Blissful Days After Widowhood - Chapter 467

After an exceptionally lively birthday banquet, Gu Ye’s reputation soared in Beijing. The merit monument, supervised by Emperor Zhengyuan, was talked about in the bustling area of the city. As long as the monument stood, passersby would glance at it from time to time, forever remembering the notable event.

While some individuals on the monument may not genuinely engage in charity, instead aiming to gain favor with the prince or being aware of rumors in advance, and simply seeking to present themselves in front of others, the key point was that, even if their motivations included a desire for fame, as long as they were willing to donate generously, address the concerns of the court, and contribute to the overall well-being of the common people, they ultimately contributed to the same goal.

April arrived in the blink of an eye, bringing the impending palace exam. 

At that time, Wen Lang had to take the test again, so Old master Wen and Eldest master Wen still avoided suspicion and did not participate. 

The individual in charge of the palace exam was Mr. Li.

Mr. Li, responsible for the palace exam, shared a connection with Gu Ye. In a previous instance, Second Master Wen had been assigned to collect debts, with Li’s family being their primary target.

During this encounter, Gu Ye and Second Master Wen squatted, enjoying ice bowls in front of his house. Following that, they joined Young Master Li at a teahouse to meet with colleagues. The Li family’s prompt repayment of debts set a precedent, inspiring more families to settle their outstanding balances.

Although the Li family initially faced challenges due to Second Master Wen’s pursuit, it turned out to be a blessing in disguise. Emperor Zhengyuan developed a favorable view of the Li family, acknowledging Mr. Li’s usefulness in the later dynasty. Despite Mr. Li’s involvement in attempting to abolish the previous Emperor, hindering his promotions, the new dynasty offered him a fresh start.

During this period, the Li family hadn’t recognized Gu Ye. Even if they had, they likely couldn’t have anticipated his current esteemed status. Gu Ye, choosing not to dwell on this, behaved as if they were meeting for the first time and maintained a friendly relationship with Master Li.

The questions for the palace exam were typically provided by the Emperor. Unfortunately, Emperor Zhengyuan became literate only midway through his career, and he commenced studying after the founding of the dynasty. It would have been embarrassing for the hardworking students who had studied for a decade to have him write their exam questions.

Consequently, the responsibility for crafting the examination questions fell on Mr. Li and others. Gu Ye, attired in a yellow jacket, personally assisted. Despite being only seven years old, he held the legitimate position of the eldest son. Mr. Li approached his duties with great seriousness and responsibility. He meticulously reviewed the candidates’ papers during the exam and then formulated the questions. Once completed, he presented the questions to Gu Ye for review.

Gu Ye maintained a consistently humble and respectful attitude during this period, treating several civil servants in charge with courtesy.

In adherence to the standard practice of preventing favoritism, the officials in charge of the examinations had been living alone since March. Despite registering in early April, Gu Ye chose not to exercise his privileges and isolated himself, residing with Mr. Li and others.

While the living conditions for the officials in charge of the palace exam were adequate, they weren’t designed for comfort. In some aspects, they fell slightly short compared to the accommodations of senior officials, requiring them to handle their own responsibilities without the assistance of servants.

Contrary to the norm, Gu Ye opted not to have servants, not even bringing Xiao Luzi along. He believed he could manage on his own, considering the relatively short duration of their stay. Gu Ye reasoned that servants could endure more discomfort than officials accustomed to their services.

Emperor Zhengyuan’s intention in sending Gu Ye was not solely to supervise officials and prevent favoritism and fraud but also to counter the historical tendency of literati underestimating those recently promoted. At the time, the esteemed scholar Mr. Li, although accomplished, was not on par with Old Master Wen in terms of recognition. Concerned about potential conflicts arising from living and dining together, Emperor Zhengyuan wanted to avoid any lingering animosities.

The diverse backgrounds and preferences of these civil servants, who had known each other for half a lifetime, naturally led to differing thoughts and ideas. Disputes were commonplace. On one occasion, tensions escalated when one official accused another of bias, claiming that the exam questions were influenced by personal preferences and insinuating bribery. The accused retaliated, alleging that the accuser was the one who had accepted a bribe, leading to a heated exchange about the quality of the submitted papers.