Chapter 726: One Institute, Six People

Upon his ascension, the new Liyang Emperor prioritized civil governance, with particular emphasis on the Hanlin Academy. His favoritism towards the latter reached an unprecedented level. First, he relocated the academy's official premises from Zhaojia Weng to the right side of the central axis between Wuying Hall and Baohe Hall. Then, he decreed that from then on, the Hanlin Academy's Chancellor and the Ministry of Rites would jointly oversee the imperial examinations, establishing this as a permanent custom of the dynasty. Consequently, the saying "only a Hanlin scholar may enter the cabinet" began to spread widely in the capital.

The Hanlin Academy, celebrating its relocation today, was a gathering of luminaries, presenting a vibrant and prosperous scene. Among those present were Jin Lanting, the Minister of Rites who rose through the ranks here; Li Jifu, the new top scholar of the Xiangfu era who served in the Hanlin Academy; Wu Congxian, a rising star in the world of Go and a third-place scholar (Tan Hua); Song Keli, the young phoenix of the Song family, who was promoted from a local post to the Hanlin Academy due to his achievements; Yan Chiji, son of the Grand Academician of Dongyuan Pavilion; Chen Wang, a high-ranking Liyang official of the third rank, serving as Left Sanqi Changshi in the Ministry of the Grand Secretariat; and Sun Yin, who previously served as Assistant Chancellor of the Imperial Academy. Before this gathering of young talents, none older than thirty, many influential officials and nobles with ties to the Hanlin Academy had already departed. These included Qi Yanglong and Zhao Yourong, the top two officials of the Ministry of the Secretariat; Tan Tanweng Huan Wen, widely recognized as an old Hanlin veteran; Yin Maochun, who had led the Hanlin Academy for over a decade and recently took charge of the Ministry of Personnel; and Lu Baixie, the Minister of War known as the Tangxi Sword Immortal and referred to as the "Summer Official." Some had arrived alone, others together. Their presence truly lent prestige and an aura of nobility, elegance, and even otherworldly refinement to the newly established Hanlin Academy.

At this moment, in the tranquil courtyard during early spring, beneath a wutong tree whose branches bore tender yellow blossoms as small as jujube flowers, everyone was engrossed in a game of Go. The players were neither imperial Go masters nor even Wu Congxian, who had gained fame by defeating three imperial masters in the capital. Instead, they were two individuals unfamiliar to both court and commoners, with a significant age difference. A stone table and four stone stools were set up. On the table lay an old, well-used huanghuali Go board. Black and white Go pieces were neatly separated into their respective boxes, placed on either side. Embroidered cushions covered the stone stools. Naturally, the two players were seated, engaging in the game. But on the two remaining stools sat figures of supreme honor: the reigning Emperor Zhao Zhuan and Empress Yan Dongwu.

One of the players, competing against the handsome youth affectionately nicknamed "Little Bookcase" by the Emperor, was Fan Changhou, a Liyang commoner from Xiangzhou in Guangling Prefecture, who still held no official title. He and Wu Congxian were known as "the Twin Nines" in Go, but Fan Changhou was considered slightly superior in previous matches, earning him the reputation of "Fan the Tenth Dan" in the world of Go. Furthermore, Fan Changhou excelled at painting three subjects—withered rocks, wild plum blossoms, and winter bamboo—with his wild plum paintings being the most acclaimed for their proud, unyielding spirit. In Tai'an City, there was already a saying that Fan Changhou's "single tree heralds spring to the world." His paintings were so valuable in the capital's official circles that they were worth a fortune per foot, yet virtually unavailable for purchase. Before the third-place scholar Wu Congxian gained fame, Fan Changhou, who had been living in obscurity, was specially summoned to the capital by the Emperor. This imperial decree came about because "Little Bookcase," whose true identity was the Director of the Imperial Astronomical Bureau, played six games of Go (three slow, three fast) against Wu Congxian at the Emperor's behest, and Wu Congxian lost decisively in all of them. This naturally brought Fan Changhou, who was hailed as the top Go player of the time, into the Emperor's attention. The stakes for this particular game, set by the Emperor himself, were considerable: if Fan Changhou won, he would be directly appointed as a Huangmen Lang (Palace Gate Official) in the Hanlin Academy. The Hanlin Academy was now truly the Dragon Pavilion for scholars across the land. Those watching the game, being among the most intelligent individuals in the Liyang Dynasty, understood that Fan Changhou's victory or defeat on the board was not the crucial factor; merely being in the Emperor's favor meant that "Fan the Tenth Dan" had already won off the board.

Little Bookcase, despite his exceptional talent, still possessed a child's temperament; he sprawled awkwardly, propping one hand on his cheek while his other hand swiftly placed pieces, almost immediately tapping a piece onto the board as soon as Fan Changhou made his move. In contrast, the simply dressed Fan Changhou subtly appeared less like an otherworldly master in his demeanor. However, this perceived disadvantage was only in comparison to the eccentricity of the Director of the Imperial Astronomical Bureau. In fact, Fan Changhou sat upright, focused and calm; whether slowly picking up a piece from the box (his "movement") or contemplating a move while twirling a piece (his "stillness"), he exuded the aura of a grand master. In response to Little Bookcase's aggressive play, both on and off the board, Fan the Tenth Dan remained unhurried and composed. After more than twenty opening moves, it was still impossible to discern any advantage or disadvantage for either player. Among those standing by, including Emperor Zhao Zhuan, all possessed keen insight. Not only Wu Congxian, who had exceptional Go skills, but even Chen Wang, who had never played Go with anyone, surely had good judgment. Even Empress Yan Dongwu, once known as the "Scholarly Woman of Beiliang," watched intently, completely absorbed.

Yan Chiji stood behind his sister, the Empress, who embodied the ideal of an empress for the realm. During his border observation tour, he was the only one who gave up halfway, parting ways with the Ministry of War's main contingent that entered Liaoxi from Jibei, and returning to the capital alone. This incident damaged Yan Chiji's reputation among scholars. However, with the powerful protective charm of being the Emperor's uncle, no one dared to criticize him openly. Yan Chiji observed the intricate struggles on the Go board, then quietly raised his head to gaze at the old wutong tree, its branches announcing spring with fresh green leaves. A look of weariness appeared on his face. If the trip to Liangzhou had greatly disappointed him and Kong Wuchi, then the trip to Jibei had filled Yan Chiji with anger. The Jibei defense line, established by the Han family, was a crucial military stronghold for the Central Plains against Beimang. Although Liyang placed greater importance on Liangliao, every military general holding power in Jibei had been carefully selected by the Ministry of War and held high expectations from the court. But what did Yan Chiji witness at Jizhou's North Pass? A retreat before battle, a voluntary contraction of the defense line! Faced with his reprimand, several border generals gave vague answers, while Gao Tingshu, who had been so critical in Beiliang Dao, became surprisingly silent, evidently having received instructions from certain individuals in the capital. Yan Chiji withdrew his gaze and coldly looked towards Jin Sanlang, who stood not far away. Jin Sanlang, keenly aware of the young imperial uncle's unfriendly glance, merely offered an impeccably gentle smile. As Yan Chiji met his gaze, he suddenly felt a tug at his sleeve. He looked down to see his sister pointing at a spot on the Go board, softly smiling, "It seems Little Director has made a brilliant move, don't you think?"

Hearing the Empress's praise, the child looked up and beamed.

Yan Chiji sighed softly, no longer confronting the Minister, and instead turned his attention to the Go game.

Fan Changhou's subsequent moves remained unhurried, which immediately impressed Chen Wang, who, like Yan Chiji, was also a member of the imperial family. For an ordinary scholar from a humble background to meet the Emperor, they would barely have time to preen like a peacock, so Fan Changhou's consistent composure was truly remarkable. The top scholar Li Jifu was from a prestigious aristocratic family in Liaodong. In poetry and prose, he was not as good as Gao Tingshu, the second-place scholar (Bangyan), and in music, Go, calligraphy, and painting, he was far inferior to Wu Congxian. Therefore, most in the court and public believed his rather dull appearance made him unworthy of his title as top scholar. In fact, at the poetry society founded by Jin Lanting, Li Jifu was rarely heard engaging in eloquent discussions. However, a few days prior, Bai Guo, the Minister of Revenue, had requested to borrow Li Jifu from the Hanlin Academy, which made people realize that Li Jifu might not be as unlikable as he appeared. Among those present today, Chen Shaobao, the only one whose official rank was comparable to Jin Lanting's, only spoke a few words with Li Jifu. Wu Congxian had originally tried to subtly approach the Left Sanqi Changshi to make his acquaintance, but the conversation quickly fell flat.

Compared to everyone else present, Song Keli's appearance today was the most unexpected. The two Song family scholars, who had dominated the literary world for decades, could not truly be described as having "achieved the utmost honor and mourning" in death; their posthumous titles were only considered mediocre or worse. Song Keli, at the time, had even been demoted from the prestigious Hanlin Academy to serve as a county lieutenant in a local area. Jin Lanting, who had become increasingly familiar with official protocols, was very curious how Song Keli, the young phoenix of the Song family who had fallen from grace into the mud, could have returned to the capital. Which hidden connection had he exploited? The imperial clan and nobility did not yet possess such influence. Tan Tanweng had always held a poor opinion of the Song family, which meant none of the former Zhang Lu associates would treat Song Keli kindly. Nor had Jin Lanting heard of any connections between Grand Secretary Qi Yanglong and the Song family. Jin Lanting pondered for a moment, found no clear answer, and thus bothered no further with it. Song Keli's ups and downs were destined not to affect the overall situation. In the past, Jin Lanting had indeed actively sought to curry favor with the Song family's eldest grandson, who was also a Huangmen Lang in the Hanlin Academy, even wishing he could personally deliver hundreds of sheets of his custom-made, high-quality Xuan paper. But now? The Minister could now simply ignore this person. In a minor court session filled with high officials, Jin Sanlang could only sit at the very end, merely a "phoenix tail." Yet, here and now, he was undeniably the "phoenix head." As the Hanlin Academy's influence within the Liyang court grew, the Ministry of Rites' status was bound to rise as well. His future leadership of the Ministry of Rites was a certainty. Regarding the imperial examinations, the Ministry of Rites would be the primary authority and the Hanlin Academy secondary, making Jin Lanting the shared "founding teacher" for all scholars during the Xiangfu era!

Jin Lanting smiled, bowing his head to gaze at the Go board. One hand rested on the jade belt of mutton-fat jade bestowed by the Emperor, while the other was subtly clenched.

"With the world's literary legacy in my grasp, why worry about connections in the court?"

Wu Congxian was probably the person most concerned about the outcome of the game. He cast a complex glance at Fan Changhou, with whom he had played many times, his thoughts bitter. Fan Changhou, a survivor from the Spring and Autumn era, styled Yutian and nicknamed Fozi, had been an unremovable thorn in Wu Congxian's side back in Xiangzhou. Regardless of how pleasantly they conversed in public or private, Wu Congxian knew he both despised and envied Fan Changhou. He despised Fan Changhou for disregarding the imperial examinations, yet envied his extraordinary Go skill, as if "a celestial being was at his side, strategizing for him." Before and after his consecutive defeats of three imperial Go masters, Wu Congxian never once mentioned Fan Changhou. Yet, the well-informed capital soon learned of "Fan the Tenth Dan" in Xiangzhou. Before summoning Fan Changhou to the capital, the Emperor had a relaxed exchange with him. Wu Congxian could only bite the bullet and utter the insincere statement, "This humble subject and Fan Yutian have a fifty-fifty win-loss record." Unfortunately, this still could not curb the Emperor's curiosity, especially after he suffered repeated crushing defeats to the child who seemed like a reincarnated Go immortal. According to Jin Sanlang, the Emperor almost daily pressed the Ministry of Rites, asking when "Fan the Tenth Dan" would arrive in the capital. To receive such an honor, the previous recipient had been the Grand Chancellor, who famously said, "If we do not come forth, what will become of the common people?"

When Fan Changhou arrived in the capital alone, Wu Congxian went to the post house that very evening. He "earnestly and thoughtfully" described the prodigy's Go style to Fan Changhou. "His opening moves seem sloppy, careless, and weak, but in the mid-game, as pieces fall onto the board, they suddenly transform, as if a magnificent tall building abruptly rises from a land of rubble and ruins, dominating with the power of a lion pouncing on a rabbit." Of course, Wu Congxian knew that such vague descriptions were as good as saying nothing, and would be useless to Fan Changhou. As for why he only mentioned the opening and mid-game but not the endgame, it wasn't because Wu Congxian intentionally held back information. It was because when Wu Congxian played against that child, no game ever lasted more than two hundred moves, and Wu Congxian, who valued his reputation most, was simply too embarrassed to say anything more.

Wu Congxian had just achieved spectacular fame in the capital; how could he possibly want Fan Changhou to come to Tai'an City and steal his thunder? He dearly wished for Fan Changhou to suffer a crushing defeat. Simply put, Wu Congxian, one of the top nine Go masters of the current era, could lose to the rumored genius boy from the Imperial Astronomical Bureau—it would be like a supreme martial artist losing to a land immortal, without damaging his reputation. However, he absolutely could not lose too decisively to Fan Changhou. That would be like Li Chungang losing to Wang Xianzhi, and then Wang Xianzhi losing to Xu Fengnian—a single loss, but a complete and utter defeat.

Fan Changhou's "slowness" in playing was only relative to Little Bookcase's lightning speed. An hour later, after Fan Changhou had "thought deeply" for over a dozen consecutive moves, he for the first time made a decisive move with lightning speed. The child, who had been looking utterly relaxed, seemed to see his opponent for the first time. He no longer propped his cheek, no longer looked around, but sat up straight. However, he didn't look at the board; instead, he stared directly at Fan Changhou, who was lowering his head to roll up his sleeves. Even Wu Congxian among those present could not fully grasp the essence of this move. The other spectators watching from the side were naturally completely bewildered. Jin Lanting couldn't help but turn and quietly ask Wu Congxian, who dared not speak carelessly.

Sun Yin stretched out two fingers, rubbed his earlobe, and then yawned. Song Keli narrowed his eyes and tightly pursed his lips. Chen Wang, meanwhile, was carefully observing the changes in expression of the young Director. Li Jifu cautiously looked towards the Emperor, who was frowning deeply and leaning forward. Yan Chiji, whose mind was fully on the Go board, bent down and whispered something to his sister, Yan Dongwu.

If we include the composed player Fan Changhou, and exclude Emperor Zhao Zhuan, Empress Yan Dongwu, and the Director of the Imperial Astronomical Bureau, then today, under the wutong tree at the Hanlin Academy, there were as many as four individuals from Beiliang Province: Chen Wang, Sun Yin, Yan Chiji, and Jin Lanting. Jiangnan Province had Wu Congxian, Guangling Province had Fan Changhou, Liangliao Province had Li Jifu, and the capital had Song Keli. From this perspective, it seemed the current Emperor was more broad-minded towards Beiliang than his predecessor.

The Emperor watched with interest as Little Bookcase, for the first time ever, showed a fierce expression towards someone. He intervened, saying, "Let's pause the game for now. You two can resume later. Little Bookcase, Fan Changhou, try your best to make this game a classic for the ages. If the endgame is even more spectacular, I will have the palace's master painters create a commemorative painting for you both. I must attend a small court session soon. If I'm late, Tan Tanweng will lecture me for half the day."

Jin Lanting, dressed in his purple official robe, quickly bowed slightly, clearing a path for the Emperor and Empress.

The Emperor, holding the Empress's hand, departed with a smile, accompanied only by Yan Chiji. Jin Lanting, as the Minister of Rites, was also required to attend that small court session, which was filled with high-ranking purple-robed officials. However, without a word from the Emperor, he naturally could not stay close to him, as it might be seen as presumptuous. After the "family" of three departed first, he deliberately pulled Wu Congxian along for a walk outside the Hanlin Academy. Wu Congxian was already observing official duties in the Ministry of Rites, and compared to the higher-ranked yet taciturn Li Jifu, Jin Lanting favored Wu Congxian, who was also a core member of the poetry society. He held Gao Tingshu, who had already distinguished himself in the Ministry of War, in even higher regard.

Yan Dongwu softly asked, "Why do you value Fan Changhou so highly?"

The Emperor turned and winked at the Empress, whispering, "Winning at Go is merely a recreational pastime. What good are Ninth or Tenth Dans to the nation? But even Prince Jing'an, Zhao Xun, has a blind Go player, Lu Xu. As the sovereign of a nation, how can I not have a 'Fan the Tenth Dan' by my side?"

Yan Dongwu couldn't help but laugh, "You can get annoyed by that too? Your Majesty, are you still a child?"

The Emperor said with a mournful expression, "Have I already grown old in your heart?"

Remembering that her brother Yan Chiji was still behind them, Yan Dongwu cleared her throat softly. The Emperor laughed heartily, unconcerned, and deliberately slowed his pace. After letting his young brother-in-law, who had suffered a setback and was feeling frustrated in Jibei, catch up, he gently comforted him, saying, "Regarding the Jibei matter, I won't lecture you on anything. I just want you to not rush. Your sister says you no longer wish to remain in the Ministry of War. Where do you want to go? The Ministry of Rites, or the Ministry of Personnel?"

Yan Dongwu was about to speak, but the Emperor lightly tightened his grip on her hand, so she swallowed her words.

Yan Chiji was clearly somewhat intimidated by his increasingly authoritative sister. After a moment of hesitation, he quietly said, "Your Majesty, your humble servant wishes to come to the Hanlin Academy; there are many books here."

The Emperor widened his eyes and said, "When there are no outsiders, call me brother-in-law! Coming to the Hanlin Academy is fine, but you must start as a junior Huangmen Lang. Otherwise, while I wouldn't mind making you a senior Huangmen, your temperament is too gentle, and you're unwilling to contend for anything. You're bound to be ostracized and neglected by many older veterans. Those aged literati are different from officials in the Six Ministries; they won't care if you're the Emperor's uncle."

Yan Chiji hummed in assent.

The Emperor turned to Yan Dongwu, smiling gently, and said, "You two siblings have a good chat. I, an outsider, will make myself scarce."

As the Emperor, accompanied by Song Tanglu, the chief eunuch of the dynasty, gradually walked away, Yan Dongwu quietly asked, "Why didn't you return the item I gave you to that person?"

Yan Chiji's face paled slightly as he guiltily replied, "I didn't see Brother Feng."

She said sharply, "Be quiet!"

Yan Chiji, trembling slightly, cautiously asked, "Or should I secretly destroy it?"

Yan Dongwu was almost instantly furious, then she tried her best to suppress her anger. Her expression flickered between light and shadow, and finally, she gritted her teeth and said, "Hide it well!"

Yan Chiji looked dejected.

After calming herself, Yan Dongwu softened her tone and praised him, "It was good that you didn't say you wanted to go to the Ministry of Rites or the Ministry of Personnel just now."

Yan Dongwu stood face to face with her brother, straightened his collar, and gently said, "You must remember one thing: the posthumous titles Wenzheng, Wenzhong, and Wengong—these three most beautiful literary titles—must come from the Hanlin Academy!"

Yan Chiji timidly said, "Sister, I didn't think that far ahead, truly."

Yan Dongwu curved two fingers and tapped her brother's forehead, a faint smile appearing on her face. "You, my dear, a simpleton has a simpleton's good fortune."

Yan Chiji hesitated as if to speak, but Yan Dongwu clearly guessed his thoughts and shook her head. "Don't concern yourself with matters in the palace. Go back now. I have a feeling that those young people in the courtyard right now will..." At this point, the Empress stopped speaking, looking up at the sun, which was dazzling and therefore somewhat blinding.

Yan Chiji returned to the courtyard. Under the wutong tree, the child, with a cold expression, asked, "Who taught you to play Go?"

Fan Changhou smiled faintly and replied, "From the age of four, I have studied Go with ancient manuals and ancient masters."

The child pointed at the last move on the board. "Ancient masters couldn't make this move!"

Fan Changhou calmly replied, "If we, people of today, cannot surpass the ancients, what face do we have to meet future generations? It is true that I learn from the ancients, but when it's my turn to play, I cannot be confined by their past."

The child snorted coldly, glancing at the remaining pieces on the board. "If it weren't for that incident at the Imperial Astronomical Bureau, I wouldn't have been distracted, and you wouldn't have had any chance to make a winning move today! Tomorrow, come to the Star-Gazing Pavilion at the Imperial Astronomical Bureau!"

Fan Changhou remained noncommittal.

The precocious child ran off with long strides. Only then did he show a hint of the childishness appropriate for his age.

Little Bookcase, who had been in the Imperial Astronomical Bureau since childhood, scampered quickly, finally finding the Empress, with whom he felt the closest. In stark contrast to his intimidating demeanor when playing Go, he greeted Yan Dongwu with a face full of childish smiles, like a child meeting his beloved elder sister.

Yan Dongwu gently stroked Little Bookcase's head and said with affection, "It must be hard on you. The Imperial Astronomical Bureau has suffered such a major upheaval, and His Majesty still makes you play Go with others. I'll scold him for you later."

In the heavily guarded incident not long ago, over eight hundred guards were killed, most of them highly skilled imperial elite soldiers. Additionally, dozens of masters bearing brocade carp pouches, especially the latter group, were all mysteriously killed while escorting "a certain item" to Guangling Province. Zhao Gou had already suffered heavy losses, and this new setback was undoubtedly adding insult to injury. However, compared to the true loss—the complete annihilation of the Qi cultivators within the Imperial Astronomical Bureau—the previous losses were nothing at all.

These so-called immortals, among them many masters with profound mystic abilities, held indispensable importance for the Liyang court. Their very existence was a magnificent deterrent, symbolizing the awe-inspiring might of the Heavenly Dao.

The Emperor was the chosen one of Heaven, thus he ruled by divine mandate.

As a result, the Northern Faction Dragon-Supporting Qi Cultivators of Liyang were completely wiped out in that bloody conflict!

Why did the current Emperor, who had always viewed Go as a "minor pastime," hastily relocate the Hanlin Academy? Why did he personally build up Fan Changhou, "Fan the Tenth Dan"? Was it to divert his officials' attention, and to suppress the ripples of turmoil that had spread throughout the entire capital?

Yan Dongwu had even personally witnessed the gentle and refined "Fourth Prince" locking himself in the Imperial Study for an entire night. When he emerged, even the chief eunuch Song Tanglu dared not approach. It was she who had to step forward to bandage his bleeding left hand.

Little Bookcase shook his head, saying, "Grandpa Director said everyone has to die, so I'm not sad. If I didn't still have to play three games of Go for Grandpa Director against someone, I wouldn't mind even if I died there."

Then the child silently thought to himself: *Even though that old man is dead, his disciple might have already appeared.*

He would not tell anyone about this, not even his Empress sister.

Yan Dongwu chuckled exasperatedly, "Don't say such inauspicious things. You're just a child; live well."

Little Bookcase chuckled, "I want to eat osmanthus cakes."

Yan Dongwu took his small hand and walked through the palace. "You'll have to wait until autumn for that, so you must live even better."

In the Hanlin Academy, as Yan Chiji approached, he found the atmosphere somewhat subtle. Chen Wang, the highest-ranking official, was chatting casually with Li Jifu. Sun Yin, the eccentric scholar who once debated fiercely with a crowd at the Imperial Academy, was leaning on the stone table, while Fan Changhou, the Tenth Dan master, was meticulously replaying a game for him.

Yan Chiji had already stopped walking, but then he suddenly noticed the solitary Song Keli smiling at him. Yan Chiji returned the smile and walked forward.

In the spring of the second year of Xiangfu, on this day, there were six people in this small courtyard.

Chen Wang, Sun Yin, Song Keli, Fan Changhou, Li Jifu, Yan Chiji.