Chapter 112: The Five Surnames and Seven Esteemed Clans

The willow tree stood less than ten meters from the main gate of the Hongwen Academy, flanked by two stone lions about waist-high. On the back of the right lion sat a child of about ten years old, dressed in tattered clothes, his face pale and gaunt. Many of the scholars gathered around whispered and pointed at him. Lu Xin recognized the boy—he had seen him the day after arriving in Chang’an at the Ink Fragrance Pavilion in Jing’an District.

This was Luo Binwang, one of the famed Four Talents of early Tang, a figure known throughout the realm. Yet Lu Xin was shocked to sense that Luo Binwang now radiated an even stronger aura than a few days prior. Every practitioner of yin-yang arts could feel the terrifying magical power contained within him.

For a child around ten years old not only to possess such profound cultivation but also to deliberately emit his aura was highly unusual. At the Ink Fragrance Pavilion, Luo Binwang had not yet revealed such a sharp presence.

“Hmph, just look at his shabby clothes—clearly from a poor family. Perhaps he's nothing but a servant boy. Otherwise, which provincial scholar would dare act so brazenly?”

“Child, get down from the stone lion at once. This is the Hongwen Academy, not a playground for your childish games.”

The crowd of scholars jeered loudly as they spoke. A few older ones even invoked the teachings of Confucius and Mencius, unleashing a torrent of scorn. The boy grew impatient, suddenly opening his eyes with a surge of magical power. Centered on the stone lion, everyone within a ten-foot radius was blasted backward.

These provincial candidates were ordinary men, utterly unable to withstand the force of a powerful yin-yang master. From beneath the willow, Lu Xin watched as Luo Binwang opened his eyes—the left pupil normal, but the right completely blackened as if drenched in ink.

“What’s going on... This boy carries a strong evil aura—is he a demon?”

“Yes, a demon! Someone, capture the demon! There’s a monster in front of the Hongwen Academy!”

“Where is it? What fiend dares wreak havoc in the land of sages?”

The commotion Luo Binwang caused instantly drew everyone’s attention. Those knocked back by his power stared at the boy with looks of fear and hatred—not like gazes upon a person, but like those of hunters eyeing a wild beast, a malevolent spirit.

Soon, a crowd gathered again in front of the stone lion, led by well-dressed young gentlemen adorned with jade pendants. One of them, surrounded by four bare-chested men, wore a leering expression.

“Heh heh heh, little brat, I hear you’re a demon? My lifelong ambition is to rid the people of monsters. This place is the Hongwen Academy, the seat of official learning—there’s no place here for your recklessness. I’ll count to three; if you don’t come down to kowtow and admit your fault, we’ll take that as confirmation you’re a demon. Don’t blame me for bullying the little guy.”

The speaker appeared about seventeen or eighteen, handsome yet with thick, muscular arms—clearly trained in martial arts. When he spoke, some scholars nearby stepped back, many faces showing shock.

“Zhang Yuzhi? Could he be the second son of Zhang Liang, the Right Guard General and Governor of Huaizhou? Zhang Yuzhi, the Captain?”

“Indeed. He is from Huaizhou. Zhang Liang’s son, Zhang Yuzhi, reportedly began martial training at eight, joined the army at fourteen, and earned multiple honors by fifteen. At eighteen, he already holds the rank of Zhaowu Captain, an official of the sixth rank.”

“Zhaowu Captain? That’s quite a high rank. Under Tang law, his position surpasses even that of county magistrates. Such a person actually coming to take the imperial examination? The jinshi exam is tough, but officialdom is even tougher. Even if one places in the top three, appointments require approval from the Ministry of Personnel, and most officials don’t rise above the sixth rank.”

“Hmph, what do you know? He’s a student of the Hongwen Academy. Those who study here are nobles: royal relatives, first-rank officials, founding heroes’ descendants. A mere Zhaowu Captain doesn’t bring glory to these scions of great houses. Without backing, even a top scorer won’t rise far, but they can easily ascend just by passing the jinshi exam.”

The crowd buzzed with talk, many looking at the young man with envy. Zhang Yuzhi seemed to relish this, his expression growing more arrogant.

A general’s son and an official already of the sixth rank naturally held an advantage over the unaccomplished candidates. This superiority was especially pronounced when facing Luo Binwang, who couldn’t even afford decent clothes.

Seeing the child keep his eyes shut and ignore him, Zhang Yuzhi smirked coldly.

“One, two, three...”

As his cold voice counted, the atmosphere froze. No one dared speak; those near the stone lion even held their breath. Yet the child remained expressionless, seemingly deaf to all sound. Furious, Zhang Yuzhi signaled his four guards to move forward. Lu Xin’s expression shifted as he prepared to intervene, when suddenly, a loud, clear laugh rang out.

“What’s all this noise? So it’s you, Brother Yuzhi. Not comfortable in Huaizhou, come to Chang’an for fun?”

The unexpected voice was playful and mocking, laced with subtle derision. Lu Xin halted and looked up to see a young man in purple robes leading a donkey, strolling leisurely. He had no attendants but carried an air of nobility and good cheer.

Passing by the willow, he calmly tethered the donkey and nodded slightly to Lu Xin without a word, then walked toward the crowd.

Zhang Yuzhi, already burning with rage and eager to strike, now showed a flicker of menace at the newcomer’s appearance.

“What, no longer want to fight? He’s just a kid. You, a Zhaowu Captain and son of a duchy, want to bully him? You really do make your father proud, ha ha ha ha...”

“Hmph, Cui Xiangrong, who do you think you are, sneering before me, a captain? If I’m bullying him, why don’t you ask these scholars why I must?”

“Hahaha, who? I am from the Boiling Cui clan, the greatest noble family since ancient times. Your Zhang family has only produced the Duke of Changping. Zhang Yuzhi, you rely on your father’s power to swagger in Huaizhou—that’s one thing. But this is Chang’an, under the Son of Heaven’s gaze. I kindly advise you to restrain yourself.”

As the man spoke, his lips curled slightly, no longer looking at Zhang Yuzhi but fixing his gaze on Luo Binwang. His expression shifted from playful to serious.

“Boiling Cui clan?”

Lu Xin frowned under the willow. He sensed no magical aura from this newcomer, but judging from Zhang Yuzhi’s wary expression, Cui Xiangrong must have formidable backing. Otherwise, he couldn’t so easily intimidate the imposing Zhaowu Captain.

“Heh, things are getting interesting,” Lu Xin thought.

Before coming, he hadn’t expected such drama during the wait for the exam. But now it was clear: the first imperial examination under Emperor Li Shimin would gather all the realm’s talents. Sons of officials, noble families, and powerful clans alike would compete fiercely. The situation was far more complex than he’d imagined.

“The Boiling Cui clan! This is bad, how did even their members come to the exam? Damn, what terrible luck I have.”

A scholar suddenly appeared beside Lu Xin, wiping sweat from his face with his sleeve. The man looked nervous, unlike his usual confident self. This was Tu Chengli, and Lu Xin had never seen him so worried.

“He’s just a noble scion. Why are you so scared? You usually talk big, but now you’re trembling because of the exam?”

“You don’t know anything!” the scholar cursed under his breath, then squinted at Cui Xiangrong, lowering his voice. “Brother Xin, you’re unaware. Since the Eastern Han, the Boiling Cui clan has been a renowned noble house. During the Northern Dynasties, when society was split by aristocratic ranks, their family was first class. And that’s not all. From the Eastern Han to now, the Boiling Cui clan produced a dozen prime ministers, hundreds of generals and high officials. Their members excel in poetry, calligraphy, painting, and the six arts, countless in number. In every exam they participate in, their clan members always outshine the rest. Maybe they’ll never be surpassed.”

The scholar’s tone grew quieter, but Lu Xin inhaled sharply. A family producing such a vast number of chancellors and high officials over centuries was indeed formidable. No wonder Zhang Yuzhi lost some of his confidence when facing Cui Xiangrong.

In ancient times, scholarship and cultivation of one’s inner energy were inseparable. Cui Xiangrong’s noble bearing partly came from his heritage and partly from scholarly cultivation, exuding a classical sage’s aura. The scholar’s anxiety now made sense.

“First-class noble house? Ha ha ha! Cui Xiangrong, have you lost your mind? The Tang emperor’s surname is Li; the Lis are the greatest clan of this dynasty. Are you trying to rebel with such talk?”

“Oh? You think a few words can drive a wedge between my Cui clan and the Tang royal family? Zhang Yuzhi, you truly are a foolish brute!”

A cold snort escaped Cui Xiangrong, and suddenly the stone lion beside him cracked open. At the same moment, the cross-legged Luo Binwang snapped his eyes wide open.