Chapter 060

Chapter 60: Her? A Fifth-Rank Female Official?

Just as Yu Jiao Jiao was bundled up and loaded into a carriage to be thrown to Yong Duke’s Manor, another team arrived outside Chancellor’s Manor.

They were beating gongs and drums, all smiles and festivity. Today was the big day when the results of the imperial examinations were posted, and everyone was watching for who placed and who came to spread the good news. Du Zi Heng was a favorite this year, so he already drew a crowd when the first messengers came.

Now, seeing a second group heading for Chancellor’s Manor, the people of the capital were shocked. Even those who were not very interested followed to see what this second wave was about.

It was not only the onlookers; even Du Zi Heng and the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, Madam Yao and Yu Zhi Yi, were surprised. No one had ever heard of one person getting congratulations twice for the same examination. Could Du Zi Heng’s earlier rank have been wrong?

Yu Zhi Yi even began to doubt reality. Before and after her rebirth, apart from being forced into marrying Du Zi Heng, only today’s event had slipped out of her control.

Madam Yao did not go greet the newcomers. She sent Aunt Wen to ask first, so they would not mistake the visitors’ purpose. If these people were not here for Du Zi Heng but for some other examinee in the crowd, it would be a huge joke.

Aunt Wen stepped forward and asked politely: “Sirs, whom are you here to congratulate?”

The messenger chuckled, raised his voice so all could hear, and called out loudly: “Congratulations to Chancellor Du, double happiness to Chancellor Du!”

He added cheerfully: “We are here to congratulate Young Madam Du!”

Then he announced in a ringing voice: “Young Madam Du has been specially appointed by His Majesty as a Director at the Ministry of Justice. After the Qionglin Banquet she may report to the Ministry of Justice to take office!”

Yu Zhi Yi: [What?]

Everyone: [What?]

Inside the carriage, Yu Jiao Jiao: [What is this?]

Before Yu Zhi Yi could say a word, Yu Jiao Jiao jumped down from the carriage like someone losing her mind and shouted: “You are all fakes! Your words are fake! If you dare spread a false imperial order, just wait for His Majesty to wipe out your nine generations!”

It was true that in the last hundred years the Great Sheng Empire had not lacked female officials, and many had shone in important posts. But still! Those women had spent years, even decades, working their way up to barely reach those positions. Even a hundred years ago, Princess Protector Jia Luo only gained the right to attend court after earning great military merit.

So why Yu Zhi Yi?

This was not only Yu Jiao Jiao’s question. It was also the question on the minds of Du Zi Heng and his mother, and of the crowd watching.

Du Zi Heng had studied nearly twenty years and had a chancellor father as his support. He had only just managed to earn the title of Third Place Laureate, and no one yet knew how far he could go. One thing was sure: at the start, there was no way he could become a fifth-rank official right away.

In the crowd were countless students who had worked even harder than Du Zi Heng yet failed to place high for many reasons. Even those who later got a chance to enter office would only start as the lowest rank of minor officials.

But the daughter-in-law of Chancellor’s Manor had easily gained a fifth-rank post.

Everyone knew that in the Great Sheng Empire, a fifth-rank capital official already had the right to attend court. That was a real figure at the center of power.

In an instant, every gaze landed on Yu Zhi Yi. Some were shocked or curious, some were envious, but most were jealous and resentful.

Facing eyes that looked like they wanted to bite her, Yu Zhi Yi only wanted to say that she had no idea what was happening either. In her past life, even after all her careful planning for Zhang Tian Shun, she never got even half an official title. Only after Zhang Tian Shun earned three first-class merits did he agree, under her “virtue persuades people” approach, to ask a noble title for her.

In this life, she never planned to rely on anyone, and she never planned to use mystic arts to fight for anything. The only title she ever considered was one that might free her from bowing to anyone.

She admitted honestly to Madam Yao with a helpless face: “Mother, I truly don’t know what is going on.”

Madam Yao recovered from her shock and said with a calm smile: “Yi’er is so capable that winning His Majesty’s favor is only natural.”

She addressed the crowd with steady dignity: “Although most talents today are chosen through the imperial examinations, the old system of recommending filial and upright people has not been abolished. Yi’er first used her seer’s gift to save Marquis Wu’an’s young master, then used it again to save the elderly, women, and children who were kidnapped from Ma Family Village. Such talent and virtue are rare in this world.”

Her voice was not cold, but measured and poised. As her gaze swept the crowd, the grace of the chancellor’s lady showed fully, and her words gained credibility.

Those who had doubted Yu Zhi Yi fell silent at once.

Yu Zhi Yi looked at Madam Yao’s calm face, and her heart stirred. Madam Yao was shielding her from common resentment. The emperor had made the appointment. People with doubts and grudges dared not blame the emperor, so they would point their anger at Yu Zhi Yi instead. She was not afraid, but Madam Yao still did not want her to be hurt. Yu Zhi Yi lowered her eyes, not wanting to admit that her eyes had grown sore and hot: [She is truly protecting me.]

Suddenly, a loud voice rose from the crowd: “Young Madam Du saved so many people and has boundless merit. She deserves this office!”

With that shout, most of the onlookers agreed at once. Many people did not care who the official was; they only cared whether the official could do real work for them. Though she was a woman, Young Madam Du’s gift of foresight seemed powerful. If she could use it to help the people and the Great Sheng Empire, that would be a good thing.

Public opinion boiled over. The students who had been unhappy swallowed their complaints.

That night, Chancellor Du returned home with joy written across a face that was usually stern.

Madam Yao was puzzled and asked lightly: “Master, why are you so happy?” She had thought he would be furious that their son had not ranked first.

Chancellor Du laughed and said: “Yi’er has won His Majesty’s favor and made a name in one stroke. Is that not worth celebrating?”

“That is true,” Madam Yao agreed, though she still looked conflicted.

“As for that unfilial son,” Chancellor Du snorted, “I already guessed he would not do well this time. In my plan, he should not have placed at all in this round.”

He was the chief examiner, but to avoid suspicion he did not see the questions before the test. Only after the exam ended did he learn that His Majesty had changed the questions at the last minute. That sudden change was related to Yu Zhi Yi.

Madam Yao blinked in confusion and asked: “How could changing the exam questions have anything to do with Yi’er?”

Chancellor Du sighed and explained: “Some time ago, Duke Ding Guo went to Ma Family Village.”

Madam Yao nodded.

Chancellor Du continued: “The world only knows that Duke Ding Guo rescued the women and children taken from Ma Family Village. They do not know what happened during that rescue.”