The Grand Princess liked Yan Zigui’s graceful and confident manner. Looking at her clothes, she smiled and said to the people around her, “No wonder I felt close to her the moment we met. She’s dressed just like the female officials in the palace.”
She then smiled and asked Mrs. Song, “Mrs. Song, have you thought about sending her into the palace to be selected as a female official?”
Every year, the palace selects and replaces female officials. In recent years, it has become popular in the capital to send daughters who can read and write into the palace for the selection. After serving for two years, they leave the palace and get married. They gain experience and a good reputation.
Mrs. Song was speechless for a moment. “She has been away from home for a long time. I only hope she can spend more time with me before she gets married.”
The Grand Princess looked a little regretful and turned to Yan Zigui. “If you want to enter the palace for the female official selection, just mention my name. I think the Noble Consort would also like someone as clever as you.”
Yan Zigui waited outside the Grand Princess’s tent for a while. The wife of the Minister of Personnel came out with her daughter. The daughter turned back with a smile and said, “I told you she would be waiting here for me. Mother, you guessed wrong.”
“Madam Jiang, Lin Yuan,” Yan Zigui greeted them.
“I still prefer when you call me Shiniang (Teacher’s Wife),” Madam Jiang said, taking her hand as they walked forward. “As soon as your gift arrived at our house, Yuan’er kept urging me to invite you over. I thought you had just returned home and still needed to visit your relatives, so you would come when you were free. But this girl—her mouth is too quick. She brought you up in front of the Grand Princess today. I hope we didn’t cause trouble with good intentions.”
“Wasn’t Mother also worried that Zigui didn’t grow up beside her own mother, and that they might not be close?” Lin Yuan said stubbornly. “You see, her mother only brought her niece today. In the past, when Zigui wasn’t here, that was one thing. But now that she’s back, how can a niece be closer than a real daughter?”
Ten years ago, Lin Zhongze, the Minister of Personnel, was punished for something he said and was demoted to Jialan Pass to work as a settler. He was a scholar with no physical strength. His wife followed him with their son and daughter, and their life was very hard. When they were struggling, Yan Anbang invited him to teach his granddaughter. With that tuition payment, the Lin family was able to survive at Jialan Pass.
Four years ago, with the help of his teacher, Lin Zhongze returned to the capital. At first he only held a fifth-rank position, but within a few short years he became Minister of Personnel. Although the power of the position had been greatly reduced, rising from fifth rank to second rank was still an impressive promotion.
“Minister Lin has students everywhere. I am only a small girl and don’t dare to call myself his student. Back then, my grandfather only helped him out of appreciation for his talent. Minister Lin and Madam need not take it to heart,” Yan Zigui said. Helping the Lin family had been an easy favor. Now that their status was higher, using past favors to pressure them would only create resentment.
It was better to act wisely and preserve goodwill.
“If your teacher heard you say that, he would be angry,” Madam Jiang said, glaring at her. “He properly accepted your family’s tuition and your kowtow as his student. How can you deny him now? Or did you do something shameful and don’t want to implicate your teacher?”
“I’m afraid others will look down on the teacher for accepting such an unworthy student like me,” Yan Zigui said, holding her arm. “I have never forgotten his teachings. I would never do anything to disgrace his name.”
Even if she did, it would be for a just reason.
“That’s not something you need to worry about. If your teacher didn’t have such tolerance, he wouldn’t have accepted you in the first place. Come to our house for dinner tomorrow. You must come.”
“You must come,” Lin Yuan echoed. Though still young, she had experienced great hardship. In her memory, all the difficult days ended when they met the Yan family. Her father’s new female student was only a few months older than her, but she was smart, strong, and resilient. They studied together, played on swings, picked up stones, rode horses, shared soft sweet pastries, and she even helped braid her hair.
She was her very best friend.
When they left Jialan Pass, Lin Yuan cried and didn’t want to go. She wanted to stay with Zigui. Her mother had lied to her, saying Zigui’s home was also in the capital and that she would return someday.
Who would have thought it would take four years to meet again? Lin Yuan held her arm tightly. “It would be best if you could stay at my house for a few days. We sisters can spend time together.”
When Yan Zigui returned home and said she would visit the Minister’s residence the next day, Mrs. Song asked how she knew the Minister.
“The Minister stayed at Jialan Pass for several years. Grandfather respected his character and learning, so they often interacted. That’s how we came to know him,” Yan Zigui replied.
Yan Ci suddenly understood. “No wonder Minister Lin has been taking special care of me. So that’s the connection. Why didn’t you tell me earlier? I would have visited the Lin family sooner and kept the relationship active.”
“Since Minister Lin didn’t mention it first, Father shouldn’t appear too eager. After all, he respected Grandfather’s face,” Yan Zigui thought to herself. You all think Grandfather and Grandmother are far away at the frontier and offer no support to this family. But if Grandfather had not defended the frontier and earned merit, could you live so comfortably in the capital?
Yan Ci looked thoughtful.
Mrs. Song coughed lightly to remind him there was something else.
Only then did Yan Ci remember. “Oh, right. There’s another matter. Today the Grand Princess suggested you enter the palace to take part in the female official selection. What do you think?”
“What I think is not important. What matters is what Father and Mother think,” Yan Zigui replied with a smile.
Yan Ci looked at her. She had not yet changed out of her round-collared robe. Her shoulders were steady, her back straight, her eyes calm and fearless. She really did look like someone suited to be an official. Mrs. Song coughed lightly again.
Yan Ci finally said, “They call them female officials, but they still have to do work serving others. You are my daughter. You don’t need such a reputation to polish yourself. As the saying goes, serving the emperor is like serving a tiger. There are many hidden dangers. One small mistake could ruin the entire family.”
“Besides, you’ve been away from us for so long. Your mother wants you to spend more time with her.”
Yan Zigui smiled slightly but did not expose the truth. In the days since she had returned, she and her mother had not spent any time alone together. Mrs. Song was actually afraid to be alone with her, so how could she truly wish for her company?
“Besides, the selection for female officials is no small matter,” Mrs. Song added. “Every year, some families fail. Last year Zhenying went to try, but she was eliminated in the second round. Fortunately, she went secretly, so no one knew and it wasn’t embarrassing. You were personally recommended by the Grand Princess. If you fail the exam, it would truly become a laughingstock.”
“Ridiculous!” Lin Zhongze, dressed in a Daoist robe at home, slammed the table after hearing Yan Zigui explain why she did not plan to attend the selection. “My student could even pass the imperial examination for jinshi. How could she possibly fail such a minor selection?”
“I didn’t tell them that I’m the beloved student of Minister Lin,” Yan Zigui said with a smile. “After all, I’ve only just returned and caused quite a stir. I was afraid of damaging your reputation, Teacher.”
“Your father is a complete fool,” Lin Zhongze said. When he first returned to the capital, he had delivered something to the Yan family on behalf of the old general. Seeing that the true head of the household was actually a concubine, he felt it was unfair to the general’s wife.
She had stayed with the old general at Jialan Pass for twenty years, bringing no one with her, all to avoid affecting her sons’ futures. Yet in return, her sons obeyed a concubine in everything.
After that, he no longer kept close contact with the Yan family.
However, when he met Yan Ci in official settings, he seemed like a capable man. Although Lin Zhongze disapproved of how he handled family matters, if something truly happened, he would still help if he could, because he owed the old general a favor.
“So you must go to the female official selection,” Lin Zhongze concluded. “People in the capital don’t know you well. With such muddle-headed parents, how could they arrange a good marriage for you?”
“If you become a female official, you’ll enter the very center of the capital’s social circle. The experience of meeting and dealing with important people will be excellent training. Once your good reputation spreads, you won’t have to worry about marriage.”
“Grandfather said that before he returns, no one can decide my marriage,” Yan Zigui said with a smile.
“I know.” Lin Zhongze nodded. “Your grandfather even sent me a letter, asking me to keep an eye on things to make sure nothing goes wrong.”
“You’re already sixteen. Time is limited. Serving as a female official for two years would be a perfect reason to delay marriage. By the time your grandfather returns, there will still be time to choose carefully.”
“If Sister goes to take the female official exam, then I’ll go too,” Lin Yuan declared. She had not wanted to go before.
“You go too? If you fail, then don’t think about getting married. Just find a mountain somewhere and study poetry for the rest of your life. That would disgrace your father’s name.”
Lin Zhongze lightly tapped her forehead.
“One of my classmates’ older sisters is currently a female official in the palace. I’ll ask him if he has any tips for you,” Lin Nan said to Yan Zigui.
Knowing she would come today, he had taken leave to return home.
“Your classmate is also Yan Shiwen’s classmate. Yan Shiwen is her elder brother. Does she need you to show off here?” Lin Zhongze glared at him. “Focus on your own provincial exam.”
“No matter whether I pass this time or not, I have to get married,” Lin Zhongze continued. “If I wait until I pass the exam to marry, I’m afraid I’ll be old and gray before it happens.”
“Father…” Lin Nan said awkwardly.
At an age when he should already be married, he had his own thoughts about why he was not.
Lin Nan secretly glanced at Yan Zigui.
Just as he had expected, dressed in the capital’s fashion, Yan Zigui looked extremely beautiful.
Madam Jiang called them to eat.
When Yan Zigui left the Lin residence, she carried a pile of homework assignments with her.
In the carriage, Gancao asked, “Madam doesn’t want you to take the female official exam, but Minister Lin insists you go. Miss, what will you do?”
Zier, who had followed her to the Lin residence and learned many things even the eldest young mistress did not know, felt her heart in turmoil. Did this mean the young lady trusted her? If so, was she ready to devote her loyalty to her?
“Whatever,” Yan Zigui replied casually.
She looked out through the gap in the carriage window. The biggest difference between the capital and Jialan Pass was that the capital was crowded. The streets were always full of people. The noise was like a boiling pot of porridge, so loud that she could no longer hear the sound of the wind.