Chapter 52: Xiao Wan Wants a Reward
“Your servant humbly awaits Your Majesty’s instructions.”
The minister opposite seemed to sense the subtle silence in the air, not knowing the reason, and thinking it was his own fault. He immediately became even more respectful.
Even though Wei Wanlan had already memorized the information of the ten people, he needed a prompt to know who to talk about.
The emperor, full of anticipation, cast his gaze on the minister opposite.
But he didn’t expect this direct gaze to cause a misunderstanding. The minister became even more hesitant to breathe, for fear of displeasing the young emperor.
“Your Excellency, uh, ha, hahahaha…”
Wei Wanlan forced out a few dry laughs, his delicate little face laughing stiffly.
He tried to prolong the laughter to think of a solution.
With the help of the photographic memory oral solution, Wei Wanlan’s thinking was still relatively clear. He took the initiative to ask:
“Your Excellency might as well first talk about your work this afternoon, and then I will comment on Your Excellency’s work?”
Nice, if the mountain won’t come to Muhammad, then Muhammad must go to the mountain. Let’s reveal some information first and let me see who you are.
I’m still saved.
Su Jingzhi: “Your Majesty should comment first.”
No, you interrupted me now without even thinking of a reason QAQ—
How did the big bad guy know that I wanted to let the other party speak first?
Wei Wanlan took a deep breath.
He saw Su Jingzhi’s “This King sees through your guilt” expression, and reasonably imagined that Su Jingzhi might also have a Regent King Cultivation System in his mind, playing against him.
In the moment of hesitation, more people returned to the Zhongshu Province.
There was originally only one person, but now, sixteen or seventeen people were standing in front of Wei Wanlan. Some had spoken, some hadn’t, but now they all dared not speak, all waiting for the current emperor’s instructions.
Wuwuwu, I’ve got prosopagnosia QAQ…
The awkward atmosphere became increasingly pervasive in the Zhongshu Province.
Wei Wanlan’s toes gripped the ground inside his embroidered boots, his dragon claws nervously scratching:
What should he do? Should he admit defeat to the Regent King? Should he say in front of so many people that the emperor observed the court for an afternoon but didn’t even remember a single name? Wouldn’t that make him look like a fool in front of everyone?
Absolutely not! I will continue to struggle!! I can’t yield just to save my wrists!!!
He remembered that among these ministers, there was one with the rarely used double surname Xiangli. This surname aroused his curiosity, so he decided to find Minister Xiangli first and then complete the task.
So Wei Wanlan stopped laughing and pretended to be calm, “Um, please, Minister Xiangli, step forward.”
But the Zhongshu Province remained silent. All the ministers bowed their heads as if in mourning.
Minister Xiangli didn’t step forward!
Minister Xiangli might not have returned yet!!!
“This…”
The two strands of soft hair on his forehead drooped to the side of Wei Wanlan’s face, making him look like a lop-eared rabbit. His operation seemed to have gone wrong.
Tch—
He definitely didn’t hear wrong.
The big bad guy was laughing at him. The Regent King’s slender fingers lightly twirled the rim of his teacup. To outsiders, he seemed to be slowly savoring the aroma of the tea, but Wei Wanlan felt that he was enjoying watching his disgrace.
Su Jingzhi put down his teacup.
A copy of the Baiguan Minglu (Register of Hundred Officials) was taken from his desk and placed in front of Wei Wanlan. Three times. If he failed today, he’d have to copy it three times.
Su Jingzhi: “Minister Xiangli is not here.”
Wei Wanlan was almost going to be mad:
Really.
…If I’m reborn again, I will definitely go to a fairy tale without a Regent King.
Who wants me to time travel to another political intrigue novel.
I’ll cry for him, QAQ
Wei Wanlan: “Regent King, you misunderstood. I mean, please, the minister closest to me, step forward.”
The word choice was too clumsy. Su Jingzhi coldly snorted.
The ministers closest to the front of the line, upon hearing this, nervously stepped forward and bowed, “Your Majesty.”
“Instructions.”
“Okay, I will poin—” Cold sweat trickled down.
I can’t point them out!!!
Why can’t I be brave and risk my life to curse the big bad guy, this old turtle? Why am I so cowardly!!!
There are many different types of people, and saving one’s life is important.
The cowardly Wei Wanlan reluctantly reached for the Baiguan Minglu.
Just then, he saw someone else enter the Zhongshu Province. It was someone he was familiar with. In the Hanyuan Hall, he had racked his brains to reconcile the political differences between this hero who dared to oppose the Regent King and the Regent King.
This person’s courage was an example for him to follow.
Wei Wanlan exclaimed, “The Brave One~~~~~~”
This sudden call surprised the newcomer. The thin figure paused abruptly and said:
“How does Your Majesty know this minister’s courtesy name ‘Mengshi’? Xiao Mengshi, Zhongshu Shere, has come from the Gate of the Lower Ministry with the rejected documents. This minister pays his respects to Your Majesty.”
Not only did he introduce himself, but he also proactively reported his name and whereabouts. A good person, Brave One!
Someone actually sent him information about a minister +1 for free
The situation changed subtly due to the Brave One’s arrival.
Wei Wanlan was overjoyed. His gaze was fixed on Mengshi, as if he was going to stare a few holes into the scholar’s elegant figure.
“I will start with Your Excellency!” The little emperor’s ardent gaze was palpable, and his voice was filled with uncontainable joy.
He pressed his dragon claws onto the table, leaning forward, ready to show off again:
“Shere Xiao, Zhongshu Shere is responsible for drafting edicts and decrees, and coordinating with the Gate of the Lower Ministry to decide whether to execute them. I have seen your writing. I have also just checked your evaluation.”
The memorial was shown to him by Su Jingzhi himself in the Regent King’s study.
Recalling it now, he didn’t understand the content of the memorial, but the elegant handwriting was indeed his.
After commenting on the first court official,
Wei Wanlan looked sideways at Su Jingzhi. Their eyes met briefly. Behind the table, on Su Jingzhi’s leg, he quietly made the number one with his dragon claws, completing one.
Seeing the Regent King coldly nod slightly, he thought to himself, “Keep going and prevent future problems.” He picked up a dry mung bean cake and immediately put it into the Regent King’s thin lips.
“…”
Don’t make trouble, eat it, keep your mouth busy, and drink more water.
Su Jingzhi’s mouth was full of mung bean cake. The dryness absorbed the moisture in his mouth, and the little one’s fingertips pressed against his lips. He frowned.
Wei Wanlan only felt that his fingertips were a little wet.
But he didn’t pay much attention. The goal was to use one to influence nine. Not copying books was the key. He signaled Xiao Mengshi to cooperate:
“Mengshi, please bring the ministers around you to me one by one.”
The word is “bring”, not “lead”.
With this subtle difference, Xiao Mengshi understood immediately.
He tucked his documents and tablet into his left arm, and with his right hand, he raised his wide sleeves: “Minister Xiong, please.”
“Xiong An, Zhongshu teaching doctor, a talented person, in charge of the Zhongshu Province’s document information retrieval. He just checked the specifications for disaster relief from previous dynasties and should have found them. Well done.”
Xiong An immediately bowed down, “Thank you, Your Majesty, Your Majesty is wise.”
Wei Wanlan nodded like a chick pecking at rice.
Minister information +1!
Xiao Mengshi led another person forward: “Minister Miao, please also step forward.”
“Minister Miao of the Ministry of Households, reported on the disaster relief funds for the Luoyang snow disaster. Whether the funds can reach the people’s pockets still needs to be checked by the censors. I share the same view with the Regent King.”
Minister Miao of the Ministry of Households immediately complied.
Minister information +1!
“Next, Minister Chen.”
“Minister Chen is the Right Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, concurrently holding the post of Minister of Personnel. I hope that the triennial grand examination can weed out the incompetent and retain more people who can do practical things for the court.”
Minister information +1!
Five, six, seven—
Ten is not far away?
I’m not copying this book!
Wei Wanlan spoke fluently. With the photographic memory oral solution, his recollection of the court affairs he had experienced today was vivid and detailed.
All the officials present in the Zhongshu Province wanted to cover their jaws tightly, or their jaws would have fallen to the ground.
All of them had participated in the great court meeting in the Hanyuan Hall.
Obviously, compared to that day, the little emperor was even more outstanding, and his photographic memory was evident.
The little emperor hadn’t even lifted his eyelids just now, just holding his cup and drinking water to rest. Who could have imagined that he not only listened to the court but also accurately commented on everything!
But there’s something even more frightening—
The court officials of the Zhongshu Province looked at their Regent King, whom they regarded as Yama King: The Regent King’s expression was cold, he was eating mung bean cakes and drinking water.
Just now, they clearly saw the little emperor feeding the Regent King a snack, and the Regent King didn’t refuse.
And Su Yan never ate snacks.
Oh my god, what’s going on?
It seems that the Regent King didn’t come to intimidate the emperor today but rather to show off his…no, his monarch-minister relationship.
The entire Zhongshu Province reasonably suspected:
The little emperor spent three years pretending to be crazy and foolish, seemingly ignorant of the world, but secretly working hard, gradually achieving reconciliation with the Regent King.
He might even be countering the Regent King, causing the invincible Regent King to go from attempting regicide to returning to his position as a minister.
Coupled with the Tianlu Pavilion incident and other things,
This speculation was becoming increasingly closer to the truth.
The little emperor had actually tamed Su Yan, this large beast!!!
…
The information of the ten court officials was easily revealed by Wei Wanlan. Combined with the unsolicited information from Xiao Mengshi, he had exceeded the task and recognized eleven people in total.
The hand Wei Wanlan pressed on Su Jingzhi’s leg moved from one to ten, then stopped, clenching into a fist. His dragon claws excitedly scratched a few times, pulling at the Regent King’s clothes.
“I’m great, I won.”
The little voice reached Su Jingzhi’s ears. His thighs were scratched by his claws, and Wei Wanlan was ecstatic, his eyes shining brightly, and his ears were about to twitch.
This on-site teaching was very effective. Winning was enough to achieve the goal, and the Regent King had nothing to say.
On the contrary, he was somewhat relieved. Wei Wanlan’s final comments on the officials of the Zhongshu Province were very clear. This eased some of his psychological anxiety about the future when he was not around Wei Wanlan. He also understood Wei Wanlan more comprehensively.
His little fool sometimes turned into a little clever ghost.
Su Jingzhi put the Baiguan Minglu back onto the pile of documents. Su Jingzhi said indifferently, “No copying books.”
Wei Wanlan finally let out a long sigh.
The warm orange light dimmed further.
The Zhongshu Province lit the lamps.
It was already several moments past the normal off-work time.
Wei Wanlan wanted to establish a good image and didn’t want to be seen as a workaholic. The Great Wei emperor took the Regent King’s arm, even dragging him if necessary, to take the great demon king away:
—Only when the leader leaves can everyone else leave work.
“Let’s go back to Zichen Palace, Regent King, I’m hungry.” He had eaten less at noon because he was scared of not finishing his homework.
Su Jingzhi never explicitly mentioned Wei Wanlan’s diet and physical condition, but he had it silently in his heart. He knew that Wei Wanlan didn’t eat much at noon.
So the Regent King got up, feeling full again. When he went from being alone to starting to care about another person’s affairs, Su Jingzhi also went from not wanting to eat to wanting to have dinner with Wei Wanlan again.
It wasn’t that the food in Zichen Palace was delicious, he just discovered that meals should be shared. Eating alone is boring.
In short, it’s time to feed him.
He casually took the cloak and draped it over Wei Wanlan, and they walked out of the Zhongshu Province.
…
They didn’t use a palanquin tonight, they walked.
The night enveloped the long palace corridor, the high walls deep and dark, the blue bricks cold. The Great Wei palace was decorated in a solemn and majestic style.
Wei Wanlan couldn’t stay still now. Because he was so happy, the effect of the photographic memory oral solution hadn’t worn off yet. He was like a happy little bird beside the Regent King, chattering:
“Did it really snow heavily in Luoyang? It turns out that helping with the snow disaster costs so much money. Can we just have a simple dinner tonight?”
Su Jingzhi didn’t want to interfere with everything and only said, “Reduce a few dishes. Explain it to An Ruyi yourself. Too few dishes would damage the royal dignity.” It’s also not good for your health.
“Oh. Then I didn’t embarrass the Regent King in the Zhongshu Province today, right? If you think I (cooperated well with your work), can I have a reward?”
Wei Wanlan looked expectantly at the Regent King.
Su Jingzhi was a little moved by this gaze.
“Okay.”
He agreed very quickly, almost without hesitation.
But the Regent King immediately realized how much impact this rash decision would have.
Because Wei Wanlan excitedly said, “I met many Zhongshu Shere today. It turns out that they are secretaries to the emperor, but I’ve never used one before.”
In fact, Wei Wanlan had a little plan.
Since 404 left, 404 only left a Sage Emperor Cultivation System.
If he could have a team of secretaries to help him come up with ideas and help him deal with the Regent King to complete task two, wouldn’t he be more confident than fighting alone?
So Wei Wanlan seized this opportunity.
“Regent King, I like Mengshi very much, please let me bring Xiao Mengshi to Zichen Palace to accompany me, okay?”
I have a little tacit understanding with the Brave One. Wei Wanlan thought. The Brave One plus himself would have some strength to counteract the Regent King.
This caused the Regent King’s expression to suddenly turn cloudy. His tone turned cold, decisive:
“No.”