This is the true immortal of the Taoist sect.

"Princess...Princess...The top scholar has proposed to His Majesty in the main hall..."

At the Xianping Prince's Mansion, Jiang Ping'an's personal maid rushed into the inner courtyard with a joyful expression to inform her of the news.

Jiang Ping'an, who was practicing swordsmanship, froze in place.

The long sword in his hand slipped silently from his grasp.

After a moment of silence, Jiang Ping'an suddenly turned around and ran wildly out of the palace.

He ran all the way to the palace gate and, after asking around, learned that Wang Yangming had already finished his thank-you banquet and gone home.

Jiang Ping'an immediately ran towards Lijiang Guild Hall and pushed open the gate of the courtyard where Wang Yangming lived.

Jiang Ping'an stood at the door, panting heavily.

Sweat streamed down his face as he stared intently at Wang Yangming.

Wang Yangming was stunned for a moment, then laughed:

"What brings you here? I was just about to look for you..."

Before he could finish speaking, Jiang Ping'an rushed over and hugged him tightly.

Wang Yangming's hands froze in mid-air, somewhat at a loss.

"Princess...this..."

Jiang Ping'an hugged him very tightly, as if he wanted to embed his body into Wang Yangming's body.

But he kept repeating:

"I'm sorry...I'm so sorry..."

Wang Yangming was puzzled.

"It's alright. His Majesty has already bestowed the marriage upon me. Once I return to my hometown, we will be married..."

Jiang Ping'an shook his head repeatedly, still saying sorry over and over again.

Wang Yangming realized what was happening, and his mind was filled with a myriad of thoughts.

He understood why Jiang Ping'an apologized, because the night they spent together was nothing more than a scheme by the Prince of Jin.

The purpose was to bind Wang Yangming to their side.

Wang Yangming had seen through this long ago.

But what good is seeing through him? It's a fact that he tarnished Jiang Ping'an's innocence.

If he hadn't acted improperly while drunk, how would the Prince of Jin have had the opportunity to succeed?

Therefore, Wang Yangming did not blame her.

Now he has completed the imperial examination and obtained an official position.

Today in the imperial court, he even refused the emperor's offer to recruit him into the Hanlin Academy, and instead requested to be demoted to a local post as a county magistrate.

He didn't want to be some kind of pampered elite; he just wanted to put his ideals into practice in a down-to-earth manner.

Do things practically and honestly.

However, the proposal was rejected on the spot by the Prince of Jin. The Prince of Jin was a once-in-a-century genius who had made a name for himself as a king, and it would be a waste to send such a talented person to a local area.

He should be promoted exceptionally and entrusted with important responsibilities.

The emperor agreed and immediately bestowed upon him the title of Prince and appointed him as the Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, causing an uproar among the officials.

This is a fifth-rank official position. Throughout history, even the top scholar in the imperial examinations has never had such a meteoric rise to power.

The emperor, overruling public opinion, made the final judgment.

Wang Yangming was granted a four-month leave to return to his hometown to visit his family. Four months later, he went to the capital to take up his post and married Princess Jiang Ping'an.

With the emperor's decree, Wang Yangming had no choice but to accept it.

Jiang Ping'an finally lifted her head from Wang Yangming's embrace, looking at him with teary eyes, as if she had a thousand words to say to him.

But in the end, all that was left were the three words, "I'm sorry."

Wang Yangming stiffly patted her back and laughed:

"It's all in the past, things will be alright..."

Jiang Ping'an came and went inexplicably.

This left Wang Yangming somewhat bewildered.

Not long after Jiang Ping'an left, someone else arrived.

He is the Crown Prince's man.

A carriage completely covered in black cloth brought Wang Yangming to the East Palace.

Wang Yangming was quite calm, because he had expected it.

During the imperial examination, in order to avoid being misled by the exam papers given to him in advance by the Prince of Jin, he took advantage of the Crown Prince.

The crown prince originally thought this was a surrender, but unexpectedly, Wang Yangming turned around and asked the emperor to marry the princess.

Everyone in the court knew that Princess Ping'an was raised in the palace from a young age and was adopted by Consort Chun.

Consort Chun was the birth mother of Prince Jin.

Therefore, the two were like biological siblings, and Princess Ping'an naturally belonged to Prince Jin's camp.

Wang Yangming's actions made the Crown Prince feel betrayed, so he would never let it go easily.

Upon entering the East Palace, I followed the eunuch to the inner courtyard, where the Crown Prince was feasting amidst blooming flowers.

All those seated with him were women of exceptional beauty.

Wang Yangming glanced at it, then quickly lowered his head to look at his toes, keeping his eyes straight ahead.

The women were almost all naked, with only some semi-transparent gauze covering them, which was so obscene that it was unbearable to look at.

"Your Highness, the top scholar has arrived."

The eunuch whispered in the prince's ear.

The crown prince held a wine cup, his eyes somewhat unfocused.

Squinting at Wang Yangming standing at the garden entrance, he laughed loudly:

"Oh... so it's the top scholar who achieved the highest honors in all three levels of the imperial examinations... Guards, bring him a seat and some wine..."

Wang Yangming bowed and thanked him.

"Thank you, Your Highness."

After taking his seat, the Crown Prince winked at the two beautiful, extremely alluring women beside him who were almost completely naked.

The two women understood and immediately came over gracefully and sat down next to Wang Yangming.

"Scholar, come here, let me have a drink with you..."

Wang Yangming had never seen anything like this before. He was so shocked that his face turned pale, sweat beaded on his forehead, and he dared not look or move.

All I could do was keep refusing:

"I am not good at drinking, not good at drinking..."

The crown prince chuckled upon seeing this and said:

"Why be so reserved, top scholar? There are no outsiders here, so just enjoy yourself to the fullest."

Having no other choice, Wang Yangming could only exert a little force to shake the two apart.

Then he hurriedly rose and stood in the center of the garden, bowing to the Crown Prince and saying:

"Your Highness, please speak freely. Why humiliate your subject like this..."

The crown prince's expression turned cold, and he snorted:

"humiliation?"

"Hmph, the top scholar must have made a mistake. If anyone is going to humiliate me, it was you who humiliated me first."

Wang Yangming was speechless for a moment and could only stand with his hands hanging down.

The Crown Prince rose and walked to Wang Yangming, saying:

"You have quite the cunning, using a clever trick to make me fight the second son to the death, while you reap the benefits and achieve the highest honors in the imperial examinations..."

Wang Yangming composed himself and replied with clasped hands:

"Your Highness misunderstands. I had no such intention. It was only because the exam papers had been leaked that I had no choice but to report it to Your Highness in order to ensure the fairness of the imperial examination..."

The Crown Prince sneered:

"Oh? For the sake of fairness in the imperial examinations?"

"So, this is all for the sake of fairness in the imperial examinations. In that case, I should thank you properly for selecting officials for my Great Zhao?"

"Your subject dares not..."

"snort..."

The crown prince turned and left, returning to his seat. The coldness on his face vanished, replaced by a kind expression. He said:

"Wang, there's no need to be afraid. I was just joking with you. Sit down and have a drink..."

Wang Yangming felt helpless. This crown prince could change his tune faster than turning the pages of a book. He seemed licentious and immoral, but in reality, he was extremely cunning.

"I have read both the essays for the provincial and imperial examinations, and they are indeed the work of a genius who comes along only once in a century."

"I won't beat around the bush with you. From now on, serve me. When I ascend the throne, you will definitely have a place in the cabinet."

Wang Yangming opened his mouth, about to speak.

The Crown Prince interrupted him, saying:

"You must understand, I am the Crown Prince of Da Zhao, not the Prince of Jin..."

"What the Prince of Jin can give you, I can give you too; what the Prince of Jin cannot give you, I can also give you."

"To serve me is to serve the Great Zhao Dynasty. Do you understand?"

Wang Yangming pondered for a moment and said in a deep voice:

"Your subject thanks Your Highness for your kindness..."

The crown prince smiled, said nothing more, and waved his hand, saying:

"Since Wang is not good at drinking, then forget it. Men, escort Wang out of the palace."