She looked at the tea leaves constantly turning over in the celadon teacup and said meaningfully, “Do you know why I brought you to Jinling City several months in advance?”

Liu Changning’s tea-colored eyes flashed with a silver light: “The power of the gentry has been growing in recent years, their roots deeply intertwined. It won’t be easy to eradicate them in just a year or two; this will take time. But the common people certainly can’t wait…

“You and I… only by growing up quickly can we have a say in the court. The gentry families have been in power for hundreds of years, all connected. All we can do is break them one by one.”

Jia Ziyun seemed to understand but not fully, confusion still in her eyes.

Liu Changning glanced at her and continued to explain, “Coming to the capital early was because of this matter. The top scholar from a humble background represents the faction of humble and upright officials. The Three Dukes, Six Marquises, and powerful ministers all want to win them over…”

“If you don’t take sides, you’ll be fought over by everyone. In the fight, there will surely be some dirty tricks. Using oneself as bait, letting those who are willing take the hook!” Jia Ziyun slapped her thigh inelegantly, her eyes shining, speaking rapidly.

She saw the person opposite nod and say lightly, “I didn’t expect the Dingyuan Marquis’s mansion to fall for it first. I thought it would be the Changxin Marquis. Having you look at policy discussions related to the Ministry of Revenue was Master Jia’s intention. Even if the Dingyuan Marquis hadn’t fallen for it, you would definitely have to go to the Ministry of Revenue. With people left in the court by our mentor to escort you all the way, you definitely won’t be sent down to the provinces this time. After half a year, you’ll likely be an assistant minister in the Ministry of Revenue.”

The tea in the porcelain cup had cooled a bit. Liu Changning changed to a new teacup and poured a shallow cup.

Her fair face was hidden in the mist of steam. Jia Ziyun stared at her in a daze for a moment. Mother had said that Liu Changning’s talent lay not in poetry and books, but more in governing and practical application.

Now she understood where the four words “governing and practical application” were used. Not only in reforming the court, but also in this far-sighted vision.

A look of shame appeared on her face as she followed up on her words and asked, “Traditionally, top scholars compile in the Hanlin Academy for half a year before being sent down to the provinces. Do you want to stay in the capital?”

“I’m going to Jiaozhou,” Liu Changning looked out the window, her voice somewhat faint. “Jiaozhou has always been plagued by salt merchants. Officials collude with salt merchants, and the people can barely survive. The Emperor personally inspected it earlier this year, but that only treated the symptoms, not the root cause. Tang Tang was sent down to Jiaozhou last year and has been sending me updates on the situation by carrier pigeon. Do you know what eventually happens to the people of Jiaozhou who can’t afford the high-priced salt and go for long periods without eating salt?”

Liu Changning didn’t say the word “death,” but Jia Ziyun understood.

“The salt tax trouble originated with the Duke of Ying’s mansion. If we can catch hold of his weakness, the next step in this game of chess for the world will be easier.”

A light suddenly sprang into Jia Ziyun’s eyes, her lips trembling, her expression excited.

She had thought that entering the court as an official would surely be a bloody path of life and death, requiring gradual progress. But she hadn’t expected her friend to already have a plan.

The Duke of Ying’s mansion? If they could catch the Duke of Ying’s weakness, this chess move would be a thousand steps ahead.

Currently, the court’s power was fragmented. Apart from the royalist faction led by the Emperor and the gentry faction supporting the Southern Pacification King,

The two forces were evenly matched, with military power in hand, and couldn’t be shaken for now.

But there was a part of the floating forces that could…

This part of the officials was the neutral faction led by the Duke of Ying, who didn’t participate in party struggles and maneuvered freely in the court. If they could catch the weakness of the Duke of Ying’s mansion and use it to their advantage,

Plus the small number of humble-born officials that Grand Tutor Jia and Liu Changning had deliberately cultivated over the years, they would have the power to speak for reform in the court in the future.

Understanding the connections, Jia Ziyun’s heart trembled. She nodded solemnly to her friend across the table: “I’ll go to the Ministry of Revenue! Changning, don’t worry.”

−−

Tomorrow was the day the results would be posted. Although Liu Changning wasn’t anxious, the Jia siblings were particularly eager and had early on reserved the imperial suite at an inn for her.

She didn’t insist on returning to Nanhua Temple, after all, it took several hours to travel between Nanhua Temple and Jinling City.

Considering that the palace examination was the day after the results were posted, she would only be staying in Jinling City for one day anyway. It would be more convenient to stay here for tomorrow’s results announcement.

After saying goodbye to the Jia siblings, the sky gradually darkened.

She had spent the whole day accompanying Young Master Jia shopping and had sweated quite a bit.

Liu Changning called for a waitress to bring hot water for a bath.

She had always loved cleanliness, and in recent years, as her means improved, she didn’t have to stint on herself.

The wooden tub was filled with flower petals, and the water temperature was just right. Liu Changning splashed some of the flowery water on her face. Suddenly, a fierce look flashed in her eyes.

She coldly raised her head towards the direction of the eaves and said coldly, “A guest has come. Won’t you come out for a chat?”

As she spoke, she picked up a flower petal and shot it like a flying knife towards the person breathing heavily on the roof beam above.

That person hurriedly dodged the petal, breathing heavily as he fell from the crossbeam, landing straight into the bathtub with a splash of water.

Liu Changning’s expression cracked, her usually indifferent face filled with a hint of thin anger. Because the sneaking villain from the crossbeam had now fallen straight into her arms, sitting directly on her unclothed body.

Her whole body went cold as she gripped his neck. But unexpectedly, this little thief was unusually stupid for some reason, his head submerged in the bathwater, not coming up, almost drowning.

Liu Changning lifted him by the neck and, in the candlelight, got a clear look at the sneaking villain.

The intruder was wearing a night-walking outfit. His black hair was wet, sticking damply to his back. A pair of peach blossom eyes looked slightly dazed, and a drop of water clung to the tip of his straight nose, about to fall but not quite.

His sculpted lips gasped for air, water droplets sliding down along his wet hair, tracing his sharply defined profile. Three parts alluring, three parts dazed.

Liu Changning was stunned for a moment. Her thin lips slightly pursed, she used force to lift up his body, intending to throw him out of the bathtub.

The man, thoroughly disheveled from the water, suddenly came to his senses as his body was lifted half an inch into the air, about to be thrown out…

He closed his eyes briefly, stretched out his long arms, and used all his strength to grip her slender waist. Although his slender fingers trembled, a secret shame and embarrassment spread in his heart…