Inside the magistrate building, all the remaining people taking the exam sat, at the same group of invigilators standing on the small stage.
"You know the rules since they never changed so we will just get straight to the exam. I just have one thing to say." He looked over everyone as the invigilators behind him hung up two papers with prompts.
"Don't mess up during the exam like I said it's the last day." After saying that he stepped back letting another step forward.
"You will write two poems the first part will be a composition of a fu*1" He then pointed to the prompt reading it out.
"Your county has been ordered to construct a new granary to guard against future calamities. Compose a fu that describes the building of this granary and its purpose. In your composition, celebrate the virtues of foresight and benevolent rule of the emperor, while also depicting the toil, endurance, and resilience of the people who labor to complete it." After reading all this he stepped to the last paper reading it out as well.
"The next prompt will be a composition of a shi* 2. Write a five-character regulated verse on the topic Watching the Plum Blossoms. Use the image of the plum tree blooming in winter to show how virtue can endure in hard times, like an official's duty during difficulties." After finishing reading out the prompts they quickly started the water clock.
Bai Chun sat without moving looking at the first prompt. As he did so all the invigilator's passed by him regularly with bright eyes looking at his book to check if he started writing yet. Finally after thinking carefully for a while he carefully lifted his brush dipping it into the ink before slowly writing his response.
Beams are raised, the walls ascend,
The people labor without end.
Sweat like rain, yet hearts hold fast,
A store of grain for trials vast.
In times of plenty, care is shown,
The emperor's virtue widely known.
Foresight guards both great and small,
A granary built to bless them all.
He carefully placed his brush down before lifting his book and blowing on it carefully to dry it faster. As he did so one of the invigilators walked past pausing for a second to look at his response before continuing to walk away with a slight smile of appreciation on his face.
Once his paper was dry Bai Chun flipped a few pages to a clean page. He looked up at the second page and sat for a long time just thinking without moving. Slowly time passed the only sound being coughing, brushes on papers, and the soft chatter of people on the streets.
When time was close to being up Bai Chun finally lifted his brush to write his verse.
Watching the Plum Blossoms
Cold snow bends the slender boughs,
Sparse flowers defy the winter chill.
Pure fragrance drifts along the path,
Lonely shadows stretch across the hills.
Through frost their color never fades,
By steadfastness their peace is found.
So should an official guard his post,
In hardship still with virtue crowned.
With a sigh Bai Chun placed his brush down and looked down at the wet ink. He lifted his booklet a bit and lightly blew on it. The nearby invigilators looked over at the movement then looked around him making sure nobody was trying to cheat until he placed his booklet down and closed it. Not long later they called for the exams to end.
"All right times up brushes down!" The head invigilator stepped forward at the stage as everyone placed their brushes down.
"Now as we all know today is the last day of testing so all of your exams for the last three days will be turned into the scribes to be copied before they are looked at. Once they are looked at the results will come out in a month." His eyes then turned sharp.
"Now remember to stay out of scandals otherwise even if you pass the exam you won't move any higher in rank or a job." He looked them over with slight disdain since most of them testing in this area are from poor families.
"Besides most of you will become tutors so doing something that ruins your reputation will ruin your job prospects in the future." After looking them over once again he waved his hand allowing them to stand. They all gave him a respectful bow before turning to leave.
Outside, Bai Chun stood in place knowing Huang Hao would soon come to him like usual. Not long later, just as he thought, Huang Hao approached him with his signature smile on his face.
"Would you like to go to a tea house to relax and celebrate the end of the exam?" Huang Hao asked with excitement in his eyes. Hearing this, Bai Chun frowned.
"I'm not sure my Qizi isn't expecting me to be out so late." Huang Hao waved his hand dismissably.
"We have been testing for so many days and need to relax. I'm sure your Qizi will understand." Bai Chun paused in thought before nodding his head. They then slowly walked to the tea house. Once there Bai Chun looked up at the tea house.
It was a copper red building surrounded by pine trees with a few ginkgo trees mixed in. Behind the tea house in the closed off section he could see some bamboo standing tall in the air. They enter the tea house with Bai Chun standing slightly behind Huang Hao and are approached by a middle-aged lady wearing a tan embroidered waist coat along with a blue pleated wrap skirt. She gave them a polite bow before looking up at them with a polite smile.
"Young masters welcome to our Misty Mountain tea house. How may I help you today?" Huang Hao smiled at her.
"We wish to appreciate tea next to the water." He then passed her a silk cloth bag with paper money in it. Her eyes shined as she grabbed the money before bowing to Huang Hao.
"This way please." She turned around and with her hands held together in front of her walked out the building and to an unoccupied shuixie*3. She indicated the table and chairs.
"This is where you will be seated. I will send some maids with tea to care for you both." She then gave a slightly suggestive smile.
"Would you like any more entertainment? Like dancers or the like?" Her voice had a slight tilt to it. Huang Hao glanced at Bai Chun who slightly shook his head.
"I would like soft relaxing music." Huang Hao said with a smile making sure she knew it was only for them to relax. Hearing his reply she pouted slightly before bowing elegantly and turning to leave.
After she left Bai Chun turned to look out at the rippling water before closing his eyes and taking a deep breath relaxing his body. Huang Hao looked out at the hanging willow trees with a relaxed expression on his face. They sat like that in silence just relaxing, breathing in the air, and listening to the sounds of the animals.
It took about five minutes of this before a young lady approached along with three maids one carrying a wooden tray with a red copper teapot on it along with two gaiwan's*4 on it. The other two maids carefully carried a zither before setting it down not far from them.
"Greeting the two young master's" The maids said with a bow before the one with the tea set their bowls down, lifting their cups and filling them before covering them again. The other two maids got behind them and gently massaged their shoulders. The lady seeing this done stepped forward and bowed gently. She wore a pink wide-sleeve blouse along with a light green wrap skirt tied with pink at her chest. Her hair sat in a carefully styled bun decorated with a gold colored hair comb, gold hair clips, and a gold hairpin holding it in place. Her face is made up with light makeup enhancing her facial structure drawing Huang Hao's gaze.
"Greeting's to the young masters. This slave's name is Lian Hua. This slave is only a low rank zither player so please give me some grace with this slave's terrible music." Her voice sounded like tinkling bells as she spoke.
Huang Hao smiled as he looked at her and nodded, Bai Chun only opened his eyes noting her beautiful visage before closing them again. Lian Hua stood up gently and turned to sit at the zither. She elegantly lifted her hands and started gently plucking at the strings. She played a slow and gentle song to go along with the sound of the water below.
Huang Hao lifted his gaiwan and using the lid wafted the scent of the tea to his nose before sipping at it before sighing in comfort.
Hearing the music, Bai Chun opened his eyes and looked at Lian Hua with a note of appreciation in his eyes. Huang Hao seeing this gave him a teasing smile.
"Do you think she's beautiful?" Bai Chun gave him a look annoyed that Huang Hao keeps trying to push women onto him.
"I like her music, it sounds soothing." Huang Hao laughed at his words.
"I did take you here to relax." Bai Chun smiled.
"You're right, it's very relaxing." Huang Hao laughed happily before sipping at his tea with his eyes slightly shut. They looked back out at the water listening to the soft music relaxing as the maids behind them gently pressed at their shoulders.
"The water is very calm." Bai Chun said, looking at the water that rippled occasionally. Huang Hao nodded then shook his head.
"Just like business it is calm on the surface but turbulent underwater." Bai Chun lifted the tea in front of him and wafted the steam to his nose smelling it before sipping at it his eyes looking at Huang Hao with a deep look.
"I hear it's the same for official's." Huang Hao nodded his head sipping his tea.
"Well, during this time before the results come out we should prepare mentally to avoid getting overwhelmed and put in a bad situation as soon as we enter." They sat in silence as Bai Chun thought about what Huang Hao said while sipping at his tea before setting his gaiwan down. The maid with the teapot approached and refilled his tea before stepping back.
"What will you do when the results come out?" Bai Chun asked, glancing back at the maid who kept her head down hiding her face slightly.
"As long as I pass the exam which I know I will, my Fuqin is close with some people in the tax area which is how I got your job. He will get me a position where I don't have to work." Hearing his last statement and knowing how Huang Hao is, Bai Chun frowned.
"Why a non-working position?" Huang Hao gave him a casual smile.
"Fuqin wishes for me to finish my education on the family business so he can step back a bit from running the household before I can focus on my career as an official." Hearing this, Bai Chun nodded in understanding. Huang Hao sipped at his tea before he started speaking again.
"This is why I have been trying so hard to get everything for you situated. So that when I am ready to start working on my career as an official hopefully you're in a high enough position to help me get promoted quickly."
Bai Chun nodded looking out at the water, happiness flitting across his face hidden from Huang Hao since he doesn't have to worry about Huang Hao pressuring him for a while.
At that moment a small group of nobles followed by servants approached them. The boy in the lead had his hair tied up in a long pony tail. His clothes consisted of different shades of light blue making him look elegant.
Bai Chun and Huang Hao looked over after noticing the movement and seeing the color of his clothes stood bowing to him. The boy smiled at Huang Hao before greeting him happily.
"Little brother Hao! Nice to see you." He then looked over at Bai Chun and seeing his tan colored clothes a hint of disdain filled his eyes.
"And who is this?"
1- Rhyme Prose
2- A type of classical Chinese poetry, characterized by its structure and archaic language
3- Traditional waterside pavilion
4- "Lidded bowl". It consists of a bowl, a lid, and a saucer, and is used to brew tea in a highly personal way, allowing for appreciation of the tea's flavor development through multiple short infusions