Compared to the smooth process of transferring officials from Chao’an North Road, how to arrange for Yin Qing caused her some concern and difficulty.

She certainly remembered the promise she had made to him and especially remembered his request—to be retained as an official in the capital, or if not possible, to be appointed as the magistrate of Chao’an North Road.

Somehow, she instinctively felt that this person should not be kept by her side for long, and it would be best if he could be sent to govern a local area.

But at present, Chao’an North Road did not lack a magistrate, and the vacant positions in the Pacification and Transport Commissioner’s Offices were not suitable for a new jinshi graduate like Yin Qing. After much thought, she finally decided to let Yin Qing temporarily stay in the capital, filling a vacancy as the Registrar of the Imperial Treasury Service, but after a year or so, she would transfer him out of the capital.

Then there was the matter of the six female jinshi graduates from this examination.

This year was naturally different from previous years. The positions these six new female jinshi graduates would hold had long been a matter of attention for all the civil and military officials in court. The Emperor had left it alone, saying only that the ministers of the Secretariat should discuss it with the Ministry of Personnel, following the precedents of previous jinshi examinations. Though he said this, Meng Tinghui could not truly bring herself to treat these six female jinshi graduates like ordinary men, nor was she willing to simply let them govern local areas, wasting the opportunity she had worked so hard to secure.

Just as she was contemplating and trying to draft a note that would satisfy all parties to submit to the Secretariat, someone came from the Inner Court Service, saying that the ministers had already discussed the matter of the new female jinshi graduates and requested Lady Meng to review it.

Meng Tinghui received the note delivered by the person and quickly scanned it, seeing that the Secretariat also did not intend to send these six women to govern local areas, which immediately put her mind at ease. But upon closer inspection, she was once again surprised—

The Secretariat had proposed to allow Left Qiurong, who ranked sixth in the second class of the jinshi examination, to enter the Hanlin Academy as an Editor.

Let alone the fact that even the second and third ranks of the first class in this jinshi examination only received the position of Editor of the Hanlin Academy, which was of the seventh rank, when had these old ministers of the Secretariat ever been willing to let women hold important positions? How had their attitude changed so drastically today, to the point of allowing a mere sixth rank in the second-class female jinshi to enter the Hanlin Academy as an official?

She pondered for a long time, unable to understand the reason, and kept the note, planning to discuss this matter in front of the Emperor during tomorrow’s morning court, to avoid inadvertently falling into a trap set by the old ministers of the Secretariat.

Thinking of the Emperor, she seemed to break free from this pile of complicated affairs and remembered that she had originally planned to enter the palace to seek an audience at the Ruisi Hall to clarify why he had left the palace to find her last night.

She immediately concluded her miscellaneous tasks and hurriedly went out. As she passed through the Right Wing Gate, she happened to meet a eunuch who usually served by the Emperor’s side.

The eunuch was just on his way to the Ruisi Hall, and upon seeing her, he greeted her very respectfully. When he heard that she wished to seek an audience with the Emperor, he quickly brought her along, asking back and forth on the way whether Lady Meng’s health had improved.

Meng Tinghui knew that since she didn’t attend court today, the Emperor’s special edict must have used the excuse that she was unwell. She smiled and said, “I just started to feel better, so I rushed over. I wouldn’t dare to neglect my official duties based on the Emperor’s special edict…”

Seeing that she was willing to engage in conversation, the eunuch became increasingly excited and said, “It’s a pity that Lady Meng didn’t come to court today. Minister Gu and Left Vice Director Zhou requested the Emperor to summon this year’s six female jinshi graduates for an audience in court. Those female jinshi truly possess real learning; they dared to discuss current affairs in front of all the civil and military officials. After listening, the Emperor was greatly pleased and rewarded each of them, especially Left Qiurong.”

Meng Tinghui listened to every word, her brows slightly furrowed, and suddenly understood.

The old ministers of the Secretariat were not at all willing to let women enter the Hanlin Academy as officials; they clearly wanted to create a second Meng Tinghui!

Back then, she, Meng Tinghui, had gained the Emperor’s favor through her entry into the Hanlin Academy. Today, this Left Qiurong could also make the Emperor view her differently—wasn’t this their well-calculated plan?

She couldn’t help but laugh coldly.

These old ministers were truly clever. Knowing that Meng Tinghui was currently in a position of power and there was no possibility of her losing the Emperor’s favor, they came up with this method of using another person to divert the Emperor’s attention—such deep and calculated schemes!

You, Meng Tinghui, repeatedly advocated for female jinshi to enjoy the same treatment as regular jinshi, so the ministers of the Secretariat are fulfilling your wish. Even the gates of the Hanlin Academy have been opened to these female jinshi. How could you possibly reject the old ministers’ “goodwill”?

She thought quickly in her mind, vaguely recalling meeting this Left Qiurong when she was waiting for appointment at the Ministry of Personnel, remembering her as a person of outstanding appearance.

She suddenly felt displeased.

She inwardly criticized herself for being petty, yet couldn’t control the anger rising in her chest. At that moment, she didn’t even want to go to Ruisi Hall anymore. She just smiled faintly at the eunuch and said, “Is what you just mentioned the intention of Minister Gu and Left Vice Director Zhou?”

The eunuch couldn’t discern any change in her expression and just continued smiling, “After court adjourned today, I saw that female jinshi come to thank Minister Gu!”

Meng Tinghui still smiled faintly, “I suddenly remembered that I forgot to bring a note that needs to be presented to the Emperor. Please go ahead, and I’ll come back after retrieving it.”

The eunuch was slightly stunned but didn’t dare to ask further, only acknowledging before leaving.

Seeing that he had gone, she finally let her face grow cold and turned to head toward the Inner Court Service.

But halfway there, she stopped, turned around, and left the palace, heading straight back to the Meng residence.

This emotion was so unfamiliar that she couldn’t handle it for a moment, feeling that she had become unlike her usual self. How could she be so impatient?

Xu Ting had just been dismissed from his position as Prime Minister, and it was still unclear who would fill the vacancy of the Deputy Director of the Right. The affairs of Chao’an North Road still required her careful handling. How could she lose her composure at such a critical moment?

Setting aside personal feelings, the old ministers’ willingness to allow a second-class female jinshi to enter the Hanlin Academy was a good thing. She should seize this opportunity to turn an unfavorable situation to her advantage, rather than concerning herself with the Emperor’s intentions!

…Besides, how could she possibly concern herself with the Emperor’s intentions?

Until the twenty-sixth day of the eighth month, before the Emperor’s birthday, Meng Tinghui buried herself in official duties and had not privately sought an audience at the Ruisi Hall. She didn’t go, and the Emperor also did not issue a special edict to summon her. It seemed as if there was a layer of frost between the two of them.

Regarding Yin Qing’s appointment as Registrar of the Imperial Treasury Service, others surprisingly didn’t ask much, and the Secretariat readily approved the note she had submitted. This must have been related to her complete agreement with the Secretariat ministers on the selection of positions for the new female jinshi graduates.

Although Left Qiurong’s entry into the Hanlin Academy as an Editor could not compare to Meng Tinghui’s initial entry into the Hanlin Academy as a Compiler, observing the Imperial Academy and drafting edicts, and being granted a silverfish bag—all signs of great power—it still caused quite a stir throughout the court. Everyone said that women serving as officials in court could truly attain important positions from now on. The fact that Meng Tinghui could be indifferent to Left Qiurong’s matter also left many people astonished.

Meng Tinghui, upon hearing this, just smiled and let it pass.

The old ministers of the Secretariat had tried to trip her up, but contrary to their intentions, they had won her a reputation.

Regarding the right or wrong of this year’s examination reform, regarding the new positions of female officials in court, if the people of the world were to evaluate, who could erase even half of Meng Tinghui’s contribution to it?