Chapter 530: Digging a Pit
Jiang Huanran moved closer to him. "You wouldn't be thinking of joining the Salt Administration, would you?"
"Why not?" Shen Qi looked at him. "I'm confident I can pass the Lock Hall Examination. With my Shen Family connections, no one would stop me from joining as a minor official."
"Does your family patriarch agree?"
"He will."
Jiang Huanran suddenly felt that Shen Qi could truly accomplish what he claimed.
Join the Salt Administration? Jiang Huanran thought of Hua Zhi, of the assassination attempt that nearly took her life. "Tell me, is it possible for me to enter officialdom?"
Shen Qi was taken aback. To prevent any single family from becoming too powerful, the Daqing Dynasty had restrictions on official appointments, prohibiting multiple members from the same family from serving simultaneously. This was precisely why prominent families typically sent their eldest sons into court service while letting younger sons roam free. Initially, this was because eldest sons, being the firstborn, received the longest period of paternal instruction and could enter court earlier to support their families. Over time, this gradually became an unspoken rule that no one had broken for many years to maintain family stability.
Now Jiang Huanran was talking about entering court service—this meant breaking this established rule. As an eldest grandson himself, Shen Qi couldn't outright endorse it, yet he couldn't oppose it either. Starting from his father's generation, prominent families seemed to have developed an ailment—a condition where eldest sons were considered inferior to younger ones. This trend hadn't improved in his generation either; any praise he received was merely being the tallest among dwarfs, only notable by comparison.
If, just if, this rule were broken, would the court no longer suffer from this shortage of talent as it did now?
But once broken, family stability would be compromised.
Weighing the options, there were both advantages and disadvantages—it all depended on the choice made.
Jiang Huanran also knew he had said something extraordinary, but at this moment he felt an intense urge to do this. He didn't want to be left behind, didn't want to spend his lifetime as a pleasure-seeking wastrel.
"If it comes to it, I'll voluntarily leave the clan." Jiang Huanran looked at Shen Qi with burning eyes. "Shen Qi, I'm going to take the Lock Hall Examination."
Shen Qi looked at him, at the fire in his eyes. He had never seen Jiang Huanran like this before, and he couldn't refuse him. "If you can persuade your father, I'll help you with the examination topics."
"Nothing can stop me." Jiang Huanran stood up and walked away without looking back, filled with fighting spirit.
The other young men looked at each other. Well... should they take the exam too?
Young Master Chu straightened his sleeves. "I've studied for several years too—there's no reason I should be inferior to Jiang Huanran. Shen Qi, will you help me?"
"As if you're the only one who's studied! I'm going too."
"Count me in. Old Master Hua once patted my head and praised my intelligence!"
"Let's all go together."
Shen Qi looked at them, covered his eyes and laughed. This... was wonderful!
If more people could join, if they could prove themselves more capable, Daqing would never reach a point where there were no capable officials to employ.
Hua Zhi had no idea how much change she had brought to Daqing because of her influence. She was currently listening to Chen Qing's report on the external situation.
"The Third Prince and Fourth Prince have been at odds for a long time. The Third Prince naturally understands what really happened with this assassination attempt." Chen Qing glanced at the young lady before continuing, "When rumors emerged, the Third Prince believed the Fourth Prince was using this incident to provoke The Heir's retaliation against him. Enraged, he confronted the Fourth Prince directly. During today's grand court assembly, the Third Prince exposed the matter before all court officials. The Fourth Prince naturally denied everything, and the two argued before the Emperor. The Emperor was furious and ordered both confined to their princely residences, forbidden to leave without summons."
"Have all traces been cleaned up?"
"Yes, my subordinates were very careful. They'll definitely find nothing."Hua Zhi nodded, "Withdraw our hands, continue the investigation, force them to abandon their pawns."
"Yes."
Hua Zhi had always harbored doubts. While she and the Fourth Prince were indeed on opposing sides, and it made sense that he wouldn't want Little Six's influence to grow, as an ambitious prince, even if he were foolish, his advisors should have stopped him from such a reckless move. Moreover, his reason for wanting her dead wasn't sufficient.
First, she was the Emperor's money bag. Though the Emperor disliked her, he certainly wouldn't want anyone to take her life. Besides, her relationship with Yan Xi was widely known, and the authority of the Seven Constellation Bureau's leader still lingered. The Fourth Prince wouldn't want to provoke Yan Xi's retaliation at this time.
It didn't add up.
Compared to the Fourth Prince, she was more inclined to believe this was Haoyue's doing. But what reason would Haoyue have to ally with the Fourth Prince? Or rather, what reason would the Fourth Prince have to ally with Haoyue? Haoyue was pregnant, making them natural enemies by status.
It couldn't be that they had formed an unholy alliance—that would require a shared goal. But with only one throne, their objectives couldn't align.
Hua Zhi threw off the covers and got out of bed. Ying Chun started to say something, but Hua Zhi waved her off, "I'm not going out, just walking around the room."
"Miss Shaoyao will surely scold you when she comes in." Ying Chun hurriedly brought a cloak to drape over her, then busied herself tidying the hand warmer.
Watching her bustle about, Hua Zhi's thoughts remained on Haoyue.
When women go mad, they defy reason. She guarded against Haoyue more than she did the princes.
As dawn barely broke and the city gates had just opened, the crowd waiting to enter or leave had just dispersed when a group of over twenty riders galloped in from outside the city. Just as the guards grew wary, the party reined in their horses and halted.
Little Six, riding at the front, lowered his hood and let out a long sigh as he gazed at the majestic city gates. The stiffness in his body and the weariness of the journey seemed to melt away in that moment. Only after truly traveling far did he understand what it meant to be homesick, and how clearly he recognized his roots were here.
Xiao Shuang, who attended him, went forward to negotiate and soon returned, saying, "Your Highness, we may enter the city."
Once inside, Little Six didn't hurry, adhering to the rules and not galloping his horse. "I must return to the palace to report. You go to the Hua family. If my master asks anything, answer fully without concealment."
"Yes."
Little Six glanced in the direction of the Hua residence. If possible, he would have preferred to go there himself and tell his master all this.
It was currently the time for court assembly, and Little Six had timed his return precisely knowing this.
He didn't bother to clean up, appearing dusty and travel-worn as he requested an audience outside the hall.
The Emperor had been reprimanding the restless factions involved in the princes' strife, but upon hearing of Little Six's return, his anger turned to joy, and he summoned him for an audience.
Little Six entered the hall holding a wax-paper package high, then knelt and bowed, "Your son pays respects to Father."
"Rise." The Emperor fixed his eyes on the package, "Have you brought good news?"
"Your son has not failed in his mission." Little Six raised the package higher and took a few steps forward. Lai Fu quickly came over, took it, and hurried up to the high dais.
"Open it."
Lai Fu untied the string and unwrapped the layers of wax paper, revealing the snow-white powder inside.
Lai Fu slightly raised his head and, seeing the Emperor's gesture, dipped a finger into it and tasted it. Overjoyed, he exclaimed, "Your Majesty, it's salt!"
The Emperor, unable to contain his delight, tasted it himself. So salty—it was indeed salt!
"Take it and let the ministers taste it as well."Not all officials were as ignorant as the Emperor about the appearance of the salt they consumed daily. Seeing this fine, white salt, they already had calculations in mind: if the production volume was substantial, the salt tax could become a reality.
PS: Ladies, I beg for your guaranteed monthly votes! The Locked Hall Examination is the imperial examination for children of noble families. They don't need to go through the Preliminary, Provincial, or Prefectural Examinations, but take a separate test during the Spring Examination, with a high pass rate. Those who pass still earn the Jinshi degree.
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