“Commandery Princess, why are you out here?”
“I was just about to ask you the same thing. Why are you here?”
There was no point in trying to spar verbally with Commandery Princess Yangxin, so Xiao Jingduo immediately dropped the topic. He wanted to ask if the Dowager Empress’s harsh words earlier had upset her and brought her out here. These thoughts turned over in his mind several times, but ultimately, he couldn’t find a way to voice them.
Judging by Xiao Jingduo’s expression, Rong Ke could guess what he was worried about. Smiling faintly, she said, “I’m fine. I just wanted to take a walk. I never let irrelevant people upset me.”
If that were true, all the better. Xiao Jingduo didn’t press further. To Rong Ke, Xiao Jingduo was a familiar presence. Having him trailing behind her at the moment seemed to unexpectedly calm her restless mood.
Neither of them spoke as they strolled along the lake. Xiao Jingduo was careful not to walk alongside the princess, instead trailing half a step behind her on the left, silently accompanying her in the gentle breeze by the lake.
Xiao Jingduo had never been a talkative person. Rong Ke, on the other hand, had grown up accustomed to controlling the pace of any conversation due to her unique upbringing. Whenever she was alone with Xiao Jingduo, it was always her who started the dialogue. But today, she felt like being quiet. After walking halfway around the southern lake in silence, she couldn’t take it anymore. She gave up. If Xiao Jingduo didn’t speak, he truly wouldn’t say a word, and even she couldn’t bear the silence. Finally, she broke it herself.
“It’s already April. The Ministry of Personnel’s appointments are less than a month away. How are your preparations?”
The imperial examinations were overseen by the Ministry of Rites, but the subsequent appointment of positions for successful candidates fell under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Personnel. Not all successful examinees would be assigned a post. Official appointments were a matter of national significance. From the beginning of the new year, the Ministry of Personnel would send notices to all provincial offices, requiring all officials to submit performance evaluations. Promotions, demotions, transfers, and dismissals were based on these evaluations. Once the ministry had assessed the evaluations, they would also calculate the vacancies in each office, and positions for the May appointments would be allocated accordingly.
Thus, for a newly minted jinshi, securing a position wasn’t just about passing the Ministry of Personnel’s selection test; it also required the right vacancies to be available. As such, securing a post often felt like a game of chance. It wasn’t uncommon for scholars to toil through the exams, only to be rejected during the Ministry’s selection process, forcing them to start all over again the following year. If luck was particularly poor and there was no family influence to help, one might fail repeatedly over several years.
Therefore, during the selection season, jinshi would do whatever they could to gain an advantage—some relied on connections, while others sought to pull strings, each employing their own methods.
Xiao Jingduo was the legitimate eldest son of Marquis Dingyong, so Rong Ke assumed his family would make arrangements on his behalf.
Xiao Jingduo caught the implied question behind her words. Internally, he sighed. It seemed even Rong Ke could miscalculate sometimes. He couldn’t count on his family to help; he’d be lucky if they didn’t actively sabotage him.
Ever since Zhao Xiulan’s death, when Xiao Jingduo had gone to Qingyuan Temple to mourn, he had become tightly bound to the Eastern Palace. The Crown Prince had indeed helped Xiao Jingduo significantly, and when Xiao Jingduo eventually entered officialdom, it was clear he would be firmly aligned with the Crown Prince’s faction.
In truth, while it was the Crown Prince who had done much for Xiao Jingduo, he was actually more familiar with Rong Ke. Ever since their first encounter years ago at the Zhao State Duke’s manor, Rong Ke had been the one to handle matters with Xiao Jingduo directly, from the poisonous bees in the Buddhist hall, the plague in Chang’an, the murder case at the Imperial Academy, to the recent imperial examination scandal. Xiao Jingduo had grown accustomed to reporting everything to Rong Ke. Take the cheating incident, for example: although Rong Ke tested him with a fake note, she ultimately trusted him. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have taken on the matter herself.
So rather than saying Xiao Jingduo was indebted to the Crown Prince, it was more accurate to say he was indebted to Rong Ke. She had provided him with countless opportunities. From their very first meeting, Xiao Jingduo had vowed to repay her, but as the years passed, the debts he owed her only grew, while the chance to repay them seemed ever more distant.
Rong Ke was a princess admired and revered by all. Even the imperial sons and grandsons like Prince Liang would do whatever she asked. Xiao Jingduo truly couldn’t fathom what he could offer Rong Ke in return.
Walking ahead, Rong Ke was unaware of Xiao Jingduo’s internal musings. Seeing him remain silent, she assumed he was anxious about the upcoming selection in May and hinted, “The Ministry of Personnel’s appointments focus on shen, yan, shu, and pan. You should practice your calligraphy and essays in the coming days. As for virtue and reputation, you needn’t worry.”
The phrase shen, yan, shu, pan referred to evaluating a candidate’s appearance (shen), speech and demeanor (yan), calligraphy (shu), and ability to compose clear and logical writing (pan). For Xiao Jingduo, none of these posed a problem. However, beyond these basic standards, the Ministry would also consider one’s virtue, reputation, and talents, as well as whether there were suitable vacancies in the government. It wasn’t surprising that Xiao Jing had used the selection process to threaten Xiao Jingduo; without family connections to smooth things over, the likelihood of being rejected was high.
Yet here Rong Ke was, confidently stating that focusing on calligraphy and essays was enough, indicating she had a solid plan for May’s selection. Rong Ke wasn’t one to make baseless claims. She always acted with thorough preparation, and if she wasn’t entirely certain, she wouldn’t speak so decisively.
Although Xiao Jingduo didn’t respond aloud, he was already pondering what Rong Ke might be planning—or had already done.
“Commandery Princess, what do you mean by that?”
Rong Ke had always been pleased with Xiao Jingduo’s quick thinking. She often spoke in halves, trusting him to deduce the rest. Given that Xiao Jingduo was reliable, she didn’t mind revealing certain confidential matters to him. She explained, “My third maternal uncle is fond of traveling and indulging in leisure, to the point where even my grandfather can’t control him. Recently, while he was in Jiangzhou on a whim, he stumbled upon something significant. Once he returns, the selection process will be much easier for all of you.”
Her words were cryptic, but Xiao Jingduo recalled the note Cheng Huizhen had written in February. A vague yet remarkable suspicion began to form in his mind.
“Commandery Princess, could it be—”
Rong Ke smiled faintly and didn’t answer, but her silence was enough. Xiao Jingduo understood and refrained from pressing further.
Xia Zhiheng (Xia Sanlang) was from the Crown Princess’s maternal family. Without any apparent reason, why would he travel all the way to Jiangzhou? Even if he had a penchant for sightseeing, it still didn’t add up. Most likely, Cheng Huizhen had unintentionally hinted at some yet-to-occur significant court event on her leaked exam note, which Rong Ke had astutely picked up on. This prompted her to send her third uncle to Jiangzhou to investigate. If he succeeded, it would be a major achievement for the Crown Prince. If he failed, it would just seem like Xia Zhiheng had taken an official-funded leisure trip, causing no harm to the Crown Prince’s standing, either publicly or privately.
But if Rong Ke was saying that once her third uncle returned, the selection process for their batch of candidates would be smooth, didn’t this imply that Jiangzhou might see a mass dismissal of officials, opening up numerous vacant positions for new appointees like them?
The more Xiao Jingduo thought about it, the more alarmed he became. He realized this matter was of great significance. So far, it was likely a confidential strategy within the Eastern Palace. Yet Rong Ke had chosen to share it with him, a gesture of trust that deeply moved him.
For a moment, Xiao Jingduo was at a loss for words.
Seeing that he had pieced things together, Rong Ke decided not to elaborate further. A few days ago, Xia Zhiheng had sent back a report confirming that Jiangzhou indeed had issues. The local officials, in pursuit of better performance evaluations, had concealed a flood disaster. After thorough investigations, Xia Zhiheng had gathered irrefutable evidence and reported it to the Crown Prince. Based on the timeline, he should already have departed Jiangzhou for the capital. Of course, the officials in Jiangzhou weren’t fools, and his journey back would likely be fraught with peril.
But from Rong Ke’s perspective, such obstacles were inconsequential.
Thanks to Rong Ke’s efforts, Xiao Jingduo felt much more assured about the May selection process. He couldn’t help but marvel at her remarkable intellect. How Rong Ke had managed to deduce such a complex situation from a few vague lines on Cheng Huizhen’s note was beyond him.
Given the talk of foresight, Xiao Jingduo took the opportunity to bring up Cheng Huizhen. “Commandery Princess, about my cousin Cheng and her maidservant—”
“You don’t need to concern yourself with that; I’ve made arrangements.” Rong Ke turned her head slightly to glance at him, then added, as if worried, “I heard your family is arranging a marriage for you and your cousin. You’re not seriously considering it, are you?”
“Absolutely not,” Xiao Jingduo replied without hesitation. He had only just managed to distance himself from Cheng Huizhen, who was nothing short of a troublesome burden. Now that Rong Ke was willing to handle her, he couldn’t have been more relieved. Yet, somehow, Rong Ke’s comment had completely caught him off guard.
Seeing that he had no such intentions, Rong Ke relaxed. “Even though your family is discussing a match for you, your cousin is not a suitable choice. Until Xia Feng and her associates fully uncover her background, it’s best that she doesn’t marry anyone.”
Someone with the ability to foresee events could be both a temptation and a threat to those in power. Until Rong Ke could determine how much Cheng Huizhen knew, what she intended to do, and whether she posed a risk to the court or the Eastern Palace, there was no way she would allow Cheng Huizhen to marry.
For now, Cheng Huizhen was confined to her role as a sheltered young woman, with limited social interactions. But if she carried her secrets into her husband’s household, who knew what consequences might arise?
Rong Ke would not allow such uncertainties to unfold under her watch.
Xiao Jingduo didn’t quite understand how such matters had reached Rong Ke’s ears, but recalling the spies around Cheng Huizhen, he figured there might be more than one planted near her. That thought put him at ease. However, it was a matter that needed clarity, so Xiao Jingduo added a few more words of explanation: “This was merely my family acting on their own. I have no intention of marrying.”
Rong Ke nodded. “That’s good.”
Perhaps even Rong Ke found the topic rather peculiar, so she didn’t pursue it further. Once Rong Ke stopped speaking, silence fell between them again. During their earlier conversation, the quiet had gone unnoticed. But now, with the stillness settling in, Xiao Jingduo realized they had walked for quite some time—nearly halfway around the lake.
So many things had passed without them even realizing it.
Rong Ke seemed to have reflected on this as well, and she said with some emotion, “I remember when I first met you—you were so reckless. I never thought that so many years would pass.” In the blink of an eye, they were both old enough to be discussing marriage.
Yes, it had already been eight years since he and Rong Ke had first met.
Xiao Jingduo also recalled their first encounter. He had been busy trying to shake off pursuers and had accidentally knocked the commandery princess to the ground. It had been entirely his fault, so he had silently endured her calling him reckless.
Eight years had flown by. Though saying so might annoy Rong Ke, Xiao Jingduo truly felt as if he had watched her grow up. From her initial despair and isolation upon arriving in the capital to her desperate gamble at Qingyuan Temple, and now to her current brilliance as he celebrated his own success in the imperial exams, every turning point in his life had Rong Ke’s presence. But now, Rong Ke had grown up. She would soon embark on her own life path.
Lost in thought, Xiao Jingduo remained silent. Rong Ke assumed he was still worried about the selection process and graciously reassured him, “There’s no need to fret about the official appointments. The Ministry of Personnel will handle it.”
Xiao Jingduo merely smiled without responding.
The bustling month of April soon came to an end. At the close of the month, Xia Zhiheng, returned from his travels, bringing with him news of a shocking case in Jiangzhou that shook the entire court.
This year, many areas in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River had suffered from floods. Only Jiangzhou seemed to have been spared, with its officials being praised for their excellent governance. The court had even prepared an edict of commendation. Yet, no one could have imagined the shocking truth.
Jiangzhou had not avoided disaster. Instead, its officials had confined the affected citizens, silencing them and blocking any reports from reaching the central government, all to protect their own reputations and earn accolades.
Officials from the Three Departments and Six Ministries were stunned by the audacity of the Jiangzhou administration. Enraged, the emperor ordered the immediate execution of the Jiangzhou governor. Others involved faced either beheading or exile, and the entire Jiangzhou officialdom was thoroughly purged.
This major case coincided with the timing of official appointments for the new jinshi graduates, leading many veteran court officials to privately marvel at this cohort’s extraordinary luck. With a major vacancy in Jiangzhou, numerous officials were reassigned to fill positions there, creating openings both in Chang’an and in various provinces.
In this world, cause and effect cycle endlessly, and it’s difficult to untangle their threads. Cheng Huizhen, knowing things about the future, had written a note in secret, hoping to use it to assist Xiao Jingduo. However, the note ended up in Rong Ke’s hands by sheer chance. Prompted by its content, Rong Ke had sent Xia Zhiheng to investigate Jiangzhou, ultimately uncovering the Jiangzhou case and bringing about the exact outcome Cheng Huizhen had remembered.
Who, then, was the cause, and who was the effect?
Yet few knew the truth behind these events. What truly captured the attention, curiosity, and conversation of the people was the impending jinshi appointment evaluations.
In Marquis Dingyong’s residence, a maid hurried into the inner room, suppressing her excitement as she bowed and said to Wu Junru, “Madam, the Wu family has sent a reply.”
T/N:
In Chapter 48, I translated Rong Ke’s third maternal uncle’s name as “Xia Sanlang”, but that is actually his title, meaning, “Third Young Master of the Xia family”. His name is actually Xia Zhiheng, as I corrected here.
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