After the results of the spring imperial examinations were announced, the successful candidates worked even harder. If they ranked well in the palace examination, they could get a good position.
I just hope I won't be sent to a place too far away to serve as an official, especially a remote and isolated place. If that happens, what's the point of studying hard for more than ten years?
Isn't the purpose of becoming an official to achieve upward social mobility?
Of course, besides the diligent students preparing for the imperial examination, there was also a group of opportunists. They would approach their tutors with generous gifts, or go around seeking out people under the guise of being from the same hometown, all in an attempt to find out more about the emperor's quirks.
There are many opportunistic people like this, which has led to the formation of factions in the shadows.
There were the "Nanlin Party members," a group of officials from the south, and the "Beijing faction," who were also graduates of the Shangjing Academy.
They are not prominent in the court, but if any new political decisions are made, these people, banding together, will surely be able to stop the decisions made above.
These political parties, in order to expand their own ranks, would also try to win over officials. Cao Zhi was one of those they tried to win over.
During this period, he received a constant stream of posts, and some people even offered him houses, which scared him so much that he dared not stay in inns anymore.
Madam Cui placed a bowl of perilla and egg soup in front of him, saying, "I scooped it from under the pot; it's all eggs. Drink it while it's hot!"
Madam Cui looked at Cao Zhi and liked him very much. It was a pity she didn't have a daughter, otherwise she would have taken him as her son-in-law!
"Thank you, Madam." Cao Zhi drank the bowl of egg drop soup in one gulp. He had been staying at the Tzu Chi Foundation for several days and had gradually become familiar with Madam Cui.
He knew that Madam Cui's son had also passed the exam, but Madam Cui was not very happy when she heard the good news about her son. She just took care of the children in a very ordinary way.
Many of the older women at the Tzu Chi Foundation were illiterate. They could take good care of the children, but whenever the children caused trouble, they would feel that the children were giving them extra work and would scold them for being a nuisance. With Mrs. Cui's arrival, the children at the Tzu Chi Foundation fared much better. She was a very patient elder, and even when the children made mistakes or caused trouble, she would never speak harshly to them.
Therefore, the children all liked Mrs. Cui. They liked her gentleness, her tolerance, and how she patiently explained things to them.
"I won't disturb your reading any longer. I'll call you when it's time for dinner." Madam Cui smiled as she took away the empty bowl.
Sigh, comparisons are odious. Cao Zhi is better than my son who is all talk and no action in every way.
Thinking of her son, she had of course heard about the scandal that Cui Yan had caused. The shame she felt at that moment made her wish she could put that damned child back into her belly!
Forget it, let him and his father do whatever they want. She no longer cares about their lives. She's happy here at the Tzu Chi Foundation, with so many children calling her "Grandma," it melts her heart.
Madam Cui returned to the kitchen with the empty bowl and saw Shen Qingyu checking the ingredients for any that had spoiled. Now that the weather was hot, a cook, worried about wasting meat, had used spoiled meat to cook a pot of braised pork for everyone, causing everyone to have diarrhea all day.
Since then, Shen Qingyu has come to the kitchen every day to check if the ingredients are fresh.
"Young Master Cao is reading over there. Why don't you bring him some tea later?" Madam Cui teased.
Two blushes crept onto her cheeks. "No, I can't disturb his reading."
"How do you know it's an interruption and not an encouragement?" Madam Cui said with a smile. "I can see that Young Master Cao is interested in you. You should seize this opportunity."
Shen Qingyu leaned against the stove, looking down at her toes.
“But I am divorced, he deserves better.”
"Tch! If that's how you put it, I think my husband isn't good enough for me! But he still married me, didn't he?" Madam Cui snorted. "A man who's achieved a little success thinks a princess is a perfect match for him, but we women, if we marry again, we'd rather be as lowly as dust. I don't know where that logic comes from, but I just don't agree with it."
Hearing these words, Shen Qingyu was still moved. She herself did not agree with that kind of thinking, but since the whole society thought this way, how could she stop others from thinking this way?
She cared about Cao Zhi, which is why she backed down after sensing that he had feelings for her.
I was afraid that he would be gossiped about because of me, and that he would be shamed because of me.
If she didn't care about him, she could have used Cao Zhi as a stepping stone.
Her first marriage did not go as she wished, and she only hoped that if she could remarry, she could choose a husband who would love her in return.
“I understand what you mean, Madam, but I can’t be so selfish. I can’t let him become the subject of gossip just because he has feelings for me.”
Madam Cui patiently said, "You taught the Bishop of Yongle County very well, so why are you so hesitant when it comes to yourself? While you are worried that you will tarnish his reputation, have you ever thought that he is becoming stronger for your sake and wants to shoulder everything for you?"
Shen Qingyu was deeply moved by these words. However, she still lacked courage.
"I can't teach you by example either. I've been tied down by my family and children all this time." Madam Cui sighed and said with deep feeling, "The most important thing in life is not to let yourself have regrets."
Shen Qingyu looked at her and felt that she had succeeded; at least she was doing what she wanted to do now.
"Yes, you're right."
"Don't be afraid." Xie Liwei bared his teeth. Song Yaozhu's fingernails were digging into his skin as she gripped his wrist, but he didn't dare utter a sound. "The imperial physician is on his way. You're so nervous; what if he misdiagnoses you?"
Song Yaozhu glared at him, "I've never heard of being too nervous causing a doctor to misdiagnose a patient."
"What if?"
Are you an idiot?
Xie Liwei immediately shut his mouth, but the skin on his arm throbbed. Where Song Yaozhu couldn't see, he grimaced, trying to distract himself from the pain with exaggerated facial expressions.
Song Yaozhu was too nervous to realize that her fingernails were digging into Xie Liwei's flesh; she thought she was gripping a pillow.
The royal physician arrived late. He had received instructions from Granny Qin early this morning to come and check on the princess's pulse tonight. But as soon as he stepped into the room, he felt the princess and prince's gazes were too sharp, making him feel somewhat overwhelmed.
"Your Highness, please." He placed the bolster on the coffee table, draped a handkerchief over Song Yaozhu's wrist, and then began to carefully take her pulse.
Just as he was about to close his eyes to feel the princess's pulse, he met the angry glare of the prince beside him.
No, what did he do?
Could it be that she was jealous that he placed his hand on the princess's wrist to take her pulse?
But he doesn't know how to diagnose a patient's pulse by feeling a thread!
In all honesty, Xie Liwei only asked him to switch Song Yaozhu's hands; he felt his skin was already broken!
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