mtl008 Chapter 865 The Temple Manager, whose official career is hopeless.
Chapter 865 The Temple Manager, whose official career is hopeless.
Young Master Liu pinched Song Ruier's sleeve and then rummaged through his bosom.
This situation was quite intriguing and immediately attracted a lot of attention, with many people gathering around, looking on with curiosity.
Song Ruier felt utterly humiliated and awkwardly brushed away Young Master Liu's hand.
"It's in the study of the house. I don't need to go back to that courtyard. Go get it yourself."
Unable to endure the repeated humiliations from these people any longer, Song Ruier fled in a panic. He felt like a stray dog, tail between his legs, slinking away to avoid everyone's gaze.
He had exhausted himself along the way, and just when he was about to see the light at the end of the tunnel, he ended up like this.
He was filled with resentment and anger, but the thought of that name only brought him boundless despondency.
Is he destined to be trampled on by Qiao Lian'er for the rest of his life?
Afterwards, Song Dujuan also checked the rankings.
I thought Song Ruier would at least be in the second tier, or even in the third tier, she should be ranked in the top one or two.
But when she looked at the last name from top to bottom, she paused for a moment.
Is this what those noble young men meant by "performing well in the palace examination"?
It shouldn't be.
However, Song Dujuan thought again that the capital was full of gold, and there were always stronger competitors. Being able to make it onto this list was already quite good. Being ranked last didn't mean anything.
So she went back without worry.
Qiao Lian'er watched Song Dujuan's departing figure, her eyebrows slightly raised.
This is the Song Fusheng family, the one with a modicum of intelligence.
However, with such a wicked mind and scheming, who knows if their cleverness will backfire?
"How did it go? What's your ranking?" Song Dujuan returned to the courtyard, and Song Fusheng arrived with the second branch of the Song family. They all looked on eagerly and couldn't wait to ask.
“It’s on the list,” Song Dujuan said.
Seeing that she remained relatively calm, the Song family felt reassured.
However, Song Dujuan always felt a little uneasy, but she didn't think about it too much.
Several days later, the official positions assigned to the newly appointed Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations) were announced.
Song Ruier, the Assistant Director of the Taigong Temple, is a lower-ranking official of the eighth grade, meaning he is in charge of guarding the Taigong Temple.
Long ago, on this land, a remarkable man named Jiang Taigong appeared. He was skilled in both literature and martial arts, and assisted the monarch in seizing great achievements. In addition, he had the ability to summon clouds and rain and performed many miracles. Therefore, many people in later generations worshipped Jiang Taigong. The monarch of this dynasty even built a special ancestral temple to worship Taigong and set up special official positions for the temple.
The head of the Taigong Temple was the top official, while the assistant head of the Taigong Temple was only the second-in-command.
In other words, Song Ruier, as a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations), was assigned to an extremely quiet department as the second-in-command. This department was usually idle and almost no one paid attention to it, unless the monarch or generals performed a blessing ceremony during a war.
Forget about any profit or kickbacks.
When Song Ruier received her notice to take up her post, everything went dark.
He thought that at worst he would be a seventh-rank assistant clerk or something similar, but he never expected that it would be such an insignificant and idle job.
Aside from the imperial examination, he never wanted to see the emperor again in his entire life.
Song Ruier held the letter of appointment, closed her eyes, and felt a thousand resentments and unwillingness in her heart.
In the end, it was all for naught.
Why is fate so unfair to him, turning its back on him?
If only the world were destroyed, he wouldn't have to face his own failures and see others' triumphs.
The clerk who delivered the letter of appointment didn't even glance at Song Ruier, and left with an air of disgust.
He shook his head as he reached the door, as if lamenting, "What a useless piece of trash."
Although this was not the lowest official position conferred upon those who passed the imperial examinations, and there were even ninth-rank positions, a ninth-rank county magistrate in a remote area still held real power.
This person is just a temple assistant at Taigong Temple, what can he do?
Alas, my career in politics is hopeless.
Seeing the appointing officer leave like that, seemingly ignoring their offer of tea, the Song family members looked at each other in bewilderment.
Logically speaking, bestowing a respectable official position should be accompanied by a grand procession, complete with gongs and drums.
But only one constable came.
This is not right.
Perhaps the authorities are keeping a low profile; the official rank they've appointed is too high, and they don't want to attract too much attention or be too ostentatious, lest someone try to take advantage of the new official.
Yes, that must be the case.
"What official position has he been appointed?" Song Guangtian strode over and snatched the letter of appointment from Song Ruier's hand.
When the words on it came into view like a foreign language, he realized that he couldn't read.
He then handed it over to Song Dujuan.
"Look how promising our Song family's Rui'er is."
Upon seeing the contents, Song Dujuan looked puzzled.
"Taigong Temple Assistant, what kind of position is that? I don't think I've ever heard of it."
She had some knowledge of the official system of this dynasty, but the name of this official position was truly unfamiliar to her.
“There are so many official titles, who cares what they’re called? Rui’er, just tell me what this position does and what rank it is.” Song Guangdi stroked his chin, smiling ingratiatingly.
“Yes, could you help your uncles and cousins out, so that everyone can get an official position? We don’t need to be at the fifth or sixth rank, the seventh rank will do, and they can be promoted later,” Song Qijin said.
Song Ruier was extremely annoyed, and seeing the greedy behavior of the Song family filled him with disgust.
He sneered, "Eighth-rank lower-level official, a lowly government office. I'm afraid I can't promote you."
Then he turned and went into the room.
Thinking of something, Song Ruier stopped at the door and turned around.
"Instead of bothering me, you might as well bother Qiao Lian'er. My current status and position are of no use to you at all. Why waste your time on me? Qiao Lian'er knows some strange magic that ordinary people cannot imagine. You think she is not in the Qiao residence, but she is actually here."
The Song family was stunned.
If someone is ranked below the eighth rank, can they still be called an official?
"No way, a Jinshi (successful candidate in the highest imperial examination) only gets a low-ranking eighth-grade official position in a remote government office? Isn't that the kind of treatment only lower-ranking Juren (successful candidates in the provincial imperial examination) get?" Song Qimu exclaimed in disbelief.
"Well, that's exactly who I am. So what? I've let you down, but did I make you look forward to me? Who told you to shamelessly stick to me like that? Are you satisfied with this result now? Heh."
The Song family remained frozen in place.
It seemed that Song Ruier wasn't lying, and considering that there was only one bailiff delivering the letter of appointment, he seemed to be showing some contempt.
An eighth-rank official in a lowly government office, managing the Taigong Temple—what can one person do in a temple?
The Song family felt as if they had been doused with a bucket of cold water, their whole bodies chilled to the bone.
They didn't want to face the fact that their expectations had been shattered; they were both disappointed and angry.
"What a useless guy. Since you're not that great, why are you putting on such a big show? Anyone who didn't know better would think you're something special."
"That's right, you've given us false hope. How could you do this to us? Our whole family is counting on you, and this is the kind of explanation you give us."
The Song family members were cursing and swearing.
Song Dujuan remained silent. Song Ruier was no longer useful; they could only rely on Qiao Lian'er.