Emperor Yongchang had decided before numerous officials and newly successful scholars that Di Xian would repair the Fengyan Canal. This matter wouldn’t be changed. The Ministry of Works only needed to select two suitable assistant officials and prepare for conscripting laborers, procuring and transporting timber and such, and calculating silver amounts. The Ministry of Revenue had it even simpler—just provide silver according to the accounts the Ministry of Works supplied. After all, the Ministry of Works had already received Emperor Yongchang’s decree.

The Ministry of Personnel could still recommend several officials to participate in this matter.

That evening, Prince Qing went to visit his maternal grandfather, Minister of Personnel Shen Shiyan.

“Did Father Emperor drink too much? How could he so easily trust an old county magistrate’s son?”

With no one around, Prince Qing complained in a low voice.

Nearly sixty years old, Shen Shiyan’s eyelid twitched. He set down his tea bowl and admonished, “Your Highness cannot say such things. Even if Your Highness is alone, you can only keep such complaints in your heart.”

Prince Qing smiled faintly, long accustomed to his maternal grandfather’s caution. He only spoke of Di Xian as a person. “If he truly had talent, he wouldn’t have only passed as scholar background.”

Shen Shiyan sighed. “At the banquet, His Majesty inquired of the two princes their views on canal repair. Prince Kang’s words, spoken or not, meant nothing. Your Highness did affirm the canal should be repaired. Proposing to send people to survey was also correct. But Your Highness shouldn’t have belittled the Di father and son, especially before so many scholars who had just made the honors list. You must know the vast majority of them will start as county magistrates. Outside there are five or six thousand failed recommended scholars. Once this matter spreads, how will scholars throughout the realm view Your Highness?”

Prince Qing pressed his lips together, realizing he had spoken inappropriately.

But as a prince, raised from childhood being respected by prime ministers and ministers, how could he highly regard a commoner scholar background who had just passed the examination and hadn’t yet demonstrated true talent and learning?

Shen Shiyan: “Modesty and open-mindedness are virtues. Relying on talent and being arrogant is a deficiency. Your Highness should remember today’s inappropriate words and emulate more His Majesty’s courtesy toward the worthy and humble.”

Prince Qing heeded advice. He sipped tea and asked, “A project worth hundreds of thousands of taels—should you recommend a few deputy officials for Father Emperor?”

Shen Shiyan looked at his grandson, stroking his beard as he advised, “Your Highness, His Majesty is aging. These years are the critical moment for selecting an heir apparent. Prince Kang’s abilities are mediocre and he lacks initiative. Your Highness only needs to do your duties well to have seventy percent certainty of success. Speaking too much, doing too much, instead easily becomes gilding the lily.”

Prince Qing: “…Maternal Grandfather’s meaning is, I just wait?”

Shen Shiyan: “Yes. While waiting, observe and learn more. Learn how ministers handle official business, learn how His Majesty commands civil and military officials. His Majesty has long understood thoroughly you and Prince Kang’s abilities and temperaments. That he hasn’t designated an heir apparent shows His Majesty isn’t sufficiently satisfied with either of you. Your Highness is still young. As long as you correct your former impetuousness and become more steady, His Majesty will see it.”

Prince Qing was thoughtful.

On the twenty-second of the third month, while the Ministry of Personnel was selecting second and third-tier scholars, the Ministry of War’s outdoor martial examination for over eighteen hundred military recommended scholars also concluded.

This dynasty’s military spring examinations were divided into outdoor martial tests and indoor literary tests. The martial test was examined first. Military recommended scholars evaluated as excellent, superior, or average grade could participate in the subsequent literary test. Those of secondary or lowest grade directly failed and could return to their respective prefectures to have local military officers arrange suitable low-ranking military positions.

On the afternoon of the twenty-third of the third month, the Ministry of War posted results, announcing the list of candidates who passed the martial examination.

Yao Huang had one brother and three male cousins all participating in this year’s military examinations. On such an important day as results posting, she had no patience to wait at home. Early on, she took a carriage near the examination wall specifically for posting results, having two tall, burly, plainclothes prince’s mansion guards stand beneath the wall to keep watch. Zhang Yue and Wang Dong were responsible for the princess’s safety, standing on the left and right sides of the carriage.

Yao Lin and the three Luo brothers were also dragged over by Luo Jinhua and Luo Yue to wait for results.

Yao Huang glimpsed them through a gap in the curtain and had Zhang Yue invite mother and the others over.

Luo Jinhua and Luo Yue boarded the carriage. The four brothers Yao Lin and Luo formed a row outside the carriage window.

Yao Lin looked at the still bare examination wall, confidently saying, “Mounted archery, foot archery, horse spear, weight-bearing, sword and spear weapons—after each exam, they immediately reported each person’s results. The worst category for all four of us was still average grade. We’re definitely all on the list. If you ask me, there’s no need to come wait at all. We could just prepare for the literary test at home.”

His voice wasn’t small. Several military recommended scholars not far away waiting for results looked over with complicated expressions.

Eldest Cousin Luo Kun reminded Yao Lin to speak quietly.

The curtain half-raised, Yao Huang looked at her own brother’s guileless foolish appearance, very much doubting whether Brother could pass the subsequent literary test. Eldest Cousin Luo Kun was quite good at both military strategy and martial arts, having the greatest certainty of passing as a scholar. Second Cousin Luo Peng and Third Cousin Luo Ze’s martial arts were inferior to Brother’s but their military strategy surpassed Brother’s. As long as they could pass the martial test, their hope of achieving scholar status was also greater than Brother’s.

Luo Kun suddenly gave his cousin a meaningful look.

Yao Huang followed his line of sight and saw Li Tingwang walking over with a young servant. She immediately sat up straight. Although she didn’t completely lower the curtain, Li Tingwang absolutely couldn’t see her.

Li Tingwang knew Yao Huang was sitting in the carriage and also guessed Zhang Yue’s guard identity. He didn’t want to cause Yao Huang trouble. Just pretending not to know would be more suspicious, so he came over to greet the four brothers Yao Lin and Luo, then headed toward the examination wall.

Yao Lin said enviously, “Tingwang ranked right in front of me. Several examinations were all excellent grade.”

Yao Lin also obtained several excellent grades, but his mounted archery and foot archery were only superior grade. Luo Kun’s foot archery was excellent grade; his mounted archery was also superior grade.

Luo Kun echoed the envy for a couple sentences, then shifted the topic.

The Ministry of War people were coming to post results. Heads surged. Just moments ago still confident, Yao Lin suddenly also became excited, pushing through the crowd with Luo Peng and Luo Ze to squeeze inside.

Luo Yue stuck her head out the carriage window, excitedly watching the surging crowd of military recommended scholars.

Yao Huang leaned over, teasing her cousin. “See any handsome ones?”

Luo Yue: “All back of heads. Besides, looking now is useless. Only those who make the literary test list have hope of remaining in the capital.”

Of over eighteen hundred military recommended scholars, only over five hundred names appeared on the martial test list.

All four brothers Yao Lin and Luo were on the list!

Delighted, Yao Huang brought Mother, Brother, cousins, and cousin to Wangxian Tower for a banquet.

Entering the private room, Yao Lin leaned close to his sister’s ear and said quietly, “Tingwang is first in the martial examination.”

Yao Huang smiled. “That’s quite good. After all, he counts as half a brother to me.”

With Brother’s naive appearance, if she directly said she didn’t like Li Tingwang and told Brother not to mention anything about Li Tingwang to her anymore, Brother would instead misunderstand that she liked Li Tingwang but had to avoid suspicion as a princess.

Seeing his sister smile so naturally, Yao Lin was indeed relieved. So Sister truly had never liked Li Tingwang at all.

After accompanying family through a lively, bustling banquet, after dispersing Yao Huang returned to the prince’s mansion alone.

The weather grew increasingly warm. In the prince’s mansion’s back garden, plum blossoms, peach blossoms, and crabapple blossoms bloomed in succession. In the peony garden, thirty percent of early-blooming varieties had also unfurled their petals.

After the afternoon rest, Yao Huang casually strolled the back garden until dusk. Prince Hui should be returning.

Yao Huang returned to Ming’an Hall early to wait.

Upon meeting, Yao Huang couldn’t help smiling. The princess’s hint was so obvious that Zhao Sui was also happy for her. “All four elder brothers passed the martial examination?”

Yao Huang: “Yes! My father’s early teaching of horse stance and fundamental skills wasn’t wasted, and my worrying for several days about this wasn’t wasted either.”

Normally she felt her own brothers all had superior martial arts, but truly seeing the robust young men from various regions, Yao Huang’s confidence wasn’t quite so strong. However long her brothers tested, she tensely followed along.

Zhao Sui thought of how in past years, those who passed as military scholars were mostly also sons of military official families. Sons of common people families preferred taking the civil examination route. Military examinations tested both military strategy and riding archery. The more one learned, the more silver it cost. Moreover, military officials easily suffered injuries on battlefields—far less stable than civil officials.

At this age, Yao Zhenhu was still only a company commander, primarily disadvantaged by his temperament. His martial arts were still quite good. Four nephews and sons learning fundamental skills from him since childhood, then studying under renowned teachers at the capital’s military academy, naturally had advantages over students from local military academies.

Yao Huang poured a bowl of tea for Prince Hui, who had just returned from outside.

Looking at the python-patterned robe on Prince Hui, Yao Huang contentedly envisioned, “If all four of my brothers can pass as military scholars, my maiden family will gain four military officials all at once. Although they still need to slowly advance through ranks, it counts as a small military family. When others discuss Princess Hui’s family background, they can’t call it too shabby?”

Prince Kang’s former princess was a duke’s mansion noble daughter. Prince Qing’s princess was directly a princess from the Princess Imperial’s mansion. Only Prince Hui married a modest household princess.

Yao Huang wasn’t ashamed of her origins. After all, the imperial family had insisted she participate in the selection, not her rushing eagerly to participate. But Yao Huang had always felt Prince Hui initially selecting her had some meaning of abandoning all hope. Because his legs were crippled and he himself was like a dead person, he was too lazy to care about the princess’s family background.

Now Prince Hui had come back to life, resumed duties. Perhaps he would hear outside some gossip comparing the various princesses’ family backgrounds.

Zhao Sui looked at the laughter in the princess’s eyes, like she’d picked up silver, and said, “I’ve never felt your family background was shabby. You also need not mind how outsiders discuss it.”

Yao Huang was startled.

Prince Hui lowered his eyes, picked up the tea bowl, and casually sipped.

Yao Huang smiled. After Prince Hui finished drinking, she came around to sit on Prince Hui’s lap, embracing his neck. “As long as Your Highness doesn’t mind, rest assured about me. ‘Broad-minded and plump’ describes me perfectly.”

Zhao Sui: “…”

Had the princess used the correct interpretation of “broad-minded and plump,” or was she deliberately misinterpreting it for self-deprecation? If the latter, should he say something?

Two days later, the military recommended scholars who passed the martial examination entered the Ministry of Rites examination hall and began the literary test.

The literary test lasted one day. At dusk, everyone emerged with varying expressions.

Yao Huang returned to her maiden home once to ask Brother if he was confident. Yao Lin rubbed his head, no longer having his previous certainty.

On the sixth of the fourth month, the military examination literary test results were posted. Ninety-eight people made the list in total.

Li Tingwang’s name still hung high at the top. Of Yao Huang’s four brothers, Eldest Cousin Luo Kun ranked tenth, Second Cousin Luo Peng ranked thirty-seventh, Third Cousin Luo Ze ranked fifty-sixth, and her own brother Yao Lin ranked eighty-third.

These ninety-eight people still had to participate in the palace examination, but the palace examination only evaluated the three tiers of scholars. In other words, the four brothers Yao Lin and Luo had already secured their military scholar status!

Delighted, Yao Huang agreed at the noon banquet at Wangxian Tower that the four brothers could drink freely of the establishment’s strong liquor.

Ministry of Works.

Minister Yan Lun was very aware Prince Hui had four brothers-in-law and cousins-in-law participating in this year’s military spring examinations. Learning all four made the list, Yan Lun specifically had someone transcribe a copy of the results list and smilingly delivered it before Prince Hui to offer congratulations.

Prince Hui, sitting in his wheelchair, saw at a glance the name ranked at the very top of the list.