Frame It and Hang It Up

"Alright, I 'Wu Huaisi check if there are any vacancies in Anzhou Province." He glanced at Kang Shilin and added, "Ideally, it should be a place with beautiful scenery and good local customs."

Wu Huaisi went to great lengths to make room for Zhao Yuanxun Zhao Yuanxun then. Now that it's his junior sister's turn, won't Wu Huaisi go to great lengths to make room for her too?

It seems that he doesn't even need to ask; Wu Huaisi will be able to come up with the best solution.

Xiao Ge thought this with a blank face, but found that he felt no aversion or anger at all.

Finally, he resignedly admitted that even if Wu Huaisi didn't make arrangements for Zhao Zhiwei, he, as the emperor, would have to roll up his sleeves and personally step in to make room for Zhao Zhiwei. After all, Zhao Zhiwei was highly talented and, moreover, his uncle's beloved apprentice; how could he not look after him?

Kang Shilin was very satisfied. "Alright, then I will thank His Majesty for his kindness on behalf of Zhiwei."

As he spoke, he even stood up as if to give Xiao Ge a grand salute.

Xiao Ge was exhausted and quickly stepped forward to help him up.

After leaving the palace, Kang Shilin knew that Zhao Ruxi was still concerned about this matter, so he quickly sent someone to summon Zhao Ruxi and tell her the result.

Zhao Ruxi finally breathed a sigh of relief after receiving Xiao Ge's personal confirmation.

Having resolved this matter, Kang Shilin finally had the mind to settle accounts with Zhao Ruxi. With a stern face, he asked, "When did your calligraphy become so impressive? I had no idea!"

Zhao Ruxi scratched her cheek. "After the imperial examination, the County Princess of Qingyang came to my residence to visit me. She saw me practicing calligraphy and gave me some pointers, saying that I was too rigid in my imitation of Master Mingcang's calligraphy. She said that no matter how well I copied Master Mingcang's calligraphy, without my own style, I would never become a master. So I started writing according to my own temperament, writing freely. At first, it didn't work, but later I gradually found my footing."

She glanced furtively at Kang Shilin, as if afraid he would be angry. "Because I always felt I hadn't practiced enough, and I've been busy lately, I didn't tell you."

Kang Shilin wasn't angry with his young apprentice at all. His apprentice was so promising; not only did he create his own unique painting style and become a master, but he also made a sudden breakthrough in calligraphy, reaching the pinnacle and becoming a figure comparable to the contemporary calligraphy master Qin Zhe. The old man was Gao Xing.

He was simply frustrated that, as the master, he hadn't known his young apprentice possessed such a talent. He felt guilty and somewhat disappointed, thinking that his apprentice had a secret he wasn't sharing with him.

Knowing that Zhao Ruxi had suddenly realized her talent and developed beautiful calligraphy after the imperial examination, he felt a surge of relief.

"Alright, I'm not blaming you," he said.

As he spoke, he stood up with great enthusiasm. "Come, come, write a piece of calligraphy for your master."

Zhao Ruxi then stood in front of the table, selected a suitable brush, ground the ink, and then wrote a poem.

This is a poem written by a senior poet. Zhao Ruxi knew that her master loved this poem the most and had mentioned a line or two of it in his paintings more than once.

Kang Shilin was immediately delighted upon seeing it.

Of course, it's not that I like poetry, but rather I like Zhao Ruxi's calligraphy.

Examining Zhao Ruxi's calligraphy, Kang Shilin stroked his beard and nodded. "Indeed, your senior brother was right. Your calligraphy is comparable to Master Mingcang's."

He turned and called Kang An in, "Once the ink dries, take it to be framed."

Zhao Ruxi was fairly satisfied with her calligraphy—at least there were no flaws. But hearing her master's words still put her under pressure.

"Master, is that alright? I'll write you another one later; this one isn't very good," she said.

She believes she still has room for improvement.

Kang Shilin gave her a meaningful look. "You haven't gone to see the front of the Examination Hall yet, have you? Don't go straight home later, go to the entrance of the Examination Hall and take a look."

Zhao Ruxi immediately felt a sense of foreboding.

Kang Shilin, satisfied with the calligraphy, began to usher people out. "Alright, I'll have your senior brother keep an eye on your official appointment. If all else fails, you can just stay in the capital, find a husband, get married, and have children."

Zhao Ruxi's face immediately fell. "Master, why are you just like my mother, nagging me endlessly all day long?"

Kang Shilin glared at him, his beard bristling. "Do you think I want to keep nagging about this? If you were already engaged, why would I need to worry about this?"

Zhao Ruxi sighed, "I'll get married next year, okay? You don't need to nag me anymore, I won't become an old maid."

She stood up and quickly took her leave.

She still wants to be released from public view, sob sob... Everyone's turned into marriage-urging maniacs, who can stand it?

After leaving the Kang Residence, she had Uncle Lu drive a special detour to the examination hall and stop at a distance.

Then she saw that among the ten posted exam papers, the only one framed in glass was hung in the very center and at the very top.

A large crowd had gathered around the examination papers. Some were dressed in the official robes of the Jinshi degree holders, others in the attire of the Imperial Academy, and still others were scholars from the capital. Everyone was pointing and discussing the examination papers in the frame.

" At Wushi, go and see whose exam paper is in the photo frame, and listen to what those people are talking about," Zhao Ruxi instructed.

Ma Sheng is now the steward of the Earl's mansion and is very busy. Zhao Ruxi is now accompanied by Ma Wushi and Lady Luo when she goes out.

Ma Wushi agreed, dismounted, threw the reins to his mother, and walked over there.

A short while later, he returned and reported, "Miss, the document in the frame is your exam paper. Everyone is discussing how well your essay was written, and your calligraphy is exquisite, truly masterful."

Zhao Ruxi: "..."

It is estimated that this was an order from the Emperor; otherwise, the officials of the Ministry of Ministry of Rites would certainly not have dared to do such a thing, elevating a woman and overshadowing all the other successful candidates.

"Isn't anyone unhappy about this practice?" she asked. "For example, why should a woman be the top scorer? Why should my exam paper be framed and made to look so special?"

Ma Wushi had been by Zhao Ruxi's side for Youyu a year and knew that his young lady was extremely magnanimous. Even if someone made negative comments, she would not take it out on him.

Moreover, since the girl asked, it means she wants to know the truth.

He answered truthfully, "Yes." But someone immediately refuted him, saying that the Emperor had said, "In this Great Jin, a mighty and powerful nation, do we men have to put women down in the mud to show our own superiority? Miss Zhiwei's writing is better than everyone else's, and her calligraphy is truly masterful, no less than Master Mingcang. If we pretend not to see these things and put the other scholars in front of her, that would be a disgrace to all men."