Minister of Personnel Feng Zhiyi said excitedly, “No! I have seen Princess Shengping. Princess Shengping is taller.”
Grand Secretary Zhang Jianming stared ahead and said in a low voice, “The only princess of the right age would be the newly found Princess Fuxi. This Princess Fuxi is actually... so intelligent. To understand the principles of money at such a young age—she is truly extraordinary.”
Minister of Personnel Feng Zhiyi nodded. “Indeed! If the method of commerce Princess Fuxi just described could truly be put into practice, it would be an achievement of immeasurable value to both the people and Great Zhou!”
Grand Secretary Zhang Jianming’s expression darkened. “Merchants are of lowly standing. How can Great Zhou possibly do such a thing?”
Minister of Personnel Feng Zhiyi sighed and looked toward the emperor and the little princess in his arms.
He only wanted to inch closer, quietly, so that he could listen more carefully to whatever insights the little princess might offer next.
He had once heard that Princess Shengping was exceptionally clever. Her tutor often praised her, even claiming that her learning and talent would one day rival that of the successful candidates of the imperial examinations.
Yet now, this newly found Princess Fuxi was just as bright and quick-witted—perhaps even more clear-sighted than these old ministers. Her words surpassed those of the examination candidates who debated learnedly, and she possessed the pure, compassionate heart of one who cared for the common people.
How could they not be astonished?
If Princess Fuxi had been a prince, Great Zhou would surely have endured for a thousand generations, ushering in an age of lasting peace and prosperity.
What a pity...
They could only hope that the emperor’s other princes would display such gifts in the future.
If that truly came to pass, then these old ministers would be willing to die at once without regret.
Dantai Ji looked at his daughter’s childish face, his heart pounding heavily in his chest.
His daughter with Yin'er was actually so intelligent! At such a tender age, she already possessed such insight!
Yin'er had often told him that their daughter had been clever since childhood. At two or three, she could already read; she memorized texts faster than anyone else, even faster than the Cui family’s eldest son.
At the time, he had merely thought Huaiyin loved her daughter too dearly and therefore believed everything she did to be the very best.
All mothers were like that—they all believed their own children to be the finest and brightest.
But now, he felt that Huaiyin had been far too modest.
Their daughter, Yaoyao, was not only well-mannered and kind-hearted, but also possessed a rare talent for governing the realm!
Given time and careful instruction, in just a few years, she would surely be inferior to no one.
As he was lost in these excited thoughts, a gust of wind blew in from behind him, and two familiar voices suddenly reached his ears, murmuring to one another.
Dantai Ji held his daughter closer and turned around. There stood Grand Secretary Zhang Jianming and Minister of Personnel Feng Zhiyi behind him, half-hidden beside two pillars, solemnly discussing something.
When they saw him looking over, both men promptly straightened their backs, stepped out from behind the pillars where they had been hiding, and composedly adjusted their sleeves. Then they bowed to him.
“Your Majesty,” they said, “this minister Zhang Jianming and this minister Feng Zhiyi pay their respects.”
A vein throbbed at Dantai Ji’s temple. He handed his soft, sweet little daughter to Wang Zhong behind him and addressed the two elderly ministers with imperial gravity.
“Grand Secretary Zhang, Minister Feng, what urgent matter brings you to seek an audience with Us?”
Grand Secretary Zhang Jianming raised the register in his hand. “This is the list of this year’s two hundred and ten successful metropolitan graduates. Minister Feng and I have assigned them to the various prefectures and counties according to their native places and abilities. We ask Your Majesty to review and approve it.”
Dantai Ji instructed another eunuch at his side to take the register. Addressing Zhang Jianming and Feng Zhiyi with relative mildness, he said, “The hour is late. You two have worked hard all day. It is time you left court and returned home to spend time with your children and families.”
Grand Secretary Zhang Jianming lifted his head, neither servile nor overbearing. “Your Majesty, the appointments of the new graduates are a matter of great importance to the court. They require Your Majesty’s personal decision.”
Dantai Ji frowned. This old fossil always kept him occupied for more than half an hour after court had ended.
“There is no hurry. We can discuss it tomorrow.”
Grand Secretary Zhang Jianming said, “It is still early. This old minister and the Minister of Personnel are both here. Why not settle the matter today, and thereby put the students’ minds at ease?”
Dantai Ji’s expression darkened slightly. With a sweep of his sleeve, he relented. “Prepare to proceed to the Wenyuan Pavilion for deliberations!”
Rong Yao’s eyes lit up. She shifted on her seat, ready to follow behind her father and listen to what they would discuss.
But just as she took a few small steps toward him, intending to tug at his sleeve and quietly trail along, the Grand Secretary spoke.
“Your Majesty, the little princess is still young and ought to return early to rest. Besides, women of the inner palace must not interfere in state affairs.”
Rong Yao froze mid-step.
Dantai Ji turned to look at his daughter, whose eyes brimmed with hope and silent pleading. Then he turned back and swept her into his arms. “The princess is still young. It cannot be considered interference in state affairs.”
With that, Dantai Ji carried Rong Yao toward the Wenyuan Pavilion, leaving no room for argument.
Grand Secretary Zhang Jianming stared ahead, his brows deeply furrowed.
Minister of Personnel Feng Zhiyi patted the Grand Secretary on the shoulder. “Grand Secretary, the little princess truly is still very young. Even if she hears where this year’s graduates are to be assigned, no harm will come of it. Do not cling too closely to old conventions. Besides, this matter is no secret. Once today’s discussion is settled, by tomorrow it will have spread throughout the capital to anyone who wishes to know.”
With his hands clasped behind his back, Grand Secretary Zhang Jianming looked up at the sky and said solemnly, “I fear that if His Majesty breaks the rules this time, there will be a next time—and another after that.”
Minister of Personnel Feng Zhiyi replied, “You worry too much, Grand Secretary. His Majesty is a wise ruler. He would never do anything harmful to the foundations of the realm.”
Watching the noble father and daughter ahead of them, Grand Secretary Zhang Jianming murmured, “I hope I am overthinking it.”
Wenyuan Pavilion.
Rong Yao sat obediently on a small stool at the far side, listening as the Grand Secretary and the Minister of Personnel reported on government affairs to her father.
Though there was much she did not understand, she remembered every word.
She heard the Minister of Personnel explain that, apart from the top three palace graduates—the first-ranked scholar, second-ranked scholar, and third-ranked scholar—
most of the newly successful graduates would be assigned to the Six Ministries, the Censorate, the Court of Judicial Review, and other offices for roughly three years of probationary service. There, they would familiarize themselves with government affairs and have their conduct observed before receiving official appointments.
Others would be posted to local offices as prefects, county magistrates, and the like.
This year, Top-ranked palace graduate Han Yue had been appointed a Compiler in the Hanlin Academy, a rank-six post.
The second- and third-ranked graduates, meanwhile, were to be appointed as Editors in the Hanlin Academy, rank seven.
That had been the original arrangement.
But after hearing it, the Grand Secretary disagreed.
“Third-ranked palace graduate Fan Xiuwen is indeed a man of talent. Everything he has argued concerns the country and its people; he possesses the ability to govern the realm. But he is only sixteen. I fear that gaining fame and profit at such a young age will foster arrogance in him, make him think too highly of himself, and lead him astray in the years to come. In my opinion, he should first be sent to serve in the provinces for several years. Once he returns to the capital, he will surely understand the hardships of ordinary people and remain true to his original aspirations.”
At the mention of Third-ranked palace graduate Fan Xiuwen, Rong Yao, who had been sitting obediently on a little stool, suddenly widened her eyes and nearly sprang to her feet.
Third-ranked palace graduate Fan Xiuwen.
Fan Xiuwen...
The Minister of Personnel disagreed. “How can Grand Secretary Zhang Jianming show such favoritism? Traditionally, all of the top three palace graduates enter the Hanlin Academy. Yet because Fan Xiuwen is young, he is to be sent away from the capital. Grand Secretary Zhang cannot bully him merely because of his age.”
Grand Secretary Zhang Jianming straightened his back, his face flushing with agitation. “How could I possibly bully a young man? I cherish talent—cherish talent! At such a tender age, he already possesses the ability to govern the realm. During the palace examination, he was neither servile nor overbearing, calm and composed. His answers were profound in vision; he is no ordinary man! But he is simply too young. The splendor of the capital is most likely to dazzle his eyes, causing him to forget his original intentions and become greedy for pleasure, unaware of how difficult the world truly is. My request that he be sent to a prefecture or county as a magistrate is precisely meant to temper him. Three years in an impoverished land will surely let him experience the hardships and struggles of the common people. He will care for them all the more, and he will mature quickly amid adversity!”
Minister of Personnel Feng Zhiyi opened his mouth, intending to argue further, but for a moment, he could find no words.
It was true enough: beyond the capital, one could better temper one’s character. That was beyond dispute.
This Grand Secretary Zhang Jianming clearly thought highly of Fan Xiuwen. He was likely hoping to cultivate him as his successor.
What more could Feng Zhiyi say...?
After Grand Secretary Zhang Jianming and Minister of Personnel Feng Zhiyi had finished their dispute, Zhang spoke once more, his tone firm as he kowtowed before the Emperor. “This old minister humbly petitions Your Majesty to appoint Fan Xiuwen as the seventh-rank county magistrate of Xinghua County.”
Dantai Ji rubbed his brow, then picked up his brush, dipped it in vermilion ink, and wrote his ruling on the memorial.
“Appoint Third-ranked palace graduate Fan Xiuwen as the seventh-rank magistrate of Xinghua County.”
Grand Secretary Zhang Jianming said, “This old minister thanks Your Majesty for Your Majesty’s appreciation of talent.”
As Rong Yao listened to them speaking one after another, she still had not recovered from hearing the name “Fan Xiuwen.”
Fan Xiuwen—it truly was Fan Xiuwen!
She had heard Fan Xiuwen’s story before.
For a long time in her previous life, everyone in the palace had talked about Fan Xiuwen.
Even Princess Shengping had sighed over this person for several days.
The one who had later thrown the court into utter turmoil was Fan Xiuwen.
And yet Fan Xiuwen was this year’s third-ranked palace graduate!
But Fan Xiuwen was not a man. She was a woman.
In her previous life, Rong Yao had heard people say that Fan Xiuwen was a once-in-a-century exemplary official. She had heard that Fan Xiuwen transformed impoverished Xinghua County into a prosperous place.
She had heard that, after returning to the capital, Fan Xiuwen entered the Ministry of Justice and exposed numerous corrupt officials. Upright and impartial, she did much for the people.
Her deeds were even compiled into books, making her a model for generations of officials.
Fan Xiuwen rose through the ranks step by step, soon becoming one of the court’s key ministers. She even entered the Grand Secretariat, only one step away from becoming Chief Grand Secretary.
The famously strict Grand Secretary Zhang Jianming had regarded her as his successor.
Everyone had believed that Fan Xiuwen would become the next Chief Grand Secretary.
But she heard that just as the court’s appointment decree was issued, Fan Xiuwen had removed her official hat and let down her hair, revealing her identity as a woman in the Golden Hall.
Afterward, she died—slitting her own throat with a knife on the floor of the Golden Hall.
