"Oh, by the way, I went to deliver some snacks to my father yesterday and saw the list of names presented by the Ministry of Personnel. My father is going to bestow official titles upon the newly appointed scholars!"
The third princess, beaming with delight, boasted, "I secretly glanced at the roster. Do you want to know where your eldest brother and the others have been assigned to official positions?"
"No!" Jiayin wasn't fooled and laughed, "They've learned so many skills just to serve the country and be loyal to Uncle Emperor. Wherever Uncle Emperor arranges for them, our family has no objection."
"Oh dear, you're so boring! Will you lose a piece of your flesh if you just agree with me?" the Third Princess scolded, stamping her foot in anger.
Jiayin has known her for so long that she understands her temperament very well.
If we don't press her for details at this point, the Third Princess can say more.
Sure enough, the Third Princess started talking non-stop, like beans spilling from a bamboo tube.
"Your eldest brother was the top scholar in the imperial examination and was granted a sixth-rank official position. He was assigned to be a county magistrate in the southwest. It seems to be very close to the Lu family, so there's no need to worry about him being bullied there."
“Your sixth brother is a seventh-rank official, and he’s been kept in a small county more than 300 li southeast of our Xindu. Baozhu’s brother is also a seventh-rank official and he’s been kept in the Court of State Ceremonial.”
Jiayin breathed a sigh of relief. The official appointment was exactly what her family had expected. She hadn't received any special treatment, but no one had secretly interfered either. This was the best possible outcome.
She casually asked, "What about Brother Lu? He must have stayed in Xindu, right? After all, you two are preparing for your wedding."
The Third Princess blushed and replied, "Father Emperor kept him in the Hanlin Academy to compile books, but he was given a fifth-rank official position, the highest among the newly appointed Jinshi, even higher than your eldest brother."
Repairing a letter?
Jiayin frowned slightly, recalling how her brothers used to talk big and be full of vigor, with Brother Lu being the most insightful of them all.
Now, he'll spend the rest of his life locked in his room repairing books; I suppose he won't be too happy...
But ultimately, he's not her biological brother, so his future is none of her business.
She quickly put the thought out of her mind and went into the house with the third princess.
Soon, Shui Ling went home and brought the reluctant little fox over, and Zhi Lan Palace returned to its usual liveliness.
The palace maids would secretly take some dried meat and feed it to the little fox.
If someone happens to take a liking to the little fox and is lucky enough to bathe and groom her, all her girlfriends will be envious and jealous for a long time...
Two days later, Jiayin heard that the imperial edict and the Ministry of Personnel had issued an official document, so she hurriedly left the palace to go home and see.
The weather was fine, and the trees on both sides of the palace path were green, casting a cool and comfortable shade on the ground.
The little fox was too lazy to walk, so it lay in Jiayin's arms, waiting for its master to take it out of the palace.
Jiayin casually scolded it, "You're getting fatter and lazier. Now you don't even want to walk anymore. What if your legs atrophy and you can't even run away when you encounter bad guys? What will you do then!"
The little fox squinted its eyes and let out a lazy meow, it was hard to tell whether it was being affectionate or protesting.
Shui Ling took a few quick steps and was about to take the little fox when the little fox suddenly raised its head and looked warily at a corner.
Jiayin, Shuiling, and Shuiyun quickly looked over, but could only see a back view before it vanished in a flash.
The little fox jumped up, eager to try, and was about to run over.
Jiayin, however, snatched it away and pulled it back into her arms.
Shui Ling blinked and asked softly, "Princess, I think I saw..."
"Shut up!" Jiayin interrupted her abruptly, whispering, "You didn't see anything, and don't tell anyone. If you see this person again, pretend you don't know them, understand?"
Shui Ling was stunned for a moment, and was about to speak when Shui Yun covered her mouth again.
"Princess, I will keep an eye on Shui Ling, so please don't worry."
Jiayin nodded and walked ahead, carrying the little fox.
Shuiyun released Shuiling and glared at her fiercely, "I'll talk to you properly tonight."
Shui Ling shrank back, realizing she had been rash.
Her master must have had some concerns to keep her from speaking out. But she couldn't suppress her curiosity and really broke her manners.
The three of them, master and servants, quickly exited the passageway and arrived at the palace gate.
Mu Xu, who had been secretly following them, turned around here and quickly slipped into the depths of the palace...
Inside the Earl's mansion, everyone had already returned from Broken Gold Beach, and they were in a lively and happy mood because they had just received two official documents.
Jiaren was assigned to Fengshan County, a thousand miles away, only a hundred miles from the border, practically right under the nose of the Lu family.
Li Ge'er was assigned to Qingming County, which was 300 li away from home, but it was not far compared to Fengshan County, where Jiaren was from.
Li Lao Er patted his son, then looked at his nephew, his eyes filled with satisfaction.
The Li family has finally established itself, with its son and nephew holding official positions in the local herdsmen. In another ten years, the Li family's place in the imperial court will surely shine brightly.
Then he won't be fighting alone anymore. People will laugh at him for not having real talent and for relying on his family to get his current official position, but his son and nephew won't be!
"Good, good! From now on you will be local officials. Always remember that you are children from farming families. Don't let the people down. You must be good officials!"
"Yes, Father." Jiaren quickly bowed in response, and Lige'er followed suit, "Second Uncle, I've remembered it too."
Everyone had smiles on their faces, but they couldn't help feeling a little uneasy inside.
Jiaren is alright; he's steady and mature, and not young either. But Lige'er is really too young. If he were a normal kid, he'd still be studying at the academy.
But luckily, this kid followed in his brother's footsteps and passed the imperial examination smoothly, becoming a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations).
He'll be going out to take up an official post soon. What if he encounters those cunning gentry and wealthy people who take advantage of his youth and ignorance?
Thinking this, Li Laosan, who had rushed back after hearing the news, spoke up, "Second brother, make sure to bring a few more reliable people for Li Ge'er."
"We're not looking to gain any benefits in Qingming County, but at least we can't let our child be taken advantage of."
Li Lao Er immediately replied, "That's what I was thinking too. We should send more of the veteran guards from our family to Li Ge'er. We should also send a few reliable young couples from the village. As for capable managers, we should write to our eldest brother and ask him to make the arrangements."
"I'll go to the Liu family again and see Old Master Liu. I'll ask him to help me find a suitable secretary to handle official business. I need to make sure that Li Ge'er completes his three-year term first. Once he has experience, things will be easier."
Wan'er chimed in, "The court has granted us a half-month leave. During this time, I will hurry up and prepare luggage for my husband and sixth brother."
"Okay, thank you for your hard work." Li Lao Er nodded, completely satisfied with his virtuous daughter-in-law.
Jiayin, sitting among her brothers, quickly added, "Second Uncle, Third Uncle, and Uncle Lao Hei have traveled to the Southwest several times."
"Since they happen to be in the village now, why don't we have them escort my brother to his new post, and bring me some medicinal herbs and local products along the way?"
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