Chapter 10: The Manuscript? Part 1

In a certain bookstore within the capital.

The Metropolitan Examination was fast approaching, and business at the bookstore was at its peak. A steady stream of candidates bustled in and out, meticulously selecting volumes for their studies.

Xie Shaoling had been holed up in his room for several days. His companion, Xu Hesheng, was genuinely worried about him. Ever since meeting a certain “Master Plum” that day, the young genius seemed possessed, burying himself in books and refusing to step foot outside.

Xu Hesheng had practically dragged him out to browse the book market, hoping his friend might recover some of his usual spirit. “Shaoling, do you know why there are so many people at the bookstore today?”

Xie Shaoling’s gaze swept over the dense crowd. The shop was indeed more crowded than usual, with examinees even sitting by the entrance as they waited. “Why?”

Xu Hesheng gave him a sly blink and said with a grin, “Because today, Minister Qin’s Treatise on Statecraft goes on sale.”

The “Minister Qin” he referred to was Qin Zijin, the Minister of State Ceremonies.

Qin Zijin was the final disciple of Grand Preceptor Dong. He was the same age as Gu Huaiyu and, coincidentally, both had entered the imperial court in the same year. Since they both hailed from prestigious clans in the south, the world naturally compared them.

If Gu Huaiyu was described as insidious, treacherous, and corrupt—a man who oppressed the court and preyed upon the commoners—then Minister Qin was his exact opposite. He was upright, honorable, and charitable. He stood firm against superiors and kept his word to subordinates, loving the people as if they were his own children.

Qin Zijin was like a flawless mirror. His presence in the court served only to reflect how wretched and despicable Gu Huaiyu truly was.

As for the Treatise on Statecraft, it was a masterpiece Qin Zijin had written ten years ago.

Upon its release, the work had shaken the court like a clap of thunder. Its literary grace was extraordinary, its vision lofty, and its arguments so profound they left readers in awe.

The strategies for governance proposed within the text combined the benevolence of Confucianism, the rigor of Legalism, and the fluidity of Taoism. it was a synthesis of a hundred schools of thought, forged into a singular, masterful philosophy.

When Grand Preceptor Dong finished reading it back then, he couldn’t help but clap his hands in admiration. “This youth carries vast landscapes in his heart and the very heavens in his pen!” He proceeded to break tradition by taking Qin Zijin as his final personal disciple.

For a decade, the Treatise on Statecraft had been held as the gold standard by countless scholars, transcribed and recited across the land. There were even rumors that “he who masters the Treatise on Statecraft masters the world.”

Whenever the Metropolitan Examination drew near, the book’s popularity made the cost of paper in the capital skyrocket. Despite the high price, candidates scrambled to buy copies, hoping to glean even a fraction of the wisdom needed to stabilize a nation.

Xie Shaoling had read it, of course. In terms of sheer talent, the only person in the world he truly respected was Minister Qin.

However, he was somewhat puzzled. He arched an eyebrow and asked, “The Treatise on Statecraft is available in every bookstore. Why wait specifically at this one?”

Xu Hesheng stopped teasing and lowered his voice. “Every shop has the book, yes, but only this shop has the original manuscript.”

“The manuscript?”

Xie Shaoling’s eyes lit up instantly. Though he had read the text countless times, seeing the Minister’s original handwriting would be a different experience entirely.

Those were words written by Qin Zijin’s own hand. Between the lines, one might catch a glimpse of the great scholar’s true character.

Xu Hesheng reached into his sleeve and flicked a thick stack of banknotes. “It is indeed the manuscript. They say the shop owner stumbled upon it by chance.”

“By chance?” Xie Shaoling was genuinely curious now.

Xu Hesheng leaned in to explain. “It was fate. A few days ago, the owner went to the western district to collect old books. He got thirsty while passing by a certain house and stopped to ask for a drink of water.

“The family was poor and illiterate. The owner noticed a tattered notebook being used to prop up a broken table leg. Out of curiosity, he pulled it out to take a look—”

Xie Shaoling frowned. “And then?”

Xu Hesheng’s smile grew meaningful. “The owner didn’t think much of it at first. He flipped through a few pages and was struck as if by lightning. The paper was yellowed, but the handwriting was clear as day. It was the original draft of the Treatise on Statecraft, written by Minister Qin in his youth!

“When he asked the family, it turned out their son had worked as a stable boy for a young master years ago. That master had casually rewarded him with the notebook. At the time, Minister Qin hadn’t yet made a name for himself. The son didn’t know his identity and thought it was just scrap paper.

“The owner bought it on the spot. He only spent thirty copper coins to get his hands on the original Treatise on Statecraft.”

Xie Shaoling’s brow furrowed deeper. “To think Minister Qin’s manuscript was relegated to propping up a table… what a waste of a divine treasure.”

Xu Hesheng felt the same way; good things needed to find those who appreciated them. “So, as soon as the news broke today, the candidates flocked here. No one wants to miss this once-in-a-lifetime chance.”

Xie Shaoling pulled a folding fan from his sleeve. As a son of the Xie family, the one thing he did not lack was money.

The crowd in the bookstore grew, clogging the entrance until it was impassable. Seizing the moment, the shop owner shouted, “Everyone, please be quiet!”

The candidates fell silent instantly, every eye fixed on the carved wooden box he held in his hands.