The results were announced on the third day after the palace examination. Xie Jing was the top scorer and Chi Li was the third place.

Because Xie Jing lived in the Wu'an Marquis Mansion and Jiang Shi had not recovered, even though many people wanted to come to Xie Jing's house, they had to hold back.

They couldn't help but feel jealous that Jiang Shi had married into a good family, as his fiancée had a family like the Xie family.

Some people are very curious.

"Isn't it said that the descendants of the Xie family in Chen County have always only taken the imperial examinations and never become officials? They don't have any influence in the capital. Why do you still envy Prince Jiang?"

"Although the descendants of the Chenjun Xie family don't serve as officials, almost all of the students educated at their academy are able to pass the imperial examinations and become officials. Not to mention that more than half of the current high-ranking officials in the court came from the Xie family academy, just take this palace examination as an example. The top three all studied at the Xie family academy. Do you still think the Xie family has no 'influence' in the capital?"

"The Xie family's 'power' in the capital can be considered influence to a certain extent. Nearly half of the officials in the court studied at the Xie family academy. Anyone who can befriend the Xie family is actually befriending them in disguise."

"The influence of aristocratic families is sometimes even greater than that of the emperor..."

The person who said this quickly covered his mouth, a little frightened.

The current Emperor Wanjin is getting old, and his children are growing stronger. Any prince with a little ambition wants to become the crown prince.

Civil and military officials, as well as aristocratic families, are all forces fighting for the throne.

The influence of the aristocratic family was so great that the emperor could not help but be wary of it, but he had to pamper Concubine Wang, who was from the Wang family of Langya, but he was very indifferent to the third prince she gave birth to.

Now that the third prince had entered the Dali Temple, the evidence was irrefutable. The emperor was furious and stripped him of his princely title. He was imprisoned in the palace and was not allowed to come out without an imperial decree.

The third prince's followers were not spared either, and more than half of them were killed.

Concubine Wang almost cried her eyes out, but she couldn't make the emperor soften his heart.

The eldest prince was comforted by the emperor and was given the actual position of Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, which allowed him to dispatch and appoint officials.

Suddenly, only the eldest prince and the sixth prince were left in the court to confront each other. The third prince was not there, and his followers kept their tails between their legs and dared not speak.

…

Today Jiang Shi coaxed Yu Tanqi to have a good rest in his own Luqi Courtyard, then he got up, changed his clothes, and walked out of the house.

The green leaves sparkle in the sun, looking lush and verdant.

Jiang Shi was wearing a white robe and had a thin frame. Her beautiful face was crystal clear and cold in the slightly hot sunlight, and she was as beautiful as a fairy in the forest.

The young man next to him was dressed in bright yellow brocade clothes. He had a noble temperament, an upright posture, sword-like eyebrows, star-like eyes, and lips as soft as flower petals.

The two stood side by side, like people in a painting.

Gao Rui looked sideways at Jiang Shi and raised his eyebrows slightly: "It's been a while since we last met, and you look much better."

The young man in white still had a gentle look, but less distant, and looked even more gentle like jade.

Jiang Shi smiled and said softly, "Thanks to the ginseng tonic sent by His Majesty."

Gao Rui smiled and whispered, "Chi Li and Su Ji are both good friends with Xie Jing. Do you think they can be trusted?"

Jiang Shi's eyes flickered slightly, and he simply asked, "Does the prince have anyone he likes?"

Gao Rui said, "I'm naturally more optimistic about Chi Li. He's talented and ambitious. If I could recruit him, I'd be able to do things more smoothly."

Jiang Shi said: "In that case, Your Highness can test him first. When he really makes achievements, it won't be too late to recruit him."

"What do you mean?" Gao Rui looked at him.

The young man in white smiled, looking particularly stunning.

"Instead of letting him wait for his time in the Imperial Academy, it would be better to let him go to the local area and show his talents."

Gao Rui was silent, as if thinking about something.

Historically, successful candidates who passed the imperial examination would enter the Hanlin Academy to gain experience. This was a peaceful and smooth path to wealth and honor. No one would want to leave the capital to become a local official because they might never be promoted in their lifetime.

But as rich as the capital is, the location is equally important.

As an official, you naturally have to do good for the people.

Gao Rui hesitated a bit: "What if Chi Li doesn't want to be an official in the local area and therefore holds a grudge against me?"

Jiang Shi said gently, "If Chi Li entered the court as an official only for wealth and fame, then he is not worthy of the prince's favor."

"You're right." Gao Rui nodded, then thought of something and smiled at him. "By the way, I haven't met your fiancée yet. I heard you two are very much in love. I wonder when you'll get married?"

Jiang Shi's cheeks flushed slightly, and Gao Rui was surprised. This was the first time he saw the youthful vigor that should be present at his age on his face.

Jiang Shi is only seventeen years old. He always looks elegant and calm in his daily life, as if no matter what happens, he will not have strong emotional fluctuations.

Gao Rui originally thought that he would never fall in love with anyone in his life. When Jiang Shi wrote to him that day to tell him that he was going to the Xie family in Chenjun, he also had a purpose. However, he never thought that he would actually bring his fiancée back.

"She is still young. We will get married after she recovers." Jiang Shi said.

Gao Rui had heard rumors in the capital and knew that Jiang Shi's fiancée was frail and a sick beauty.

However, with Xu Mubai around, even the dying can be revived. Yu Tanqi is just weak and not a problem for Xu Mubai.

But Gao Rui frowned slightly when he thought of Yu Tanqi's maternal family.

The Xie family's influence is too great, which is a double-edged sword.

If used well, the Xie family can help him ascend the throne smoothly. If used poorly, the royal family of Wanjin Kingdom will probably have to change their surname.

The Xie family seems to be indifferent to fame and fortune, but who can be sure that all members of the Xie family have no ambitions?

The emperor was wary of the aristocratic families, especially the Xie family, and the Xie family naturally felt the emperor's fear.

A man is innocent unless he is in possession of a treasure.

Gao Rui finally spoke up: "Does Miss Yu know about your situation?"

Jiang Shi's eyelashes trembled slightly, "She doesn't know yet."

He thought of the girl's innocent smile, curled his fingers slightly, and whispered, "I can't let her know for the time being. She's not feeling well, and I'm afraid of scaring her."

Gao Rui looked at Jiang Shi and didn't know what to say.

They had known each other since childhood, but rarely met in person, mostly communicating through letters.

Jiang Shi always gave him the impression of being calm and gentle beyond his age. Although he was five years older than Jiang Shi, Jiang Shi was more patient than him and had been patient and dormant until now, even the emperor was deceived.

Jiang Shi seemed to be confident about everything and was calm and composed.

This was the first time he saw the boy look hesitant.

Gao Rui's expression gradually became solemn.

If Jiang Shi really fell in love with Yu Tanqi, it didn't seem to be a good thing.

Yu Tanqi will become his weak spot.

But once a person has a soft spot, his fatal flaws will be exposed.

If people discovered that Yu Tanqi was Jiang Shi's weak spot...

Gao Rui's mind was in turmoil, but he still put on a smile: "You can care about others now. That's great. From now on, you will have a beautiful woman to accompany you. You won't be alone anymore."