The low-key prince summons trainees from the Imperial Household Department at the start of the game.

The 8th day of the first month of the 24th year of Yonghe.

The Ministry of Personnel's spring selection process has just begun.

The officialdom in the capital was like a stone thrown in, with ripples spreading outwards from the Six Ministries layer by layer.

The spring selection fills vacancies for junior officials in various ministries, academies, temples, and supervisory offices, though their ranks are no higher than the sixth or seventh grade.

However, it was the first step for scholars from humble backgrounds and scions of prominent families to enter positions of real power.

This year's spring election is almost unsurprisingly pointing to the same three people.

Yao Guangxiao, Wang Anshi, and Su Shi.

These three individuals emerged as top performers in last year's spring imperial examinations, passing the exams on the same list. Now, they have all completed their term of observation in the Hanlin Academy.

According to the custom of the Great Zhou Dynasty, the Hanlin Academy graduates who have completed their observation period will face their first formal appointment.

Should they stay in the Hanlin Academy to continue their studies, or be sent to a local area to gain experience?

Or be transferred to one of the Six Ministries as a junior official; each path meant a completely different career trajectory.

Which path to choose is often not up to oneself, but rather a result of which side one chooses behind the scenes.

The news first came from the Hanlin Academy.

The Chancellor of the Hanlin Academy, Cui Hanlin, is getting old and will retire after the spring election this year, leaving a vacancy for the position of Lecturer of the Hanlin Academy.

This position is only of the fifth rank.

However, serving as a lecturer in the cabinet and attending the emperor was a shortcut to becoming a Grand Secretary of the cabinet.

Kong Yan recommended Su Shi to the Ministry of Personnel early on.

The reasons for recommending it are very valid.

Su Shi was a sixth-rank scholar who proofread dozens of volumes of classical texts during his time at the Hanlin Academy.

He also participated in the compilation of national history, and in terms of talent, learning, cultivation, and seniority, he was outstanding among the Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations) of his generation.

Of course, the most important thing is that he didn't say a word about it, namely that Su Shi was his last disciple.

To the great surprise of many in the court, Kong Yan did not recommend both Wang Anshi and Yao Guangxiao at the same time.

Wang Anshi was recommended by Pei Du for the position of Censor of the Censorate, a sixth-rank official.

Pei Du's reasoning was simple: Wang Anshi was reviewing the Ministry of Revenue's accumulated land tax records during his period of observation.

They uncovered clues to the embezzlement case involving military rations in Yunzhou. It would be a waste to keep such a practical talent in the Hanlin Academy for compiling books.

Yao Guangxiao's recommender was Meng Yanlun, the Minister of Rites, who recommended him for the position of Director of the Reception Department of the Ministry of Rites, a sixth-rank official.

Meng Yanlun's reasoning was equally sound: Yao Guangxiao's discussion of border defense and diplomacy in the palace examination essay was extremely insightful.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which was in charge of tributary relations and exchanges with foreign tribes, needed such talented individuals.

Three recommendations, three directions.

Behind them are Grand Tutor Kong Yan, Left Censor-in-Chief Pei Du, and Minister of Rites Meng Yanlun.

Pei Du and Kong Yan have always kept to themselves, while Meng Yanlun, though Kong Yan's junior, has always had his own ideas about personnel matters.

These three recommendations may seem unrelated, but to those with a keen eye, they are clearly a silent power struggle.

While the list of candidates for the spring selection was still under review by the Ministry of Personnel, another event stole the spotlight from public opinion in the capital.

On the tenth day of the first lunar month, the Marquis of Anxi's residence held a plum blossom appreciation banquet.

This plum blossom appreciation banquet was ostensibly an invitation for young men from various families to appreciate plum blossoms and compose poems, but everyone knew the real purpose behind it.

Marquis Cao Jun's youngest daughter has just turned fifteen this year, which is the perfect age for marriage proposals.

The various families tacitly understood that this plum blossom appreciation banquet was actually a matchmaking event for the Cao family to find a suitable son-in-law.

The plum garden of the Marquis of Anxi's mansion is quite famous in the capital. It has hundreds of old plum trees, which are in full bloom during the first month of the lunar calendar.

Cao Jun sent out invitations, and all the prominent families in the capital gave him face.

On the tenth day of the first lunar month, the gates of the Marquis of Anxi's mansion were bustling with carriages and young men from various mansions filing in.

The male guests' seats are located in the warm pavilion on the east side of the plum garden, while the female guests' seats are located in the waterside pavilion on the west side.

They were separated by half a plum grove, able to see each other from afar without overstepping the bounds of propriety.

However, the part about appreciating plum blossoms and composing poems was done together by both male and female guests.

In the Plum Blossom Pavilion in the center of the plum grove, a long table was set up, complete with writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones, so that any scholar who wished to display his talent could compose a poem on the spot.

To put it simply, this is to give young men and women a legitimate opportunity to meet each other.

A number of people had already gathered in the warm pavilion.

As soon as Su Shi entered the room, he was stopped by several of his classmates from the Imperial Academy, who insisted that he compose a poem first.

He did not refuse, walked into the pavilion, picked up his brush, and wrote the poem in one stroke on the Xuan paper laid out on the table.

"A gentle east wind stirs the air, casting a radiant glow; fragrant mist hangs in the air as the moon moves across the corridor. I fear the flowers will fall asleep as night deepens, so I burn tall candles to illuminate their crimson beauty."

After he finished writing, the people next to him came over to take a look. They first gasped in surprise, and then the whole pavilion was filled with praise.

There's a saying that goes something like "burning tall candles to illuminate the red makeup."

There were whispers that Su Xiuzhuan's poetic talent was so exceptional that probably no one else would dare to pick up a pen tonight.

An old professor from the Imperial College clapped his hands and said repeatedly that the poem didn't mention the word "plum blossom" but every line was about plum blossoms—it was wonderful.

The commotion in the men's section naturally reached the women's section.

Several bold young ladies from noble families had their maids copy the poem over, and blushed when they saw the line "I fear the flowers will fall asleep as night deepens."

Someone whispered that Su Xiu was probably talking about red plum blossoms in this poem, but he was thinking about people.

Cao Jun's youngest daughter, Cao Wanning, was also among them; she sat by the carved window of the waterside pavilion.

Holding the paper with the copied poem in her hand, she pursed her lips and stared at it for a long time, her ears slowly turning a very faint blush.

Wang Anshi arrived half an hour later than Su Shi.

As soon as he entered, he was stopped by several colleagues from the Ministry of Revenue, who said, "Editor Wang, you've finally arrived. The person in charge is waiting."

They weren't waiting for him, but rather to see how he would be harassed by Pei Zhongcheng's daughter.

Pei Du's only daughter, Pei Youqing, was sitting in the waterside pavilion. She was one of the most eye-catching female guests at this plum blossom appreciation banquet.

Pei Du was the Left Censor-in-Chief, the second most important figure among the upright civil officials.

Pei Youqing lost his mother at a young age and was raised by Pei Du as half a son. He studied classics, history, philosophy, and literature, and discussed the gains and losses of the court. He had a very high vision.

Halfway through the plum blossom appreciation and poetry recitation session, someone suggested that Miss Pei should also write one.

Pei Youqing didn't hesitate and went to the pavilion to write a poem about plum blossoms.

The poems are written in a cool and aloof style, and the handwriting is as if carved by a knife and axe.

After she finished writing, the pavilion fell silent for a moment, because this poem really didn't seem like something a young woman would write.

The poem doesn't mention plum blossoms once, yet every line speaks of their aloofness and unconventionality.

Several scions of prominent families looked somewhat embarrassed after seeing this, and dared not easily step forward to speak.

Wang Anshi stood in the crowd and read the poem aloud from beginning to end.

His gaze lingered on the last two lines for a moment, then he turned to his colleague and said, "A fine poem."

Unlike Su Shi, he didn't compose a poem on the spot, nor did he approach him for a chat; he simply silently memorized the poem.

But Pei Youqing noticed him.

It wasn't because he was particularly good-looking, but because among all the people in the room, he was the only one whose expression showed no flattery when he read the poem.

He was simply reading the poem intently.

Her maid later secretly told her that the man was Editor Wang, the master's student.

Pei Youqing was silent for a while, then said that this person was different from others.

Su Shi's connection with the Cao family quietly took root because of a poem.

He wrote "Begonia" not long after.

Cao Jun then personally came over and had a drink with him, asking him if he was getting used to life at the Hanlin Academy.

He then casually mentioned that his youngest daughter, Wan Ning, loved reading poetry from a young age, especially Su Xiu's poem "Butterfly Loves Flowers".

Su Shi's heart skipped a beat, but he smiled generously and said, "Miss is too kind. I will definitely copy one poem for you in person another day."

He spoke with great tact, offering poems and nothing else.

But Cao Jun didn't seem to care about his manners. He just smiled, patted him on the shoulder, and then went to greet other guests.

A few days later, Yao Guangxiao went to the Great Bao'en Temple alone.

He has now returned to secular life and entered officialdom, but the monks in the temple still consider him one of their own.

He sat in the library for a while, and then the monk in charge of receiving guests led the old lady of the Marquis of Dingyuan's mansion to interpret the divination slips.

The old lady sat in the library for about half an hour. On her way back, she said to the old servant beside her, "This young man is too quiet. He is so quiet that he is hard to understand, but when I hear him speak, I feel at ease."

After returning, the old servant relayed the message to Marquis Dingyuan, Han Chong.

Han Chong was wiping his sword when he heard this and paused for a moment, saying that there weren't many people who could make the old lady feel at ease.

Before the afterglow of the plum blossom viewing banquet had even faded, the official list of candidates for the spring selection was released.

Yao Guangxiao was transferred to the position of Director of the Reception Department of the Ministry of Rites.

Wang Anshi moved the capital to the Censorate to oversee the administration of officials.

Su Shi was transferred to the Hanlin Academy as a lecturer.

Each of the three appointments had its own profound meaning.

Yao Guangxiao joined the Ministry of Rites' Department of Receptions, seemingly far removed from the center of power.

However, he was in charge of the tribute missions of vassal states and interactions with foreign tribes, and all future diplomatic affairs would have to go through his hands.

Wang Anshi entered the Censorate, and although his official rank was not high, he was in charge of important documents and all impeachment memorials were written by him.

Su Shi was appointed as a lecturer in the Hanlin Academy, just one step away from entering the Grand Secretariat.

The reactions of various factions after the appointment was announced were quite intriguing.

The Second Prince, Zhou Xun, sent someone to deliver a Duan inkstone to Yao Guangxiao that very day, saying it was to congratulate him on his promotion. Underneath the inkstone was a note with only four characters: "The future is long."

Yao Guangxiao accepted the inkstone, turned the note over, wrote a line of small characters on the back, and handed it back.

The inkstone is fine, the ink is fine; Your Highness's efforts are commendable, and this humble monk understands.

He referred to himself as a poor monk, clearly indicating that he was telling the second prince something.

Although I have left secular life to enter officialdom, my heart has not yet entered anyone's mansion.

After receiving the reply, the second prince remained silent for a long time before finally putting the note in a drawer and not showing it to anyone.

While having tea with Su Shi at the Grand Tutor's residence, the eldest prince casually asked: "I heard that you, Zizhan, were very popular at the plum blossom banquet at the Marquis of Anxi's residence. The youngest daughter of the Cao family is quite fond of you. Do you have any interest in me, Zizhan?"

Su Shi paused slightly in his teacup and asked His Highness if he thought it was appropriate for him to do so.

The eldest prince did not answer, and the two smiled at each other before changing the subject.

But the eldest prince already understood.

Su Shi wasn't waiting for his nod; he was telling him: "I will make my own decision about my marriage."

Pei Du's appreciation for Wang Anshi was even more straightforward.

One day, Wang Anshi was working overtime at the Censorate to audit accounts.

Pei Du passed by his duty room, glanced inside, and then pushed the door open and went in.

He placed a stack of case files on his desk and said that these were land tax dispute case files submitted by the Jiangnan Circuit this year, and asked him to take a look.

Then suddenly he changed the subject and said that a few days ago his daughter wrote a poem about plum blossoms at the plum blossom appreciation banquet. Jie Fu, have you seen it?

Wang Anshi paused for a moment, looking up at Pei Du, but Pei Du did not look at him.

He simply turned and walked out with his hands behind his back, then left at the door saying, "She said you're a serious person, and I agree."

The door wasn't closed properly, and a cold draft blew in through the crack, making the files on the desk rustle.

Wang Anshi sat there in a daze for a while, then lowered his head and continued to check his accounts.

However, those around him noticed that Wang's handwriting was much neater than usual when he checked the accounts today.

All of this naturally reached Zhou Xing's hands.

He filed up all the information sent back from various parties in the side hall, his finger tracing back and forth between the three names.

He suddenly recalled those lines from Su Shi's poem mourning his deceased wife from his previous life.

"Ten years have passed, and we are separated by life and death. I try not to think of you, but I cannot forget you."

Perhaps in this life, Su Shi will never experience that unforgettable pain again.

Perhaps that red plum blossom in the Marquis of Anxi's mansion will become his final resting place in this life.

As for Wang Anshi, he desperately needed someone to ease his stubbornness, and Pei Youqing was precisely the one who could understand him.

And what about Yao Guangxiao?

In his previous life, he became a monk and never married.

In this life, he returned to secular life, yet still chose to keep a distance from the mortal world.

He was most pleased to see them moving steadily on their respective paths.

He spread out the self-made relationship diagram and drew a circle next to each of the three names.

He wrote a few words in the circle, and when he put down the pen, the corners of his mouth curved slightly.