Chapter 352 Ambition?

He pushed Tiger aside and vigorously rubbed his somewhat reddened eyes.

Rat, on the other hand, suddenly started looking around.

Tiger was clueless.

"Rat, what are you looking at? Is there something in the sky?"

Impatiently, Rat yelled back at him.

"Didn’t you see how windy it is today? I’ve got sand in my eyes!"

Tiger was speechless.

Wind? Sand? Really?

Xia Tingfeng watched them, a lump forming in his throat, rendering him speechless.

He took a few steps forward, surveyed the somewhat cramped little courtyard, then turned and joked, "Martial Champion, when are you going to get us a bigger courtyard?"

Rat hurriedly chimed in.

"Exactly! Not only a big courtyard, but I’m also going to buy two Maids—the prettiest ones, the kind that can warm my bed!"

Monster, oozing charm, added from the side, "I want some too! Preferably a lovely young lady, with a perky butt and long legs—definitely not short ones!"

Xia Tingfeng was silent.

Why does it feel like the topic has gone astray?

Meanwhile, Tiger just chuckled.

"Alright! You’ll have it all! We’ll definitely have everything!"

After speaking, he eagerly trotted over to ask Xia Tingfeng, "Big Brother, do you want any? What kind are you looking for?"

Xia Tingfeng was speechless.

"AHEM! I don’t need any, but make sure to save a good courtyard for me!"

"Size doesn’t matter much; tranquility is what’s most important. It would be best if it had plenty of bamboo planted inside!"

In the Imperial Forest Army, many Children of Noble Families could go home after their duty. But he could only eat and live in the barracks.

If only I had some brothers in the Capital City, then I’d have a home too. How wonderful that would be! Even without women, brothers can make a home!

That day, the brothers had a rare, proper get-together.

At noon, they substituted tea for wine and drank to their hearts’ content.

In the afternoon, Xia Tingfeng returned to the palace for his duties.

「...」

The martial arts examination concluded successfully. A Martial Champion, a Second Place Scholar, and a Third Place Scholar were selected—three talents in Martial Arts. The memorials detailing the official positions arranged by the Ministry of Rites and the Ministry of War had already been submitted. They were just waiting for the Emperor’s approval before the new officials could assume their posts.

The Civil Officials thought highly of this move.

"This not only provides another path for students from humble backgrounds across the land but also alleviates the Emperor’s worries! It’s truly... killing two birds with one stone!"

The speaker was a censor standing beside Grand Tutor Shih.

When the strength of the scions from the Generals’ Families was no longer sufficient to meet the needs of protecting the nation, the Emperor chose to select talent through the martial arts examinations. When those individuals of extraordinary skill from humble backgrounds were gradually placed in every corner of the major military camps, the power of the Fan Family...

Heh! Wouldn’t it be gradually dismantled?

Lady Fan, the Empress, has been riding high for so many years; it’s about time she made way.

As long as my own daughter can become the Empress, then everything in the palace will be manageable!

Grand Tutor Shih’s mind was furiously working out his schemes, the mental abacus clicking away. Even if communication between the palace and the outside world was restricted, he still had ways to find out about his daughter’s situation.

He had heard... the young lady from the Shih Family who had recently entered the palace was already pregnant. If she could just give birth to a Prince, the Shih Family’s generations of glory and wealth would be secured.

Grand Tutor Shih was very smug. The recent episode where the Emperor had dealt with the Shih Family was completely forgotten by him.

So what if his son was a disappointment and a laughingstock? As long as his daughter brought honor to the family, that was all that mattered! He mused about the future. One day, he would be the Emperor’s father-in-law, wielding immense power over the court. Even the Emperor would have to defer to him. Then, let’s see who would still dare to laugh at him! Hmph!

Zhao Junyao sat on his high throne, observing Grand Tutor Shih’s ambitious demeanor. The corners of his mouth curled up slightly.

I can pretty much guess what this old fellow is thinking. It’s just... Zhao Junyao couldn’t understand where this old fellow got his confidence from. His daughter wants to be Empress? Impossible! Never mind that the Empress is alive and well; even if the Empress were to die, it wouldn’t be his daughter’s turn to become Empress. Hah, go ahead and scheme. I’m not making a move against you now because the time isn’t ripe. But if you dare make a real move in the future, I won’t hesitate to deal with you thoroughly.

"If there’s nothing else, dismiss the court!" Zhao Junyao finished speaking, then rose and departed.

Let the Ministers handle those trivial matters of the court. He himself hurried back to the Imperial Study Room to review memorials.

「...」

Three or four days later, Tiger’s wound had scabbed over.

Suddenly, a eunuch arrived from the palace, holding a weighty imperial edict. Tiger, Rat, and Monster all grew solemn, kneeling on the ground with grave expressions. The eunuch recited a long string of elaborate sentences that the three of them couldn’t understand. Tiger’s head was spinning, completely bewildered.

Finally, as the eunuch reached the end, he heard the name of an official rank: "Fifth Rank Qianhu!"

Tiger’s surname was Zheng. From now on, he would be Zheng Qianhu.

Tiger was so ecstatic he was dazed.

Fifth Rank! A direct appointment to Fifth Rank? Could I even handle it? I’m illiterate; wouldn’t that affect military matters? I’m really going to be an official now!

"Congratulations, Zheng Qianhu! Best wishes to you!" the eunuch offered his congratulations with a beaming smile.

Rat, ever the quick-witted one, pulled out several large silver ingots from his robes. "Eunuch, please take this for some tea!"

The eunuch left, still grinning.

Rat helped Tiger to his feet. "What, haven’t you had enough of kneeling, Zheng Qianhu?"

Tiger chuckled good-naturedly. "Why be so formal? Just call me Tiger!"

Monster was on the side, sobbing, "BOO HOO HOO... Now we’ll finally have a big courtyard to live in! BOO HOO HOO..."

Tiger was speechless.

Rat, long accustomed to Monster’s intermittent bouts of dramatics, simply ignored him.

「...」

In the following days, aside from waiting to assume his post, the three of them spent the rest of their time visiting every major pleasure quarter and Brothel in the Capital City. Every day they took Tiger out to find women, and naturally, they looked for some for themselves too. They had become familiar with all the courtesans in that part of the Capital City.

However, the rather tragic part was that the courtesans were still unwilling to entertain Tiger. It was too painful, an absolutely heart-wrenching experience. The women privately lamented this in unison. The courtesans Tiger managed to be with were few and far between.

Tiger, driven to despair, roared at the sky, "Am I really that... exceptional?"

Rat: "AHEM..."

「...」

By the time the Martial Champion was selected at court, it was nearly the end of August. The weather grew cooler in the mornings and evenings; only around noon was there still a hint of warmth.

Xia Ruqing was now a full seven months pregnant.

In the backyard, the pumpkin vines Xiao Zhu Zi had planted had also produced a large pumpkin. To prevent Da Bai from being heartbroken over the loss of his beloved pumpkin, Xia Ruqing had a Carpenter carve a wooden pumpkin of a similar color and placed it in Da Bai’s den. Only then did she dare to pick the real one.

The picked pumpkin was large, fresh, and sweet. Xia Ruqing sent it to the Imperial Kitchen, specifically requesting millet and pumpkin congee, insisting it be made with *this* pumpkin!

The chefs didn’t dare to be anything but meticulous. They took the pumpkin, carefully peeled it, washed it, and simmered it.

In less than one Shi Chen, a pot of naturally fragrant millet and pumpkin congee was ready.

At lunch, Xia Ruqing was able to enjoy this congee. She tasted it; it was sweet but not cloying, with the delightful, fresh fragrance of pumpkin. She smiled and said, "Take a bowl of this to the Emperor. This congee is delicious!"

"Yes!" Zi Yue smiled and went to arrange it.