In the summer of the forty-first year, a ‘Dragon Boat Festival Debate on the Pros and Cons of the Selection Reform’ made the new top scorer, Fan Lianghan, famous among the powerful and influential circles.
His outstanding literary talent quickly spread outside the capital.
Everything he said and did that day, once it reached Jiangnan, the region where literary culture flourished most, was repeatedly studied and pondered over by the scholars there.
Each time, they couldn’t help but marvel: how could there be someone so astoundingly talented in this world?
Actually, if Fan Lianghan had won the debate, perhaps he wouldn’t have become so famous but he lost.
He lost to Fourth Prince Yinzhen, whose brows were knit in the shape of the character ‘川’, and to Eighth Prince Yinsi, who was caught between laughter and tears.
He lost—without question.
But Fan Lianghan’s brilliance was in how, at just the right moment, he pointed out the flaws in the selection reform, yet made every conclusion serve as a foil, giving Seventh Princess, Nine Princess, and the main debater Guoluoluo Zining the opportunity to narrate the benefits of the reform.
Not only that, the details the three young ladies hadn’t considered—for example, the long-term benefits of the reform to the empire and the aristocracy—were subtly highlighted by Fan Lianghan in just a few words before he continued the debate.
This won over the princes and ministers present, especially those aristocrats who had been against the selection reform.
In the end, even as he conceded defeat, he cleverly quoted “Li Sao” to express his loyalty to the sovereign and love for the country.
Even Kangxi, who at first found him more and more disagreeable, couldn’t help but soften a little, nodding repeatedly.
He didn’t say anything aloud, but in the tent afterward, Kangxi actually muttered his praise, saying his daughter had an eye just as good as his own, which made Fang He roll her eyes almost to the sky—only to be scolded for it.
That said, everyone knew: though the reform was Fang He’s idea, she was not involved in politics.
Ultimately, it was Kangxi who made the decision after much consideration…
In any case, Kangxi would never really have the candidates sit for the imperial examinations.
So, standing on the opposing side, Fan Lianghan could not have won.
Had he won, it would have meant openly accusing the emperor of lacking wisdom.
The moment the topic was announced, all the smart ones knew the negative side was destined to lose.
No one expected that this top scholar could lose in such a way that earned everyone’s admiration.
The three young ladies who won all couldn’t help but beam with joy, especially the two princesses, whose special attention to the top scholar was noticed by the ministers watching.
When they returned home, they all praised Fan Lianghan, claiming he was born to be an official.
In fact, Fang He had originally wanted Fan Lianghan to win, so he could earn the chance to be promoted, but she hadn’t expected that this young man’s political instincts were keener than hers, and he didn’t take the bait.
But no one could say Fan Lianghan’s choice was wrong.
Even Li Guangdi, head scholar of the Hanlin Academy, extended an olive branch, hoping to take him as a disciple.
What surprised everyone even more was that Fan Lianghan, who could have joined the Hanlin Academy as a compiler and become a disciple of a high-ranking official, declined the offer, choosing instead to continue his studies in the north, quietly leaving the capital at the height of his fame.
***
Until the autumn of the forty-second year, when Fan Lianghan returned to the capital, he unexpectedly signed up for the imperial martial examination as a warrior.
Most participants in the martial examination were from military or aristocratic families who couldn’t pursue the civil path and wanted to gain a position as imperial bodyguards through martial merit.
Among them, some had witnessed Fan Lianghan effortlessly earning high praise from their elders at Changchun Garden—of all the talented young men who could gain fame even in defeat, they’d only ever seen Fan Lianghan.
When they saw him appear for the physical examination at the martial examination sign-up, the martial artists didn’t think much at first.
As soon as they recognized him, however, the news spread quickly.
Fang He heard about it while choosing coming-of-age jewelry for next year with Jiujiu, and she was especially surprised.
“Isn’t he a scholar? How can he participate in the martial exam?”
Jiujiu was stunned for a moment, but didn’t show any other emotion.
She only lowered her head with her ears stretched and listened to what the Chengyuan County Princess had to say.
Shangguan Wan’er explained with a smile, “The court doesn’t forbid scholars from practicing martial arts. It’s a way to strengthen the body and cope with the hardships of the examination. Some who fail the civil path try their luck with the martial exam as well.”
Just like the civil exams, the martial exams had stages, but without the academy test—pass the preliminary and township exams, and you could go straight to the metropolitan and palace exams in the capital.
Jiujiu became even more curious, raising her head to ask, “With his literary talent, does he still need to prepare for both?”
Shangguan Wan’er and Fang He exchanged a glance, both seeing Jiujiu’s unusual concern and admiration for Fan Lianghan.
But in reality, she had only exchanged a few words with Fan Lianghan, never even spending time alone together.
Ah, a young girl’s heart is always so prone to feelings…
Shangguan Wan’er still explained, “He’s the top scholar of the civil exam. By law, he’s exempt from the preliminary test—so long as he passes the township exam, he can attend the metropolitan and palace martial exams.”
“If Fan Lianghan truly becomes both the civil and martial top scholar, I’m sure the Emperor will promote him, granting him a position as an Imperial Guard of the Han Army Bordered Yellow Banner. It won’t be an issue.”
Jiujiu was dazed for a moment, opened her mouth, but said nothing.
After the Chengyuan County Princess left, Fang He asked, “What do you think?”
She hesitated, then said, “Some people are too smart but completely clueless when it comes to feelings. If you really like him, you don’t have to lower yourself, but you should let him know—you have to let him know.”
Originally, Fang He thought Fan Lianghan was quite suitable for Jiujiu.
After all, Jiujiu wasn’t the worrying type, and Fan Lianghan was intelligent and wouldn’t dare let her down.
But after observing for so long, even Liang Madam said perhaps their family simply didn’t have the fate to marry a princess.
Her own son was smart, but at times, so clueless it made people worry.
Now, hearing her mother’s question, Jiujiu puffed up her cheeks and shook her head fiercely.
“I remember you told me, Mother, that someone who truly likes you wouldn’t make you take the first step. If I speak now, I’ll have to be the one to step forward for the rest of my life…”
Jiujiu clenched a phoenix-tail hairpin in her palm, pressing out a faint red mark, suppressing the words she wanted to say.
She didn’t want to ask why, because she knew love doesn’t have so many reasons.
But she would rather pull him out of her heart than spend her life chasing after someone’s back.
Fang He actually wanted to persuade Jiujiu to let it go, but after thinking about it, she realized that if Jiujiu didn’t try herself, she might regret it for life.
Jiujiu was just like her.
So she only said, “It’s up to you. You have me to rely on when it comes to your father.”
“But Jiujiu, remember: no one is worth hurting yourself to get something. No one at all.”
Jiujiu suddenly released the hairpin and gave Fang He a brilliant smile by saying, “Don’t worry, Mother. I won’t settle for less.”
Looking at her daughter, now a grown young lady, Fang He noticed her faintly reddened eyes, but could also see the pride in her starry gaze. She said no more.
***
The martial top scholar’s metropolitan exam was simple: it was a series of matches, and only the final winner would get the chance to meet Kangxi and participate in the palace exam.
The metropolitan exam ended by late July.
Before the fifteenth of August, Kangxi personally met the martial exam candidates at the parade ground of Changchun Garden.
Seeing Fan Lianghan standing at the front, Kangxi’s expression darkened a little.
This boy, having traveled north to study martial arts, discovered many corrupt practices the court had overlooked, and sent all his findings and memorials to the Fourth Prince’s residence.
Unfortunately, Yinzhen was an uncompromising sort.
Except when bickering with his wife at home, he was stubborn even in the Golden Throne Hall, more so than the censors, which gave Kangxi quite a headache.
Yet the evidence and petitions Fan Lianghan sent pointed straight at issues between the empire and Beimeng.
If not addressed, they would become major afflictions in time.
But Kangxi was much clearer than Fang He and her daughter—he knew well whether this brat was doing it for public or private reasons.
Fan Lianghan had traveled all the way to the Luosha border of the northern desert, discovered the dealings between Luosha and Tsewang Araptan, and even obtained evidence of their weapons trade.
His real aim, though, was to bring back those Beimeng heirs who had begun their official careers in Shang Shufang and the court, so that the empire and Beimeng could guard the border together.
Especially now that Khalkha Prince Bandi was gravely ill, and the most competitive Lobzang Gunbu could only return to Khalkha to patrol the Hala Hala River for Abuu, to prevent Luosha incursions.
Because of this, most of Jiujiu’s childhood companions drifted away.
Of course, there were still two of Yin Hui’s attendants who tried to curry favor with Jiujiu: Dong’e Tahui, eldest grandson of Dong’e Feiyan Gu, and Baozhu, the youngest son of Fucha Maqi.
Both were born warriors, tasked with protecting Yin Hui, but to follow him into Shang Shufang, their literary skills were also respectable.