Chapter 65

Chapter 65

After the street parade came the moment every Jinshi most looked forward to.

Their official appointments.

The posts for those in the First Class were already fixed. Sheng Zhaoning had known from early on that she would be appointed Hanlin Academy Compiler, so she was not especially anxious or expectant.

After a full day of bustle, her entire body ached. She bathed early and went to rest.

She had not expected the edict of appointment to arrive so quickly.

“By His Majesty’s decree, the new Zhuangyuan, Sheng Zhaoning, is to receive the imperial edict.”

Early the next morning, a carriage from the palace drove straight into her residence.

The one who had come to read the edict was the chief eunuch who attended the Emperor of Wei, the highest-ranking of the inner officials: the grand supervising eunuch.

Sheng Zhaoning had known the appointments would be granted today, but she had not expected him to come in person. With no time to think, she lifted the hem of her robes and knelt to await the reading of the edict.

“We, bearing the mandate of Heaven, rule and shelter all lands. In this year’s Palace Examination, talents gathered in abundance, and men of worth and ability distinguished themselves. The Zhuangyuan, Sheng Zhaoning, is learned beyond measure and upright in character. Having read her writing, We find its language brilliant and its conception lofty; she is truly a pillar of the state. She is hereby appointed to the sixth-rank subordinate post of Hanlin Academy Compiler. May you serve with diligence and devotion, be loyal to your duties, aid governance with your writing, seek prosperity for the realm, and peace for all the people. So it is decreed!”

“This humble official, Sheng Zhaoning, deeply thanks Your Majesty for your boundless grace. Long live my emperor, long live, long live forever.” Sheng Zhaoning kowtowed in gratitude, then accepted the imperial edict with both hands.

Eunuch Zhou smiled warmly. “Lord Sheng, please rise.”

The unfamiliar form of address fell upon Sheng Zhaoning’s ears. Her fingers moved slightly, and an indescribable feeling flowed silently through her heart.

After the edict had been bestowed, she held an official post.

From this day forward, she was no longer nameless. She had passed as a Jinshi, emerged as the Zhuangyuan, and been personally appointed by the emperor’s own brush as a sixth-rank subordinate Hanlin Academy Compiler. From now on, there would be a place for her in the imperial court.

Sheng Zhaoning took out a red envelope containing a banknote and placed it in Eunuch Zhou’s hands. He accepted it with a smile.

“Lord Sheng, after receiving your appointment, you must still enter the palace with this servant to thank His Majesty for the edict. Tonight, the Ministry of Rites will host the Enrong Banquet. His Majesty has specially permitted it to be held within the palace. Please make your preparations. For today, remain in the palace first.”

Sheng Zhaoning nodded and answered, “Yes.”

The so-called Enrong Banquet was a feast held specifically for the newly successful Jinshi. In the past, it had always been held at the Ministry of Rites or the Hanlin Academy. For some reason, today it had been specially permitted to take place inside the palace.

Although the emperor would not attend the Enrong Banquet, all the officials involved in the examinations would come to offer congratulations. It was also a good opportunity for the newly successful Jinshi to become acquainted with officials from the various ministries in advance.

Sheng Zhaoning changed into a crimson Jinshi robe and followed the procession into the palace to give thanks.

At that moment, a fine rain drifted across the sky. Misty haze gathered in the air, mingling with the damp scent of earth and fresh grass to form the unique fragrance of spring.

Wang Zhuo and Yu Hongzhi also came one after another to thank the emperor in person.

After the Imperial Street Parade, the three of them had become relatively familiar with one another. They exchanged a few pleasantries at the entrance before someone came from within to summon them into the hall.

Because of the rainy weather, the light inside the hall was poor.

A single lamp had been lit on the imperial desk, illuminating the memorials stacked there in several thick piles.

The Emperor of Wei seemed to be in low spirits today, and the hall was dim and gloomy.

The three knelt and gave thanks. The Emperor of Wei showed little reaction and merely ordered that they be taken to Guanjing Tower on the eastern side of the imperial palace to rest briefly while they waited for the evening banquet to begin.

A young eunuch led the way, heading steadily east.

“I wonder whether the Crown Prince will attend today’s Enrong Banquet,” Wang Zhuo said quietly from beside Sheng Zhaoning.

Yu Hongzhi glanced up at him. “All the examiners for the Metropolitan Examination, along with the grading officials, will be present. Since the Crown Prince was one of the chief examiners, he may indeed come.”

Among the scholars of the realm, many admired the Crown Prince’s bearing. His reputation for virtue was widely known both in court and among the people, something exceedingly rare in any dynasty.

Generally speaking, no emperor could tolerate his own fame being overshadowed by his son. Yet the Emperor of Wei not only showed no anger over it, he was deeply gratified. More than once, he had praised the Crown Prince’s benevolence and virtue, as if he were deliberately paving the way for him to become a sage ruler.

Under such circumstances, with no struggle for imperial power and no suspicion between father and son, the Crown Prince seemed all the more like a clear moon and a fresh breeze: generous, gentle, a corrector of public morals, strict with himself, and a model for every scholar under Heaven.

“I truly wish I could see His Highness with my own eyes,” Wang Zhuo said with a sigh.

Yu Hongzhi looked just as expectant.

The eunuch leading the way remained silent throughout.

Sheng Zhaoning held an umbrella in her hand. Raindrops pattered against its surface, and beads of water ran down the ribs, a few splashing onto the hem of her robe and soaking a patch of crimson fabric.

She walked at the front. Ahead, the outline of Guanjing Tower gradually came into focus.

For some reason, Sheng Yuanzhong’s words suddenly rose in her mind again.

“Our ancestors left this instruction: any descendant of the Sheng Family who enters court as an official must be free of greed and corruption, neither arrogant nor rash, seek no private gain, and involve themselves in no factional strife.”

“The Crown Prince keeps the administration clean, is generous and loves the people, and has His Majesty’s protection as well… I hope you will devote yourself to assisting him and help accomplish a great undertaking.”

“If the timing is right, you may draw closer to the Crown Prince.”

This man was a complete stranger to Sheng Zhaoning, yet people around her kept mentioning him, constantly reminding her that there existed in this world someone utterly unlike her.

He was pure, warm, and benevolent.

Deeply beloved, revered by all the people.

For some inexplicable reason, she wanted to meet him. She wanted to see what, exactly, was different about the Crown Prince said to be as clear and noble as the moon after rain.

The party arrived inside Guanjing Tower.

“Honored officials, please rest here for the moment. Later, this servant will invite you all to attend the Enrong Banquet,” the young eunuch said respectfully with his head lowered.

Guanjing Tower had six floors in all and stood amid a stretch of gardens with excellent scenery. It had originally been a place where the emperor and imperial consorts came to enjoy the view in their leisure, but because it was far from the inner palace and inconvenient to travel to and from, it was later used to receive guests and house officials overnight.

Sheng Zhaoning was settled in a room on the second floor. Yu Hongzhi and Wang Zhuo stayed on either side of her.

Outside the tower, the rain showed no sign of stopping. The room was somewhat dim.

Following the sound of the rain, Sheng Zhaoning walked to the window and propped open the carved lattice. She looked out at the hazy curtain of rain beyond the tower. Her gaze had been wandering aimlessly, but the moment she caught sight of a corner of a palace hall not far away, it suddenly froze.

It was the height of April, with tender willows swaying and flowers just beginning to bloom. Everywhere was full of vitality, and yet inside that palace compound stood several bare plum trees, their blossoms long fallen, leaving the spring scene desolate.

She did not know what place it was. But as she looked, interest suddenly stirred in her, and into her mind floated the small vermilion Plum Blossom Seal stamped beside her name on the Metropolitan Examination announcement.

It was as though some unseen sense of fate was guiding her.

Sheng Zhaoning considered it for a moment, but in the end, she still rose, picked up the paper umbrella by the door, and walked out of the tower.

…

Fine rain fell in a dense veil, raising layer upon layer of ripples across the lake.

Mist and rain came pouring down from every direction, shattering against the umbrella’s surface. Beneath it, the crimson official robe stayed sheltered. The hand braced on the umbrella handle was porcelain-white and well proportioned, its knuckles distinct, soft in line and faintly lustrous.

Sheng Zhaoning walked toward that palace. As she passed a turn in the path, tiny flower petals clung to the hem of her robe. Cool strands of rain struck her fingertips, damp and chill.

Beneath a hydrangea bush, a small, drenched orange kitten crouched in the middle of the path, lying weakly on the ground.

Sheng Zhaoning stopped. Her robe stirred in the wind.

“Meow…”

As if sensing someone watching it, the little orange kitten trembled and tried to rise, but after so long in the cold rain, it had no strength left and collapsed once more.

The fingers hidden beneath her sleeve curled unconsciously.

She had clearly already turned to leave, yet her footsteps halted again.

Sheng Zhaoning clenched her fist, then finally let out a sigh.

She turned back and walked up to the kitten. Just as she was about to crouch down, a flash of scarlet hem suddenly appeared at the edge of her vision.

A fair, slender hand lifted the kitten before she could.

The pleasant scent of pine resin spread at the tip of her nose.

Sheng Zhaoning raised her head. The edges of their two umbrellas bumped together. Beneath the lingering curtain of rain, fine threads of wind brushed past her brow and stirred the loose strands of hair at her temple. She saw that the other person was looking down at her as well.

Their eyes met, and both their hearts trembled faintly.