Chapter 86 – Tribulation

“You can participate in the Imperial Examinations after attending the Imperial College and the Imperial Academy. Then, the Ministry of Rites selects and appoints officials according to protocol. Your father is the Duke of Jingguo, first rank, so you can be conferred an official position at fifth rank.”

“You have the privilege of being a student of the Imperial College, having also passed the entrance examination for the Imperial Academy. You have taken leave from the School of Filial Piety during your mourning period. After your mourning ends, you must take part in the Imperial Examinations. Therefore, you should now focus all your efforts on preparing for the Imperial Examinations. One question on history, one on politics, two essays on the Four Books, and two policy essays, all focusing on practical learning and governance.”

“Your understanding of classics has never been solid. Since you don’t want to take shortcuts, you will have to thoroughly review. Fortunately, you have kept up with the reading list I gave you before. Now you can only study daily. I will stay here for a month. You can come over every day to review your lessons. Feel free to ask me anything you don’t understand.”

Shen Mengzhen meticulously instructed him, then sighed deeply as he looked at him. He had chosen a difficult path instead of taking the easy route. But he could not be faulted for lacking spirit; he was unwilling to take credit for something easily handed to him and wanted to earn his achievements through his own efforts.

He, too, had experienced such times. As an only son, he did not want to attend the Imperial College by privilege and went through the imperial examinations, seeing the flowers of Chang’an in a single day. Later, however, he grew disillusioned with the ups and downs of his career, living a carefree life, which could also be seen as a betrayal of his past self.

Now, seeing this student wanting to prove himself, he found some comfort.

Xu Chun quietly agreed.

Xu Chun suddenly became diligent, leaving the Sheng family puzzled. But Xu Chun explained that the Imperial College held annual exams, and since he would be out of mourning soon, he needed to prepare for those exams. The teachers from the Imperial College reportedly came to tutor him, and he often sent his homework and policy essays for their feedback. His sudden dedication was understandable under those circumstances.

Thus, everyone got used to Xu Chun spending his days in the study building, reviewing and memorizing intensively. He was already in mourning, so it was not strange for him to remain indoors and not see outsiders.

==

In the capital, Forbidden Palace, Imperial bedroom.

The imperial physician kneeled cautiously to feel the pulse, his face solemn and respectful. “Your Majesty, the Ning Sou Dan did not work before because of your unsettled spleen and stomach. The lack of stomach qi cannot nourish the lungs. Coupled with excessive heart fire, various qi become stagnant and depressed. This results from laborious activities that injure the qi, and there is still evil qi invading the lung meridian. We should focus on replenishing the spleen and stomach, nurturing the fire in the heart and the life gate. Once the righteous qi is generated, it will naturally overcome the evil qi, and the cough will heal.”

Xie Yi rose, but another fit of violent coughing immediately seized him. Su Kai and Liushun rushed to assist him. He pushed them away and leaned against the large bolster pillow. Beads of cold sweat formed on his forehead as he covered his mouth and coughed again. His chest heaved continuously, and his cheeks flushed. Su Kai felt the weakness in his hand and became alarmed, scolding the imperial physician, “Every day, you only talk about nourishing yin and treating the root cause. Now the Emperor cannot even read the memorial reports due to this cough. Why aren’t you thinking of ways to suppress the cough?”

Xie Yi finally managed to stop coughing and said softly, “No need. What the imperial physician said is correct. Go ahead and draft the prescription.” He felt a dull pain in his chest and back, and his face was burning hot. Looking down at his pale fingers, he recalled how his father’s medical records mentioned persistent coughing and wheezing, and later, unceasing coughing up of blood…

Thinking of this, he felt a sense of despair and forced himself to sit up, taking a small cup of loquat syrup offered by Su Kai. He asked, “Is there any news from Dinghai?”

Su Kai felt a wave of bitterness. Why did they have to remove the surveillance on Lantern Lane? Having the Prince’s sweet words was better than receiving the cold and detached reports from Dinghai. But he could only reply, “Yes.”

He handed over the letter to Xie Yi, who opened it and frowned. “There is no need for him to compete with other candidates in the imperial examinations. He has already gained a decent understanding of the classics. There is no point in rote memorization and intensive study. Studying indoors every day weakens the vital energy. Why bother?”

Su Kai consoled him, “Since Mr. Shen is there, being his teacher, he probably questions him about the classics every day. Plus, the mourning period is about to end, so the Prince needs to participate in the Imperial College’s annual exam. It is only natural for him to study diligently. Besides, Mr. Shen will be returning soon. Once he is back, things will ease up.”

Xie Yi put the letter aside. “Very well. Young people go through phases. Perhaps this is just a passing interest. Once Shen Mengzhen returns, he will likely spend most of his time going crazy with his cousins again. With Wu Yinghou there, I doubt the South Seas will be spared from their chaos.”

After speaking for a few moments, he started coughing again, taking a long while to calm down. Su Kai whispered, “Why don’t I fetch Miss Qingqian and bring all the previous letters for Your Majesty to look through? That way, Your Majesty will know what the Prince is thinking.”

Xie Yi replied indifferently, “No need. If we continue this tangled situation, it will be my own entrapment. I will not be able to let go, turning it into an obsession. Why bother? It is best to cut off these thoughts early on, and they will gradually fade away.”

Su Kai secretly grumbled inwardly. In that case, why not stop the reports from Dinghai altogether?

Xie Yi glanced at him, seemingly aware of his thoughts. “I cherish him, which is why I let him go. It is not because I am tired of him.”

But you are the emperor, ruler of the four seas! What is a confidant compared to that! Su Kai sighed inwardly. Why strive to be a wise emperor! Even wise emperors throughout history had people around them! This is aiming for sainthood!

Xie Yi waved his hand. “Leave. Call Fang Zixing over.” After thinking for a moment, he added, “Never mind, call Old Prince Zong and Prince Ping over. Tell them I have matters to discuss.”

Su Kai reluctantly went to convey the message.

April passed quickly into May, and the weather turned hot. This year, Xie Yi still refused to allow the palace to hold dragon boat races. However, he unexpectedly arranged a banquet for the imperial family, specifically ordering that all members of the royal family in the capital be invited to the palace. He commanded all princes to bring their children to meet the emperor. The emperor met each one, questioned them on their studies, and rewarded those who performed well.

This sudden change in behavior sparked speculations among the officials. The emperor had been saying he caught a cold and was coughing, unable to handle court affairs. He frequently skipped grand assemblies and only discussed matters in the inner cabinet. Was he now considering selecting a member of the imperial family?

The court was filled with hidden currents and mixed intentions.

But Xie Yi did not seem to care, allowing rumors to spread unchecked while he slowly tended to his health. He did not slack on court affairs, occasionally even inviting the high monk Huixi Chan Master from Anle Temple in the outskirts of the capital to the palace for discussions on Buddhism.

It was not good for the emperor to favor Buddhism or Taoism, causing some virtuous ministers to grow increasingly uneasy.

However, in June, Prince Shun died suddenly. The court issued an edict allowing Xie Fei to inherit the title, albeit one rank lower, as Prince Shunan.

Prince Shun’s illness was peculiar, leading to whispers in the capital. Rumors circulated that the imperial guards surrounded Prince Shun’s residence late at night, and the next day, Prince Shun was gone. They remained just rumors, though. Xie Fei inherited the title of prince, stayed home in mourning, and declined all visitors.

Amidst the commotion, it was soon mid-June, and the weather became unbearably hot.

That day, Xie Yi summoned Chan Master Huixi to the palace for a scripture discussion, also inviting Fan Mucun to accompany them. Fan Mucun seemed preoccupied, his mind wandering. Xie Yi did not mind. After Chan Master Huixi finished lecturing on a chapter and answered some questions, Xie Yi dismissed him with rewards.

Turning to Fan Mucun, who remained lost in thought, he smiled and asked, “Has the Duke’s poetry collection been printed yet? Why have you not sent a copy to the palace for me to see?”

Fan Mucun replied, “It has been sporadically revised and expanded, and the final draft has not been settled yet. It is currently undergoing the last round of proofreading. In a few days, I will meet with the Duke of Jingguo’s heir to conduct the final check, and then it can be printed. I will send a copy to the palace afterward.”

Xie Yi was surprised. “Xu Chun returned to the capital?”

Fan Mucun did not expect Xie Yi to blurt out Xu Chun’s name, slightly taken aback. “Yes, he is back. Prince Xu’s mourning period ended in May, and the Imperial College lifted his leave. Returning to the capital just in time for the Imperial Examinations, he registered and took the test. I heard his ranking was not bad. The list has been sent to the Ministry of Rites, waiting for appointments and official positions. Soon, he can serve in the same court and help alleviate the emperor’s burdens.”

Xie Yi held a green apricot in his hand, feeling momentarily dizzy. He closed his eyes and said, “That is wonderful.” Suddenly, a surge of breathlessness caused him to cough uncontrollably. Su Kai, standing nearby, realized he was overwhelmed and hurriedly supported Xie Yi. While ordering someone to fetch the imperial physician, he signaled to Fan Mucun with his eyes.

Fan Mucun was worried but saw the eunuchs gathering around. He could only bid farewell and carefully left.

Xie Yi merely experienced a temporary bout of distress. After regaining his breath, his voice remained calm. “Call Fang Zixing. Ask him how Dinghai was watching over people. Also, find the memorials from the Ministry of Rites and the Ministry of Personnel regarding the selection of officials based on the performance of the students in the Imperial Examinations.”

Soon, Fang Zixing entered, holding a letter. “We just received a letter from Dinghai. It says the Prince has been studying in the study building every day, not allowing anyone to disturb him. Chunxi and the other four servants have been serving him meals regularly. One day, after seeing the food coming out, they accidentally knocked it over and discovered it had not decreased. He went in to check and found the Prince was already gone. Asking Sheng Changzhou, he learned the Prince had followed Mr. Shen back to the capital. That day, he said he was escorting Mr. Shen back to the capital, but actually, someone else was in the sedan chair when they returned.”

Xie Yi laughed bitterly. “Is this the result of your excellent training of the secret guard?”

Fang Zixing defended himself. “I have already punished him.”

“But in this matter, even I would have fallen for it. Xu Chun has always been straightforward, treating Dinghai well. Who knew he would suddenly become cunning? Dinghai had no suspicion. The emperor only ordered to protect his safety, not monitor his daily activities. These are different duties.”

“The Sheng family hid the truth from Dinghai alone. It is not surprising. Moreover, this had Mr. Shen’s assistance. Otherwise, how could he pass the Imperial Examinations? The Prince followed the rules. There is no need for the emperor to be angry. If he wants to return to the capital, let him return. His parents are here. Wouldn’t he come back to see them?”

Xie Yi listened, feeling annoyed, and coughed again. Fang Zixing quickly fell silent, standing obediently with his hands behind his back.

Meanwhile, Su Kai presented scrolls and memorials. “The Prince’s examination papers are here. He ranked seventh, not a bad result. The Ministry of Rites suggests placing him in charge of the Ministry of Revenue, a fifth-rank position. The Ministry of Personnel has only drafted a memorial but has not reported it to the inner cabinet yet.”

Xie Yi first took the examination papers and read through them. The characters were mature and stable in the official script, completely different from the relaxed and elegant handwriting in the letters he used to receive. The writing cited classics and was solid in its policy analysis, indicating considerable effort. Even his previously weakest area, the classics, was fully answered, earning a top evaluation from the examiner. It was unknown how much effort he had put into it.

Xie Yi had reviewed the examination questions for the students before, even personally proposing several questions. Among them was a question about revenue generation for the maritime trade office. Xu Chun filled an entire sheet of paper with tiny script, clearly demonstrating deep insight. Each point was written with great stability, adhering closely to benefiting the country and its people, even including praises for the emperor—an air of capable officialdom was evident.

He put down the examination papers and fell silent. After a while, he made a firm decision. “Since he is eager to join the court, let him go to the maritime trade office. Use people according to their talents. Since he does not want to stay in Min Prefecture, change the location.”

Fang Zixing suggested, “Then let him go to the Guangdong maritime trade office. My father can take care of him there, ensuring everything goes smoothly.”

Before he could finish, he saw Su Kai glare at him. Fang Zixing was puzzled. There were only a few places with maritime trade offices. If not Min Prefecture, Guangdong would be the most convenient.

Xie Yi remained silent, putting aside the memorial from the Ministry of Personnel without speaking. He coughed again, breaking out in a sweat after a while, feeling extremely exhausted. He ordered them both to leave.

When Fang Zixing came out, Su Kai scolded him. “Do not blindly follow what the emperor thinks! Guangdong is so far away! Prince Xu has finally returned to the capital. Why are you sending him so far away again?”

Fang Zixing was confused. “The emperor himself said to send him to the maritime trade office. Our Guangdong maritime trade office earns a fortune every day. It is a major lucrative position!”

Su Kai chided him. “I cannot explain it to someone as straightforward as you. The emperor… is reluctant to let go! This illness… probably stems from this. We need to think of a solution.”

Fang Zixing was at a loss. Su Kai left him and casually summoned Zhao Side. “Go to the Duke’s residence and tell Minister Fan Mucun that the ointment he gave me last time was very effective. Ask him for two more patches. The weather has been strange lately, and my knees hurt badly.”

Zhao Side hurriedly agreed. Su Kai added in a low voice, “If Minister Fan asks about your health, say that today, upon hearing from Minister Fan that the Duke of Jingguo’s heir passed the Imperial Examinations, he reviewed the examination papers and found that he answered the maritime trade office question excellently. The emperor is considering assigning him to the maritime trade office for an external posting.”

Zhao Side was startled, looking at Su Kai. This was conveying information and communicating with officials outside the palace! His master never did such things! Su Kai waved his hand. “Just this one important sentence. Go quickly.”

Zhao Side complied and left.

By evening, as the palace gates were about to close, Fang Zixing received a message. The Duke of Jingguo’s heir knelt at the palace gate, begging for an audience with the emperor. He asked whether to drive him away according to protocol.

Fang Zixing pondered for a moment, said nothing, and directly informed Xie Yi.

Xie Yi had just undergone acupuncture by the imperial physician and still had a flush on his face. He closed his eyes, looked at Su Kai, and Su Kai coughed softly. “Looking at the sky, it seems like it is going to rain.”

After a while, he muttered to himself, “Walking from the palace gate to report, the round trip… he has probably been kneeling for half an hour…”

Xie Yi was speechless.

He said helplessly, “Send a palanquin to pick up the Prince. Persuade him to return to the Duke of Jingguo’s residence. If you cannot persuade him to leave, you and Fang Zixing kneel with him at the gate.”

Su Kai was speechless. The emperor’s heart is truly ruthless!

Fang Zixing widened his eyes. “Your Majesty! If you have something to say, speak clearly to Prince Xu! Let him die with clarity! If you make things clear, he will give up and will not need to serve as an official. He can go wherever he wants and play, how carefree. He worked hard for the exam, ranking seventh. How difficult it was. The emperor does not even grant him an audience once. That is too cruel.”

Xie Yi was speechless.

He said softly, “You understand nothing. Meeting him means I am doomed to endless suffering.”

Fang Zixing and Su Kai fell silent. Su Kai bowed. “This old slave will persuade the Prince to return.”

Suddenly, thunder boomed outside. It was a June day with changeable weather, and it actually began raining.

Xie Yi’s expression changed slightly. He wanted to speak but was struck by another violent coughing fit. This time, his face turned bright red, drenched in sweat. Su Kai panicked. “Your Majesty, do not be anxious. I will have someone bring an umbrella and immediately persuade the Prince to leave.”

Xie Yi finally stopped coughing and said softly, “Forget it. Summon him inside. Get him changed and have some ginger soup. I… will see him.” It is a tribulation I brought upon myself, a punishment I deserve.”