jdhmnovel Chapter 505 Records of the Ministry of Rites
Chapter 505 Records of the Ministry of Rites
Before the commotion beside the imperial edict had subsided, the new regulations had already spread throughout the streets and alleys of Xianyang City with the shouts of the officials: those who had passed the imperial examination should not rush to take up their posts. A month later, they would need to enter the official school for three months of training. Upon graduation, they would have to pass an examination. Only those who passed could receive their official seals and take up their posts. If they failed, they would have to stay in the school to continue their studies. Only when they passed the examination could they go to their new posts in the local areas.
Upon hearing this, the candidates began to make their plans. Those whose homes were near Xianyang, such as those in Guanzhong or those whose homes were only a few days' journey away, mostly packed simple bags and hurried home with the good news of their success in the imperial examinations in their arms. One candidate from the jurisdiction of the Prefect of Jingzhao rode on a borrowed donkey, waving the official document tied with a red silk ribbon in his hand, humming a Qinqiang opera tune all the way, wishing he could sprout wings and fly back to his village so that his parents could see this glory as soon as possible.
A few others lived in Hedong or Nanyang, which, though not too far, still took them ten days to half a month to travel. They gathered at the city gate to say goodbye to each other. Some stuffed pastries from Xianyang into their bundles, saying they would take them to their younger siblings; others put their newly acquired "Essentials of Qin Law" into their book chests, intending to continue reading them on the way—even if they were going home to share the good news, they dared not forget that there was still training waiting for them a month later.
As for those whose homes were in Yanbei, Lingnan, or Chu, most didn't move. It wasn't that they didn't want to go back, but the journey was simply too long, taking two or three months for a round trip, which would severely disrupt their training. Qi Yue was one of them. He came from Linzi in Qi, and calculating that the journey would take more than forty days, he simply moved into the dormitory prepared for the official school. His roommate was a scholar from Chu, who was drawing a map of his hometown on the wall with charcoal, laughing as he drew: "After the training, I'll take the official seal home and let my neighbors see that a scholar from Chu can also become an official in Qin."
Those who failed the exam left Xianyang one after another. Some left with a carefree attitude, writing "I will go to Xianyang to take the exam again next year" on the wall of the inn, their ink still wet with ink; others left with solemnity, carefully copying the essays they wrote in the examination hall, saying they would take them back to their hometowns, "so that the children can learn from them and take the imperial examination in the future."
The old gatekeeper of the official school, watching the figures coming and going, couldn't help but mutter to a young gatekeeper, "Look at these candidates. Those who passed are looking forward to training, and those who didn't are looking forward to next year. They have more ambition than us servants."
The young gatekeeper smiled and nodded, gazing at the lights gradually illuminating the academy in the distance. There, some students had already begun to preview "The Way of Being an Official." The sound of their reading mingled with the roar of the Wei River, spreading in the twilight, as if they were quietly accumulating strength for the assessment three months later.
The echoes of the court bells still reverberated within the palace walls when Kui Zhuang, lifting the hem of his official robes, strode quickly out of the court. His usually steady steps were now light and quick, even the jade pendant hanging at his waist jingled with each step—at his age, he seemed to be carrying the joyful heart of a young man, heading towards the Lü residence in the south of the city.
Who would have thought that just three months ago, he couldn't help but frown when he mentioned Lü Zhi? At that time, Princess Jiayang strongly recommended this woman to assist in organizing the imperial examinations. Kui Zhuang agreed verbally, but secretly thought to himself: Women may be meticulous, but how can they be qualified for such an important task concerning the talents of the world? Managing the inner quarters is their duty; matters of the court are ultimately not their business.
But this idea had been utterly crushed during the days and nights of preparing for the imperial examinations. He had personally witnessed Empress Lü checking the household registers until late at night, the candlelight illuminating her annotations as she marked the identities of the students from the former Yan and Zhao regions; he had personally heard her propose "anonymous transcription," methodically dissecting the key points to prevent fraud; and he remembered how, during the days of soaring prices, she drafted the "affordable supply point" regulations overnight, solving the immediate crisis before the ink was even dry. Such composure and foresight were something even seasoned officials who had been immersed in the court for many years might not be able to match.
On the day the imperial examination results were announced, looking at the jubilant scholars throughout the city, Wei Zhuang's hand trembled slightly as he picked up his pen to write his recommendation. He spoke frankly to the King of Qin: "Lü Zhi's talent transcends gender; she should be granted an official position to encourage the people." The days he spent waiting for a reply were even more anxious than when he himself was waiting for his appointment years ago.
The imperial edict still carried the scent of ink as he held it between his fingers. Standing in front of the Lü residence, gazing at the simple wooden door, Kui Zhuang suddenly felt that a piece of unpolished jade was hidden in this ordinary alley.
The door opened, and a small courtyard with two entrances opened up, bursting with greenery. Morning glories climbing all over the courtyard walls were in full bloom, half-dried bamboo slips hung under the eaves, and an uncollected water bucket sat on the well platform in the corner—quiet and elegant, it didn't seem like a place where great talent was hidden.
Empress Lü, dressed in a plain cloth dress, was taken aback when she saw him. She quickly curtsied and said, "What brings you here, Your Excellency Prime Minister? Please come in." She turned to go boil water.
"No rush." Kui Zhuang waved his hand, a smile playing on his lips. "I've come today with some good news."
Lü Zhi stopped in her tracks, still clutching the teacup she had just picked up, her eyes filled with confusion.
Kui Zhuang slowly unfurled the imperial edict. Morning light streamed through the window lattice, falling on the white hair at his temples and illuminating the vermilion annotations on the yellow silk. He cleared his throat, his voice filled with undisguised solemnity: "Lü Zhi, heed the decree."
Empress Lü immediately knelt down, her nose almost touching the blue bricks.
"By the grace of Heaven, the King of Qin decrees: Empress Lü Zhi has assisted in the administration of the imperial examinations with skillful management and is well-versed in the relevant regulations. She is hereby appointed as the Director of the Department of Rites and Literature, with a salary of 300 shi (a unit of grain), and is granted a bronze seal and yellow ribbon. She shall assume her duties immediately. This is the imperial decree."
As the reading ended, the courtyard was so quiet that one could hear the soft rustling of morning glories blooming. When Lü Zhi raised her head, her eyes were still misty with tears. Looking at the imperial edict handed to her by Wei Zhuang, her fingertips trembled slightly as she touched it.
Looking at her like this, Wei Zhuang suddenly recalled the expressions of the students when the results were announced—it turned out that whether it was a scholar who had passed the imperial examination or a woman who had just obtained an official position, the light in their eyes was the same when faced with this recognition.
He stroked his beard and smiled, "This bronze seal may be small, but it bears the words 'Liwen' (礼文). From now on, the task of organizing the classics of the world and standardizing the documents of the academies will fall on your shoulders."
Empress Lü received the imperial edict, her fingertips tracing the design of the bronze seal that would soon be hers. Suddenly, she bowed deeply and said, "Your subject will certainly not fail in your mission."
A breeze carrying the fragrance of flowers drifted over from the corridor, ruffling the stray hairs at her temples. Looking at the vibrant clump of orchids in the corner of the courtyard, Kui Zhuang suddenly felt that this seventh-rank official position might be more conducive to this bright pearl truly taking root in the soil of the Great Qin than any gold seal or purple ribbon.
Three hundred bushels of grain, a seventh-rank official position. Lü Zhi held the small bronze seal, her fingertips tracing the five Qin seal characters "Liwen Si Dianji" (礼文司典籍) in intaglio on the seal face, her mind clear. This position was not high, but it was just right—the Dianji was in charge of copying documents and organizing books, which perfectly matched what she had been doing in the imperial examinations these days. It was neither an unconventional promotion that would attract controversy, nor did it give her a legitimate opportunity to participate in cultural and educational affairs.
She gently put the bronze seal into her pouch, hung it at her waist, and accepted the official robe prepared for her, suppressing her excitement.
Seeing that she had quickly calmed down, Wei Zhuang nodded approvingly: "Although the Liwen Division is only a seventh-rank official, it is in charge of all the correspondence between the academies in the country and the filing of the imperial examination records. It is a job that tests one's patience. If you do a good job, the Great Qin will definitely not treat you unfairly."
"Your subject obeys the decree." Lü Zhi responded, her gaze sweeping towards the direction of the Ministry of Rites and Literature in the distance. That office was hidden behind a grove of locust trees on the west side of the palace wall, usually inconspicuous, but now, to her, it seemed to hold countless scrolls waiting to be unraveled.