Scholars weren't singularly focused on money as merchants were; what they sought was merit and fame, truly not caring about earning money. They sat in a circle, discussing this year's metropolitan civil service exams. "I asked about, and the number of women who passed the preliminary exams is nearly as many as those who succeeded in the provincial exams and are participating in the metropolitan civil service exams. Come on, isn't our fortune so poor that it was this year?" "Ah, who says it isn't? Four years ago I nearly passed the autumn exams; if not for the fact that the proctor that year and I had opposing political views, I wouldn't have had to wait until this year." "I really don't know what the Emperor is thinking, insisting on violating ancestral laws. With so many positions, the competition is naturally tenfold." "Ah, you're all great talents, you'll definitely pass the exams." As she sipped tea leisurely, ...

Jiang Changbai merely took it as Song Juguang being in jest, and didn't reply, lowering her head to flip through the memorials on the desk. Song Juguang, seeing Jiang Changbai hadn't replied, raised her brows and walked behind her, her fingers inexplicably landing on the spot between her shoulders and neck. Jiang Changbai, seeing Song Juguang had come over, didn't bat an eyelid, pulling out the other memorial, spreading it across the desktop. By the time she sensed a chill at her neck, what was spread on desk was once more the list of names that the Ministry of Appointments had sent. Song Juguang, seeing her motions, didn't say anything, rather saying, "Does Bixia have a headache over this? Out of this many people, there isn't a single one who's useful?" Jiang Changbai nodded somewhat stiffly. "Not a one of them has any major skills, but their relations aren't insignificant. Even if one of them were placed to be used, after a while, I'd s...

Someone passing on couldn't be counted to be any shocking news—just take the body away for burial, and no one would pay any more attention. It was the case even if she'd had an even rougher life story and had died on the day before the new year. Even Liang Jiwen didn't shed too many tears at Nanny Pei Yu's passing. The only thing that reflected the sentiment between the two of them, master and servant, was merely that Liang Jiwen had implored Jiang Changbai to erect a small tombstone for her in the outskirts of the city. But after that, the frequency of Liang Jiwen's seeking out Jiang Changbai grew distinctly higher. Before, though they'd both lived the Imperial Palace, the distance between them was that of a million li, and they almost never saw each other. Even if they did encounter each other, they'd merely stop and exchange greetings. But in the past few days, during the day when Jiang Changbai was working, Liang Jiwen always came to the imperial study. ...

Pei Yu stood in the courtyard, watching Liang Jiwen cut paper ornaments at a distance through the window. Before, she'd feared that Liang Jiwen couldn't adjust to life in the Great Li, and so seeing her acclimate so smoothly, Nanny Pei Yu was gratified. So, unknowingly and unconsciously, that tiny person grew up. Probably because of her age, her memory wasn't too good either. The chilling wind blew with a whistle, and Nanny Pei Yu unexpectedly forgot why she'd come out of her room, and began to walk about aimlessly in the Palace. By the time she came out of her daze, she'd once more come to that desolate corner. In the time of a few months, this place had changed. Though it was still dilapidated, and the peeling wall paint didn't have a trace of mending, the courtyard was filled with a weak, warm light, the wind bringing fragmented sounds, as if someone was in the courtyard. Actually, this tableaux was somewhat eerie; the courtyard, which had been without human ...

This year's Palace Banquet had even fewer people than it had in the past. In previous years, the only ones who could attend the Palace Banquet were the aristocracy and nobility, and they all more or less shared the same blood. But this year, if it were to be conducted according to the same standards as the past, there would be no difference between the Palace Banquet and Jiang Changbai eating a meal alone. As a result, she'd simply altered the restrictions, and summoned all officials above third rank to attend. Though at the start, she'd thought that the more bustling and raucous the better, not everyone could attend. Jiang Changbai hadn't imagined, either, that an unwelcome guest would come to the Palace Banquet. Yang Zhuofei had found a carpenter from who knew where to construct a wheelchair, and, at the very last moment, she pushed a sickly, gaunt, frail man in using it. Her seat was towards the inside, and all those who'd already sat down followed her to her sea...

Translator's note: A late chapter, my apologies! The next two chapters should be done and published on the weekend as usual. - It was the first time either of them had ascended the Liuli Tower. They watched the deference of those making worship from high above—not even the ceremony when she'd ascended the throne had been this spectacular. Her misgivings from just then disappeared in this moment; in this instant, Jiang Changbai seemed to understand why, from ancient times until now, so many people had been drawn towards power like moths to a flame, and also understood why so many people had clung to this power up until death. In the past, Jiang Changbai hadn't had the qualifications to ascend the Liuli Tower, but every Mid-autumn Festival, she'd have to make worship at the foot of the Tower. She keenly perceived that the women in the crowd were greater in number than before by a great deal; those crowding at the front, those waving their hands, and those, though their fa...

Today, on the Mid-autumn Festival, Jiang Changbai had changed into court dress early in the morning, and gone to stand outside the Cining Palace's doors. According to the previous traditions, today, every member of the core imperial family were to ascend the Liuli Tower [1] at the outermost of the Imperial Palace, and pray for blessings together with the citizenry. The situation now wasn't as before—those who could ascend the Liuli Tower could be counted on a single hand, but what had to be done still had to be done. This was the reason Jiang Changbai was here now, as well. The messenger maid called out a great number of times, and only then did the doors of the Cining Palace finally open. Though she'd guessed that Lu Pingwan would likely not see her, when she looked in the direction of the voice, her gaze still held some hope. What if? Jiang Chanbgai thought. But this time, there wasn't any what if; the doors to the Cining Palace were pushed open, and from within, A...