The Farm Girl's Charismatic Fortune-Chapter 311 - 307 The Road to Heaven in One Step

The Ruo siblings had all practiced martial arts from a young age, and before Jia Shijie’s hand could even touch Ruo Shui, he had dodged it.

Ruo Shui gave Jia Shijie a cold glance, and he sheepishly withdrew his hand.

Though Jia Shijie didn’t dare to touch Ruo Shui, if he couldn’t stay in the Princess Residence tonight, he would be left homeless on the streets.

Stepping forward, he blocked Ruo Shui’s way and said affectionately, "Brother-in-law, I almost forgot, sister also sent me with a message! Let me go in and pass a few words to sister Wenyu."

Ruo Shui was unmoved, "Master Jia, whatever you have to say to me will suffice, since sister has entrusted you with a message, it surely can’t be a secret. If you can hear it, I, as her husband, have even more right to hear it. We have guests of honor in the house today, and it really isn’t convenient to entertain."

Having said this, Ruo Shui simply walked past him into the residence.

Jia Shijie wanted to stop him, but how could he possibly block Ruo Shui?

Ruo Shui and Ruo Jiang quickly entered through the gates, which were immediately shut behind them.

Jia Shijie was left thoroughly snubbed.

Those who had accompanied him now fully understood that Jia Shijie had wanted to freeload off the Princess Residence, but they hadn’t paid him any attention.

Brother-in-law indeed, who knows what kind of ’brother-in-law’ he is!

Someone couldn’t help but say, "Brother Jia, didn’t you say he was your brother-in-law? Why doesn’t your brother-in-law even let you enter his home?"

Seeing the looks everyone gave him, Jia Shijie feigned dejection and replied, "Not a close brother-in-law, alas, let’s not talk about it, these days people with money and status look down on poor relatives. In the past, when their family was poor, they often came to my family to freeload, even coming to our grocery store to buy things, and we never charged them silver. Now that they’ve climbed high, would they still regard someone like me who runs a grocery store?"

Upon hearing this, everyone was indignant, "Such an ungrateful person—it’s better not to associate with him anyway!"

"Let’s go! The Capital City is so vast, I refuse to believe there’s nowhere to stay tonight."

"Let’s go! If this place won’t keep me, there’s surely another that will!"

...

Jia Shijie’s heart soured. If he had the silver, of course, he could find a place to stay in the Capital City, but he had little to spend!

And besides, what kind of lodging could he find outside that would compare to the Princess Residence?

In the Princess Residence, you could eat well, stay comfortably, and it lent prestige to your comings and goings, all without spending a penny—how wonderful!

Moreover, the fact that the Ruo Family could even attend the palace banquet meant they had caught The Emperor’s eye, and probably made quite a few influential connections by now. If he stayed in the Princess Residence, he could also take the chance to get to know some of these dignitaries—it was killing several birds with one stone.

But, Ruo Shui was so ungrateful, showing no regard for family ties. It was embarrassing for Jia Shijie to linger in front of others, and since scholars took their pride seriously, he had no choice but to leave with the rest.

They had only walked a few steps when they were stopped by a butler, "Please wait, gentlemen! Our master has sent for you!"

Jia Shijie sized up the butler and realized, despite being just a servant, he was dressed better than him! ƒrēenovelkiss.com

How unfair this world was!

Jia Shijie replied respectfully, "May I ask who your master is?"

He glanced at the carriage nearby.

"My master’s surname is Su, the esteemed Prime Minister, and the father of the current Empress!"

Everyone gasped!

A Commandery Princess counts for what?

The Prime Minister was a power under one and above tens of thousands!

And as The Emperor’s father-in-law, wasn’t his standing far above any petty princess?

"It turns out to be the Prime Minister, this student offers his respects!"

They all bowed towards the direction of the carriage.

The butler spoke again, "My master dislikes being called Prime Minister, considering it flaunting of his authority; you may address him as Prime Minister Su. My master invites the young masters to his residence for a gathering."

Jia Shijie’s eyes shone with eagerness. Humph, with the Prime Minister on his side, wouldn’t he ascend to great heights?

He envisioned himself ascending to the heavens in one step.

~

The entire Ruo Family was waiting for the Ruo Shui brothers, who were usually punctual in returning home. Today, they were a bit late, so Ruo Xuan used her clairvoyance to see what was happening, and then she witnessed the whole scene outside the door.

Ruo Xuan, using telepathy, spoke to Xuanyuan Que in the palace, "Brother Xuanyuan, Prime Minister Su came to our doorstep to take Jia Shijie and several Advanced Scholars away."

Xuanyuan Que, "Hmm."

In two days, the imperial examination would commence, and the Su Family’s activities intensified.

On the day of the Spring Examinations, that so-called half-baked master would open his altar and cast spells, significantly boosting the fortunes of those people!

With the support of the magic formation, those people had an even greater chance of passing the Imperial Scholar examinations.

Moreover, Xuanyuan Que knew the Su Family planned to use some form of sorcery during the Palace Examination, aiming to swap out the Top Scholar, second place, and third place.

Each cohort of Imperial Scholars was considered the Emperor’s personal students, especially the Top Scholar, second and third place, who were typically the monarch’s favorites to cultivate.

Since the founding of Xuanyuan Country over a decade ago, counting from the previous Emperor’s initial reign and the consecutive three years of grace exams, there had been six imperial examinations producing a total of eighteen Top Scholars, second, and third placers. These eighteen were now either holding important positions in the government or in local posts, simply waiting to be called back whenever significant vacancies arose at court.

Not one of these eighteen was from a noble family!

They were all deeply trusted by the two Emperors.

The current Prime Minister was someone whom the late Emperor raised to power, and the present Emperor elevated further to specifically counter the nobility!

There was no Prime Minister position in the previous dynasty.

Ever since the position was established, the privileges of the noble families began to dwindle significantly!

Seeing the Emperor’s intention to reduce the noble’s power at court, those noble families, with the Su Family in the lead and centering around the in-laws of the Princes, divided into several factions.

The Crown Prince’s faction was the most unified and conservative, refusing to associate with the corrupt.

After all, as long as the Crown Prince ascended the throne smoothly, they would be the biggest beneficiaries of the gains.

The Empress Su’s faction was the most active one!

These two factions were also the most fiercely competitive.

Empress Su’s father was the Prime Minister, and her grandfather was the ceremonial libationer at the Imperial Academy, with students all over the country!

This time, the Su Family aimed to control how many of their people were amongst those who passed the imperial examination, leveraging their association with the ceremonial office at the Imperial Academy.

It wouldn’t matter if the Top Scholar, second place, and third place were all from the Su Family, it was enough if only the Top Scholar was, as long as the other two weren’t the Ruo brothers.

That’s why the Su Family hadn’t planned to ask the master to perform his magic on the day of the exams, but the Ruo brothers were too formidable.

If the Ruo brothers were to pass the Imperial Scholar exam, the Emperor would surely favor them.

Therefore, the magic formation was specifically targeted at the Ruo Family.

Initially, the master refused to agree, but when he heard it was against the Ruo Family and remembered his master’s grievances, he decided to fulfill this master-disciple bond and accepted the request.

The next day, the Ruo Shui brothers went to the bookstore and then the tea house.

Jia Shijie arrived at the tea house early. When he saw the Ruo brothers, he pretended not to notice them, casting only a cold glance before looking away.

Seeing this, Ruo Shui didn’t embarrass himself by approaching. He didn’t bother asking any questions and simply turned to leave.

Jia Shijie was so angry he could puff out his beard and bulge his eyes!

He was waiting for Ruo Shui to approach him so he could thoroughly humiliate him!

Why did he just walk away?