Transmigrating to the Ming Dynasty’s Imperial Examination Ch. 110

Chapter 110

In a secluded corner of the courtyard, Cui Xie and Xie Ying quietly immersed themselves in studying the perfume. Meanwhile, on the stage, the adjudicators diligently carried out their duty, evaluating the scoring of the poems, and then calculating the average scores to determine the vote counts.

In the Great Ming Dynasty, scholars were known for their love of poetry and this contest of poetic votes was not just a way to save money, but also a platform for showcasing talent and gaining recognition. Consequently, many participants had invested genuine effort in their compositions. After a rigorous screening by the experts, over a hundred poems remained in the expert category, necessitating a considerable amount of time for reading. The tally for the ‘True Love’s Votes’ was completed much more swiftly. Before the reading of the poems had even finished, the total vote count of more than 1800 votes was already announced: both Diao Chan and Ziao Qiao garnered around 450 votes each, being close contenders. Lady Zhen received nearly 400 votes while Lady Sun a bit less with around 300 votes, and trailing behind was Da Qiao.

In both history and in the popular narratives, Da Qiao existed merely as a faint shadow, lacking her own distinct tales in dramas and stories. Even with actress Xu Qing’s portrayal in modern times, the historical figure could not quite overshadow the other four, ultimately leaving her without much hope for a turnaround.

With the ‘True Love Votes’ showing little disparity, the decision now hinged on the ‘Expert Poetry Master’s Votes’. The audience regretted not bringing more funds, wishing they could have cast additional votes to support their favored beauty. At this point, their hopes rested on the literary talents serving as adjudicators. Hundreds of eyes in the audience fixated on the stage, and hundreds of ears perked up, attentively listening to the scores being announced.

When it was the turn of their supported beauty, they eagerly wished for the judges to award higher marks. For those they were less fond of, they silently hoped for lower marks.

With their desires and disappointments intertwined, even the seemingly mundane process of reciting poems and scoring became as nerve-wracking as gambling. Surrounded by an audience mostly unversed in the nuances of poetic meter and rhyme, the announcement of each score sent ripples through the crowd, stirring them into an animated frenzy. They cheered and jeered uncontrollably, foaming at the mouth as  chaotic cacophony ensued beneath the stage—

“The verse is splendid, a truly ingenious line!”

“What’s so great about it? I can’t even understand it! Didn’t some poet say that the best poetry should be clear to even an elderly lady?”

“Pei, what do you know about poetry? This line, ‘Dew-laden chilled night, heavy silk clothes weigh heavily’, is far superior to ‘Contention over King Wen’s love for a new consort ensued.’!

….

Elsewhere, an author, upon hearing their own poem receive a low score from the judges, would rise up, vehemently protesting that the scoring was unjust and that there was alleged bias in the selected process.

The adjudicators, however, remain composed, continuing to score each poem with impartiality, undisturbed by the commotion below. The performers dressed as the beauties were not as nearly as composed. Clinging to the dividing screen, they peeked out anxiously, whispering, “They won’t really start a fight, will they?”

Before the unrest in the crowd could escalate any further, a hand reached out from among the people, firmly grasping the shoulder of the one leading the uproar below, delivering a forceful pat to calm the situation.

Seizing a rare moment of commanding attention, the man in question was fervently protesting the adjudicators’ injustice, intent on defending his poem and the beauty it celebrated. But, he was abruptly silenced by a firm pat on the shoulder that left him gasping for breath. Clutching his shoulder and hopping in agitation, he turned around and shouted, “Who is it? Why hit me?”

As he looked back, he saw a young man he did not recognize. With a handsome, dashing appearance and a faint smile on his face, the youth lacked any overt aura of authority. Yet, when their eyes met, the protester felt an inexplicable blockage in his throat, as if he was a frog petrified by the sight of a snake, suddenly unable to utter a single word.

The young man in question, as if having touched something unclean, brushed off his hands and said with a smile, “Tonight, many distinguished guests are present to admire the beauties and to crown the foremost scholar of our time. By accusing a disturbance for your own sake, if you alarm the esteemed audience and disrespect these legendary beauties, how could you possibly bear the responsibility?”

While his voice was not deliberately loud, it was filled with such resonant clarity that it effortlessly pierced through the crowd.

The scholar causing the commotion, trying to hang in there, asked, “Who are you?”

The young man looked down at his waist, where a brocade pouch hung. Inside it housed the badge of ‘Colonel of the Jinyiwei’, though it was not something to be flaunted here. Xie Ying merely gazed calmly at the scholar and asked, “The judges just scored the poem, ‘Endless thoughts flow for the beauties, as boundless as my yearning’ about the Qiao sisters with three points, and that’s when you started causing a scene, right? I am not mistaken, am I? Did you not write that poem? You are here and so is your poem. The local yamen runners and bailiffs are on standby in the courtyard. Do you prefer to stay put quietly, or want to cause more trouble and end up in the Daxing County Jail?”

The scholar was instantly silenced. While a few other individuals in the crowd shouted in defiance, willing to argue on his behalf, another young voice suddenly rose from the back, clear and assertive, “If you gentlemen are so passionate about defending the quality of poetry, you must be scholars too. But if you quarrel with the judges over a poem like, ‘I think of the beauties boundlessly, the east wind unseen in my yearning gaze. Had the Qiao sisters met me first, they would not have wed Sir Sun or Sir Zhou’, and this matter reaches the capital tomorrow, will you still have the dignity to call yourselves true scholars?”

“He…he wrote that poem…”

Realizing that the ringleader was the author of such a poem, the previously fervent group of young scholars could no longer muster their outrage. The soldiers and merchants, unfamiliar with poetry, burst into laughter, diffusing the tense atmosphere that had filled the courtyard.

Hearing the scathing mockery, the scholars who had led the uproar took a moment to reconsider their ‘masterpieces’. Realizing that their works were not of a caliber worth proudly reciting aloud, they quickly covered the faces and melted away into the crowd. 

The performers on the stage, now feeling safe to emerge, leaned over the railing, holding lanterns to illuminate the crowd below. Their voices, soft and sweet, expressed their gratitude, “Many thanks to the Young Masters, for quelling this disturbance. Would you please come forward and accept this servant’s gratitude? The chaos earlier was truly frightening.”

“We sisters have always strived for harmony. How could we let our esteemed guests disrupt their peace over us servants…”

However, Xie Ying and Cui Xie had already disappeared into the throng. Preferring to keep a low profile and since both dressed in dark, inconspicuous robes, even those nearby had not noticed where they had gone.

Those who had been illuminated by the performer’s lanterns had now forgotten what they had been arguing about and no longer cared to seek out the instigators. The audience jostled for a chance to be seen under the stage, echoing in agreement, “Indeed, what is the fuss over a few sour poems? Those poems did not garner many votes anyway. Arguing over a fraction of a vote is futile compared to spending a bit more money to earnestly purchase books and submit votes for the beauties!”

The chaos gradually dissipated into nothingness, leaving the dedicated adjudicators to finally tally the votes: Xiao Qiao with 36 votes, Lady Zhen with 30 votes, Diao Chan with 23 votes, Da Qiao with 18 votes and Lady Sun with 15 votes. Any fractional points calculated in the average scores were rounded off to the nearest whole number and not counted in the final tally.

The number of expert votes was high for Da Qiao, largely due to the frequent pairing of the Qiao sisters in the poems. Any poem praising both sisters ended up having its final score equally split between the sisters. Lady Zhen, managed to hold her own against the two famed Qiao sisters of Jiangdong, owing much to her success to the fondness scholars held for poet Cao Zhi’s《Goddess of the River Luo》.

With the scores all calculated, the ultimate winner was Xiao Qiao, followed by Lady Zhen, Diao Chan, Lady Sun and Da Qiao. However, the top-ranked poem was one praising Lady Zhen, penned by an author who simply used the pen name, “Master of the Western Waters’.

Afterward, the bookstore’s clerk removed the vote-counting banners and replaced it with a new white cloth. Cui Qi emerged from behind the screens and meticulously coped the pen names, “Master of the Western Waters’, ‘Scholar of the Clear Hall’, ‘Xie of Wanping’, ‘Hermit of the Pearl’, ‘Idler Amidst Books’ and others. Below each name, he transcribed the poems they had authored.

Having received some formal training in calligraphy and painting from Teacher Lu, Cui Qi’s calligraphy, while not exceptionally outstanding, was quite commendable, especially for someone of a merchant’s standing.

Praises came forth from the crowd for his effort, causing a slight blush to color his cheeks, which were thankfully obscured under the lantern light. Gripping the brush nervously, he addressed the audience, “These five poets are the top laureates of today’s poetry contest. Our store will gift the portraits of the beauties featured in their poems as a reward. If any of the poets are present, please come to the reception area outside with your seal or other proof of identity to claim the prize. For those not present today, we will post the poems outside the Peace of Mind Study tomorrow and wait for the poets to come and collect their prizes.

The audience looked around expectantly, hoping someone would step forward to claim their prize, eager to witness a bit of excitement unfold.

The excitement the crowd had been anticipating indeed materialized. From the back of the crowd, several voices shouted loudly, “Open the way, our Young Master is the ‘Ilder Admist Books’! The portrait of Da Qiao belongs to our Young Master.”

The crowd parted, everyone strained their eyes in the lantern light by the stage together to have a better look at and remember this man who had stolen the beauty. The man was dressed in a flamboyant red robe with a cinched waist, the belt tight around his ribcage, making the hem of his robe flare out impressively. He walked with his head held high and his chest puffed out, a folding fan partially concealed his visage, revealing only his thick eyebrows and large eyes. Looking to be around twenties, wealthy and leisurely, he was the envy of many. 

He glanced around at the mix of envious and admiring scholars, a hint of pride flickering across his face. Smiling, he said, “Although I did not bring my seal, I can prove it—I cast seventeen votes for Da Qiao alone, and even more for the other four beauties. Surely, no one else has voted as generously as I have?”

It was a pity that repeat votes had not been counted; otherwise, the competition for the top two beauties would have been even more thrilling.

The screen doors on stage split and a waft of fragrant mist emerged, followed by a figure in white, gracefully walking forward—it was Da Qiao herself. As she approached, the eyeliner and vermillion rouge applied around her eyes became more clear, but under the soft light, it did not appear too harsh. Instead, her makeup seemed extraordinary, only adding to her stunning allure.

She approached, enveloped in a fragrant breeze, and handed the scroll to the Young Master with a deep bow, saying softly, “Thanking Young Master for your admiration. May Young Master not forget me.”

Da Qiao, like the wind in her comings and goings, left behind only the scroll and a few traces of her scented powder on the ground from her delicately patterned shoes, a testament to her real presence moments ago.

The self-proclaimed, ‘Idler Amidst Books’, tapping his folding fan against his palm, looked towards the screen and sighed, “After today, the status of the five beauties will surely soar hundredfold. I am indeed curious to see the remaining beauties and learn who the poets who won their portraits with their verses.”

With that sigh, he walked away, and no one else dared to come forward as boldly to claim a painting, much to the disappointment of those who relished the entire spectacle. Watching him leave, Cui Xie mused, “A scholar indeed. I wonder where he is from? Perhaps one day, we might compete in the same Imperial examinations.”

He needed more preparation in his studies…

Cui Xie shook his head. He then noticed Xie Ying beside him, barely containing his laughter, his shoulders trembling slightly. Finally, in a low voice, Xie Ying said, “That man is hardly a scholar. Most likely, he brought these poems and paid someone else to write them.”

So it was a purchased poem…it seems that ghostwriting and hiring people to take one’s place were practices as old as time, not particularly surprising. Cui Xie sighed at the thought that the integrity was not very different from modern times and asked, “Xie-xiong, do you know this Young Master?”

Xie Ying smiled knowingly, his eyes curving as he spoke, “Not only do I know him, but you are indirectly acquainted with him too—his name is Gao Su, nephew of Gao gonggong, who awarded you your commendation. He holds a nominal position in the Jinyiwei and receives an official’s salary.”

Cui Xie immediately expressed his respect, “When I entered the Imperial Palace, I was indeed assisted by Gao gonggong’s people. Since he likes the paintings, why don’t I send all five to his residence?”

Xie Ying shook his head, “There is no need. It should not be known for you to associate with him, as it might raise suspicions. Besides, these paintings, worth ten taels of silver each, are not worth making a special delivery for.”

The value of their paintings lay in their rarity. If there weren’t so many copies, they could have fetched a higher price due to their novelty. But having been mass-produced, they became common and vulgar objects.

Cui Xie actually preferred that they were not worth anything. The guests at today’s garden gathering were either wealthy or noble figures, and if only those five paintings were available, they could have been auctioned off for a significant sum. But, wouldn’t those who missed out feel disappointed? And wouldn’t those who paid a high price feel it was not worth it?

This was no longer the time when they could rely on the names of a fifth-grade official’s son or the backing of a third-grade commander-in-chief to ensure safety within Qian’an County. These nobles could be easily displeased, and their small establishment, the Peace of Mind Study, might not withstand the pressure.

As no new scholars came forward to claim the paintings, the visitors began to disperse. With this, the beauty contest began to disperse. Guided by attendants and bailiffs, the guests slowly exited. Those who wished to stay could still enjoy some late-night snacks, and each person received a beautiful lantern as a keepsake, making the trip worthwhile.

Seeing his colleagues in the distance, Xie Ying gently squeezed Cui Xie’s hands and whispered, “I will go join them. It is not good for us to be seen in such close contact. You should head back too, to avoid raising suspicions among your classmates…”

Handing over the lantern and clothing bundle to Cui Xie, he turned and walked away. Cui Xie watched him disappear into the floral shadows, then went against the flow of the crowd towards the stage, waiting to join the adjudicator’s group in the return to the Eastern Courtyard for rest.

The adjudicators, unconcerned with where he had been, greeted Cui Xie with smiles, asking eagerly, “Hezhong, you know who wrote that excellent poem about Lady Sun?”

Ah? Cui Xie was momentarily taken aback. Observing the few individuals in the room, he noticed that some were barely containing their excitement, almost itching to go on stage and announce it themselves, while others were suppressing their joy, attempting to maintain a composed and modest demeanor. From this, he surmised that the author must be among their own group. His gaze circled the room, and only Fei Hong appeared genuinely indifferent and would not laugh as soon as he opened his mouth. Recognizing him as a familiar face from past encounters, Cui Xie approached to inquire, “May I ask Fei Hongyuan, who penned the poem?”

Fei Hong’s calm demeanor instantly shattered, his eyes flickering evasively as he asked in a low voice, “How did Cui anshou ascertain it was me?”

A scholar in the room expressed his amazement, “What a divine guess! You just walked in and took a few glances, and knew it was Fei Zichong?”

Fei Hong’s uncle, Fei Rui, with a smile, praised, “Cui anshou truly has extensive knowledge, even aware of our Jiangxi’s ‘Hermit of the Pearl’.

Cui anshou…it had really been a lucky guess rather than a calculated deduction. But, he could not reveal the truth at the moment. So, playing the part of the sagely and inscrutable, Cui Xie said with a smile, “Congratulations to Fei jieyuan. Quickly have them wrap up Lady Sun’s portrait for Uncle and nephew to take home.”

Fei Hong regained his composure and thanked him graciously, “Actually, I should be the one thank you, Cui anshou. My Uncle is planning a trip back to our hometown soon. I had not expected that before his departure, we would have the opportunity to serve as adjudicators together and witness such a lively event. Recollecting this experience in the future will certainly alleviate some of the loneliness.”

Cui Xie had just learned of the departure of Fei Hong’s uncle, though it seemed the students of the Hall of Natural Accordance had already been aware of the matter and seemed somewhat nostalgic about it. They had agreed to have a farewell drink at the guest courtyard later.

As the activities in the area were winding down, Fei Rui helped his nephew collect the painting he won. As they were getting ready to leave, there was suddenly a knock at the gates below. An attendant went down to open the gates and escort the visitor inside. After confirming his identity, the attendant announced loudly from below, “Boss, the author of the winning poem for Diao Chan, from the Xie family of Wanping, has arrived to collect his painting.”

Cui Xie swiftly instructed the attendants to set up a screen to provide some privacy for the judges, leaving a table outside for registration purposes. He also asked the performer who portrayed Diao Chan to welcome the winner.

The award recipient was supposed to register and confirm their identity upon arrival, but as soon as the person began to speak, a slight sweat broke out on the foreheads of the adjudicators behind the screen. They instantly recognized the voice, but dared not to utter a word—it was the voice of their Teaching Assistant in poetry, Xie Jing!

Teaching Assistant Xie, unaware of the adjudicators’ recognition, casually inquired, “I do not have a seal for identification, but I can compose a poem on the spot as proof of my identity. Would the adjudicators care to evaluate it?”

No, no need, they all believed in the Teaching Assistant’s integrity and that he was not someone impersonating to be another!

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TN: Hope you are all doing well, have a great weekend and stay safe! I am nearing the end of my school semester and am graduating in May! Apologies if any translations posts are late in the future as I have a lot to finish as I wrap up everything! Enjoy the chapter!

Huge Announcement: We have set up a kofi and patreon account! If you would like to support us or get early access to advance chapters for Blood-Sucking Empress OR TMD, those options are available for you (in support us page)! I have just added a patreon tier for Transmigrating to the Ming Dynasty’s Imperial Examinations in which patreons can have access to a google document with ALL of my advanced translated chapters for the novel. Since I am a college student, there should usually be at least 10 advance chapters in the document at a time, but depending on my schedules, there may be fewer or more. I’m currently extremely busy, but I have translated out some new chapters for you all! But, I will still post each week with the same schedule. Thanks!

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