The Twelve Name Tablets

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Cui Hu looked at the two elders, who were once again at odds, then took out a gold-inlaid folding fan and tapped Cui Xiu lightly on the head. With a somewhat carefree and playful flick, he opened the fan and said, “Come on, little brother Xiu, sit properly. Big brother will tell you a story about the imperial examination!”

Cui Xiu glanced at Cui Hu, who had taken on the air of a storyteller with a hint of charm, then looked up at the two elders still debating whether it was their ancestors’ divine intervention or the emperor’s protection that was at play.

Just as he hesitated, his elder half-brother Cui Cong smiled and said, “Based on past experience, they’ll just keep arguing.”

“They argue all they want; we’ll listen to the story,” Cui Hu declared.

Seeing Cui Cong’s calm demeanor, Cui Xiu obediently nodded and settled in to listen.

Though the imperial examination system had remained largely consistent through the dynasties, there were still subtle differences. It was wise for him to learn the customs now, to better navigate the system in the future.

Cui Hu sipped his tea, cleared his throat, and began slowly, “The imperial examination system—honestly, I don’t quite understand how it came into being. But in short: the military defends the country, the civil officials govern it!”

This statement struck like a thunderbolt, making Cui Xiu’s eyes light up.

Previously, he had only heard the notion of “military establishes the country, civil officials govern it,” meaning that founding a nation required generals, and once peace was achieved, civilian officials were needed.

But anyone who had read a bit of history would know that even in times of peace, generals and countless border soldiers were still essential. To judge the role of the military solely as “founding the country” was overly simplistic. Though he had been confused by the idea of “civil officials in prosperous times,” his low status made him hesitant to question it.

Now, hearing “military defends the country” for the first time, Cui Xiu felt as if a long-awaited rain had come, bringing unprecedented joy. His eyes gleamed with hope as he looked at Cui Hu, silently urging him to share more enlightening wisdom.

To his surprise, Cui Hu smiled and said, “As for the rest, Cui Cong, you take over.”

Cui Xiu blinked in confusion.

Cui Cong, named, responded flatly, “Brother Hu, you’re such a lazybones—how can you be so shameless?”

Cui Hu once again flicked open his fan triumphantly. “Shameless? Of course not. I can explain the system of primogeniture clearly—I live off that. And you live off the imperial exams.”

“Brothers, here’s your first life lesson: know exactly which bowl you’re eating from!”

Cui Cong turned to Cui Xiu and said, “Grow up quickly, and then we’ll gang up on him!”

Feigning innocence with a soft voice, Cui Xiu asked, “Why?”

Seeing the puzzled look on his little brother’s face, Cui Hu bent down and gave him a playful pinch. “Ouch! Don’t squeeze too hard, little brother.”

Cui Cong protected him, “Let’s get serious. If Yueyue finds out we sneaked out during the meeting to play instead of studying, she’ll definitely needle us a few times.”

The Cui family had few children. Though his younger sister Cui Yue was a girl, she was raised with a boy’s discipline. She was indispensable at family meetings, but she was also the most earnest and diligent among their generation, often looking down on these men, calling their meetings “a bunch of scholars trying to rebel for three years without success—just babbling with no use.”

Upon hearing this, Cui Hu’s smile stiffened and he became more serious. “Let’s get down to business. Little brother Xiu is still young; you don’t need to understand the imperial exams yet. First, understand what the four classes are!”

Seeing Cui Hu’s serious demeanor and Cui Cong’s anxious expression, Cui Xiu’s curiosity about his sister grew, though he still pretended to be curious, nodding and repeating, “Shi, Nong, Gong, Shang!”

“Shi simply means officials—divided into civil and military officials,” Cui Hu summarized. “Official positions are temporary; you can’t keep them for your descendants. But if you perform well and achieve great merits, you can be granted a noble title! Titles aren’t based on talent and can be passed down the eldest legitimate line. So officials take pride in earning noble titles.”

As he spoke, Cui Hu picked up a mung bean cake from the tea table to illustrate: “The term limit is like your favorite mung bean cake—if you don’t eat it today, it’ll be gone tomorrow.”

Cui Xiu looked at the mung bean cake and softly said, “Term limit.”

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“The noble title,” Cui Hu continued, “is like candy—you can save it and savor it later; it won’t spoil.” Seeing Cui Xiu’s bright eyes and apparent understanding, he felt his example was vivid and clear and went on, “So those with noble titles, the titled lords, are the aristocrats. Our great-grandfather was kind and generous in his recognition of nobles; three generations of father, son, and grandson are all considered aristocrats.”

By law, aristocratic status is determined solely by paternal blood, regardless of birth order or legitimacy.

Cui Xiu’s grandfather was Duke of Rongguo, Cui Zhen, and should have been counted among the aristocracy, with a noble registration certificate issued by the Ministry of Revenue. Yet, the household registration office refused to issue it, citing his mother’s criminal record as an excuse.

“If you can’t get the registration certificate, you’ll have to return to your ancestral home to take the imperial exams!” Cui Cong recalled the policy, anxiety creeping into his expression as he glanced at their father, Cui Qianting, who had sat down quietly to sip tea.

To be honest, an eldest legitimate son often felt a bit resentful toward a younger half-brother. But having witnessed their maternal grandfather’s family confiscation, a cousin’s tragic suicide to protect her honor, and the cautious ways of the Cui family in times of peril, such a half-brother was no longer a big deal.

Moreover, this half-brother was privy to a little secret: their father had exchanged a secret skill with Lady Liu—the art of weather forecasting.

Meteorology was crucial both in warfare and in agriculture.

Thus, he had to look out for his younger brother.

“To prevent officials colluding locally to manipulate the imperial exams, our great-grandfather decreed,” Cui Cong spoke forcefully, trying to convey his anxiety to their father, “that the children of meritorious nobles and officials above the third rank must take the exams in the capital!”

For instance, the county-level exams were overseen by the county magistrate and had a broad acceptance criterion—anyone with coherent writing could pass. This led to widespread corruption in previous dynasties. So when the great-grandfather ascended, he changed that—no noble’s children could return to their ancestral homes to take the exams, to avoid local officials groveling or powerful families abusing their influence.

Though the county-level exams in the capital were still overseen by the magistrate, the examiners were royal relatives.

If Cui Xiu lacked the registration certificate, he would have to return to his ancestral home to take the exams.

The Cui family’s ancestral home was in Shandong.

The land of Confucius, where literary culture thrived, making it no easy task to achieve a place on the honor roll.

Meanwhile, Cui Xiu mimicked and looked toward Cui Qianting.

Of course, he preferred not to return to his ancestral home. Last life, returning had caused him to fall ill for three or four days due to the unfamiliar environment; he had only managed to participate through sheer willpower.

Cui Qianting met his sons’ hopeful gazes and calmly sipped his tea. “Why are you looking at me? Look at the Duke of Rongguo!”

The Duke of Rongguo boasted, “Oh, finally remember your duke, Cui Qianting? When you have business, you’re Duke of the State; when you don’t, you’re just Lord Cui. Hmph!”

Cui Cong caught the cold snort and glanced sideways at their father, also coldly snorting with a hint of disdain.

It wasn’t that he was disrespectful as a son, but Cui Qianting was proud and aloof, full of schemes, prioritizing interests above all. Yet with his own elder brother, it was like a firecracker meeting a fuse—one spark and it blew up! They even childishly argued over which brother their father favored.

Like a three-year-old!

Muttering this, Cui Cong nudged Cui Xiu, “Hurry and massage Uncle’s legs!”

He demonstrated by rubbing Lord Cui’s shoulders. “Uncle, you’ve worked hard!”

Cui Xiu looked up at Cui Qianting, who gave a heavy cold snort again, leaving him conflicted.

Lord Cui noticed Cui Xiu’s small troubled expression and suddenly grew angry, dredging up old grievances: “Oh, this kid’s protective of his siblings—he used to think of his mother, now he’s watching his father’s face!”

Cui Qianting looked at the boy’s pleading eyes and his gaze flickered. Finally, in a rare humble tone with a hint of weakness, he said, “If you’re filial to your parents, you’ll naturally need your uncle too. Otherwise, if you think he’s so cunning and watchful, why would he cozy up to you, the Duke of Rongguo? That’d make him a sycophantic ingrate.”

Hearing this, Lord Cui turned to look at Cui Qianting.

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“Go get the household registration done now, before things get complicated,” Cui Qianting said seriously. “Once the paperwork is finished, let those youngsters take the exams every year. Whether they pass or not is another matter, but at least they’ll build a reputation for studying hard and obeying the emperor. Or do you really plan to sneak out and play forever?”

Lord Cui glanced at their little troublemaker, then at Cui Cong’s furrowed, sour face, feeling sorry for them. “Annual exams are harsh, aren’t they? You didn’t even take them every year yourself.”

Cui Hu nodded in agreement. “Second uncle, that plan is too harsh.”

Cui Cong weakly nodded as well.

“If you think you’ll never leave the house, the emperor has clearly said it’s about closed-door study!” Cui Qianting’s face turned cold as autumn frost, and his words were icy, “Do you want the censors to report you? Especially you, Cui Hu, you’re getting older, need to marry, attend banquets, and make friends. Otherwise, how will you have the chance to charm the ladies?”

Cui Hu stiffened his neck, “I won’t marry! Before I’m twenty, while the Cui family still needs to tread carefully, why bother marrying? It’d only harm the girl!”

“Exactly,” Lord Cui said seriously for once. “Unless it’s a princess or royal relative, why marry? Wait a few years; boys aren’t in short supply.”

“But you still have to take the exams every year!” Cui Qianting looked at the solemn father and son, sighed, and dropped the topic of marriage. “We’re shifting from military to civil. Where does a scholar’s reputation come from? If we don’t take the imperial exams, what chance do we have to attend banquets?”

“If it weren’t for Emperor Mingde saying that ‘the Son of Heaven guards the nation’s gates to show his magnanimity,’ I’d suspect some underhanded ploy to destroy our family by forcing us into closed-door study,” Cui Qianting said through clenched teeth, his voice low but filled with deep resentment. Everyone present grew somber, their expressions tinged with bitterness.

Indeed, for nobles and powerful families, being shut in cut off all legitimate social interactions with old friends and allies. And for scholars, nothing was more dangerous than closed-door work and stagnation.

Not to mention, everyone knew the Cui household currently had no tutor.

Speculating maliciously, Emperor Mingde was likely testing whether Cui Qianting was truly skilled in both civil and military arts.

As silence deepened, the atmosphere in the room grew chillingly cold.

After an unknown length of time, Lord Cui slammed the table and issued an order: “What are you waiting for?! Go to the Ministry of Revenue!”

“...Go to the Supreme Court,” Cui Qianting pressed his forehead, veins bulging. “You’ll need to clear the criminal record with the Music Bureau first. Bring all the leases and contracts you rented before.”

Lord Cui rushed off to his study, pulling Cui Qianting along.

Cui Hu and Cui Cong exchanged a glance, and Cui Cong simply picked up his younger brother and followed.

Though the way a nearly grown boy hugged was awkward and uncomfortable, being held by his brother and seeing everyone bustling about on his behalf made Cui Xiu’s eyes well with tears he struggled to hold back.

An hour later, Cui Xiu cautiously touched the finger that had been pricked.

To prevent fraud, the Supreme Court had performed a blood test to confirm the father-son relationship before issuing official proof.

Only then could Cui Xiu lawfully follow his father’s lineage.

He finally obtained the household registration recognition from the Ministry of Revenue, his name officially recorded, and received the noble’s registration certificate.

He had cleared his family’s name and met the requirements for taking the imperial exams!