This was only the seventh year of the Changsheng era, meaning the Emperor had only been on the throne for seven years. In those seven years, Emperor Changsheng had done many shocking things.
First year: Eliminated dissidents, killed many people.
Second year: The Huayin flood, killed many people.
Third year: Reformed the imperial exams, killed many people.
It was only after the exam reforms that his temper seemed to stabilize, and he killed fewer people. But in recent years, the number of officials dismissed or demoted was still significant.
The officials in the capital were terrified. Many high-ranking officials kept their heads down. The most common advice they heard upon arriving in the capital was, "Do not provoke the Emperor."
Not only did officials dare not provoke him, but even powerful families had to quiet down in front of such an emperor, let alone exam candidates like themselves.
Therefore, before coming, they had agreed they were purely there to take the exam. Regardless of the result, the chance of them actually standing before the Emperor in court was small. They didn't need to worry about working for the Emperor and risking their lives at any moment.
But now, seeing his gentleness and tolerance towards Xu Huaiqian, and recalling his previous generosity towards Chen Liejiu, they couldn't help but feel their perception of this Emperor waver a little.
Emperor Changsheng didn't know that his small gesture had made Meng Fangxun and the others view him more favorably. At that moment, he looked down at Meng Fangxun's paper and nodded inwardly.
Not bad.
Although it wasn't as perfectly aligned with his own thoughts as Xu Huaiqian's, it was meticulously detailed and comprehensive. In fact, its thoroughness even surpassed Shen Wennian's.
An ordinary scholar surpassing a scion of a powerful family was exactly what the Emperor liked to see.
Because the court was already filled with too many from influential families and literati circles. It needed an infusion of fresh blood, and he hoped this blood would come from common-born scholars. Only those who grew up among the common people could truly understand their hardships and thus better help them.
As for scions like Shen Wennian, although he was also excellent, his desire for advancement was too strong.
He was like a blade forged by his family for the Emperor. He would be whatever the Emperor wanted him to be, acting solely to gain his favor without any genuine emotion of his own.
He could be used, but shouldn't be given too much power. Otherwise, this favored blade might one day wound its master.
Emperor Changsheng walked past the desks, observing the top fifty candidates. Besides Meng Fangxun, he found several others he liked.
For instance, he noticed one candidate who was only seventeen or eighteen years old—probably the youngest Gongshi in this session or even recent ones.
One must understand that becoming a Juren was extremely difficult. Some could pass the Tongsheng and Xiucai exams at thirteen or fourteen, but to become a Juren by fifteen or sixteen?
That was immensely difficult.
Because the Juren exam tested not just talent, but also experience and perspective. Without some worldly experience, it was nearly impossible to pass.
Therefore, encountering such a young candidate at the Palace Exams was rare.
And he had found one.
While pleased, he also felt a twinge of anger.
Even a teenager, barely out of childhood, understood current affairs, while some court officials remained obstinately stuck in the past.
If he hadn't reformed the exams to inject new blood into the court, who knew what state the empire would be in under those old-school literati!
After his round, Emperor Changsheng left the hall. It was almost time for the noon meal. He needed to eat, and the Gongshi also needed a break.
His presence would make them uneasy while eating.
Sure enough, once he left, many in the hall breathed a sigh of relief. Quite a few glanced towards Xu Huaiqian, seeing the pot of warm water on his desk and the charcoal brazier at his feet, their eyes filled with envy.
It was already March 15th, past the coldest season. Most households had stopped using charcoal. Thus, the vast Baohe Hall had no braziers lit.
That didn't mean it wasn't cold.
The hall was enormous and drafty. Combined with the intimidating aura of the Emperor's presence, many Gongshi, especially those from the south unused to the cold, found their hands stiff with chill.
And Xu Huaiqian? He coughed once, not only avoiding punishment but receiving warm water and a brazier. It was incredibly enviable.
But none dared to cough on purpose to get the same treatment. Who knew if this was a special exception just for Xu Huaiqian, or a privilege reserved for the top-ranked candidates?
If they tried to imitate him and failed, bungling it and getting disqualified from the Palace Exams, the loss would be tremendous.
Fortunately, they didn't have to envy for long. Palace eunuchs soon brought the noon meal.
The meal consisted of a plate of pastries, two pears, and a serving of tea.
Xu Huaiqian's looked similar to others', but his pastries were infused with medicinal herbs, and his tea contained ginseng and red dates. Only the pears were normal.
Biting into a pastry, Xu Huaiqian looked at the others' seemingly identical food. Was his special, or was everyone's like this?
He kept feeling the Emperor was giving him extra care. Was it an illusion?
Uncertain, he finished his meal, turned his exam paper, and continued writing.
In the afternoon, when the Emperor returned to oversee the exams, he showed no particular attention to Xu Huaiqian.
After finishing his paper, Xu Huaiqian, not rushing to submit it, warmed his hands by the brazier. Glancing at the Emperor from the corner of his eye and seeing no special attention, he felt relieved.
It must have been his imagination.
What reason would the Emperor have to care about him?
The special treatment in the morning was probably just compensation for startling him into coughing up blood.
Still, an Emperor willing to compensate his officials for his own mistakes wasn't bad.
By evening, Xu Huaiqian submitted his paper, left the palace, barely exchanged words with Duan Youyan and the others, and hurried home.
"A-Jiu! A-Jiu!" Elated by his first successful "conquest" of his wife that morning, Xu Huaiqian rushed home after leaving the palace, eager to see if his wife was still resting in bed.
But he searched everywhere and couldn't find him. Anxiously, he asked the two servants, "Where is my wife?" Had he run off in a rage, unable to get out of bed?
"Probably in the backyard?" The male servant, who hadn't seen Chen Liejiu leave, guessed he must be in the innermost part of the residence.
There was a small courtyard there used for storage, usually deserted.
Xu Huaiqian realized he hadn't checked there. He hurried to the secluded backyard and found Chen Liejiu, sleeves rolled up, playing with mud in the yard.
"Why did you come here—?" Xu Huaiqian walked over. Chen Liejiu was sitting on the steps, several different types of soil in front of him. His fair hands were mixing one pile with water. "Playing with mud?"
"Hmm?" Chen Liejiu was too engrossed to notice Xu Huaiqian's return. Hearing his voice, he turned around. "You're back? The Palace Exams are over?"
"Finished long ago. I've been looking for you everywhere." Xu Huaiqian was a bit complaining that Chen Liejiu was so focused on mud he didn't notice him. "What are you doing here?"
"I'm testing soil types suitable for brick-making," Chen Liejiu didn't hide it. "I gathered these from different places. I want to mix them and fire them to see which combination produces the hardest brick."
"Why think about making such bricks now? Are the old ones not selling well?" Xu Huaiqian knew people in this era mostly used ordinary blue bricks; only the imperial family used slightly special ones.
"I was thinking..." Chen Liejiu glanced at Xu Huaiqian, speaking carefully. "Promise you won't get angry."
"Tell me." Xu Huaiqian looked at him curiously. "When have I ever been angry with you?"
Most of what he ate, drank, wore, and used came from his wife. How dare he get angry with his benefactor? A kept man should know his place.
Chen Liejiu glanced cautiously at Xu Huaiqian. "I mortgaged both of our houses to the Merchant Guild and got six thousand taels in silver notes."
"—Ah?" Xu Huaiqian was startled at first, then asked, "Is it for my medical treatment?" After all, his medicine was expensive.
"No." Chen Liejiu shook his head. "Last month, the Chen Family's imitation silver charcoal business settled accounts, earning seven thousand taels. I'm keeping that money for your treatment."
"I used the six thousand from the mortgage to buy a few more properties in the capital." Chen Liejiu was afraid Xu Huaiqian would be angry that he made the decision without consulting him. "I want to build houses in the capital."
"Isn't our current place big enough?" Xu Huaiqian pointed behind him. "It's so spacious, we could even host more friends if needed."
"They're not for us to live in," Chen Liejiu explained carefully. "They're for selling."
"Selling?" Xu Huaiqian was puzzled.
"Mm." Chen Liejiu, his hands covered in mud, elaborated. "I've observed that common people in the capital can't afford to build houses because bricks are too expensive. But if I want to sell bricks here, I have to match the prices set by the capital's Merchant Guild, otherwise I'll face opposition."
Xu Huaiqian understood. "So you want to build and sell houses yourself. Since you can't lower the brick price, you lower the house price?"