The morning after the imperial examination results were announced, the Imperial Court was more crowded than usual.
Officials gathered inside the grand hall, whispering quietly among themselves.
Many of them had already heard the news.
The Yue family had once again become the center of attention.
Six sons passing the imperial examination in a single year was already astonishing. But what truly surprised the court was the ranking of two of them.
Second Rank – Yue Jun.
Third Rank – Yue Tao.
And both had already received imperial appointments.
Inside the court hall, ministers stood in their ordered rows while the officials discussed the matter in hushed tones.
One minister whispered,
"The Yue family's influence is growing very quickly."
Another nodded.
"They already hold military prestige. Now they hold scholarly positions as well."
A third official added quietly,
"And the Crown Prince is engaged to Yue Ning."
The implication was clear.
The Yue family was becoming extremely powerful.
---
The Emperor's Court
Soon the court drums sounded.
"His Majesty arrives!"
All the officials immediately fell silent and bowed deeply as the Emperor entered the hall and took his seat on the dragon throne.
Beside him stood several palace attendants, while senior ministers took their positions.
The Emperor looked across the hall calmly.
"Today we will discuss the appointments of the new scholars from the Imperial Examination."
A court official stepped forward and began reading the report.
"Among the successful candidates, Yue Jun, who achieved Second Rank (Bangyan), has been appointed Assistant Compiler of the Hanlin Academy, holding the Sixth Official Rank."
Several ministers nodded approvingly.
The Hanlin Academy was the center of scholarship in the empire.
The official continued.
"Yue Tao, who achieved Third Rank (Tanhua), has been appointed Vice Director in the Ministry of Rites, holding the Fifth Official Rank."
Another ripple of whispers moved through the hall.
One minister stepped forward.
"Your Majesty."
The Emperor looked down calmly.
"Speak."
The minister bowed respectfully.
"The Yue family now has many talented sons serving the empire."
"However… their influence may become too concentrated."
Another official quickly added,
"Yes, Your Majesty. The Yue family already commands great respect among military families."
"If their scholarly influence also grows, it may upset the balance among noble houses."
The Emperor listened quietly.
But before he could respond—
A calm voice suddenly spoke.
"Is talent now considered a crime?"
Everyone turned.
The speaker was Crown Prince Xu Chen.
He stepped forward slowly, his expression composed.
"If the sons of the Yue family passed the imperial examination through their own ability…"
"Why should they be treated differently from other scholars?"
The court hall became silent.
None of the ministers dared to argue openly with the Crown Prince.
Xu Chen continued calmly.
"Should the empire reject talent simply because it comes from the same family?"
One minister tried to respond.
"That is not what we mean, Your Highness. We simply wish to maintain balance."
Xu Chen's voice remained calm.
"Balance should be maintained through fairness, not discrimination."
The Emperor watched his son quietly, saying nothing.
---
Hidden Tension
Among the ministers, one man remained silent.
General Lin Zhiyuan.
His expression was calm, but his eyes were dark.
He had hoped that his daughter Lin Qingya would one day become the Crown Prince's wife.
But the Crown Prince had refused that proposal long ago.
And now—
The Crown Prince was engaged to Yue Ning.
The daughter of the very family whose fortune had once been destroyed…
By him.
Lin Zhiyuan lowered his gaze slightly.
The rise of the Yue family made him uneasy.
Because if their influence continued to grow…
The truth about the past might one day be revealed.
---
At the Yue Residence
Meanwhile, the atmosphere at the Yue residence was far more cheerful.
Inside the courtyard, the family had gathered again to celebrate the imperial appointments.
Grandfather Yue Shun looked proudly at his grandsons.
"Second Rank in the empire and appointed to the Hanlin Academy…"
He nodded approvingly at Yue Jun.
"You have brought great honor to the Yue family."
Yue Jun bowed respectfully.
"I will work diligently."
Grandfather Yue then looked at Yue Tao.
"Vice Director in the Ministry of Rites at such a young age…"
"You must perform your duties carefully."
Yue Tao nodded calmly.
"Yes, Grandfather."
Nearby, seventh cousin Yue An was speaking excitedly with Yue Rui.
"If I start trading routes between the capital and the southern ports, we could make enormous profit."
Yue Rui laughed.
"You're already thinking like a merchant."
Meanwhile, Yue Han, Yue Ning's real brother, sat quietly reading a medical text.
Yue Ning walked over and smiled.
"You've already started studying medicine?"
Yue Han nodded.
"If I'm going to become a physician, I should begin immediately."
Yue Ning smiled softly.
"You'll become a great doctor."
Nearby, the youngest brother Yue Bo was watching the others proudly.
"Our family is becoming famous everywhere."
Yue Rui laughed.
"Famous?"
"We're becoming terrifying."
The courtyard filled with laughter.
But none of them realized that far away in the imperial court…
Their family's growing strength had already begun to worry certain powerful enemies.
And those enemies would not remain silent for long.