Princess Lin’an was the Emperor’s full-blooded younger sister.
She was now sixteen years old.
The Empress Dowager had long been worried about her marriage, having considered many candidates, yet none had caught her eye.
She planned to wait until this year’s imperial examinations concluded to seek out promising young men again.
Unexpectedly, she truly found one she favored.
The top scholar, a mere fifteen years old. The Empress Dowager had even specially sent people to inquire about him. This top scholar had achieved first place in every examination along his path.
During the provincial exams, he had already caught the attention of the Grand Tutor due to a brilliantly composed, magnificent essay.
The Empress Dowager was no ordinary woman confined to the inner chambers. Within the palace, few matters could be hidden from her besides those concerning the Emperor.
She knew that during the palace examination, the top scholar’s policy discussion had astonished all the presiding examiners present.
This was a truly erudite and talented youth.
Especially since the Empress Dowager had even taken Princess Lin’an to watch the top scholar’s procession from the city gate tower.
Not to mention Princess Lin’an, even the Empress Dowager herself was startled by this handsome top scholar.
Later, the Empress Dowager specially sought out the Grand Tutor and discovered that he also had intentions of betrothing his granddaughter to the Fourth Young Master Ye. She immediately sent someone to inform the Emperor of this matter.
However, she had waited until now without receiving any imperial decree from the Emperor. Growing impatient, the Empress Dowager came directly to see the Emperor.
She feared that if she waited any longer, given the top scholar’s appearance and status, he might soon become betrothed.
Duan Yunxiu sat at his desk. Seeing the Empress Dowager arrive, he stood up and performed a bow of respect.
Upon hearing the Empress Dowager’s words, his sharp, cold eyes darkened slightly. “I have already made a decision regarding Lin’an’s marriage. This year’s second-rank scholar, Li Tianxu, is twenty years old, devoted to his studies, has neither wife nor concubines, and his family harbors no harsh elders. His age is quite suitable for Lin’an. I have already drafted the imperial decree. Would Mother care to review it?”
As he spoke, he waved his hand, instructing someone to present the decree to the Empress Dowager.
The Empress Dowager immediately frowned. “Why the second-rank scholar? I think the top scholar is excellent. Lin’an also likes him very much.”
“Mother, you are unaware,” Duan Yunxiu narrowed his eyes, his slender fingers setting the decree aside. “That top scholar is not suitable for marriage.”
“Why isn’t he suitable?” The Empress Dowager hadn’t expected the Emperor to deceive her. “Has the Grand Tutor already discussed marriage with the Ye family before me? He moves quite swiftly then.”
After all, he doted on Lin’an as well.
However, the Empress Dowager did not anticipate that there are always some people who, upon encountering another, find all their principles significantly compromised.
“He…” Duan Yunxiu lowered his gaze. Hearing that the Grand Tutor and others also had designs on the top scholar, he paused. “He is highly unsuitable. He is soon to depart for the frontier with General Yang’s son. Could you bear to let Lin’an suffer such hardship?”
“The frontier? You’re sending the top scholar to the battlefield?” The Empress Dowager wore an expression as if she had seen a ghost. Seeing the Emperor showed no sign of jesting, she cautiously asked, “Has this top scholar offended you?”
This was something unprecedented throughout history.
Offended him? How could that be? It was merely because this top scholar was not merely a pure scholar; his methods of warfare and strategy surpassed even Yang Ziji’s.
Yang Ziji had begged him for a long time, and Ye Shaohua herself was keen on the idea—she had long wanted to leave the capital for some real adventure—but Duan Yunxiu had not relented.
Unexpectedly, he was now relenting because of this matter.
Feeling inwardly irritable, upon hearing the Empress Dowager’s question, Duan Yunxiu replied directly, “Yes, he has offended me. Therefore, I am exiling the top scholar to the battlefield. Mother, are you still certain you wish to betroth Lin’an to him?”
Now the Empress Dowager hesitated.
She hadn’t anticipated this situation. A royal consort was naturally a good match, but a consort who had offended the Emperor…
After pondering for a while, she finally shook her head. “No, then. Let me examine this Li Tianxu’s circumstances. If he seems acceptable, then let it be him.”
However, she would likely need to return and counsel Princess Lin’an, whose eyes had clearly been glued to the top scholar that day.
The next day, the Emperor’s decree was announced.
To everyone’s astonishment, the second-rank scholar Li Tianxu was chosen as the royal consort and appointed to a sixth-rank position in the Hanlin Academy. It could be said he soared to great heights instantly.
The third-rank scholar also received a sixth-rank supplementary position.
Even Ye Shaoming, who ranked fourteenth, was granted a substantial seventh-rank civil post. At eighteen years old, securing such a civil position was no easy feat and offered good prospects for promotion.
Ye Jin went to Consort Mei’s courtyard again. Hearing that Consort Mei was not there, she went to Madame Ye’s place instead.
There, she heard the news of Ye Shaoming’s official appointment. “Third Sister congratulates Eldest Brother. From now on, you can serve in court alongside Father.”
Ye Jin said with a beaming, charming smile.
The Old Madam, however, found it somewhat strange. “What about Hua’er? He is the top scholar. If the second-rank scholar is a sixth-rank official, wouldn’t he be at least a fifth-rank supplementary position?”
A fifteen-year-old fifth-rank supplementary official would be the first of its kind in the dynasty.
The Old Madam grew excited just thinking about it.
Hearing the Old Madam’s words, Ye Shaoming’s smile faded considerably. “According to the official who proclaimed the decree, Fourth Brother is to be exiled to the frontier to accompany Young General Yang. Those barbarians have been causing trouble again recently.”
“What? Exiled to the frontier?” The Old Madam was stunned.
Ye Jin was momentarily stunned too, then felt a sudden surge of joy. However, she knew she couldn’t show it, so she wore a concerned expression instead. “I heard earlier that His Majesty intended to make Fourth Younger Brother a royal consort. How has he now been exiled to the frontier? Once he goes, when will he ever return?”
Ye Shaoming shook his head. “I don’t know either. But he likely won’t return for a long time.”
All this while, as the legitimate eldest son, Ye Shaoming had been suppressed by the concubine’s son, Ye Shaohua, to the point where he could hardly lift his head. Unexpectedly, now that Ye Shaohua had achieved the top scholar title, he had incurred the Emperor’s displeasure.
Exiled to the frontier—putting aside other matters, one couldn’t even be sure if he would return alive. Ye Shaoming felt immensely gratified inside.
What use was achieving the top scholar title? He was still being trampled underfoot by me.
