Adding a golden spear to jade

With no outsiders present, Song Yuan was noticeably warmer. He smiled and said, "Zisheng has told me about your circumstances, Young Master Jia. A Canon Clerk's duties mainly involve organizing books, so the work is fairly leisurely. The monthly salary is one tael of silver. Though that is rather meager, the pavilion provides three meals a day and lodging free of charge. You may also borrow books to read here, and brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones are all supplied. Just take care not to carry them outside the college, lest it invite gossip. We also provide two sets of robes for spring and summer, so students entering the pavilion can recognize you. Here is your token; it will let you come and go freely."

As he spoke, he handed over a thin register. "Please enter your name here, Young Master Jia, for the academic supervisor to inspect."

Jia Heng accepted it with both hands. After reading through it, he picked up the brush beside him and signed his name in the blank space.

Then Song Yuan handed Jia Heng the token.

Jia Heng rose and cupped his hands. "Thank you, Mr. Song."

This Registrar Song Yuan would be his immediate superior from now on. Still, the Canon Clerk's salary was indeed meager: one tael a month, barely enough to keep food in his mouth.

The senior maids of the Jia Family... earned about that much, didn't they?

Song Yuan said, "No need to stand on ceremony, Young Master Jia. I'll take you up to the third floor first. Your regular post will be in Section A there."

"Sorry for the trouble." Jia Heng cupped his hands and followed Song Yuan out of the office and up the wooden stairs toward the third floor.

On the way, Jia Heng encountered quite a few college students hurrying to and fro with books in their hands. They gave Song Yuan and Jia Heng few unusual looks, and the two reached their destination without further conversation.

On the third floor, near a window, stood a side room with an openwork carved wooden window. Neither too large nor too small, it was fully furnished with a desk, chairs, and bookcases.

Jia Heng stepped inside and found bright windows and spotless furnishings. Brushes, ink, paper, and an inkstone sat on the desk by the window. He thought the working environment quite pleasant-at the very least, it was quiet.

Seeing Jia Heng's expression, Song Yuan knew he was satisfied and smiled. "The registered catalogues for Section A are all in the bookcase, ready for inventory checks and verification."

Jia Heng nodded. "Steeped in the literary atmosphere of this pavilion, this is certainly a fine place to study and prepare for the examinations."

"Quite right, Young Master Jia," Song Yuan said with a smile. "But if you intend to sit the examinations, you'll need to make haste. The Capital differs from the provinces. Both the county and prefectural examinations are held in the eleventh month. If you wish to take them, you have only two or three months left."

In truth, he was also somewhat puzzled. Why did Han Hui take such an interest in a youth who had not yet gained scholarly status? Could there be something more to that surname, Jia?

"The examination dates in the Capital differ from those in the provinces?" Jia Heng was taken aback. He cupped his hands. "Please enlighten me, Registrar Song."

Judging by what he had seen over the past few days, Chen Han's institutions did not follow the Ming system wholesale, but blended the institutions of Tang, Song, and Ming.

Just as among the military officers in Dream of the Red Chamber, military commissioners, commanders, and garrison officers all coexisted-the official system was practically a fusion of the Tang, Song, and Ming dynasties.

Song Yuan said, "The county, prefectural, and academy examinations are held twice every three years. In the provinces, they are generally presided over by the County Magistrate, Prefect, and Education Commissioner. Their dates vary, though most fall in the third or fourth month of spring. The prefectures and counties of Jingzhao are different, however. Since Taizong's reign, the examinations have been held in the eleventh month, toward year's end. Only after passing the county and prefectural examinations do you gain scholarly status. If you wish to qualify as a Cultivated Talent, you can still make this round."

In fact, it could be seen as the Capital deliberately setting itself apart from the provinces. Not only that, even the admission quotas differed.

Even the Provincial Examination had separate lists for the south, north, and central regions. One examination paper for the entire country? Such a thing had never existed in the Dynasty!

Understanding dawned on Jia Heng. He cupped his hands. "So that is how it works."

His plan was to rely on the exceptional memory and learning ability of someone who had lived two lives: qualify as a Cultivated Talent next March, take the autumn examination in August, then the spring examination the following year. He sought no particular ranking. So long as he passed, even last place would do.

Of course, until he had accomplished it, he must never disclose this ambition to anyone, lest they dismiss him as an arrogant scholar spouting wild boasts.

Song Yuan said, "You are only fourteen, Young Master Jia. Even if you wait until next year, it would hardly be too late. Taking the examinations this eleventh month would be rather rushed."

Jia Heng cupped his hands. "You are quite right, Registrar Song."

After showing him his workplace, Song Yuan led Jia Heng out of the Literary Gathering Pavilion toward a somewhat dilapidated building behind it. This was to be his lodging: a small room. In fact, few people stayed there, as many at the Imperial College had homes of their own nearby.

Perhaps on Han Hui's account, Registrar Song was particularly attentive. He personally took Jia Heng around several parts of the Imperial College, pointing out where the students ordinarily attended lessons.

By the time they returned, two hours had passed. Registrar Song brought Jia Heng back to the Literary Gathering Pavilion and told him to familiarize himself with the records on the third floor, and to come to him with any questions.

Then he sent someone to deliver a message to Han Hui.

As the sun slanted westward, Jia Heng was examining the book catalogues stored in the cabinet when a hearty laugh sounded outside. "Brother Jia!"

Jia Heng looked up and saw Han Hui. Rising, he cupped his hands. "Brother Zisheng, when did you arrive? Brother Wendu is here too. Please, come in."

Exchanging greetings, Han Hui and Yu Zhen entered the room and found chairs to sit in.

Jia Heng poured each of them a cup of tea. "I've only just arrived, and there are all sorts of details I still need to familiarize myself with. I was going to pay you both a visit later."

Han Hui smiled. "Wendu and I have only just finished our lessons. We heard from Mr. Song that you had arrived, so we stopped by to see you. Well? Are you settling into the pavilion?"

After returning home the day before yesterday, he had shown his father the poem set to the tune of "Linjiang Immortal." His father had remained speechless for a long time after reading it, murmuring several times, "How many deeds, past and present, are all consigned to laughter and conversation."

Even over dinner that evening, his father had continued to sigh with emotion.

Naturally, curiosity had prompted Han Huang to ask Han Hui the author's name. He found it difficult to believe that such a poem had been written by a youth not yet twenty. Later, when Han Hui explained that it was merely a lament on history, he harbored no further doubts.

At lunch today, he had heard an acquaintance from the college chatting away. The fellow's family had a little money, and he habitually frequented houses of pleasure, so he had mentioned an amusing incident at the Green and Red Pavilion.

To think that this young man surnamed Jia had flown into a rage for a beauty and savagely beaten the patriarch of the Jia family!

Jia Heng said, "The Imperial College gathers the land's spiritual grace and nurtures its finest talents, with great scholars coming and going. This place is especially tranquil, just right for studying. I must thank you, Brother Han, for taking the trouble to find me such a fine position."

"As long as you don't mind the meager salary, Brother Jia. With your talents, accepting a humble post here can only be a temporary measure." Smiling, Han Hui waved his hand. Holding a folding fan, he gestured toward the sky outside. "It's getting late. Why don't we go out for something to eat and talk over the meal?"

Jia Heng nodded with a smile. "I'll let Mr. Song know."

"Mr. Song has probably gone home by now," Han Hui said with a smile.

Yet some people appeared the moment their names were mentioned. While they were talking, Song Yuan arrived beneath the corridor eaves with a sheaf of manuscripts in his hand. Smiling, he said, "Young Master Jia... oh, Zisheng is here too?"

Han Hui smiled. "Mr. Song, I didn't see you in the office just now, so I thought you had already left. I was just about to go out for a bite with Zisheng. A chance encounter is better than an invitation-come down with us in a moment."

Song Yuan placed the manuscripts on a small table nearby and said with a smile, "I came here precisely to invite Young Master Jia downstairs and welcome him with a meal to wash away the dust of his journey."

Jia Heng said, "Mr. Song, calling me 'Young Master' is far more honor than this junior deserves. If you would not disdain it, simply call me Ziyu."

At times, lacking a courtesy name made addressing one another rather inconvenient.

But he had neither gained scholarly status nor an elder relative to bestow one, so he could only provisionally choose a courtesy name for himself.

Heng meant jade. It possessed warmth and luster, but lacked a sharp edge. Adding a golden spear suited his wishes perfectly.

"A gentleman is like a jade pendant, his feathered robes gleaming bright. Heng means fine jade, so Ziyu, 'jade,' is certainly a fitting courtesy name," Song Yuan said with a smile of praise.

Jia Heng smiled and corrected him. "Not that character for jade, but the one formed by adding metal-a golden spear-to jade."

Song Yuan paused, then smiled. "A gentleman is like jade: cut and filed, carved and polished. Your desire to temper yourself is expressed in your courtesy name, Ziyu. Admirable, truly admirable."

Yu Zhen smiled. "An apt interpretation, Mr. Song. Most apt."

Jia Heng, too, gave Song Yuan a long look. As expected of the Imperial College-within ten paces, fragrant herbs were sure to grow.

Han Hui smiled as well. "Then I'll change how I address you too: Brother Ziyu."

Afterward, Jia Heng put everything in order, and the group left the Literary Gathering Pavilion, passed out of the Imperial College, and headed toward the Drunken Wind Tower.