Taboo Avoidance

"I naturally hoped to pass. What about you?"

Su Ziji saw that the other students had gathered in groups of three or five, talking in low voices. The yamen runners merely watched them off without interfering, so he replied quietly as well.

This time, Zhang Sheng was not pulling a long face. He shook his head. "I'm afraid I won't make it this time. But I already told my father and mother that I'd definitely pass the County Examination next time and show them. They don't blame me."

No wonder he looked rather relaxed. As they spoke, they reached the county yamen, and after talking with several people, Yu Lü strode over.

Naturally, the first thing they discussed upon meeting was the examination. Su Ziji was more candid with Yu Lü. "I thought the questions were not difficult. I'm sure Brother Yu will achieve high honors."

That was the truth. His own studies relied on the Golden Finger and hard work, while Yu Lü possessed genuine talent. Often, after reading a book only a few times, he could recite seventy or eighty percent of it. Not to mention his prosperous household, which allowed him to frequently borrow Provincial Graduate notes and books. In terms of resources, he was far ahead of students from poor families.

This was only the County Examination. If he failed to pass, that would be the strange thing.

"May your words prove auspicious. Come, let's return to the inn and compare our drafts carefully—I'll treat." Yu Lü was delighted and waved a hand as he spoke.

By the time Su Ziji returned to the inn, dusk had fallen. Some scholars inside were beaming with joy, presumably having done well; some sat solemnly in thought, appearing reserved and composed; others wore dark expressions, presumably having performed poorly.

Su Ziji was not nervous. Rather than returning to his room, he followed Yu Lü upstairs. Sure enough, beyond the partition screens was an empty private table. Yu Lü said, "Three meat dishes, two vegetable dishes, and a soup. Bring us some Golden Brew!"

Golden Brew was brewed from spring water and was not cheap. The waiter answered, "We have it. How much would you like?"

"Bring a jin!" For three people, that was not much wine. Zhang Sheng chimed in, and the waiter withdrew. Yu Lü immediately took out his draft. "Come, let's exchange them and take a look."

"Let's start with the first paper. Whoever loses drinks a cup!" Zhang Sheng said maliciously. In any case, he was certain to lose; he only wanted to see the two academic prodigies punished with wine.

"Fine!"

As they spoke, they finished reviewing the first paper. Su Ziji laughed loudly. "All correct. But you can't just take a sip—you must drain this cup. You got every question in the first paper right too."

"Damn it, I have my day too." Zhang Sheng burst into laughter, and each of them drank.

"Enough, enough. Let's look at the second paper!" Yu Lü said. The second paper was the Imperial Educational Admonitions, and he read it aloud without missing a single character.

"You two are word-for-word identical again. I made one mistake, so hurry up and drink a cup." Zhang Sheng shouted. The two could only drink another cup. Su Ziji's body had a low tolerance for alcohol, and after draining it, he was somewhat tipsy. As Yu Lü read aloud from his paper, he took out their third papers to inspect them. After looking them over, he shook his head slightly. Zhang Sheng's learning in the Classics was indeed shallow.

Yu Lü's exposition of the Classics, however, already revealed a certain bearing, while he and Su Ziji each had their own strengths. Overall, Su Ziji still edged him out by a sliver. If his prediction was correct, Yu Lü's mastery of the Four Books and Five Classics was also close to Level 5.

The County Examination Laureate is within reach! Su Ziji thought. Once I become the County Examination Laureate, I'll almost certainly become a Cultivated Talent. Then it will be time to settle accounts with Boss Zhang and Mount Tong Temple.

Though he had killed two people and acted as though nothing had happened, Su Ziji still carried hidden worries. Ruffians who roamed the jianghu did not care about evidence; they would certainly come knocking. But if he became the County Examination Laureate, how could they possibly bully him?

Just as he thought this, Yu Lü had been reading aloud in a clear voice, his admiration and appreciation growing ever stronger. Suddenly, he came upon a sentence: "A small terrace was laid with stones, sheltered beneath vines, where one could sit in the height of summer without seeing the sun!"

He abruptly stopped and asked, "The character luo is subject to a short-term taboo. Your draft did not omit a stroke to avoid it—did you avoid the taboo in your final copy?"

To avoid the names of the honored, to avoid the names of one's elders, to avoid the names of the worthy—this was a general principle of taboo avoidance in ancient times.

Su Ziji's heart skipped a beat. After steadying himself slightly, he asked, "I was unaware that the character luo was taboo."

"Our dynasty's taboos are divided into long-term and short-term taboos. The imperial name taboo and ancestral temple name taboo are long-term taboos."

"Short-term taboos are usually observed for three years after the death of princes, nobles, or high ministers. The Imperial Consort Dowager recently passed away, and her personal name was luo. Whenever that character appears in an examination paper, one must omit a stroke to avoid it. Violators are struck from the list—how could you not know?" Yu Lü was full of sympathy. "And you happened to use that character in your essay."

Suddenly, he understood. "The Imperial Consort Dowager died only a month ago, and the short-term taboo was only sent down to the county a few days ago. You do not attend the County Academy, so it is no wonder you did not know."

"It is no matter. The County Examination and Prefectural Examination are held once a year, while the Provincial Examination is held once every three years. With your literary talent, even if you are struck from the list this time, you can pass next year."

"This is bad!" Far from being comforted by those words, Su Ziji suddenly felt dizzy and lightheaded, cold sweat soaking through him. Under normal circumstances, Yu Lü was right, but things were different now. If he did not pass, how would he fend off Boss Zhang and Mount Tong Temple?

Damn it, had I taken too great a risk?

At that thought, his heart palpitated. He did not notice that half of the Rosewood Pendant flashed, then dimmed again, as though the entire thing had grown somewhat darker.

Inside the county yamen, red candles stood in rows. The county magistrate sat in the middle, with three academic officials seated to either side. An elderly man was also present. He looked to be over sixty, lean and gaunt, yet he wore plain clothes rather than official robes.

Only around a hundred people had taken this County Examination. Since there was no need even to conceal names or make copied transcripts, the papers could be reviewed directly. The county magistrate and academic officials could finish marking them all that same day.

Zhang Magistrate was a Second Class Presented Scholar who had only recently been posted to a local county as magistrate. His learning was quite good, so he found ordinary papers beneath his notice. Yet Linhua County was not a place where scholarly culture flourished. From these hundred candidates, twenty had to be selected: five for the upper posting and fifteen for the lower posting. He could only steel himself, endure the ache in his eyes, and read these mostly "plain and unadorned" essays.

Suddenly, Zhang Magistrate came upon a paper that made his eyes light up. Its opening and development were both quite precise. Though its command of prose was somewhat lacking, it was proper and measured, a regulated examination essay with real merit. Zhang Magistrate pondered for a moment. "In my view, this is quite a high standard for the County Examination. Very good."

"He should have a ninety-eight or ninety-nine percent chance of passing the Prefectural Examination."

Just as he was about to mark it, his brows suddenly furrowed at the character luo. It was subject to a short-term taboo, yet no stroke had been omitted to avoid it. He could not help shaking his head, thinking, This candidate is far too careless!

He sighed repeatedly. "What a pity, what a pity!"

Liu Heming, the county's Educational Instructor, was sixty years old. His hair was black and his body robust. Though only of Principal Ninth Rank, he was respected by all. Smiling, he said to Zhang Magistrate, "Lord Zhang, you have mostly frowned while marking papers until now. Why do you call this paper a pity?"

"It is indeed a pity. Among all these papers, this candidate ranks first. Unfortunately, he did not omit a stroke to avoid a taboo. Take a look." As he spoke, he handed the paper to the Educational Instructor and the Assistant Instructor.

After reviewing it, the Educational Instructor and Assistant Instructor also frowned. "This student has a solid foundation, and this exposition of the Classics is good as well. Unfortunately, one taboo character lacks an omitted stroke. It can only be discarded."

"Let me see..." Hearing this, the elderly man took the paper and examined it closely. After pondering for a long time, he suddenly said, "This character is newly subject to a short-term taboo. It only reached the county three days ago, did it not?"

"If he had already entered the academy, then even three days would be no excuse for carelessness. But this is merely the Child Scholar Examination. How would a student who has not entered the academy know of this?"

"Not knowing means no guilt. County Magistrate, you should change it."

If this were the Prefectural Examination or Provincial Examination, involving official credentials, then no matter how important the speaker was, no one would dare alter it. But the Child Scholar Examination did not confer credentials; it was merely a qualifying examination. Hearing this, Zhang Magistrate hesitated. After carefully reading the essay again, he nodded. "Indeed. This exposition of the Classics is worthy of the Prefectural Examination. Since Lord Zheng has pleaded for him, it is this man's good fortune!"

As he spoke, his brush fell, and he altered the character. "Then let him be entered on the Child Scholar list."