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Now that his health still allows, he hopes Wu Zong can be assigned to an outside post and serve as an official for a few years.
Wu Zong was promoted directly from the Principal Fifth Rank to the Principal Fourth Rank in just half a year. According to the usual practice of promoting officials from the capital to a higher rank when they are assigned to outside posts, he would be promoted too quickly to the Subordinate Third Rank or Principal Third Rank, which would attract criticism from the court officials.
Now that Wu Zong has been transferred from Principal Fourth Rank official position in the capital to serve as Principal Fourth Rank prefect in another region, no one can voice any objections. The two former Court of Judicial Review (Left and Right) should also be silenced.
Moreover, if he remembered correctly, Zhao Zhiwei was assigned to Anzhou Province Linjiang Prefecture Nanyang Prefecture as the Assistant Magistrate.
Zhang Changshen glanced at Wu Huaisi and felt that Wu Huaisi had put a lot of thought and effort into his junior brothers and sisters.
"Who do you think is suitable to replace Wu Zong?" Xiao Ge asked.
Zhang Changshen frowned, looking somewhat troubled.
Aside from Wu Zong himself, he felt no one else was suitable.
"No rush, go back and think about it. Tell me when you've made up your mind," Xiao Ge said.
He turned to Wu Huaisi: "Lord Wu has a suitable candidate, you may also suggest him."
"Yes." Zhang Changshen and Wu Huaisi bowed to Xiao Ge and withdrew.
After leaving the main hall, Zhang Changshen said to Wu Huaisi, "Lord Wu, there is no suitable person in the Court of Judicial Review Lord Wu replace you. If Lord Wu think any local official is capable of this position, you can bring them back to the capital to take up this post."
He felt that it was most appropriate to leave this person to Wu Huaisi for consideration.
After all, Wu Zong will return after being demoted. If the person promoted is too capable or has too much influence, and insists on taking the position until Wu Zong retires to become the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, then there will be no place for Wu Zong when he returns. Going to another ministry may not be suitable either, which would defeat the original purpose of sending him to a post outside the capital.
Therefore, we need to carefully consider who should be nominated for the position of Left Vice Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices.
"Thank you, Lord Zhang." Wu Huaisi naturally understood Zhang Changshen's meaning.
Zhang Changshen was doing a favor for both him and Wu Zong.
This is a common practice for officials preparing to retire. Once they retire, their official career comes to an end. At this point, they have to do favors for others to ensure a smooth path for their descendants.
Wu Huaisi and Wu Zong are still young. They have indebted to Zhang Changshen today. If Zhang Changshen's son has any difficulties in obtaining an official position, or if his grandson passes the imperial examination and is appointed to an official post, he will be able to get help from Wu Huaisi and Wu Zong.
This is a mutually beneficial and positive thing.
Once the list of newly appointed Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations) was finalized, it was quickly posted and announced.
Everyone was quite surprised to see Zhao Ruxi's official position and discussed it amongst themselves, but they were quickly stopped by family members who understood the ins and outs of the matter.
If it were any other male scholar, the arrangement of Xiao Ge and Wu Huaisi would be against the rules, and some officials would definitely object. However, this involved the emperor's private affairs, and other officials in the court were unwilling for Zhao Ruxi to actually marry into the palace and become a concubine. The princes were even less willing to have such a stepmother in the future.
With Zhao Ruxi's intelligence and talent, and the extent to which her father admires her, wouldn't the harem be hers to rule in the future? When the emperor passes away, she will still be young, and if she has a son, who knows what kind of storm she will stir up. At that time, it's hard to say whether the empire will belong to the Xiao family or the Zhao family.
Such a person should stay far away from the palace and the capital, and go travel to other places.
Therefore, regarding Zhao Ruxi, the entire capital city remained remarkably unified, keeping silent and seemingly accepting the official appointment of Zhao Ruxi, the top scholar.
The appointment of newly appointed officials differed from that of officials like Zhao Yuanxun, who were appointed by the imperial court. Newly appointed officials often had to return to their hometowns to inform their parents and pay respects to their ancestors before taking office. Therefore, the period given for taking office was relatively long, ranging from one month to three months.
For someone like Zhao Ruxi, whose ancestral home is in the capital and who is going to take up a post in Anzhou Province, a place only a day's journey away, the given period of time is one month.
"Mother, give me five days. You pack Grandmother's things, and I'll manage the business. We'll set off in five days," Zhao Ruxi said.
Lady Zhu was startled. "How can you travel in five days? Why are you in such a hurry?"
Due to poor communication, inconvenient transportation, low medical standards, and the prevalence of bandits and outlaws, it was uncertain whether people who traveled far from home in ancient times would ever return. Therefore, relatives and friends would hold farewell ceremonies for them. The back-and-forth farewells alone could take ten days to half a month.
In addition, goods are not readily available, so you have to bring your own bedding wherever you go. You have to bring everything, and packing your luggage is a hassle that takes time.
Zhao Ruxi was a noblewoman from the capital, and even when she went to serve as an official in the provinces, she had to maintain the demeanor of a noblewoman from the capital. Everything she used had to be exquisite, and she couldn't be like those rough men; she had to bring all her usual things with her. So her things had to be packed carefully.
Based on this calculation, Lady Zhu felt that it would be good if she could leave the capital in half a month.
Zhao Ruxi felt a headache coming on when she heard her theory. In her past life, she could just pack a small suitcase and go whenever she wanted.
She had no choice but to count on her fingers as she told Lady Zhu, "We're going to Gusu City. Considering Grandmother's health, the journey won't be quick; it'll take four days just to get there. I'll need to stay for at least ten days, right? That leaves ten days. I also need to get to my new place beforehand to tidy up the house and familiarize myself with the surroundings. Even if I rush, it should be about the right time."
Upon hearing Zhao Ruxi's calculations, Lady Zhu also became anxious.
Normally, traveling from the capital to Gusu would only take Zhao Yuanxun a day and a night at full speed. But the old lady is elderly, and it's her first time leaving the capital. The carriage is slower, and with late nights and early mornings to arrange food and lodging, the journey would take four days.
Upon arriving in Gusu, she first had to settle the old lady in order before she could go with her daughter to take up her post.
When you do the math, time really is tight.
Zhao Ruxi continued, "My post isn't far from the capital. If any relatives or friends are reluctant to part with me, they can ride a horse for most of the day to visit me. There's no need for a formal farewell. I did want to host a banquet to thank my master and fellow disciples, but I'm a woman, and my father isn't in the capital, so I'll have to postpone it."
She knew that instead of inviting Kang Shilin, Wu Huaisi, and others to dinner, it would be better to give each of them a painting and a piece of calligraphy. They were all living in luxury, so they wouldn't miss out on this meal. The paintings and calligraphy, on the other hand, could be used for collection.
She told her master yesterday that she plans to spend six months painting some pictures and writing some calligraphy that she is satisfied with, which she will then present to her master and fellow disciples.
Kang Shilin Gao Xing to hear this.
Mentioning Kang Shilin, Lady Zhu asked, "Didn't you say you wanted your master to go to your post with you? Did he agree?" With Kang Shilin around, she didn't need to worry so much about her daughter.