Senior Brother, Take a Provincial Posting
He's getting old and can't handle too much joy or sorrow. It's hard to imagine how he'd react upon hearing the news of Xiao Ge's death.
Zhao Ruxi planned to lure him to her workplace during that period, and then find an excuse to keep him there.
By the time news of Xiao Ge's death reached them, it would be a day or two later, allowing her to tell him gradually in some way. With her Recovery Pill as a backup, his health wouldn't collapse all at once.
If her post is too far away, Kang Yannian will definitely be worried about his seventy-year-old father going to such a far place. If Zhao Ruxi persuades Kang Shilin to go, she will not only have to worry about whether her master's health can handle it, but she will also be complained about by her fellow disciples.
Therefore, it would be best for her to take up a post in Anzhou Province, which is closer to home. Of course, it can't be too close either. Traveling by horse-drawn carriage at a slow pace, a journey of about two days would be most suitable.
Zhao Ruxi's words warmed Kang Shilin's heart once again.
He patted Zhao Ruxi's head, sighed, and said, "You're such a sweetheart. Your senior brothers are always trying to annoy me."
He nodded. "Okay, I understand. I'll let your senior brother know."
"Master..." Zhao Ruxi leaned closer, just as her master was about to persuade her fellow disciples to also take up posts outside the capital, when a servant came to report that Gong Cheng and Wu Zong had arrived.
There was no need to announce the arrival of the disciples. No sooner had the servant finished speaking than Zhao Ruxi heard Wu Zong's laughter, "Haha, I knew Junior Sister was here."
As they were talking, Wu Zong and Gong Cheng entered, bowing and saying, "Congratulations, Junior Sister."
"Congratulations to you too." Zhao Ruxi stood up and returned the greeting with a smile.
"Hey, as expected of my Wu Zong's junior sister, you're amazing! You came in second place, just a little short of being the top scholar. I heard that when the papers were being graded, both yours and the top scholar's papers received five circles, and the comments were full of praise. The two were neck and neck. I heard that the five graders were in a dilemma for a long time, not knowing which one to choose as the top scholar. In the end, it was Lord Jin who liked the top scholar's writing style and decided to make him first, and you were ranked later."
Lord Jin is the chief examiner, so his opinion should be taken as the standard.
Hearing Wu Zong's knowing tone, Zhao Ruxi quickly asked, "Who is the top scholar? Have I heard of him?"
The talented men of the capital city would occasionally hold literary and poetry gatherings. Ever since Zhao Ruxi passed the imperial examination with top honors, they had sent Zhao Ruxi invitations. However, Zhao Ruxi was not interested in associating with these young talents, and even less willing to risk a bad reputation for them. After all, this was ancient times, and men and women were different. She still cherished her reputation.
So she didn't have much interaction with these people.
Anyone who wanted to participate in the imperial examinations would send their essays to teachers at the Imperial Academy, such as Peng Guoan, for review. If they received praise from these teachers, their reputation would spread far and wide, and everyone would think that their chances of passing the exams would greatly increase.
Zhao Ruxi wasn't interested in these people. But based on the principle of knowing yourself and your enemy, she was quite interested in their articles.
Just before Lady Zhu returned, Zhao Ruyu sent a letter to the old lady, saying that she was pregnant again. Zhao Ruxi then took the opportunity of visiting her pregnant sister to go to the Peng Residence and read their articles in Peng Guoan's study.
She discovered that these people, who were considered talented and recognized by Peng Guoan, wrote articles of varying styles but were all of high quality and had their own merits.
"He's a talented scholar from Jiangnan named Duan Chen, who was also the top scholar in the Jiangnan region last year," Wu Zong said. "However, his writing isn't any better than yours. You lost to him simply because Lord Jin prefers his style. Don't be discouraged."
"Haha, I don't care, senior brother, you don't need to comfort me. There are always mountains beyond mountains and people beyond people, I understand that principle. I never think I'm better than others," Zhao Ruxi waved her hand and said.
Kang Shilin looked at his young apprentice with great satisfaction.
He liked Zhao Ruxi, not only because she was clever and intelligent, but also because she never thought she was anything special. Even knowing that she was smart and quick to understand, she was just as hardworking as others, and even more so.
If someone like that doesn't succeed, who will?
"By the way, senior brother, after the palace examination, regardless of my ranking, I want to be appointed to an official post outside the capital. As you know, newly appointed Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations) can only become county magistrates at most. In my situation, I'm young, inexperienced, and a woman. The court can't possibly appoint me as a county magistrate, a leading official. I'll definitely be sent to some place as an assistant official. Are you interested in being appointed to an official post outside the capital? We're not related by blood, so we're not subject to the avoidance policy. Would you be interested in being my superior and serving as an official outside the capital for a year or two?"
Seeing that Wu Zong looked up at her but didn't immediately refute her, Zhao Ruxi was secretly pleased and continued to flatter her, "This is a completely different experience, unlike being an official in the capital. Governing a place is much more challenging and training. Why don't you try it while you're still young and your official rank isn't too high? Wouldn't it be a great pity to look back when you're as old and don't want to move around like your senior brother?"
Although she was concerned about Xiao Lingyan during the border war, she did not neglect the people around her. She did not use her points to inquire, but she learned a lot about Wu Zong from Kang Shilin.
When Zhang Changshen went to the border, the Left Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review was transferred to make way for Wu Zong. Wu Zong also bypassed the senior Right Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review and directly took over the administration of the Court of Judicial Review.
In officialdom, ability is one thing, but seniority and connections are the most important. Wu Zong was not only promoted out of turn, but he also bypassed the Right Vice Minister and directly surpassed him, while the Left Vice Minister was transferred to another place.
During the time Zhang Changshen was at the border, although the two did not dare to openly cause trouble, they secretly had their confidants use many underhanded tricks on Wu Zong, trying to create trouble and remove Wu Zong from power.
Although Wu Zong thwarted their attack and even retaliated, leaving the two men severely injured, he had just taken over a new position and couldn't afford any mistakes while Zhang Changshen was away. Coupled with their underhanded tactics, he was truly exhausted both physically and mentally during that period.
Although Zhang Changshen has returned, Wu Zong is still not very happy staying at the Court of Judicial Review.
Therefore, Zhao Ruxi felt that rather than staying in the capital and feeling uncomfortable, he should go out for a walk.
Zhao Ruxi's target is Wu Zong, but Gong Cheng cannot be neglected either.
She turned to Gong Cheng and said, "Second Senior Brother, it's the same. If you want to be sent abroad, you should do it sooner rather than later."
Gong Cheng smiled and said, "You can say that to your third senior brother. I don't need to. When I first passed the imperial examination, I stayed in the capital for six years before being transferred back. Your eldest senior brother was the same; he stayed in the capital for a while, then was assigned to a post outside the capital, then returned to the capital, then was assigned to another post outside the capital, and so on. But your third senior brother was pulled into the Dali Court of Judicial Review by Lord Zhang after passing the imperial examination, and he's been working there ever since."