Master's Summons

Before the palace examination ended, Zhao Ruxi naturally wouldn't go around saying that she wanted to be transferred to a post outside the capital, but she had hinted at it to Xu Xue. Xu Chongwen was getting married at the end of next month, and Zhao Ruxi probably wouldn't be able to make it in time. After the palace examination, once the list of successful candidates was announced, their appointments would be made quickly, and at the latest, it would be impossible for her to set off after the end of next month.

"It's alright, Chongwen is doing well, that's what matters most," Zhao Ruxi said, looking at Xu Xue. "But Xiaoxue, she hopes I can come back for her wedding."

Xu Xue blushed instantly.

Zhao Ruxi asked Madam Xie, "What are your thoughts on Xiaoxue's marriage?"

Xu Xue wasn't much younger than Zhao Ruxi, so they should have been engaged long ago.

In the past two years, the Xu Family's life has been thriving. Xu Xue has also transformed from an ordinary student at the Beining Women's Academy into a well-known storyteller for the Qiming Ten-Day Gazette. With the help of Zhao Ruxi's ideas, she wrote two outstanding works that are suitable for both men and women.

With her family's improved economic conditions and her daughter's talent, Madam Xie became more discerning and always wanted to find Xu Xue a better match.

"I'd like to see if there are any suitable candidates among this year's newly appointed scholars," Madam Xie said.

Impatient with the seemingly comforting but actually sarcastic remarks from the women of the clan, Zhao Rurui and Zhao Ruyu sat down to listen to Zhao Ruxi and Madam Xie's conversation. Hearing Madam Xie's words, Zhao Rurui tightened her grip on her handkerchief and looked up at Xu Xue, as if weighing her rival.

The vast majority of newly appointed scholars are over twenty years old, and people of this age are unlikely to be unmarried; even if they are, they will have one problem or another.

Those who were seventeen or eighteen and still unmarried were mostly engaged, to varying degrees. Only a few remained unmarried each year.

Among these candidates, the number of suitable ones is limited. Therefore, having another competitor makes her marriage even more difficult.

When Zhao Jingli initially arranged the marriage for Zhao Rurui, Zhao Rurui looked down on it. Now, after being taught a lesson by society, she realized that the marriage Zhao Jingli arranged for her was truly a matter of luck. Less than ten days after she refused, the other family had already chosen her and they were married, so she had no reason to regret it.

After Zhao Ruyu became beautiful, she was afraid of causing trouble, so she always dressed herself up to look ugly when she didn't want to attract attention. Today, when she came to congratulate her, she put on makeup, making her already stunning beauty only look like a 5 or 6 out of 10, and wore a dark, old-fashioned outfit to make herself inconspicuous.

Ever since her true identity was revealed, she never went to the Xu Family family again, unilaterally severing ties with them. Whenever she saw Madam Xie and Xu Xue, she pretended not to see them, didn't approach them, and didn't care what others said about her behind her back.

Hearing Madam Xie's words, she finally raised her eyes and carefully examined Madam Xie and Xu Xue. However, she only glanced at them twice before looking away again, no longer looking at Madam Xie and Xu Xue.

In her past life, for the sake of reputation and appearances, she occasionally associated with the Xu Family, and even visited Xu Family twice during festivals. However, when Madam Xie saw that Zhao Ruxi was not doing well after returning to the mansion, while her adopted daughter was praised by everyone in the Marquis of Suiping's Residence and was riding high, Madam Xie felt even more sorry for Zhao Ruxi and was always lukewarm towards her.

Xu Yongyi and Madam Xie weren't her biological parents, just her uncle and aunt. They treated her badly, so why should she expect them to fawn over her? Therefore, she eventually became indifferent and cut off all ties with the Xu Family after marrying Fu Yunlang.

If she could live her life again, she would never want to have anything to do with the Xu Family family again.

Previously, she had Fu Yunlang to rely on, ensuring she could marry into the Fu Family, and didn't care about the Xu Family as relatives or the gossip behind her back. Now, she has the system and higher goals. Even though the Xu Family is living better than in her previous life under the guidance of the reborn Zhao Ruxi, in her eyes, this improvement is merely escaping poverty, far from wealth, as she was once the Wife of the Marquis of Pingnan. She still won't care about anything.

Although the Xu Family has risen to prominence and the Zhao Family has split up, given the Xu Family's wealth and their affection for Xu Xue Xu Xue, the dowry they would give Xu Xue might be even more generous than what the second branch of the Zhao Family would give her. But so what? Even without a dowry, she would still marry better and live a better life than Xu Xue.

A young maidservant entered from outside, glanced around the room, and upon seeing Zhao Ruxi, quickly ran over, bowed, and said in a clear voice, "Miss, Ma Wushi has returned from the Kang Residence. He said that Mister Kumu requests your Kang Residence there."

Everyone in the room fell silent and looked over.

The old lady said, "Miss Xi, your master is calling you. You should go quickly."

The clan chief's wife smiled obsequiously, "She must have heard your good news and is here to congratulate you."

Zhao Ruxi glanced at Madam Xie.

Madam Xie quickly said, "Go quickly, important business is more important."

Zhao Ruxi then took her leave one by one, and led Qingfeng and Dianjiang to the second gate.

Ma Wushi was waiting there. Upon seeing Zhao Ruxi, he quickly said, "Mister Kumu also sent someone to check the results. When I delivered the message, he already knew the good news that you had passed the exam. He said he had something to discuss with you and asked you to come over immediately."

Zhao Ruxi nodded, guessing what her master wanted to say to her.

"Is the carriage ready?" she asked.

"Uncle Lu and my mother are already waiting for the young lady at the door. My father is entertaining guests in the front yard and can't leave for the time being, so I asked Uncle Gao to go with the young lady."

The Uncle Gao"that Ma Wushi mentioned is Gao Weiqiang.

Because of what happened during the imperial examination, the people of the Earl of Suiping's Residence have raised the issue of Zhao Ruxi's protection to a new level, and several guards must accompany her whenever she goes out.

Zhao Ruxi didn't say anything more, and led the group outside. Sure enough, they saw Gao Weiqiang and the others standing beside the carriage with their horses.

She boarded the carriage, and a group of people on horseback escorted it as they left the alley and headed straight for the Kang Residence.

Upon arriving at the Kang Residence, Zhao Ruxi led Lady Luo and Qingfeng to Kang Shilin's study, familiar with the place. Everyone in the Kang Residence, from masters to servants, congratulated Zhao Ruxi on the way, clearly indicating that the good news had already spread throughout the Kang Residence.

"You're here?" Kang Shilin put down his pen and held out his hand when Zhao Ruxi entered. "Have you been drawing these past few days? Let me see."

This is to ask her to hand in her homework.

Zhao Ruxi had to take the imperial examination a while ago and stopped doing her homework for a period of time. Now that the results have just been released, people are already catching up on her homework.

Fortunately, Zhao Ruxi was prepared and took out her painting of a pond in spring and handed it to Kang Shilin.