Chapter 10
Chapter 10
The top scorer of the provincial examination was a woman.
The runner-up of the palace examination was also a woman.
It had been ten years since a woman last appeared among the top three of the palace examination.
It wasn’t that women were the weaker sex, but rather that the requirements for women to sit for the examinations had become increasingly stringent in recent years.
In the twenty-ninth year of the Jinxi era, I was appointed as a Hanlin Academy Editor. I was not particularly well-received by my colleagues or the court officials.
Three months into my tenure, while I was tasked with proofreading the “Collection of Exemplary Essays from Past Provincial Examinations,” I uncovered a case of Impersonation and Cross-Region Examination Fraud.
The court and the commoners were shocked. Public sentiment regarding imperial examination fraud had been sensitive in recent years, and this revelation sparked widespread outrage.
His Majesty appointed the Chief Censor, Shen Ci, to verify the matter.
At the mention of the name “Shen Ci,” my spine stiffened instantly.
How could it be that cold, stiff block of wood?
Before this case, Shen Ci and I had already crossed paths at the entrance of the Hanlin Academy.
On my first day at the Academy, a fellow graduate from the same examination year wanted to thank me for the pointers I gave him before the test. He brought a container of high-quality ink paste to give to me.
His family was quite wealthy, so his gift was lavish; even the brocade box was made of premium lobular red sandalwood.
After several rounds of back-and-forth and me trying to decline, I was eventually forced to accept it.
This scene fell right into the eyes of Shen Ci, who had come to investigate official business. In his view, I was a person of poor character, accepting bribes and seeking personal gain through connections on my very first day of work.
“The Hanlin Academy is a place of noble purity, not a marketplace for trade. If you two wish to engage in private transactions, please choose another location.”
I wanted to explain myself, but he merely swept a warning glance over me.
“Conduct yourself with care.”
He was a man of few words.
It was as if saying one more word to a social climber like me would soil his eyes.
My terrified classmate crawled out from behind a nearby flowerbed and patted his chest.
“That scared me to death. How did I run into that mad dog on my first day? Thank goodness I hid quickly.”
“Mad dog?”
I was puzzled. This classmate was pure-hearted and rarely used such descriptions for others.
“That’s what I call him, following my father’s lead. Hehe, don’t tell anyone else.”
“In this capital, there are two people you absolutely must avoid.”
“One is the Seventh Prince. He’s a bit fierce and enjoys arresting people.”
I frowned. Was he only “a bit” fierce?
My classmate seemed conflicted about the Seventh Prince, looking as if he wanted to say more but quickly skipped over the topic.
“The other is this Lord Censor from a prestigious and noble family. When you walk in front of him, you even have to breathe lightly. You mustn’t make a single mistake, or he’ll crush you with the legal code in the next second.”
“Last time my father hosted an autumn banquet, this Lord Censor impeached him before His Majesty for seven consecutive counts of improper conduct.”
And now, His Majesty had assigned him to investigate the case of Impersonation and Cross-Region Examination Fraud…
I waited anxiously outside the Imperial Study. After a long while, Shen Ci walked out.
I approached him with a forced smile. “Lord Shen, we will be investigating this case together. I look forward to your guidance.”
“If your findings are true, you won’t need my guidance.”
“But if you intend to engage in bribery as you did last time, then please come with me to the Supervisory Department.”
His cold eyes swept over my flattering smile, a flicker of disgust surfacing.
“Tomorrow at noon, present all your evidence in detail.”
His words were like his retreating figure-without a trace of warmth.
Mad dog.
My smile didn’t fade, but I cursed him inwardly.
The next day, just after the hour of Chen, I stood before the Censorate with the evidence I had organized over a sleepless night.
At this hour, those old pedants at the Hanlin Academy would still be eating breakfast and chatting idly with their colleagues over tea.
Shen Ci was already seated at his desk, his expression sharp as he spoke to his subordinates.
“I want exact figures, not estimates.”
“If the complete summary and chain of evidence aren’t on my desk before the end of the day, don’t bother showing up for the morning roll call tomorrow.”
His subordinates were breaking out in cold sweats. The moment they stepped out the door, their shoulders slumped in relief.
As they passed me, one of them couldn’t help but glance sideways. “So, this is Compiler Jiang, who has become quite famous lately for uncovering the ‘Impersonation and Cross-Region Examination Fraud’ case.”
They exchanged looks and let out strange, mocking chuckles. “Compiler Jiang, the common folk say that you, a mere woman, were so desperate for merit that you fabricated this whole ordeal. I wonder what your thoughts are on these rumors?”
I cupped my hands and smiled. “I have a busy day of official business ahead, so I shall take my leave first. I wish you all the best in making it to tomorrow’s roll call.”
Their faces turned pale, silenced by the jab.
The office was cold. Even the placement of a paperweight was meticulously calculated, reflecting an air of absolute precision.
Shen Ci sat upright at his desk, verifying the chain of evidence I had gathered point by point.
“These two transcribed volumes-whose hand are they from?”
“Are they signed and sealed by the Transcribing Official and the Proofreading Official?”
…
Question after question, answer after answer; there wasn’t a single flaw.
The logic was perfectly closed-loop.
Shen Ci lowered his gaze and spoke decisively.
“Compiler Jiang, you may head back and wait. Once I have verified and stamped this with the lords from the Censorate, I will present it to His Majesty.”
He was indeed rigorous and tedious, but he was also just and efficient.
At this point, a small smile finally touched my lips. “Then I must trouble you to be as quick as possible, My Lord.”
The following day at court, Shen Ci confirmed that the case of Impersonation and Cross-Region Examination Fraud was indeed true. Following the evidence, he proceeded to impeach dozens of veteran officials in succession.
His words were so sharp and cold that I, standing below the dais, couldn’t help but swallow hard.
A true censor indeed. His tongue was a lethal weapon.
One minister was so old he had age spots, and he stood trembling before him, yet Shen Ci showed him no mercy whatsoever.
That official was so enraged that he actually spat out a mouthful of blood and collapsed on the floor.
However, when His Majesty asked him how my contributions should be weighed, he did not hesitate.
“Compiler Jiang’s investigation procedures were rigorous, her chain of evidence complete, and her heart is set on justice. She deserves the primary credit for this case.”
With the case solved, the involved candidates and officials were all severely punished.
The clearing of the imperial examination grounds greatly boosted the morale of thousands of scholars.
Because I had only recently entered the imperial service, and many ministers vehemently opposed a female official being promoted too quickly, His Majesty instead rewarded me with two thousand taels of gold, a hundred bolts of fine silk, and a large quantity of specially made brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones.
As the ministers dispersed, I was kept behind in the hall by His Majesty for some personal guidance before finally leaving.
On the long stone steps, the setting sun looked like colorful ink splashed across the sky.
Halfway down, I saw a surprising figure standing at the bottom.
His usually cold and upright green official robes seemed softened by the glow of the sunset. Holding his tablet of office, the man stood by the side of the path.
“Lord Shen, are you waiting for someone?”
Shen Ci’s jade-like face remained solemn. He lowered his eyes and said coldly, “It is increasingly difficult for a woman to serve as an official. You need not feel discouraged by one setback.”
“In this case, you truly do deserve the primary credit.”
I suddenly recalled the other evaluations I had heard about this Lord Censor from our colleagues.
He was a weapon forged from etiquette and law.
The cold light of his blade could distinguish black from white.
He was not moved by external things, nor did he change his mind based on personal feelings.
I chuckled and cupped my hands in gratitude. “Thank you for your guidance, My Lord.”
He nodded and began to walk away.
I thought for a moment, then jogged after him.
“My Lord, wait! What are your three measurements?”
That day, Shen Ci’s official tablet nearly knocked me unconscious.
“You… how frivolous!”
I was only thinking that I couldn’t possibly wear all the silk His Majesty had gifted me, so I wanted to have a set of clothes made for him.