Whatever Fang Huai was using, she couldn’t hear a word.

She had even forgotten where she was standing and what she was doing.

Her thoughts drifted back to a chilly spring morning a year ago, when the imperial bulletin was posted on the official walls of Chongzhou Prefecture, announcing that the northern border markets would be opened, that Grand Scholar Shen would come to the Northern Chao’an Route to oversee the women’s jinshi examination, and that His Highness the Crown Prince—would be selecting a consort.

After his wedding, he would ascend the throne, receiving the prostrations and praises of all the people under heaven.

In less than a year, she felt as if another decade had passed. Days and months flew by like birds, making her forget that he would select a consort and hold a grand wedding.

He was the only son of the Emperor and Prince Ping, the universally respected Crown Prince of the Great Ping Dynasty, the sole heir who could inherit this vast empire and expansive realm.

The distance between her and him was as vast as that between heaven and earth—she could touch but never approach.

Even when she was in that yellow-canopied carriage last night, even when she was in his strong arms, she couldn’t step one inch into his heart, much less dare to hope for the imperial family’s favor.

The imperial family, the imperial family.

The Emperor with his peerless appearance and talent, Prince Ping with his iron backbone and imposing presence… Even if she could touch him, how could she hope for special regard from those two?

Even Shen Zhili, previously the most rumored candidate for Crown Princess, suddenly seemed insignificant before the words “Princess of North Jian.”

Only such nobility from an imperial family would be truly suitable to match him.

“Meng Tinghui?”

Fang Huai frowned, seeing her lost in thought, and called her name sternly.

She blinked, took a deep breath, looked up, and said, “Sir.”

She had heard Fang Huai mention something about “Left Remonstrator” earlier but didn’t know why he was bringing this up with her…

Fang Huai said, “Half a month ago, Minister Gu wanted the Hanlin Academy to recommend a Compiler to fill a vacancy as Left Remonstrator in the Chancellery. Grand Scholar Zhang and I deliberated for a long time without reaching a decision. Finally, this morning before court, we recommended you to Minister Gu. The transfer order will be issued before nightfall, but now I want to ask if you are willing to go to the Chancellery?”

Her mind jolted, and she could hardly believe what she had heard. After a moment, she processed it word by word—Left Remonstrator, they wanted her to enter the Chancellery!

Although this position was only a minor supplementary fifth-rank official in the Chancellery, it meant being within the Two Departments, and more importantly, being able to see—him—regularly.

She had long hoped for a promotion but never imagined it would come so quickly, leaving her completely flustered.

She lowered her head and said with a trembling voice, “In response to your question, sir, I have been in the Hanlin Academy for less than a year. Being appointed as a sixth-rank Compiler as the top candidate from the women’s jinshi examination was already due to the grace of the Emperor and Crown Prince. If I were now to enter the Chancellery on your recommendation, I fear my fellow scholars of the same year in the Hanlin Academy would find it hard to accept. Perhaps you should wait until after this spring’s evaluations to determine a suitable position for me…”

Fang Huai raised his hand to stop her. “Though the rank of Left Remonstrator is low, it requires someone who dares to speak frankly and offer remonstrance. Grand Scholar Zhang and I were still hesitating, but after last night, both of us made up our minds. If we were to select one person from among the current Compilers to recommend, it would have to be you. If you are not declining because you are unwilling to enter the Chancellery, then this matter is settled, and there’s no need to say more.”

She bit her lip, neither speaking nor moving, seemingly accepting his decision. Her head remained lowered as she struggled to conceal the emotions surging within her.

She listened quietly as Fang Huai instructed her on various matters one by one—not to forget her colleagues at the Hanlin Academy after going to the Chancellery, and that perhaps someday she might be appointed as a Hanlin Scholar and return to the Academy…

She nodded from time to time to show she remembered, but her thoughts gradually scattered, drifting to a place separated by several stone-paved streets and palace walls—the place where he was.

After what seemed like a long time, Fang Huai finally finished speaking, and she finally composed herself. With a smile, her eyes brimming with tears and her face full of gratitude, she stood up and said, “Thank you, Master Fang, for your guidance during this time. No matter where I am in the future, I will always regard you as my lifelong teacher.”

Fang Huai nodded, his face as expressionless as usual, but he walked around the long table, took a book and placed it on her bookcase. “When the transfer order comes, you may go.”

She bowed in thanks, not saying any more pleasantries, knowing that Fang Huai greatly disliked those who were insincere. She picked up her bookcase and turned to leave for the outer hall.

However, Fang Huai called her back, his voice slightly lowered: “They say the Hanlin Academy is a place of pure nobility, where words evaluating people and events are often too measured. But even if Hanlin members are arrogant and contrary, they are always forthright. When you enter the Two Departments, you will truly understand the surging clouds of court politics. You must think thrice before acting.”

She fixed her gaze on him, her face tilting slightly, then smiled, nodded, and withdrew.

The tall volumes of local gazetteers from previous dynasties that she had been editing had already been properly arranged and handed over to other Compilers who would take over. She neatly arranged the brushes, ink, and inkstone on her desk, then looked outside. The sun had not yet set in the west; it was still early, leaving her somewhat at a loss about what to do.

Before long, an official in a crimson robe entered the Academy to deliver the transfer order issued by the Palace Administration.

Fang Huai accepted it on her behalf and read it aloud before everyone.

She stood quietly behind her desk, and as she listened, she couldn’t help but raise her eyebrows and look up.

Unexpectedly, besides being transferred to fill the vacancy of Left Remonstrator in the Chancellery, she was also appointed as Proofreader and Keeper of the Imperial Seal. The decree stated that this was a special favor from the Crown Prince, and further ordered her to immediately receive her official tablet and report to the Chancellery for service.

Everyone present, including Fang Huai, was utterly astonished.

They had thought that after she publicly embarrassed the Crown Prince last night, he would be furious, and all previous rumors would have dissipated like smoke. Who would have expected the Crown Prince to issue another special decree of favor?

She, Meng Tinghui, was the first woman in twenty years to achieve the three highest honors in the imperial examinations, the first female jinshi to enter the Hanlin Academy, and the first female official to enter the Chancellery with the concurrent positions of Proofreader, Keeper of the Imperial Seal, and Left Remonstrator.

All these precedents were set for her.

No one knew what the Crown Prince was thinking.

But no one said a word.

She was no longer a member of the Hanlin Academy, and even Fang Huai couldn’t appropriately say anything more.

The official who had delivered the edict stood to one side and said to her, “Madam Meng, if everything is in order, please follow me to the Left Side Gate.”

Though her mind was filled with a thousand questions, and she couldn’t understand what he intended, she accepted the transfer order and the tablet without showing any emotion, simply picking up her large bookcase and following the man out of the Academy gates.