The Grand Finale (Part Two)

In the second year of Qi Lingheng's reign as Crown Prince, another imperial examination was Imperial Examination.

After Lu Chang'gong finished his mourning period, he participated in the spring imperial examination as Provincial Graduate (a successful candidate in the provincial examination) and passed the Presented Scholar in the highest imperial examination) in one fell swoop, making him the most outstanding person in the country.

During the Palace Examination, Qi Lingheng presided over it on behalf of Emperor Jingshun.

He was definitely biased towards Lu Chang'gong.

After all, you can love everything about someone you love.

When the Grand Secretariat sent out the rankings of the candidates, Lu Chang'gong was already among the top-ranked candidates.

After reviewing the papers, Qi Lingheng offered no objections. He then randomly questioned several Presented Scholar in the main hall, and finally instructed A Fu, "Read it aloud."

From the top scholar to the second-place scholar, and then to the third-place scholar.

"Lu Chang'gong ranked third in the first class. He was granted the title of Presented Scholar)."

Lu Chang'gong stood with his head bowed in the Golden Palace, his expression perfectly calm.

Having observed a full twenty-seven months of mourning, he has developed a more composed mind than before.

After the Palace Examination, the Crown Prince hosted a grand banquet at the Ministry of Rites.

Qi Lingheng finally found a place to speak with Lu Chang'gong face to face. He chuckled softly, "I have had your article copied and shown to the Crown Prince Consort."

Although Lu Chang'gong's expression changed slightly, he still asked humbly and nervously, "I wonder about the Crown Prince Consort..."

"She said you did an excellent job. The Crown Prince Consort never expected you could write such a good eight-legged essay; even your Pavilion Style is unparalleled."

Lu Chang'gong could no longer hide it, and slightly pursed his upturned lips.

Back at the table, Qi Lingheng seemed slightly tipsy and said to Lu Chang'gong, "I heard that the third-ranked scholar hasn't yet received his courtesy name?"

Lu Chang'gong stood up and said, "Your Highness, I have no reply."

Qi Lingheng seemed to have thought of it on the spot, and said, "Chang Gong —its strength lies in the balance of tension and relaxation, otherwise it's useless."

"I bestow upon you a single word: 'Cheer'."

From now on, your name will be Lu Chi.

Lu Chang'gong's fingers trembled slightly as Crown Prince favor.

After the banquet, Lu Chang'gong knew perfectly well that his courtesy name was bestowed upon Lin Yunwan.

He persisted, wanting a definitive answer.

"Your Highness, my courtesy name is..."

"It was indeed bestowed upon you by the Crown Prince Consort. What, does the third-ranked scholar not like it?"

"No, no!" He just likes it too much.

Qi Lingheng patted Lu Chang'gong on the shoulder and said gently, "The Crown Prince Consort said your bow is too taut. In life and in office, one must find a balance between tension and relaxation."

"Crown Prince, Your Highness!"

Lu Chang'gong bowed and saw Qi Lingheng off.

Back at the Lu family, Zhu Qing and Mu'er celebrated with him.

Lu Chang'gong returned to his study and, in the cold night, wrote his name many times in Clerical Script, softly smiling as he murmured, "Lu Chi, Lu Chi..."

She was always thinking about him.

\

Lu Chang'gong passed the imperial examination with the third-highest rank, and upon entering officialdom, he became a seventh-rank official in the capital, where he was to remain in the Hanlin Academy to observe government affairs.

Only members of the Hanlin Academy could enter the Grand Secretariat, and most of the Hanlin Academy in the Qing Dynasty were capable prime ministers.

"Although there's not much money to be made in the Hanlin Academy, I think your future is actually very bright!"

Zhu Qing started to make her own plans.

Lu Chang'gong changed into his official robes, preparing to report for duty at the Hanlin Academy. He said helplessly, "The more prestigious the position, the more I need my Concubine to manage the Inner Residence."

Zhu Qing was deeply ashamed. "I am, after all, a Concubine. Eldest Young Master Lu, you should get married; the household cannot be without a mistress."

Lu Chang'gong smiled faintly and said, "I know."

Looking at Mu'er, who was already almost a young woman, he was also thinking about his own marriage and his sister's marriage, which he would have to arrange with the matriarch of the family in the future.

Upon arriving at the Hanlin Academy, they encountered Lin Yunyi.

The two bowed to each other in a very formal manner, Lin Yunyi quietly joked with him, "Why do you look so sad? What's bothering you? Tell your maternal uncle."

Before entering the Hanlin Academy, Lu Chang'gong had specifically studied etiquette at the Ministry of Rites, including how to walk in an official manner, and he had already mastered it.

That's the air of an official.

He glanced at Lin Yunyi and said, "I'm worried about getting married. Does maternal uncle have any good ideas?"

Lin Yunyi smiled, "You've come to the right person. Your maternal uncle's wife —she's an excellent housekeeper. And she happens to have a younger sister..."

Lu Chang'gong smiled too, "Little sister?"

How should they be addressed according to their generational ranking in the future?

Lin Yunyi coughed twice and said, "If you can help me find a good match, it's alright for your maternal uncle to suffer a little loss. You can compensate me with money."

Lu Chang'gong bowed deeply and said, "I have no money—I'll leave the marriage to you maternal uncle." Without waiting for Lin Yunyi's reply, he strode off to the Hanlin Academy to report for duty.

"Hey kid—I was just kidding. Where did you get a little sister from!"

Lin Yunyi caught up with him and said, "I have something important to discuss with you; I'm about to close up shop."

We're going somewhere else from the Hanlin Academy.

After the two reported for duty, Lu Chang'gong asked him, "Have you found a place to go?"

Lin Yunyi said in a low voice, "... The Crown Prince and Crown Prince Consort want me to tutor the Heir Apparent."

Lu Chang'gong raised an eyebrow and said, "An excellent place, don't you want to go?"

Lin Yunyi sighed, "Jun'er... I mean, the Heir Apparent, he's at a very mischievous age right now, and I really don't want to take on this task. But it's not easy to refuse."

Lu Chang'gong teased him, "Aren't you always trying to be a know-it-all? When I was in mourning, my maternal uncle went to great lengths to help me."

Otherwise, he wouldn't have Presented Scholar.

Lin Yunyi said helplessly, "How old are you! How old is he!"

Lu Chang'gong laughed at him, "So many people want to be the Heir Apparent's teacher but can't, and you're not happy about it."

The Heir Apparent's tutor is the future teacher of the Crown Prince, the Imperial Tutor.

A potential future powerful minister.

Lin Yunyi, "Go if you want to."

Lu Chang'gong shook his head, refusing to argue with him.

The two were of similar age in the Hanlin Academy and were close friends. Both were outstanding young Presented Scholars with exceptional talent and good looks, and were quite famous.

When the news reached Lin Yunwan and Qi Lingheng, Lin Yunwan said helplessly, "These people, they also know how to make fun of others."

Qi Lingheng smiled as well.

He suddenly said with a headache, "Jun'er's two teachers both want to resign. I'm thinking of finding two people to fill the vacancies."

"Wasn't it said that after Yun Yi the school, he would take over?"

Qi Lingheng was troubled by another thing. He tapped the table lightly and said, "We're still missing one."

Lin Yunwan: "Let Lu Chi give it a try? Let him serve as the Heir Apparent's tutor for a few years first, and then decide whether to keep him in the position."

Qi Lingheng thought about it and agreed.

He disagreed with Emperor Jingshun's ideas; he disliked that all of Qi Zaijun's teachers were older, and that those Crown Prince tutors to the crown prince would outlive Qi Zaijun.

A young teacher can stay with him the whole time.

The road to the throne is lonely; some will inevitably leave, but others must remain.

Lin Yunyi and Lu Chang'gong were the people he left behind for his son.

\

Qi Zaijun lived in the Imperial Palace for a long time, and attended classes there every day.

After a good night's sleep, he arrived at the school, where the teacher was already waiting.

He didn't expect to see two new faces all at once.

"Uncle..."

Remembering that his father Mother Consort forbade him from calling Lin Uncle Yunyi in public, Qi Zaijun shut his mouth.

"Your Heir Apparent."

Lin Yunyi and Lu Chang'gong paid their respects to Qi Zaijun together.

Qi Zaijun was very polite. "Please rise, teacher." He then bowed to them. "This student greets the teacher."

"Your Crown Prince, please rise."

Qi Zaijun sat there anxiously waiting for class to begin; for some reason, he had a very bad feeling.

His feeling was right.

Lin Yunyi and Lu Chi, one playing the good cop and the other the bad cop, put on a great show. Qi Zaijun's grades improved by leaps and bounds, and he became much more mature.

Later, Qi Lingheng ascended the throne and made Qi Zaijun the Crown Prince, and bestowed the Penglai Princess upon his only sister.

The two tutors to the Crown Prince were exceptionally outstanding, and were also Presented Scholar in the highest imperial examinations) during the Jingshun era.

They were known as the Jingshun's Twin Eminences.

--end--