Backdoor deals can often be effective in trivial matters, such as acquiring scarce goods in the market or facilitating a job transfer. However, when it comes to significant issues of destiny, such as fame and fortune in taking the imperial examination in ancient China, can these under-the-table tactics truly influence what seems predestined? The following story from the Southern Song Dynasty exemplifies this intriguing dilemma.
A favor requested, a destiny unchanged
During the reign of Emperor Chunxi of the Southern Song Dynasty in China, Wang Huai served as the prime minister. He petitioned the emperor to appoint Wang Yingchen as the chief examiner for the imperial examination, even personally urging Wang Yingchen to hasten to the capital.
As Wang Yingchen prepared to leave, he thought of a friend from his early days of poverty. It was someone he had been most friendly with all his life. Although he was already a high-ranking official, his friend failed and was repeatedly eliminated by Ministry of Rites officials who presided over the imperial examination.
Wang Yingchen thought of him so much that he wrote a letter to his son-in-law and asked him to meet him at a temple in Fuyang County. The son-in-law got there as soon as he received the letter.
Wang Yingchen and his friend’s son-in-law stayed in the same room with the beds facing each other. Late one night, Wang Yingchen whispered to him: “I am going to Beijing. I will likely be appointed as the examination administrator to preside over the imperial examination of the highest level. I will certainly take special care of your father-in-law. Ask him to mark his essay with three ancient characters as a sign.”
When the old friend heard of the news, naturally, he was overwhelmed with gratitude and joy.
Twist of fate in the examination hall
When Wang Yingchen oversaw the examination, he indeed found an essay marked with three ancient characters. He promptly scored it highly. But upon opening it to look at the candidate’s name, it was not his friend! Wang Yingchen was baffled.
A few days later, the old friend came to pay a visit. Wang Yingchen was furious when he saw him. He rebuked him, saying: “It must be that you only wanted money instead of fame and sold the secret to someone! How could you disappoint me like this?”
His friend swore to Heaven that he had done no such thing, explaining: “I got so violently ill that I almost died and was not even able to go to the examination at all. How could I dare to divulge the secret to another person?” Nevertheless, Wang Yingchen remained unconvinced.
A mysterious coincidence
Soon after, the successful candidate who used the three characters came to see Wang Yingchen. Wang Yingchen asked him: “Why did you use three ancient characters in the front of your essay for your exam?”
The man was silent for a long time before he said: “This is an extraordinary thing, but since you asked me, I must tell you the truth. When I came for the examination, I stayed at a temple in Fuyang County one night. Having nothing to do, I walked along the corridor with a monk in the temple. I then saw a coffin in the room covered with a thick layer of dust. The monk said: ‘That is the daughter of an official. The coffin has been here for ten years. Not a single relative has come for her, and we dare not bury her without permission!’
“The two of us were silent about this for quite a while. That night, I dreamed of a girl approaching me from the corridor. She said: ‘I know you are going to the capital to take the examination. I have a few words for you. When you take the exam, you can use three ancient words before your essay, and you will surely win! I hope you will not forget me and help me so that my decaying corpse can be buried as soon as possible!’
“When I woke up, I thought it was very bizarre, so I did as she said, and I did win. Later, I returned to the temple to have the girl properly buried.”
When Wang Yingchen heard this, he was left astounded by the revelation!
Destiny and moral character
This story serves as a cautionary tale in two aspects. First, it suggests that fame and fortune are matters of destiny. Even supernatural forces might conspire to assist if it’s meant to be. But if not, no amount of influence or meddling, even from someone overseeing the examination, can alter the outcome. Ultimately, one might not even make it to the examination hall. This is not something that can be manipulated by mere wit or intelligence.
Second, it teaches us that every thought and word, even in the most profound secrecy, is known to Heaven. Those who attempt to deceive or cheat, believing themselves unseen, only fool themselves.
Translated by cecilia
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