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Several days later, several appointment edicts flew out from the palace. Everywhere they went, people knelt and gave thanks, until they reached the Prime Minister's Residence. Not only was the Imperial Messenger turned away at the door, but he was also told that the person meant to receive the Imperial Decree was no longer in the Capital. When the news was relayed back to the palace, the Holy Emperor showed little expression. He merely turned around and handed Zhu Bafu the final result of her Autumn Examination: an appointment edict he had kept pressed beneath the desk for several days.

A Hanlin Academician was a fifth-rank official—not particularly high, but not low either—and a true close aide of the emperor. He was responsible for organizing documents and handling paperwork for the emperor. With a little imperial favor, he could jump straight to Junior Vice Minister of Rites, then become a Minister. If he was lucky, he might even enter the Grand Secretariat. It was the best promotion post among Civil Officials. Once she put on the fifth-rank Civil Official's Silver Pheasant Official Robe, she formally stood in the Imperial Court. She also gained the qualification to enter the Imperial Academy's Library Pavilion, where she could bury herself in books and classics, hearing nothing of what happened outside.

This was very good. The Holy Emperor had restored her to her former position and granted her an official post, no longer simply treating her as a woman. Now that she had entered the Imperial Court and gained an official rank, if the Prime Minister wanted to kill an Imperial Court Official, it would no longer be as simple as executing a Family Member of the Old Faction.

As for Lord Li, she had known from the beginning that he would not take