Ru Yong was also self-aware. He couldn't even understand the curriculum at the Imperial Academy, let alone hope to pass the imperial examinations. He didn't have the ability, and his father wouldn't help him with underhanded dealings. Even if he had the opportunity to become an official through hereditary privilege in the future, his elder brothers would get more resources, and by the time it came to him, he would probably just be a wealthy man.

Ru Chang sighed and said, "Just look at the Lian family. If you were smart, you wouldn't agree to any of your classmates' pleas for help."

The Lian family next door is not easy to enter; it is the maternal home of the Imperial Noble Consort, and the patriarch Lian Zining is a rigid and strict man.

Not to mention ordinary officials who wouldn't dare to visit him, even a son of an official like him would be tested and perhaps even reprimanded if the old master encountered him.

Who would dare to be disrespectful to that old lord? Not to mention that everyone in the court and the public knows that the current emperor dotes on the princess born to the Imperial Noble Consort. Just the fact that the old lord Lian rotates between the Court of Judicial Review and the Censorate is enough to instill fear.

While seemingly less prestigious than the Six Ministers, this was still one of the Nine Ministers in every sense. Most importantly, the old minister's duty was to oversee and impeach all officials, and he enjoyed the Emperor's deep trust; even Ru Chang dared not easily offend him!

It's best to keep a low profile at this point. Ru Yong did indeed want to sound out the situation, as he couldn't refuse requests from some classmates and friends. Now that he'd asked, he could only do his best and leave the rest to fate; he couldn't make the decisions on this important matter.

Nowadays, everyone in the court and among the people knows that the current emperor intends to rectify official corruption. Many people are terrified at this time, while many others are busy making a name for themselves and maneuvering.

For some, this is undoubtedly a crisis; a misstep could mean losing their job or even their lives. For others, however, it might be an opportunity for career advancement.

Especially for those honest officials, or those with a distinguished reputation and good standing, this naturally presents an opportunity. They may not lack ability or ambition; what they lack are opportunities, chances to catch the emperor's attention.

The capital inspection was indeed a major test for many officials, and their performance directly affected their careers and even their lives. It would be strange if they didn't take it seriously.

Those who aspire to climb the ranks are naturally either capable or of good character. While some may simply be fulfilling their duties without much ambition, many still expect to gain something, especially when they've performed well—whether it's reputation or official position.

At this point, engaging in extensive maneuvering is perfectly acceptable, and this isn't just a practice within official circles. It's the same in other places; seizing every opportunity to climb the ladder is human nature.

Those who lack confidence might be thinking of currying favor with superiors and subordinates, hoping to smoothly overcome difficulties. Even though the Ming Dynasty was known for its strict punishment of corrupt officials, it couldn't guarantee that every official was honest. (The proverb "A clean prefect for three years, ten thousand taels of silver" is a proverb, implying that even a clean official could amass wealth over three years.)

Moreover, some people have other motives. Even if they lack ability or their conduct isn't entirely clean, this is a capital inspection, which can easily implicate the person in charge. With just a little manipulation of the pen, they can easily achieve excellent results in the evaluation and perhaps even get promoted.

Those who can navigate the officialdom well are usually quite skilled in either intelligence or emotional intelligence. Some even possess both, making them incredibly adept and naturally leading to a wider range of ideas.

Ru Jian arrived at the main hall, bowed, and said, "Father, I went to Lord Yan's residence. Lord Yan gave me some words of encouragement and left a letter."

Ru Chang sighed and said, "When my father and I first joined His Majesty's service, our ranks were low and our duties were few. We often met privately, drinking and chatting happily. It was so enjoyable! But now, even though my father is about to leave for Kaifeng, I cannot personally see him off!"

Ru Chang's two sons also fell silent. These topics were indeed quite sensitive, but they were both able to understand.

Their father was the Minister of Personnel, the head of all civil officials in the land. Yan Zhenzhi was the Minister of Works. Although many people thought the Ministry of Works was the least prestigious of the six ministries, everyone knew that the current emperor attached great importance to it.

If these two ministers were to frequently visit each other in private, it would be somewhat taboo. Even though they both came from the Crown Prince's household, in truth, which official in the entire realm isn't a protégé of the current emperor?

Ru Chang and Yan Zhenzhi didn't actually stop seeing each other in recent years; they simply began to gradually distance themselves as the Crown Prince grew older. This distance also increased as their official positions rose.

As for military figures like Zhang He and Zhu Shou, even though they all came from the Crown Prince's household, they always maintained a certain distance. Cultural relics need to be kept separate; getting too close is not a good thing.

Yan Zhenzhi was about to be sent to govern the Yellow and Huai Rivers, and many people witnessed his glory and the unparalleled favor he enjoyed from the emperor. Many were simply envious, quite a few felt admiration, and of course, many others felt it was none of their business.

As a colleague, Ru Chang felt that he had done all he could. He knew that was Yan Zhenzhi's pursuit, so he wouldn't do anything more or object. He could only offer his blessings.

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