Chapter 118: Submitting Literary Works

After spending three days at the Cui estate, Du Shiyi had gathered all the information he sought and made thorough preparations; only then did he plan to venture out. However, on that morning, as he rode his horse out through the main gate of the Cui residence, he was met with a commotion just beyond the black-topped gate.

"I am Zhang Jian, from Xuanzhou in the Jiangnan East Circuit, requesting an audience with Minister Cui!"

Only those ranked sixth grade or higher were permitted to build a black-topped gate; in Chang'an, this was a mark of high office and prestige. One must realize that in the capital, even an eighth-grade investigating censor was a position outside officials only dreamed of attaining. At this moment, standing before that gate, Zhang Jian ignored the two gatekeepers and kept his eyes fixed on the group slowly emerging from within.

The quotas for the provincial civil service examinations varied across the empire. While prefectures like Tong and Hua, which possessed few resources and were far from wealthy, were granted thirty slots for provincial scholars each year, Xuanzhou could not be compared to them; the entire prefecture produced fewer than ten successful candidates for the *jinshi* and *mingjing* degrees combined annually. Since he had come to the capital to study four years ago, he had determined to change his residency registration to Jingzhao Prefecture to take the exams, yet after four full years, he had made no progress whatsoever. He could not even secure a recommendation from Jingzhao Prefecture, let alone place in the top ten.

Thus, when the group finally reached the gate, seeing one gatekeeper still blocking his path while the other hurried off to report something, Zhang Jian took a deep breath, stepped back, and bowed low. "I am the student Zhang Jian. I have a policy essay I wish to present to Minister Cui!"

Du Shiyi, naturally, did not think the man mistook him—a mere youth—for Cui Taizhi. Yet, he was struck speechless by someone who would so rashly attempt to present his scrolls without even confirming the most basic facts. Seeing the man remain bowed, Du cleared his throat and said, "Master Zhang, I fear you have made this trip in vain. Minister Cui has resigned his post to observe the mourning period for his mother and is currently in the Eastern Capital, Luoyang."

At these words, Zhang Jian shuddered violently. He could not straighten his back, and his face flushed a deep crimson. The thought that he had spent these days running about to present his work, writing panegyrics tailored to the preferences of various families without ever bothering to inquire about their circumstances, filled him with mortification. If this were to become known, even if he managed to present his scrolls to some other noble house, he might well be treated as a laughingstock. His lips trembled with a mix of anger and self-reproach for not having been more careful or noticing the white mourning banners hanging inside. It was only when a hand supported his arm that he dizzily straightened up, finding himself face-to-face with the young man on horseback.

He had not expected the other to steady him. His already flushed face grew even redder. After a long moment, he stammered, "Master Cui..."

"I must inform you, Master Zhang, that I am not a member of the Cui family; I am merely staying here temporarily."

Another mistake! Of course, the man was not wearing mourning clothes...

Zhang Jian wished the earth would swallow him whole. His face cycled between red and white for a long time before he managed to squeeze out: "I am truly mortified. I had not heard that Minister Cui was in mourning..."

"My master reported the death and entered mourning last December... you should have inquired before coming to present your scrolls," one of the gatekeepers muttered. Zhang Jian felt even more ashamed. Seeing him look as if he wanted to hide his face and flee, Du Shiyi smiled and said, "Chang'an is vast, and living here is difficult, especially with the city teeming with officials and nobles. It is understandable that you were busy and missed the news. Please, do not be too harsh on him."

Although he was not the host, his words were courteous, and the two gatekeepers, who had been sneering, along with the other servants, fell silent. Seeing Zhang Jian’s expression soften slightly, Du noticed the heavy bundle on his back and asked thoughtfully, "Master Zhang, are you planning to visit other households to present your scrolls?"

Because Du Shiyi had been sincere, his question did not sound like mockery. After hesitating, Zhang Jian replied, "Yes, I intend to visit the estate of Minister Wang. And after that, the Li estate in the southwest corner."

Du Shiyi had passed Minister Wang’s estate the previous day, but he had not heard of the Li estate. With interest, he asked, "Which Li estate?"

"The residence of Li Linfu, the Crown Prince's Left Zhongyun," Zhang Jian replied, not noticing the slight change in Du Shiyi’s expression. "I heard that Master Li is the nephew of the Duke of Chu and is on good terms with the heir of the Jingzhao Governor, Yuan. I thought I might try my luck there... Oh, it is getting late, I shall not delay your departure any further."

More than two years had passed, and Du Shiyi had almost forgotten Li Linfu, that future power-wielding chancellor. Hearing the name now, and noting that Zhang Jian knew the intricate details of Li Linfu’s connections but had been completely unaware of Cui Taizhi’s mourning, Du raised an eyebrow. Before Zhang Jian could bow and take his leave, he reached out to stop him.

"Officials of the fifth grade and above, as well as those in the Secretariat and Chancellery, investigating censors, and department vice-directors attend court daily, even during the ten-day breaks. Minister Wang is certainly not at home at this hour, and Master Li, being a man of many social connections, is likely not there either. If you go now, you will likely find them absent. Even if you leave your scrolls at the gate, whether they are ever presented is entirely at the whim of the servants."

Having been in the capital for years, how could Zhang Jian not know this? But even though he had ostensibly come to visit Cui Taizhi, he had never truly expected an audience; his only hope was that his scrolls might be passed on and perhaps earn him some appreciation. Having this point laid bare, he gritted his teeth and asked, "May I ask what you intend, Master?"

"I am merely offering a word of advice. I have not been back to Chang'an for years, and since we have chanced to meet, I would like to invite you for a stroll. What do you say?"

Whether Du Shiyi’s intentions were good or malicious, Zhang Jian saw no other option but to agree. He steeled himself and accepted. Seeing Du Shiyi speak to his servants—who remained behind, save for one Kunlun slave who followed alongside the horse carrying a large leather bag—Zhang Jian went to the hitching post by the gate, untied his own inconspicuous, dark little donkey, and climbed onto its back. Following the cross-streets out of the West Gate of Pingkang Ward—a place he had avoided because of its reputation as a gathering spot for scholars and courtesans—he felt a deep sense of regret for the day’s excursion.

If he hadn't come, he wouldn't have made such a fool of himself!

"Master Zhang." Hearing the call, he snapped out of his reverie and clumsily pulled on his donkey's reins. Seeing Du Shiyi waiting beside his horse, he asked awkwardly, "Do you have some instruction for me, Master?"

"I neglected to introduce myself earlier. I am Du Nineteen from Duling in Jingzhao. I invited you because, having been away studying for three years, I find myself somewhat unfamiliar with many people and affairs in Chang'an."

Du Nineteen from Duling in Jingzhao... truly a name of a noble lineage!

Zhang Jian smiled bitterly to himself and muttered some polite, standard phrase about having long heard of him. But as they rode another arrow's flight, he suddenly stopped with a gasp, eyes wide. "Du Nineteen from Duling in Jingzhao? The one who presented the *pipa* piece at the Dou estate of the Duke of Bi, who composed the 'Hu Teng' poem, who created twenty drinking tallies at the request of the Princess Yuzhen, and who composed the song to praise the sword dance of the legendary Lady Gongsun?"

He rattled off this list in one breath, then steered his poor little donkey to block the path of Du Shiyi’s high-stepping horse. "And in the Eastern Capital, did you not save the performance for Lady Gongsun alongside Master Wang Thirteen of Taiyuan, with a rendition of 'Chu and Han' that was hailed as a masterpiece of the age?"

Was it really that exaggerated?

Du Shiyi had only offered his name to make conversation easier, never imagining that the man would look at him with such bright-eyed admiration, as if he were a legendary figure!

He was genuinely puzzled now. This man was well-informed, knowing the latest happenings in Luoyang, and even understood the connections of an official like Li Linfu who had yet to reach the heights of power. Yet, he did not know about Cui Taizhi’s mourning, and his attempt to present his scrolls was clearly that of a headless fly. He paused, then laughed. "Master Zhang, your ears are truly sharp."

Zhang Jian realized he had been unprofessional and quickly cleared the path. Recalling that Du Shiyi was not only of high birth but also famous, and unlikely to seek anything from a poor scholar like himself, he became more open. "To be honest, Master Du, I live in a lodging house in the West Market of Chang'an. With people coming and going every day, I naturally hear plenty of news. Minister Cui has always been low-key, and his family members are disciplined, so there is little gossip in the markets... or perhaps the news was mentioned and I simply didn't pay attention. I committed such a grave error when presenting my scrolls! Thankfully, you stopped me, or else..."

Living in the West Market?

Du Shiyi recalled his own time browsing the South Market in Luoyang and understood. In such places, where merchants and crowds mingled, information was indeed abundant, though the noise and bustle were hardly suitable for a scholar. He wondered how many years Zhang Jian had lived there. A thought occurred to him, and he asked, "Master Zhang, have you heard of the Treasure Competition in the East and West Markets of Chang'an?"

"Of course I have!" At the mention of the grand scene in front of the Thousand Treasures Pavilion in the West Market the day before, and the gilded gold pot that had been the only treasure revealed to the public, Zhang Jian was momentarily mesmerized. He then smiled bitterly, "The markets have been swarming with people these past few days, all hoping to catch a glimpse of the treasures. It is a pity that such rare items are not for the likes of us to see. However, the shops in the East and West Markets have surely profited immensely from the crowds—a happy outcome for all!"

"Would you mind leading the way and accompanying me to the West Market?"

Zhang Jian looked at Du Shiyi, puzzled. Though he could not fathom why he would want to go there, after some thought, he nodded.