Law Ming didn't suffer much on the way; there were carriages to pick him up and four guards accompanying him.
A month later, upon arriving in the capital, Law Ming immediately went to Vermilion Bird Street.
"Have you found it?" Law Ming asked Zhao Dadan, the servant who had returned.
"Young Master, are you sure you didn't remember the wrong place?" Zhao Dadan looked at Law Ming with difficulty.
"Of course not, why? Is there something wrong with that place?"
"Young Master, a hundred steps into Vermilion Bird Street is the Crown Prince's Residence."
"Huh?" Law Ming was stunned.
"Really, a hundred steps into Vermilion Bird Street is the Crown Prince's Residence."
Law Ming pondered slightly, Zhu Wen... Zhu Yunwen?
Could Zhu Wen be the Imperial Grandson Zhu Yunwen?
Law Ming took out the jade pendant Zhu Wen had given him and finally decided to go in person.
Arriving in front of the Crown Prince's Residence, two armored guards stood at the gate, holding long halberds.
Law Ming held the jade pendant and stepped forward, saying, "Do you two brothers recognize this jade pendant?"
One guard took the jade pendant, and with just one glance, confirmed it was from the Eastern Palace.
"Young Master, where did you get this?"
"A Young Master named Zhu Wen gave it to me, telling me to come here to find him after arriving in the capital," Law Ming answered honestly.
"May I ask Young Master's name?"
"I am Law Ming, courtesy name Mingyan."
"Young Master, please wait a moment."
The guard hurried into the Crown Prince's Residence, and in less than a hundred breaths, Zhu Yunwen rushed out.
"My virtuous brother."
"This commoner greets Your Highness."
"Hey... My virtuous brother, no need for such formalities, please come inside quickly." Zhu Yunwen was very happy at this moment.
After all, Law Ming was someone he recognized as a kindred spirit, and his father had saved his life.
He particularly loved the pocket watch Law Ming had given him and wore it every day.
Many ministers had also inquired about the origin of his pocket watch, all of them envious beyond compare.
Law Ming, upon learning that Zhu Wen was Zhu Yunwen, would be lying if he said he wasn't happy.
After all, this was a great opportunity to rise to prominence.
Zhu Yunwen and Law Ming had not seen each other for a long time. Law Ming was a bit reserved at first, but after they started chatting, Law Ming also began to overlook Zhu Yunwen's identity and chatted freely.
Zhu Yunwen introduced Law Ming to a group of ministers.
These literati and gentry thought highly of Law Ming; on one hand, Law Ming's knowledge was quite profound, and he had also achieved the rank of Huiyuan in the prefectural examination.
Secondly, Zhu Yunwen and Law Ming had a very close personal relationship, privately addressing each other as brothers.
Therefore, they naturally regarded Law Ming as part of Zhu Yunwen's faction.
Rosen had always been monitoring Law Ming's situation; the four servants would send a letter back every half month.
However, Rosen had some worries about Law Ming getting so close to Zhu Yunwen.
After all, he was very clear about Zhu Yunwen's ultimate fate.
He was afraid that Law Ming would act emotionally in the future.
If there was truly no other way, then he would just have to use Mangekyo on Law Ming.
After the autumn examination, Law Ming returned as the Zhuangyuan.
This result shocked even Rosen.
To achieve this ranking, it was likely that Zhu Yunwen and his supporters had also contributed significantly.
Zhuangyuan was not something one could achieve solely based on talent.
Of course, it was undeniable that Law Ming possessed true talent and learning.
Law Ming was appointed a sixth-rank compiler in the Hanlin Academy, a position almost tailor-made for the Zhuangyuan; almost all Zhuangyuan had held this official position.
Law Ming remained in the capital, and even the small Kaiyuan County, and indeed Kaifeng Prefecture, were shaken, as a Zhuangyuan had emerged from their jurisdiction, a great honor and achievement for them.
Moreover, this Zhuangyuan was from the north. Because there were many aristocratic families in the south, and literati and scholars were several times more numerous than in the north, coupled with many famous figures originating from the south, it was even rarer for a Zhuangyuan to emerge from the north.
And successive dynasties liked to balance the number of officials from the north and south, so if a Zhuangyuan emerged from the north, as long as no accidents occurred midway, he would certainly be able to enter the third-rank Zongzheng or higher in the future.
As for going further, that would basically be the leader of a faction.
Even Rosen hadn't expected Law Ming to be able to become the Zhuangyuan.
While marveling, he also worried about Law Ming's future.
His own wife, on the other hand, had been waking up laughing from her dreams recently.
Four years later, Zhu Yuanzhang passed away, and Zhu Yunwen ascended the throne.
In these four years, Law Ming had been promoted from a sixth-rank compiler in the Hanlin Academy to a fifth-rank prefect.
And after Zhu Yunwen ascended the throne, Law Ming was again promoted to the third-rank Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Revenue.
With his current official position, it was no exaggeration to say that he brought glory to his ancestors.
Although the Law family was very low-key in Kaiyuan County, the Law Residence was still bustling with visitors, and the threshold was almost worn out from people stepping on it.
Everyone could see that Law Ming was deeply favored by Emperor Jianwen, and the emperor and minister complemented each other, so his future was immeasurable.
Rosen and Ron also received a letter from Law Ming, inviting them to the capital to enjoy life.
Rosen and Ron discussed it and decided to go.
Rosen initially didn't want to go, as Yingtian Prefecture was far less comfortable than Luo Family Village.
However, Ron truly missed her son, and furthermore, Rosen thought that if there were changes in the court, it would be convenient for him to bring his son back.
Traveling slowly, Rosen, Ron, and their daughter Chen Mingyue finally arrived at the Law Residence in Yingtian Prefecture.
Law Ming had only returned home to visit his parents twice in these few years; the long journey back and forth took two or three months.
Seeing Law Ming again, he had matured quite a bit.
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