Dou Zhao was stunned by what he heard, and felt that this was a waste of time. Who was Ji Yong? Did he deserve sympathy? The momentary silence was just to create more noise.

"In that case, you can take your time to figure it out." She turned and left. "I have something else to do. I'll leave first."

"Hey, hey, hey!" Ji Yong grabbed her sleeve and said, "Why are you so bad-tempered? I just said one sentence, and you turned around and left without even listening to it!" He immediately regained his lively appearance.

Dou Zhao was furious, swung his sleeves and said, "Aren't you settling accounts? Wouldn't it be a nuisance for me to stand here..."

"No, no!" Ji Yong said hurriedly, loosening his hand and asking Dou Zhao to sit aside. "I was just thinking of discussing this with you."

Dou Zhao saw that he was fine, so he was in no mood to listen to his nonsense. He said, "We can talk about it when we get back. The Second Madam is hosting a banquet for female guests, and I want to join in the fun."

"Oh!" Ji Yong nodded, "Then go quickly, we'll discuss this matter in the evening."

He has always been very sensible in these matters.

Dou Zhao turned and left.

Half of Dou Ming's face was revealed behind the Taihu stone rockery.

In the evening, Dou Zhao and Ji Yong met in the garden.

The light from the big red lantern shone on Ji Yong's face, making his features look even more handsome.

He counted on his fingers, "I am sixteen this year. I will pass the imperial examination next year when I am seventeen. I will be a scholar-official in three years when I am twenty. Then I will go to the six ministries to observe government affairs. After three years, I will be promoted to the seventh rank Right Secretary or the Chief Clerk of the Zhanshi Palace or the Chief Clerk of the Imperial Household Department. I will be twenty-three. After another three years, I will be promoted to the seventh rank... If I continue to calculate like this, I will be at least fifty-three years old to be promoted to the second rank!" He shuddered as he spoke, "Too terrible, too terrible... There is no planning at all for the imperial examination! If I had known this, I should have taken the spring examination right after passing the imperial examination. At least I could have saved a few years and reached the second rank when I was fifty."

Dou Zhao was both angry and amused. He didn't know what to say to him, so he asked him unhappily, "So what are you going to do?"

In his previous life, he was Master Yuantong and became the Minister of Rites at the age of less than 30, a third-rank official.

"I'm worried too," Ji Yong said, but her eyes were sparkling and she didn't look worried at all. "Tell me, is there any shortcut that can save people from having to work so hard to gain experience?"

able!

Become a monk!

The thought flashed through his mind and Dou Zhao’s eyes widened.

Could it be that in his previous life, Ji Yong became a monk because of this reason?

But that also requires enough luck to meet an emperor who, because he imprisoned his father and killed his brother, became restless every day and thus began to devoutly believe in Buddhism!

She felt as if her forehead was sweating.

If only we knew when he became a monk in his previous life!

Dou Zhao took out a handkerchief and wiped his forehead, saying, "I heard that Liang Qing entered the palace at the age of 43, Sun Huai entered the palace at the age of 44, and Wang Ji entered the palace at the age of 46..."

She couldn't just watch this guy continue to become a monk!

Every time Sixth Aunt mentioned his coming, she was so happy and proud! It was as if he was the hope and future of the Ji family. She would coax him to pass the imperial examination and become a Jinshi.

"I knew I could only tell you this!" Ji Yong listened and excitedly slapped Dou Zhao on the shoulder. Dou Zhao's body sank and his shoulder immediately felt a burning pain.

She shouted unhappily, "Just keep talking, why are you moving your hands and feet?"

"I'm so happy, so happy!" Ji Yong apologized repeatedly, bent down, and took out a large roll of paper from under the stone table.

He spread out the paper roll, pointed at the densely packed names on it and said, "I have listed the resumes of all the cabinet scholars in the past hundred years. Take a look!"

The light was dim, so Dou Zhao couldn't see clearly. But if she didn't accompany Ji Yong in her madness, who would Ji Yong harm? At least she wouldn't be easily deceived by Ji Yong.

She told Sulan to light the lamps.

Sulan left immediately.

Ji Yong couldn't wait to introduce those celebrities: "...Liang Qing was promoted from the fourth-rank Shao Zhanshi of the Zhanshi Palace to the second-rank Shangshu of the Ministry of Rites as soon as Emperor Renzong ascended the throne. The emperor has six princes, and the youngest is thirteen years old this year. I just want to get the credit of following the dragon, but it's a bit late... This won't work! Sun Huai was promoted because Emperor Xianzong wanted to rectify officials. He happened to have a reputation for being upright and honest, so the emperor made him the Shangshu of the Ministry of Justice. But before that, he had been the county magistrate in Qiongzhou for twelve years. I don't want to... Going to Qiongzhou to bask in the sun just to become a minister... This won't work either! When Wang Ji was Emperor Renzong or the crown prince, Emperor Taizong wanted to depose Emperor Renzong. When Wang Ji was a censor in the Censorate, he wrote a letter to defend Emperor Renzong. After Emperor Renzong ascended the throne, he promoted him to be the Minister of Personnel..." He said, stroking his chin and pondering, "Wang Ji's trick can be tried - although the current emperor is a little moody, he is generally a benevolent monarch, and he can tolerate the impeachment of the censor. However, if you want to create a rift between the emperor and the crown prince, this matter is a bit difficult..."

Dou Zhao was already sweating profusely after listening to this.

Is there anyone who seeks an official position in this way?

Is he a little too arrogant?

He thinks he is the best in the world and everything should be done according to his wishes!

"Do you just want to be famous? Or do you want to be an official?" she asked Ji Yong, "Or do you want to give an explanation to your family?"

"What's the difference?" Ji Yong spread his hands and said, "If you want to be famous, you naturally have to be an official. Being an official can also be considered as an explanation to your family. I think I have to find a way to become a minister before I am forty years old. In this way, I can do what I like in the next thirty years, and others will not think I am incredible because of my eccentricity..."

Dou Zhao couldn't help it and glanced at him: "Are you sure you can live to be seventy?"

"It's rare for a person to live to be seventy," Ji Yong said without hesitation, "I have to live to be nearly halfway there!" He added, "But I think I can at least live to be eighty-one."

Dou Zhao felt that it was a waste of time to be angry with him, and said, "This is all for the future. You should first think about how to get into the top three. If you can't pass the imperial examination, all you said will be in vain."

"I think so too." Ji Yong nodded seriously, "But compared to planning how to become a second-rank official as quickly as possible, taking the imperial examination is just a small matter."

Dou Zhao laughed in anger and said, "Then you can be a treacherous minister or a treacherous minister!"

"That's one way too!" Ji Yong said seriously, "I really hadn't thought about it that way. It seems that one more person to discuss with really means one more way..."

Dou Zhaoyu was stunned.

Ji Yong laughed loudly, with a sly gleam in his eyes.

Dou Zhao looked at Ji Yong like this and could only sigh deeply.

Ji Yong hurriedly said: "Fourth sister, don't be angry. I know you are doing this for my own good and are afraid that I will do something reckless. But things in this world are really boring. If I don't find something interesting for myself, I'm afraid I will be bored to death." There was already a hint of sigh in her voice at the end of her words.

Dou Zhao snorted, "So they say 'Everyone hopes their sons will be smart, but my intelligence has ruined my life'!"

"Not bad, not bad!" Ji Yong raised his hand and patted Dou Zhao's shoulder, then suddenly seemed to remember something, retracted his hand, and said loudly, "Just for Fourth Sister's words, it should be made clear." Then he said with regret, "Why are you a girl? It would be great if you were a boy!"

Dou Zhao was too lazy to pay attention to him.

There was a noise coming from the south of the garden.

Ji Yong stood up.

Dou Zhao was also a little strange.

Sulan went to get a lamp, why did it take her so long?

As the two were looking around, they saw Dou Ming, holding their grandmother, walking over, surrounded by a large group of maids and wives. Dou Ming's personal maids, Ji Hong and Hong Gu, were holding lanterns in front, and Su Lan was holding a palace lantern in her hand, following behind her grandmother with a wronged look on her face.

Dou Zhao sneered.

Ji Yong's forehead was bulging with veins, and he gritted his teeth and whispered to Dou Zhao: "Last time I gave her the benefit of the doubt because she's your sister. Don't blame me for not giving you face this time!"

Dou Zhao said nothing.

The pile of papers with writing on them on the table gave Ji Yong an excuse: "... Ask Fourth Sister if she has any biographies of these people?"

Grandma nodded kindly and said, "If you have anything to say, just say it during the day. It's getting late and the night wind is strong. Be careful not to burn the lamp."

They both responded in unison.

Under Dou Ming's proud gaze, grandmother asked Dou Zhao to help her back to the house.

As soon as he entered the room, before Dou Zhao could say anything, his grandmother said, "I know that although Master Ji likes to make trouble, he is a kind-hearted person. You know everything. You two will definitely not do anything that will worry the adults. But since Ming Jie'er has asked me to come, she can ask someone else. You should avoid suspicion. If you have any problems in the future, come to my room and talk to me."

Dou Zhao's eyes were slightly moistened by his grandmother's trust.

She responded respectfully and waited until her grandmother fell asleep before leaving.

Dou Ming had been waiting for her outside.

Seeing Dou Zhao coming out, she called her "Sister" with a smile and said, "Do you think I should talk to the Second Madam about this tomorrow?"

"Go ahead!" Dou Zhao said with a smile, "Just now, cousin Ji told me that last time he didn't bother with you because of my face, but this time, he won't bother with anyone else's face."

Dou Ming's face turned pale, and he said timidly, "Does he dare to turn the tables on me?"

Dou Zhao smiled slightly and passed by her.

In the next few days, Dou Zhao was asked by her grandmother to do needlework, Ji Yong stayed in Heshou Hall to study obediently, and Dou Ming learned to play the pipa with Wan Niang, as if nothing had happened.

Su Lan couldn't help but murmur: "What exactly is Master Ji planning?" He looked like he was eager to create chaos in the world.

Su Xin warned her: "This is a matter between the young lady and Mr. Ji, you should not interfere."

Sulan nodded absentmindedly, and taking advantage of the change in weather, she took the initiative to change Ji Yong's bedding into a thicker one, and looked at Ji Yong quietly.

Ji Yong pretended not to see it.

Su Lan scratched her ears and cheeks, and finally could only kneel down to bow to Ji Yong in frustration and prepare to leave.

Ji Yong then said slowly: "Don't worry, I'm thinking of something that will make your Fifth Miss regret it for the rest of her life!"