Chapter 114
Our Discord Server: https://discord.gg/PazjBDkTmW
Around the second quarter of the hour of Chen, the carriage rolled through the quiet streets of dawn. Seated within, Lu Liangsheng lifted the curtain’s corner. The fallen leaves that once blanketed the streets were nowhere to be seen.
…To select men of talent for the realm—His Majesty must indeed hold scholars in great esteem. Otherwise, never in the past were the streets so meticulously swept. If that is truly the case, he should be willing to patiently hear what I have to say.
With such thoughts, Lu Liangsheng lowered the curtain. Before long, the carriage shaft slowed to a gentle halt. Someone approached and said quietly through the window frame:
“Lu Jinshi, we have arrived at Xuanyang Gate.” [TL_Note: Jinshi -> successful candidate in the highest imperial civil service examination
The government offices were not far from the palace gates of the imperial city. In less than half the time it takes to burn a stick of incense, they had arrived. When Lu Liangsheng alighted, the carriage ahead lifted its curtain, raised with a delicate orchid hand gesture by the eunuch from before, who looked over with a fawning smile so thick, the powder on his face crumbled and fell.
“Gentleman Lu, remain here at Xuanyang Gate. The palace examination has yet to begin. The road beyond is no longer yours to tread—it is the path of the palace folk.”
At the sound of “Gentleman Lu,” Lu Liangsheng shuddered involuntarily, more unnerved than if he had encountered ghouls or monsters.
He quickly lowered his gaze, raised both sleeves, and returned the bow: “May this honored eunuch proceed with ease.”
The eunuch pressed his lips into a smile and gave a nod before letting the curtain fall.
“Move!”
The guard tugged the reins, and the horses pulled the carriage slowly away, circling along the city wall toward a lesser side gate.
Huu…
Lu Liangsheng let out a breath, trying to dispel the chill crawling down his spine. Though scholars were said to possess an unyielding spirit, the tales written in books left him with no choice but to tread cautiously around palace eunuchs.
After passing the examination checks and verifying his identity as a Jinshi, he turned and walked toward Xuanyang Gate.
At this time, the gate had not yet opened. Many officials had already gathered in wait. Lu Liangsheng rolled up his sleeves, exchanged courteous bows with several of the attending officials, and moved to stand quietly at the side. Before long, several carriages from the palace arrived. The figures who stepped down were all promising young scholars who had distinguished themselves in the Ministry of Rites examination. Upon alighting, they exchanged bows and flattering words with familiar officials.
After a while, carriage after carriage came to a halt. Those disembarking were all participants in the final palace examination. Altogether, close to twenty had assembled.
“The hour has arrived! Palace Graduates, proceed to enter the imperial city for the palace examination!”
A eunuch atop the city tower cried out loudly. The gathered officials promptly stepped aside. Just as Lu Liangsheng was about to move forward, someone called out to stop him.
“The palace examination need not bring unease. Simply answer what is asked—speak truthfully the thoughts in your heart.”
The speaker was Official Min Changwen. Known for his distaste of factional cliques, he had not approached Lu Liangsheng earlier when the latter stepped down from the carriage. But now, seeing the young scholar pass by, he could not help but offer a word of counsel.
Lu Liangsheng turned his head and gave a nod.
“Liangsheng understands.”
With that, he walked over to join the gathering and followed the eunuch guide into Xuanyang Gate.
What met his eyes was not the grand halls he had imagined, but rather tall, red-lacquered walls stretching endlessly on either side. As for what lay beyond those walls, nothing could be seen.
Afterward, they passed through the Grand Marshal’s Gate Office—only then did they truly enter the imperial palace.
“That over there is the Moonlight Pond. It was dug under the guidance of a high immortal during the reign of the Grand Ancestor Emperor. A pavilion and tower were built at its center, and in the height of summer, it was the favorite retreat of His Majesty and the noble consorts. Unfortunately, the Golden Toad Gazing at the Moon that once stood in the pond has been lost for many years…”
As the eunuch pointed out various halls and scenery, Lu Liangsheng listened quietly. He had heard of the Golden Toad from the Zhou Residence before, but held no special sentiment about it.
His sole impression was—the imperial palace was simply too vast…
Not long after, Lu Liangsheng stood with nineteen others beneath the long eaves outside Wenzhao Hall, waiting for the summons within. A light breeze stirred; the broad plaza outside the great hall lay silent, not a sound to be heard. The nearby guards and eunuchs would occasionally cast glances their way, only to withdraw them moments later.
Turning his head slightly, Lu Liangsheng looked toward the hall wall that blocked his view. He could faintly sense the powerful, martial blood-essence pulsing within—it was likely the guards who served near the Emperor himself.
“Not much different from Zuo Zhengyang…”
Above, sunlight broke through drifting clouds. It was nearing the hour of Si when a figure appeared at the entrance of Wenzhao Hall for a second body inspection. One by one, they were led inside.
“All Jinshi, be seated. Refrain from looking around.”
The speaker was a scholar of the Denglong Pavilion. Lu Liangsheng and the others offered him respectful bows, then found their assigned seats, placing their brush and ink upon the desk.
The hall’s furnishings were sparse—aside from four great pillars, only four bronze lanterns on either side cast a steady glow. At the very center, the dragon throne stood empty. On either side of it stood four guards, postures upright, arms hanging naturally—yet their hands hovered no more than half a foot from the hilts of their blades.
Sweeping his gaze around, Lu Liangsheng finally brought out his inkstone and began to grind ink. Moments later, the palace examination papers were distributed. A eunuch stepped forward and lit a stick of incense from a bronze censer.
The topic was not especially surprising—merely a query on administrative policy.
“The works of Heaven bring forth creation, which in turn benefits the people; benefiting the people nurtures the strength of the nation…”
After reading the prompt, Lu Liangsheng organized his thoughts and swiftly set his brush to paper. His strokes danced like a dragon over water, flowing freely.
The hall was silent, filled only with the soft shaa-shaa of brushes gliding across parchment.
As his thoughts turned to words and poured forth from his brush tip, Lu Liangsheng suddenly paused—he felt two gazes settle upon him.
Lu Liangsheng lifted his face slightly. From the corner of his eye, he caught sight of a figure ascending the imperial steps and taking a seat upon the dragon throne. How could he not recognize who it was?
The Emperor.
“To personally oversee the palace examination… seems he is not as indifferent to court affairs as the rumors claim.”
As these thoughts passed through his mind, his brush continued to move swiftly across the paper with shua-shua strokes. Within the incense burner, the stick of incense snapped and a trail of ash fell. A eunuch standing nearby suddenly raised his voice in a sharp cry:
“Time is up! Seal your papers, hands away from the table—rise!”
Lu Liangsheng stood up. As he gazed at the densely written characters upon his examination paper, a sense of satisfaction welled within him.
The proposed policies and reforms in his essay had all been framed around the governance of Heliang Prefecture, using it as a model to reflect the difficulties faced in the western regions, hoping to present these concerns from another perspective for the Emperor’s consideration.
Lifting his eyes once more toward the imperial steps, the figure atop the dragon throne had already departed, leaving behind only a glimpse of his profile.
Once the exam papers were collected and sealed, a few of the other candidates before their desks let out soft sighs—clearly pressed for time and unable to write as thoroughly as they had hoped. It seemed they were unaware that the Emperor had just been present.
“Esteemed Jinshi, please wait outside for the audience.”
A eunuch approached, bowed at the hall doors, and spoke respectfully. Only then did Lu Liangsheng and the others exit the hall. The hour was still well before noon, and all around them were imperial guards who forbade wandering. Even walking a few extra steps would prompt a eunuch to either politely advise restraint or sternly warn them.
“If only my spirit could leave my body, I’d tour this entire palace at leisure.”
Turning his head, he saw the other eighteen scholars exchanging polite words and idle talk. Perhaps due to the influence of Min Changwen or Mr. Wang Shuhua, Lu Liangsheng harbored little desire for cultivating connections or managing factions.
Thus, though he outwardly observed the scenery of the grand plaza, inwardly his thoughts returned to the man who had sat atop the dragon throne.
To know a person, one must first observe their Qi. With Lu Liangsheng’s current cultivation, reading a person’s Qi was no difficult task. From that brief glance in the hall, it was already evident: the Emperor’s body had been hollowed by indulgence in wine and lust, lacking the bearing of a sovereign ruler.
In Daoist terms, he lacked Dragon Qi.
“Alas… no wonder he was so easily swayed by Pudu Cihang.”
While he was lost in thought, a few future colleagues approached with greetings and lighthearted conversation. He responded casually, until a eunuch suddenly approached, voice raised to announce the arrival of an imperial decree.
✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦
Orluros’s Vault of Secrets: If you liked the chapter feel free to donate 🙂 and if you find any errors in the translation please mention them in the comments here or in discord
