Yu Mingyue received the news from Ye Feisheng without any worry. What factions, what schemes and struggles, she didn't care.
She would only do what she had to do, with nothing to hinder her, and no one could stop her progress.
As for the Sage?
Since she was to implement the laws of Great Wei, she would no longer tolerate baseless accusations in the court, not even from the Sage.
Yu Mingyue returned to Mingyue Courtyard. The maids in the courtyard offered their congratulations. Yu Mingyue already knew from Ye Feisheng that she was the predetermined top candidate, but she hadn't expected to be ranked first.
There was no other way, she was just that powerful!
All the branches of the family had prepared gifts, which were piled high on a table. When everyone left, the sudden joy slowly faded, leaving a sense of loneliness.
She was going to be an official, but her childhood friends were not around. Youyou had to go into hiding, and Yuxi was confined to the palace.
She and Luo Lingyi had once been friends who shared life and death, and now...
Yu Mingyue walked to her desk and wrote on a piece of paper: "After a hundred battles in the yellow sand, wearing golden armor, we will not return until we break the Lou Lan."
This was a gift from Brother Jiayan to her brother. Now, she wrote one for herself, to encourage each other.
Though separated by a thousand miles, they shared the same aspirations, wishing that one day, their wishes could all come true, and they could celebrate together.
After the ink dried, she handed it to Chihua and said, "Have someone frame it tomorrow and hang it in my study."
"Yes!" Chihua, who was also literate, noticed that her young lady's calligraphy had improved significantly recently.
Three days later, at the final examination of the Dali Temple, Yu Mingyue, who had already been designated a position by the Sage, emerged victorious and officially took office as the Deputy Minister of Dali Temple.
Although the Deputy Minister was only a sixth-rank official, a total of thirty female officials were selected from various government departments, and Yu Mingyue was the only one appointed as a principal official.
Even Wang Siniang was assigned to the Ministry of Revenue as a Grade Eight Supervisor in the granary department, two ranks below Yu Mingyue. Few of the scholars who passed the imperial examinations recently received such a high-ranking position.
It was then that Yu Mingyue understood why Ye Feisheng had wanted to see her that day. The Sage was clearly trying to overwhelm her with favor.
Since the Sage intended it this way, she could only accept it.
However, she would simply consider the Sage's favor as support, and that she had backing. She would not concern herself with their factional disputes, pushing them all aside.
Yu Mingyue officially took office at the end of March. She woke up early that morning. She didn't need to style her hair in an updo; for convenience in wearing a hat, she styled it like a man's.
Wearing a dark green official robe, a silver belt, her hair tied up, and a black gauze cap, she looked like a dashing young man.
Yu Mingyue was very pleased with her reflection in the bronze mirror. Brother Jiayan had worn similar court attire when he first entered the court. Now, she was wearing it too, and she had a bit of the elegance of a jade tree in the wind.
Yu Mingyue straightened her back. Zhu Yu, dressed as a young attendant, followed closely beside her.
The carriage stopped at the entrance of Dali Temple. Stone lions stood guard at the entrance, exuding an air of authority. To the right of the steps was a large red drum, and further up were the words "Dali Temple."
"Are you Lord Yu?" A person in a blue official robe was waiting at the entrance. Upon seeing Yu Mingyue alight from the carriage, he was very respectful.
"This junior is indeed." Yu Mingyue cupped her hands in return.
"Lord Yu, the Minister of Dali Temple is indisposed today and asked me to wait here to familiarize you with the internal affairs of Dali Temple. My surname is Du, and I will be your Censor henceforth. There is also another Censor, who is currently on an external assignment and will return in a couple of days. Please do not hesitate to give any orders."
Yu Mingyue was also very polite: "You are too kind, Lord Du. I am new here and will have to trouble you in the future."
"It is my duty," Du Rui replied.
He then noticed two carriages stopping at the entrance. The people alighting were newly appointed female officials of Dali Temple, wearing the same style of blue official robes.
The female officials appointed this time all came from official families, and their carriages were already so luxurious upon entering officialdom.
Du Rui, as Yu Mingyue's Censor, merely nodded slightly at the two from a distance. The two, however, felt slighted. Although they nodded in return, they were inwardly disdainful. To be treated with such distinction by a mere ninth-rank official, they vowed to make him regret it later and show him who was truly powerful.
As women, Yu Mingyue sensed their ill will and their soaring arrogance, but she paid them no mind.
The two women were assigned to learn how to organize and categorize case files under an official named Jiang. It was a position that could be as leisurely as one wished, or one could gain considerable benefit from it if one applied oneself. It was evident that Dali Temple attached great importance to this group of female officials.
Du Rui gave Yu Mingyue a tour. Compared to the Ministry of Justice, Dali Temple was not very spacious, and some areas were even a bit gloomy, with heavy security.
Yu Mingyue was not surprised. Dali Temple was responsible for major and critical cases and held many confidential archives.
As they were nearing the end of the tour, she saw Lu Jingxing emerge from the criminal investigation room of Dali Temple in the distance.
Lu Jingxing was the Commander-in-Chief of the Five Cities Patrol. Even Ye Feisheng had to show him respect. However, this was Dali Temple, and his command did not extend to Dali Temple.
"Why is he here?" Yu Mingyue asked subconsciously.
"The captured Tibetan spies are all in the Dali Temple prison. Commander Lu is likely here to interrogate the prisoners," Du Rui replied.
"Since they were apprehended by the Five Cities Patrol, why are they in the Dali Temple prison? This seems irregular."
"This case involves significant matters, and it is currently being jointly handled by the Five Cities Patrol and Dali Temple."
Yu Mingyue understood the implication of Du Rui's words. It seemed to involve a minister in the imperial court.
Yu Mingyue did not ask further. Firstly, Du Rui might not know, and any further questioning would be considered indiscreet. Her current rank was not high enough to be involved in such a major case.
Just as Yu Mingyue was about to turn away, Lu Jingxing had already spotted her and changed direction, walking towards her.
Now that she had entered officialdom, even though Lu Jingxing was not her direct superior, his higher rank meant she had to pay her respects.
"Commander Lu," Yu Mingyue said with a slight bow, cupping her hands indifferently.
"I heard you were appointed Deputy Minister of Dali Temple. I haven't had a chance to congratulate you yet." Lu Jingxing's voice was devoid of emotion, no longer carrying the intimidating pressure of the past.
"Thank you, Commander Lu." Although Yu Mingyue maintained her decorum, her cold attitude was perceptible even to Du Rui.
"If she knew, she would also be happy for you," Lu Jingxing said in a chilling tone.
Yu Mingyue suddenly looked up, her eyes fixed on Lu Jingxing: "May I ask who the 'she' Commander Lu is referring to?"
"What do you think?"
"This subordinate is dull-witted and truly does not know."
"Yu Mingyue, stop playing dumb. That corpse was not Youyou." Lu Jingxing was certain that the Yu siblings had hidden the person.
He had dug up the grave that day when he encountered her outside the city. Although the body had decomposed, he could confirm that it was definitely not her.
Yu Mingyue naturally guessed why Lu Jingxing would say that. This man was truly beyond depraved, even resorting to digging up graves.
The person in the coffin was indeed not Youyou, but she was Youyou's maid. Her stature was similar to Youyou's. To save her young lady, she had disfigured herself and committed suicide.
"Lu Jingxing, engaging in such depravity, are you not afraid that Youyou's vengeful spirit will come to claim your life?"