I dress up as a poor noblewoman, and I bring my whole family home with my literary talent.

Chapter 60: First Promotion and Salary Increase in Life

Li Huaizhong bowed and stepped out of the carved gate of Xuanzheng Hall, and said to the master and his disciple, "Master Ye, Lady Song, please come in."

Xie Yanshu looked at Song Lingyi's back, and only when she disappeared from his sight did he remember to ask, "Why is Lady Song going to see the Emperor together with Master Ye?"

Li Huaizhong replied with a smile: "This matter has just been decided, and Young Marquis Xie doesn't know about it yet. This is a great joyous event! Imperial Master Ye has accepted Miss Song as his apprentice!"

Xie Yanshu's eyes widened, and it took him a long while to digest this shocking news. He murmured, "So that's it."

"...It is really a happy thing." Xie Yanshu's pair of peach blossom eyes smiled and shone brightly. Suddenly he turned around and walked out the door.

Li Huaizhong watched as Young Marquis Xie, who was always calm and reserved in the palace, walked briskly like a young boy, and wondered, "Do Miss Song and Young Marquis have a good relationship?"

There was silence in the Xuanzheng Hall.

The empress sat contentedly behind the dragon table, and said in a leisurely tone: "Master Ye, you have accepted all the disciples, why are you still looking for me?"

Under the altar, Ye Xu'an smiled faintly and bowed, saying, "I have accepted the disciple, but after careful consideration, I think this is a serious matter, so I still need your majesty to notarize it."

The empress chuckled and swept her eyes over the master and disciple with great sharpness. She bluntly exposed Ye Xu'an's purpose of coming to Xuanzheng Hall: "To make a notarization? You probably want to ask for a reward for your disciple."

Song Lingyi looked sideways in astonishment. She had thought that her master would only speak directly, but it turned out that he could also beat around the bush. She couldn't help but slightly raise her head to glance at His Majesty, who seemed to be in a good mood.

Ye Xuan directly conceded, "Your Majesty is so wise and powerful. I admire Your Majesty like the surging river, wave after wave!"

Song Lingyi pulled the corner of her mouth slightly. I never knew that the master was quite good at flattering others...

The empress did not intend to make things difficult for her. With a wave of her hand, she promoted Song Lingyi from the eighth-rank registrar of the Shangyi Bureau to the seventh-rank official in the Taishi Bureau. She followed Master Ye to study classics and discuss Taoism, and was allowed to enter and leave the palace freely with a fish token.

Promotion and salary increase come unexpectedly

"Your Majesty, I bow my head in gratitude!" Song Lingyi knelt down in gratitude, her voice tense and even trembling slightly.

"I owed you a reward last time. Tell me, have you thought clearly about what reward you want?"

Song Lingyi was slightly surprised: the emperor, who was so busy with affairs of state, could even remember trivial matters that happened a long time ago. Besides, she had been promoted and had a pay rise, so it seemed that she had no other needs.

The empress saw her hesitation, her eyes dark and obscure, "A reward has been delayed for too long, which makes me seem like I am not serious about it. The Song family has been officials for generations, and was inscribed with the title of "Black Clothes Family" by the late emperor. But your father has been idle at home until now, which is a disgrace to the late emperor's intention. I will confer your father the title of Sixth-Rank Fengyilang, equivalent to 400 dan."

Is your dad an official now?
Song Lingyi was stunned. With her father's character, His Majesty really gave him a high position by giving him an official position. She was only a seventh-rank official, while her father was immediately promoted to a sixth-rank official. Although it was a sinecure without real power, the salary and rank were there.

However, once His Majesty has spoken, there is no reason to take it back. Song Lingyi had no choice but to kowtow and thank the emperor: "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your grace!"

After leaving the Xuanzheng Hall, Song Lingyi was immersed in the joy of promotion and salary increase and felt a little dizzy until Li Huaizhong's enthusiastic voice woke her up.

"Don't worry, Song Sili. Leave everything to me. I will send someone to deliver your official uniform and fish token to Nansui Pavilion today. From now on, I will also arrange for the guards at the gates where you pass through Xuanwu Gate, Yongxiang, and Taishi Bureau!"

Li Huaizhong's enthusiasm and thoughtfulness surprised Song Lingyi. He was the seal-holding eunuch beside the empress, a fourth-rank eunuch. Then she thought again, Daliang was not the dynasty in the past history where eunuchs interfered in politics. Moreover, the empress was a female general who was famous for her military achievements. No matter how powerful the official was, he would have to obey her.

"Thank you, father-in-law."

As early as when Song Lingyi was waiting at the gate of Xuanzheng Hall, Li Huaizhong sent his apprentice to deliver a letter to the Sixth Bureau. After all, he was working in front of the emperor, so he was good at dealing with people. Later, Song Lingyi was personally selected by the emperor to be the calendar official of the Taishi Bureau. Naturally, Li Huaizhong did not forget to send someone to congratulate her.

As time went by, not only did the Sixth Bureau get the news, but the entire harem knew about it.

As soon as he returned to the Sijisi, he went to the main hall to receive several gifts. The female officials from the six departments all sent people to congratulate him.

The person sent by the Shanggong Bureau was Li Hewei. She is now the seventh-rank clerk of the Shanggong Bureau. She is in charge of the registration and filing of the books of various departments in the palace, as well as stamping and issuing the articles.

After not seeing each other for a long time, Li Hewei was still as arrogant as ever. As soon as she entered the Records Department, she said loudly, "It's only been a few days since I last saw Miss Song, and she's been promoted from the head of records to the director of calendars. This is such a blessing that others can't even envy!"

Having said that, she was really happy for Song Lingyi in her heart.

Seeing an old acquaintance, Song Lingyi smiled and said, "Sister Hewei is jealous of me. My younger sister worked hard to be promoted to the seventh rank, and Sister Hewei will be a seventh rank when she enters the palace."

Li Hewei was most impressed by the flattering words. She said coquettishly, "Don't give me that. You are now Master Ye's disciple. How can others compare to you?"

While Su Siji and Ruan Dianji were counting the gifts sent by various departments, Li Hewei pulled Song Lingyi aside and asked quietly, "I heard that His Majesty also granted your father the title of Sixth Rank Fengyilang?"

Song Lingyi nodded. "It hasn't been announced yet, but Sister He Wei already knew about it. She's really well-informed."

Li Hewei raised his chin: "That's it."

"Your Song family has been in the limelight in Chang'an this year. Don't underestimate them as they are only sixth- and seventh-rank officials. The emperor's intentions behind them are extraordinary."

"Sister He Wei, please don't embarrass me."

Li Hewei: "You are of a special status now. I will ask you to play polo next time. You won't refuse me, right?"

"You saw my skills last time. Isn't it my honor that Sister He Wei invites me again?!"

After the two of them joked for a while, it was time for Li Hewei to return to the Shanggong Bureau.

By the time I finished the transfer procedures at the Ministry of Registration, it was already time to lock the palace gates. The twinkling palace lanterns gradually lit up from all over the imperial city.
Su Siji specially held a farewell banquet for her. Although it was held in a hurry, only people from the Siji Department were present, so everyone was relaxed.

For this farewell banquet, Su Siji specially sent someone to the imperial kitchen to bring a few jars of wine. According to their rank, Su Siji was the first to toast, and Ruan Dianji was the second.

The acquaintances present began to toast one by one, and by the end of one round, there were more than twenty glasses of wine.

The wine used in the palace was not actually very strong, but people could still drink one cup after another.

Song Lingyi was a heavy drinker and had a very good alcohol tolerance. She got Ruan Dianji and Fang Dianji drunk one after another.

Her cheeks flushed with a charming blush, she staggered, picked up the jar of wine and sat down next to Zhong Zhangji, staring at him while he drank. Zhong Zhangji really couldn't resist and fell on the table after just two drinks.

"Why aren't you all doing well..." Song Lingyi pointed at the three people lying on the table in a drunken voice.

(End of this chapter)