Tang Dynasty Xie Lu Lang

Chapter 390 Zhang Lang is gone, may we enter the Apricot Garden?

A group of scholars who had passed the imperial examinations formed a team and fought against others in batches. The competition was in their best areas of expertise: poetry and prose. However, they all lost. Who was the most humiliated?

These scholars who were barred from taking the imperial examinations at the gates of Xingyuan Garden were certainly ashamed, but they still had companions to share this humiliation with.

The person who suffered the most and lost the most face in this farce was undoubtedly Zhao Buwei, the chief examiner of this provincial examination who selected these incompetent scholars and served as the Assistant Minister of Personnel!
Zhao Buwei entered officialdom as a Zhailang during the reign of Emperor Wuzong. He endured many years of hardship and toil, and finally, decades later, as he approached old age, he was appointed to the prestigious position of Kaogong Yuanwailang, in charge of this year's imperial examination.

I thought that by leaving my name in the selection committee, I could finally hold my head high among the scholars and promote a group of talented young people who could support each other in the future officialdom and expect to be rewarded.

He was smugly waiting for the scholars to come and thank their mentor. Today, he had specially rented a tent with his colleagues on the banks of the Qujiang River for a banquet and entertainment. However, he soon heard that the scholars were blocked outside the Apricot Garden and could not enter to admire the flowers. The one who blocked them was Zhang Dai and Zhang Zongzhi.

Others might take this as an amusing anecdote, but each defeat of these scholars felt like a resounding slap in Zhao Buwei's face. The fear and unease intensified when he learned that Zhang Dai was the one who had provoked them.

Zhang Dai was a Jinshi (successful candidate in the highest imperial examination) in the fifteenth year of the Kaiyuan era. He single-handedly suppressed all the other Jinshi candidates of that year, leaving them unable to raise their heads. This undoubtedly further proves that Yan Tingzhi, the examiner that year, was more discerning in his judgment of people than Zhao Buwei, and that the Jinshi he selected was more outstanding.

But if it stopped there, Zhao Buwei would certainly be somewhat embarrassed, but not alarmed. More importantly, Zhang Dai was Zhang Shuo's grandson, and Zhang Shuo was serving as the examiner for this year.

If all these newly appointed scholars are inferior to Zhang Dai, it shows that Zhao Buwei's selection process was flawed, failing to select truly capable individuals. Even if these scholars were fortunate enough to surpass Zhang Dai, while they would gain fame, Zhao Buwei's future would still be in Zhang Yue's hands!

This contest was a real dilemma for Zhao Buwei; he couldn't afford to lose, and he couldn't afford to win either.

That's why he rushed aboard the boat in a hurry. After being pulled aboard by his students, he immediately asked angrily, "Who taught you to compete with Zhang Zongzhi like this? Don't you know who he is? Now you've brought shame upon yourselves. Are you all at peace with yourselves?"

Hearing Zhao Buwei's furious questioning, the scholars couldn't help but show shame, lowering their heads. One of them whispered an explanation: "Reporting to the master, this commotion was not caused by our frivolousness. We were just playing around in the imperial examinations when Zhang Zongzhi, through some busybodies, was appointed as the supervisor of the apricot garden, thus refusing us entry..."

"The game of 'three flowers' is merely a vulgar custom of modern times. Scholars of previous dynasties did not engage in frivolous behavior such as 'flower arranging' or 'wandering.' Does that prevent them from serving the country and making contributions?"

Zhao Buwei was still furious that everyone had caused him such trouble, so he glared at them and said, "Since you all know that this is just a game, you should not be so frivolous and show off. You should not offend Senior Shilin because of a moment of anger. Go ashore and apologize immediately!"

The crowd was initially filled with shame, but after hearing Zhao Buwei's words, they still found it somewhat difficult to accept.

Immediately, someone spoke up, saying, "Master, you are mistaken! Although we are inferior in talent, we readily admit our mistakes. In literary competitions, there are winners and losers, but what is the difference between right and wrong? Even if we must distinguish right from wrong, Zhang Dai became famous before us, and now he is making things difficult for us as a senior scholar. Isn't he bullying the weak? What crime have we committed?"

Upon hearing this, everyone couldn't help but show their displeasure, feeling that this lord was truly afraid of power.

They had forgotten their earlier boasts about judging the fairness of the previous year's selection process, and now they felt that Zhang Dai was using his outstanding family background and status as a senior scholar in the imperial examinations to make things difficult for them, the newly appointed scholars.

After Zhao Buwei, the host, came over, he not only failed to support them, but also forced them to bow down and admit their mistakes to Zhang Dai. He was truly spineless and clueless!
Upon hearing this, Zhao Buwei was also furious and immediately retorted angrily: "Literary competition is certainly not wrong, but it is a big mistake to be unworthy of one's reputation! Have you forgotten the recent uproar caused by the unsuccessful candidates in the Southern Province? Do you really believe that you are the best among your peers and that you have achieved this solely through your talent?"
If you all suffer a crushing defeat at Quchi today, will public opinion praise you for your glorious defeat? The current election situation in the court is already fraught with difficulties; if your frivolous actions further incite controversy, I fear I too will be implicated by your followers!

Having experienced the ups and downs of officialdom for many years, he had witnessed much of the treacherous and dangerous nature of the bureaucracy. At this moment, he felt that the disciples he had chosen were not there to support him in his old age, but rather to toll the death knell for his career.

Just as the master and his disciples were still arguing on the pleasure boat, another light boat suddenly sped by, and someone on board shouted: "I want to inform you scholars that Zhang Liulang has already left Xingyuan. You disciples may go to the garden to pick flowers!"

Upon hearing this, the scholars on the pleasure boat had mixed feelings. On the one hand, they were secretly relieved, as they no longer had to bite the bullet and embarrass themselves. On the other hand, they couldn't help but feel disappointed. With Zhang Dai gone, they, the scholars of this year, had to swallow this humiliation and would hardly be able to get back at him on the spot.

While the newly appointed scholars were still preoccupied with saving face, Zhao Buwei rushed onto the deck and leaned over the gunwale, loudly asking, "Do you know where Liu Lang has gone?" The people on the small boat were just curious onlookers and naturally couldn't answer the question. After giving a brief announcement, they left, leaving behind only the anxious Zhao Buwei and the newly appointed scholars, who were filled with mixed feelings of joy and worry.

Zhang Dai left Xingyuan not because he was worried about completely offending these new scholars, but because someone wanted to see him.

As for offending these new Jinshi graduates, it was just a literary gathering, so if they feel they've offended them, then so be it. If this counts as offending them, then the thousands of Juren graduates who lost their Jinshi positions must hate them to the core, right?

The emperor summoned Zhang Dai, along with Prince Zhong and several others, including Prince Shou. Although the emperor had returned to the palace, some of his princes and nobles, who enjoyed lively gatherings, remained behind. While the emperor was wary of his sons, he couldn't treat them all as mere ornaments, to be carried around with him at every turn.

He returned to his tent to change his clothes. The apricot garden was crowded with people, and the dust was everywhere. He sat there for a while and got covered in dust. Even if he didn't care about how it looked, it was still uncomfortable to wear dirty clothes.

Just as Zhang Dai stepped out of the tent after changing his clothes, he saw Zhang Ji's concubine, Liu, approaching him, holding her son Alan's hand in the other. He asked, "Aunt Liu, is there something you need?"

"Sixth, could Liulang take Alan with him? He... he stays at home all year round, and no outsiders know that there is such a disciple in the family. Besides, his father is on the other side of the river, and it is already difficult to see him in the past. Now that we know where he is, it would be a violation of filial piety not to go and pay respects..."

Liu spoke cautiously to Zhang Dai, while pushing her son in front of him.

Zhang Dai could roughly understand Liu's thoughts; she simply wanted her son to have a sense of presence. Especially since Zhang Ji, her husband, had moved directly to the princess's residence after marrying her, and when he occasionally returned home, he never thought to care for Liu and her son. It was uncertain whether he even remembered having such a son.

Although Zhang Dai was born out of wedlock in the Zhang family, his mother, Lady Wu, still had a respectable background, and as the eldest son and grandson, he received some care and attention from the Zhang family at birth. Even so, with the birth of Zhang Yu, the legitimate son and grandson, Zhang Luonu was quickly neglected.

The situation for Liu and her son in the Zhang family was even more tragic. Zhang Jun and Zhang Ji were cut from the same cloth; they didn't even inherit their father's protective nature, and were by nature cold-hearted.

Especially since Zhang Ji married a Tang Dynasty princess, the ethical relationships within his family became even more serious. A slight mishap could mean the difference between life and death. Given the nature of Tang Dynasty princesses, if they really disliked someone in their household, they wouldn't resort to underhanded methods like Zheng Shi did, such as using witchcraft to harm them.

Zhang Dai originally did not want to interfere in Zhang Ji's family affairs, but seeing that he was hesitant and silent, Liu immediately said to her son, "Alan, quickly kneel down to Liu Lang and beg him to take you to see him!"

Seeing this, Alan quickly bowed in worship. Zhang Dai then pulled the boy up and said helplessly, "Alright, I'll take Alan to see Uncle. However, I can't predict how Uncle will react."

"I understand, I understand. My husband is upright and solemn, and he does not like to show his private feelings in public. But, but this child misses him..."

Lady Liu nodded repeatedly, her eyes still filled with expectation. After all, Zhang Ji had once doted on her, raising her in another residence where she bore him a son and a daughter, before bringing her home. She hoped that her son could rekindle Zhang Ji's affection for her and their child.

Seeing this, Zhang Dai said nothing more. To avoid it being abrupt to take only Alan with him, he sent his family to call back Zhang Yang and Zhang Yi, who were wandering elsewhere. Then the uncle and nephews boarded a boat together and headed towards the Imperial Garden on the east bank of Qujiang.

"Zongzhi, you've really stole the show today! Everyone around Qujiang who has a mouth is praising your talent!"

Zhang Yang said excitedly, while showing off a string of sachets in his hand: "I announced to everyone that I am your uncle, and your talent is so outstanding, which is also partly due to me. This has attracted women from all over to throw incense at you, making it impossible to keep up!"

“My brother is accomplished in the arts, which is due to his own talent and skill. Uncle, isn’t it a bit shameless of you to take credit for it? Even if you can deceive people for a while, if the women in the family knew that you were studying at the Hongwen Academy, their love would have nowhere to go.”

Although Zhang Yi also boasted that Zhang Dai was his elder brother, he was still shameless enough to say that he had assisted in teaching Zhang Dai his talents. When he heard Zhang Yi's shameless attempt to seduce a respectable woman, he couldn't help but mock him.

(End of this chapter)