Hua Zhi possessed an official uniform, though she seldom wore it ordinarily. On this day, however, she donned it.
Yesterday, before leaving the palace, the Crown Prince had instructed her to attend the Palace Examination by his side. The Grand Tutor was present at the time and objected on the grounds that the Grand Tutor should not participate in political affairs, but the Crown Prince immediately overruled him. In the past, Hua Zhi would have gracefully withdrawn, but this time she did not. She needed to gradually make her presence known, lest no one take her seriously when she needed to speak.
After placing the official cap on her head and gazing at her reflection in the bronze mirror for a moment, Hua Zhi left her room.
Ying Chun and the others waiting outside the door bowed deeply. This was their lady, the mistress they were willing to serve for a lifetime. At this moment, their pride was beyond words. No woman had ever reached such heights—only their lady had achieved it. Clad in the official uniform of a first-rank minister, her rank now surpassed even the late elder’s second-rank position.
When the various masters and mistresses of the rear courtyard heard the news and rushed over, their initial excitement quieted at the sight of the eldest young lady. The official uniform, which appeared imposing on men, did not quite convey the same majesty on her. Her waist was too slender, and even through several layers of clothing, the outline of her shoulder blades was faintly visible. Fortunately, her dignified bearing prevented the uniform from seeming incongruous on her.
She was the first female official in the history of the Great Qing. As they watched her figure recede into the distance, they felt a shared pride, yet their noses tingled with emotion. Who would have thought? This was the same eldest daughter of the Hua family who had always remained inconspicuous, enduring ridicule as if she heard nothing.
Many others were equally surprised. The Crown Prince had not expected the Grand Tutor to wear her official uniform. Though tailored to her measurements, the uniform now hung somewhat loosely on her.
"Berlin need not accompany us today. With this subject from the Hua family by Your Highness’s side, one is sufficient; two would be too ostentatious."
The Crown Prince chuckled. This was precisely the sort of remark the Grand Tutor would make. Seeing Berlin, as always, obediently assent to his elder sister, the familiar scene made him feel as if he had returned to his days of instruction in the Hua household. How wonderful that such moments could still occur.
In the main hall, desks had been arranged, and several high-ranking ministers waited nearby. When they saw Hua Zhi, clad in her official uniform, following the Crown Prince inside, they were momentarily stunned. One minister quickly collected himself and protested, "Your Highness, the late emperor decreed that the Grand Tutor need not attend regular court sessions…"
"Minister Zhang, have you lost your senses? What regular court session is this?"
"But…" Someone nearby discreetly tugged at his sleeve. It was true that the late emperor had issued such a decree, but that was the late emperor!
"Does Minister Zhang have anything further to say?"
Minister Zhang’s mind had already cleared. He bowed and said, "This old minister was foolish."
Duke Dingguo coughed lightly, cutting short the discussion. "Your Highness, the hour approaches."
The Crown Prince swept his gaze over the assembly and nodded with satisfaction. "Admit the candidates."
The waiting candidates filed in one by one. Without raising their heads, they bowed and took their seats in order. Though they dared not look up directly, they strained to steal glances upward—and naturally, they saw Hua Zhi standing behind the Crown Prince.
Shen Qi’s emotions were complex; Jiang Huanran felt as if a fire had been kindled in his heart, determined not to lose face in front of the eldest young lady. As her cousin, Zhu Ziwen, along with Yu Xiasheng and the scion of the Yuan family—given their statuses—meant that several of them could not afford to show any weakness in this examination.The Palace Examination lasted three double-hours. Naturally, the Crown Prince did not remain there the entire time. After announcing the examination questions and observing the candidates’ performance, he departed with Hua Zhi, as his daily lesson had not yet begun.
“Who does the Grand Tutor favor more?”
“Shen Qi has studied under my father for many years and is a diligent individual himself. He should perform well. Yu Xiasheng is broad-minded. Though he appears somewhat naive due to lack of experience, with proper tempering, he could be of great use.”
Truly, she recommended talent without avoiding personal connections. The Crown Prince shaded his eyes with his hand, gazing at the sunlight filtering through the tree canopy. “When the Hua family fell into misfortune, the Shen family acted rather heartlessly and ungratefully. Are you not angered, Grand Tutor?”
“Shen Qi made a trip to Yinshan Pass. If the Shen family had been determined to sever ties with the Hua family, he would not have been able to go. His intentions were sincere. Ultimately, the Shen family was merely prioritizing self-preservation. Calculating for the family’s benefit is not wrong.” Hua Zhi continued, “Your Highness must often maintain impartiality. Do not appoint people based on personal likes or dislikes. Some individuals may not be to your liking, yet they could be capable officials. Others you might wish to keep by your side constantly, yet they could be petty individuals.”
“I will study diligently, Grand Tutor. Please teach me more.”
“As long as Your Highness is willing to learn, I will impart all my knowledge without reservation.”
The Crown Prince narrowed his eyes and smiled. What he needed to learn was not only the Grand Tutor’s knowledge but also her breadth of mind and her protective nature toward those close to her. However, the latter required no formal teaching—she demonstrated it constantly through her actions.
“Last night, Haoyue died.”
Hua Zhi raised an eyebrow. She had thought Haoyue was long dead.
As if reading her thoughts, the Crown Prince added, “He was killed by the Fourth Prince, who bit through his throat. The Fourth Prince is also on the verge of death. It is said they fought daily these past days, creating quite a spectacle.”
Hua Zhi was unsure how to respond. After a moment of silence, she offered advice from a teacher’s perspective: “Your Highness should take this as a cautionary tale.”
The Crown Prince laughed and agreed, “Yes, I will take it as a warning and constantly remind myself not to pursue the unattainable. If one lives a fulfilling life, fifty years is enough.”
“I, however, do not believe in such mystical matters. Once these affairs are settled, you could have Shaoyao investigate the dietary records and journals of past Emperors. Perhaps some common patterns could be found.”
The Crown Prince glanced back at her, his voice softening. “…Very well, as the Grand Tutor suggests.”
Behind them, Lai Fu’s increasingly aged face could not conceal his smile. In the depths of the palace, no luxury was lacking—only such warmth was scarce. Fortunately, it had now been replenished.
Two days later, the Palace Examination results were announced. The Crown Prince personally designated Yu Xiasheng as the Zhuangyuan (Top Scholar), Shen Qi as the Bangyan (Second Rank), and another humble scholar, Wu Guangwen, as the Tanhua (Third Rank). The top three were granted the Jinshi Jidi (Metropolitan Graduate with Honors) title. The Zhuangyuan was appointed as a Compiler in the Hanlin Academy, while the Bangyan and Tanhua were appointed as Editors. A scion of the Yuan family ranked second in the second tier, and Zhu Ziwen ranked fifth in the second tier, both receiving the Jinshi Chushen (Metropolitan Graduate) title and appointed as Shu Jishi (Hanlin Bachelor). The remaining candidates were all placed in the third tier, granted the Tong Jinshi Chushen (Associate Metropolitan Graduate) title, and appointed to various positions such as Zhushi (Secretary), Zhongshu (Drafter), or Xingren (Messenger).
As the nation was still in a mourning period, the Crown Prince replaced the celebratory banquet with a tea gathering. Hua Zhi accompanied him as usual. Watching the young Crown Prince and the newly appointed officials, Hua Zhi softly exhaled. There was always hope. Unfortunately, the Daqing Dynasty had no military examinations, leaving no avenue to replenish military officers.Yan Xi wasn't traveling with the main troops. Calculating the time, he should have arrived by now. Some dried meat had already been prepared and could be sent over, along with the grain supplies. But it was far from enough—more still needed to be purchased. The army was like a bottomless pit; she truly wished she could seize all the grain from the Flame Country.
"Your Highness, urgent news from the Seven Constellation Bureau."
Hua Zhi, who had been openly lost in thought, immediately looked over. The Crown Prince took the letter and read it, then abruptly stood up. Instinctively, he turned to look for the Grand Tutor. "The Flame Country has invaded our borders."
PS: The next chapter went off track. It might or might not be updated today, ladies, please don’t wait. If it doesn’t come out today, there will be three updates tomorrow.
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