A String of Good News

Kang Shilin was an extremely perceptive person; he immediately understood what Zhao Ruxi was trying to do by listening to her words.

He stroked his beard and asked, "You mean that after the spring season, the two farming tools and the irrigation system have fully realized their value? The Emperor, the Ministry of Works, and the Ministry of Revenue, seeing their worth, are reluctant to let you stay at home and will instead come to invite you to take up an official post?"

Zhao Ruxi nodded. "A business that's rushed isn't a good business, let alone in my current situation. If I were to volunteer to take up an official post, no matter what contributions I made, people would still gossip. It would be a thankless task for me."

"Therefore, rather than me actively requesting to become an official, it is better to let the court be eager for me to take up an official post. This order must not be reversed."

At this point, Zhao Ruxi glanced at Kang Shilin: "I'm telling you this so you'll be aware of the situation. If the Emperor brings this up, you'll know how to respond."

"Hahahaha..." Kang Shilin couldn't help but burst into laughter, pointing at Zhao Ruxi as he said, "You little rascal, you've got quite a few tricks up your sleeve. You truly are worthy of being my apprentice, Kang Shilin. Good, good, this is the best way to handle things."

He nodded vigorously. "Don't worry, Master knows what to do. I will definitely stand up for you against the Emperor and those jealous and incompetent bastards in the court."

Did he know the gossip and sour remarks those bastards made behind Zhao Ruxi's back when he was chosen as the top scholar and went to Nanyang to take up his post?

Zhao Ruxi poured Kang Shilin a cup of tea with a beaming smile, "Then I'll have to trouble you, Master."

After Kang Shilin took a sip of tea, Zhao Ruxi returned to her seat and asked, "How are the three senior brothers doing lately?"

"That's good," Kang Shilin said. "You know how busy your eldest brother was recently. Now that the political situation has stabilized, he can finally take a breather. Your second brother..."

He glanced at Zhao Ruxi: "Thanks to you, you've been promoted to Minister of Ministry of Works."

"Huh?" Zhao Ruxi was very surprised; she had no idea about this.

"When did this happen? How come I didn't know? And what do you mean by 'thanks to me'? What does it have to do with me?" she asked.

"It's the imperial edict issued at this morning's court," Kang Shilin said. "The original Minister of Ministry of Works was from the Cen Family faction, but the Emperor dismissed him due to his advanced age. Of course, this has nothing to do with you. I heard from your eldest brother that there were several candidates for the Minister of Ministry of Works, and everyone wanted to recommend someone. Although your eldest brother also recommended your second brother, he knew the chances were slim."

"After all, he himself is the Minister of Ministry of Personnel. Your Yannian brother Yannian is the Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices. Our faction already has two of the three ministers and six ministries. If another one comes along, it will be taboo."

Zhao Ruxi nodded.

The art of rulership, in essence, is the art of balancing. Even if Xiao Ge wanted to suppress the remnants of those princes, knowing that Kang Shilin had no desire for power, he would not allow Kang Shilin's faction to grow too powerful.

After all, although this faction was linked by Kang Shilin, its leader was Wu Huaisi. Wu Huaisi was not a person indifferent to fame and fortune, otherwise he would not have been able to climb to that position.

"Unexpectedly, the moment your eldest brother mentioned Gong Cheng, the Emperor readily agreed. The others thought the Emperor was doing it because of me, so they didn't dare say anything. But after your eldest brother went home and thought about it, he realized that the Emperor probably wanted you to do more work for the court, but didn't want to appoint you to an official position, so he promoted your second brother to Minister of Ministry of Works."

"His Majesty knows you value loyalty and righteousness. For my sake, you won't abandon your second senior brother."

"I see," Zhao Ruxi said, then fell into thought.

Kang Shilin waved his hand. "Girl, don't overthink it. Although the Emperor might think that way, I can't let your second senior brother benefit from your fame and then block your path. If the Emperor doesn't put pressure on your second senior brother, he'll pretend not to hear; if the Emperor does put pressure on him, your second senior brother can suggest that you return to the Ministry of Ministry of Works."

"One should only act when in a position of authority. How can you expect someone to do the work without giving them a position? Even if you are the Consort of the Prince of Qi, the court cannot do this."

Zhao Ruxi nodded in agreement, then explained, "Master, it's not that I insist on taking a position. As you know, it was Grand Princess Shangde and Teacher Cui who spent a lot of effort persuading me before I was willing to endure the hardship of taking the imperial examination. I carry the hopes of women."

"I passed the imperial examination with top honors and became an official, but I only served for half a year before getting married and quitting. How can I set an example for women? Therefore, this position is not for me, but for all women in the world."

Kang Shilin nodded repeatedly. "I know, I understand."

He used to teach at the Beining Women's Academy. He knew everything Cui Wen had done.

"Being an official is what you should do. Otherwise, wouldn't it be a waste of your talent? Although you can paint, write, and make farm tools at home, nothing is as legitimate as being an official," he said.

Seeing that her master understood her, Zhao Ruxi was very happy.

She then asked, "How is Third Senior Brother?"

Wu Zong was a man of action. When he came to Nanyang, he said he had expressed his feelings to Xiao Ruotong and was going to propose to her at the Prince of Zhennan's Residence. Not long after, he succeeded in proposing, and less than two months later, they got married. Their wedding day was the tenth day of the twelfth lunar month.

After the wedding, Xiao Ruotong went to Linjiang Prefecture with Wu Zong to take up her post. She did not return for Zhao Ruxi's wedding.

"Excellent, excellent." Kang Shilin's face lit up with a smile when he mentioned it. "Yesterday I received a letter from him saying that the County Princess of Qingyang is pregnant. He Gao Xing he didn't know what to do, and immediately wrote a letter and had someone send it to me by express courier."

"Huh?" Zhao Ruxi's eyes widened in surprise, then she clapped her hands twice with Gao Xing. "Oh, that's wonderful!"

One was her closest senior brother, and the other was her good friend. Everyone thought Xiao Ruotong couldn't get pregnant. But unexpectedly, she became pregnant only three months after their marriage.

"Indeed," Kang Shilin stroked his beard and said, "Everyone said that County Princess of Qingyang was infertile and was even divorced because of it. I never expected her to be pregnant. Now I can rest assured about your third senior brother."

When Wu Zong married Xiao Ruotong, Kang Shilin had worried for him. After all, Wu Zong only had one daughter and no son. Xiao Ruotong had initially wanted a divorce because the heir of the Duke of Ying wanted to take a concubine. Now that he was married to Xiao Ruotong, he would certainly not take a concubine.

Once his daughter gets married, the couple will be lonely since they have no children. If one of them passes away early, the other will truly be all alone.

So when Kang Shilin received Wu Zong's letter yesterday, he was Gao Xing. He, who has never liked drinking, dragged his son along for a few drinks.