Chapter 312 — Examination

The Dou brothers and Song Yumin came to their senses. Dou Huaide was just about to step in and save the situation when Song Yan, smiling, had already asked Song Yumin, "Mr. Song, where are you staying?"

Song Yumin could not quite fathom Song Zhi's intent, and said vaguely, "At a friend's house?"

Song pressed him. "In the east of the city, or the west? Which ward?"

Song Yumin's brow contracted, almost imperceptibly.

In his days in the capital he had heard the heir of the Yingzhen Duke's estate spoken of more than once. Of illustrious birth, to be sure, but no less formidable in stratagem and statecraft. He himself was only a petty scholar; naturally he avoided what he could avoid and endured what he must endure.

"In the fourth lane of Chong'an Ward, in the west of the city," said Song Yumin. "Lodging at a friend's house."

Song Dan nodded placidly, his gaze returning to Song Yan, as though urging him to set forth the thesis without delay.

Fortunately Song Yan's foundations were solid. He had meant at first to go down to the examinations with his uncle when the latter returned home, and for the past two years had devoted himself wholly to the craft of examination prose. He drew a deep breath, composed himself, and pondered for roughly the time it takes half a stick of incense to burn. Then he said, "The classics of governance, when extended from the self outward, each have their order. How true it is that the self may not be left uncultivated! The Doctrine of the Mean, in this passage, adduces governance as comprehending the self, and from the self extends outward to governance." His tone was somewhat hesitant, but the writing flowed naturally and cohered from beginning to end.

The vital thing in this passage of the theme was to join the sentences before and after into a single whole. All the more so when Song Yan had set the thesis and Song Yan was to carry it forward.

Every eye in the room lit up.

Song Yan let out a breath of relief, a measure of confidence returning to him, and continued, "Was there no intent in this? Zisi, recording Confucius's reply to Duke Ai's question on governance, says this: that governance indeed lies in cultivating the self. The principle of my self is none other than the principle of other men. Truly to know wherein the cultivation of the self consists, then virtue is established and the Way is practiced... The principle of one man is the principle of ten thousand men... Yet the realm and the state may not go ungoverned; and the constants of governance are nine in number..."

Outside the flower hall someone suddenly clapped his hands. "Well said—'the principle of one man is the principle of ten thousand men'!"

All turned toward the sound, and there was Dou Huaiying in his court robes, striding in with a smile.

"Wanli, I never imagined your learning was so solid!"

Everyone rose to greet Dou Huaiying, and then they took their seats again, host and guest in due order.

Dou Huaiying laughed. "What's this—you've taken up examination prose?"

The eyes of Song Yumin and the rest all fell upon Song Zhi.

Song Sui showed no discomposure whatever. He smiled and said, "We had nothing to do, so we chatted a while."

As a scholar himself, Dou Huaiying naturally hoped that Song Yan too possessed sound learning. At these words his interest kindled at once, and he pressed to know how it had come about.

Dou Yong hastened to recount the whole affair, which set Dou Huaiying's fingers itching; he fell to discussing examination prose with Song Yumin.

Song Sui found an excuse to draw Dou Yan aside. "What says your aunt?"

"It's settled!" Dou Yan wore the look of victory. "So long as the Song family is of the same mind, the match can be fixed."

"There may yet be some trouble on the Song family's side." Song Yan told Dou Yan of how he had tested Song Yan's learning. "Since he has such fine scholarship, he is certainly bound for the examinations and office. I fear he will not consent to marry into the bride's family."

Dou Yan's mouth fell open. He said sheepishly, "No wonder Uncle and Aunt have spent all these years without finding Cousin a suitable husband."

"Still, it is not impossible." Song Yan had made up his mind, and he was far more tenacious than Dou Yan. He pondered aloud, "I have already discovered where Song Yumin lodges. In a little while I shall pay him a visit in person and compel him to agree to this match—since Song Qianli grew up eating at a hundred tables and has received Song Yumin's kindness, if Song Yumin agrees, how can he refuse?"

"And how do you mean to make Mr. Song agree?" In Dou Zhiwei's impression, Mr. Song, though mild, was no pliable good man without opinions of his own.

"Every man has his weak point," said Song Yan. "There is no time to lose; I will first make his acquaintance and see."

There was nothing for it but that.

Dou Yan was somewhat cast down.

Two attempts at matchmaking, and both had come to grief. Plainly she had no gift for the calling; after finding a fine husband for her cousin Zhangru, she would have done with such affairs forever.

The one returned to the rear court, the other to the flower hall.

After the midday meal, Song Yumin and Song Yan took their leave.

Some time later—the space of a stick of incense—Song Yan and Dou Yi left the Crane-Cry Temple lane.

Dou Huaide pestered Dou Huaiying. "Seventh Uncle, 'knowing wherein the cultivation of the self consists, joined to the following section'—that was the theme you set for Fourth Brother-in-law, wasn't it?"

"I did no such thing!" Dou Huaiying said in surprise. "Was it not Mr. Song who set it?"

How would he dare set Song Yan so hard a theme? If Song Yan could not answer it, would that not spoil the harmony between father-in-law and son-in-law?

Dou Yong and Dou Huaide looked at each other in blank dismay.

Dou Huaiying grew anxious. "What is going on here? Tell me at once!"

※

A make-up for the July 10 update!

A belated make-up chapter, but still within the expected time... ⊙﹏⊙b sweat...

ps: Tonight's update is postponed to around midnight. It's a bit late; you can just as well read it when you get up tomorrow morning.