"Since the whole world belongs to my Gu family, what does it matter if I promote one person?"
The eldest princess's voice carried a hint of authority.
“But the rules and laws of this world are strict, and all the rules and regulations are clearly written down, so we should abide by them.” Gu Zhixing was still full of confusion.
"Rules?" The princess chuckled and shook her head.
Her gaze shifted to Gu Zhixing, and she slowly said, "Rules are merely things that restrain servants. As the mistress of this world, why should I be bound by such rules and regulations?"
"Rules are merely tools to make servants serve their masters better. If any rule displeases me, then I will change it."
“Ah Xing, you are still young and do not yet understand the true meaning of power. Once you truly understand it, you will no longer ask such naive questions.”
The princess's words struck Gu Zhixing like a heavy hammer, greatly impacting his deeply ingrained beliefs.
Those established rules were broken so easily?
Gu Zhixing was filled with shock and confusion. He looked at the princess and didn't know how to respond for a moment.
Seeing Gu Zhixing's shocked expression, the eldest princess couldn't help but chuckle and said, "In that case, why don't you try your luck in this year's imperial examination? If you can win a prize, then your mother can rightfully let you taste the power of authority."
In fact, given Gu Zhixing's status, if he could successfully complete his studies at the Imperial Academy, he would not need to participate in the provincial examination or the palace examination. He could be appointed to an official position based on his abilities and directly embark on his official career.
However, he ultimately failed to stay at the Imperial Academy.
Furthermore, most prominent families, even if their sons had direct access to official positions, would still have them participate in the imperial examinations.
Firstly, it serves as a test of academic ability; secondly, if one can achieve a good ranking in the imperial examination, it will be like being gilded, making one's future career path smoother.
Upon hearing the words "metropolitan examination," Gu Zhixing's expression instantly changed.
Although he was usually lazy and didn't care much about his studies, he was still aware of the difficulty and importance of the imperial examination.
"You don't want to?"
The eldest princess asked, her tone tinged with a hint of probing.
In the past, whenever the topic of exams came up, Gu Zhixing would be impatient and refuse outright.
The eldest princess thought this time would be no exception, and was already prepared to be rejected.
She only has one child, and she really can't bear to force him.
Otherwise, when Shen Jintang said she would force Gu Zhixing to study, she wouldn't have simply hidden in the palace. She was afraid that she would soften her heart when she saw Gu Zhixing's pitiful appearance.
However, this time, Gu Zhixing's answer was beyond her expectations.
"No! I'm not willing." Gu Zhixing looked up at the princess, his eyes filled with determination, and said, "I also want to give it a try."
He wanted to see how far he could go and explore the magic that power held.
He used to think that power was far beyond his reach, and that the intrigue and backstabbing in the court were completely unrelated to him, the prince living a life of luxury in his mansion.
However, after hearing his mother's words today, a longing for power quietly sprouted in his heart.
Can power truly enable people to break down outdated customs and traditions without any scruples?
Can it really allow people to have complete control over everything?
He wanted to personally embark on this journey and experience it for himself.
But mixed in with this longing was another secret thought.
Although Shen Jintang didn't say it, he could sense that Shen Jintang really liked power and wanted to climb the ranks.
And she did indeed do just that, step by step.
If I don't do something and continue to just laze around in the mansion, I'm afraid I'll drift further and further away from Shen Jintang.
After the meal, Shen Jintang followed Gu Zhixing back to the bedroom, only to find that his expression was still solemn, with an unyielding gloom between his brows.
Knowing that he was in a bad mood, Shen Jintang wisely kept quiet.
The atmosphere in the room became oppressive, with only the soft crackling of the candlelight. The night passed quietly in this silence.
The next morning, as the first rays of sunlight pierced through the window screen, Gu Zhixing woke up to find himself alone. The bedding was neatly arranged, indicating that he had been gone for some time.
He was stunned for a moment before he remembered that Shen Jintang had been promoted to the sixth rank of Siyan yesterday and had gone to the palace with his mother today.
In the past, Shen Jintang would always be by his side at this time, either speaking gently or keeping him company quietly. Now, being alone with him all of a sudden made him feel a little uneasy, as if a piece of his heart was missing.
Meanwhile, Shen Jintang was extremely busy in the palace.
Although the rank of a sixth-grade official is not considered prestigious, he still bears a heavy workload of government affairs, with piles of memorials and documents, each of which requires careful consideration and proper handling.
Shen Jintang was new to the area and had to be extra careful. Fortunately, she was always intelligent and, within a dozen days, she gradually found her way in the midst of the chaos and became more and more adept at handling things.
That day, the eldest princess was reviewing government affairs when, suddenly enraged, she slammed the memorial in her hand to the ground, scattering the paper everywhere and causing the ink to bleed.
"waste!"
The eldest princess roared, her voice like thunder: "What use is the court to support these good-for-nothings? All they do is cry poverty and beg for money all day long. Do they think the national treasury's silver grows on trees? When we ask them to do something worthwhile, they make excuses and accomplish nothing, yet when it comes to money, they all scramble to get it!"
Seeing this, Shen Jintang remained calm. She knew the princess's temperament well; her anger was fleeting and easily extinguished. At this moment, all she needed to do was appease her by going along with her wishes.
Shen Jintang quietly instructed someone to bring a cup of chrysanthemum tea to cool the body and reduce internal heat. The tea was fragrant and the pale yellow tea soup swirled in the white porcelain cup, seemingly able to dispel some of the heat.
She then personally stepped forward and massaged the princess's temples with just the right amount of pressure. Her movements were gentle and meticulous, and as her fingertips caressed the area, it seemed to take away the annoying fatigue along with it.
Throughout, she kept her eyes lowered and remained silent, not uttering a single word, for fear that saying another word would offend the princess.
After venting her anger, the princess calmed down a bit, took the teacup, and took a sip. The slight bitterness of the tea spread on her tongue, making her feel a little more awake.
Seeing that the Princess's expression had softened, Shen Jintang gently picked up the folded document from the ground. Her movements were light and graceful. Although the paper was a little wrinkled, she tried her best to smooth it out and put it back on the Princess's desk.
The eldest princess looked up at Shen Jintang, her expression softening slightly, a hint of satisfaction flashing in her eyes, "You're so sensible."
Over the days they spent together, Shen Jintang's thoughtfulness and attentiveness had become apparent to her. Compared to those male concubines who only knew how to flatter, Shen Jintang acted with more discretion and understood her thoughts better.
Shen Jintang smiled slightly, curtsied, and said, "Your Highness is too kind. It is my honor to be able to share Your Highness's burdens."
As she lowered her eyes, her peripheral vision swept over the folded document, and a sudden shock struck her, her eyes darkening slightly.
This number...
Something's fishy!
But she remained calm and put the folded document back in its original place.
However, a sense of unease had already set in.
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