All the members are good people, only the host is a pervert

The news that Lin Ruan had made the list spread to the capital as if it had wings before she set off to return to Beijing.

The news came so suddenly that the doorman of the Duke's Mansion almost choked on the melon seeds in his mouth when he heard it for the first time.

"What? Our daughter passed the imperial examination?"

The concierge's eyes widened, and the sunflower seeds in her hand fell to the ground. "Could it be that the news was wrong?"

The messenger wiped his sweat off his forehead and said confidently, "It's absolutely true! The news has spread all over Jinling City. Miss Lin has passed the imperial examination. Although her ranking is low, she is a legitimate juren after all!"

This news was like throwing a huge rock into a calm lake, causing ripples.

At tea parties in various prefectures in the capital, the ladies waved their round fans, their faces filled with disbelief.

"That Lin Ruan who spends all day on the pleasure boats on the Qinhuai River?"

The daughter of the Minister of Rites covered her mouth and chuckled, "Could it be that the examiner was drunk and misread the name?"

"I heard she was only ranked last." The second daughter of the Minister of War curled her lips. "But even if she was last, she was still a Juren. Before the provincial examination, her wife went to Qixia Temple and lit three eternal lamps for her. Now Qixia Temple is almost flattened. People go there to burn incense and make wishes."

"We're fine, but how many of us don't have any successful scholars in our families? But the dandies on the noble side are probably going to have a hard time."

As they talked, several people couldn't help but gloat over the other person's misfortune.

It was mid-afternoon when the news reached the Duke's Mansion. The old Duke's wife was chanting in the Buddhist temple when she heard the servant's report. The string of her Buddhist beads suddenly broke, and the sandalwood beads rolled all over the floor.

"Really?" A gleam of light flashed in the old lady's cloudy eyes. "Go, call the Duke."

At the same time, Mr. Lin Guogong was admiring a newly acquired painting called "Asking for the Way in Autumn Mountains" in his study.

When she heard the news that her daughter had passed the imperial examination, the teacup in her hand fell to the ground with a "bang", and the tea splashed all over the priceless painting.

"My painting!" Duke Lin cried out in distress, then burst into laughter. "It's just a painting! My daughter passed the imperial examination! Congratulations! Congratulations!"

Luo Xi, the personal maid, trotted in. Before she could even stand, she heard her master's excited order: "Spread my word. The monthly allowance for everyone in the mansion will be doubled this month!"

Luo Xi looked embarrassed and whispered, "Grandma, the old lady asked me to remind you all the time that we... don't have any spare money in our house."

Duke Lin's smile froze on his face, and Luo Xi also had a bitter look on his face.

When the second and third wives were divided last year, although most of the property was retained, the cash was divided into three parts.

Plus, the Duke's grandmother loves collecting antiques, calligraphy, and paintings, which adds up to a huge monthly expense. Not to mention the three masters of the family who often subsidize the extravagant daughter of the emperor in Jinling...

"How difficult is this!"

Duke Lin's eyes lit up, and he quickly ordered, "Go to the storehouse and find a box of gold and silver ornaments, and send it to the pawnshop. Ruan Jie'er's success in the imperial examination is such a great event, how can we not celebrate? Oh, and send another 500 taels to Qixia Temple in Jinling to thank the Buddha for his blessing!"

Luo Xi rubbed his hands anxiously: "Grandma, please think twice! The old lady said that we must never develop the habit of pawning, otherwise..."

"Otherwise what else!"

Duke Lin glared at him, "Am I the master, or are you? At worst, I won't buy new paintings for the next two months. I can redeem them when I have more money!"

Seeing her master's determination, Luo Xi had no choice but to go ahead with it. She thought to herself, "I need to find a few servants who can keep their mouths shut. I absolutely mustn't let the old lady know about this, or she'll be skinned alive."

Inside the palace, the imperial study.

The emperor slammed the answer sheet in his hand on the table, and the red pen left a glaring red mark on the paper.

"Is this Lin Ruan's answer?"

The Empress sneered, "His literary talent is mediocre, and his handwriting is superficial. He's only lucky to be on the list."

Zhao De'an, the chief steward standing nearby, bowed and said, "Your Majesty, please understand. According to our spies, Lady Lin has indeed not devoted herself to her studies since arriving in Nanjing. Before the old lady reduced her allowance, she spent almost every day wandering the Qinhuai River. After the reduction, she only visits once every two or three days."

The emperor narrowed his eyes and asked, "Is there any movement in her study?"

Could it be that all these bad deeds are just to cover up the truth and he is secretly working hard behind the scenes?

"Your Majesty, the spies reported that they had heard no sound of reciting, nor any lights at night. I suppose... the princess is probably sleeping in the study, seeking peace and quiet."

Zhao De'an added cautiously, "He's just last in the rankings, so he can't cause any big waves."

"What do you know!" The emperor suddenly became furious and swept the memorial on the table to the ground.

"The Duke's Mansion has already produced two queens, and now there's another juren. That old scoundrel Lin Jinyi, relying on being the Crown Princess's mother-in-law, opposes me everywhere in the court!"

Zhao De'an was so frightened that he knelt on the ground, not daring to make a sound.

The emperor had a guilty conscience when he said this, for everyone knew that Duke Lin only held an honorary position and was only there to act as a mascot in the court.

All her thoughts were on those calligraphy and paintings and collectibles. She knew nothing about government orders. How could she cause trouble to the emperor every day?

But no one dared to say this.

The emperor stood up and walked to the window.

The afterglow of the setting sun shone through the window lattice, casting mottled shadows on her gloomy face.

She recalled the events of twenty or thirty years ago - at that time she was still an unpopular princess, her father died early, and she had a hard time in the palace.

In order to gain support, she asked to marry the eldest son of the Ankang Marquis. After ascending the throne, the Ankang Marquis was promoted to Duke of the State due to his merits in following the emperor. The two eldest sons of the Lin family, one became the Queen Mother, and the other became the Queen.

"Send the message to the commander of the Imperial City." The emperor said coldly.

Soon, a commander in black appeared in the hall silently.

"Go and find out who reviewed Lin Ruan's paper." The empress's voice was as cold as ice. "If there's anything wrong, immediately confiscate her property and exile her. If she's innocent..." She paused, a cruel smile curling her lips. "I don't want her to be innocent."

Only after the commander withdrew did Zhao De'an dare to look up. "Your Majesty, please calm down. I just heard that Duke Lin, in order to celebrate his daughter's success in the imperial examination, actually pawned a box of heirlooms as a reward to his servants. This shows that the Duke's Mansion is weak inside."

Upon hearing this, the emperor's eyes flashed with calculation: "Arrange more people to get close to Lin Jinyi. Doesn't she like calligraphy and paintings? Let her see more 'good things'."

"Yes, slave, I'll do it now."

"Forget it." The empress waved her hand. "A low-ranking scholar can't cause any trouble. Besides, Nanjing is far from the capital, and it's uncertain whether he can return. Withdraw the spies and station them all in the Eastern Palace. Keep a close eye on the princess' every move!"

In the backyard of the Duke's Mansion, the old lady was so angry that she smashed the teacup to pieces after hearing the housekeeper's report.

"This prodigal daughter! Pawning the family inheritance? Why doesn't she pawn the Duke's Mansion as well?" The old lady pounded the ground with her cane. "Go, tie up that old dog Luo Xi for me!"

Soon, the trembling Luo Xi was dragged to the front of the hall. The old lady asked coldly, "The Duke pawned his things, why didn't you report it?"

Luo Xi kowtowed like crazy: "Old Madam, please understand. I have tried to persuade you, but Grandma Guogong would not listen..."

"Drag him away and give him twenty lashes!" the old lady sternly said. "Spread my words. From today on, every expense of the Duke must be approved by me!"

After finishing her chores, the old lady leaned back wearily on her soft pillow. Her personal attendant handed her ginseng tea and whispered, "Old lady, it's always a happy occasion for a young lady to pass the imperial examination. Why are you so angry?"

"What do you know?" The old lady sighed. "Don't I know what kind of character Ruan Jieer has? She was able to pass the imperial examination, but she was just lucky enough to be at the bottom of the list. It's simply wishful thinking to think that she can move up one step. The court is turbulent now, and our Duke's Mansion is already deeply feared. And the prodigal daughter who crawled out of my belly is such a loser..."

He can manage the Duke's Mansion as long as he is alive, but if he dies one day, his daughter and granddaughter will be able to completely destroy the Duke's Mansion's century-old foundation without anyone else's help.

"Alas," he sighed deeply and said, "Jinshu seems to be a good child, but it's a pity that he is young and has no children, so it's hard to convince others."