Chapter 4: A Challenge at the Examination Gates

Outside the Prince of Yan’s residence, a carriage drawn by four horses was already waiting. A page and eighteen guards stood to either side.

The guards were all former crack soldiers, each an accomplished fighter.

The prince’s carriage was comfortable enough to have a bed inside. Zhang Heng intended to catch up on his sleep.

“Xiaojia, don’t wake me when we reach the examination compound. Wait until five.”

“Yes, Your Highness.” His page, Zhao Xiaojia, nodded respectfully.

Zhang Heng beckoned over the captain of the guards.

“Zhao Da, keep an eye out while I’m waiting outside the examination compound. See who keeps watching me. If you spot anything suspicious, send someone to follow them.”

Whoever was trying to frame him would leave some trace. He needed to take the initiative and find out the truth, rather than merely wait for the next attack.

Zhao Da cupped his hands. “Yes, Your Highness!”

He studied Zhang Heng with some curiosity. Why was the heir so serious today?

Before long, the carriage stopped a short distance from the examination compound’s gates, and Zhang Heng went back to sleep inside.

Outside, around three thousand candidates had gathered for the metropolitan examination. The place was a hubbub of voices.

“Gentlemen, whose carriage is that? Aren’t horses and carriages forbidden to stop before the examination compound?”

“I hear the heir of Yan is sitting this examination. Who would dare drive off his household’s carriage?”

“Why doesn’t he take the imperial clan examination? Why come here to compete with us for a jinshi place?”

“Rest easy. The heir is an ignoramus. It would be a miracle if he passed.”

“I heard he’s only taking the examination for some noble family’s daughter.”

“Hmph. Another wastrel. How did the Prince of Yan, a man of such unrivaled achievements, raise a son like that?”

“Hush! Keep your voice down.”

The candidates had plenty to say about Zhang Heng, most of it mocking. None considered him a rival.

Between three and five in the morning, before the sky had lightened, the three thousand candidates formed a long queue and began filing in to be searched.

Then one of them suddenly strode up to Zhang Heng’s carriage and called out, “Under the laws of Great Jing, no carriage may stop before the examination compound during the examinations. You are breaking the law!”

The sight set the candidates talking again.

“Who’s that? What nerve! He dares rebuke the heir of Yan?”

“Bold fellow. Won’t the heir have him killed?”

“That’s Yu Jian, the foremost scholar of Jiangzhe. A man of unbending integrity. They say he has an excellent chance of placing high in this examination.”

“Oh, him! I’ve heard of him. That explains it.”

“Will the heir have him beaten?”

“Now that would be something to watch.”

…

Zhao Da was about to draw his blade and drive the man away when a voice boomed from inside the carriage.

“Who wakes first from the great dream?

“All my life, I alone have known!”[1]

Bellowing Kongming’s lines, Zhang Heng rose and stepped down from the carriage.

“Fine verse! Absolutely dripping with talent![2] Your Highness is sure to earn a place on the list this year,” Xiaojia gushed.

Who knew where the heir had heard that poem? It was certainly pleasant to listen to.

As for His Highness’s own literary gifts…

He was a dab hand at composing dirty verses in brothels. In that field, Zhao Xiaojia admired him immensely.

“Really? If I don’t pass, I’ll have Father send you to Lingnan to clear some wasteland.” Zhang Heng patted Zhao Xiaojia’s shoulder, teasing him.

His predecessor had slowly gone to ruin amid this sort of constant, ruinous flattery. The people around him deserved no small share of the credit. Loyal though they were, they needed a reminder now and then.

“Please don’t, Your Highness! Lingnan is so far away…” Zhao Xiaojia’s face fell.

“You are breaking the law! Your carriage is not permitted to stop before the examination compound!”

Zhang Heng turned toward the tall candidate standing before his carriage, denouncing him with righteous indignation.

“I’ll drive him away, Your Highness.” Zhao Da drew his blade, ready to remove the insolent candidate by force.

“What is your name, sir?” Zhang Heng raised a hand to stop Zhao Da from getting rough just yet.

As of today, he was going to be a civilized man.

His father’s reputation for having courage without brains was already bad enough. He could not let his own reputation go on deteriorating.

“Yu Jian,” the man replied, his neck stiff.

“And do you know who I am?” Zhang Heng demanded.

“Before the laws of Great Jing, it makes no difference who you are,” Yu Jian said firmly.

Well, this one’s got a spine.

Zhang Heng smiled. “And what is the penalty for breaking this law?”

“A fine of five hundred copper cash.”

“What a joke! What government office would dare fine our heir?” Zhao Xiaojia sneered from beside him.

“Get lost!” Zhao Da snapped at Yu Jian.

Zhang Heng ignored them and took a silver ingot from his pocket.

“Xiaojia, go to the government office later and pay the fine. Tell them I’d like a month’s parking outside the examination compound.”

Zhao Xiaojia stared. “What? Your Highness, we’re really paying?”

This sudden respect for the law would take some getting used to.

“Pay it.” Zhang Heng smiled and nodded.

Yu Jian gave a cold snort. Without pursuing the matter, he turned and headed into the examination compound.

Zhang Heng respected men like him, men who did not fear the powerful. A country needed people of that sort if it was to enjoy lasting peace.

Besides, he had to start rebuilding his image. A wastrel was never going to win the throne.

Word of his respect for the law should spread quickly through these candidates’ mouths.

“Will the heir really pay?”

“Why didn’t he punish Yu Jian?”

“Probably didn’t dare, right outside the examination compound.”

“Judging by this, the heir of Yan isn’t as unreasonable as the rumors suggest.”

The candidates filing inside cast looks at Zhang Heng as their comments rose and fell.

Just then, he spotted two of his predecessor’s disreputable friends.

Sun Shao, the second son of the Vice Minister of Works, and Qian Wenbin, the legitimate son of a censor.

Sun Shao spoke as soon as he saw him.

“Well, if it isn’t our heir of Yan! You really dared come to the metropolitan examination? I thought you’d be too drunk to get up after another night at Spring Breeze House!”

Qian Wenbin chimed in, laughing. “His Highness means to get his name on the list and make Miss Sisi happy, you know.”

Miss Sisi was the legitimate daughter of a Director in the Ministry of Justice. She was the reason his predecessor had entered this examination.

The candidates who had already passed through the gates burst into knowing laughter at the gossip. A rake after all, then.

Zhang Heng smiled faintly.

“Oh, Brother Sun, Brother Zhao.[3] Did you come specially to see me off, or to… repay my money? Brother Qian, you borrowed a thousand taels from me when we were drinking with the girls last month. Surely you haven’t forgotten?”

His predecessor had been exceedingly generous about lending to friends. A prize sucker. Zhang Heng had no intention of following his example. He would ask for his money back to their faces.

Put on the spot, Qian Wenbin coughed awkwardly.

“Ahem. Your Highness, please allow me a few more days. Let’s take the examination first. We can talk another time…”

He was puzzled. The heir’s manner seemed to have changed. He had always been so free with his money before.

Qian Wenbin hurried off, and Sun Shao quickly followed.

Back by the carriage, Zhao Da surveyed the surroundings with a hawk’s gaze. His eyes fixed on a furtive figure outside the examination compound.

He signaled to one of his men.

“Follow him. See where he goes.”

“Yes, sir!” The guard cupped his hands.

The official supervising the searches at the gates was Zhou Bin, Vice Minister of Rites.

The very man who had supplied his predecessor with the questions and answers.