Facing his mother who had raised him with such care, Wei Chi couldn’t bring himself to blame her, so he coaxed her gently.
“Mother, please don’t make things difficult for Lan Yue in the future. I will earn back what she took for you.”
“I will never forget your hard work in raising me and my younger sister all these years. When I meet the Emperor tomorrow, I will ask for an imperial title for you so that you can live a glorious old age.”
From childhood, Wei Chi would always say he would ask for an imperial title for her to show his filial piety. Although he didn’t understand what an imperial title could do, it didn’t stop her from being happy and saying “okay” several times.
Suddenly, Wei’s mother remembered Zhao’s instructions and told Wei Chi about them. Wei Chi’s eyes flickered slightly.
He had almost forgotten the Zhao family and Zhao Annian.
In his previous life, Zhao Annian had entered Tiande Academy because of his recommendation and had a smooth journey. He had even befriended the Prince Ke’s heir before him.
After the new emperor ascended the throne, Zhao Annian disagreed with him politically and had caused him a lot of trouble.
If it weren’t for his schemes, he might not have been the one to become the Grand Secretary.
The Zhao family wasn’t any better. When he was young and impoverished, his mother, desperate, borrowed money from her family to pay for his tuition. The Zhao family not only refused but also severely humiliated them.
Later, his conflict with Zhao Annian escalated, and the Wei and Zhao families severed all ties. Wei’s mother fell ill from the shock and nearly died. Unexpectedly, they, just like in his previous life, approached his soft-hearted mother, begging him to recommend Zhao Annian. Wei Chi felt a wave of disgust.
Ungrateful bastards, shameless!
“Chi’er, I know you have a grudge, but the Zhao family is still my family. Although Annian isn’t as clever as you, he’s not useless. He can be an asset to you when he enters officialdom.”
Wei’s mother naturally hadn’t expected these words; they were all empty promises from Zhao.
Wei Chi composed himself and said calmly, “We’ll discuss this later.”
Now that he was back, he certainly wouldn’t create a formidable enemy for himself.
…
The next day, all the officials paid homage.
In the magnificent, golden hall, a man sat on the dragon throne, clad in a dark red robe embroidered with a dragon soaring over the sea. His chest muscles were faintly visible at the hem, giving him an air of languid allure. His eyes, both passionate and indifferent, were framed by a thin, slightly pursed smile, making his thoughts unfathomable.
Back in the court, Wei Chi gazed at the unevenly ranked heads before him, his emotions a complex mix.
In his past life, he had stood at the very front, just steps from the Emperor, second only to him. Now, he was a mere insignificant third-ranking scholar—truly laughable.
Jun Yao glanced indifferently at the newly appointed third-ranking scholar at the palace gate, a cold glint in his eyes.
How interesting…If he wasn’t mistaken, this little third-ranking scholar seemed to hold him in contempt?
“Who is this year’s new third-ranking scholar?”
Jun Yao spoke, and the assembled officials fell silent. Wei Chi hesitated for a moment, then knelt down with neither servility nor arrogance.
Having served as Grand Secretary for many years, he had seen countless grand occasions and was not intimidated by Jun Yao’s scrutiny.
“Your subject Wei Chi greets Your Majesty!”
“Wei Chi? I remember you. Your policy essay was quite good.” Jun Yao looked at this audacious new third-place scholar with great interest.
Wei Chi knelt and thanked him calmly: “It is all thanks to Your Majesty’s grace that I am here today.”
The two exchanged a few casual words. Wei Chi, not forgetting his purpose for today, mustered his courage and requested: “Your Majesty, I am able to stand here entirely thanks to the support of my elderly mother. I wish to request an imperial title for my mother in the name of my third-place scholar.”
The previously noisy crowd fell silent instantly. The officials were shocked by Wei Chi’s audacity.
Everyone knew that this emperor was capricious, loving some to the point of life and hating others to the point of death. The slightest mistake could lead to the confiscation of one’s family and the extermination of one’s clan.
In his previous life, Wei Chi, out of guilt towards Jiang Lanyue, did not request an imperial title for his mother during Jun Yao’s reign.
At that time, he was just a minor third-place scholar, unable to touch the center of power, until the new emperor ascended the throne and he came into the public eye.
He knew nothing of Jun Yao’s true nature, only occasionally hearing that he was cruel.
Now, reborn, he believed he understood the future’s uncertainties and felt no fear of this emperor about to fall from the throne.
Jun Yao, always in a high position, rarely encountered anyone who went against his wishes, and today’s encounter was somewhat novel.
“Those who receive imperial titles in this dynasty have all made significant contributions to the country. Is your mother worthy?”
These words, even to the slow-witted Wei Chi, revealed Jun Yao’s displeasure.
He hesitated whether to apologize, but then Imperial Censor Meng stepped forward, pointing at Wei Chi and berating him in front of everyone.
“Wei, the third-ranking scholar, is heartless and ungrateful, and his mother is even more immoral. How can she be worthy of His Majesty’s imperial title?”
The crowd gasped, turning to see who had stepped forward. Seeing the stubborn Imperial Censor Meng, their interest vanished.
Almost every official in the court was at odds with Imperial Censor Meng, yet the Emperor had always favored him.
Jun Yao smiled upon seeing Imperial Censor Meng; more amusement awaited him.
“What do you mean by that, Minister Meng?”
Upon seeing Imperial Censor Meng, Wei Chi felt a sharp pain in his forehead, his expression helpless.
What had he done to offend this stubborn mule?
Imperial Censor Meng was like an unkillable cockroach; anyone who encountered him in his past life would inevitably get into trouble.
And yet, the new emperor seemed to favor him greatly…
Facing the onlookers’ eager gazes, Imperial Censor Meng meticulously recounted how Wei Chi had abandoned his wife on the day he passed the imperial examination, and how his mother had tried to seize his ex-wife’s dowry before their divorce. He even vividly described how Wei’s mother had tormented his daughter-in-law.
The officials, having tasted this juicy gossip, looked at Wei Chi differently.
They too had experienced hardship, and even after achieving success, they dared not neglect their wives, at most taking concubines.
This newly appointed third-ranked scholar was truly ruthless!
Wei Chi felt as if he had thorns in his back. Although he spoke the truth, being publicly ridiculed and insulted was unbearable for his proud pride.
That damned Imperial Censor Meng! How did he find out? He clearly hadn’t revealed his divorce to anyone.
Could it be Lan Yue?
Wei Chi instinctively rejected the idea; Jiang Lan Yue had no backing, she couldn’t possibly be connected to Imperial Censor Meng.
Unable to figure out what had happened, Wei Chi could only swallow his grievances for the time being.
Jun Yao’s eyes flickered, a hint of curiosity growing in his gaze towards Wei Chi’s ex-wife.
“It’s getting late, everyone go back to work! Also, Wei Tanhua should return home for now and retire; he can go to the Hanlin Academy later!”
With that, Wei Chi’s heart sank to the bottom of the sea.
…
There were no shortage of gossips in the capital, and within an hour,
the news of the newly appointed third-ranked scholar abandoning his wife spread far and wide. Shen Jiaxue was undoubtedly part of this; she wanted to force Wei Chi into a corner, making their divorce a done deal.
However, this seemed to be going against her expectations…
In the teahouse at the center of the gossip, groups of people gathered, discussing the divorce of the Wei family couple with great enthusiasm.
“I heard that the third-ranked scholar left with nothing, giving all the family’s wealth to Madam Wei. What a man to do like that, Wei the third-ranked scholar, is truly loyal and righteous!”
“Bah! Loyal and righteous nonsense! I think this Wei the third-ranked scholar is a heartless ingrate. You don’t know, before the Wei family became wealthy, they were just tofu sellers on the street. It was only after Madam Wei married into the family that the Wei family started to prosper.”
Everyone was surprised and looked at the person who spoke. The person slightly raised his chin and was none other than the famously sharp-tongued man in the capital. He was best at digging up gossip, and what he said was almost always true.