Chapter 275 - 116: Third-Place Scholar (Part 3)
"That’s the third-place scholar! I wouldn’t even dare to dream of it. My cousin really dared to aim that high," Song Yunzhao said with immense pride in her voice.
Feng Yi: ...
’I can never get a straight answer out of her. What does she mean, ’he really dared to aim that high’?’
He looked at Song Yunzhao and smiled. "Your cousin could have been the top scholar, but I felt that the man who came in first was far too plain for the title of ’third-place scholar,’ so I had to reluctantly let your cousin take it instead."
Song Yunzhao: !!!
’That’s the top scholar we’re talking about!’
’Is the Emperor secretly obsessed with looks?’
’Is that something you can just give away based on a pretty face?’
Seeing Song Yunzhao look as though she’d lost a precious treasure, Feng Yi burst out laughing. He reached out and pinched her puffy, indignant cheeks, saying softly, "You are already so prominent in the palace. It’s better for your cousin to be a little more low-key. The position of third-place scholar suits him perfectly."
’So that’s why.’ Song Yunzhao’s emotions were on a veritable rollercoaster. "Well, whatever the Emperor says is always right. What can I do but agree?"
Feng Yi’s smile widened, and his gaze on Song Yunzhao grew even softer. "Your cousin’s words have real substance. When he addressed the court, he showed no fear, speaking with confidence and eloquence. He mentioned that one’s writing improves through unadorned effort and that diligence can make up for a lack of natural talent—something he constantly reminds himself of. He’s so humble that even the old men at court couldn’t accuse him of being young and arrogant."
Song Yunzhao gave the Emperor a strange look. She never expected the Emperor to like Song Buran so much and to hold his character in such high regard. It seemed Song Buran’s act of submitting a blank paper back then had gilded him in the Emperor’s eyes.
If the Emperor was this happy, Song Yunzhao was even happier. Her family’s success was the foundation of her confidence in the palace.
It was just like how the three concubines looked down on everyone else, all because of their powerful family backgrounds.
Now, she was slowly gaining that same kind of confidence. Song Yunzhao had studied history and learned about outer-relatives; her feelings on the matter were complicated. But now that she was truly caught in the currents of this era, she deeply understood the importance of family for a concubine.
She was now walking a path she once disapproved of. However, she would restrain herself and restrain the Song Family, ensuring they would not follow the historical path of no return that befell so many outer-relatives.
「The next day was the Qionglin Banquet.」
Song Yunzhao wouldn’t have the good fortune to see it, but she imagined it would be a lively affair. After the Qionglin Banquet came the assignment of official posts, a matter handled by the Ministry of Personnel. As for Song Yunzhao, she waited until after the banquet was over and immediately asked her eldest aunt to bring Song Guiyi into the palace.
The eldest aunt’s face was glowing with delight. Song Guiyi was a little fuller-figured than Song Yunzhao remembered, but that was to be expected of a mother of two. Overall, her spirits seemed excellent.
Song Guiyi was also sizing up Song Yunzhao. The woman before her, dressed in magnificent palace attire, was no longer the somewhat stubborn younger cousin she remembered.
The Yun Zhao of her childhood had been thin and small, but now she had fully blossomed. The ease and composure in her eyes added to her commanding presence.
"Your eldest uncle’s intention is to have your older brother posted to an outlying region for a few years to gain experience," the eldest aunt said. "I can’t bear to see him go out and suffer, but he’s decided on this path himself. As his mother, I can only support him." Though her words sounded reluctant, the pride she held for her son was undeniable.
Song Yunzhao nodded slightly and said softly, "Remaining in the capital to test for a scholar position is certainly a good path, but being posted to an outlying region is another great road to take."
The eldest aunt nodded slightly. "Your eldest uncle said the same thing. Only by going out and seeing how the common people live can one become a better official for a region in the future."
"In that case, my cousin’s appointment will likely be as a County Magistrate," Song Yunzhao said. ’Being a County Magistrate is indeed very hard work.’
Hearing this, Song Guiyi added, "According to the Ministry of Personnel’s regulations, that’s correct. My husband also wants to be posted to an outlying region. If he stayed in the capital, he might not necessarily pass the examination for a scholar position anyway. It’s better to choose a good place and be assigned outside the capital."
Song Yunzhao was a little surprised. She had thought Zhong Yingzhang would choose to become a scholar. It seemed Song Buran must have influenced his thinking.
The examination for a scholar position was indeed difficult. Zhong Yingzhang said he was afraid of failing, but given his examination results, it shouldn’t have been a major problem.
"Brother-in-law is exceptionally talented; he would surely be confident in passing the scholar examination. But since he has chosen an external posting, as long as he governs a region well and achieves results, it won’t be difficult to climb the ranks," Song Yunzhao said. In the past, her eldest uncle and her father had struggled with promotions precisely because they had no connections at court.
But things were different now. With her here, she wouldn’t try to steal credit from others, but she would certainly ensure that no one could steal the credit her own family earned.
Hearing Yun Zhao’s words, both the eldest aunt and Song Guiyi felt much more at ease. The struggles at court were perilous, and every step had to be carefully considered. This was especially true for low-level officials like a County Magistrate. If they had no one looking out for them, their achievements would likely be claimed by their superiors, a truly miserable fate.