The Hanlin Academy Was Off-Limits

"You are the second-place scholar in the imperial examination, only seventeen years old, a pillar of the nation. With proper nurturing, you might one day be ennobled and appointed prime minister. However, once you marry a princess, the Emperor will no longer be able to rely on you, and the Great Jin will lose a valuable talent, which is something the Emperor does not want to see. If you agree to Consort Jin's proposal, the Emperor will be disappointed in you; moreover, considering the face of the royal family, he will let you become the imperial son-in-law, but your future will likely only reach the fifth rank."

"So..." he concluded, "Besides dragging the family into the mess of the succession struggle, the prince himself will suffer for the rest of his life and gain nothing in return."

Duan Chen couldn't help but feel fortunate, and remarked, "It's so complicated."

Duan Boheng laughed and said, "That's just how officialdom is. You'll get used to it."

"Won't Consort Jin and Prince of Ming retaliate against us?" This was Duan Chen's biggest worry.

He knew very well that those in high positions would not speak of evidence. Even if his uncle plugged the loopholes and arranged things flawlessly, as long as Consort Jin and Prince of Ming felt that his refusal of the marriage proposal was a slap in their face, they would retaliate.

Duan Boheng shook his head. "You ask why Consort Jin fell out of favor? Why was Prince of Ming reprimanded? It's because they've targeted Zhao Zhiwei multiple times these past two years, angering the Emperor. Today, Consort Jin summoned you so openly, and you refused to marry the Princess. This can't be hidden from the Emperor. If something happens to you and the Duan Family behind our backs, the Emperor will definitely hold Consort Jin accountable; those forces that are hostile to them will also use this to their advantage, weakening their power. So they won't target us for this trivial matter, giving their enemies a handle. So don't worry, nothing will happen."

Upon hearing this, Duan Chen couldn't help but sigh again, "So complicated."

Duan Boheng knew that his nephew had been focused on his studies since childhood and was simple-minded. He was fine with him pursuing academics now, but if he wanted to get into politics, he would need to be properly trained.

He patted him on the shoulder. "The more you know, the more naturally you'll think of these things. Don't feel pressured."

Duan Chen nodded.

"What are your plans regarding your marriage?" Duan Boheng asked.

"I want to marry Zhao Zhiwei." Duan Chen lowered his head dejectedly. "However, I visited her a few days ago with a formal invitation, but she refused; just now, not giving up, I invited her to go boating on the lake, but she still refused."

Upon hearing Zhao Zhiwei, Duan Boheng's eyes lit up immediately. "This is an excellent marriage, far better than marrying a princess. The Earl of Suiping's Residence and Mister Kumu's faction are both royalists, making it a perfect match."

He said, "It's alright, I'll have your aunt send someone to sound out their opinion. When it comes to marriage proposals, it takes the elders to be involved. If Zhao Zhiwei agrees, that would be disrespectful. So many people in the capital are watching her now; she has to be careful with her every move, otherwise she'll embarrass the Emperor. She wouldn't do something so foolish."

Duan Chen's eyes lit up. "Really? Is that why she disagreed with the lake cruise?"

Duan Boheng, fearing his nephew's expectations were too high and the result too disappointing, quickly said, "That's not true. Although you are outstanding, there are many excellent young men from prominent families in the capital. I wonder what the Zhao Zhiwei Earl of Suiping's Residence's family is thinking about Zhao Zhiwei's marriage. Mister Kumu dotes on this young apprentice the most; perhaps even the Earl of Suiping's Residence's family can't make the decision regarding Zhao Zhiwei's marriage."

Duan Chen's eyes dimmed again.

Yes, he was a famous scholar in Jiangnan; but when he arrived in the capital, he was nothing.

Zhao Ruxi, after being honored as an official on the Imperial Street and attending the Qionglin Banquet, was escorted back to the Earl of Suiping's Residence by Zhu Hehuai. He saw that the Earl of Suiping's Residence was decorated with lanterns and colorful streamers, and people were coming and going at the gate.

The Zhao Family members and neighbors all came to offer their congratulations. Members of the second and third branches of the family had also arrived early to help the old lady and Lady Zhu entertain the guests.

As soon as Zhao Ruxi entered, she was greeted with another wave of questions and flattery.

After finally seeing off her relatives and neighbors, Zhao Ruxi asked Lady Zhu, "Have you sent messages to my master and my father?"

Although his master would surely send servants to check the list, the Earl of Suiping's Residence still had to fulfill its due respects.

"I've gone, I've gone," Lady Zhu nodded. "How could I forget?"

In Lady Zhu's mind, Zhao Ruxi's success today was largely due to Kang Shilin's efforts; otherwise, how could the Emperor have chosen her as the top scholar? She simply couldn't imagine that her daughter's talent could surpass all others.

After saying this, she seemed to suddenly remember something and said to Zhao Ruxi, "Why don't you go and tell your master yourself?"

Zhao Ruxi was determined to be transferred to a post outside the capital, so she had already asked Kang Shilin to go to the palace and speak to the emperor, directly giving up her chance to become a first-class Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations).

Now the Emperor has chosen Zhao Ruxi as the top scholar. What is the reason for this? What should be done with Zhao Ruxi next? Lady Zhu thinks that Kang Shilin should go to the palace to find out.

Zhao Ruxi nodded and stood up. "I'm going to the Kang Residence."

If it weren't for the gossip that would circulate about her passing the imperial examination with top honors but instead of immediately returning home to inform her family, she would have gone straight to Kang Shilin's Kang Residence.

She was supposed to be ranked second, but the Emperor acted unexpectedly, catching her off guard. She rushed to her master to discuss countermeasures.

Actually, she had been harboring a secret she hadn't told anyone.

She couldn't become the top scholar, nor could she be ranked among the first-class officials. Besides wanting to be transferred to a post outside the capital, it was because she didn't want to become a probationary official in the Hanlin Academy.

The Hanlin Academy was the emperor's secretariat, and its offices were located within the palace.

Before the new batch of Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations) emerged, the newly appointed Jinshi would work with the imperial commissioner to draft imperial edicts, write documents, and perform other secretarial tasks assigned by the emperor.

Through these experiences, they will gain an understanding of the entire Great Jin, develop a strategic perspective and improve their interpersonal and administrative skills, as well as cultivate a closer relationship with the emperor.

After they were sent to serve in various ministries or departments, because of this experience, they were more capable than other officials and had a clearer understanding of what the emperor liked and disliked. They would then assist the emperor from the outside in carrying out his plans.

These people were the ones the emperor and the court focused on cultivating, and they were also the group that rose through the ranks the fastest.

Therefore, becoming a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the Hanlin Academy) and a Shujishi (a probationary official in the Hanlin Academy) was the wish of all candidates in the imperial examinations, except for Zhao Ruxi.

As an unmarried young woman of outstanding beauty, she spent her days in and out of the palace, staying close to the emperor. Not only would this Xiao Lingyan in an awkward position, but it would also cause the officials and other men with impure thoughts to speculate, damaging her reputation and arousing the jealousy of the concubines in the harem, who might then secretly plot against her. She couldn't even guarantee that Emperor Xiao Ge wouldn't develop feelings for her and issue an imperial decree summoning her to the palace and bestowing upon her the title of concubine.

She never gambles on human nature, so there's no way she'll ever enter the Hanlin Academy.

Therefore, she had to ask her master for a solution before the list of newly appointed officials was released.