Chapter 43 – Philanthropic School

Xu Chun arrived at the Imperial Academy on the second day, only to find everyone buzzing with chatter about something unknown.

Prince Su Linyu of Gui De waved him over with a smile. “What took you so long? Did you manage to write your policy essay yesterday?”

Xu Chun replied, “I just scribbled some nonsense. What’s going on today? It feels like there’s something big happening.”

Su Linyu explained, “Word has it that this year’s top scholar, who was originally appointed as a compiler at the Hanlin Academy, suddenly fell out of favor with the Emperor. He was summoned to attend the imperial lectures several times, and even tasked with editing a folk anthology. But yesterday, for reasons unknown, he was reprimanded by the Emperor. He was made to kneel at the palace gate and slapped, then given twenty strokes with a cane, stripped of his robes, and expelled from the palace. Today, it’s rumored that the Ministry of Personnel has issued an order demoting him to the Dali Temple, dropping him from a rank seven official to a ninth-rank! It’s quite shocking.”

Xu Chun was taken aback. The top scholar, wasn’t that He Zhiqiu? Just a few days ago, he had seen him full of ambition, coming to redeem his books. How did he fall from grace so swiftly? Was serving in the government really that perilous?

Xu Chun hurriedly asked Su Linyu, “Do you know why he was demoted?”

Su Linyu shook his head. “Who knows? Some say that the Magistrate of Jingzhao Prefecture, Jiang Xian, went to the palace to report something first. Later, he was summoned to the palace. All they could gather from the Hanlin Academy was that he didn’t say a word when visited, only admitting that he deserved punishment. The current Emperor is known for his depth, but he never punishes without reason. It seems he must have done something improper, which was either exposed or impeached.”

Xu Chun was stunned. “He had only been in office for a few days, and isn’t the position of compiler at the Hanlin Academy known for being prestigious yet impoverished?”

Su Linyu responded, “It’s hard to say. Being an official, you can be impeached for anything. They say his family background isn’t good, so it might be jealousy due to his talent, or perhaps something from his past was brought up. There’s no telling. Debts unpaid, unrighteous abandonment of a wife, filial piety neglected—anything is possible.”

Xu Chun thought about his own flawed lifestyle, feeling uneasy. With his track record, what kind of official would he make? Perhaps it was just that his Ninth Brother was too perfect, setting his expectations too high.

Unaware of Xu Chun’s thoughts, Su Linyu discreetly handed him an invitation. “This is from Prince Fei. It’s exclusive; not everyone gets one. He’s hosting a literary gathering and has invited you and your brother. Originally, he planned to invite the top three scholars, but now that the top scholar won’t be attending due to his recent troubles, it’s still quite an honor. I heard that Third Place Scholar Fan Mukun is very close to Prince Fei. You must come tomorrow.”

Xu Chun agreed, “Alright, but my older brother might not go. Let me ask him when I get home.”

Su Linyu questioned, “Isn’t he supposed to be waiting for his post after being appointed? What could possibly come up?”

Xu Chun explained, “It seems our grandmother said she wasn’t feeling well, so someone went to the Ministry of Personnel and requested that his position be temporarily filled by someone else. Now, he’s staying in the capital to take care of her while waiting for another vacancy.”

Su Linyu raised his eyebrows slightly. “Your grandmother doing this isn’t good. It will affect your brother’s career. Just being appointed and then having to wait for a vacancy, others have to pay bribes to secure their positions.”

Xu Chun replied, “I noticed my brother is also frustrated. After serving our grandmother for a few days, she’s getting better. I think he’ll be leaving soon.”

Su Linyu sighed. “Every family has its own troubles. You’re fortunate. Although you have an elder half-brother, thankfully, the Emperor is wise and decreed that he should be adopted out, sparing you much future trouble.”

Xu Chun smiled. Hearing the sound of the chime, he saw Shen Mengzhen enter and focused on listening to the lecture.

Back home, he gave the invitation to Xu Gu. Seeing it was from Prince Fei, Xu Gu was somewhat surprised. “Why did he invite me?”

Xu Chun explained, “He originally invited the top three scholars, but the top scholar apparently got into trouble with the Emperor and was punished. He’s now at home nursing his wounds. If you don’t want to go, I can invite Brother-in-Law Han instead. My older sister said he’s been cooped up at home and could use some time to relax.”

Xu Gu replied, “Grandmother has already agreed to let me serve outside the capital. I’m planning to secure a good position before leaving. Attending this gathering could help me form connections with my peers.”

Xu Chun nodded. The brothers seemed unusually calm as they discussed gifts to bring. They decided on typical items such as inkstones, ancient paintings, and vases.

The next day, the two brothers each took a carriage, informing their elders before departing.

The literary gathering was held at a mountain villa, and it took them half an hour by carriage to arrive. Getting out of the carriage, Xu Chun inwardly groaned, regretting not feigning illness. The dragon boat racing a few days ago had left him exhausted, and his muscles were still sore and strained. He had several patches of medicinal ointment on his back, and the carriage ride had shaken every bone in his body.

He’d rather be at his own retreat, preparing things to enjoy with his Ninth Brother. He had instructed them to repair the path leading to the back mountain, but he wondered how it turned out. As for the birds he ordered, he hoped they were of good quality. He also needed to redecorate the window screens and bed curtains since there would be more mosquitoes during summer. He had to find effective ways to repel them.

Despite his misgivings, he still had Chunxi and Xia Chao carry the gifts down. The scenery along the way was indeed picturesque, with lush green mountains and clear waters. In late spring, the flowers and trees were flourishing, and the birdsong echoed through the mountainside. However, Xu Chun secretly compared it to his own retreat and concluded that his place was still the best. Unfortunately, his Ninth Brother was still unavailable.

As soon as the brothers entered, Prince Fei greeted them with a smile. Standing up, he said, “Both of the Xu brothers have arrived. Please, please come in. Let me introduce you around.”

Many guests were already seated at the banquet. Most were classmates from the Imperial Academy, including Su Linyu, Xiong Wenfu, Xie Ji, and some aristocratic sons they had met before.

Xu Chun noticed a stranger among them, with outstanding looks, dressed in a jade-colored Confucian robe. He stood out in the crowd, and Xu Chun guessed he must be the legendary beauty, Third Place Scholar Fan Mukun.

Indeed, Prince Fei introduced them first to this year’s second-place scholar Zhang Wenzheng and third-place scholar Fan Mukun. Zhang Wenzheng seemed to look down on them, barely acknowledging the brothers with a perfunctory bow and a mocking smile. “So you’re Enli, honored with a personal name bestowed by the Emperor. What a rare privilege, truly a once-in-a-lifetime honor.” Turning to Xu Chun, he added, “Your courtesy name is Siyuan, so if your older brother was adopted out, you could be called Boyuan now.”

Xu Gu’s face stiffened. He found this matter shameful, and now it was being ridiculed in public, making his face turn purple. Xu Chun merely smiled and bowed, saying, “Thank you for your guidance, Second Place Scholar, but this name was bestowed by someone I deeply respect. I dare not change it.”

Fan Mukun intervened with a smile. “Our glory during the examination was overshadowed by the brilliance of the twin sons of the Jingguo Duke’s mansion. Since the sons of the phoenix have arrived, we must drink to celebrate. Let me fill my cup first.”

He raised his cup and drank, and Prince Fei smiled. “Having the Second and Third Place Scholars here today is a great honor for me. That’s why I invited the two brothers from the Jingguo Duke’s mansion to keep us company.”

Xu Chun watched Fan Mukun, who spoke with grace and possessed extraordinary demeanor. He felt a sense of admiration and raised his cup to return the toast. Then, he mingled with the guests and took his seat. Soon, all the guests were present, and music and dance performances began.

After exchanging toasts for three rounds between hosts and guests, Prince Fei smiled and spoke of the purpose of today’s gathering. “Today, I’ve invited all of you because I’ve noticed your generosity and righteousness, your exceptional character and learning, and your youthful vigor. However, there’s one matter I wish to discuss and seek your advice on.”

“You all know that last October, there was a flood in the capital region, severely affecting the victims in the outskirts of the city. The government distributed rice and cotton clothes and sent officials to provide relief and oversee the construction of shelters. Still, countless villages and homes were destroyed. Many victims couldn’t withstand the cold and died from freezing or drowning. At the time, numerous orphans were left behind, taken in by the Foundling Hall. However, many of these children are between five and fourteen years old, numbering over a hundred. The Foundling Hall lacks the resources to support them permanently and is only providing temporary shelter to prevent them from becoming homeless.”

Xiong Wenfu asked, “Brother Fei, are you planning to sponsor them? That would be a virtuous deed. We are willing to contribute generously.”

Prince Fei shook his head. “Temporary sponsorship may alleviate immediate hardships, but my intention is to establish a philanthropic school in the capital. First, we will enroll these orphans affected by the disaster. Later, any child who grows up in the government-run Foundling Hall and is not adopted can also join. We will hire teachers to educate them, instilling in them values of propriety and reason. Wouldn’t that be a great deed?”

Everyone praised him. “Indeed, it’s a noble cause.”

Prince Fei continued, “Today, I’ve gathered all of you here mainly to discuss various matters concerning the establishment of this philanthropic school, such as selecting a location, choosing teachers, raising funds, and deciding on a name.”

Zhang Wenzheng immediately declared, “I am willing to donate ten thousand taels to support this philanthropic school!” Born into a wealthy family in southern China, he had ample wealth and was eager to show his generosity.

Everyone was somewhat taken aback. By setting the bar so high, how were they supposed to act? A noble cause and virtuous deed were now being treated like a business transaction.

Fan Mukun laughed. “Brother Zhang, don’t rush. Money is a minor issue. There are many wealthy princes and sons here. Do you think we won’t be able to raise enough? The crucial point is whether Prince Fei has informed the court about establishing this philanthropic school. If we can gain support from the Ministry of Rites, hiring lecturers would be easier.”

These were words of wisdom, for when Prince Fei mentioned the idea, many of the more mature and experienced bureaucrats’ children had harbored doubts in their hearts. In other places, it might be alright, but in the capital, charitable acts like soup kitchens, disaster relief, and philanthropic schools were not casually undertaken, especially by a prince of the imperial family!

Everyone was grateful to Fan Mukun for two reasons. Firstly, his words had somewhat softened the high donation set by Zhang Wenzheng. Did they care about money? But calling out ten thousand taels so quickly, what was the meaning? Several princes and sons were present. Who was in a hurry to show off? They were known for writing excellent essays, but why act so vulgarly? Secondly, he voiced their hidden concerns. Had they received official approval from the court? They didn’t want to work hard only to suffer repercussions later, affecting their families.

Prince Fei smiled. “Naturally, the Emperor has agreed. I reported to the Emperor the other day, and he even joked that besides teaching poetry, classics, and moral principles, subjects like mathematics, drawing, astronomy, and geography should also be taught. Even if they cannot pass the imperial examinations in the future, at least they will have a skill to make a living.”

Everyone praised him highly.

Xu Chun understood the situation clearly. Prince Fei wouldn’t have invited the top three scholars without securing their support beforehand. Otherwise, how could he openly recruit the Emperor’s students so brazenly?

Zhang Wenzheng appeared reckless, shouting out a donation of ten thousand taels, while Fan Mukun smoothed things over, mentioning that the Emperor had been informed, to reassure everyone.

It turned out that today’s gathering was a banquet with hidden intentions, all waiting for him, the fat sheep, to offer his money. No wonder they had chosen this remote location, preventing anyone from leaving the banquet out of embarrassment and forcing them to contribute something.

Well, he would show them his skills as well.