Chapter 60: CH 60

In the end, the promotion list finalized by the Ministry of Appointments did not end up transferring County Magistrate Qi to the capital. Instead, the county magistrate of the sub-county in Qian’an was relocated and promoted to be the County Magistrate in Linyi county in the Shandong Province.

In the last third of the month of February, when the list of names had been drafted up, the Minister of Appointments, Senior Grand Secretary Wan, formally presented it to the Emperor for inspection. Wan’an saw that there was no mention of Cui Que in the documents and did not take too much care to the matter. It was so much so that he did not even know that Cui Que had requested a leave of absence for a few days due to illness. Later, he only asked the steward to arrange for someone to make a trip to the Cui Residence and inform Cui Que that he had not been selected for promotion and would have to wait until next month’s promotions.

Cui Que had fallen ill to the point that his cheeks had sunken in and the expanse of skin from his cheeks to his chest were flushed. But, even so, he still needed to use all his willpower and vigor to deal with the people from the Wan Residence. After coming out to hear this piece of news, it caused another stage of damage to his qi and he returned to sleep, unable to wake up from his fever-caused haze. His furen was not beside him to attend to his illness, so he allowed a few of the young concubines and shu[1] children, who were usually fundamentally restrained to the point where they were unable to even come close to him, to attend to him during this period of time.

He hadn’t detected anything at first, but after lying down for two or three more days, he had almost fully recovered from his illness, but he still saw no sight of his lovable wife or Di son keeping watch at his side. In the end, his heart could not be put at ease and he asked the concubine beside him: “Why isn’t furen here? Where did Heng-ge go?”

In a soft and gentle voice, the concubine replied, “Not long after Laoye fell ill, furen made a trip back to her parental home and later on frequently said that she was preoccupied with some matters and told us not to disturb her. Er-ge still needs to study, so he could not spare any time to come visit.”

Cui Que had precisely suffered damage to his liver qi and after hearing this explanation, he abruptly became indignant: “What is more important in this household than me, as the Laoye?! I have been so busy at the office to the point that I don’t return home until midnight, but neither a furen of the inner courtyard nor a child who is studying can spare time to attend to me?! There are thousands of miles partitioning me from the eldest, that evil creature, and I cannot control him. But how can I not control the ones in front of me? Leave, just say that it is my order and summon furen and Er-ge to immediately come attend to me!”

In his mind, there was a fire that arised, “rubbing” against the top of his head and he could not keep still, pacing back and forth in the room waiting for his wife and children. But after waiting for a long time, he only saw Xu furen, and her son was nowhere in sight.

He was just about to unleash his fury when Xu furen suddenly threw out a cold sneer, “I did not come to attend to your ill state, and cannot compare to those eagerly attentive concubines of yours. Nevertheless, I have completely cut off the root cause of your heart disease for you. Could it be that you will watch silently as you watch that County Magistrate use our bookstore for his own promotion?”

Cui Que was startled and lowered his voice to ask, “What did you say?”

Xu furen slowly repeated: “That Qian’an County Magistrate unexpectedly deceived Xie-ge, a mere child, to get his hands on something to exchange for his promotion. It is truly unreasonable. Maybe Laoye can endure it, but as a furen, I cannot. Under the Great Ming Dynasty, under such political clarity and peace, is there no one who can control him? Last year, Xie-ge was only a fifteen-year old, a child who had just come to age. How could it be possible for him to use the family’s properties and offer it to others? Even if this was truly his intention, with his parents still alive, he is not qualified to handle such matters!”

The gears in Official Cui’s mind churned, and he recalled what she was planning to do, and his face flushed as he inquired, “What have you done? Then do you really want to say that we can no longer donate this bookstore anymore and take it back? What an ignorant woman…That bookstore wasn’t supposed to be given to that Qian’an Magistrate,  it was to be dedicated to the Imperial Court! An entity that entered the eyes of Senior Grand Secretary Wan!”

Xu furen lowered her head to give a cold sneer before lifting up her face and donned a virtuous and kind-hearted expression: “I am also the young lady of an official family, how could I be the same as a shrew and engage in such lowly acts of competing and seizing estate? I do not want this property anyways, I just want to let others know that this Qian’an County Magistrate snatched our family’s courtyard as an angle for fame:. Once he is gone, when other people mention the library, won’t they still remember that it was your Official Cui’s family that donated the property to encourage learning amongst the people?”

Cui Que was so angered that his crimson red face turned yellow and he furiously said, “Such things that were supposed to be handled by you weren’t properly taken care of,  and you let Cui Xie offer up that library to others. Now, you’ve managed to fumble out another ploy ……How can I report the Magistrate of my ancestral hometown just for the sake of a courtyard? Won’t that just throw away my prestige!”

A severe glint flashed through Xu furen’s eyes and in the end, she insipidly commented, “There is no need for the Laoye to make a move, I don’t dare to work Laoye’s precious body to do anything. I have already arranged for someone to cast a notice from residence to residence, detailing the matter of Qian’an County Magistrate swindling an ignorant child’s courtyard deed all the way to the Imperial Censors’ ears. The Imperial Censors will naturally preside over this case. Whether the other is guilty or innocent, it will have nothing to do with Laoye.”

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Not long after the Ministry of Appointments posted the list of names of the newly promoted officials, based on rumors he had heard, an Imperial Censor made a memorial impeaching Qian’an County Magistrate, Qi Sheng, for cheating and wresting control of an estate from the family of Cui Xie, a youth who had just turned of age, and used it to construct a library in exchange for official merit. On the memorial, it stated, “As long as the parents are still alive, the sons and daughters are not allowed to separate the property”. Therefore, although Cui Xie possessed the title deed, he did not have the right to give away the property. Hence, the procedures used by Qian’an County to obtain the property were not in line with the laws of the Great Ming Dynasty.

Since this matter of impeachment occurred right after the Ministry of Appointment’s large-scale audit, it was suspected that the department had not been rigorous enough and the Yongping Prefecture’s evaluation hadn’t been done carefully enough, to let such a person be promoted. The Imperial Censor then requested for the Emperor to issue a decree to call to account the three parties involved.

The censor possessed assurance and composure during the Imperial court as he presented his memorial and the Chenghua Emperor only replied with the word “Understood”, and summoned for the Patrolling Censorial Inspector and the Jinyiwei to head to Qian’an county and jointly investigate this matter. 

Cui Que, as the household’s family head, was also investigated and was summoned by the Censorate who inquired as to why Cui Xie, an underage child, was staying alone in Qian’an and why he would possess the family’s property deeds.

For once, the father and son’s way of thinking finally aligned and Cui Que also disliked the unpleasant explanation of banishing the eldest Di son, so he said, “My son has been studying since he was a young child and at this age, he ought to take the next round of examinations. As such, I sent him back to the ancestral home to take the examinations. As for the title deed, it was the my mother who doted her grandson and was firmly set on stuffing a deed over as a safety net.”

Ever since Cui Xie’s 《Compilation of Antithetical Couplets from the Four Books》had been exhibited by Zhang Peng at the military academy, the Right Censor-in-Chief, Li Yu, suspected that the father and son were setting up a ploy to make a name for themselves. However, Zhang Peng had seemed to be fond of Cui Xie and Li Yu wasn’t the type of person to say a child was to blame, and had restrained himself from mentioning this matter. Now that the story of the Cui Residence becoming a laughingstock by being cheated into donating over an institution of classical learning had spread, he could not help but tell Geng Yu, “Cui Que wants to make a name but cannot abandon small profit, he does not seem to be someone worthy of powerful positions.”

Qi Sheng had been impeached, and Geng Yu, the person who had elected him, had also landed a disgraced face. He lightly snorted, and then asked Li da-ren the exact circumstances of the censor who had called for Qi Sheng’s impeachment——although the Imperial censor had presented a memorial based on hearsays, but generally, such a rumor wouldn’t reach beyond the Magistrate. Not to mention, it had been more than a month since the large-scale audit had ended, could they really have found out what criminal charges he had? Why hadn’t he been impeached when the bookstore had been given over to the county?

Li Yu explained: “Some people secretly wrote posts to several censors in Henan, Shandong and Shanxi, and the notes were anonymous. After all, it involves the ministers of the Imperial court and newly promoted officials appointed by the Ministry of Appointments, the censors could not completely disregard the matter.”

However, since the Jinyiwei are also investigating the case, the Censorate’s Patrolling Inspector would be merely a decoration. One would hope that the assigned Jinyiwei would not be too excessively vicious, otherwise, that Qi Sheng…..

An image of a meager silhouette from 《Qi’s Travel Anthology》 , one that concerned itself with the matters of the nation and its people, appeared before Geng Yu’s eyes. He secretly shook his head.

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There were those in the department who were concerned about this case, and as for the Jinyiwei, they were even more concerned about the case. After all, they needed to send people over to investigate the case. This case landed in the hands of the Northern Administrative Division. Chief Military Commissioner, Zhu Ji. He was going to appoint people to go, but Xie Ying took the initiative to mention, “I have been to Qian’an before and personally know Cui Que’s son. As for this matter, I will take care of it.”

Zhu Ji clapped his hands together, “I was just thinking about summoning you! You have been in closed-door seclusion these past few days and are about to really become a scholar. You should go out for a trip….You’re not thinking of Qian’an’s library and wanting to go just because you want to read books, right?”

Battalion Colonel Lu Xi smiled, “That is not just solely a library, it was once also Cui Beauty’s boudoir! I originally wanted to visit the place where the Cui Beauty resided, but since Xie-xiong is going to meet an old friend, then naturally he should go instead.”

Another qianhu, Yao Fuyuan commented, “Forget it, I heard that the Cui Beauty’s old residence has been altered into a depository, none of the original furnishings were kept so there won’t be anything to see. When worthy little brother Xie makes the trip, do me a favor and take a look inside the library to see if it is the same as the portrait painted on the cover of the 《Qi’s Travel Anthology》.”

Xie Ying leaned back and sat deeply into the chair, laughing to answer, “I will go there and see if there are any fresh or interesting books. If there are, I will bring back a few for you all.”

Military Commissioner Zhu Ji arranged for mounted soldiers to accompany Xie Ying and the Censorate also selected a young Patrolling Censorial Inspector, Liu Zan, to head out of the capital with the Jinyiwei. They rushed their way on horseback towards Qian’an.

When they arrived in Qian’an county, it was already the beginning of March.

County Magistrate Qi heard that an Imperial censor and Jinyiwei were patrolling the county, and he hurriedly brought people with him to the city gates to greet the procession. Upon seeing that at the head of the procession was Xie Ying, who had come to deliver the Imperial decree to Cui Xie back then, he was even more cordial. He hurriedly bowed his head and greeting them, inviting them back to the yamen. He also asked what matter they had come to the county for this time around.

Patrolling Censorial Inspector, Liu Zan, had also read Qi Sheng’s book and compared that upright and gentlemanly figure from the portraits to the person in front of them. In reality…..the beard and figure did indeed have some refined, natural charm and he fiercely gave a few glances. But after getting out of the carriage, he assumed an air as he if paid no such attention to a petty 7th-ranked minor official and indifferently stated: “We accepted orders from an Imperial decree to investigate a case, and once we return to the county yamen, we will publicly announce the decree. Qi da-ren, please lead the way and also summon the son of an official family, Cui Xie, as well.”

Investigation? At such a young age, Cui Xie grew up right under his eyes, just what kind of Imperial case could he have been mixed into? Qi Sheng subconsciously defended him: “That Cui Xie is a righteous citizen that has been commended by the Imperial court and has donated a courtyard to the county to erect a library. When this lower official was being evaluated, the presiding Censor Li da-ren also praised him. One does not know just what previous sins he has committed?”

Liu Zan chewed over the other’s words and only felt that there was a clear sense of friendship and did not answer for a while. Xie Ying demounted from his horse and walked over to the County Magistrate: “Where is Cui Xie right now? Da-ren should order someone to call for him to be brought over to the yamen. Liu da-ren and I have something to ask of da-ren as well as him.”

Qi Sheng increasingly felt that something was amiss and his entire body had been drawn taut and was ramrod straight. On behalf of Cui Xie, he pleaded, “He is taking the Imperial examination right now. The two da-ren must forgive me, the Imperial examinations are a major event for the Imperial court, even if there is something going on, what harm is there putting off the discussion until Cui Xie finishes his yuanshi, the college exam, the last of the three entry-level exams.”

Examinations?

While being questioned by the Censorate, Official Cui had indeed said that he had sent his son to the ancestral home for the preliminary rounds of Imperial examinations, but failed to mention that his son had passed the county examinations this year. Someone had posted a message allegedly claiming that Qi Sheng had swindled out a courtyard out of the Cui Residence. Did it have anything to do with Cui Xie being able to take the examinations?

Did Qi Sheng ask for it on his own initiative, or had Cui Xie given it for the sake of being able to take the county examinations, or was it something else?”

Liu Zan couldn’t help asking, “Then how many times has Cui Xie taken the examinations?”

County Magistrate Qi proudly exclaimed, “This is his first time taking the county examinations. This child must be a talent descended from the heavens, having a highly retentive memory, I have never seen such a child prodigy! After Colonel Xie came to present the banner of commendation, I personally tested him and he wasn’t very well versed in writing essays yet, but now his written essays are already quite the moral standard!”

Liu Zan was stumped for words, and his expression also darkened a few degrees.

Contrary to what one might expect, Xie Ying had been continuously smiling the entire time, but his smiling expression had been so meticulously hung onto his face. No more, no less,  no one could see through that smile.

Back at the yame, Liu Zan unfolded the Imperial edict and the Emperor’s imperial order was read out loud. It ordered that County Magistrate Qi was to be held in custody for the time being and they also ordered someone to summon Cui Xie in for a testimony. Qi Sheng, the County Deputy, the Dianshi,  the bookkeepers and runners, all repeatedly cried out grievances, saying that the library was indeed donated to the county by Cui Xie’s own initiative. Cui Xie himself originally had the voracious desire to set up his own library, but it was just that the Country Magistrate saw that he was poor and could not bear to ask him to spend money, and only then did he seize the courtyard for the county.

Xie Ying obstructed him and warmly said, “Liu da-ren, although we were ordered by the Emperor to investigate this case, the matter of the nation’s imperial examinations is of greater importance. Da-ren is also a scholar, and you would know even better the difficulties of the preliminary examinations. Why call him back at this time? We might as well first record some oral confessions from informed sources within the county first. If Cui Xie must be investigated, we will go to the examination center to find him.”

Liu Zan looked at County Magistrate Qi, enduring the indignation he felt at the other’s deceivious heart and motives, and said, “No rush, I’d better ask Qi da-ren to take out Cui Xie’s county examination papers and let this official take a look.”

County Magistrate Qi saw what the other implied and his face sank, compressing his voice, said, “Does da-ren suspect that his official dares to engage in fraud in the county examinations?” His voice trembled slightly, but the figure under his green robes became increasingly tall and straight. Commanding in a deep voice, he ordered, “Bring the first-ranked Cui Xie’s examination papers from the three rounds of county examinations, inviting Liu da-ren to comment on them!”

Footnotes:

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