Chapter 34: Harmonizing with the Dust

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At the first crow of the rooster, Fan Jin pushed open his door. The rain outside had eased considerably. After yawning, he went to the study and reviewed his books for nearly half an hour before preparing to have breakfast.

Soft jade and warm perfume were certainly hard to resist, but since ancient times, those who accomplished great things had first and foremost been disciplined. Since he had the chance to hold the power of the world in his waking hand, he naturally had to set aside, for the moment, the pleasure of reclining against a beauty’s knees.

“My lord, how did you sleep last night?”

In the main hall, Hu Yingying had already ordered breakfast to be served. When she saw Fan Jin enter from outside, she greeted him with a smile.

“Not bad.” Fan Jin nodded and replied with a smile. “Though the sound of the rain kept me awake at times.”

Hu Yingying smiled and continued, “Since it is the rainy season, you ought to nourish yourself a little. I instructed the kitchen to stew an old-duck soup. Be sure to have a generous helping later and warm yourself from within.”

Fan Jin nodded and glanced around. “Has Mother not risen yet?”

“I believe not.” Hu Yingying hesitated before adding, “Mother is getting on in years. I heard she did not fall asleep until well past midnight, so she will probably need a while longer before washing and dressing.”

Fan Jin pulled out a chair and sat down, ordering the servants to bring him some rice. Then he said, “In that case, the two of us may as well make do with breakfast first. As for Mother, remember to tell the kitchen to keep the bird’s-nest and ginseng soup warm.”

“Then after breakfast, I shall take it to Mother myself,” Hu Yingying replied smoothly.

With that, husband and wife began their meal.

“These are last month’s household accounts. The income was six hundred and seventy-five taels, and the expenditure was five hundred and twenty.”

After breakfast, just as Fan Jin was washing his hands, Hu Yingying suddenly had the account book brought over and handed it to him.

Fan Jin did not reach out to take it. Instead, he shook his head. “You are my principal wife. There is no need for such formality between us. You may handle all household affairs as you see fit.”

“Between husband and wife, what could there be that we cannot trust each other with...?”

Hu Yingying smiled and did not insist. She immediately put the account book away, then beckoned to a maid and gave her a quiet instruction.

Before long, the maid returned carrying a large cloak.

Hu Yingying took it from her and draped it over Fan Jin’s shoulders. “A few days ago, I had this cloak made for you. The weather has grown colder, so it has come at just the right time.”

Fan Jin reached out and touched it. It was woven from fox fur, every stitch bearing her affection. He could not help saying warmly, “You have been thoughtful, my dear.”

Hu Yingying replied modestly, “You are devoting yourself to the imperial examinations. There is little I can do to help, so I can only take greater care with your clothing, food, and daily needs...”

“Oh, that reminds me, my lord.” Hu Yingying seemed suddenly to recall something. “According to the old calendar, we ought to inspect the estate once before the year’s end. What do you think?”

Fan Jin paused, then looked up at the sky, which was gradually clearing. “I will make time to go there.”

Having said that, he immediately set off.

Hu Yingying was, after all, a woman. She was capable enough when it came to managing the inner household, but it was difficult for her to attend properly to external affairs. It would hardly be proper for her to appear in public, after all, since that would violate the conventions of propriety.

Living in this era, Fan Jin did not wish to appear too eccentric or rebellious, nor did he want the people around him to seem too far removed from ordinary standards.

As for studying the Four Books and Five Classics, he did not believe they were of much practical use. But since the imperial examinations tested the Four Books and Five Classics, along with the eight-legged essay, there had to be a reason for it.

The purpose of the imperial examination system had never been to cultivate talent, nor to select talent.

Its greatest function was to confine ambitious men—to herd every clever person beneath heaven into the prison of the eight-legged essay, where they would spend their lives poring over commentaries and exhausting themselves over the classics.

Only then would such men refrain from wild fantasies and avoid being led astray by unorthodox doctrines.

Once the scholars were pacified, even if there were still people who wished to rebel, they would amount to little more than bands of brigands, incapable of achieving anything of consequence.

A policy with an effect remarkably similar to that of the imperial examination system was the notorious Thirty-Three-Tael Silver Policy.

Whether it was the imperial examination system or the Thirty-Three-Tael Silver Policy, the fundamental aim was to preserve the stability of the ruling order. Scholars were controlled through the examinations, while ordinary people were controlled through the thirty-three taels of silver—a deliberate cultivation of poverty that kept the common people perpetually burdened by pressure and anxiety, worrying over their livelihoods without quite being driven to the point of death.

In this way, the common people had neither the time nor the inclination to think about anything else.

But Fan Jin understood clearly that neither the imperial examination system nor, in later ages, the Thirty-Three-Tael Silver Policy had accomplished much beyond reducing this ancient realm to a lamb awaiting slaughter and subjecting it to boundless suffering.

He lacked the power to change things now. His inability to change them at present, however, did not mean he would never have the opportunity.

Before then, he could only go along with the prevailing customs and play the role of a harmless scholar.

After all, his original self was practically the ideal image of the scholar most beloved by the rulers: a man who would spend his entire life exhausting himself over the classics.

“My lord, I heard you were going out?”

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The monk-official, Master Hui, could never sit still. No one knew where he had darted out from. When he finally stopped, he instinctively tugged at his belt, panting heavily.

Fan Jin nodded, then instructed Uncle Fu to prepare the carriage. “I intend to take a look at the estate.”

As he spoke, he gave Master Hui an assessing glance. “Master Hui, have you grown accustomed to your stay these past few days?”

“I would not dare accept the honorific ‘master.’ If you have any orders, simply give them to this humble servant.” Master Hui hurriedly replied, then continued, “Everything is fine. In the past, I often performed rituals and recited scriptures to pass the time. Since entering the residence, I have wanted for neither food nor drink, but I have found myself with nothing to do...”

Fan Jin smiled. “In that case, go pack your things and come with me.”

“Very good!”

Master Hui immediately ran back to his room and returned carrying a crescent-bladed spade. With a loud clang, he slammed it onto the ground, causing a faint tremor beneath their feet.

Old Hu happened to be looking for Master Hui. Seeing him dressed in such a fashion, he quickly seized the monk’s wide sleeve and, waggling his eyebrows, asked, “Brother Hui, are you going out?”

Master Hui scratched his head and grinned. “Brother Hu, the master is going to inspect the estate. I’m going along to guard him.”

Upon hearing this, Old Hu slowly released his grip and muttered, “Then off you go. Return early.”

Fan Jin saw Old Hu emerge while hurriedly adjusting his clothes and could not help asking, “Father-in-law, would you care to come along?”

Old Hu shook his head like a rattle drum. “I have an appointment with Little Fang from the Emerald Pavilion. It would hardly do to break my word. My worthy son-in-law, you go on ahead.”

Fan Jin laughed when he heard this and immediately called for Master Hui to accompany him.

Outside the residence, the carriage was already waiting. Fan Jin climbed aboard and lowered the curtain. The coachman gave the reins a sharp flick, and the carriage gradually picked up speed.

Inside, a brazier radiated comforting warmth. Fan Jin lifted half the curtain. “Master Hui, would you like to come inside and sit? It is bitterly cold out there.”

Master Hui tightened his grip on the reins and hurriedly shook his head. “I am a martial man by nature and have trained my body in hardening arts. I may not be immune to heat and cold, but a little chill is nothing to me.”

“It is your health I worry about, my lord. You are weak by nature, so take care not to catch a chill!”

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