young Master not hear what I just said? The County Magistrate came to commend our family for the charitable support of the orphaned and the elderly. He even brought a plaque, which is now hanging at the entrance of the main courtyard. The Old furen has been anxiously waiting for you all day, as well as Teacher Lu.”

Cui Xie would need to find time to visit the county yamen to express his gratitude some time.

Nodding casually, Cui Xie headed to his courtyard first to change robes and then headed to pay his respects to the elders. As he approached the main courtyard, he saw the plaque hanging on the lintel. The ink characters on the red-lacquered plaque were strictly and meticulously crafted, displaying formidable brushwork. Without any gold paint acting as embellishment, the ink’s natural luster shone brilliantly under the sunlight.

In the world of scholars, prestige was of the utmost importance. Although this plaque may not bring any ancestral honor or lasting legacy like the memorial archway constructed in his ancestral hometown would, it was still a matter of considerable dignity, all things considered.

Cui Xie paused outside to admire the plaque for a moment before entering the courtyard. By this time, Teacher Lu had grown restless from waiting and was now instructing He-ge on his calligraphy in the main courtyard. Upon his arrival, Cui Xie respectfully greeted Teacher Lu, who observed Cui Xie’s brightly colored silk attire and headscarf. Containing his eagerness, Teacher Lu calmly said, “You’re back. It is just in time. I am teaching He-ge calligraphy. Why don’t you also write a few characters to demonstrate for him?”

Cui Xie assented and first went to pay his respects to his grandparents. The Old furen recounted in detail the County Magistrate’s visit.

While the doorman had not gone into much detail earlier, his grandmother recounted how the Magistrate had praised their family’s benevolence and Cui Xie’s filial piety. She narrated the event in detail, from beginning to end. Midway through her narration, she remembered to have a meal prepared and with a fond smile, said, ‘Today, in your absence, Teacher Lu kindly entertained the Magistrate on our behalf. Later, you and He-ge should dine with Teacher Lu outside and make sure to dedicate a few toasts to him.”

At this moment, Teacher Lu was not in the mood for drinking and even restrained Cui Xie from indulging too much. Lightly touching the wine to his lips, Teacher Lu advised, “You are not a great poet like Li Bai, whose genius is ignited by wine. Drinking is more likely to muddle your thoughts instead. If you become confused, you might not even be able to write neatly. How will you then set an example for your younger brother?”

Under Teacher Lu’s strict supervision, Cui Xie was very restrained and He-ge did not even dare to glance at the wine jug. The younger brother focused solely on his meal, eating but without really tasting the food.

Finally, when the meal was over, Teacher Lu hastily ordered for the table to be cleared away. He had Cui Xie write a few lines of the《Thousand Character Classic》, marking them with red circles for He-ge to use as a model for his calligraphy practice.

Cui Xie, a little embarrassed, looked at He-ge and said, “My calligraphy is just average. It would be better for you to copy from tablet inscriptions instead.”

Teacher Lu stated, “For a younger brother to emulate his elder brother’s handwriting is natural and expected practice. If you are concerned about the quality, then simply practice more. Eventually, you can replace this piece with a better one.”

He-ge, not yet able to discern the finer points of calligraphy, held his elder brother in high esteem, considering him a distinguished and accomplished figure, being a little tertiary winner. He believed that anything written by his brother must be exemplary and eagerly prepared to copy from it. After having He-ge write for an entire afternoon, Teacher Lu finally showed a hint of leniency, waving his hand and saying, “You’ve written enough, be careful not to strain your wrist. Go rest now, I will spend some time discussing literature with your elder brother.”

Stealing a glance at his teacher and noticing his focus was solely on his elder brother, He-ge felt relieved of the attention. With a burst of joy, he happily scampered off.

Cui Xie took this opportunity to seek guidance from the elder, neatly organizing the scattered papers on the table before speaking to Teacher Lu, “I too, have something I wish to consult with you, Teacher. A few days ago, Vice Director Lin of the Imperial College mentioned that my parallel verses lacked the smooth and flowing quality typical of song lyrics. He advised me to listen to more songs and learn the method of lyric composition. Could you possibly instruct me in this matter?”

Teacher Lu pondered for a moment before asking in clarification, “Are you interested in learning the Northern tunes or Southern operas? To compose song lyrics, one must first understand the principles of musical scales. I have not delved in these aspects and thus, cannot teach you the intricacies of the six palaces and eleven tonalities. The rhymes used in songs also differ from those utilized in traditional poetry. If you wish to learn, you should first study texts like 《Rhymes of the Central Plain》by Gao Anshi¹ and 《The Music Score of Great Harmony》by Prince Xian of Ning. It would also be beneficial to find a master to learn about these musical compositions. Without an understanding of musical tones, memorizing over 600 tune patterns across the six palaces and eleven tonalities²…. will prove to be quite arduous and labor-intensive.”

Studying music is too time-consuming, can we start by discussing Guan Hanqing’s artistic achievements or similar topics instead?

Before Cui Xie could timidly voice his request, Teacher Lu turned to him with a stare and a probing question, “Why study the art of songwriting when poetry is our true calling as scholars? You have been learning from me for a few days now, how has your poetry been progressing? You have yet to master the intricacies of poetic meters and now you wish to delve into lyricism and composition. Do you really have the time to devote to these other pursuits!”

The mention of poetry instantly silenced Cui Xie, who respectfully bowed and replied, “I have remembered all that you have taught me, Teacher, but I fear my thoughts are too narrow, making my writing stiff and lifeless.”

Teacher Lu responded, “With practice, your vision will broaden. Think about how many essays you have written to date, compared to the few poems you have attempted drafting. Essays often consist of disjointed sentences and even when structuring eight-part couplets, they do not demand strict adherence to rhythm and tone patterns. Poetry, on the other hand, requires each line to conform to the precise rules of tone and meter, making initial attempts naturally awkward and uncomfortable. I will give you a topic, write a poem on it and let us evaluate if you have really been applying yourself lately.”

Just after returning  from a day of leisure, Cui Xie found himself facing an unexpected quiz on lessons he had not reviewed, truly a disheartening outcome. Had he known Teacher Lu was waiting for him at home, he would have prepared a poem in advance rather than reviewing previous lectures.

But, composing poetry was not as straightforward as writing an essay and even when deriving topics from the Four Books and Five Classics, one could make educated conjectures about the subject matter. Despite focusing solely on poetry that afternoon, his efforts seemed misaligned with what Teacher Lu sought.

Resigning himself to the challenge, Cui Xie stood up and respectfully requested, “Please, Teacher, propose a topic.”

Teacher Lu, having pondered all afternoon over this, promptly suggested, “Visiting your parents clearly acknowledges your reputation for filial piety and your heartfelt devotion to the home. Your care for the elderly in the family is evident to all, yet with your father serving his term in a remote land, there has been little chance for you to express your affection. Why not compose a poem to convey these feelings of longing and remembrance?”

….Was Cui Xie still harboring thoughts for Advisor Cui?

Cui Xie almost wished that he could go to the Ministry of Personnel and pay to extend that Advisor Commissioner’s term, ensuring he never returns to the capital! All his hard work at home, transferring properties and safeguarding assets, was primarily to guard against this very Advisor. If it were just his grandparents and younger siblings, Cui Xie would have openly acknowledged ownership of the Peace of Mind Study already.

Seeing his clear reluctance, the end of Teacher Lu’s beard twitched slightly and Teacher Lu let out a cold huff, “You haven’t reviewed what I taught you these days, have you? If you were to choose a rhyme, do you know which one to use?”

Cui Xie, regaining his composure, sighed lightly, “For a farewell poem, the mood will naturally be melancholic and sorrowful. Using the pingshui rhyme system³, it should be from the ‘You’ category. 

Struggling in front of the blank paper, Cui Xie managed to cobble together a poem, strictly adhering to the poetic form he had chosen: “Sitting, I watch the swallows in front of the hall, chirping of separation from their kin. Thoughts flow away like water, dreams drift to the south of Yunnan. To the willows by the blue river, I send this message—cease clinging to the boat on Erhai Lake. Though bound by blood and flesh, I dare not forget the worries of my Lord.”

Teacher Lu observed Cui Xie’s expressions while writing the poem and the speed of his brush. He could tell there had not been much improvement in recent days, so he shook his head in mild disappointment.

Only when Cui Xie finally set down his brush and Teacher Lu reviewed the written poem that he noted that while the rhymes were correctly placed, the neck couplet lacked precision and the rhythm of the sentences was not lively enough. The last three lines followed a monotonous two-two-one rhythm. If he were to forcibly find a merit in the poem, it would be the shift in the latter half’s sentiment. It transitioned away from personal emotions, highlighting a readiness to endure the pain of separation from family for the sake of serving the country. 

Teacher Lu initially taught Cui Xie the five-character regulated verse, a format known for its ceremonial nature. Bearing the hallmark of being ‘ceremonial’, these poems naturally prioritized themes of loyalty to the sovereign and fostered patriotic sentiment, allowing for a degree of flexibility in word choice and rhythm.

In essence….when Teacher Lu had boasted to County Magistrate Jiang about Cui Xie’s lofty intentions, he had not been exaggerating.

Pinching the bridge of his nose, Teacher Lu circled two areas in the composition before beginning his critique, “The first couplet’s latter line displayed the error of ‘crane’s knee’ where both words surrounding the ‘子” (zi) ‘ character were of level tone; the neck couplet’s ‘flowing water’ and ‘south of Yunnan’ were an awkward match. The character ‘flowing’ also belongs to the ‘You’ rhyme category, presenting an issue of minor rhyme and the phrase, ‘dreams drift to the South of Yunnan’ formed a tripartite rhyme, lacking in refinement. Furthermore, the neck couplet’s ‘blue river’ and ‘Erhai Lake’ were paired too contrivedly…”

Returning the poem with visible displeasure, Teacher Lu reproached sternly, “Poetry must emulate from the heart and must convey genuine emotion. But in your verses, I cannot find a sincere expression of father-son affection. It is as if your spirit was not even present while writing this. Not only does this poem lack emotional depth, but the language also lacks coherence. First, rectify these flaws.”

Although Cui Xie faced this scolding, his heart remained light, still fondly recalling the leisurely hours spent at Xie Ying’s residence . Struggling to summon feelings of longing or sorrow right now, he chose not to force himself. Instead, he focused on correcting the mistakes highlighted by his teacher, he painstakingly rewrote the poem with meticulous care: “Sitting, I watch swallows before the hall, parting from kin, the child laments in sorrow. In thought, I ride their wings to distant shores, in dreams, I send my longing aboard the Official’s ship. I speak of old times to the willows by the blue river, urging not to entwine with the boats on Erhai Lake. While family bonds are indeed precious, I dare not forget my duty to the nation.”

Devoid of such heartfelt emotion at the moment, Cui Xie endeavored to strike a more lofty note instead.

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1. Rhymes of the Central Plain: rhyme dictionary written during the Yuan dynasty and is divided into two parts. First part, correct rhyme patterns are explained. The second part deals with the composition of airs on the background of underlying rhyme patterns. It is an extremely influential book that influenced other writers to make similar compilations ↩︎
2. Six palaces and eleven tonalities: this classification system in traditional Chinese music relates to the modal and tonal structures of music. This is essential for understanding and composing traditional music, especially in the context of operas and classical composition. ↩︎
3. Pingshui rhyme system: Consists of 106 rhyme groups, with the sequence of level tone, falling-rising, falling and entering tones. More info at Chinaknowledge.com if you are interested! ↩︎

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TN: Hope you are all doing well and HAPPY LUNAR NEW YEARR!!! currently posting this from my parent’s home and about to make dumplings and delicious food today 🙂

Teacher Lu scolding Cui Xie is so funny I swear, but this is such character development for the teacher-student duo! Have a wonderful weekend and enjoy the chapter everyone 🙂

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