They didn't show up when they topped the provincial examinations, but now that they've become the top scholars, we need to set up several tables, and there are so many people coming to deliver invitations. If we don't handle this properly, it could affect their careers.
"Auntie, I'm going right now." Then she ran outside, drove the carriage, and headed to the largest restaurant in the capital.
Wen Liu and the others also went out, calling the people outside to go to the restaurant. After they left, Xia Hua said, "Shu Shu, go write a letter, and I'll have someone take it back to the village."
Her people must be waiting for news too. She had the assassins send it back; it should arrive in a few days.
An Shuyi nodded, "I'll go right away." Although they would return in a few days after the imperial decree was issued, the journey would still take time. It would be better to write a letter sooner to inform their clansmen. She quickly finished writing the letter, and Xia Hua took it to the nearby residence to have Xiu Liu deliver it back.
It was dark when Wenming and the others brought Wenliu and the others back. Although they smelled of alcohol, it wasn't too strong. They told the page to take care of them and make sure they washed up, and to get some rest. An Shuyi and Xia Hua then went to their room.
The next morning, Wen Liu and the others were taken to the palace by carriage. Today, their future destination would be decided. An Shuyi and the others waited on the street after breakfast. Today, the top scholar would be parading through the streets, and the scene would definitely be lively. Naturally, she would not miss it.
They didn't make a reservation; they just went to the second floor of their own hot pot restaurant to wait. When the top scholar paraded through the streets, he would pass by here, and the restaurants and shops would be full of people who came to catch a glimpse of the top three scholars.
Although the wait was rather long, the number of onlookers not only did not decrease, but actually increased. Finally, lively sounds came from afar, and everyone knew that the parade was about to begin, so they all looked into the distance.
An Shuyi and the others also witnessed the lack of modesty among ancient women. Whenever the procession passed by, many handkerchiefs, sachets, and flowers would fly down from the restaurants and shops, and Wen Liu was the one who was thrown the most.
Of course, there were many other people too. At first, everyone was still able to laugh, but as more and more things were thrown at them, they couldn't laugh anymore. An Shuyi also took out the flowers she had prepared and threw them at several people as the group passed by.
When Wenliu and the others saw them, they all smiled and nodded. The flowers she threw down were caught. The girls who had been throwing handkerchiefs and sachets saw this and sent their servants to inquire who it was.
Although the woman looked old, she was very beautiful, and everyone who saw her thought she was a very kind person. In the teahouse in the distance, someone was also looking at An Shuyi with amazement in their eyes.
Soon, the parade ended, and An Shuyi and the others went home. They still needed to ask Wen Liu and the others where they had been assigned to and what their official positions were.
When they arrived at the residence, Wen Liu and the others were already waiting in the hall. Upon seeing them return, they hurriedly stood up and bowed.
"Stop with the formalities, just tell me quickly, where were you assigned as villains?" An Shuyi asked hastily before even sitting down.
"Mother, don't rush, sit down first, let's talk slowly!" Wenliu helped her sit down, and seeing that her aunt had also sat down, she continued, "Then let me start. Please accept my words, brothers."
"I was appointed by the Emperor to the Hanlin Academy as a fourth-rank scholar, and I was allowed to stay in the capital. The Emperor gave me a month to handle things properly and then I would take up my post in the Hanlin Academy."
An Shuyi nodded, "That's great, really wonderful, I'm so proud of you!" Although she knew that Yi Jia would stay in the capital, it would only be confirmed once the imperial decree was issued. Now that Wen Liu could stay in the capital, it was really good.
Wen Liu blushed involuntarily at what she said.
"Wenfan, what about you?"
Wen Fan stood up and said, "Replying to Aunt, I have been assigned to the Ministry of Revenue, a fifth-rank official!"
“A vice minister in the Ministry of Revenue is not bad!” An Shuyi said, but she was a little surprised that he was not in the Hanlin Academy. The top three scholars in the previous imperial examinations all entered the Hanlin Academy. Could it be that the old man Emperor thought Wen Liu and Wen Fan were brothers and wanted to separate them?
"Huaixu, what about you?"
An Huaixu stood up and replied, "Aunt, I am a sixth-rank official, a reader in the Hanlin Academy."
“You’re very capable, Your Attendant!” An Shuyi then asked about the others. Some stayed in the capital, while others were sent to other places. They were all doing very well.
“You are all very capable, and I am proud of you. But don’t feel inferior to others just because you have lower official rank. Think of Huaijin. He used to be just a county magistrate, but now he is a prefect. As long as you work hard, you can definitely be like him.”
“Originally, since you have official positions, we should definitely have a proper celebration. However, your parents are still waiting in the village, so you can take a day off tomorrow and go out to have some fun. The day after tomorrow, we will return to the village.”
"It's best to celebrate something like this with your family. Pack your things in a bit, and bring your servants with you too. The indentures will be given to you later."
Of these children, eight stayed in the capital, while eleven were sent to other places, but they were all assigned to good locations, held good official positions, and were exposed to a lot of things.
"Thank you, Mother!"
"Thank you, Auntie!" everyone said in unison.
They didn't need servants before, but when they enter the court as officials, they will need servants to handle mundane matters. And Auntie has prepared all of this for them, so they don't have to worry about it anymore.
"You don't need to be so polite. By the way, there are so many girls throwing handkerchiefs and sachets for you today. Do you have any favorites? If so, you can tell me." Especially those young men who stayed in the capital, they have already established their careers, although it is still progressing slowly, but it is still necessary for them to settle down and start families.
“Auntie, I have no interest in these girls!” Wen Fan said.
"No intention? Then do you have someone you like?" An Shuyi immediately sensed a hidden meaning in his words.
"Prefect Xiao's daughter?" He didn't dare to say it before, after all, she was an official's daughter, not someone he could be worthy of. But now it's different. He is now a fifth-rank official, and he can barely be worthy of Prefect Xiao's daughter.
"Xiao Wan'er, I remember that girl is only fifteen years old!" Isn't that a bit young? Wen Fan is already twenty years old, a full five years older. Although that's not a big deal, that girl is only fifteen.
She had always thought that Prefect Xiao only had two children, a son and a daughter, but she never expected that he also had a second daughter. Because she was too young and didn't want to stay and travel, she was raised by Old Madam An and was sent to Jinnan City at the age of ten.
“It’s fifteen,” Wen Fan nodded, then, remembering what his aunt had said—that girls in the village could only get married at seventeen—he hurriedly said, “I’m willing to wait for her for another two years.”
"You want to wait, but do you think the girl will agree?" Xia Hua suddenly said from the side.
Wen Fan was also taken aback. He had never really thought about this question before, but he knew that Miss Wan'er was neither betrothed nor had a sweetheart.
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