Chapter 2807

"However, the Crown Prince and the Third Prince are different. The Crown Prince has a supportive family behind him to guide him, while the Third Prince has a wise mother." Wang Lanxuan said with a faint smile.

"So?" Yun Xi looked at Wang Lanxuan.

Wang Lanxuan glanced at Yun Xi, then spoke slowly, "Therefore, your first task has arrived."

Yun Xi remained silent, just watching Wang Lanxuan.

"You come from the common people. You understand the lives of ordinary folks better than I do or even the Emperor. So, while you still have a few days, remember to think about how you would act if you became a county magistrate. Start from a seventh-rank local official and go up to a first-rank Commander." Wang Lanxuan said with a grin.

What did he mean by 'hypothetically'? This order was clearly for Yun Xi to write down the duties of an official.

Yun Xi looked at Wang Lanxuan: "You aren't planning to use what I write to evaluate all the officials in the future, are you?"

Wang Lanxuan’s eyes lit up: "Don't say that. That is a very good suggestion. So you must write it down."

Yun Xi said, "It is impossible to write in detail. I can only write an outline. Then, depending on the specific position, the work content can be filled in."

Wang Lanxuan nodded: "That is good enough. You can start thinking about it now. After you achieve the Six Elements and pass the exams, your first department will likely be the Hanlin Academy. One cannot enter the Grand Secretariat without being in the Hanlin Academy. Although I find the Hanlin Academy unpleasant, you still have to go there. Just treat it as a vacation."

"I have a vacation?" Yun Xi looked at Wang Lanxuan with sarcasm. He hadn't even taken the Palace Exam yet, and he was already given this task. Was this Emperor and Grand Secretary overly ambitious, or was there another reason? Yun Xi didn't want to say anything more.

Wang Lanxuan smiled: "For you, that would be a kind of vacation."

Well, it had to be said that Wang Lanxuan’s words hit the mark. Even if Yun Xi was reluctant, he still had to do it. After thinking for a moment, he agreed: "Alright, I will consider it."

Wang Lanxuan picked up his teacup and finished the last sip of the Yun family tea. "If you have any matters, you can come to me anytime." He placed a jade pendant on the table and then added, "By the way, the tea."

Yun Xi rubbed his forehead and had no choice but to pack four taels of tea for Wang Lanxuan to take away.

Wang Lanxuan had entered by climbing over the wall, so he left the same way.

Li Gang watched Yun Xi examining the jade pendant and couldn't help but say, "Wangzhi, am I dreaming? I just saw Grand Secretary Wang."

His eyes were shining, as if he had encountered something incredibly significant.

Yun Xi pinched the injured flesh on Li Gang, leaving a bruise. "Does it hurt?"

"It hurts." Li Gang looked at Yun Xi with dissatisfaction. "Why did you pinch me?"

"If it hurts, it means you are not dreaming," Yun Xi said slowly. "Do not tell anyone about this."

"Rest assured," Li Gang remembered what Wang Lanxuan had said. "I will not tell anyone."

She then looked at Yun Xi again. She never expected that Yun Xi had already gained attention from the top before even entering the court. Her future prospects were immeasurable, but the dangers were also great.

They say the greater the danger, the greater the opportunity. This is merely comforting words. Who is willing to encounter danger for no reason? At least Li Gang was not.

"Wangzhi, if I do not make it into the top three, I plan to seek a position as a local official," Li Gang said, knowing his own abilities.

Although he worked hard and had some cleverness, he was not as perceptive as Yun Xi when facing conspiracies. His only advantage was his willingness to do practical work. Going to the local areas was the best choice for him.

Naturally, working in local areas required achievements to rise in rank. However, the danger was not as great as in the capital. Besides, having one Yun Xi in the capital was enough. If he could achieve results in the local areas, he could support Yun Xi’s efforts.

After hearing this, Yun Xi looked at Li Gang: "Your personality is suitable for local posts. Choose a relatively poor area. I will give you some ideas for development. In three years, you should be able to rise."

"Agreed," Li Gang agreed immediately.

Local life was hard, but it would never be as hard as the common people struggling for survival. Therefore, Li Gang felt that going to the local areas was a good choice.

Yun Xi thought it was good for Li Gang to go to the local areas. First, it was Li Gang’s own request. Second, if Li Gang went to the local areas, no one in the capital could use friends against him. As for family, he would naturally make full preparations.

Yun Xi planned that after the Palace Exam, once he entered the Hanlin Academy, he would write the evaluation outlines for various officials while starting to transform his purple and golden book qi.

Only by raising his cultivation to the highest point could he command respect.

Yun Xi understood this clearly, so he made his decision in an instant.

After leaving Yun Xi’s place, Wang Lanxuan went to the palace.

The Emperor smiled when he saw Wang Lanxuan arrive: "I was waiting for your news."

Wang Lanxuan took out a packet of tea: "I squeezed this out of him. Two taels for me, two taels for you. It tastes good."

"Is that so?" The Emperor laughed. "Li Sheng, use the tea sent by your Grand Secretary to brew a cup for me."

"Yes," Li Sheng bowed with a smile and took the tea from Wang Lanxuan with both hands.

"Remember to get me a cup too," Wang Lanxuan said.

"Don't you have two taels? Why are you still greedy for mine?" The Emperor said with dissatisfaction.

"I am the guest, and you are the host. Naturally, the guest drinks the host's tea," Wang Lanxuan said shamelessly.

The Emperor was speechless and waved his hand, telling Li Sheng to go brew the tea.

"How was it?" the Emperor asked.

"It was very good," Wang Lanxuan said. "When I was his age, I was not as steady as he is. I did not see things as clearly, and my mind was not as meticulous. When he reaches my age, his achievements will definitely surpass mine."

The Emperor raised his eyebrows slightly. He knew that although Wang Lanxuan looked young, as a prodigy, he rarely found anyone impressive. At least not yet. None of the candidates from the top three provinces had impressed him.

"Your evaluation is truly high," the Emperor said.

Wang Lanxuan nodded slightly: "It is not that my evaluation is high, but that he deserves such a high evaluation. Perhaps my evaluation is still lower than his actual worth."

Wang Lanxuan said seriously, "To be honest, Your Majesty, the results you desire might be realized in this Yun Wangzhi."

"Is that so?" The Emperor laughed. "That is good."

"However, as a young prodigy, his ideas may often differ from ours. All we can do is support him." This was what Wang Lanxuan wanted to express.

Before meeting Yun Xi, Wang Lanxuan was not at ease. But after meeting him, Wang Lanxuan knew that a person like Yun Xi did not lack talent; he only lacked a place to display it.

The Emperor smiled, looking relaxed: "I am not afraid that he has talent. I am afraid that he has talent but is unwilling to display it. As long as he is willing to display it, I will give him absolute opportunities to do so."

The Great Ru Dynasty had reached a turning point. The Emperor knew that if this turning point was used well, it might push the Great Ru Dynasty into a new era of prosperity. Therefore, he was willing to give Yun Xi this opportunity.

No one knew that the Great Ru Prosperity praised by later generations would start from this moment.

Five days passed. The Metropolitan Exam results were about to be posted. The Yun family and Li Gang were waiting in the Yun family hall for the good news. Yun Jian paced back and forth, looking very anxious.

Seeing this, Yun Xi looked speechless: "Father, have more confidence in me and Brother Qingyang. There is no need to be so nervous."

Yun Jian stopped and looked at Yun Xi: "Wangge'er, are you really not nervous?"

"Why should I be nervous?" Yun Xi said, exasperated. "It is just the posting of the Metropolitan Exam results."

Yun Jian said, "But it is the Metropolitan Exam."

Yun Xi said seriously, "Whether it is the Metropolitan Exam or the Palace Exam, they are merely hurdles that a Confucian scholar must go through. They are nothing significant. Brother Qingyang and I will basically have no problems. Besides, our travels over these years were not in vain."

Yun Xi added, "By the way, speaking of travels, has Brother Xing sent any letters?"

"He has. I heard he is currently in Yunjiang Prefecture," Yun Jian said.

Yun Jian smiled: "In my life, the happiest thing is having you five siblings."

"Father, am I also your pride?" Yun Xia asked, her small face very serious.

"Yes, Maomao is also Father's pride. When Maomao turns five next year, Father will take you to test your book qi. If you pass, I will send you to study where your sister studies. If you do not pass, Father will find a suitable school for you to study well. You must not waste your life." Although Yun Xia was not her biological daughter, she had been with them since birth and was no different from a biological child. Yun Xia did not know she was not born to Yun Jian and Lady Yu.

"Yes, I will work very hard," Yun Xia said, clenching her small fists seriously.

"Nunu," Yun Xin, who could just walk, chimed in from the side.

Yun Jian laughed heartily and played with the young siblings for a while. His nervous mood passed.

Then, a servant ran in hurriedly from the door: "Master and Mistress, the good news bearer is here. Our eldest master is the first in the Metropolitan Exam."

"Really? The Metropolitan Champion?" Yun Jian stood up abruptly, his eyes bright.

"Yes, yes. And the good news for Fourth Master Li has also arrived. He is eleventh. The scores are there." The servant said seriously. "Please invite the news bearer in quickly."

Yun Jian took out red envelopes and had people prepare firecrackers. As soon as the news bearer left, the Yun family set off a thousand firecrackers, crackling loudly.

Yun Xi was glad that no one lived nearby, otherwise, their family would not have peace.

After the celebration, Yun Xi and Li Gang began to prepare for the Palace Exam in three days.

Actually, there was not much to prepare. It was mainly about relaxing one's mood. The one who needed to relax was mainly Li Gang.