In late September, it was time for the palace examination. Compared with the nervousness of Xu Changqian and Mrs. Xu, Xu Mingye looked calm and relaxed.
Before leaving, Mingyu pulled his brother to cheer him up, "Brother, don't worry." Mingyu patted his chest and said very considerately, "Even if... I can do business and make money, it won't be a problem to support you!"
Xu Mingye looked at his sister who was growing more and more beautiful, and didn't know whether to laugh or cry. He couldn't help but stretched out his hand and flicked Mingyu's forehead like he did when he was a child. His flick was very heavy, but when his finger touched Mingyu's forehead, it turned into a light flick. "Silly girl!" he said.
The results of the palace examination came out very quickly. Xu Mingye ranked eighth in the first class, while Qi Su ranked ninth in the first class. Those candidates who behaved too arrogantly and ostentatiously after the examination failed without exception.
Xu Changqian and Madam Xu were overjoyed. They had never thought that Xu Mingye would be among the top ten. Xu Mingye did not show it on his face, but he was very happy in his heart. He walked with a breeze these days, like a little cockerel holding his head high.
Mingyu secretly summed up that the reason why Xu Mingye was so happy was because he narrowly defeated Qi Su in the final round and the arrogant boy successfully counterattacked.
After the Gongshi pass the imperial examination, it is the happy but difficult time to wait for the assignment of work. According to Mingyu, in addition to relying on one's father, luck is also needed. The children of aristocratic families do not need to take the imperial examination to enter the officialdom. The children of aristocratic families who can pass the imperial examination are even more outstanding. The vacancies in the real power institutions are generally reserved for these people. Most of the Jinshi are self-made people with no connections. Generally speaking, they will start as low-level officials.
Let's not talk about the distant past. For example, Comrade Xu Changqian, after passing the imperial examination, was exiled to Lu'an as a seventh-rank county magistrate. In addition, he was a strict and rigid person. He was not good at scheming, so he stayed in Lu'an for nearly 20 years.
Xu Mingye certainly didn't have any connections, and the eldest wife of the Xu family had not been in the capital for long. Xu Changqian was not a person who would use connections, which worried Mrs. Xu. She was worried when her son was taking the exam, fearing that he would fail and wear down his spirit. When he passed the exam, she was still worried, fearing that her son would be like his father. He was assigned to a remote place as a county magistrate, and it was rare for him to go home for decades, making it difficult for his family to reunite.
She didn't expect her son to be successful, but only hoped that her family could live in peace and happiness.
These days, Madam Xu took Mingyu to the temple every day to burn incense and pray to the gods, hoping that the Bodhisattva would bless Xu Mingye to stay in Beijing and become an official, even if it was a lower rank, so that he would not be like Xu Changqian, who was assigned to a place thousands of miles away from home and rarely went home.
Xu Mingye has always been open-minded about this, and said with a smile: "Don't worry, mother. Just let it go as it should." Seeing that Mrs. Xu was still worried, Xu Mingye said: "It doesn't necessarily mean that they will hardly come back after being sent out. There are many people who have been sent out for two years and then transferred back to the capital."
Nowadays, thunder and rain are considered to be grace from the emperor. Xu Changqian is just a small official under the emperor. How can they be picky about him
The Xu family waited anxiously for two days. The result of the assignment came out. Xu Mingye became Cheng'an Sheren, a seventh-rank official. Although the official position was not high, it was at least a Beijing official, and he did not have to leave home to go to a foreign land. What made Xu Changqian most happy was that this Cheng'an Sheren was a censor, who could directly advise the emperor, and had great hope for promotion. Although it was not as good as those disciples of aristocratic families who were not as good as Xu Mingye and directly entered the actual vacancies, this result was already very good and a bit surprising.
After listening to her father's analysis, Mingyu wondered if it was because the emperor was concerned about their old friendship, so she thanked the emperor silently in secret.
Qi Su's official position was better than Xu Mingye's. He was promoted to the position of Tui Guan in the Ministry of Justice, a sixth-rank official, responsible for sentencing criminals. It was only at this meeting that Mingyu learned from the conversation between Xu Changqian and Xu Mingye that Qi Su's father died in office, and his mother also died early. He depended on his grandfather for life, and Lord Qi was a famous scholar with a high reputation.
I think the reason why Qi Su was able to get this sixth-rank magistrate position was because the emperor showed extra favor to him because of Mr. Qi's face. But Mingyu always felt it was not good. She thought that Brother Qi was always kind and gentle. It was really embarrassing to let such a kind and gentle old man be in charge of sentencing!
However, no matter what Mingyu thought, the imperial decree that had been issued could not be changed. The high-spirited scholars who had taken the exam together and passed the imperial examination together had to prepare for a tearful farewell just as they got to know each other. Those who should stay in Beijing stayed in Beijing, and those who should be sent out were sent out.
Just before the scholars were about to take up their posts, Xu Mingye and Mingyu received an invitation from Prince Li's palace, inviting them to the palace to appreciate the chrysanthemums and attend a banquet.
Xu Mingye was about to enter the official career, and he also wanted to get to know more people in official circles. After making inquiries, he found out that Prince Li had invited unmarried young officials, successful candidates in the imperial examination in autumn, and young ladies. He readily agreed and took his sister to Prince Li's mansion.
Xu Mingye hired a carriage and took Mingyu to the Prince Li's mansion in the south of the city. On the way, he told Mingyu in detail about the origin of Prince Li. Prince Li was the youngest son of Emperor Taizu Song Wei. When he was born, Song Wei was already 68 years old. According to the news from Lubianshe, when Prince Li was born, a Taoist who had been enlightened for many years came out and made a proverb, saying that Prince Li was the emperor's lucky star and could bring him more blessings and longevity.
Regardless of whether Song Wei really believed the Taoist's words or not, he did love Prince Li very much and kept him by his side. Unlike his brothers, who were sent to guard the border as soon as they reached adulthood and were not allowed to return to the capital without unexpected circumstances, Prince Li stayed in the capital and lived a rich and idle life beside the emperor.
Probably not dangerous, when he grew up, his brothers had grown up and even had grandchildren, and they didn't regard this too young brother as a competitor for the throne. After three emperors, Prince Li was not young anymore, but he was still a rich and idle man. Now that he had nothing to do, Prince Li liked to act as a matchmaker.
Prince Li's Mansion was not as large, magnificent and luxurious as Mingyu had imagined, but it was elegantly decorated, revealing a sense of leisurely elegance everywhere. As soon as you enter the door, you will see a screen wall made of light yellow chrysanthemums with lush green leaves, which is very beautiful.
Mingyu was standing behind Xu Mingye, staring at the fresh chrysanthemums in a trance, when she heard a crisp voice beside her calling out, "Mingyu!"
Mingyu turned around and saw that it was Fu Lemei whom she hadn't seen for a long time. She exclaimed in surprise: "It's you!"
Seeing that Mingyu still remembered her, Fu Lemei smiled happily and led her maid Cui'er to walk a few steps towards Mingyu. The golden hairpin hanging by her ear swayed, looking playful and cute.
Mingyu pulled Fu Lemei to Xu Mingye and said with a smile, "This is my brother, Xu Mingye."
When Fu Lemei looked up, she saw a fair-skinned young man with picturesque eyebrows and eyes, wearing a blue gauze robe, with black hair tied up on top of his head. He was handsome and elegant, and his every move was free and unrestrained. Her face turned red in an instant, and she lowered her head in panic, her heart beating like a deer.
Mingyu was trying not to laugh. She had been so careless and reckless a few days ago, but now she was shy when she saw the real person. "Hey." Mingyu leaned close to Fu Lemei's ear and teased, "Aren't you going to settle accounts with my brother? Now I've brought him here."
Fu Lemei's ears were bleeding from embarrassment. She never expected Xu Mingye to be such a romantic and handsome man. The Xu Mingye she imagined was a nasty guy with a pointed face and a lot of evil thoughts! But think about it, sister Mingyu is so pretty, and Madam Xu is also a beauty, how bad can Xu Mingye be
Xu Mingye had no idea that the pretty and cheerful girl with a red face in front of him was the unreasonable "shrew" Miss Fu, who he had stabbed countless times in his heart and defined as a five-star dangerous index. In front of outsiders, he was always the dashing, handsome and talented Mr. Xu. He bowed on the spot and said with a smile: "Miss, Xu Mingye is polite. Mingyu rarely goes out to play, and she has few friends in Beijing. Please take care of her. Mingye will take his leave first."
After saying that, Xu Mingye left in a graceful manner, leaving Miss Fu with a handsome back.
Fu Lemei touched her hot face, pinched Mingyu's sleeve, and stammered, "You didn't tell your brother who I am, did you?"
Mingyu shook her head and said very honestly, "I was just about to say it, but you came over, so I didn't get to say it."
Fu Lemei finally breathed a sigh of relief, and pulled Mingyu inside as if she knew the way. She smiled and said, "It just so happens that a good friend of mine is here too. I'll introduce her to you." After a while, she couldn't help but blush and mutter, "Your brother looks a lot like you, both are so handsome."
Mingyu looked at Fu Lemei's red face with a smile and said, "Isn't it natural for a brother to look like his sister?"
"No way!" Fu Lemei snorted, "I have four brothers and three cousins, and none of them look like me!"
Cui Er at the side also said: "Yes, the four young masters all look like the master, not like the mistress and the young lady."
Oh my god! Miss Fu actually has four brothers!
Seeing the surprise in Mingyu's eyes, Fu Lemei smiled and said, "It's rare, right? There are eight children in my family and my second uncle's family, and I'm the only girl. Alas, I've wanted a sister since I was a child, but unfortunately I don't have one!"
No wonder Miss Fu has such a boyish temper, Mingyu thought with a smile.
They walked a short distance before arriving at the chrysanthemum garden of Prince Li's mansion. The entire yard was filled with chrysanthemums in full bloom, and Mingyu was dazzled by the sight.
Fu Lemei raised her handkerchief and called to a pink-dressed girl who was bending over to smell the fragrance of flowers not far away, "Fengqin! Come here quickly!"
The girl named Fengqin stood up after hearing this, smiled at Fu Lemei, and walked over. Seeing that Mingyu was a stranger, she bowed and asked, "Who is..."
Fu Lemei smiled and said, "I was just about to introduce her to you. This is my new friend. Her name is Xu Mingyu."
"Xu Mingyu?" Fengqin frowned and chewed on the name carefully. Her face changed and she asked bluntly, "Is it the Xu Mingyu who divorced Lord Anxi?"