Chapter Nineteen: Guiding Through the Maze
“Please, Immortal Elder, have a seat. Sit down and speak freely.”
The Taoist priest showed no hesitation. As soon as Zhao Dezhao extended the invitation, he confidently took a seat. Zhao Dezhao then called over a servant to bring additional bowls and chopsticks for the priest. After politely declining, the Taoist smiled and said, “Young gentleman from Shu, may I ask whether you seek fortune alone or alongside your companion here?”
“My friend is bound by filial duties and cannot participate in this provincial examination. I seek fortune alone,” Zhao Dezhao replied frankly.
The Taoist glanced at An Deyu, noting that although his clothes were neat and decent, they were not luxurious. He nodded slightly and lowered his voice: “The exam question this year costs one hundred strings of cash.”
“Are you really selling exam questions?”
Though prepared mentally and deliberately feigning indifference to money as a rustic, Zhao Dezhao’s heart still stirred with excitement when a real opportunity appeared. He forced himself to remain calm and asked, “Price aside, how can I be sure you’re not a fraud, selling fake exam questions to deceive?”
“You are the buyer,” the Taoist smiled faintly and whispered, “Considering your generous offer, you must have reliable sources at court. Might you know who has been appointed the chief examiner this year? And which influential noble will serve as the deputy chief examiner?”
“You know?” Zhao Dezhao asked immediately.
“If I didn’t, how could I dare trade exam questions here in this teahouse?” The Taoist’s tone carried a trace of arrogance.
“Please enlighten me, Immortal Elder. Who is the chief examiner this year, and who will serve as the deputy?” Zhao Dezhao pressed.
The Taoist glanced carefully around to ensure no one was eavesdropping, then leaned close to Zhao Dezhao’s ear and whispered, “The chief examiner is none other than the current Prefect of Kaifeng, the Second Prince Zhao Guangyi. Moreover, the Emperor has personally appointed his eldest son, Zhao Dezhao, as the deputy chief examiner. This will soon be made public.”
Zhao Dezhao was genuinely stunned. He had only been appointed deputy examiner two days ago, yet this news was already circulating in the crowded teahouse filled with examinees. The Taoist, reading his surprise, smiled knowingly and said, “Young gentleman, if you trust me, you may finalize the purchase now for one hundred strings of cash.”
He first took a proud sip of wine, then continued, “If you remain doubtful, you may wait until the court publicly announces the examiners’ identities and come back here to buy the questions. But whether you’ll find me then, and whether the price will remain the same, is another matter.”
Zhao Dezhao hesitated, but considering that this chance might not come again, he resolved quietly, “I’ll buy them, but I cannot pay in copper coins—only in silver.”
The Taoist laughed softly upon hearing this, whispering, “Silver is better; I prefer to keep a low profile.”
Zhao Dezhao nodded, summoned Wang Zhifa, who produced two silver ingots, each weighing fifty taels. The Taoist, experienced in such dealings, carefully examined the authenticity of the silver before pulling a letter from his sleeve and handing it to Zhao Dezhao. Bowing politely and offering a blessing, he said, “Wishing you success in this examination,” then withdrew.
After the Taoist left, Zhao Dezhao did not rush to open the letter. Instead, his mind raced with calculations: “I was right—someone is secretly selling exam questions. But are these questions genuine? If true, could Zhao Pu be behind this scheme? How did he acquire questions from my Uncle, the Chariot God? And what should I do now?”
As Zhao Dezhao pondered anxiously, An Deyu, who had been observing quietly, cleared his throat to get his attention and smiled, “Congratulations, younger brother. Your chance for fame across the land has arrived.”
Startled, Zhao Dezhao asked curiously, “Brother, what do you mean? What kind of fame? I don’t understand.”
An Deyu smiled, “It’s simple. If you want to establish your name, just keep that letter and patiently wait until the provincial exam begins and the official exam questions are announced. If the ones you bought are genuine, you can immediately appeal publicly at the Drum Tower, presenting your evidence. With witnesses and proof, the court will be enraged, the capital will be in uproar, and you will no doubt achieve great fame.”
Before An Deyu finished, Zhao Dezhao’s triangular eyes shone brightly as he mentally cheered: “Good idea! If these questions are authentic, I’ll wait until the exam starts, then expose them publicly—just like on television—while unmasking those who bought the questions early. Even if I can’t ruin my Uncle the Chariot God, at least I can disgrace him utterly!”
Unexpectedly, An Deyu sighed and added, “However, I sincerely hope you abandon this opportunity, and do your best to minimize the scandal.”
Surprised by this, Zhao Dezhao paused, then asked, “Brother, what do you mean? Please explain.”
“Because doing so preserves the court’s dignity and stabilizes public sentiment.”
An Deyu drained his glass, poured himself more wine, and muttered, “The Emperor values scholars, promotes talent, and surely does not want the court’s grand examination to become a laughingstock before the world. So I believe the Emperor prefers someone with a broad perspective to minimize the damage and keep the matter quiet.”
This awakened Zhao Dezhao. In a rush of insight, he thought, “Exactly! My adoptive father, Zhao Kuangyin, having learned from the chaos of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms, has worked hard to elevate scholars and suppress militarism. He would never want the provincial exam to become a farce. If I exploit this to harm my Uncle the Chariot God, I would be humiliating both him and my adoptive father!”
“No, I must not let this become a scandal. That would be like slapping my adoptive father’s face. Even if I’m his biological son, he wouldn’t be pleased. The best way is to minimize the incident and preserve his dignity. Then he will see me as someone who understands the bigger picture and thinks ahead.”
With this clarity, Zhao Dezhao felt enlightened and bowed deeply to An Deyu. “Thank you, brother, for your wise counsel. I now understand how to handle this.”
An Deyu, clearly aware of Zhao Dezhao’s extraordinary identity, nodded slightly and replied casually, “You’re welcome, younger brother. These are merely my humble thoughts.”
Seeing An Deyu remain calm, Zhao Dezhao felt a twinge of regret and said, “It’s a pity you voluntarily observe mourning for your adoptive father and gave up this provincial exam. Otherwise, with your talent, winning top honors would be a breeze.”
An Deyu sighed softly. “I cannot. The debt of nurturance is like being born anew. If I sought fame and wealth and forgot my adoptive father’s kindness, I would be less than a beast.”
Seeing his firm resolve, Zhao Dezhao did not argue further but pondered another crucial matter: “How can I let my adoptive father know I am thinking of the greater good? Should I report this directly? No, the exam questions haven’t been published yet. If my Uncle the Chariot God discovers the leak, he might hastily fabricate new questions to avoid blame, wasting my efforts. The best way…”
“Ladies and gentlemen! Big news! Big news!”
A sudden shout interrupted Zhao Dezhao’s thoughts. Turning, he saw a scholar-dressed man rushing upstairs, shouting at the table that had been praising Zhao Guangyi’s protégé, Chai Chengwu: “Just now, the renowned talent Chai Chengwu appeared at Jinming Pool! He left a new poem on the pavilion in the center of the lake!”
The scholars at the table, clearly Chai’s admirers, erupted in cheers. “Chai Baoshi is at Jinming Pool? And left a poem in the pavilion? That’s a clear sign he’s certain to don the red robe this year!”
“Brother, do you have a copy of Chai Baoshi’s poem? Could you read it to us?” one fan requested.
The messenger did not disappoint, quickly pulling a sheet of paper from his sleeve and announcing loudly, “Silence, please! Listen as I recite the poem that Chai Baoshi just composed at Jinming Pool!”
Chai Chengwu, already designated this year’s top scorer, commanded considerable respect. At the mention of his poem, the hall quieted. Scholars in private rooms rose and came out to listen, including Zhao Dezhao and An Deyu, who stopped their conversation and focused on the reciter.
The man enjoyed the attention, cleared his throat theatrically, and said loudly, “Gentlemen, this poem by the great Chai Baoshi is a seven-character quatrain dedicated to the famed filial son of the previous dynasty, Lord Chunyu.”
After explaining the poem’s background, he swayed his head and recited:
“From the heavens descends the silk thread of fate,
Honored among the celestial court to serve his kin.
His name shines brightly in the heavenly records,
Returning as a recluse among the smoke and clouds.
Once a guest among the mandarin ducks and orioles,
Now he departs eastward, severing the fragrant dust.”
“Excellent!”
As soon as the poem ended, the teahouse erupted in applause and cheers. Many exclaimed, “The line ‘only you sever the fragrant dust for a thousand years’ perfectly captures Lord Chunyu’s filial devotion in giving up office to care for his parents. The melody lingers like a song echoing through the halls!”
Chai Chengwu’s poem was indeed well composed. Even the proud An Deyu couldn’t help but clap twice. Yet Zhao Dezhao, sitting opposite him, remained indifferent, as if unimpressed. An Deyu, curious, asked, “You have great talent, younger brother. To think such a poem fails to move you.”
“It’s nothing special—just a pile of ornate words,” Zhao Dezhao answered, not out of arrogance, but because having read countless masterpieces, he found Chai’s poem unremarkable.
An Deyu smiled admiringly and glanced at Chai’s fans who were still praising the poem wildly. His expression suddenly turned mocking as he whispered, “The Second Prince really went to great lengths to show the world he has an eye for talent.”
Sitting across from An Deyu, Zhao Dezhao heard the sarcasm clearly and grinned, “Brother’s insight is sharp. Indeed, the Second Prince has expended much effort to prove his discernment.”
An Deyu chuckled and added, “But Chai Baoshi deserves the praise. From my interactions with provincial candidates these days, it will be hard for anyone to snatch the top honors from him.”
Though harboring no grudge against Chai, Zhao Dezhao, eager to outshine his Uncle the Chariot God, asked curiously, “Brother, if you also took the provincial exam this year, could Chai Baoshi still secure the top spot?”
An Deyu did not answer immediately, sipping wine before regretfully saying, “The debt of nurturance is like being born anew. No matter how confident I am, I must observe mourning for my adoptive father for three full years.”
Hearing this and recognizing An Deyu’s genuine talent, Zhao Dezhao blinked and proposed a cunning plan: “Brother, may I say a few words about your determination to observe the full three-year mourning?”
“Please, younger brother, go ahead,” An Deyu replied politely.
Zhao Dezhao nodded and continued, “Brother, though your filial piety is beyond reproach, I think you’ve forgotten a more important matter: why did your adoptive father raise you?”
“Why did he raise me?” An Deyu pondered.
“Exactly,” Zhao Dezhao affirmed. “In my view, your adoptive father treated you as his own not only because of his deep friendship with your birth father, but more importantly because he hoped you would achieve greatness, serve the country, plead for the people, and leave a lasting legacy!”
Pausing, Zhao Dezhao added, “Have you considered that if you broke mourning to enter this exam and won first place, how would your adoptive father’s name be celebrated by posterity? What brilliant chapter would history write about him?”
“I will definitely participate in the next provincial exam and will not let down my adoptive father,” An Deyu answered with resolve and confidence.
“But brother, you are wasting at least a year,” Zhao Dezhao reminded him. “Even if the court holds the exam next year, you will have lost a whole year. With your talent, how much could you have contributed to the country and the people during that time? If your adoptive father knew you missed so many opportunities to serve because of mourning, would he be pleased or regretful?”
An Deyu fell silent. Zhao Dezhao pressed on, “In my opinion, you should register at the Secretariat tomorrow and take this exam. Win the top spot, and you can serve sooner and bring glory to your adoptive father. If he watches from the afterlife, he will be overjoyed.”
Unfortunately, though Zhao Dezhao argued earnestly, An Deyu remained firm after a pause. “I appreciate your good intentions, brother, but I have promised my hometown to observe mourning for three years. I cannot break my word.”
Hearing this, Zhao Dezhao was greatly disappointed. Yet unexpectedly, An Deyu added, “Still, you are right. Since I owe my adoptive father so much, the best way to repay him is to strive to make his name immortal.”
Turning to his son, he instructed, “Eldest son, you have no such promise in our hometown. You need not observe mourning with your father. Tomorrow, you will register at the Secretariat and take this provincial exam, winning first place to glorify your great-grandfather.”
“What? You want your son to win first place for you? Do you think this court belongs to you, and the top spot is yours to command?” Zhao Dezhao was utterly dumbfounded. He never dreamed An Deyu could say something so arrogant. What shocked him even more was that An Deyu’s son, similar in age to Zhao Dezhao, calmly bowed in response, “I will obey father’s order.”
Seeing their composed expressions, Zhao Dezhao pinched his thigh hard, thinking, “I’m not dreaming—are these two madmen?”