Transmigrating to the Ming Dynasty’s Imperial Examination Ch. 97

Chapter 97

As they set out, the sun was already tilting towards the west, casting a pale golden-red glow over the distant green mountains in the distance, with its rays gently descending into the valleys.

Although Cui Xie’s small white horse was still young, it had already grown to a respectable size and was only marginally shorter than Xie Ying’s powerful Uriyangkha Mongolian steed. The two men unleashed their steeds outside the city, galloping freely. The white horse, with its hooves striking boldly, matched the lightning speed of Xie Ying’s mount, its movements swift and agile, barely trailing behind. 

Observing how Cui Xie could keep pace, his form rising and falling in harmony with his horse while seated with assured stability, Xie Ying could not help but express his admiration, “Your riding skills are quite good. It’s unexpected that a scholar like you would devote such attention to such an art.”

Cui Xie, visibly pleased, revealed a smile and said, “Not just riding, I am also adept at archery. One day, when we find a place with suitable targets, I will demonstrate my skill for you.”

Xie Ying looked at him, his lips curving up, “Then let’s wait for autumn. I will take you hunting in Pinggu.”

Cui Xie had never shot at a living, moving target, so he paled, feeling slightly apprehensive. However, in such matters, man should not admit defeat outright without trying. Considering that autumn was still a fair distance away, at worst, Cui Xie intended to practice more by setting up a target set up in the courtyard. Hence, with that thought, Cui Xie readily agreed to Xie Ying’s suggestion.

After circling half the city, the sun now sinking behind the rolling hills and valleys, the city gates were soon to be closed. They turned back towards the southern gates, re-entering the city. They then dismounted at a distance near one of the temples dedicated to Lord Guan Yu they randomly came across, quickly blending into the stream of people.

With Lord Guan Yu’s birthday approaching, the area outside every temple dedicated to the deity was extremely lively and bustling. Street performers exhibited their talents, vendors sold incense, joss sticks, candles, light refreshments and exotic sweets imported from distant lands. Among those from distant lands were the Hui, who were rarely seen on ordinary days, selling dairy products—these Hui people were likely descendants of the elite Semu¹ people of the Yuan Mongol empire, who had settled in Beijing, choosing to remain and continue their lives on Ming dynasty soil even after the Emperor Shun of Yuan had long left.

They not only sold roasted mutton and dairy products, but also offered brewed beef soup and braised beef, delicacies rarely found in Han Chinese food stalls. Cui Xie, having not enjoyed the taste of beef for a long time, purchased two bowls of beef soup from them, along with some natural yogurt.

This yogurt was significantly more acidic and tart then its modern counterparts, requiring a sprinkle of sugar to balance its flavor. Yet, it possessed a refreshing tanginess and crisp taste, as well as the additional benefit of supplementing calcium in the diet. Since his return to the capital, Cui Xie had primarily focused on physical exercise and had scarcely consumed milk. He decided it was time to regularly include fresh milk in his family’s diet, providing needed nourishment for both the elderly and the young in his household.

……And to perhaps encourage a little growth on his part as well.

Xie Ying watched as Cui Xie arranged for vendors to deliver milk and yogurt to his residence, seemingly fond of these products and expressed his astonishment, “Milk tends to have a strong fishy taste and can cause dryness, and the yogurt is extremely sour. Do you truly love to eat these?”

“A bit more sugar makes it quite pleasant.” Cui Xie spooned some sugar for Xie Ying and then scooped a large spoonful of the sugared yogurt into his mouth, closing his eyes in enjoyment and said, “Drinking milk helps one grow taller. I have been too busy with my studies these past two years and a lack of sleep may have affected my mel…”

He almost slipped up, nearly mentioning the word ‘melatonin’.

Instantly realizing his near slip of tongue, Cui Xie swiftly mended his words, “I mean it might affect the growth of my legs. Sitting next to Xie-xiong, comparing the length of our legs, how can I not be concerned?”

Xie Ying glanced at the subtle outline of Cui Xie’s knees under his layers of garment. The knee bones were not overly prominent, merely hinting at their refined and smooth contours beneath the fabric, much like Cui Xie’s own balanced and exquisite physique. Xie Ying found himself momentarily captivated before regaining composure, lowering his eyes as he softly smiled, “They are not short. You are still growing.”

Xie-xiong was truly good at talking.

Cui Xie was extremely happy to hear the compliment, but remained steadfast in his intent to supplement his diet until he could match Xie Ying in height. He quickly consumed the yogurt and stood up, pushing away from the table, “You may not be accustomed to yogurt, Let me prepare milk tea for you sometime. Iced milk tea is refreshing and revitalizing in the summer heat, a better choice than consuming milk alone.”

Xie Ying, familiar with Mongolian milk tea, showed mild interest in the suggestion, but nodded in agreement nonetheless. Seeing Cui Xie had nearly finished his meal, Xie Ying casually tossed some silver taels onto the table, bought some Hui sweets like glutinous rice cake with sweet filling and fried honey-dough twists for him, and led their horses toward the more bustling area outside the temple.

By now, the lanterns were alight with a glow, and the stages had been set up in courtyard eateries, with performers donning their theatrical costumes and beginning their acts. The temple precinct was lined with vendors selling copper and porcelain statues of Lord Guan Yu, alongside large, colorful portraits of the deity, which seemed almost lifelike under the dim glow of the lanterns…

As if….

As if the character of Guan Yu as portrayed by the esteemed actor Lu Shuming in the classic rendition of the Three Kingdoms.

The painting on display seemed to be a direct replication of his painting from the dress-up card sets, even the posture was unmistakably identical!

The vendor, energetically striking his gongs and cymbals, proclaimed with much fanfare, “This is a genuine masterpiece by the renowned Cui Beauty. When the Cui Beauty painted the heroes of the Three Kingdoms, she created 108 life-sized portraits of these illustrious heroes and figures. Alas, disenchanted by the corruption of the world, she retreated into seclusion, taking most of her works with her to the remote mountains. This portrait of Lord Guan Yu, however, was a rare treasure bestowed upon a woodcutter, who found himself lost in the mountains as he paced back and forth, fortuitously encountering the Cui Beauty. She pointed the way back to civilization and even gifted him this exquisite piece…”

The vendor’s spiel was quite convincing, drawing in the crowd, many of whom eagerly reached for their purses, intent on purchasing his large portraits.

The vendor then shifted to talking about another painting of Xiao Qiao, asserting that his collection was the authentic legacy of the Cui Beauty. He claimed that various high-ranking officials had offered hundreds of taels for these pieces, but he had refused to sell them, choosing instead to offer smaller portraits of Lord Guan Yu, allegedly marked with seals that said ‘original prints from Zhirong bookstore’.

Cui Xie found the vendor’s tales both embarrassing and amusing, his expression contorting in amusement. He was about to pull Xie Ying away from this mystical stall when he noticed that Xie Ying had turned his back towards him, his head lowered as his shoulders shook with suppressed laughter.

Look at this! This was the mark of a wise man! One could immediately discern that the table was a fabricated one, yet it was astonishing how easily the crowd had been beguiled by such fictitious tales! And a woodcutter in the mountains….why not claim that he himself has a personal encounter with the Cui Beauty in the hills at this point. 

In a whisper, Cui Xie explained, “That painting is merely a replication of Lord Guan Yu’s image from a scroll, enlarged to life-size proportions. It is far from being the original.”

“I know.”Xie Ying responded, turning to face him with a lingering smile in his eyes, speaking softly as he leaned against his horse, “The Cui Beauty himself stands besides me, they would hardly be found in some remote mountain.”

Cui Xie did not quite catch his words and raised his chin to look up, seeking clarification. Xie Ying shook his head slightly, gesturing towards a troupe performing a play about Lord Guan Yu near the west of the temple, “Let’s not linger over these paintings. They are merely color prints that seem passable under the lantern lights, but under daylight, their coarseness will be revealed. Over there, they are performing a play about Lord Guan Yu. Let us go and listen.”

Leading the horses, Xie Ying started striding and Cui Xie, momentarily forgetting his earlier query, followed behind, heading towards the street.

In that corner on the street, a troupe of southern opera performers rendered their melodies with a crisp clarity that cut through the clamor of the street. The sound of drums and flutes carried by the wind arrived in intervals, weaving the lyrics deftly into the listener’s ears. They were performing Guan Hanqing’s famed Yuan dynasty play, ‘The Conference of a Single Dao’.

“I too once beat the drums thrice to slay Cai Yang, blood spattered on the battlefield. Brandishing my sword, I emerged from Xuchang, a fearsome sight to behold, even to Chancellor Cao…”

The melody was poignant and resonant, flowing crisply over the crowd, each word distinct and imbued with a subdued yet robust vigor, encapsulating the true essence of a hero.

The music from the far end of the street could not possibly carry so far, or so clearly. 

Following the source of the sound, Cui Xie was startled to find that the singer was none other than Xie Ying. The other seemed to be gazing towards a distinct stall, yet seemed to be lost in a vision of the chaotic era of the Three Kingdoms. His hand kept time, singing along in a low voice with the wind-borne melodies of the troupe.

The light cast upon Xie Ying’s profile by the lanterns, outlined a strikingly beautiful contour. Cui Xie, who had painted many heroes, found none as compelling or dashing as Xie Ying at this moment. Singing the line, “Indeed there are three thousand gallant spirits. Eager for battle, fists raised, palms rubbing”, Xie Ying embodied a hero facing myriad trials, voicing his inner song and will.

As Xie Ying repeated the opening verse, Cui Xie, having heard it several times now, began to hum along softly.

His off-key humming intruded into the melody, much like a dry twig disturbing the tranquility of a lake, snapping Xie Ying out of his immersion in the song. As he turned around, his gaze met Cui Xie’s, who was intently watching him, attempting to sing along to the tune of ‘Polishing the Silver Lamp’.

Though Cui Xie’s rendition was notably discordant, his lips were exquisitely shaped, complemented by a rosy color and pearly-white teeth. Stripping away the youth’s cacophony, one could simply appreciate the beauty of his lips as they formed each word, more graceful than others in their articulation.

Xie Ying, watched for a while, then mindful not to embarrass the other with his stare, shifted his gaze upward, resting it in Cui Xie’s eyes.

The myriad lights of the street seemed to be contained within those eyes, their fiery brilliance threatening to leap out and engulf the onlooker. Yet, upon closer examination, those eyes held nothing but reflections of him alone, his figure shimmering amidst the delicate glimmers of light.

A subtle stir in Xie Ying’s heart led him to raise his hand to cover Cui Xie’s eyes, leaning slightly forward, captivated by the half-parted red lips before him.

Cui Xie eyelid’s snapped shut, his off-tone singing of ‘Polishing the Silver Lamp’ ceased, his breathing slightly deepened, yet the nape of his neck remained deathly still and motionless, as if in anticipation of something more.

With the cessation of this intrusive sound, Xie Ying suddenly awoke from the intense, cloying, enveloping atmosphere that had just entranced them both. He let out of a low sigh, slowly lifting his chin upwards. The kiss that should have landed on Cui Xie’s lips found its way to the back of his hand covering the others’ eyes.

Cui Xie was a student of the Imperial College, destined to take the Imperial examinations and to become a juren² or a jinshi³ in the future. His reputation was paramount, how could he afford to engage in a clandestine affair with a member of the jinyiwei⁴ like himself?

On his end, Cui Xie only felt the pressure of the hand covering his eyes increase, causing him to involuntarily purse his lips and swallow.

But Xie Ying had already suppressed this fleeting, throbbing tremor of emotion, straightening up. His palm gently caressed Cui Xie’s forehead, and with a soft smile, he said, “Let’s go. Don’t you have to attend classes tomorrow?”

Cui Xie searched in the others’ eyes, asking, “Just now…”

Xie Ying shook his head, jesting lightly, “Just now, it wasn’t that I found your singing disagreeable. Let us head back. Scholars like you are weak, and should not stay up late.”

The man strode ahead with his long legs, while Cui Xie followed at a brisk trot from behind, repeatedly calling out ‘Xie-xiong’. However, Xie Ying refused to look back. The two horses, side-by-side, steadily moved forward, parting the pedestrians like a sea, leaving just the two of them enclosed within their equine companions.

Cui Xie yearned to ask what Xie Ying had truly meant earlier, yet hesitated, fearing to anger Xie Ying with his persistence. Resolving to bide his time instead, he thought to himself that their future encounters would eventually reveal the truth of the matter…

Well, the future would unfold in its own time.

After escorting him to the back gates of the Cui residence, Xie Ying prepared to take his leave. Cui Xie invited him to sit inside, but Xie Ying declined, explaining that he had duties to attend to in the Imperial Palace and could not afford to stay out too late.

Yet, at the moment of parting, Xie Ying could not restrain himself before offering one more piece of advice, “Seeing as tomorrow is Lord Guan Yu’s birthday, the heavens are likely to sprinkle ‘sword cleansing rain’. Remember to take an umbrella to school and don’t get caught in the downpour.”

Cui Xie felt a wave of reassurance wash over him and he nodded in agreement, stepping over the gate’s threshold as he watched Xie Ying disappear into the other end of the alley.

That evening, for the first time, he set aside his usual study routine. Instead, he pulled out a volume from the collection of leisure notes gifted by Administrator Liu, selecting Guan Hanqing’s anthology and meticulously read through the four acts of ‘The Conference of a Single Dao’. The tune of 【Polishing the Silver Lamp】lingered in his mind, compelling him to attempt singing each verse of the play according to the melody. His renditions were often fraught with added or missing words and the tones often were rhythmically mismatched, creating discordance. In the end, it was still the lines that Xie Ying had sung earlier that resonated most harmoniously and pleasantly.

Of course, it might be simply that the other sang well while he was the one out of tune.

Cui Xie refused to accept such a possibility. Instead, he gleaned the profound intent behind Vice Director Lin’s suggestion to listen to more operas—the songs, with their elongated, melodious verses and clear rhythmic patterns, possessed an innate artistry akin to lyrical singing. If one were to write the parallel pairs of an eight-legged essay as if they were opera lyrics, with each couplet finely matched and in harmony with the cadence, it would naturally sound much more pleasing than prose that was lacking in rhythmic and rhyming elegance.

Having realized this, the melody of 【Polishing the Silver Lamp】from earlier began to loop endlessly in his mind, the sequence uncontrollable even as he drifted off into slumber.

Gradually, the tune became clearer, no longer sounding like the mangled version he had crafted, but rather the original, melodious voice that had first echoed in his ears. That voice seemed to draw nearer, and in the pitch darkness laying before his eyes, he sensed a fine, warm breath softly caressing his face, lingering without withdrawing and something pressed softly against his lips. 

In his dream, he uttered a ‘Xie-xiong’, and before his eyes, as if by a magical spell, appeared the handsome noble face of Xie YIng, bathed in the soft luminescence of lantern light.

He felt as if Xie Ying’s hands rested upon his, then his shoulder, gradually wandering downwards. A burning sensation seeped into his very bones, so intense that Cui Xie’s waist shuddered sharply, jolting him awake from the darkness.

To dream of meeting a familiar person was one thing, but to envision such an intimate encounter with someone he knew — could such a person still be considered as just an acquaintance or friend? This was not how friends behaved….how could he face the other man after all this?

Although, it did seem that Xie Ying flirted with him first….

While Cui Xie indeed yearned for a companion of similar age, he had not anticipated it matching in gender as well.

Cui Xie sat despondently in his bed, face buried in his hands for what seemed like an eternity before he got up to change his robes. Gazing at the lightening sky, now tinged with hues of purple and red, he let out a deep sigh.

Perhaps his studies were too light. He resolved to memorize more songs and verses from Yuan and Ming dynasty literati in the future.

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1. Semu: During the Yuan empire, there was a four-class system to classify the population into four different classes or castes with different judicial rights and administrative measures. They discerned between Mongols, Semu northern Chinese and Southern chinese. The Mongol federation itself consisted of 72 tribes. The Semu people were mainly people of Central Asia. The class of north Chinese also included Koreans and Chinese who became subjects in the early phase of the conquest. The class of the Semu people produced experts not just in various sciences, but also professional entrepreneurs and merchants who supported the Mongols in the economic management of their empire. If I am doing my research correctly, the hierarchy was: Mongol >Semu > Northern/Southern Chinese ↩︎
2. Juren: successful candidate in the imperial provincial examinations ↩︎
3. Jinshi (進士, lit. “advanced scholar”:, a scholar who passed the triennial palace examination. ↩︎
4. Jinyiwei: The Embroidered Uniform Guard was the imperial secret police that served the emperors of the Ming dynasty in China. ↩︎

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TN: Bit of an early update! Hope you guys are doing well! I had a good week and hope you did all too 🙂

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