Tang Dynasty Xie Lu Lang

Chapter 215 The Sage's Admonition
Despite drinking with relatives and guests until late at night the previous night, Zhang said that before dawn the next day, he got up early, changed into decent clothes, and went to the main hall of his house. He instructed his family to quickly tidy up the hall, while he sat in the hall waiting for the good news.

"Grandfather, you're up so early?"

Zhang Dai also got up early in the morning. After all, this was good news of his academic achievement, and he was naturally very excited. When he arrived at the hall, he saw that his grandfather had gotten up even earlier than him, so he quickly went forward to pay his respects.

"I can't sleep!"

Zhang Shuo made no attempt to hide his joy, gesturing for Zhang Dai to sit closer so he could say with a smile, “Although my family is renowned for its arts and literature, and many of our children have taken the imperial examinations, only my grandson has ever achieved the highest rank in the first-class examination! I am greatly gratified that his literary legacy has been passed down. For the next thirty years, my family will remain the leading family in the literary world!”

During the reign of Empress Wu Zetian, Zhang Yue was ranked first in the country in the imperial examination. Wu Zetian ranked him as a second-class candidate because "there has never been a first-class candidate in recent history." He was then appointed as the Crown Prince's Proofreader, thus beginning his turbulent yet brilliant official career.

Now that Zhang Dai has passed the imperial examination with top honors, becoming the "Zhuangyuan" (状元), the most outstanding scholar, it's no wonder Zhang Yue is so excited. Especially considering Zhang Yue's own declining fortunes and the fact that Zhang Dai, before even reaching adulthood, has achieved such a remarkable feat!
After chatting for a while at home, the grandfather and grandson, along with other relatives and friends who had stayed overnight at the Zhang family mansion, got up and came to wait for news.

Finally, shortly after the morning drum sounded, cheers erupted from the neighborhood outside the house. Soon after, the family members who were waiting in front of the house clapped and laughed, shouting loudly, "Congratulations, Sixth Brother! Congratulations, Sixth Brother! You've achieved first place in the imperial examination and passed the Jinshi examination!"

Although they had received prior notice, the family was finally at ease when the soldiers who came to deliver the good news entered.

Zhang Shuo, his face beaming, strode to the front of the hall, took the gilded invitation card meant to announce the good news with both hands, unfolded it, glanced at it, and grinned from ear to ear. He waved his hand and said, "A reward!"

The family had already prepared a reward of ten strings of cash and five bolts of silk. When the soldiers who came to deliver the good news saw the generous reward, they were all smiles and danced in front of the hall: "Thank you, Lord Zhang Yan! Lord Yan's skills will be passed down to his descendants. Your son is divine and talented, and he has won the top prize. He will surely become one of the Three Dukes in the future!"

"Another reward!"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Shuo's smile grew even brighter. He not only rewarded the officials who entered the house, but also the villagers who came outside to offer their congratulations.

Then, he handed the gold-painted invitation to Zhang Dai, indicating that he should unfold it and show it to his relatives and friends.

A mere provincial exam champion might not be enough to make Zhang so overjoyed; what truly comforted him was that there were successors to carry on the legacy.

Especially when his own achievements had reached a peak and were inevitably beginning to decline, the appearance of such an outstanding son in his family made Zhang Yue even happier than when he was the top scholar in the country!
Last night's gathering of relatives and friends was just the appetizer; the real celebration will begin today with the official announcement of the results. The Zhang family is already a large and wealthy family, and they are also natives of Luoyang. After the results were announced today, even more people came to offer their congratulations, and the celebratory banquet prepared by the Zhang family was truly magnificent.

In addition to the banquets prepared at home to entertain relatives and friends, tents were also set up on both sides of the main street in the neighborhood, and a continuous banquet was set up so that all people who came to the neighborhood to offer their congratulations could sit down and eat.

In order to properly entertain these guests, in addition to the Zhang family's own servants, hundreds of people were hired from the South Market to help prepare the banquet and seating. The consumption of food and drink alone reached several hundred strings of cash per day, which can be described as truly sharing the joy with everyone.

The number of guests who came to offer their congratulations was also extremely large. In addition to the Zhang family’s original relatives and friends, prominent figures such as Yang Sixu and Prince Xin’an, who had not had much contact with the family before, also sent their family members to deliver a congratulatory gift.

Furthermore, all of Zhang Dai's maternal relatives, the Wu clan, with whom he had previously had no contact, including Consort Wu Hui and all those currently residing in the capital, came to offer their congratulations. Their numbers were even greater than those Zhang Dai had seen at the court banquet he attended recently.

When Zhang Dai met many relatives he had never met before and whose names he could not recall, he couldn't help but sigh that there were quite a few remnants of the Wu clan. It was just a pity that they were all scattered and insignificant, all talk and no action. They were all talk and no action.

But today was his big day, and since all guests were welcome, he warmly invited all his relatives into his home to entertain them.

In the afternoon, Gao Lishi, who had finished his duty in the palace, personally came to offer his congratulations, which brought the banquet to a climax.

In addition to his personal visit, Gao Lishi also brought an imperial edict commending Zhang Dai. The emperor had bestowed a name upon Zhang Dai, and now Zhang Dai had won the top scholar position in the provincial examination, which undoubtedly further proved the emperor's wisdom in recognizing talent.

Therefore, in addition to issuing an imperial edict to commend him, the emperor also bestowed upon him a set of imperial writing implements, as well as hundreds of volumes of newly compiled books from the Jixian Academy, to encourage Zhang Dai to continue his studies with dedication, so that he could further develop his talents and serve the country with loyalty!
When the guests saw this scene, in addition to being happy that Zhang Dai had achieved fame and success so early, they were even more envious of his deep favor with the emperor. If he were to officially enter officialdom next year, he would surely rise rapidly in rank!
Because there were so many relatives and guests who came to offer their congratulations, apart from some prominent figures of the time and a few elders of the Zhang family who were personally received by Zhang Yue and his disciples in the main hall, the other guests were entertained in various courtyards.

In the east wing where Zhang Jun's family lived, many guests who came to offer their congratulations were also arranged, mainly relatives and friends of the Zheng family, who were related by marriage.

Although Zhang Dai was not born to Zheng, Zheng, as the principal wife and legal mother of the household, still possessed nominal virtues of upbringing. Even if Zheng did not value Zhang Dai highly, she still had to give face to Zhang Yue and his son Zhang Jun, so quite a few people came to offer their congratulations today.

Because Zhang Dai was entertaining other important guests with his grandfather in the main hall, and Zhang Jun was not at home, only Madam Zheng and her son Zhang Yu were entertaining the guests in the east wing. "Madam is truly virtuous and kind. She has raised such a virtuous and filial grandson that is admired by all, Zhang Yan Gong and Zhang Shi Jun. The family is truly blessed!"

The Zheng family members were not very clear about the internal personnel relationships within the Zhang family, and they kept flattering and smiling at Madam Zheng.

Although Zheng felt a little uncomfortable after hearing this, she did not want to talk about private matters in person. She just laughed and said, "Most young men are unruly. If we do not discipline them strictly, how will they learn to be dedicated to their studies?"

This son is not my own, so disciplining him requires even more effort, but he has shown promise and has not disgraced his family's traditions. I dare not boast of my achievements; I only hope that after he accomplishes something, he will not be disliked or alienated because of my past strictness.

"How could that be? Madam is too modest. If it weren't for your meticulous guidance, how could our son be so outstanding? Today, he is a candidate selected by the imperial court and personally examined by ministers. He is a virtuous and capable leader chosen for the sake of the country and the clan. How could he not understand Madam's good intentions?"

Some relatives thought that Madam Zheng was just being modest, so they smiled and flattered her, saying, "Now that Madam has successfully raised Qilang to adulthood, we'll probably gather again next time to celebrate Qilang's growth and refine his character!"

"I'm no good, no good at all! I'm far inferior to my elder brother!"

Young people naturally admire the strong. Zhang Dai is now completely convinced of Zhang Dai's abilities, but he is worried that his mother might really be determined to train him to become a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations) and increase his studies. Upon hearing this, he immediately shook his head vigorously.

When Madam Zheng heard the foolish words spoken by the boy, she was naturally very angry, but after glancing at the elegantly dressed woman sitting in the hall, she suppressed her anger and did not reprimand her son on the spot.

“Your brother and sister are currently away, so you are the host of the household and must take good care of your relatives and friends! This cousin from the Zheng family has been away from the capital for a long time and is probably not familiar with the new things in the capital, so please explain them to her.”

Madam Zheng pointed to the young girl sitting at the same table as the woman in fine clothes and instructed her son. Then, she looked at the woman in fine clothes and said with great enthusiasm, "Sixteenth Miss has grown up to be so beautiful and dignified. I remember she was quite young when we last met. What kind of women's skills and arts have you learned in your youth? Now that you are returning to the capital, Aunt, please don't rush to leave. Stay in the capital and spend some time with your relatives and friends before you go!"

Upon hearing this, the elegantly dressed woman simply smiled and remained silent. When she saw Zhang Ke approaching at his mother's behest, she gave a glance to the maid beside her. The maid stepped forward to serve the dishes and pour the wine, keeping Zhang Ke outside the table and preventing him from entering. He stood there somewhat bewildered.

"Go to the main hall and call your elder brother to come and greet and thank the relatives and friends who have come to offer their congratulations."

Upon seeing this, a hint of embarrassment flashed in Madam Zheng's eyes, and she then gave Zhang Yu further instructions. After sending her son away, she became even more attentive, raising her glass to toast the elegantly dressed woman, seemingly unconcerned even if the woman's response was somewhat lukewarm.

This elegantly dressed woman is the wife of Zheng Yao from the Zheng family of Xingyang. Zheng Yao is the cousin of Zheng Wanjun, the son-in-law of the emperor, and is currently the most prominent branch of the Zheng family of Xingyang.

When she was young, Madam Zheng visited Zheng Yao's home with her parents and was deeply impressed by his family's traditions and customs. She felt that this was the demeanor that a long-standing and prestigious family should have.

Even after she married into the more powerful Zhang family, she still felt that the newly established Zhang family lacked a solid foundation. Especially after she had been in charge of the family for a period of time last year, the clansmen repeatedly and unruly resisted her as the head of the household, which made Zheng Shi deeply appreciate the value of the family traditions and rules of a noble family.

Zheng Yao's arrival today with his wife and daughter to offer congratulations surprised Zheng Shi. Although they shared the same surname, their relationship was not particularly close; otherwise, Zheng Shi would not have been so nostalgic about the visit she made to him when she was a child.

When she saw that Zheng Yao had a daughter who was about the same age as her son, she couldn't help but be tempted. She thought that if her son could marry Zheng Yao's daughter, not only would her son benefit greatly, but her parents' family would also be able to get closer to the prominent branch of the Zheng family and be greatly promoted.

The more attentive and enthusiastic Zheng's wife was, the colder she became, to the point that all the Zheng clan members present noticed, which gradually made the atmosphere awkward.

“Mother, my brother is too busy to attend to this matter. He sent me to apologize to our relatives and friends here. General Gao, the Duke of Bohai, has come to deliver the imperial edict…”

After a while, Zhang Yi returned and spoke to Madam Zheng.

Upon hearing this, Madam Zheng frowned. She was already somewhat embarrassed and annoyed by being neglected by Madam Zheng Yao, and now she said in a deep voice, "Even so, he should not treat his relatives and friends here so poorly!"

“Madam’s family discipline is indeed strict, but today is the day of her son’s joyous occasion, and with His Majesty’s grace, she can be a little more lenient in her discipline.”

After hearing what Zhang Yao said, Zheng Yao's wife became more enthusiastic and raised her wine cup to greet Zheng Yao, saying, "As you say, Madam, I will indeed stay in the capital for a while. I will definitely come to visit again at a later date, and it will not be too late to bring my son to see you then."

(End of this chapter)