Winter Arrived
For example, consider the corvée system of the Great Jin. If you were given a question asking whether the current corvée system is reasonable and what your opinion is, you would be completely clueless if you don't understand this system.
Wu Huaisi is the Minister of Ministry of Personnel, and his information in this area is unmatched by anyone else. With his information to consult, she at least won't falter in this regard.
Gong Cheng can provide information about the current productivity of the Great Jin Dynasty, while Wu Zong can provide information about the criminal law and legal system of the Great Jin.
In short, with the help of her three senior brothers' materials, plus the materials sent by Xiao Lingyan and Grand Princess Shangde, she should have no problem handling the imperial examination.
A few days later, Kang Shilin sent a carriage half-loaded with books and articles to Zhao Ruxi. This display of power alarmed everyone in the Earl of Suiping's Residence.
Watching the servants carrying stacks of books into Slender Bamboo Courtyard, Lady Zhu grabbed Zhao Ruxi, who was busy directing the servants. "What's going on?"
"I need to read some books to prepare for the imperial examination, and my senior classmates collected these for me, helping me understand the policies and laws of the Great Jin Dynasty."
As Zhao Ruxi spoke, she turned to Lady Zhu for help. "Mother, these books and articles are very valuable; we can't just put them on the ground. My bookshelves are full. Could you have someone check the storeroom to see if there are any bookshelves? If not, I'll have someone make a few."
Lady Zhu realized what was happening and quickly replied, "Yes, yes." She then turned to Matron Ruan and instructed, "Take some people to move bookshelves; move as many as you have for the young lady. If that's not enough, have someone make some for her."
The Earl of Suiping's Residence came from a military family, not a scholarly one. Although they had bookshelves, there weren't many. Even if they moved them all over, there would only be five or six. That's why the Lady Zhu made this statement.
Turning back, she looked at Zhao Ruxi with a complicated expression. "Why do you need to read so many books just to take the imperial examination?"
She thought taking the imperial examination would simply involve writing essays. She never imagined she would have to read so many books.
Just thinking about it makes her feel sorry for him. That must be so tiring.
Zhao Ruxi then explained the problems she was facing.
Lady Zhu sighed, "Your master and senior brother have been so good to you. No matter what happens in the future, you must remember their kindness."
"Mother, I know."
Don't overwork yourself, take it easy, your health is the most important thing.
"It's alright, Mom. I'll just read through these books and articles to get a general understanding. I don't need to memorize them all. There are still six months left, which is plenty of time, and it won't be tiring. Without these books, I don't know how I'd be able to continue my studies."
Lady Zhu nodded.
"Hey, why didn't they move to Slender Bamboo Courtyard? Where did you put the books?" Lady Zhu noticed something was wrong again.
"This Martial Arts Hall is empty now. I asked Matron Ruan, and the room is all empty except for a few tables and chairs. I'll put the books there. These books are valuable, and I'll have to return them to my fellow disciples after I'm done reading them. This is a rare opportunity, so I plan to let Chongwen and Jing'an read them. Putting them in the outer courtyard will make it easier for them to come and go. If I want to read them, I'll just move some back to Slender Bamboo Courtyard," Zhao Ruxi said.
Zhao Jingli often consulted her on matters and frequently visited Slender Bamboo Courtyard. However, she and Zhao Jingli were cousins.
No matter how close she and Xu Chongwen were emotionally, they were not related by blood, and Xu Chongwen was still considered an outsider here. If he spent all his time going in and out of Slender Bamboo Courtyard to read, it would inevitably cause gossip. Zhao Ruxi also found it very inconvenient that people were coming and going in her own courtyard all the time.
So she simply left all the books in the outer courtyard.
Anyway, she needs to get some exercise every day, so she goes out to pick up a few books, reads them, and puts them back. She doesn't find it too much trouble.
Lady Zhu sighed again, "You're so thoughtful. No wonder everyone is so kind to you; you're the one who's kind to others first."
Whenever you have the chance, think of Xu Chongwen and Zhao Jing'an; they will be very grateful to Zhao Ruxi.
Consider Zhao Ruxi's three senior brothers. If it weren't for the safe incident, they would all feel they had taken advantage of Zhao Ruxi. Even if they helped out of respect for their master, they wouldn't have been truly dedicated. This shows that relationships are reciprocal. You treat others well, and they will treat you well in return. The reverse is also true.
In the days that followed, Zhao Ruxi was like a mouse that had fallen into a rice jar, reading books with great enthusiasm.
Since transmigrating, she's been busy making money. Now that Xiao Lingyan has told her she doesn't need to develop new money-making projects, she's had some free time. Apart from the imperial examination, she seems to have nothing to worry about.
In the original project, the printing press and clocks, which needed to be shipped from the south as imported goods, were directly handed over to Xiao Lingyan by Zhao Ruxi. He instructed Xiao Lingyan to find someone in the south to make these two items, so that they wouldn't have to be shipped back and forth, which would not only increase costs but also make it easier to expose the problem.
As for the Feicui jewelry popular in the market, Zhao Ruxi had already had a small portion of the raw stones cut off and handed over to Xiao Lingyan. Whether he transported them to the south for carving or had them secretly processed somewhere in the capital was none of her business.
Scarcity drives up value. Even though she transported several boatloads of rough jadeite, she kept the quantity very small to prevent the Feicui from flooding and devaluing. This approach both raised the quoted price and controlled the risk. Therefore, she didn't mine many rough stones, so she didn't have to worry about that aspect at all.
Besides, the safe and the spinning machine were both in partnership with the emperor, and the whole process was aboveboard.
Her jewelry shop sold ordinary gold, silver, and jade jewelry. Occasionally, she would sell some Feicui jewelry, which she claimed was imported from the south, but these were only small pieces of Feicui such as gold-set Feicui or cabochons. She rarely even sold jade bracelets. Such a jewelry shop was not particularly conspicuous in the capital.
These businesses are all transparent and well-managed. With Zhou Chun and Ma Sheng overseeing them, Zhao Ruxi doesn't need to expend much effort except for checking the accounts at the end of the month.
The two estates have also gotten back on track, so she doesn't need to worry about them much.
So Zhao Ruxi was able to stay at home in peace, reading and writing. When she got tired, she would draw and practice calligraphy to earn some points. When she got bored, she would go to the Kang Residence to meet and chat with her master and fellow disciples. Xiao Ruotong, Xu Xue, Mu Qingqiang would occasionally come to visit her.
Quiet times pass especially quickly; autumn was over in the blink of an eye, and when the first snow fell over the capital, it heralded the arrival of winter.
That evening at dinner, Zhao Yuanxun's expression was not as relaxed and cheerful as usual.
"Alas, things are alright in the capital. But the temperature has plummeted in the north, and I've heard that large numbers of cattle and sheep have died outside the Great Wall. I'm afraid the border will not be peaceful this winter," he sighed to Zhao Ruxi.
Zhao Ruxi, citing the need to participate in the imperial examination, asked Zhao Yuanxun to tell her everything he knew about court affairs. As a result, Zhao Yuanxun developed the habit of discussing politics with his daughter at the dinner table.
Zhao Ruxi paused in her hand as she cooked the mutton, her expression turning serious.
It seems the first coup attempt has slowly begun.