"Cabinet Minister, how should we arrange for Chen Shi, the top scorer? We must give him a position."
Cui Baihe said, "Chen Shi is currently serving as an ambassador at the Guangji Storehouse. In my opinion, he is not much better than his father. This Guangji Storehouse has likely become Chen Shi’s private stash."
Yan Xianzhi laughed, "Naturally, we should promote him. The ambassador is merely a ninth-grade official. Let’s promote him three ranks and let him serve as a Historical Officer at the Hanlin Academy to make use of his literary talents."
Everyone praised the decision together.
Thus, the Cabinet’s plan was settled.
The next day, the court announced the Cabinet’s decree, with a large number of officials removed from their posts, and some investigated. Minister of War Ren Xiao also requested retirement to return to his hometown.
Additionally, the Fuzheng Pavilion was abolished, and its officials were no longer employed.
This matter caused an uproar in both court and country.
Moreover, Chen Tang’s promotion also sparked considerable discussion.
The Thirteen Families were troubled by the antics of the Chen father and son, but Elder Yan intervened and quietly pacified the situation, leading to admiration.
A few days later, the court announced the examination results: Chen Shi was the top scorer, and Zhang You was the second-place winner.
The third place, known as the "explorer of flowers," stirred a great deal of commotion, as it was awarded to a female advanced scholar named Hu Feifei.
This was because the descendants of the Thirteen Families suffered significant losses, and other family heirs were no match for Hu Feifei. Combined with the pillow talk from the Fox Clan, the honor unexpectedly fell to her.
After the "explorer of flowers," there were the second tier of advanced scholar positions, and the third tier positions.
Hundreds of people were listed on the golden roll.
Two days later, the court arranged official positions. Many advanced scholars were assigned roles either in local areas or as minor officials in the Western Capital.
Chen Shi’s official position was also announced: a Historical Officer at the Hanlin Academy, from the sixth-grade, which is not insignificant, though it’s a leisurely post without real power.
Chen Shi was indifferent to this, and after signing in at the Hanlin Academy’s government office, he returned home to rest, enjoying the tranquility.
He retrieved Stone Rock Lady, the ginseng doll, and other spiritual medicines from Chen Tang, along with the small heavenly realm. Stone Rock Lady entered his small temple again, feeling content. However, upon seeing a white-clothed woman at her shrine, her expression changed, ready to act.
Yet she sensed the aura from the woman and suddenly calmed down, obediently sitting at the third shrine.
Chen Shi was also surprised, thinking to himself, "Has Stone Rock Lady changed her temperament recently? She actually didn’t chase this female scholar away."
He was also surprised that the female scholar, who had been unconscious for a long time, hadn’t awakened despite resting in his small temple for so long.
His primordial spirit sat at the central shrine, with the ’female scholar’ and Stone Rock Lady on either side. His True Qi became incomparably pure, naturally achieving the Taoist Body.
At this moment, the noise came from outside the Chen Mansion. Chen Shi went out to see, finding hundreds of scholars and advanced scholars, including Hu Guanghan and Tian Yue’e, requesting to meet outside the Chen Mansion.
Chen Shi hurriedly invited them into the Chen Mansion, but there were too many people, and the mansion was too small to accommodate them. Thus, they had to speak on Qianyang Street.
"Master, we students have been appointed official positions and are about to serve in local areas. We come today to bid farewell to our master."
Chen Shi quickly helped them up, laughing, "We are all fellow scholars and advanced scholars from the same cohort; how dare I be your master?"
He inquired about their positions one by one, finding most were not high, mainly as County Magistrates, secretaries in local county towns, and the better ones were Judges, Experiences, Prefects in State Mansions, positions that involved practical work, unlike his somewhat impractical Historical Officer role.
Chen Shi also inquired whether they had any difficulties in their cultivation, offering on-the-spot solutions, and handed each of them a Thousand-Mile Sound Transmission Talisman.
At the hour of farewell, everyone bowed down collectively.
"Master, our journey ahead is long and uncertain. Today we bid farewell to our master, hoping that in the future, we may once again stand before our master, seeking his guidance and advice!"