Chapter 4: Reward
Xilin County was under the jurisdiction of Hezhou. The inspecting censor of Hezhou, Dai Yao, was an old friend of Gao Yunqu's. As she happened to be on tour in Xilin at this time, she sent a calling card to request a visit.
Fang Jian was not present, so Gao Yunqu invited Dai Yao to the study. Dai Yao was a close friend of Gao Yunqu's and this was not her first visit to the Gao residence. The moment she entered, she noticed a newly added desk and asked in surprise, "Does your family have other young disciples? Who could possibly be qualified for you to keep by your side and instruct personally?"
Gao Yunqu sat down by the tea table, where water was already warming on a charcoal stove. She skillfully took the water to brew tea, her movements as fluid and graceful as moving clouds and flowing water. Dai Yao sat on the other side and watched her prepare the tea.
"The one by my side is, naturally, my student," Gao Yunqu said faintly.
Dai Yao was startled. "Who has managed to catch your eye?"
Gao Yunqu glanced at her. "Just a young scholar. Still only a Imperial Examination Candidate."
"A Imperial Examination Candidate? A child prodigy?" Dai Yao asked, taking the teacup Gao Yunqu offered as she continued to probe.
"No." Gao Yunqu rose and retrieved a policy essay Fang Jian had recently written from her desk, handing it to Dai Yao to read.
"...And this is just a Imperial Examination Candidate?" Dai Yao was somewhat shocked after reading it. "Are you trying to train a Triple First?"
Gao Yunqu smiled without answering.
"Fine, I won't ask anymore. I'll find out sooner or later." Dai Yao changed the subject. "Your mourning period is almost over, isn't it?"
"It ends next July. There's still some time."
"Our Majesty is growing impatient. I estimate I should be returning to the capital after the Triennial Capital Evaluation next year."
"The storm is bound to come."
The Prefectural Examination in Hezhou was exceptionally late that year, scheduled for nearly the eleventh month. Fang Jian, whose body had been strengthened by Gao Yunqu's insistence on more food and more exercise, managed to complete her answer sheet properly, even though her hands were so cold she could barely extend them. She fell ill as soon as she returned, however.
Fang Jian was delirious with fever, which finally broke after a full day of waxing and waning. When Gao Yunqu pushed the door open and entered that night, Fang Jian was still asleep. Gao Yunqu reached out to touch her sweat-dampened forehead, then slid her hand down her collar to feel her back, which was soaked in sweat. So she brought over a towel, helped Fang Jian sit up, removed her clothes, and wiped away the sweat bit by bit before changing her into a fresh undergarment and tucking her back into the quilt. As she was pulling away, Fang Jian, half-asleep, grabbed her hand and wouldn't let go. Gao Yunqu thought for a moment, then took off her shoes, got onto the bed, and pulled Fang Jian entirely into her embrace. Her body was cool, and Fang Jian instinctively burrowed into her arms.
"Mother…" Fang Jian murmured restlessly in her sleep.
Gao Yunqu gently patted her back, soothing her.
"Lord…" Fang Jian called out again.
Gao Yunqu suddenly stiffened. She listened as Fang Jian called out a few more times before she finally resumed patting her on the back. "...I'm here."
When Fang Jian woke the next day, her cold was mostly gone. She fully recovered within a few days and returned to her routine of starting her studies at the mao-zheng hour.
A few days later, the results of the Prefectural Examination were posted. A servant boy began shouting the moment he entered the gate, "She passed, she passed! The Young Lady is first on the list!"
"Congratulations, Lord. Congratulations, Young Lady," Gao Yuan said to Gao Yunqu with a broad smile upon hearing the commotion.
"Congratulations? Wasn't this to be expected?" Gao Yunqu's tone was placid, but she couldn't suppress the smile at the corners of her mouth.
Fang Jian was, after all, still young. No matter how hard she tried to conceal it, joy still crept into her eyes. She composed herself and bowed to Gao Yunqu. "Thank you for your cultivation, Lord."
Gao Yunqu raised an eyebrow. "It's still early. Go on, I'll give you two days off to go home and hold a celebratory banquet."
Xilin was not a place known for its flourishing literary culture. A seventeen-year-old Prefectural Graduate was already considered exceptionally outstanding. Figures of all standing in the county now looked upon her with new respect, and wealthy merchants who were once unapproachable now scrambled to celebrate her success. For the first time, she felt the significance of scholarly honor.
She did not let it go to her head. After resting at home for two days, she returned to the Gao residence. Gao Yunqu was waiting for her in the study.
"How does it feel?" Gao Yunqu was working on a painting, bent over her work without looking up.
"Very good. To be celebrated by people who once seemed so far out of reach feels like I'm walking on clouds. But I can't help but feel it's not quite real." Fang Jian stood respectfully to one side, grinding ink for her.
"Not bad. You've made progress. Then tell me, why are they fawning over you?"
"For no other reason than that I am still young, and my chances in the Provincial and Metropolitan Examinations are greater."
Gao Yunqu straightened up and looked at her. "This is the charm of power. You have barely set half a foot on the threshold, and already people are willing to invest in you. If you succeed, they can claim to have shown you favor and kindness. If you fail, they lose nothing more than a bit of face. Do you understand? This world is dominated by power."
"Then can I grasp power by continuing my studies all the way?"
Gao Yunqu laughed. "That would be merely touching the edges. You still have much to learn. Take your time."
That night, Gao Yunqu was uncharacteristically gentle. Fang Jian felt as if she were enveloped in water, washed over and soothed by the soft currents, floating in ecstasy.
This must be the reward, she thought.
After the start of spring, Gao Yunqu added martial lessons to Fang Jian's curriculum.
"It's not that I expect you to be a great fighter, but merely to train your body. The Metropolitan Examination is in the second month, and you won't last without a good physique. Besides, the arts of archery and horsemanship are things you ought to learn." As she said this, Gao Yunqu picked up a bow herself, nocked an arrow, and drew the string. The long arrow flew like a shooting star and struck the bullseye.
She handed the bow to Fang Jian. She had made it look easy, but in Fang Jian's hands, it took much more effort. Her arms began to tremble not long after she drew the string. Just as she was about to lose her hold, Gao Yunqu moved close, reached around from behind, and took hold of her hands, helping her steady the bow.
"Dry firing can hurt you; you need to nock an arrow," Gao Yunqu's voice was a tickle against Fang Jian's ear.
She guided Fang Jian's hands to slowly release the bowstring, nocked another arrow, helped her adjust her posture, and led her in drawing the bow. Then she let go, stepped back, and watched with a smile as Fang Jian trembled, unable to control the bow.
"Don't aim for too long. The longer you draw, the more you'll shake."
Hearing this, Fang Jian released the fingers holding the fletching. The arrow, as expected, flew ten thousand eight thousand li away from the target.
"Relax your shoulders. Don't stare with your eyes. The harder you stare, the worse your posture gets, and of course you won't be accurate. Focus on yourself."
…
Besides archery, her boxing and riding were taught by Gao Yuan. Gao Yuan, true to her name, had an amiable, round face and always wore a smile.
She was Gao Yunqu's right hand. Fang Jian often saw her coming and going while she was studying in the study. They didn't particularly avoid discussing matters in front of Fang Jian, but Fang Jian couldn't understand much of what they said. At times like these, Fang Jian would feel that her own growth was far too slow.
"Steward Gao."
"Young Lady, just call me A'yuan," Gao Yuan said with a smile.
"A'yuan, did the Lord also learn these things?"
"Of course. The Lord is not only accomplished in both literary and martial arts, but she is also a master of the zither, Go, calligraphy, and painting."
Fang Jian was somewhat dumbfounded. She had heard that Gao Yunqu had become a Tanhua at the age of twenty. At a similar age, not yet having had her capping ceremony, the difference between her and Gao Yunqu was like that between heaven and earth.
Gao Yuan seemed to read her expression. "The Lord was born exceptionally intelligent. She learns everything extremely quickly."
"Alright, Young Lady, you've rested long enough. It's time to continue."
Gao Yuan had inherited Gao Yunqu's hard-hearted and merciless nature, and she showed no mercy when polishing Fang Jian. Her daily schedule was changed to an hour of martial practice starting at the mao-zheng hour, after which she would go to the study. Once or twice every ten days, Gao Yunqu would summon her at night to perform the affair of Wu Mountain and rain clouds. When she failed to memorize her texts, Gao Yunqu no longer punished her with kneeling, but with holding a horse stance or doing a handstand. From then on, Fang Jian's academic progress advanced a thousand li a day.
By the time summer arrived, Fang Jian's riding and archery had begun to take shape. Out of ten arrows, one or two could now hit the red circle, and the muscles on her body had firmed up considerably.
Gao Yunqu was especially fond of her taut waist, stomach, and thighs. During their affairs, she liked to grip her legs and press her whole body against the headboard. Afterwards, she liked to hold her from behind, kneading her soft belly, and also enjoyed watching her move her own supple waist with a look of dazed intoxication.
In the seventh month, the Gao family's mourning period ended. Gao Yuan led the servants outside to set off firecrackers, filling the air with a lively series of pops and crackles.
As the weather grew hotter, the doors and windows of the study were left open. Fang Jian had changed into lighter clothes; today she wore a pale green dress, looking like a tender little scallion. This little scallion was somewhat distracted today, lifting her eyes to glance at Gao Yunqu from time to time.
"A'jian." Gao Yunqu took in her every move, casually toying with a small seal as she spoke nonchalantly, "Are you finished writing?"
"N-not yet…" Fang Jian tightened her grip on her brush and lowered her head to continue writing.
Gao Yunqu chuckled, letting her off the hook. "Do you have a question?"
Fang Jian grew a little nervous. Her throat bobbed as she swallowed. After a moment of deliberation, she finally said, "Lord, now that the mourning period is over, you will be returning to the capital, won't you?"
"Sooner or later."
Fang Jian's eyes fell, then lifted again as she asked with determination, "Will you take me with you, Lord?"
Gao Yunqu smiled again. "You want to go with me?"
Fang Jian nodded.
"In what capacity?"
The question struck Fang Jian's heart. That's right, what was she to Gao Yunqu?
Fortunately, Gao Yunqu spoke again right away. "Alright. I'll give you a chance. I will wait one month for you. If you pass the Provincial Examination in the eighth month, I will take you to the capital."
Having received this promise, Fang Jian's eyes lit up at once, and she wrote her policy essay with even greater vigor.
That night, Gao Yunqu sent Fang Jian back early. She herself lit the lamp and continued to read through documents. Her return to the capital was not far off, and there were many things she needed to prepare in advance.
Gao Yuan entered with a bowl of ginseng soup and placed it by her hand. "Rest a little, Lord."
"A'yuan, are the arrangements in the capital ready?" Gao Yunqu asked, taking the soup and looking at her.
"Rest assured, Lord. The residence has been looked after by the old servants, and I have already sent Gao Ying ahead. All the arrangements will be identical to this place."
"Good. Pay close attention to A'jian's matter. All the servants in both locations must be thoroughly instructed."
"Yes, I'll remember."
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