Filing a Complaint
The emperor's word is law; he promised Zhao Yuanxun an official position last time, and naturally he would not go back on his word.
Although the imperial court's official positions are all filled, a quick search in the nooks and crannies will always reveal a few vacant, low-ranking or even eighth- or Ninth Rank minor official positions.
But after receiving Zhao Zhiwei's new painting, Xiao Ge liked it more and more, and immediately felt that the official position he had given to Zhao Yuanxun was not quite appropriate.
You should know that he spent 25,000 taels of silver to buy Zhao Zhiwei's first painting. He felt really bad about not giving a single coin for this one.
As for money, Zhao Zhiwei certainly wouldn't dare accept it. As for tips, Kang Shilin had already told his apprentice that he didn't want those flashy but impractical things; and Xiao Ge didn't have any suitable shops or estates.
Furthermore, even if there were shops and estates, Xiao Ge couldn't bestow them upon her. It would be too conspicuous; it would be tantamount to Zhao Ruxi indirectly using her paintings to exchange for shops and estates with the Emperor. In that case, the court officials would definitely have a bad impression of her, thinking she was greedy for money.
She demanded 25,000 taels of silver from the Emperor for one painting without anyone knowing, and then she still demanded shops and estates from the Emperor for the second painting. It was utterly outrageous and showed no gratitude whatsoever, wasting the Emperor's favors towards her and the Earl of Suiping's Residence.
At that time, not only Zhao Ruxi, but also Kang Shilin will be criticized.
Therefore, it's difficult to give either money or goods.
After much thought, I decided that bestowing a better official title upon Zhao Yuanxun would be the best way to express my gratitude.
Zhao Yuanxun originally held a menial, sinecure position in the Five Cities Military Command, a military post without rank. Due to his poor health, he couldn't accomplish much in his military post and had to switch to a civilian position.
But civil service positions of the seventh rank or above were much harder to find. Powerful families and nobles were all eyeing them, and any good vacancy would be like a rat seeing meat, leading to fierce competition and the filling of the vacancy. Most of those who were filled were also successful candidates in the imperial examinations.
Compared to those who passed the imperial examinations, Zhao Yuanxun was far inferior in every aspect.
If it were just that, it wouldn't be too difficult for Xiao Ge. After all, the whole country was his. Even if he asked the Ministry of Personnel to create another official position out of thin air and let Zhao Yuanxun enter the government office to just collect a salary without doing any work, no one would dare to say anything. At most, he would be called a foolish emperor.
But he also had to consider the power of the various factions among the princes.
Because of the Jia Family's influence, Zhao Ruxi offended the Crown Prince. Her involvement in the annual examinations and painting competition Gao Xing Consort Jin, which also negatively impacted the Third Prince's impression of the Earl of Suiping. Sending Zhao Yuanxun to serve as an official in their department would be a punishment, not a reward, for the Earl of Suiping's Residence.
If Zhao Yuanxun were to be taken advantage of in the government office, putting Zhao Zhiwei in a difficult position, it would defeat the original purpose of bestowing the official title.
Xiao Ge asked Eunuch Xie to search for a long time, but they couldn't find a suitable place to settle her.
There is a vacancy for a sixth-rank civil servant position in the Court of Judicial Review. Zhang Changshen greatly admires Zhao Zhiwei, and Wu Zong is Zhao Zhiwei's senior brother, making it an ideal position.
But a nobleman like Zhao Yuanxun, who had neither rendered meritorious service nor earned any official rank, could at most reach the Subordinate Seventh Rank. Even newly promoted top-ranking scholars had to start from the Subordinate Seventh Rank. What merit or ability did Zhao Yuanxun possess to sit in the position of a sixth-rank official? Where did this leave the scholars who had spent ten years studying to pass the imperial examinations or the soldiers who had fought on the battlefield?
So, after much deliberation, he still couldn't find a suitable official position, and Xiao Ge put the matter on hold.
To prevent Kang Shilin from getting anxious and upset, he even sent a eunuch to Kang Residence to explain the whole story to Kang Shilin.
Kang Shilin expressed his understanding.
Once this official position is bestowed upon him, Zhao Yuanxun will likely remain in that government office until old age unless other opportunities arise. His official rank may rise by one or two levels with seniority, but his position is unlikely to change much.
Therefore, it's best to go to a comfortable place, even if it takes a year or two.
Now things are much better. Zhao Ruxi's spinning machine has made a great contribution, so Zhao Yuanxun has been given a Subordinate Sixth Rank official position, and no one dares to say anything.
Compared to granting Zhao Ruxi an official position, Xiao Ge felt that the court officials would prefer to see Zhao Yuanxun take up a civil post in the Court of Judicial Review.
Grand Princess Shangde didn't find anything to be Gao Xing about in Zhao Yuanxun being awarded a sixth-rank official position. That wasn't her purpose in coming here today.
"To put it bluntly, the Earl of Suiping is in his thirties or forties and has accomplished nothing. He only got a Subordinate Sixth Rank official position because of his daughter. How much can he amount to in his life? Giving him this reward is a waste," said Grand Princess Shangde.
"I think this official position would be better given to Zhao Zhiwei. It would save her the trouble of going through all the trouble of taking the county-level exams to become a Juren or Jinshi. Even if she is full of talent, just because she is a woman, anyone can easily trample her underfoot, and she will have no chance to get ahead."
"Hmm?" Xiao Ge sensed something was off in her sister's words and looked up to ask, "What happened?"
After asking that question, he remembered, "Right, the county exam just finished, right? What's wrong? Did someone make Zhiwei?"
Grand Princess Shangde was well-versed in the art of filing a complaint.
She shook her head. "This concerns the imperial examinations, the very foundation of the nation. I, a mere princess, dare not interfere. If my brother wishes to know, he can easily find out."
Having filed a complaint and sown discord, the mission was accomplished.
She bowed and said, "Your Majesty is very busy with state affairs, Shangde dare not take up too much of your time. Please go back and attend to your duties. I will have the spinning machines dismantled and transported back."
Xiao Ge also hoped that Grand Princess Shangde would forget the spinning machine here so that he could summon officials from the Ministry of Works to come and take a look, to see how much impact this thing would have on the Great Jin, and whether other places could learn from it.
Hearing that Grand Princess Shangde was still determined to bring the spinning machine back, he had no choice but to give up.
He still had official business to attend to, so he turned to leave, saying, "Alright, I'll be going then."
Back in the main hall, he instructed Eunuch Xie: "Investigate what happened regarding the county examination at the prefectural governor's office in the capital. Why did Shangde say that?"
Eunuch Xie had just gone to see the spinning machines with Xiao Ge. He had also heard what Grand Princess Shangde said.
Because of the painting, his affection for Zhao Zhiwei was no less than that for the Emperor. He took it very seriously and specially sent two capable Imperial Guards to investigate the matter.
Less than half an hour later, the Imperial Guards returned and told Xiao Ge, "Layperson Zhiwei came in first place in the first round, second place in the second round, and seventh place in the third round."
"When the results were first announced, some male candidates protested, saying they were not satisfied. The Layperson Zhiwei was flawless, far superior to the second-place paper, and only then did the male candidates fall silent."
Emperor Xiao Ge never judged things by appearances.
He stroked his chin and asked, "The final rankings haven't been announced yet, have they? What ranking does Zhang Li plan to give Zhao Zhiwei?"