Transmigrating to the Ming Dynasty’s Imperial Examination Ch. 125

Chapter 125

When Cui Heng first returned home, he had thought that Cui Xie was still the same weak da-ge he and his mother could manipulate at will. He planned to cause a ruckus to subdue him and then bring the household stewards under his control, continuing his life as the Second Young Master from before. However, he did not expect that the moment he turned against him, Cui Xie would be even faster and more decisive, giving him a thorough beating without a second thought. The spanking not only caused him pain, but also humiliated him.

The carriage driver, whom Cui Heng had initially disregarded, had now risen in status to become the steward of his courtyard, while his most loyal servants had been sent away. The maids and nurses who had taken care of him were nowhere to be seen. Instead, he was surrounded by few people, who, though they appeared simple and rough, were shrewd and cunning at heart.

These were all individuals Cui Liangdong had newly recruited from the outer courtyard and the other estates. They were all around twenty years old, accustomed to heavy labor, strong and straightforward, unafraid of angering the Second Young Master, and capable of restraining him with ease with just one hand.

Cui Liangdong had learned his lesson after the previous incident. After Cui Heng’s escape, he was fined three months’ salary. If Cui Heng caused trouble again, how much more could he afford to lose? Moreover, to make up for Cui Heng’s escape, Cui Liangdong had stayed up all night writing a five-thousand word self-reflection, losing a handful of hair in the process. To reach the word count, he even detailed his wife’s dramatic tactics of crying, making a scene and threatening to hang herself, carefully noting his wife’s advice for future situations like these. Finally, he was able to reach the word count and it just so happened that all of Cui Heng’s paths of resistance were thoroughly blocked.  Even if Cui Heng merely uttered ‘bastard’ in his room, his older brother would find out by evening and punish him severely with a bamboo rod, forcing his hands flat and hitting him hard.

His ruthless gege also made him memorize the 《Great Announcement Compiled by His Majesty》and 《Ming Code》, demanding he recite at least a hundred characters a day. If he could not, Cui Heng was only allowed to eat porridge and drink the pungent sheep’s milk without even a pinch of salt. Even if he managed to recite the text, he was still tortured, confined to his room until he memorized all the laws, and forbidden from leaving the residence.

Not allowed to leave his room, Cui Xie could only see the courtyard scenery through the window morning and night.

Initially, Cui Heng tried resisting in a rage, went on hunger strikes, pretended to be ill, and even faked suicide by hitting his head against the wall, but that was all in vain. The attendants, stronger than him, kept watch in shifts, never taking their eyes off him—even when he went to relieve himself in the toilet—there was no chance for Cui Heng to jump out the window and seek help.

In the end, Cui Heng could not stand it anymore. Eventually, after being confined for so long, he found solace in the two law books, reading them repeatedly every day until he surprisingly memorized them.

Realizing he had memorized both books, he was thrilled and shouted at the top of his lungs, “Someone! Call my brother! I’ve memorized these two books! Tell him to let me out!”

Steward Sun, outside the door, laughed and said, “Lower your voice, Er-ge. Our Young Master is a scholar in the Imperial Academy and cannot return during the day. Er-ge’s good news, this subordinate will report to the Eldest Young Master this evening and let him decide.”

Hearing this, Cui Heng bristled with anger and the hair on his body pricked up. Why should his brother of the same family be addressed as ‘Young Master’ while he was just ‘Er-ge?’ Back when his mother was still at home, wasn’t Cui Xie also simply called ‘Da-ge’ by the family?

Cui Xie deliberately employed these servile, dog lackeys to oppress Cui Heng. Once he left this courtyard and complained to his grandparents and father, Cui Xie would see the consequences of his actions!

Each day felt like a year for Cui Heng and he eagerly awaited Cui Xie’s return from the Imperial College, intending to recite both law books perfectly in front of his elder brother.

After dinner, Cui Xie indeed came to his courtyard and asked upon entering, “Heard you have memorized the books?”

Proudly, Cui Heng replied, “Of course! Without a single mistake. If you do not believe me, listen to this: 《Unity Between a Ruler and the Ministers Chapter 1》. In the past, when ministers accompanied their sovereigns, they demonstrated absolute loyalty and integrity…’”

Cui Xie listened to a couple of sentences and clapped his hands. “Well recited. Can you recite the entire book like this?”

“Of course I can! I’ve memorized both books. How can you still justify confining me?”

Feeling triumphant, Cui Heng was taken aback when Cui Xie said, “Since you have memorized them, you should not fear being tested, right? My studies are demanding and my duties numerous, so I do not have the time to watch over you daily. I will prepare some exam papers for you to take tomorrow. If you pass, you can leave this room.”

What? An exam? Did Cui Xie really think he was a teacher?

Cui Heng wanted to mock him a few times, but Cui Xie left promptly, without even a second glance — as if he were some high-ranking official with a lot of things to do, deigning to visit a commoner.

Cui Heng fumed with resentment and depression all night. But when he saw the neatly written exam papers the next day, his anger dissipated—and instead transformed into a deep anger and despair.

The exam papers were half an inch thick, all the size of standard letter paper, with questions neatly written in the formal clerical script:

《Great Announcement Compiled by His Majesty Imperial Examination Scroll》

Part One, Fill in the Blanks:

○ Minister of Revenue _____, Left Vice Minister _____, Ministerial Director_____, Vice Director _____, Chief Secretary _____, these officials, due to negligence, failed to execute their duties.

Part Two, Multiple Choice:

○ Which of the following regions produce no less than twenty thousand horses annually? (Multiple answers possible)

○ Yunnan ○ Liya ○ Songpan ○ Kaiyang ○ All of the above

Part Three, Definitions:

○ False Reporting Officials

○ Idle Wanderers

○ Orders Summoning Citizens

Part Four, Reading Comprehension;

Part Five, Short Answer Questions;

Part Six, Essay Questions;

Part Seven, Discursive Treatise on《Classic of Filial Piety

…

Cui Heng had spent countless days behind closed doors memorizing the《Great Announcement Compiled by His Majesty》and thought that even if he could not recite it backwards, he could at least recite it forwards fluently. How come…he felt dizzy and confused just looking at the exam paper? Even the simplest task of reciting the original text of the edict seemed uncertain now.

He angrily threw the paper aside and shouted at Steward Sun, “Where is Cui Xie? How dare he test me with this nonsense? I can recite it, have him come and listen to me recite it. I will not do these questions!”

Steward Sun raised an eyebrow and said, “Er-ge is mistaken again. Such disrespect for your elder brother won’t go unnoticed. Do not blame this subordinate for reporting this to the Young Master later. Our Young Master is at the Imperial College now, how can he have time to come home and listen to Er-ge’s recitation? He said that if Er-ge can complete these questions by noon and make fewer than five mistakes, Er-ge will be permitted to leave the room for a while.”

Cui Heng wanted to tear up the infuriating exam paper but, having been confined for so long, he could only close his eyes and reluctantly start answering the questions.

One of the questions required him to define the term ‘False Reporting Officials’, which referred to the case of a Vice Minister of the Imperial Court of Judicial Review, Ai Zuding, who falsely accused his colleagues and was sentenced to death during the reign of Emperor Taizu of Ming. As he wrote about this, it dawned on him—

He did not feel anything when he had been memorizing the text, but the wheels in his head began to turn when writing on the examination and he became shocked when he reached this point—

His own mother had committed a similar crime and narrowly escaped execution. How did she change the sentence to being exiled instead?

 He conveniently forgot that Cui Xie had written to the Emperor to save their mother and had only focused on how Cui Xie had caused him to suffer in exile. As he wrote, he felt bitterness and resentment, believing that Cui Xie had set these questions to deliberately torment him. The exam paper was thick and long, with difficult and peculiar questions that couldn’t be answered just by memorizing the text. His right arm ached with the effort and felt like it was about to fall off, feeling sore and painful, and Cui Heng could barely hold back tears of frustration as he muttered curses at Cui Xie for deliberately making things hard for him.

In reality, Cui Xie neither had the inclination nor the time to trouble him.

By October, the first batch of jasmine-scented floral dew distilled by Little Liang-ge had matured. They checked each bottle at the farmstead and found the aroma quite satisfactory, albeit a bit weaker compared to the foreign floral dews available on the market. However, since imported floral dews did not have jasmine scents, this slight deficiency wasn’t much of an issue.

In reality, Cui Xie neither had the inclination nor the time to trouble him.

By October, the first batch of jasmine-scented hydrosol made by Xiao Liang had matured. They checked each bottle at the estate and found the aroma quite satisfactory, albeit a bit weaker compared to the foreign floral waters available on the market. However, since imported floral waters didn’t have jasmine scent, this slight deficiency wasn’t much of an issue.

Cui Xie tried the scent himself and found it market-ready. He then ordered large, round, semi-transparent white porcelain bottles. The bottles were inscribed with the large black characters for ‘Pure Jasmine Dew’,  sealed with soft corks, and wax-coated. Each bottle was adorned with a jasmine-shaped silk tassel in green and white, with a colorful tag printed with jasmine flowers.

The floral dew boxes were also decorated with illustrations from the Peace of Mind Study, leveraging the popularity of the Three Kingdoms’ five beauties. The illustration featured a modestly dressed Xiao Qiao and this image of a gentle Xiao Qiao harmoniously paired with the pure white jasmine flowers.

When this floral dew was ready for market, the clerk that had been sent to deliver a letter to the Advisor Cui also reached the Yunnan Provincial Government yamen.

The clerk had traveled with a group trading medicinal herbs to Yunnan, taking a route via water to Sichuan before heading to Yunnan. Remembering his eldest sister, the Eldest Young Miss,  Jiao-jie, who lived in Sichuan with her husband and in-laws, Cui Xie had the clerk bring some family specialties as festival gifts for his married sister.

Jiao-jie, a shu born daughter, whose mother had passed away early, had not received any news from the family for years after her marriage. Upon receiving the family gifts and letter, she wept bitterly. Later, upon hearing the clerk’s report that her younger brother was now the head of the family, she felt remembered and sent back half of the gifts to the Cui family, along with a message for her father.

The timing of these gifts was unusual, as other officials’ in the provincial government families typically sent gifts around major holidays. Seeing these unexpected deliveries of cured meats, sausages, fabrics, and fresh fruits, many in the administration were quite envious.

However, Cui Que was not entirely satisfied.

The fruits were all cheap, worth no more than a few coins, and the cured meats and sausages were common fare, not from the renowned shops in the capital but from Sichuan. The silk was also from Sichuan, just ten bolts, enough to make some clothes but hardly suitable for gifting. It was embarrassing to give such modest gifts as if they were precious.

Why had these gifts, supposedly sent from the capital, ended up looking like they came from Sichuan?

At that moment, he was hosting Right Commissioner Wu Qi in his hall. With baskets of gifts being carried into the courtyard, he could not pretend it was not happening, so he called the gift bearers over, selected a few decent items, and said with a smile, “These are just a few humble gifts, I hope da-ren will not refuse them. They are from my family, and I will be distributing some to the Left Commissioner and other colleagues as well.”

Right Commissioner Wu laughed, “Since it’s a matter of Cui da-ren’s family, I will not intrude any longer.”

Cui  Que quickly insisted, “These are just some things sent from home, it’s hardly a matter of any significance. Please, da-ren stay seated, I will have these thoughtless people take the rest away.”

Yet he failed to realize that the capable and astute servants had all been brought to Yunnan with him for his appointment. How many of the remaining ones were loyal and considerate to him?

Before his arrival, the clerk had never even entered the Cui Residence’s main gate. His mind was solely focused on ensuring the prosperity of the family’s cosmetics shop who was managed and transformed by the Eldest Young Master. Fearing any delay, he hastily called out, “Laoye, this subordinate has more to deliver! The Eldest Young Master instructed this subordinate to personally hand over this letter along with the monthly reports and assignments from the young masters so that da-ren can review their progress.”

Quickly, he pulled out a thick packet of letters from his chest and placed it firmly by Cui Que’s side. “Here are the letters and the regular assignments and essays from our three young masters, awaiting Laoye’s review and guidance.”

Wu Qi looked at the thick bundle of letters, resembling a brick, and could not help but feel a bit envious. “Cui da-ren, your sons are truly filial. Unlike my own worthless son, who hardly writes me a few words all year.”

Wu Qi, also a jinshi, was about ten years younger than Cui Que, but had a much smoother career path. After leaving the Censorate, he was appointed as the Provincial Surveillance Commissioner in Yunnan, and after two terms, he was promoted to the Right Commissioner. His son, being only eight or nine, could barely write a letter. His comment was purely made out of politeness.

Assistant Administrative Commissioner Cui understood this. He dismissed the clueless servant and, holding the letters, said, “My children are just mischievous. Without an adult to discipline them, they are not quite presentable. It was my foolishness that led me to marry an unkind and unwise woman…” He shook his head, showing a look of regret. “I have been preoccupied with my duties, rarely managing my household. If I had a wise and virtuous person overseeing the family, how could such an ignorant and incompetent servant come out to disgrace us?”

Wu Qi smiled slightly, but did not respond directly.

Though he hadn’t returned to the capital for many years, Wu Qi still had several well-connected contemporaries and mentors in the city, keeping him informed. From the moment Cui Que arrived, he knew about this Left Assistant Administrative Commissioner’s troubles—how his furen had broken the law, how he had offended both the Senior Grand Secretary and Secondary Grand Secretary in the Grand Secretariat, and how he had been disgraced and effectively exiled to Yunnan. That he was even appointed as the Left Assistant Administrative Commissioner in Yunnan rather than being stripped of his rank and left idle was thanks to having a good son.

Initially, he had seen potential in Left Assistant Administrative Commissioner Cui, who had come from the Ministry of Revenue and had effectively managed the local fish-scale registers and other paperwork in Yunnan still possessed some good points. After listening to today’s remarks, it was really…

What was all this talk about foolish and ignorant children and a lack of adult supervision? The underlying meaning was all too clear.

In Yunnan Province, from the Left Provincial Commissioner He Jing down to the prefectural and county officials, registrars, assistant prefects, and provincial educational commissioners, there were indeed quite a few officials who brought their entire families with them. Although it wasn’t clear whose family this commissioner was targeting, Wu Qi did not  want to get involved in such matters or play matchmaker.

Wu Qi shook his head and smiled, saying, “Commissioner Cui, no need to be modest. If your son, who topped the provincial exams as a little tertiary winner, an anshou, is considered ignorant, then my son should be utterly ashamed to death. You have just left the capital and are naturally most homesick at this time. Quickly read your family’s letters. I have some official business to attend to, so I will take my leave.”

Cui tried to keep Wu Qi a bit longer, saying, ‘My sons’ letters contain nothing important’, but he couldn’t persuade Wu Qi to stay. Wu Qi also did not take any of the gifts with a Sichuan flavor from the Cui family and turned to leave.. Cui Que had no choice but to distribute the gifts among the higher-ups and then settled in to read his family’s letters, fuming as he read.

Even with his critical eye, Cui had to admit that Cui Xie’s letter was well-written.

Although the content was mostly about family matters, the writing was concise and straightforward, every word revealing genuine emotions. From distant matters like the Xu family coming to demand dowry items after he left, with Cui Xie having to pledge family possessions to them, to recent events like his second son returning from exile and being confined to study, to minor issues like the family having no money for new clothes and furniture, and major ones like donating funds to a local charity after selling the southern goods shop, leading to being honored by the County Magistrate…

The writing was clear and straightforward, all conveying a single word—poverty. So poor that they couldn’t afford festive gifts and had to ask Commissioner Cui for money to get through till New Year.

Cui Que initially found the writing impressive, with its tone of accepting poverty with grace and contentedness, embodying the spirit of a gentleman who enjoyed life. But as he read on, the real intention became clear. The blatant request for money at the end made him feel dizzy.

Traveling alone for official duties, where would he not need money? Didn’t the two concubines accompanying him require expenses? Without a proper furen at home, there was no one in his family who could properly manage the household coffers. Wouldn’t seeking a match with an official’s family of higher status, didn’t that require betrothal gifts and matchmaking fees?

He could not invest in properties in Yunnan and had to rely entirely on money sent from Beijing. Now, Beijing was asking him for money instead. What were those people running the shops and farms doing!

He called the clerk over to inquire about the family’s income in detail. The clerk knew nothing about the family’s finances and refused to divulge the real situation of the shops. Instead, he cried about the hardships after Commissioner Cui took the silver with him and how much silver had been taken by Xu-furen for high-interest loans, which the Eldest Young Master later forgave, leaving many accounting holes that had yet to be filled.

Commissioner Cui had never managed these affairs back home and felt irritated at the word ‘ no money’. He thought he understood the family’s situation better now and wrote a letter to Cui Xie, advising him to strictly manage his younger siblings, economize on household expenses, and diligently train the household staff and shopkeepers, replacing the dull ones with more capable individuals to increase the family’s income.

This year, the silver he brought from home was enough, and his marriage proposal was not urgent, so he was not in immediate need of money. However, it couldn’t be like this next year.

Cui Que put effort into writing the family letter and included two hundred taels of silver. He also gathered some home-cured meats, ham, and dried goods, and picked out a few items from the gifts his daughter had sent that he didn’t need. Sighing, he ordered the clerk to take them back.

The clerk who did not raise his eyes, obviously asked, “When this subordinate returns, this subordinate still needs to pass through Sichuan. Does Laoye have any letters or items to send to the Eldest Young Miss’s family?”

Cui Que snorted, thinking, ‘What is there to communicate with a mere juren‘s family?…’ However, since his son had sent a letter to his daughter and she had sent gifts back, he reluctantly spent some more money. He wrote a letter instructing his daughter to be gentle and virtuous and to be filial to her in-laws.

The clerk took the silver, food, and other items and returned by boat. On the overland journey, he hired a sturdy donkey and hurried back as fast as he could. By November, he had returned to Beijing, bringing Commissioner Cui’s letter and silver, as well as some food, to Cui Xie.

Holding this letter felt like an Imperial Inspector wielding the Emperor’s sword—though Cui Xie had always managed the household as he saw fit, having his father’s explicit backing now gave him even more confidence and authority.

Those who had been hoping for their father’s return to support them would now have to completely fall in line after seeing this letter.

---

TN: Apologies for the late post, had a busy weekend with grad school! Enjoy and hope y’all have a good week 🙂

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