Transmigration: Space-Aided Rise to Power and Prosperity-Chapter 582 - 418

The Emperor frowned even deeper upon hearing this. The matter of secret memorials had its advantages and disadvantages, depending on how he managed it. Overall, its benefits outweighed its drawbacks; without them, he would remain ignorant if the officials beneath him deceived him.

Ultimately, this was due to the overwhelming power of the Chief Minister of the Cabinet, making it rare for officials to dare challenge Xia Qing.

"How do you plan to implement this? Do you have a strategy in mind? Don’t beat around the bush with me. Since you proposed this method, you must have a way to address these challenges and drawbacks."

The Emperor pondered for a moment but could not find a solution, so he simply stopped thinking and threw the problem back to Gu Chengyu.

Gu Chengyu steadied his heart upon hearing this. After much discussion, it was now time for him to get to the main point he wanted to make.

Outside the Imperial Study Room, Xiao Quanzi stood listening intently to the conversation inside, but the voices of the Emperor and Gu Chengyu were so low that, apart from a couple of loud laughs, he couldn’t make out a thing.

At this moment, Xia Qing was walking along the path to the Imperial Study Room with De’an. Based on the few words De’an had revealed earlier, he knew that the Emperor had summoned Gu Chengyu while also seeing Min Feng. The advice he gave Min Feng was to share in the credit; however, De’an seemed to imply that Min Feng had exposed a vulnerability. 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

Alas! Min Feng was still too young; he did not take to heart the things previously instructed to him. Being new to the court, his skin was still thin, and this matter could serve as a lesson for him.

Xia Qing hadn’t expected the Emperor to value Gu Chengyu so much. The booklet that the Emperor previously wouldn’t have known was written by Gu Chengyu, yet he also wanted Gu Chengyu to gain some benefit from this achievement. It appears he had underestimated Gu Chengyu.

Compared to Gu Chengyu, Min Feng was significantly lacking. Even with Zhang Hai there for contrast, Min Feng had not been able to seize the credit. It seems that in both intellect and ability, Min Feng was no match for Gu Chengyu.

However, how many people in this world are like Gu Chengyu? Liang Zhirui, though an old stick-in-the-mud himself, had taught students who were one more smooth than the other and, importantly, not lacking in ability. This made Xia Qing quite envious.

At this time, Xia Qing was still unaware that Gu Chengyu had another, more detailed catalog. De’an wouldn’t disclose everything, as he had to give face to the Grand Secretary, but he always knew where his loyalties lay.

Eunuchs like them naturally had to rely on the Emperor; without imperial favor, officials would scarcely regard them.

As they approached the Imperial Study Room, Xia Qing saw from afar both Zhang Hai and Min Feng kneeling outside the Imperial Study Room. Xia Qing’s expression tightened; it seemed the Emperor would not let him off easily today. He would indeed have to be more humble.

The Cabinet had caused the Emperor some trouble in recent days, the drafts were quite rough, and the Emperor had likely been dissatisfied for some time. This incident was the perfect pretext for the Emperor to chastise him harshly.

During the Imperial Examination, the Emperor had already slighted him. Originally, he hoped to bow his head over the catalog issue and request a Sixth Rank position to ease the tension between him and the Emperor and gradually restore the glory of old days.

It appeared the Emperor’s distrust and suspicion had become irreversible; he had to hurriedly make other plans.

De’an had long seen the two kneeling outside, but he was more concerned with Xiao Quanzi, standing guard outside the Imperial Study Room. Why was Xiao Quanzi on guard outside? What was the Emperor conspiring with Mr. Gu inside that required keeping others from hearing, or had Mr. Gu already left?

Min Feng felt utterly wronged upon seeing his mentor approach. He glanced at Xia Qing, wanting to say something, but Xia Qing simply ignored him and headed straight to the Imperial Study Room.

Min Feng’s heart panicked immediately; was his mentor angry, had he messed up the matter, causing his mentor to also be chastised by the Emperor? But this affair was his mentor’s directive, he couldn’t be blamed!

Xia Qing had seen Min Feng’s expression earlier and could guess what he was thinking. He felt somewhat disappointed; was he so aggrieved just by being punished to kneel? He had his own methods to appease the Emperor, which would not affect Min Feng’s official career. This disciple was too impatient!

"Xiao Quanzi, you stand guard outside, but who is serving inside the Imperial Study Room?" De’an didn’t care for the complicated feelings between Xia Qing and his pupil; he quickly approached Xiao Quanzi and asked about the happenings inside the Imperial Study Room.

"Chief Chen, there is no one serving inside the Imperial Study Room. The Emperor said he had serious matters to discuss with Mr. Gu and ordered this slave to guard the door and not let anyone in," Xiao Quanzi reported back to De’an after saluting Xia Qing.

Xia Qing was shocked upon hearing this. Gu Chengyu, a mere Secondary Sixth Rank official, discussing confidential matters with the Emperor—how was this possible? Gu Chengyu had only just entered the Hanlin Academy and was likely only half aware of the court situation, what could he be plotting with the Emperor?

"Not even our family can enter?" De’an cared little for what the Emperor and Mr. Gu were discussing; he was mainly concerned with being barred from the Imperial Study Room as well.

Xiao Quanzi looked at them both, troubled, "Correct, the Emperor instructed that without his signal, no one is allowed in!"

Xia Qing’s face turned even darker. The Emperor summoned him but then didn’t allow him into the Imperial Study Room, what did this mean?

Could it be an attempt to deeply wound his pride? He couldn’t believe the Emperor was discussing some earth-shattering matter with Gu Chengyu—could a young, beardless lad be reliable in handling affairs?

"How unfortunate, Lord Xia, it seems you have to wait a bit longer!" De’an glared at Xiao Quanzi but, despite the turmoil in his heart, apologized to Xia Qing.

Xiao Quanzi felt wronged too! Both of these men were esteemed by the Emperor; Chief Chen had served the Emperor for nearly forty years, and Lord Xia was incredibly powerful. How could he dare offend either of them?

Xiao Quanzi glanced at Xia Qing and De’an’s stern faces, worried they would take their anger out on him. After all, last time he overly flattered in front of the Emperor, De’an took the chance to harshly chastise him, so he had been more cautious in dealings with De’an ever since.

"To the Emperor! The number of officials allowed to submit secret memorials needn’t be too large; a few capable of counterbalancing and supervising each other would suffice. Too many would be hard to control."

Gu Chengyu cautiously glanced at the Emperor and saw he was listening intently, his face showing no unusual expressions, which eased his mind.

This was his personal agenda; he hoped the Emperor would recognize the current court situation, casting too wide a net would only further disrupt the court dynamics and might force Xia Qing and others to desperate measures.

This approach was more prudent, better curbing an excess of secret memorial submissions and retaining the Cabinet’s drafting relevance.

He continued, "As for the candidates, they’re not restricted to first and second grades only; lower-ranked officials could also be considered."

Privately, Gu Chengyu thought that while lower-ranked officials knew quite a bit, they certainly didn’t possess the insider secrets known to higher-ranked officials. His aim was to preserve the Cabinet’s authority and maintain the standing of its officials.