Chapter 128: Chapter 73 Poison Emergence_1
On the first day of the eighth lunar month, just before the autumn exam session began.
At the entrance to the Tribute Court, a crowd of examinees prepared to enter for the examination swelled.
The autumn session of the Liang Dynasty examinations, which occurred every two years, coincided with the imperial family bestowing extra favor this cycle, allowing participation this year as well. The provincial exams consisted of three rounds, each lasting three days. Setting aside scholarly knowledge, it was also a considerable test of physical endurance.
In front of their carriage, Lady Dong gripped Dong Lin’s hand, scrutinizing his attire from top to bottom, muttering, "Isn’t your clothing a bit thin? It’s said to be bitterly cold in the cells, and you can’t even have a charcoal brazier. What will you do if the autumn chill strikes and you catch cold?"
Having been pampered from childhood, Dong Lin was utterly unprepared for spending nine days and seven nights in the examination cells, which deeply worried Lady Dong.
"Mother, I’ll be fine," Dong Lin replied, somewhat uncomfortably. With so many examinees coming and going at the entrance to the Tribute Court, he alone had a family carriage and a plethora of servants, which made him stand out awkwardly.
"I’m only worrying over you. Once you enter the Tribute Court, you must wait until the exams are over before leaving. If you should feel hungry or cold inside, what then? Sheng Quan," Lady Dong called to a guard nearby, "go check the exam basket for the young master again. Did he forget anything?"
"Yes."
Just then, a scholar passed by, seeing the affectionate scene between mother and son and became momentarily lost in thought.
Wu Youcai stood in place, dazed.
In years past, each time he went for the exams, his mother also sent him off at the entrance to the Tribute Court, fussing endlessly. She never worried about the quality of his essays or whether he would succeed in becoming an official. Her biggest concerns were always whether he’d be cold in the cells, whether his clothing was adequate, and if he’d go hungry.
In the end, she would smile at him and say, "Mother will wait at home for you to finish the exam!"
But now, there was no one left at home to wait for his return, nor a doting mother’s reminders at the Tribute Court’s gate.
Someone patted him on the shoulder, "Youcai!"
Wu Youcai turned to see an old scholar dressed in tattered blue robes, with a square scholar’s cap on his head, white beard, a face yellowed and gaunt, and carrying a worn exam basket. He paused, "Old Master Xun?"
He knew the man, who lived near the temple gate, an elderly scholar over seventy who had sat for the exams many times over the years without success. Wu Youcai had heard that Old Master Xun’s health had been failing, making walking difficult, and he was surprised that the old man had come for the autumn exams this year.
"I spotted you from afar," Old Master Xun said with his white beard twitching, his wrinkled face breaking into a smile, "I just saw our exam cells on the roster, next to each other. It’s a good sign. Who knows, perhaps we both might pass this time."
Wu Youcai watched his unstable steps and remained silent.
Old Master Xun didn’t notice his unusual expression and simply looked around at the young examinees bustling by, with a wistful envy in his eyes.
As the designated time arrived, the examiners started to urge on the candidates, who entered the great gate of the Tribute Court en masse, getting their ink and papers checked, and then proceeded to their assigned cells.
The cells faced south in rows, sixty-six in total. Wu Youcai was assigned to a cell in the middle, with Old Master Xun in the cell next door. As they approached the door, Old Master Xun secretly whispered, "Write well. I had an auspicious dream the night before last that we would both make the list this year!"
Wu Youcai just smiled and carried his exam basket into his cell.
In the distance, the doors of the Tribute Court closed.
The cells, like a colossal beast lurking in Shengjing, silently swallowed up the countless scholars.
The autumn exams spanned three rounds, three days each. The first round tested The Four Books and Five Classics, the second was policy questions, and the third was poetry and essays. During the exams, the examinees ate, drank, and relieved themselves inside the cells without leaving.
Wu Youcai sat in his cell, spreading out the exam papers before him. He carefully reviewed each, and just as he had done for the past twelve years, picked up his pen, leaned over the desk, and began writing his answers.
The days passed slowly, with the sky of the Tribute Court changing from light to dark, and then from dark to light again.
There were two breaks to change cells in between, and during the last change after the policy questions, a drizzling rain began outside.
It was the dead of night, and Wu Youcai, along with the other examinees, waited for the chief examiner to call for the change of cells.
The sky was dim, and in the deep ink-like night, it was hard to discern identities. Next to the cells was a watch house surrounded by dense foliage, within which shadows moved stealthily. Perhaps because Wu Youcai still had considerable energy that day, his eyesight was unusually sharp even in this cold, rainy weather. He clearly saw someone switch clothes hidden by the dark foliage in front of the watch house.
When the name call was made for those changing cells, the person called didn’t respond but quietly retreated into the shadows of the bushes. Then another person came out, took the named individual’s hat and robe, and walked out again, assuming their place.