Xiao Jingduo, a native of Chang’an, ranked fourth in the imperial examination.
Seeing his name, Xiao Jingduo felt a peculiar sense of disbelief.
He had imagined many times what he would do if he passed or failed the exam. Yet when the final results appeared before him, it felt almost dreamlike.
Xiao Jingduo was dazed for only a moment before the congratulations of those around him pulled him back to reality. His classmates from the Imperial Academy rushed forward to offer their well wishes. Even Bai Jiayi gave him a friendly punch on the shoulder, saying, “Not bad! Passing fourth place without any prep—congrats on getting what you wanted.”
Xiao Jingduo gradually regained his sense of reality. Only now did it feel tangible. He scanned down the list from his name and soon saw Bai Jiayi’s. Smiling, he said, “Congratulations to you as well.”
Beneath the east wall, some were overjoyed while others were crestfallen. Those who passed were ecstatic, but far more people wore grim faces and beat their chests in regret.
Xiao Jingduo and Bai Jiayi, both young and already successful, quickly found themselves surrounded by a crowd of well-wishers. Nearby, Dong Peng stood despondently by the wall. Hearing the commotion around Xiao Jingduo only deepened his bitterness.
How could this have happened?
Dong Peng had boasted to his fellow townsmen, but now the exam results had utterly humiliated him. Terrified of running into anyone he knew, he hurriedly slinked away along the wall.
After turning away, it didn’t take long for Xiao Jingduo’s gaze to land accurately on Dong Peng. From a distance, Xiao Jingduo was surrounded by a group of fellow students from the Imperial Academy, enthusiastically congratulating him. Xiao Jingduo maintained his polite smile, appearing fully engaged in their conversation. However, his peripheral vision effortlessly tracked Dong Peng’s every move.
On the day of the results announcement, from the palace to the commoners, everyone eagerly watched the Ministry of Rites’ eastern wall, curious to know who the newly minted scholars were.
A servant dashed into the Marquis’ residence, so excited his steps faltered. He stumbled his way towards the longevity hall, shouting breathlessly as he went, “Old Madam, fantastic news!”
Inside the longevity hall, the old madam was accompanied by her daughter Xiao Su and several daughters-in-law. The younger generation, including Xiao Yufang, Xiao Yuli, and Cheng Huizhen, crowded around her, playfully chatting. Hearing the commotion outside, the old madam was puzzled. “What’s going on? Why is he shouting from so far away?”
“Does he not know that Grandmother dislikes noise? Such impudence,” Xiao Yuli remarked, her upturned eyes reflecting displeasure as she glanced outside. She then turned back to the old madam with a sweet smile. “Don’t be upset, Grandmother. I’ll send someone to teach him a lesson.”
Xiao Yumang, however, let out a light scoff. “Since when is it your place to discipline servants in Grandmother’s presence? If there’s an issue, it should be Sister Xuelan who steps in. Who do you think you are?”
The rivalry between the second and third branches of the family had lasted for a long time, and the two legitimate daughters, Xiao Yuli and Xiao Yumang, could not stand each other. Their animosity deepened over the years. Back when they lived in the rural town of Zhuojun, they were just village girls who would argue openly when displeased. However, after becoming young ladies of a marquis’ household, they naturally could no longer behave so crudely. Women’s adaptability was remarkable—after initial awkwardness, they quickly learned the appropriate etiquette, mastered graceful manners, and perfected the art of speaking with veiled barbs and delivering needles hidden in cotton.
Even the smallest matter could be exaggerated into a major issue of disrespect and filial impiety between these two cousins. Refusing to back down, Xiao Yuli immediately retaliated. The younger girls took sides, each supporting their preferred faction. The old madam, overwhelmed by their squabbling, finally raised her voice: “Enough! The messenger hasn’t even spoken yet, and you’re already arguing. Xuelan, bring in the person with the message. Let’s see what’s going on.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
The servant who came to deliver the message stepped into a room filled with vibrant skirts and bustling with women. Not daring to look around, he kept his head down and knelt, respectfully delivering his news: “Congratulations, Old Madam! A joyous event has befallen our household!”
“Oh? What is it?”
“Today’s jinshi examination results have been posted, and the young master placed fourth, making him the youngest jinshi scholar since the founding of the dynasty!”
“Fourth?” the old madam exclaimed in shock. “Duo’er actually passed the exam?”
Her words were like a thunderclap, stunning everyone in the room. For a moment, they were too astonished to maintain decorum and began to exclaim excitedly: “So today was the day of the results? Eldest Brother has become a jinshi?”
“Is this true? Are you sure you didn’t see it wrong?”
The women, both young ladies and mistresses, peppered him with questions. Once they finished, the servant answered them one by one: “Madam, young mistresses, I can assure you this is absolutely true. I saw the young master’s name with my own eyes on the Ministry of Rites’ eastern wall. The news is already spreading—our household now has a seventeen-year-old jinshi scholar!”
The old madam was caught between surprise and delight, feeling as though she were dreaming. Her granddaughters surrounded her, chattering excitedly, and only then did she start to feel a sense of reality. Once she regained her composure, she was overjoyed: “Duo’er has passed, and on his first try, no less! Wonderful! Where is he now? Bring the young master here immediately!”
The old madam was so overwhelmed with excitement that she could hardly speak coherently. The servant had to gently remind her, “Old Madam, the young master has passed the examination and has already followed officials from the Ministry of Rites to the palace to express his gratitude. After that, they will parade through Zhuque Street and then proceed to the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda to inscribe their names. It may take quite some time before he returns.”
“Duor has entered the palace?” The old madam was even more astonished. She clutched her pounding chest and muttered to herself, “I’ve lived for most of my life and never thought our family would have any ties to the imperial court. First, the eldest son became a marquis, and now my grandson has gone to the palace to meet the emperor. Truly, our ancestors are watching over us.”
With that, the old madam stood up. “Second daughter-in-law, third daughter-in-law, come with me to pay our respects to the ancestors. Xuelan, notify Junru immediately to prepare a banquet and arrange for carriages. Later, we’ll head to the streets to see Duo’er, and when he returns in the evening, we’ll give him a grand welcome.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Xuelan accepted the orders and left. The other young women also stood up and followed the old madam out. Just as they were about to step outside, Xiao Yumang suddenly exclaimed, “Oh! I just remembered I left something in my room. Sisters, please wait a moment; I’ll go fetch it right away.”
Watching Xiao Yumang’s hurried departure, Xiao Yuli sneered disdainfully. “What could be so important that she has to fetch it herself? If you ask me, she’s probably just going back to change her clothes. Who doesn’t see through her little schemes?”
The eldest daughter of the second branch, Xiao Yufang, quietly advised her younger sister, “Yuli, that’s enough. Today is our elder brother’s big day. Let’s not stir up unnecessary trouble.”
“Who’s stirring up trouble?” Xiao Yuli snapped, dissatisfied. She and Xiao Yumang were both of marriageable age, and it just so happened that a noblewoman from the Duke’s household was seeking a bride among the daughters of the Marquis of Dingyong’s family. With their history of old and new grievances, they were now direct competitors, making reconciliation near impossible. This only fueled Xiao Yuli’s frustration with Xiao Yumang’s sly tactics. Xiao Yumang’s beauty often gave her an edge, which had been a source of pent-up annoyance for Xiao Yuli.
Xiao Yufang gave her sister a subtle look and said, “Relying on appearance is a shallow strategy. Only concubines serve with beauty. In choosing a wife, it has always been about matching social status. Instead of getting worked up over her, you should focus your efforts elsewhere.”
Xiao Yuli caught the hint in her sister’s words. “You mean…?”
“Elder Brother’s recent success will bring him much attention and countless banquets. With your time, why not spend more of it with him?”
Xiao Yuli suddenly realized—of course! The prestige of a newly minted jinshi was unparalleled. Riding through the streets on horseback, drawing the attention of the entire city, and receiving countless invitations from influential families—if Xiao Jingduo were willing to take her to a few high-society banquets, it would be more beneficial than anything else.
Her thoughts began to churn, but then she hesitated. “Elder Sister, we’ve been avoiding contact with Elder Brother for some time, partly to avoid suspicion and partly to stay out of the Marchioness’s way. If we suddenly approach him now, wouldn’t it seem…”
“You!” Xiao Yufang scolded, exasperated. “You’re so sharp when scheming against your own family, but now you’ve turned into a blockhead? Elder Brother is a man and our eldest brother at that. Do you think he’d really hold grudges against us? And even if he did, so what? Just be persistent and stick close to him. He won’t get angry with his younger sisters. With time, everything will fall into place. Look, isn’t there a ready-made example?”
Xiao Yuli followed Xiao Yufang’s gaze and saw Cheng Huizhen walking toward them. Sensing their attention, Cheng Huizhen looked wary but still smiled as she asked, “What’s the matter? Why are you both looking at me like that?”
“Oh, it’s nothing,” Xiao Yuli replied with a knowing smile. Her tone was laced with subtle meaning. “Cousin, that outfit suits you well. You certainly have good taste.”
Indeed, she did. Years ago, Cheng Huizhen had eagerly sought favor with Xiao Jingduo. Back then, Xiao Yuli had mocked her privately, thinking Cheng Huizhen was foolish. Now, it seemed she had been the foolish one, missing out on such a rare gem.
Cheng Huizhen understood the implication in Xiao Yuli’s words. She felt disdain for their opportunism but also a growing unease about her own future. Just like in her previous life, Xiao Jingduo had once again ranked fourth. However, this time, she had proactively brought up the marriage proposal with him. She could only hope that the old madam and Xiao Su would smoothly arrange the engagement between her and Xiao Jingduo.
The thought unsettled her further. There was something off about her eldest cousin’s attitude toward her. She silently prayed that the scandal over the exam fraud would pass quickly, without disrupting her life.
After a long while, Xiao Yumang returned, having changed her entire outfit. Standing in the sunlight, she was radiant. Xiao Yufang, already engaged, simply smiled without comment. Xiao Yuli snorted disdainfully, while Cheng Huizhen, lost in her own thoughts, had no interest in playing along with Xiao Yumang’s charade.
The young women stood under the veranda, their faces adorned with polite smiles, though each harbored her own plans. When the old madam returned from offering incense, they immediately surrounded her, supporting her as they all headed out together.
…
Wu Junru stood by the carriage with her son and concubine-born daughter, having waited for quite a while. When the old madam and her entourage arrived, Wu Junru personally helped the old madam onto the carriage and then gave the order to set off.
The wheels creaked as they turned. Wu Junru’s legitimate daughter, Xiao Yuya, leaned close to her mother and asked, “Mother, what’s wrong? We’re going out to enjoy ourselves, but why do you seem unhappy?”
Wu Junru forced a stiff smile. If her own son had passed the jinshi exam, she would have been overjoyed and eager to announce it to the world. But the person who succeeded happened to be Xiao Jingduo.
Hugging her only daughter tightly, Wu Junru muttered under her breath, “How could it be him? How could he possibly pass in one attempt?”
“Mother, what did you say?”
“Nothing,” Wu Junru replied softly. Then, with a steely resolve, she whispered, “Mother won’t let anyone threaten your happiness. No one will.”
Holding Xiao Yuya close, Wu Junru’s eyes burned with a fierce determination. Years of managing the household had worn down the pride and sense of superiority she had when she first arrived in this world. She now appeared gentle and composed, much like a traditional lady of ancient times. Yet, at moments like this, her gaze revealed a stark difference from the native women around her.
Her enmity with Xiao Jingduo was deeply rooted. Wu Junru never believed they could coexist peacefully. Had her reputation not been at stake, she would never have refrained from plotting against him. Likewise, if Xiao Jingduo hadn’t been focusing on his studies all these years and lacked the power to act, Wu Junru was certain he wouldn’t have hesitated to retaliate against her.
But now, this fragile balance was on the verge of collapse.
Xiao Jingduo’s success in the jinshi exam meant that by May, he would be appointed an official. At that point, he would no longer be just the legitimate son of a marquis, confined to the household, but a court official of the Xuan Dynasty. His influence and power would grow rapidly, and once that happened, Wu Junru would have no way to bring him down.
Passing the imperial examination was only the first step toward becoming an official; it didn’t guarantee an appointment. Wu Junru understood this was her last chance.
The Marquis Dingyong’s carriage was headed to Zhuque Street to watch the jinshi parade. Unfortunately, it seemed that the entire city had the same idea.
It wasn’t long before their carriage got stuck in traffic. The servants of the Dingyong Marquis Residence disembarked to argue, but the opposing party consisted of the proud attendants from another noble household. They weren’t the least bit intimidated by the name of Dingyong Marquis.
“Newly ranked jinshi aren’t exclusive to your household. Why should we make way for you? If you wanted a good view of the jinshi parade, you should’ve come earlier. Now that you’re stuck, you want to blame those ahead? What kind of reasoning is that?”
The servant from the Dingyong Marquis Residence was about to retort that one of the newly ranked jinshi indeed belonged to their household when a burst of cheers and excited screams erupted from the other side of the street.
The newly ranked jinshi were approaching on horseback.
The imperial examinations were divided into several categories—jingxiu, jinshi, xiucai, and luxue, among others. Of these, the jinshi exam was the most prestigious. First, the jinshi exam was exceptionally difficult, requiring candidates to possess outstanding talent and knowledge. Second, most new officials were selected from the jinshi rank, so over time, it became a mark of pride in officialdom. In the eyes of the public, jinshi were held in the highest regard.
On the wide Zhuque Street, which could accommodate eleven carriages side by side, a procession of young men clad in red slowly advanced. These men, in the prime of their youth, were resplendent in their red attire, their charisma amplified by the horses they rode. As they passed through the cheering crowd, they appeared even more confident and poised.
In the Xuan dynasty, clothing colors were strictly regulated. Officials of the third rank and above wore purple, the fifth rank wore red, the sixth wore yellow, and the eighth and ninth wore blue. Women had a separate dress code. Technically, only officials of the fifth rank and above could wear red. However, the ladies of Xuanchao were notorious for ignoring these rules, flaunting bright red and yellow garments openly. In the official sphere, though, rules were adhered to strictly.
Thus, wearing red was a symbol of honor. Every man in Xuanchao dreamed of donning red or purple one day. To showcase imperial favor, the court allowed two exceptions for wearing red: newlywed grooms on their wedding day and newly ranked jinshi.
Xiao Jingduo wore a crimson robe as he rode his tall horse from Chengtian Gate, parading down the street. On either side of Zhuque Street, crowds of onlookers had already gathered. Some even climbed onto rooftops and treetops to catch a glimpse of the jinshi.
This year, 22 candidates passed the jinshi exam. They proceeded one by one according to their ranking on the list. As they moved farther from the imperial city, the crowds grew denser, and the cheers grew louder. Eventually, bolder women in the crowd began tossing flowers and handkerchiefs into the procession.
The saying “Galloping hooves, proud in spring’s glory” truly lived up to its name.
Among the jinshi, Xiao Jingduo, with his striking appearance, stood out even more. The young man, his face like polished jade, sat gracefully and composed atop his horse. The crimson robe contrasted beautifully with his fair complexion, creating a striking visual harmony. Rumor had it that he was the legitimate eldest son of the Dingyong Marquis Residence, only seventeen years old and still unmarried.
The women’s enthusiasm grew more fervent. In no time, even the top-ranked scholar couldn’t outshine Xiao Jingduo’s popularity.
The top jinshi glanced back and sighed with a smile, “The appreciation of beauty is universal, indeed.”
They continued their grand procession to the Great Wild Goose Pagoda, where the most skilled calligrapher among them inscribed the names and hometowns of all the jinshi on a stele. The inscriptions would join those of previous years, standing as a monument for future generations to admire and aspire to.
The celebration wasn’t over yet. The newly ranked jinshi still had to pay their respects to the chief examiners, visit the prime minister, and attend numerous banquets and social engagements. The enthusiastic crowds were kept outside Ci’en Temple and couldn’t see what was happening within. It was only then that the jinshi had some private time to catch their breath.
Bai Jiayi approached Xiao Jingduo with a smile and said, “They say ten years of hard study leads to soaring success in a single day. I didn’t believe it before, but now I see it’s true. By the way, you’ve received so many handkerchiefs and scented sachets from young ladies—what are you planning to do with them?”
“I knew you wouldn’t say anything proper,” Xiao Jingduo replied, unwilling to entertain Bai Jiayi’s teasing. “We have to meet with the Minister of Rites tomorrow. Preparing for that is the proper thing to do.”
“You think I can’t tell you’re indirectly calling me improper?” Bai Jiayi exclaimed. “Remember what I said to you last time—it still stands. Seriously, are you interested in becoming my brother-in-law?”
“In your dreams.”
“Haha!” Bai Jiayi laughed heartily. “I’m not just teasing you; I’m serious. So, where are you headed now? We’re all planning to go out for drinks later.”
“I’m not fond of such places. I’ll head off first.”
Where else would scholars go for drinks? Xiao Jingduo had no intention of wasting time in such places. Using the excuse of his grandmother summoning him home, he firmly declined his classmates’ invitation.
After changing out of his formal attire and leaving Ci’en Temple, Xiao Jingduo turned and walked in the opposite direction of the Dingyong Marquis Residence.
It was true that his grandmother had sent word for him to return, but that didn’t mean he had to listen.
He had more important matters to attend to. Xiao Jingduo hadn’t forgotten that Dong Peng and Wu Tai were still wandering around Chang’an, causing trouble.
T/N: More info about the categories of the imperial examinations mentioned in this chapter:
The imperial examination system in imperial China was a hierarchical structure with different levels of exams and associated titles. Here is the ranking in order of least to most prestigious:
- 秀才 (Xiùcái)
- Translation: “Cultivated Talent”
- Level: Local-level degree (entry-level)
- Candidates who passed the county or prefectural exams received this rank. It was the initial step in the system.
- 举人 (Jǔrén)
- Translation: “Recommended Man”
- Level: Provincial-level degree
- Awarded after passing the provincial exam. This title allowed one to participate in higher-level examinations.
- 贡士 (Gòngshì)
- Translation: “Tributary Scholar”
- Level: Metropolitan-level degree
- Earned by passing the metropolitan exam (会试, Huìshì) in the capital. This was a significant step toward higher official rank.
- 进士 (Jìnshì)
- Translation: “Presented Scholar”
- Level: National-level degree
- The highest title in the examination system, awarded after passing the palace exam (殿试, Diànshì). This rank opened the doors to prestigious government posts.
- Specialized examinations for fields like law (律学, Lǜxué), military strategy (武举, Wǔjǔ), and classics (经学, Jīngxué) existed but were secondary to the mainstream civil service exams.
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