Ouyang Hu took a seat beside Jeok Wigang.
“I was wondering where to sit, and this seat happened to be empty.”
“Don’t even think about stealing a look at my answers.”
“That will absolutely not happen. This time, I will definitely beat you.”
At the determined look in Ouyang Hu’s eyes, Jeok Wigang smiled.
“Sure. Do your best. It won’t happen, though.”
Ouyang Hu was in a good mood.
He had been worried because Jeok Wigang had not arrived even though the examination time was approaching, so he was glad to meet him again like this.
Searching the entire examination grounds on purpose had been worth it.
“You said the Empress is from your family, didn’t you?”
“That’s right. She is my older sister.”
“What kind of person is she?”
“She is a kind person. Unlike the men, who only ever went around causing trouble, my sister always seemed to be the one cleaning up after it. I think the House of Ouyang’s reputation only avoided falling into the gutter because of her.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. Recently, because His Majesty’s august body has been unwell, she has hardly slept and only worries. I’m concerned for the Empress’s health too. I’m afraid she might collapse at this rate.”
“Noble Consort Man. Do you know about her too?”
At the mention of Noble Consort Man, Ouyang Hu’s eyes changed completely.
“She is a goddamn bitch. Because of that bitch, my sister, who was already struggling, is now suffering twice as much.”
“Why?”
“On the surface, she pretends to show the Empress every courtesy, but behind her back she is a madwoman who uses every scheme imaginable to push my sister out. Fortunately, my brothers have been protecting the Empress, so all of those attempts failed, but she is a woman who could be preparing anything even now to attack the Empress.”
“From what I hear, the Eastern Depot is behind Noble Consort Man.”
“Where did you hear that?”
“I just heard things here and there on my way over.”
“That is correct. This is not something to discuss here, so I will arrange a separate meeting later and tell you.”
“Good.”
Before their conversation had fully faded, the drum signaling the start of the examination rang out.
Once the topic was given, the examinees all picked up their brushes and began writing the answers they had prepared.
Jeok Wigang finished his answer sheet in an instant and was the first to rise.
Ouyang Hu looked at him in shock.
“Work hard. I’m leaving first.”
Jeok Wigang smiled at him, went forward, and handed his answer sheet to the proctor.
The proctor’s expression was far from pleased.
It was the face of someone who could not accept it, as if even if they took the examination themselves, they could not possibly write an answer sheet that quickly.
Jeok Wigang lightly ignored that gaze and left the square.
Ouyang Hu hurriedly completed his answer and followed after Jeok Wigang, but he had already disappeared.
“If I knew this would happen, I should have asked him to wait. I don’t even know where he is staying, so I can’t find him...”
Ouyang Hu turned back in disappointment.
*****
Meanwhile, the proctors who saw Jeok Wigang’s answer sheet were thrown into an uproar.
The writing on the answer sheet was neat and free of waste.
The most important part of the imperial examination was the Eight-Legged Essay.
Just as the name meant eight structures, it required the writer to follow eight fixed stages and forms of composition.
Jeok Wigang had used that Eight-Legged Essay structure perfectly and even added moving prose on top of it.
“This is art...”
The proctors, moved, carefully set down Jeok Wigang’s answer sheet, completely unlike their earlier displeased reaction.
In their hearts, Jeok Wigang’s answer sheet had already been marked as the top scorer.
*****
Not long afterward, the provincial examination ended, and the palace examination was held.
Normally, it would be held about twenty days after the provincial examination, but for some reason, the examination began in haste.
The palace examination was one His Majesty personally attended and watched.
Zhu Seogi’s eyes were fixed on only one place.
Jeok Wigang.
He sat at ease as he watched him.
If Jeok Wigang was nearby, then that place was the safest place in ❀ Nоvеlігht ❀ (Don’t copy, read here) the world.
From what he had heard, Jeok Wigang had also passed the provincial examination as the top scorer.
Zhu Seogi had thought he was only strong, but his mind was exceptional as well.
He was a perfect talent, accomplished in both letters and martial might.
Zhu Seogi was watching Jeok Wigang with a pleased expression when the man suddenly sprang to his feet.
Had something gone wrong?
Zhu Seogi watched in concern, only to see Jeok Wigang carrying what appeared to be an answer sheet toward the proctor and handing it over.
“Bring me the answer sheet that man submitted.”
At Zhu Seogi’s command, a eunuch hurried down and brought Jeok Wigang’s answer sheet.
As Zhu Seogi read it, a smile formed at the corners of his mouth.
The more he read, the more he thought there could be no clearer answer than this.
There was no need to see any of the other answer sheets.
He did not claim to know much about writing, but he was certain there could be no answer more perfect than this.
The scholars from the Hanlin Academy thought the same.
The Lecturer of the Hanlin Academy, Lee Jungwoo, admired the answer to the palace examination just as he had admired the answer to the provincial examination.
A truly perfect talent.
And on top of that, he possessed strength like a god descended to earth.
He was so flawless that he could not be more perfect.
When the examination ended, the examinees looked at the Emperor with tense faces.
“All of you have worked hard. I shall announce the top scorer.”
BOOM, BOOM, BOOM—
The drums sounded.
“Top scorer, Jeok Wigang!”
At the sound of his name being called, Jeok Wigang rose from his seat.
Seeing him, Zhu Seogi grinned.
He was beyond reassuring.
“Come forward.”
Jeok Wigang moved directly in front of Zhu Seogi and knelt.
“We find this man outstanding in learning, bright in composition, and possessed of virtue and reputation, and therefore name him top scorer. We appoint him seventh-rank Compiler of the Hanlin Academy and command him to enter service within three days.”
“Your imperial grace is boundless.”
And so Jeok Wigang formally entered service in the imperial palace.
A eunuch hurried down and received the imperial order His Majesty handed over.
On the gold-threaded imperial order, the three characters of Jeok Wigang’s name had been written in His Majesty’s own hand.
The musicians waiting behind them began playing flutes and reed pipes.
Amid the gentle music, a red kite rose into the sky, and a gold-leaf scroll was unfurled.
A jade belt held in a palace attendant’s hands was fastened around his waist, and silk official robes were placed over him.
Only then had he fully become an official.
Zhu Seogi said,
“Help Us greatly from now on.”
“I, Jeok Wigang, shall obey Your Majesty’s will.”
Countless eyes watched the scene.
Every one of those eyes held wariness.
*****
Once all the ceremonies ended, Jeok Wigang was immediately summoned by His Majesty and moved elsewhere.
Inside the room stood Zhu Seogi and the Lecturer of the Hanlin Academy, Lee Jungwoo.
“Hahaha! That was truly excellent writing. Was it not, Lecturer?”
“That is correct, Your Majesty. In all the writings I have seen until now, this was the first so perfect.”
“Indeed. I do not have a great deal of insight, but even to my eyes, it was tremendous.”
Zhu Seogi’s eyes were filled with affection for Jeok Wigang.
“What will you do now?”
“First, we need to make people who belong to Your Majesty’s side.”
“How?”
“Those who are extremely wary of talent going to Your Majesty will approach me. I will give them a chance. A chance to choose which side they will stand on.”
Zhu Seogi and the Lecturer had seen it all this time.
They had seen what happened when Jeok Wigang gave people a choice.
The answer was already decided.
“All I need to do is sit still and wait.”
Jeok Wigang spoke with a grin.
They ought to have grown used to it by now, but that smile was still terrifying.
“Then I will be going. I need to go to the Hanlin Academy and greet my seniors.”
At Jeok Wigang’s words, the Lecturer spoke in an earnest voice.
“They are not martial artists. So please handle them gently. Gently.”
“Yes. Don’t worry. Then I will take my leave.”
After Jeok Wigang bowed and left, Zhu Seogi looked at the Lecturer and asked,
“Do you think the Hanlin Academy scholars will listen well to Compiler Jeok?”
“This humble subject does not know either, Your Majesty. Many of them are terribly rigid... There may be some who would rather die than bend.”
“Surely... he will not actually kill them, will he?”
“If we are speaking of Compiler Jeok as this subject has seen him so far, I do not think such a thing will happen.”
“I truly hope nothing happens.”
*****
The Hanlin Academy.
As the highest literary institution directly under His Majesty, it was practically the symbol of official posts that only the most outstanding talents could enter.
Because those from the Hanlin Academy often occupied key posts, its power was both broad and strong.
Even the Eastern Depot, whose influence was immense, could not recklessly touch the Hanlin Academy.
What good was it for them to seize power?
Without the Hanlin Academy, those who handled government affairs would disappear.
And it was not as though they could entrust state affairs to eunuchs.
That was why the Hanlin Academy was a domain no one could touch lightly.
Knowing that, the scholars of the Hanlin Academy could speak proudly and raise their voices.
At present, the Hanlin Academy was split into two factions.
One group argued that they should wait for the Empress to conceive, while the other argued that Noble Consort Man’s son should be raised to Crown Prince before it was too late.
They believed the reason the imperial palace was so turbulent now was that the successor had not been clearly determined, and that for the palace to regain stability, the successor had to be set firmly.
On the other hand, the opposing view was just as strong. They argued that if a successor was chosen rashly and the Empress conceived afterward, even greater chaos would erupt, so they had to wait a little longer.
In this situation, newly entering talents were more important than anyone.
That was why the Hanlin Academy was fiercely competing internally to draw in the talents who had passed this palace examination.
Among them, the one clear talent they were all aiming for was Jeok Wigang.
First, they needed to break Jeok Wigang’s spirit.
Since he had passed as top scorer, how high must his nose be in the air?
He might look down on his seniors, so the first thing they needed to do was establish discipline.
There was only one way the Hanlin Academy established discipline.
A contest of writing.
Most people grew arrogant, not knowing how high the sky was, only to realize they had been nothing but frogs at the bottom of a well and submit.
They intended to make Jeok Wigang do the same.
“In your view, what moves the world? Writing, or the sword?”
At the question, Jeok Wigang grinned and said,
“The sword.”
“What?”
“What nonsense is that! How can a man who writes say such a thing?”
“The sword cuts people, but writing moves the heart of Heaven! How could a man like this become top scorer?”
“Perhaps this happened because His Majesty did not study properly.”
Everyone lamented Jeok Wigang’s answer.
At that, Jeok Wigang said,
“If the brush were truly stronger than the sword, His Majesty would not be standing so alone right now. Aren’t every one of you here shrinking back because you fear the sword?”
“Shut your mouth! Do not judge us so recklessly when you know nothing!”
“That’s right! Do you think we are acting like this because we fear the sword? If even we disappear, this country will fall! For the stability of the nation and the sake of the people, we are enduring disgrace and bearing it!”
“Disgrace? Endurance? They are all excuses. The truth is, this place seems to be full of cowards hiding because they don’t want to die.”
“You damned bastard!”
At Jeok Wigang’s scathing words, the Hanlin Academy scholars gathered there grew furious.
But no one charged at him.
They merely clenched their fists and trembled.
“It doesn’t seem as if outstanding people have gathered here either.”
“What did you say?”
“I heard there are two factions in the Hanlin Academy. Those who support the Empress, and those who support Noble Consort Man. But... it seems there is no one here who supports His Majesty.”
In truth, those who had supported the Emperor had all been killed in the process of seizing the Imperial Seal.