The Prime Minister’s Daughter and the Marquis’s Fool – Chapter 143
by Little PandaIf You’re Unhappy, You Can Take It Out on Me
Disastrous news suddenly arrived at the gates of the Qu Marquis Residence. Qu Jinian had weathered countless storms in his life, but when he heard that his fourth brother had been killed in battle, a sharp pain seized his heart. He watched as his fourth sister-in-law was carried away, then asked with a composed expression, “What of Ting’er?”
“Third Young Master went missing after being rescued. We searched for several days to no avail and had no choice but to send this subordinate to find Your Lordship and discuss a plan.”
Even a man as steady as Qu Jinian could not keep his expression from changing.
“And the soldiers at the Northern Frontier?”
“His Majesty issued an edict to withdraw the troops. As soon as the order was received, Assistant Commander Xing commanded the remaining soldiers to retreat to Beigu City.”
Just as he finished getting a rough account of the situation, someone arrived from the palace.
A eunuch official disembarked from his carriage with his attendants and hurried over. Seeing the members of the Qu family standing outside and the soldier kneeling at the gate, he knew Qu Jinian had already received the news. “Lord Pillar of the State, His Majesty urgently summons you to the palace to discuss matters.”
Qu Jinian glanced around. The entire Qu family was like ants on a hot pan.1 Qu Ting’s wife was in no better state than the Fourth Aunt of the Qu family. The faces of Qu Ting’s father and mother were etched with grief and worry.
“All of you, go back inside first. I will make a trip to the palace.”
“Eldest Brother, I’ll go with you,” Qu Jiqin said, unable to stand still.
Qu Jinian looked at him, seeming to understand his meaning, and nodded. The two of them followed the eunuch official toward the Imperial Palace.
At King Wenze’s Lin Residence.
Qu Sheng and Lin Xizhao sat in the carriage, holding hands the entire way. After Qu Sheng alighted, she turned and held out her arms, lifting Lin Xizhao down from the carriage.
Once Lin Xizhao was on the ground, Qu Sheng bent down to smooth out the hem of her skirt. Lin Xizhao looked down at this suddenly so considerate little one and smiled, pressing her lips together.
As they walked forward, a servant led the carriage away. When the carriage bearing their gifts was brought over, Lin Xirui came out from the residence.
“A-jie,” Lin Xirui said, his face wreathed in smiles. Behind him was Lin Xikuan, whom they had not seen for a long time. “A-jie.”
The hostile air around Lin Xikuan seemed to have vanished, and he appeared much gentler.
Lin Xizhao smiled and nodded at them. “I’ve prepared a gift for you two as well. You can see if you like it later.”
“I get one too?” Lin Xirui grinned and walked forward.
Lin Xikuan simply smiled and bowed his head in thanks.
Lin Xizhao’s brows curved. The servants began moving the gifts into the Lin Residence. With the two young masters, Lin Xirui and Lin Xikuan, present, the steward didn’t dare interject to say whether the gifts should be brought in or not.
Once all the items were inside, Lin Xizhao and Qu Sheng headed in. Lin Xirui walked beside Lin Xizhao, saying, “Father King’s health is much worse than before. The physician has seen him and says he needs quiet recuperation. But his heart is full of resentment, and he can’t find any peace. I worry he’ll make himself sick with all this pent-up anger.”
Lin Xizhao’s expression darkened as she listened. In the end, they were largely the cause of Lin Jianhai’s condition.
The matter of her and Qu Sheng, and the Qu family’s alliance with the new Emperor, had left Lin Jianhai deeply resentful.
If not for his fear of bringing disaster upon them, he probably would have raised a storm after that day. From what Qu Sheng had told her, Lin Jianhai had been unwilling to bow his head. It was only after Qu Jinian later said something to him along the lines of, ‘You alone may be fine, but are you not afraid of bringing ruin upon your children?’ that Lin Jianhai had avoided a direct confrontation with the new Emperor, bottling up his anger instead.
The integrity of a scholar, and his long-held reputation for loyalty to the monarch, had been utterly destroyed.
Lin Xizhao’s thoughts grew heavy, and Qu Sheng felt a pang in her heart as she listened. She didn’t care about Lin Jianhai, but she cared about Lin Xizhao’s feelings.
The group soon arrived at the reception hall. Qu Sheng had been a frequent visitor here since childhood and shouldn’t have been led to the formal reception hall. But today was different. They were treating it as the day of their homecoming visit.2
The servants took inventory of the gifts, and once Lin Xirui had arranged everything, he sent someone to summon Lin Jianhai.
When Lin Jianhai heard that Qu Sheng and Lin Xizhao had arrived and brought gifts, his immediate reaction was to refuse to see them. But the steward mentioned something different about Lin Xizhao.
Lin Xizhao’s hairstyle had changed.
Upon hearing this, Lin Jianhai frowned and stood motionless for a long while.
Qu Sheng and Lin Xizhao waited in the hall for a long time before Lin Jianhai finally appeared, still in his old clothes and with a scruffy, unshaven face.
The first thing Lin Jianhai saw was Lin Xizhao. Her hair was styled in the manner of a married woman.3 But she had not yet been formally married out of his house. Why would she change her hairstyle?
Lin Xizhao stood up, and the others in the room rose with her.
She looked at Lin Jianhai with concern, while Qu Sheng met his scrutinizing gaze with perfect composure.
Lin Jianhai stood in the doorway for a few moments before entering with the steward.
“Father King,” his three children greeted in unison.
Qu Sheng glanced at Lin Jianhai, then lowered her gaze and remained silent. This was how it had always been. Now, she didn’t know if she should speak the new title aloud.
Lin Jianhai didn’t respond. He swept his eyes over the numerous and priceless gifts in the hall, then raised them to Lin Xizhao.
“What is the meaning of your hairstyle?” Lin Jianhai asked, his voice low and hoarse.
Lin Xizhao was startled for a moment, growing even more worried about his health. She hadn’t expected him to care about her hair. She replied in a gentle voice, “Daughter and Sheng’er pledged our lives to each other the day before yesterday.” The words were simple, but they explained the change in her hair.
She didn’t want to provoke Lin Jianhai right now, nor did she want to make him angrier, but some things had to be said.
Hearing this, Lin Jianhai looked down at the gifts on the floor. “What are these for?”
“They were prepared by my Qu Marquis Residence—”
“I wasn’t asking you!” Lin Jianhai suddenly spun his head and roared at Qu Sheng, then turned his furious gaze back to Lin Xizhao. “You tell me!”
Qu Sheng’s brow furrowed as she watched the enraged Lin Jianhai.
Everyone in the room was stunned by the shout. Lin Xirui had just taken a step forward, intending to smooth things over, when Lin Jianhai shot him a sideways glare and bellowed, “Get out!”
Lin Xirui was so frightened he didn’t dare make another sound, looking toward Lin Xizhao with his head bowed.
Lin Xizhao hadn’t expected this kind of reception. She had thought she could come back and speak with him properly. She never imagined that her father, who had always been so good-tempered, would suddenly seem to have lost his mind.
“Father King, they are only some gifts. Why are you so angry?” Lin Xizhao said softly.
Lin Jianhai ignored her, his voice tight with suppressed rage. “Are they only some gifts?”
A married woman’s hairstyles were many and varied, and there was nothing particularly special about Lin Xizhao’s today, but the steward’s reminder had made Lin Jianhai realize something.
The steward had said these things hoping to persuade Lin Jianhai to see his daughter, to prevent their relationship from becoming irrevocably strained, and to force him to accept the situation. But it seemed his good intentions had backfired.
Lin Xizhao looked at Lin Jianhai, knowing the bitterness he held in his heart. It was probably for the best that he was letting his anger out today.
“The day before yesterday, I asked the Qu family to preside over my marriage to Sheng’er. Today is our homecoming visit,” Lin Xizhao said, a deeper worry coloring her eyes.
In truth, they didn’t have to treat today as their homecoming. But the Qu family had prepared gifts and asked them to inform Lin Jianhai of the matter, and she too felt he ought to know.
“Marriage?” Lin Jianhai’s tone was laced with disbelief and restrained fury.
“Yes, we are married,” Lin Xizhao stated plainly.
The deep furrows in Lin Jianhai’s brow slowly smoothed out. The pupils of his eyes darted back and forth rapidly, and his anger could no longer be contained.
He raised his arm, but his hand was intercepted mid-air.
Qu Sheng glared at him, her eyes cold. She gripped Lin Jianhai’s arm with considerable force. “If you’re unhappy about something, you can take it out on me.”
Lin Xizhao had seen it coming and had no intention of dodging. But seeing Qu Sheng protect her like this, she suddenly grew tense.
Lin Jianhai stared furiously at Lin Xizhao. As he slowly turned his head to look at Qu Sheng, his expression suddenly twisted in pain.
He sprayed a mouthful of blood. It splattered all over Qu Sheng’s clothes, and a fine mist of it settled on her face.
“Father!” Lin Xizhao cried out in panic, for a moment forgetting to use the formal “Father King.” Lin Xirui and Lin Xikuan rushed forward to support the collapsing Lin Jianhai.
Qu Sheng stood frozen in place. She looked down at the frantic siblings, a terrible feeling creeping into her heart.
Lin Jianhai was carried out, and Qu Sheng remained standing there alone, stunned, for a long time.
Feng Qi came in from outside and offered Qu Sheng his handkerchief, but she didn’t move, her gaze remaining fixed.
It wasn’t until Lin Xizhao returned and saw Qu Sheng standing there in a daze that she hurried over and took her hand.
“Sheng’er.” Lin Xizhao’s mind was in turmoil.
Because of Lin Jianhai’s poor health, the residence employed a live-in physician, who had already gone to attend to him. Lin Xizhao had been waiting outside, and when she didn’t see Qu Sheng for a long time, she had rushed back.
Taking the handkerchief, Lin Xizhao began to wipe the blood from Qu Sheng’s face. In her rare state of panic, she was at a loss for words.
Qu Sheng watched Lin Xizhao’s flustered state, then raised a hand to still her trembling fingers. “Should we send for an Imperial Physician from the palace?” she asked softly.
Lin Xizhao was taken aback for a second. As she considered it, Qu Sheng had already looked toward Feng Qi.
Hearing footsteps, Lin Xizhao glanced over and saw that Feng Qi had already left the room.
“Jiejie won’t leave Sheng’er, right?” Qu Sheng’s cautious question made Lin Xizhao’s heart clench.
When she couldn’t find Qu Sheng just now, she had sensed a shift in her mood. Hearing her question now, she knew Qu Sheng was overly anxious about her.
Lin Xizhao forced a smile. “Of course not. We’re already married.”
She had agreed to marry Qu Sheng precisely to dispel the doubts and worries in her heart. She hadn’t anticipated Lin Jianhai’s sudden collapse, but the fact that she and Qu Sheng were together was now a reality that could not be changed.
Qu Sheng’s lips pressed into a tight line, but her brow relaxed as she nodded. “Alright, Sheng’er understands.”
It seemed Qu Sheng had not yet escaped her insecurity,4 but Lin Xizhao couldn’t dwell on it now. She had been away for a while and needed to go back and hear what the physician had to say.
“Go wait in our courtyard for a bit. I’ll come find you once Father King’s situation has stabilized.” She couldn’t just leave Qu Sheng standing here.
Qu Sheng nodded in meek agreement. She knew Lin Jianhai didn’t want to see her, and she didn’t want to agitate him further.
They walked toward the door of the reception hall. Once outside, Lin Xizhao watched Qu Sheng walk a few steps, her back looking lonely and desolate, and couldn’t help but run after her.
“Wife.” Qu Sheng turned her head at the sound of footsteps.
Lin Xizhao hummed a soft “en.” Though her eyes were gentle, Qu Sheng could see the worry in them.
“I’ll walk you there.”
Qu Sheng’s expression faltered slightly. “Father-in-law still needs Wife to look after him. Sheng’er won’t mind.”
Lin Xizhao was always so considerate of her feelings, but she couldn’t let her be put in such a difficult position right now. Qu Jinian was right. She had to become Lin Xizhao’s support, not her burden.
Lin Xizhao blinked. They stood there for a moment before she glanced toward the side hall where Lin Jianhai was. “I’ll come find you in a little while.”
Qu Sheng nodded, her lips pursed. Just as Lin Xizhao was about to say more, she had already turned and walked away.
Watching Qu Sheng’s back disappear, Lin Xizhao hurried back to the side hall.
Soon, an Imperial Physician from the palace arrived. Lin Jianhai was suffering from an ailment caused by repressed emotions, and the sudden surge of rage had attacked his heart. If not for the timely intervention of the physician, he might have been left half-paralyzed.
The Imperial Physician administered acupuncture, prescribed a course of medicine, and instructed them to take good care of him and not to cause him any more distress.
Lin Xizhao committed every word to memory, but knew it was impossible to follow.
Emperor Baoguang and the Crown Prince were dead, and the new Emperor had ascended the throne. Her relationship with Qu Sheng was a fact. She could not leave Qu Sheng.
When the medicinal soup was ready, Lin Xizhao helped Lin Jianhai sit up. He glanced at her with weary, listless eyes but still lowered his head to drink the medicine.
He truly shouldn’t have raised his hand to strike her today.
After he finished the medicine, the kitchens sent over some congee. Lin Xirui supported Lin Jianhai while Lin Xizhao fed him, spoonful by spoonful.
Throughout the entire process, none of them spoke a word.
Not long after Lin Jianhai lay down and fell asleep, Lin Xizhao went out with her two brothers.
“A-jie, you should go back with Sheng-meimei first. Second Brother and I will keep watch here. Father King will be fine,” Lin Xirui urged.
Lin Xizhao looked up, a faint smile on her lips. “It’s alright. I’ll stay at the residence for a few days. You two should prepare well for the examinations.”
The announcement of the Emperor’s Special Examination would be made after the Sacrifice to Heaven.5 This examination would be open to the entire Tiansheng nation. Not only would it give those who had repeatedly failed a chance to be admitted by special consideration, but it was also an excellent opportunity for scholars to avoid waiting another three years.
The problem with Lin Xikuan’s leg was almost unnoticeable now, so there was no need to worry about his registration.
Lin Xirui and Lin Xikuan both nodded.
“A-jie should go rest first,” Lin Xirui said, his heart aching for her.
He didn’t think today’s chaos was Lin Xizhao’s fault, but he didn’t think Lin Jianhai was at fault either. Both sides were family. He supported Lin Xizhao and Qu Sheng being together, but he also understood why Lin Jianhai had become so enraged.
The shackles of worldly convention were too deeply ingrained. It seemed that was not a good thing.
Lin Xizhao nodded, not insisting. She was worried about Qu Sheng, too. Lin Jianhai had coughed up blood because of them. Qu Sheng had a sensitive heart; she was afraid she would overthink things.
But when Lin Xizhao returned to her courtyard, Qu Sheng was already gone. Only Feng Qi remained, seemingly waiting to tell her the reason for Qu Sheng’s departure.
“The Fourth Master has been killed in battle, and the Third Young Master is missing. The Third Master has already petitioned His Majesty and will personally go to the Northern Frontier to search for the Third Young Master and bring back the Fourth Master’s body. Before she left, my lady said you need not return and can stay here to take care of King Wenze.”
How could Lin Xizhao possibly stay? She knew better than anyone how much Qu Sheng cared for her family. With Qu Jian dead and Qu Ting missing, how could Qu Sheng possibly be alright?
“Back to the residence.”
Lin Xizhao took the carriage back. As soon as she entered the residence, she saw the Qu family in the courtyard. They were rising after kneeling, and Qu Jiqin was holding an imperial edict.
When the Qu family saw Lin Xizhao return, they all looked toward Qu Sheng. As Qu Sheng looked over, the eunuch official who had read the edict was passing Lin Xizhao and bowed to her.
“Greetings, Commandery Princess.”
Lin Xizhao nodded in acknowledgement. After the eunuch official left, she looked toward the Qu family.
Qu Sheng was already walking toward her. Seeing her return, she drew closer and asked with concern, “How is Father-in-law?”
Lin Xizhao looked up and saw that Qu Sheng’s eyes were red-rimmed. “The Imperial Physician said Father King needs to recuperate, but for now his life is not in danger,” she replied in a low voice. “Has there been any news of Third Brother?”
Qu Sheng glanced at Feng Qi, who lowered his head. He had already told Lin Xizhao everything.
Qu Sheng suppressed the grief of losing a relative and her worry for Qu Ting. “We don’t know. The Chemu Tribe allied with the Heyi and Taoshan Kingdoms to launch a surprise attack on the army at the Northern Frontier, leading to the disastrous defeat of Fourth Uncle’s forces. Third Uncle has received an edict and is preparing to lead troops as reinforcements. He leaves today.”
At this critical juncture, neither Qu Jinian nor Qu Sheng could leave. Only Qu Jiqin could go.
Lin Xizhao looked into the distance. Qu Jiqin had already returned to his courtyard to prepare, leaving only Jin Yunfei and Qu Jinian behind.
“How are Fourth Aunt and Third Sister-in-law?”
Qu Sheng’s brow twitched. She shook her head. “Fourth Aunt has been crying nonstop. As for Third Sister-in-law…”
Qian Shuangying wasn’t crying, but she was insisting on going to the Northern Frontier. The Qu family couldn’t dissuade her and had already agreed to take her along.
Qu Sheng glanced back. Her family had all gone inside. “Let’s go in first.”
Lin Xizhao nodded and followed Qu Sheng into the hall. Jin Yunfei and Qu Jinian both looked grim. Qu Sheng and Lin Xizhao stood to the side, their hearts heavy as well.
The Fourth Uncle of the Qu family was the youngest of his generation. When Qu Sheng was little, he hadn’t even been married. Now, after many years of marriage, he had died without an heir. She didn’t know how to comfort his wife.
Fourth Aunt was the daughter of a prestigious family, but she had a delicate constitution. Her bond with Qu Jian had been profound. How was she to endure the pain of losing her husband for the rest of her life?
And now Qu Ting was missing. The place he was lost was in the territory of the Chemu Tribe. It was a vast grassland; his chances of survival were slim.
“Eldest Brother, Eldest Sister-in-law, I’m leaving now.”
Qu Jiqin had changed into a suit of armor he hadn’t worn in years. Third Aunt followed behind him, sobbing into her hands. Qian Shuangying, also clad in armor, stood at Qu Jiqin’s side like a wooden puppet that could not cry, her eyes downcast as she waited to depart.
The Qu family went to the city gates to see them off.
At the gate, one hundred thousand soldiers had already assembled, half of whom were from the Qu family army.
Ten days later.
The Emperor held the Sacrifice to Heaven and other ceremonies. Qu Sheng led the troops to guard his person. Afterward, the Emperor returned to the palace and formally ascended the throne.
The hundred officials paid their respects, congratulating the new Emperor.
Official edicts were dispatched to every corner of the Tiansheng nation. The vassal kings were ordered to come to the capital to pay homage to the new Emperor within one month. Since a prior edict had already been issued, there was enough time even for those who were farthest away.
When Qu Sheng returned from court, she went directly to the Lin Residence. Lin Xizhao was still there.
For the past few days, Lin Xizhao had been at the residence looking after Lin Jianhai. He didn’t speak, but he also didn’t have her thrown out.
Qu Sheng had also been busy with troop deployments and only saw Lin Xizhao at night.
By rights, they were newlyweds, but with so much happening recently, they lay together with heavy hearts, in no mood for a private life.
Lin Jianhai knew Qu Sheng came every night, but he was powerless to stop it.
When Qu Sheng returned, Lin Xizhao was just coming from Lin Jianhai’s quarters. The weather was growing colder, and the whistling wind made the chill feel even more intense. Qu Sheng stood in the wind, staring at the door to Lin Jianhai’s room. The moment she saw Lin Xizhao emerge, she hurried forward and draped her own cloak over her shoulders.
“Wife.” Qu Sheng urgently pulled Lin Xizhao into her arms.
Lin Xizhao tilted her chin up to look at Qu Sheng. In the dim light of the stone pillar lanterns, Qu Sheng seemed to have lost weight.
Lin Xizhao hugged Qu Sheng tighter. “Why are you back so early today?”
Previously, she had always returned very late, after Lin Xizhao had already fallen asleep.
Qu Sheng looked down, a faint smile on her lips. “The arrangements are mostly complete. The vassal kings have started arriving in the capital these past few days, and several generals have been transferred from Shoulin, so I don’t need to keep such a close watch anymore.”
Lin Xizhao nodded and tilted her head up to press a kiss to Qu Sheng’s lips.
“Wife.” Qu Sheng gazed at Lin Xizhao’s glistening eyes. Though the light was dim, she could see her perfectly clearly.
Qu Sheng raised a hand, her thumb stroking Lin Xizhao’s soft lips, before slowly moving her finger away and kissing her.
Their lips ground against each other, both holding back, but even so, someone broke the beautiful moment.
“Ahem.” Lin Xirui stood not far away, clearing his throat lightly.
His young page wanted to step forward to light the way, but he pulled him back. “Don’t look.”
The page, who had been trying to peek, was startled by Lin Xirui’s low command and quickly lowered his head.
Hearing the sound, Qu Sheng and Lin Xizhao hastily separated. A deep blush instantly spread across Lin Xizhao’s face, while Qu Sheng managed to feign a degree of composure.
“Xirui, you’re here,” Lin Xizhao said, turning around.
Lin Xirui was also a bit embarrassed. He gave a soft “ah” and hurried forward a few steps, keeping some distance from them. “I’ve come to keep the night watch.”
The two brothers had discussed it. During the day, Lin Xizhao would take care of their father while they studied. At night, they would take turns watching over him.
“Go on in. Father is already asleep.”
“Ah.”
Lin Xirui agreed, glanced at Qu Sheng’s unchanged expression, and quickly entered the room.
Once he was inside, Lin Xizhao raised her cool fingers to her own burning cheeks.
She must have been bewitched just now. How could she have acted like that with Qu Sheng out here?
Qu Sheng watched her, a faint smile playing on her lips at the blush that colored her face. She bent down and swept her into her arms.
“Sheng’er…”
Within the Lin Residence, the nature of their relationship seemed to be an open secret. Carried toward the courtyard, Lin Xizhao was too shy to be seen and buried her face in Qu Sheng’s chest.
It wasn’t until Qu Sheng set her down and closed the door that the blush on Lin Xizhao’s face finally began to fade.
She was indulging Qu Sheng, and she was indulging herself.
Lying on the bed, Qu Sheng held her in her arms. They kissed, but neither had any intention of going further.
Compared to attending to Lin Jianhai all day, Qu Sheng was even more exhausted. Shuttling between the major military garrisons every day was a strain even for a man’s constitution.
They held each other as they slept, finding contentment in their nightly embrace.
The next day, when Qu Sheng awoke, Lin Xizhao was still asleep. Dressed in her close-fitting martial attire, Qu Sheng stood by the bed and gazed at Lin Xizhao’s gentle, peaceful face for a long time.
In the end, she only pressed a light kiss to her forehead before picking up her armor and leaving.
After the Emperor’s ascension, the palace defenses were almost entirely replaced. Officials and ministers were also being gradually changed out; a mass replacement would clearly be unwise.
The Emperor announced a Special Examination, with the Spring Examinations6 to be held in the second month of the coming year. He would personally write the questions for the Palace Examination,7 cultivating his own base of power.
Today, the morning court session dragged on past the end of chenshi8 and still had not concluded. The civil officials argued endlessly, while the military officials looked on with scorn.
“Qu Aiqing, what are your thoughts?”
“This humble subject believes we should dispatch troops to launch a punitive expedition, to make an example of them.”
Several of the most powerful vassal kings and feudal lords, taking advantage of the tense situation at the Northern Frontier, had declared their secession from Tiansheng. United, they were now attacking the neighboring fiefdoms.
This was what Qu Sheng had feared most.
Now, at the Northern Frontier, a three-nation alliance was poised to invade and seize Tiansheng’s territory. The reinforcements led by Qu Jiqin seemed like a cup of water on a burning cartload of firewood.9
Footnotes
- An idiom (rè guō shàng de mǎyǐ) for being in a state of extreme anxiety and agitation.
- The homecoming visit (huímén) is the traditional first visit of a bride back to her parents’ home after marriage, typically on the third day. It formally acknowledges the union to the bride’s family.
- In historical China, a woman’s hairstyle (fàshì) would change significantly upon marriage, often from braids or a simple arrangement to an upswept bun or more complex coiffure. It was a clear visual indicator of her marital status.
- The original phrase is huàndé-huànshī, an idiom describing a state of anxiety where one worries about gaining something and is equally afraid of losing it.
- The Sacrifice to Heaven (jìtiān) was a solemn state ritual led by the emperor to worship Heaven and pray for the nation’s prosperity, often performed to legitimize a new reign.
- The Spring Examinations (chūnwéi) were the metropolitan-level imperial examinations held in the capital every three years. Passing them was a crucial step to becoming a high-ranking official.
- The Palace Examination (diànshì) was the final and highest level of the imperial examination system, presided over by the emperor himself. Success here guaranteed a prestigious official post.
- Chenshi (chén shí) is a traditional Chinese time period corresponding to 7:00 AM to 9:00 AM.
- An idiom (bēishuǐ-chēxīn) meaning a completely inadequate measure to solve a huge problem.
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