First Phoenix Lady - Chapter 27

Shi Chengxuan felt exactly the same.

Although he had already tried to make amends, every teahouse and book hall in town was talking about how the Marquis Mansion was bullying others with its power. Clearly, it was the young lady of the Wei family who sent people to save someone, yet the Marquis Mansion falsely accused her instead.

The storytellers even turned Concubine Wen’s incitement of the servants to cause trouble, and her owing wages to the commoners which ended up in the magistrate’s office, into anecdotes. For a time, the entire Capital was abuzz with talk of how the Jian’an Marquis Mansion acted shamelessly.

Under such circumstances, it was hardly likely that someone as concerned with his reputation as Jiang Youshen would consider his interests.

Mother and son were in the midst of criticizing Concubine Wen’s misdeeds when Shi Anxia entered the room, her face beaming with joy.

She first greeted her Grandmother and father, then said cheerfully, “Congratulations, Father!”

Shi Chengxuan looked weary and dispirited. “What is there to congratulate?”

Shi Anxia sat beside Old Madam Shi’s soft couch and smiled. “Father has been transferred to the Hanlin Academy. Isn’t that something to be happy about?”

“A lateral move.” Shi Chengxuan waved his hand. “It’s nothing worth mentioning, not as good as the Ministry of Rites.”

In his view, at least in the Ministry of Rites, there were some benefits to be gained. The Hanlin Academy, that wretched place, had no perks at all.

Shi Anxia replied seriously, “That’s not quite right. Think about it, Father-aside from the military generals, how many high-ranking ministers haven’t spent time in the Hanlin Academy?”

“Is that so?” Shi Chengxuan sat up, puzzled.

Shi Anxia nodded. “It’s no secret. Father can easily ask around and find out. Let me ask you, Father, who are the scholars assigned under you?”

Shi Chengxuan thought for a while. “There seems to be someone named… something Xian?”

“Zhu Yuxian, eighteenth on the Jinshi List two years ago.” Shi Anxia’s eyes sparkled.

By the time she became Empress Dowager, this gentleman was already dedicated to drafting her imperial edicts and participating in many major decisions.

Shi Chengxuan sat up straighter and thought again. “There’s also someone named Wu Lin?”

“Wu Changlin, tenth on the Jinshi List two years ago.”

This person later became a Censor, famous for his cold demeanor and refusal to show favoritism, so upright it made people resent him.

He was once demoted by Emperor Rongguang to serve as prefect of Mo Zhou, where he worked diligently for five or six years, turning the barren Mo Zhou into a border stronghold as solid as a rock for the Northern Wing.

When she personally issued the decree to recall Wu Changlin to the Capital, it was said that the people of Mo Zhou knelt along the ten-mile street to see him off, a truly moving scene.

Shi Chengxuan became interested. “And, and there’s someone named… Huang Yue?”

“Huang Xingyue, sixty-second on the Jinshi List two years ago.”

This person was quite interesting. His poetry and prose were outstanding, and he was proud and unyielding-those were the flattering words.

To put it less kindly, although he wrote excellent essays, he was poor at social interactions and indifferent to current affairs, making it hard for him to find a place in the court.

He was poor, yet traveled on foot throughout the Northern Wing, wandering through countless city alleys. He understood the people’s hardships, yet turned a blind eye to them, causing his career to stagnate.

In short, give him a romantic or travel-themed assignment, and he would produce a dazzling, ornate poem or essay. But when it came to policy discussions on governing the country, he was rather dull.

Used well, such a person could be ornamental; used poorly, he could easily cause trouble.

Shi Chengxuan named a few more people, all of whom were old acquaintances from Shi Anxia’s previous life.

She understood then that although Jiang Youshen seemed not to be helping, he was actually repaying a favor.

Only someone as shortsighted as Shi Chengxuan would think that promotion was the only way forward.

In her previous life, under Old Madam Shi’s maneuvering, Shi Chengxuan used her status as Prince Jin’s Side Consort to transfer from the Ministry of Rites to the Ministry of Personnel, enjoying a period of glory.

In the end, it led to disaster, making it difficult for her to move forward as well.
Now, as long as she kept her father in check, this lifetime would see fewer disasters.

Old Madam Shi listened to Shi Anxia’s analysis, and her mood seemed to improve greatly. “Listening to Xia, your father seems to have landed in a good place?”

“Of course.” Shi Anxia laid the groundwork first. “After Father goes over, he should speak less and read more. Those scholars know what they need to do themselves, so you shouldn’t interfere too much. Just pay attention to their daily lives, that’s enough. Oh, and don’t take them out drinking or eating meat, and definitely don’t go to… well, any unsavory places.”

Shi Chengxuan’s eyes sparkled with foolishness, and he only remembered three words: “Read more books?”

Others might strain their eyes reading, but for him, it was a matter of life and death!

Shi Anxia hurried to reassure him, “It’s fine if you don’t read. Just stay in your own place and don’t disturb them. Mother said, if you behave and don’t cause trouble everywhere, she can guarantee your steady promotion.”

No matter how much she said, nothing worked better than those last few sentences.

Shi Chengxuan’s eyes lit up. “Really?”

Shi Anxia nodded sincerely. “That’s what Mother said.”

“Alright!” Shi Chengxuan patted his chest. “Today I’ll go rest in your mother’s courtyard.”

Shi Anxia: “……” That’s really not necessary!

She thought carefully about her words. “Mother has just suffered the pain of losing a son and is preparing to observe a hundred days of vegetarian fasting and prayer. Father, you’d better not disturb her spiritual retreat.”

“I see,” Shi Chengxuan didn’t dwell on it, “Fine, then ask your mother to take care of herself. I’ll officially take up my post tomorrow.”

“May Father have all his wishes fulfilled at the Hanlin Academy.” Shi Anxia was obedient.

But Shi Chengxuan was puzzled. “By the way, how does a young girl like you know about the people at the Hanlin Academy?”

He couldn’t even remember all their names, yet his daughter could accurately recite the Jinshi List rankings from the year before last. It was unbelievable.

Shi Anxia was quite pleased with her photographic memory. She had just learned that her brother Shi Yunqi could do the same.

The siblings truly were favored by the heavens.

She had already thought up a reason, and her lie came smoothly. “Because Father was about to be promoted, Mother asked Aunt for the basic information on the Ministry of Rites officials, and I memorized it thoroughly. Also, since Brother Yun Qi will take the spring examination next year, Mother asked Aunt for the previous years’ exam questions and Jinshi List. I happen to have a good memory, so I remembered it all, and didn’t expect it to come in handy.”

Shi Chengxuan was stunned.

Old Madam Shi was also stunned.

The points that stunned them were all over the place.

Tang Chujun has become so attentive? Xia’s memory is so good? Qi will take the spring examination next year?

Suddenly, their blood was boiling-they, the Second Branch, were finally doing something proper!

Old Madam Shi especially felt a sudden urge to cry.

Since she married into the Marquis Mansion, there hadn’t been a single day without worry, not a single day without anxiety.

No matter how she schemed, it always felt hopeless.

A mediocre husband, an incompetent son, a useless grandson-who could understand the bitterness in her heart!

At this moment, Concubine Wen lifted the curtain and entered. “Greetings to Aunt. Oh, the Master is here too. Perfect, I have something to discuss with you.”

Shi Chengxuan frowned, his face full of disdain. “What could you possibly have to discuss?”

Concubine Wen had been dizzy from the recent account investigations and urgently needed to do something big to divert Old Madam Shi’s attention, while also restoring her image in Aunt and the Master’s eyes.

She lowered her gaze and spoke gently, “I heard the Master has been transferred to the Hanlin Academy. I thought, if it’s just a lateral transfer, perhaps we could ask Minister Yuan to arrange for you to be transferred to the Ministry of Revenue. I have some connections with Minister Yuan’s… wife…”