Chapter 318: line with translation of chapter title

At dusk, the crimson glow of the evening clouds fell into the horizon, making the majestic palace city appear ever more solemn and dignified; from afar, however, it carried a hint of blood‑red.

Suddenly, a shocking piece of news came from the Hall of Nurturing Heart. The worthless Gu Kang, expelled by the Gu family, had actually conversed with Emperor Longqing in the Hall of Nurturing Heart for three full hours, after which the emperor personally appointed him as the top scholar.

After the news spread from the palace city, the entire Shang Jing fell into an uproar.

At this moment, Gu Shijie had already returned to the Shangshu's residence and was unaware of this news.

He held the recently promoted Lady Xin while drinking in the warm pavilion; these days he felt gloomy and sought to drown his sorrows in wine.

His third son had caused such a great disaster that he was forced to bring out the secret he had kept at the bottom of his chest in order to safeguard his official post.

Having just encountered Gu Kang outside the Hall of Nurturing Heart, he felt a pang of alarm, for if Gu Kang got into any further trouble that implicated him, it would be troublesome.

A young woman sat beside him, pouring his wine; her lower abdomen was slightly swollen, clearly indicating she was pregnant.

This woman was lovely and charming, her brows and eyes bearing a touch of scholarly grace, making her even more bewitching and captivating than Lin Qingxue's alluring fox‑spirit demeanor.

Because Lady Xin danced well with her red sleeves and was skilled in poetry, songs, and prose, she served Gu Shijie in a way that made him especially happy.

He would share any matter with his newly wed wife, Lady Xin.

Now, having left the palace city, his mood was not good.

Lady Xin laughed and said, "Shangshu, you need not feel distressed or worried; Gu Kang is, after all, someone who has been expelled from the Gu Zu Pu."

"If he makes a mistake and is rebuked by the emperor, it cannot possibly implicate the Gu family, for he is no longer a Gu—everyone in the city knows this."

"If Shangshu remains uneasy, you can simply step on that boy again for his misdeeds, which would further silence the gossip of the world."

Gu Shijie's hand, holding chopsticks to pick up a dish, froze mid‑air; he then glanced at the seductive woman beside him and laughed.

"Your idea is good; in short, we must not let that brat run wild again."

"The eldest son has now secured his position in the Hanlin Academy and can enter the cabinet next year."

"Once he enters the cabinet, he might even be ennobled and made a premier like his father, with limitless prospects."

Although Gu Shijie had lost his third son, he still had an eldest son who could present himself respectably.

Gu Cheng was absolutely his pride; the older he grew, the more endlessly he boasted about his son.

Lady Xin's eyes flickered slightly, a cold glint passing through their depths.

In the eyes of Shangshu Gu, aside from the eldest son, are the other children merely afterthoughts?

What does the child in her belly amount to?

Now she has finally managed to attach herself to Gu Shijie, becoming a concubine‑turned‑wife of the Shangshu's household.

She has stepped on Lin Qingxue; if it were not for Gu Cheng, the Gu family's eldest son, holding her back, she would have already laid hands on Lin Qingxue.

Yet even if Lin Qingxue suffers endless misfortune, she still has an eldest son to uphold her reputation.

Once Gu Cheng gains power, thereafter in the Shangshu's residence there will be no room for her to speak.

Had it not been for this incident in which the Gu family's third son, Gu Huai, caused such a great trouble, Gu Shijie would have taken out his anger on Lin Qingxue, and she probably would not have become this lady.

Yet even if she now barely manages to be the lady, Lin Qingxue still gives orders in the courtyard, not even offering the customary morning and evening greetings to her as the lady.

Lin Qingxue lives alone in a separate courtyard, yet she still maintains the bearing of the household's principal lady.

But what can she do?

After all, Gu Cheng is there; upon seeing Gu Shijie praise his own son to the heavens and beyond, a hint of jealousy suddenly crossed her heart.

She slowly took Gu Shijie's hand and placed it on her belly, smiling softly: "Shangshu, please set your mind at ease; our Gu family will have many more prosperous days ahead."

"Take a look at little treasure."

"This child dislikes movement; in the future he will be steady and measured like you, becoming a pillar of the state."

After a few flatteries, Gu Shijie felt especially pleased; he laughed and rubbed Xin Yuxiu's belly.

"Carry this pregnancy well; afterward I will personally oversee his upbringing, and certainly not let him turn out as badly as the Lin clan's children."

Gu Shijie ordered the guards standing outside: "You two go find out exactly what happened to Gu Kang inside the palace, and report back at any time."

"I only hope this little beast does not implicate me; forget it, we don't need these dishes and wine—go ahead and draft the memorial."

"Tomorrow I will impeach Mr. Wen; what sort of students are they turning out? They recklessly discuss court and state affairs, and even show great disrespect to the emperor—they deserve death."

At this moment, Gu Shijie's mind was filled with his own official post, his eldest son's prospects, and the enduring prosperity of the Gu family.

At this point, who cares whether Gu Kang lives or dies? That brat, after being expelled from the Gu family by him, actually became a disciple of Mr. Wen.

He originally thought Gu Kang was a calamity; indeed, one misfortune after another has kept occurring, and now the emperor himself has even brought him into the palace.

This time perhaps his brains have been addled; he now only hopes that this little beast will not implicate him.

The trusted guards on either side, having received Gu Shijie's order, hurried out of the warm pavilion; but before they had taken a few steps, two Gu family servants came running at them as if mad.

The two groups collided; the servant was knocked back several steps and sat down with a thud.

Yet his face flushed red with excitement as he shouted, "There is news from inside the palace!"

Gu Shijie had already been startled by the outside commotion; he hastily lowered his voice to scold, "What's the noise?"

The servant hurried over and said, "Sir, please report to the Shangshu: our second son has placed first in the imperial examination and been personally appointed as the top scholar by the emperor."

Gu Shijie stood there stunned, then rose and said, "Say that again."

The messenger servant laughed loudly: "Shangshu, the second son has become the top scholar, and moreover it was the emperor's own imperial brush that appointed him."

"Now the emperor praises the second son's literary and military talents as truly outstanding, and has personally granted him a deer‑call banquet, to be held tonight."

With a clatter, Gu Shijie stepped back one pace; his wide sleeve swept the wine cup from the table, shattering it on the floor.

His facial expression at this moment was splendid beyond words.

I never expected it—truly never expected it!

Gu Shijie's gaze fell upon the blank paper on the table; just moments ago he had been preparing to impeach Mr. Wen, never imagining that his own son Gu Kang would actually have placed first.

Even when his eldest son Gu Cheng had attained the rank of third-place finisher, he had never enjoyed such honor.

"How…… how could this happen?"

Gu Shijie's eyes were filled with disbelief; at this moment he suddenly realized that the matter was far more complicated than he had imagined.

His hand clenched tightly onto the plain paper, even tearing a hole in it, and with a swish he pulled the paper away.

Beside, Xin Yuxiu's eyes reddened slightly from jealousy, "How come?"

How come?

The Lin family's son being so outstanding is fine enough, but the Du family's foolish son actually managed to become top scholar— is there any justice left?