Upon hearing this, Zhan Xiong's expression was still somewhat melancholic.
"Yanxia, in that case, you must wait for me. Wait for me three years. In three years, I will surely top the Golden List and welcome you into the house!"
Zhan Xiong, feeling reluctant to part, also looked toward Zhang Jian and Shi Lun, speaking with determination.
"Brother Zhang, Brother Shi, let us part here! We shall meet again in three years!"
Zhang Jian and Shi Lun both nodded.
If nothing unexpected happens, they will both remain in Haojing for these three years. Zhang Jian, being the Champion Scholar, is destined to stay at the Sports and Arts College as a compiler, while Shi Lun, being the Second-Class Top Scholar, will strive to secure a position at the college, aiming to stay in Haojing. If he can gain some experience and connections in various departments before leaving the capital, his future transfers will be quicker than his peers'.
When it concerns their future, they will all strive hard.
At this moment, the beautiful girl also replaced her hat and stepped into a small floral palanquin beside her.
The palanquin gradually moved away, and within, a slightly exaggerated voice faintly emerged.
"...Slender shoulders and waist, fragrant rouge, wishing to hold her close and kiss..."
"..."
Zhang Jian's expression turned peculiar. Previously, he had been quite impressed with the girl, but he hadn't expected her to be more forthright than he imagined.
"She truly is an extraordinary woman!"
Zhang Jian couldn't help but exclaim.
Shi Lun nodded and said, "Brother Zhan is indeed blessed with a beauty!"
"However, three years is cruelly long for a girl; I'm afraid she won't withstand the pressure from her family!"
Shi Lun was well aware of the harshness of time on the children of a noble family.
This girl persuading Zhan Xiong to return to Jixian County was her way of protecting him.
Zhang Jian nodded silently beside him.
This young lady from the He Family was, in her way, urging Zhan Xiong to make a decision.
But the naive Zhan Xiong did not understand it!
After seeing Zhan Xiong and several other Advanced Scholars off, Zhang Jian was soon met by the imperial envoys. As expected, he and Wangqing Province's Bangyan and Peng Yuanshou the Tanhua were appointed by Emperor Jingwu as compiler and editor in the Sports and Arts College, respectively.
Their positions were Junior Sixth Grade and Senior Seventh Grade.
The Senior Seventh Grade is akin to a starting position, being a bona fide "Minor Official," but compared to others who still needed to pass exams or undergo selection by the Ministry of Personnel to secure an office, it was significantly better.
Not to mention, being part of the Sports and Arts College, the secretariat trusted by the Emperor, serving as a Great Secret to the Emperor, who could belittle such an official?
Aren't you afraid of the cycle of fortune? Thirty years to the east of the river, thirty years to the west!
Receiving the imperial decree, Zhang Jian and the others could formally report to the Sports and Arts College for 'work'; after three months of work, they would have a holiday and be permitted to return home gloriously.
The Court understood well that not returning home in glory was like wearing brocade gowns at night, so they showed exceptional generosity in this regard.
...
The next morning, Zhang Jian woke up early and proceeded directly to the Sports and Arts College to report.
He wore a blue official robe and a hat, glancing at his silk and smooth new clothes with some fascination.
In his hand was a small white jade tooth card.
The previous day, he and his two peers had conveniently collected their identity-affirming official robes, casual clothing, and official tokens from the East Mansion. Without these items, he couldn't even enter the palace gates, much less run eagerly to work.
In front of the Jade Capital Sect, Zhang Jian saw many officials in green, blue, red robes, as well as a few big wigs in purple robes passing by.
Daqian, similar to the previous dynasty, typically had officials of the Eighth and Ninth Grades wear green, the Fifth to Seventh Grades wear blue, the Fourth Grade wore red, and those above the Senior Third Grade wore purple robes.
On the roads, one generally had to avoid mounted officials or palanquins of a higher grade. Without observing proper decorum, a big wig might give you a hard time.
At this moment, Zhang Jian was also fiddling with the cloud-pattern white jade tooth card in his hand; this item was quite valuable and was a symbol of a Capital Official.
Most local officials in the Daqian Court coveted this item.
With this card, one could rise from a humble field worker to the Emperor's hall.
...
The Sports and Arts College was located on East Qian Street, surrounded by several other famous government offices, such as the Ministry of the Imperial Household, which managed clothing and treasures for the Emperor and held some other powers, like overseeing part of Daqian's finances.
As a new official at the Sports and Arts College, Zhang Jian was initially at a loss, but after a few inquiries around the college, he gradually understood the onboarding process.
Within the Sports and Arts College, Zhang Jian's role as a compiler meant he had four superiors above him. The big boss was the Scholar of the Sports and Arts College, but this position was usually a nominal title held by the Three Ministers or Nine Ministers, who didn't actually perform the duties.
Currently, this title was held by Imperial Censor Zhuang Ying.
Zhuang Ying was now overseeing Daqian's most famous critic institution, the Imperial Censorate, and had little time to frequently visit the Sports and Arts College to offer guidance on articles.
The other three were real secretaries to the Emperor: the Assistant Scholars and Assistant Lecturer. Strictly speaking, Zhang Jian, as a compiler, was responsible for occasionally recording the essence of the court meetings in some crucial meetings and reporting to Emperor Jingwu.
This was assuming the Emperor was diligent; if it were a lazy Emperor, they wouldn't bother to listen to lengthy reports, just needing a brief one.
But Zhang Jian estimated that Emperor Jingwu would not be easily fooled.
This task was not difficult for him.
On the surface, as long as he managed to deal with these three leaders of Senior Sixth Grade, most others were his peers.
There wasn't just one compiler at the Sports and Arts College. Several previous Champion Scholars also held this position, but most had already been posted elsewhere, leaving only one, Champion Scholar of the third year of Jingwu, Chen Xiuming.
This Champion Scholar was still serving as a compiler in the Sports and Arts College.
The process of an editor in the Sports and Arts College typically lasted six to nine years before achieving satisfactory results and being posted elsewhere. Of course, if capable, it didn't necessarily take so many years.
This 'colleague' Chen Xiuming was evidently not the particularly outstanding type of 'good colleague'!
Besides the Sports and Arts College had a dozen or so other roles, such as the Six Classics Doctors, Classics, Attendant Scholars, and Self-Examiners, most of whom were titles indicating they had spent time at the college, like taking a bath to double their value.
Upon entering the Sports and Arts College, Zhang Jian first met with the current compiler, Chen Xiuming, which involved a series of formalities, like first worshipping the spiritual leaders in the Temple of Literature, then visiting the four superiors.
Particularly important was Assistant Scholar Huang Liangzhong, who managed all the affairs at the Sports and Arts College in the absence of oversight from the college's academician.
Huang Liangzhong did not make things difficult for Zhang Jian; instead, he held the young scholar in high regard and did not intimidate him, merely advising him not to act recklessly or arrogantly, giving him a gentle reminder.
The other two Assistant Lecturers showed mild expressions at the scene.
Afterwards, with Chen Xiuming's company, Zhang Jian found his government office.
"Greetings, Your Excellency!"
By this time, his several subordinates in the office had already dressed up smartly, standing before the door. Upon seeing Zhang Jian, they promptly stepped forward courteously.
Among them were two ranked officials of the Sports and Arts College, along with one or two clerks responsible for tea, errands, and a gatekeeper.
Zhang Jian nodded, having no intention to make things difficult.
Today was a good day, and with no one troubling him, he had no intention of troubling others either.