Heartstrings Resonance: The Beloved Princess of the Female Power

The Autumn Examination (also known as the Provincial Examination) was a crucial step for students on their path to officialdom. After long periods of preparation and hard work, they finally had the opportunity to showcase their talents in this level of examination. Once they passed the Autumn Examination, they earned the status of Juren (a high-ranking official), a preparatory stage for their official career and a recognition of their knowledge and talent.

However, being a juren (a successful candidate) did not guarantee immediate access to official positions. In the ancient bureaucratic system, the allocation of official positions was a complex and rigorous process that took into account numerous factors, including the student's talent, character, experience, and the court's needs. Therefore, even after becoming a juren (a successful candidate), students still needed to continue their efforts and pass the higher-level joint and palace examinations before they could truly secure an official position.

The metropolitan examination was another crucial step in the imperial examination system, usually held in the spring of the year following the provincial examination. The metropolitan examination was more demanding and demanding than the provincial examination, and only those with profound knowledge and exceptional talent could pass. Upon passing the metropolitan examination, students were called Gongshi, meaning they were qualified to serve the imperial court.

The Palace Examination was the highest level of the imperial examination system, presided over by the emperor himself or a delegated minister. In it, students faced the emperor and important officials, showcasing their knowledge and talent. Those who passed the Palace Examination were called Jinshi (Jinshi) and received various official positions based on their performance. These positions could include important positions at the imperial court or local government posts, but in any case, they were the ultimate reward for their talent and hard work.

In general, the ancient imperial examination was a long and arduous process, requiring students to expend tremendous effort and hard work. Within this process, the Autumn Examination was only the first step toward a career in officialdom. To truly secure official positions, they needed to pass the higher-level joint and palace examinations, demonstrating their knowledge and talents before their dreams of a career in officialdom could be realized.

At the Mu family residence in Youzhou, Mu Cheng and his wife knelt on the ground, with Mu Yunxiao and Mu Yunyue kneeling behind them. In the main seat in front sat two elderly men with graying hair. To their right sat a woman in her late sixties, seated upright on a carved wooden chair, appearing remarkably calm and dignified. She wore simple clothing, but her every gesture exuded a seasoned elegance. To their left was a man in his sixties; though his posture was no longer upright, he exuded the composure and indifference of someone who had experienced the vicissitudes of life. These two elderly people were Mu Cheng's parents, Xiao Yao's parents-in-law, Mu Dasheng and Mu Shenshi.

Coming from small merchant families, they single-handedly built the family business through hard work and wisdom, laying a solid foundation for their descendants. Now, though they have entered their twilight years, their deep affection and hopes for their family remain unchanged. Now that their son is an official, he hopes his grandchildren will carry on Mu Cheng's spirit of striving and pass on the family's glory.

At this time, the lady in the upper seat spoke to Xiao Yao, "My son has been kind to you by not taking concubines or maids in these years. Now that we only have one son, and you are too old to bear children, please take two more concubines for him. My Mu family is small, and my son is already a fourth-rank official, and you have an imperial decree. Please be generous. Taking two concubines will not affect you."

Xiao Yao lowered her head and said nothing.

It turned out that just a few days ago, Wenshan in the capital had issued an order. Mu Cheng was promoted to the fourth rank, and his mother, Shen, was also given the title of fourth-rank Gongren, while Xiao Yao was given the title of fifth-rank Yiren. This was indeed a good thing. Normally, in other families, imperial edicts would only be granted to one person. However, Xiao Yao's imperial edict was the result of Princess Yongle's hard work. Emperor Qing Zhao originally only wanted to confer an imperial edict on Mu Cheng's mother. However, Princess Yongle claimed that Xiao Yao had helped her, which led to Xiao Yao receiving the imperial edict. Because of this, Shen believed she could control her daughter-in-law. So, she discussed with Mu Dasheng that since Mu Cheng only had one son, they hoped to give him a concubine to increase his family. Mu Dasheng agreed. Although their daughter-in-law's family was also from merchant families, they were a wealthy family in Qingzhou, and they had never dared to offend them easily. Moreover, their son was extremely partial to their daughter-in-law, never letting her have a say. However, now that Shen's imperial edict was one rank higher than Xiao Yao's, they believed they could control her, leading to the current situation. They wanted to use filial piety to suppress Mu Cheng and use imperial edicts to suppress Xiao Yao.

Although Mu Cheng is already a fourth-rank official, if he is labeled as unfilial, his official career will probably end there.

Mu Cheng closed his eyes, as if he had made up his mind. He was already kneeling, but suddenly he kowtowed to the ground and said firmly, "My son does not want to take a concubine. With Yunxiao, Yunxi, and Yunyue, my son is satisfied."

Shen's face turned pale with anger, and she said with a look of regret, "Mother is doing this for your own good! Now that you are a fourth-rank official, having a few more children will also help Yunxiao in the future!"

"Dad, Mom, I have made up my mind." Mu Cheng was still kneeling on the ground, looking at them with firm eyes.

Xiao Yao was deeply moved after hearing Mu Cheng's words. She raised her head and looked at Mu Cheng, tears flashing in her eyes.

At this moment, Mu Yunxiao, who was kneeling behind him, suddenly asked, "Grandpa and Grandma, don't you believe in your grandson?"

Upon hearing this, everyone turned to look at him. He stood with his back straight and his expression resolute. Though still young, the confidence in his eyes was no less than that of an adult. He continued, "Grandson, I don't need any more help. I feel that if I don't have any future, any more help will be futile. Do you think, Grandma, that I'm really that incompetent?"

He glanced at Mu Dasheng, who had remained silent, and continued, "Grandmother, you only have father and aunt. Yet, you didn't give father much help. However, father relied on his own abilities to become an official, and Grandmother was also granted an imperial decree. Grandmother, what else are you dissatisfied with?"

Upon hearing this, Shen's face turned red and blue with rage. She understood that her grandson was implicitly mocking her. She angrily said, "Well, you've grown so powerful now. I can't discipline you anymore!" Then, she stormed out of the room.

Seeing this, Mu Dasheng sighed helplessly and followed suit, walking out of the room.

Only Mu Cheng's family of four were left in the room, and the atmosphere was a bit solemn.

Mu Cheng stood up and helped Xiao Yao up. He looked at the usually mischievous boy with a look of satisfaction. Mu Yunxiao said in a slightly threatening tone, "Dad, if you take a concubine, I will go find my eldest sister. When my eldest sister left, she said, if you listen to grandparents and take a concubine, let me go find her and she will take mother away."

Mu Cheng wanted to praise him but he swallowed his words and asked instead, "Your sister has been gone for a month. How did she know that your grandmother wanted to take a concubine for me?" Xiao Yao also looked over in confusion.

Mu Yunxiao straightened her neck and said proudly, "My eldest sister would ask me and my younger sister to go pay our respects to our grandparents every day. One day, when we went to pay our respects, we accidentally overheard what they said. But my eldest sister wouldn't let us tell anyone."

"Well, my eldest sister said, let's see what Daddy's attitude is." Mu Yunyue also said softly.

Mu Cheng glanced at Xiao Yao with a guilty look. Xiao Yao ignored her and asked Mu Yunyue softly, "What else did Big Sister say to Yueyue?"

"There are so many that I don't remember them all, but my eldest sister said that if Daddy takes a concubine, we'll let him live alone with her and we'll ignore him." Then, she asked Mu Cheng in a soft and tender voice, "Daddy, will you listen to Grandma and take a concubine?"

Mu Cheng looked at her lovingly, and said in a gentle but firm tone: "Daddy will not take a concubine, and Yueyue cannot abandon Daddy either, understand?"

Mu Yunyue thought about it, then nodded vigorously, "Yeah!"

Then he looked at Mu Yunxiao and said unhappily, "You little bastard, I'm your father and you don't side with me!"

"I'm on mother's side!" After joking, her sister said before she left that if she knew that he didn't study hard and practice martial arts well, and didn't protect mother well, she would have plenty of ways to punish him when she came back.

He hadn't known his eldest sister had become so formidable after her absence. He remembered that before, the most she would do was beat him up, but now she was more lenient. For example, if she soiled her new clothes, she'd chase him around the yard and then give him a beating. Now, if she soiled her clothes, she'd just look at him coldly and say softly, "It seems you have a talent for painting! Today, paint two paintings! It doesn't matter if they're not good." Then she had a maid bring out a large pile of the Four Books and Five Classics, along with other books, and said calmly, "If you can't paint well, read and practice calligraphy! If you can't memorize it, you can copy it. If one doesn't work, try two. If two doesn't work, try three. If even three doesn't work... try a hundred. What do you think, brother?" He looked at the sky. Did he have enough time to paint today? At first, he didn't think much of it. But then, forced by his eldest sister to copy the Four Books and Five Classics, it was just as she said: if one doesn't work, try two. If two doesn't work, try three. If even three doesn't work, try a hundred. Don't copy? The two-meter-long whip lashed the ground, and the sound could still be heard in the room after a few breaths. He knew that if he didn't obey, his eldest sister would definitely whip him. His parents were even more extreme. Knowing that his eldest sister could discipline him, he asked his father to go back to the private school and refused. He directly hired a teacher to teach at home. He wanted to cry but had no place to cry. He wanted to find his grandparents, but the two elders had the example of their son being an official, so they would not interfere too much. They only asked his eldest sister to be gentle when hitting him. "Alas!" Mu Yunxiao sighed inwardly.

Mu Cheng and Xiao Yao wanted to laugh when they saw their son who suddenly looked unhappy. They both guessed what he was thinking.

Mu Cheng said sarcastically, "Some people don't even know if they've finished their homework today." Then he pretended to be suddenly aware of something and said, "Oh! How could I have forgotten? I still have to write a letter to my Xi'er today! I'll go write it right now and tell her the truth."

Mu Yunxiao grabbed him and pleaded in a low voice, "Dad, for the sake of your son protecting Mom today, please don't tell my elder sister about the teacher scolding me, okay?"