The school was closed from the 29th day onwards. Xie Wan had been following Xie Liang to visit various rooms for the past two days.

  Although this is quite different from her usual style, it's not surprising that she would move around in the name of sticking to her brother.

  On the eve of New Year's Eve, Xie Hong collected his accounts and returned to the government office with Pang Xin, bringing back many silk fabrics, furs, pearls, and other goods. Most of them were given to Wang Shi as a token of filial piety, but Wang Shi turned around and rewarded him in the name of appreciating his filial piety.

  Xie Qi has been eating well for the past two days, and her clothes are constantly changing, like a butterfly flitting from room to room. She's also afraid that others won't know, so whenever she sees someone, she always mentions where each item was bought or which restaurant made the food. If Xie Wan wasn't possessed by an old woman's soul, she might have actually drooled at her.

  Of course, Xie Wan's favorite place to go was still the third house, or more accurately, wherever Xie Rong was. She wouldn't stray too far from him either. For example, if he was in the upper house talking with Wang Shi, she would be in the courtyard jumping rope with the maids. If he was in the third house embroidering flowers with Huang Shi, she would be in the nearby corridor playing chess with Xie Yu.

  After lunch on New Year's Eve, she saw Pang Xin hand a letter to Xie Rong. After reading it, Xie Rong immediately went to the main courtyard to find Xie Qigong. Coincidentally, Xie Qi was also showing off her new clothes and said: "Let's go to the old master's house to see the camellias. Your dress matches the color of the camellias very well."

  Xie Qi followed her to the main courtyard with a heart full of joy.

  Xie Qigong was talking to Pang Fu when he saw Xie Rong coming in, so he smiled and beckoned him over to eat the persimmon cakes from Fujian.

  Xie Rong smiled and said: "My son is not feeling very well today."

  Not feeling quite comfortable, yet running over with a smile? Of course, there's something to say. Xie Qigong told Pang Fu to go down to the big kitchen to check on the offerings for the ancestral temple the next morning, and also told the servants to stand under the corridor outside the door.

  Xie Qigong smiled and said: "What's wrong with Weiping?" Weiping was Xie Rong's courtesy name.

  Xie Rong took out the letter from his sleeve and placed it on the table, saying: "The official of the Ministry of Officials, Guo Xing, is a student of Qi Zhenyuan. Mr. Guo and I are quite compatible, and he told me a few days ago that the Emperor intends to promote two new jinshi from the Imperial Academy to the Hanlin Academy as compilers. He has already recommended me to the Minister of Officials."

  "This is great!"

  Xie Qigong heard this and clapped his hands, immediately turning out from behind the bookcase: "Since the founding of our dynasty, there has been a rule that only Hanlin scholars can enter the Grand Council! Although not every scholar from the Hanlin Academy can become a high-ranking official, after all, those who are in charge are esteemed members of the gentry, and if you can enter the Hanlin Academy, your future will be entirely different!"

  In his surprise, his voice rose a few degrees, and the two people picking flowers at the corner of the courtyard both turned their heads to look towards the house.

  Xie Rong did not seem as overjoyed as Xie Qigong, and he hesitated before saying, "But among dozens of people, it's extremely difficult to pick out the best one." After finishing speaking, he looked at Xie Qigong again: "Does Father know why I've come back this time?"

  Xie Qigong said: "Is that why?"

  Xie Rong stood up and looked out the window, where two winter tea flower trees in the courtyard were blooming with purple and red flowers. Under the trees, two little children were putting their heads together, discussing how to secretly pick the flowers from the tree.

  He raised his lips and said in a serious tone: "Nowadays, no matter which government department I want to enter, the most important thing is to have connections. There are many talented people in the same field, and the imperial court is not necessarily indispensable for me. Without reliable connections, even if I was recommended by Guo Xing, it's still possible for me to be replaced at any time."

  Xie Qigong said in surprise: "What's going on? Is Guo Xing's strength still not enough?"

  Xie Rong shook his head and said: "As a mere official in the Ministry of Personnel, it's only natural that I'm a bit off the mark."

  Xie Qigong stroked his beard thoughtfully and said after a moment, "Your mother's idea is to get in touch with the Guang'en Duke's estate through the Ren family. Although many of the noble families have declined, they are still national heroes and have the opportunity to meet the emperor. Moreover, because the nobles have declined, the Zeng family needs to rely on the literary officials even more, so it's a mutually beneficial arrangement."

  "I knew this long ago, but Father's words are wrong!"

  Xie Rong looked out the window at Xie Wan, who was constantly jumping up to pick flowers, and turned around with narrowed eyes, saying: "Not to mention that the House of Mo has few capable juniors, it's hard to form an alliance with me, even if there are any, they're not reliable."

  "There have been four emperors from the beginning of this dynasty until now, and the number of relatives and nobles has increased day by day, making the burden on the court heavier. It is inevitable that some will be stripped of their titles and reduced in salary. Who will be the first to be executed? Only a few families like the Guang'enbo household, who are not progressive and only take imperial salaries without doing anything! If I were to join forces with the Zeng family, it would be no different from walking down a dead-end road!"

  Xie Qigong was shocked by what he heard. He was not as good at analyzing the situation as his son, and now that he had learned of this layer, he couldn't help but nod his head in agreement.

  "It seems that Ren's family is not going to work out."

  "It won't work!" Xie Rong said resolutely: "Last time I replied to Huang's letter, I clearly stated that we only need to maintain our usual relationship with the Ren family. If we get too close, if the Zeng family falls one day, we will be in a difficult situation."

  Xie Qigong heard that his daughter-in-law had known about this all along, but she hadn't mentioned a word to her parents-in-law and didn't show any hesitation on her face. However, Xie Rong's future was more important, and now wasn't the time to dwell on these things, so he suppressed his discontent.

  "So what should we do now?"

  Xie Rong paused for a moment, then said: "Father may not know yet, but Jiang Yuntao's son, Jiang Yong, has already entered the Six Ministries as a Give Affairs Middleman. Although his rank is not high, he also has the power to oppose the Holy Edict. After my second brother moved out of the Xie Mansion that year, the Jiang family and my Xie family had no further contact. Even if Guo Xing recommends me for promotion, as long as Jiang Yong impeaches my Xie family with a memorial because of this matter, I will also have nothing to do with this early promotion."

  Xie Qigong was shocked and pale: "What can be done?"

  Jiang's wife is Yang's sister, who acts quickly and decisively. After helping Xie Teng recover his family property, she moved away from Hejian Prefecture with her husband Jiang Lingguang when he was transferred to Shaanxi Province, and there has been no news of them for over a decade. This Jiang Yong is actually the nephew of Jiang Lingguang, who adopted him as his son since he had no children of his own.

  Now that Aunt Jin had passed away many years ago, the Jin family had long since moved to the capital, and there was no need to mention any further contact between the two families.

  "However, it's not like there isn't a chance for a turnaround."

  Xie Rong turned back, his face regained its usual confident look, and his eyes also had a hint of spirit.

  "This time I came back just for this matter. First, we need to reconnect with the Jin family as a prerequisite. As long as we can get in touch with the Jin family, if we can persuade him to help me, then this matter will be settled. In short, taking advantage of the emperor's intention to promote new officials before this matter is made public, first repair our relationship with Jin Yong, and even if we cannot borrow his power to gain any benefits, at least we can avoid him making a big deal about it in the imperial court."

  "Not bad!" Xie Qigong applauded: "As long as you are officially appointed as the compiler, no matter how the Ji family behaves, you can just ignore them!"

  "Dad!"

  Xie Rong heard his words and couldn't help but frown: "The Xie family has no foundation in the court, if we can take this opportunity to make amends with the Jing family, our family will not only maintain a good relationship in the future, but also become even closer. Burning bridges after crossing the river is of no benefit to us at all."

  Xie Qigong nodded, and after a while said: "I'm afraid that Jiong Yong won't be so easy to talk to." He also said: "If we want to get in touch with the Jiong family, then we can't avoid Luan Geer and his siblings——"

  Xie Rong turned sideways to look at the window, where Xie Wan had already plucked two flowers and was now covering her mouth to stifle a giggle under the tree. With a gentle smile, she said: "That's why I say you should be nicer to Lang-ge and the others. The tiny gains and losses before your eyes don't amount to much."

  Xie Wan held two tea flowers and returned to Yifeng Courtyard.

  In the main hall, incense sticks of agarwood were lit, wafting gently and spreading under the curtains, reminding one of the sandalwood incense burned in the Sihe courtyard house to ward off medicinal smells.

  She only knew roughly about Xie Rong's life.

  In the third year of Qingping, that is, next year, Xie Rong was exceptionally promoted from Shujishi to Hanlin Academy as a compiler. In the eighth year of Qingping, he was transferred to Ducha Yuan, in the fifteenth year of Qingping, he served as the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, and in the twentieth year of Qingping, Guangxi broke out in rebellion, Xie Rong took advantage of the situation to become the Governor of Guangxi. In the twenty-second year of Qingping, the Grand Council was reorganized, and Xie Rong was transferred back to the capital as a University Scholar of the Zhongji Hall, concurrently serving as the Minister of Revenue.

  Xie Wan died when Xie Rong was not yet the most powerful person in the court, but because he controlled the Ministry of Revenue which held the country's finances, the Xie Mansion became the most visited mansion in the capital.

  The most powerful and prestigious family still wouldn't let go of Xie Zhen, who didn't have much time left, and used a maid's hands to give him some money to send him away.

  It turns out that from entering the Hanlin Academy, Xie Rong has been all the way smooth and successful, and finally achieved his great career.

  However, Xie Wan never knew that the Jing family was actually the key to his success all along!

  Xie Wan had no impression of Aunt Jin, and Xie Lang had never seen her before. Everything he knew was from his father's mouth. After the Jin family moved out of Hejian, with the passing of Aunt Jin, Father's dealings with the Jin family also gradually faded away.

  However, it was also learned from him that Jing Yong had great respect for Jing Lingguang and his wife, especially for his aunt, Jing Yiniang, who had raised him with great care. When Wang Shi coveted Yang's dowry, Jing Yong had accompanied Jing Yiniang to protest, and had shown great concern for Xie Teng. Before leaving Shanxi, he had even left behind a copy of the "Spring and Autumn Annals" that he had personally copied as a gift for Xie Teng.

  Xie Lang and Xie Wan once visited the Jing family in the capital, but the attitude of Jing Yong was quite different from what his father had said. He was very indifferent to them, and even just let someone pour tea for them before taking out 20 taels of silver to send them away, without even inviting them to stay for dinner. They didn't go there for money, which made Xie Lang feel extremely humiliated, and he never visited again after that.

  If Xie Liang had received help from the Jia family at that time, he would not have ended up in such a situation later on.

  It was not clear at first, but now that I think about it carefully, if Xie Rong's entry into the Hanlin Academy is due to Jiong Yong's credit, it can be seen that before Xie Zhen visited his door, Jiong Yong had already been in contact with Xie Rong and even helped him enter the Hanlin Academy. Then, would Jiong Yong's suspicious attitude towards them also be because of Xie Rong and his son?