Chapter 6
Edward Quan ·
The censor claimed Heng’s learning was limited. The examination essay’s ambitious ideas and superior structure could not possibly have come from a twelve-year-old. Someone must have written it beforehand: fraud intended to deceive the emperor.
Everyone knew the censor was close to Yu and belonged to his faction.
Yu immediately joined in. Every accusation pointed toward me: I had secretly found someone to write Heng’s essay, using him to win imperial favor.
Several officials echoed him. Suspicion filled the hall. All insisted Heng had cheated and deceived the throne.
### Part 8
Furious, the emperor summoned us to answer the accusations.
When I hurried to the Golden Throne Hall, Heng was already standing in its center.
Beside him lay an essay that had been substituted for his own.
Crooked writing, shallow ideas—nothing like his usual work.
“Heng, tell me. Did you write this?”
The emperor sat above, his expression dark.
“No, Father.”
“Then who did?”
Heng said nothing. He didn’t know.
The censor sprang forward.
“Your Majesty, we all know what His Highness’s studies were like. How could he suddenly take first place?”
Beside him, Yu put on an anguished expression.
“Father, I cannot bear seeing my brother used. He is young and ignorant. But the person pulling his strings—who knows what she intends?”
Outside, I waited for the eunuch to announce me, took a deep breath, and entered.
“Your consort Shen pays her respects, Your Majesty.”
The emperor looked at me.
“You’ve come at the right time. How do you explain this?”
Kneeling, I knew explanations were useless.
“Whatever I say will prove nothing.”
“Please set a question here and let His Highness write before everyone. We will immediately see what is true.”
The hall broke into murmurs.
Yu’s face changed. He opened his mouth.
“Father, this…”
The emperor raised a hand to stop him. He looked at me, then at Heng.
He had seen the boy’s work before.
He had personally heard Heng recite the Book of Han and answer policy questions.
No one knew better whether he had learning.
“Granted.”
Attendants quickly arranged a desk, paper, and brushes.
The emperor chose a policy question about relief for that year’s floods in the south.
Heng stepped to the desk, dipped his brush, and began without hesitation.
Before half an incense stick had burned, he finished.
An attendant brought the essay up.
The emperor read every word, then read it again.
The hall was so quiet that breathing could be heard.
The censor’s smugness gradually turned to unease.
The emperor glanced at Heng with approval.
“Good. An excellent answer.”
He put the essay on his desk and surveyed the court.
“A twelve-year-old can write this in half an incense stick’s time, more clearly than some of you can copy an essay. You accuse him of cheating. Find someone to write an answer here for me.”
Every official who had joined the accusations lowered his head. None dared speak.
“Your Majesty.” The censor dropped to his knees. “I… I acted on a report. An oversight.”
“An oversight?” The emperor laughed coldly. “You’re a censor. You accuse a prince of cheating without thinking? Guards, take him away.”
After court, a chill remained in me.
Yu’s faction would not stop.
Back home, I called Chuntao into my room.
“We nearly lost everything today,” she said, still frightened. “Without His Highness writing the answer himself, we couldn’t have cleared it up.”
I sat at the table and drank some water.
“We escaped today. What about tomorrow? The next day? If they can act at court, they can act elsewhere.”
She froze.
“My lady, you mean…”
“We can’t keep waiting to be struck.”
Deep in my cupboard, I found a small chest and opened it.
Everything I had saved in three years lay inside.
“Tomorrow, find a few trustworthy eunuchs and maids. Ask them to watch what happens in the other residences.”
Her hands trembled as she took it.
“What if someone discovers…”
“That’s why you must be careful.” I looked at her. “Choose people no one notices. The lowly and inconspicuous attract less attention. They’re the most useful.”
She bit her lip and nodded quickly.
“I understand.”
### Part 9