Transmigration: Space-Aided Rise to Power and Prosperity-Chapter 589 - 425 Concern

A day passed by with Gu Chengyu proofreading the historical records. He put down the pen in his hand, raised his head, and looked through the window at the sky outside. It was probably almost time to disperse from duties.

At the front desk, Ren Ge had already gone to Mr. Zhang to hand over the tasks he had been assigned earlier. Gu Chengyu couldn’t help but recall his encounter in the Imperial Study Room this morning.

He didn’t know how Mr. Zhang felt about him now. If Mr. Zhang had a petty mind, he might obstruct him when doing tasks in the future.

Just as Gu Chengyu was pondering, Ren Ge stepped into the room.

As soon as Gu Chengyu saw Ren Ge still holding the Holy Teachings that had been proofread earlier, he knew that Zhang Hai had not yet returned to the Hanlin Academy. Could it be that Zhang Hai had been kneeling outside the Emperor’s Imperial Study Room until now?

He couldn’t help but furrow his brows. The longer Zhang Hai knelt, the more resentful he might become. It seemed that he had to be cautious in dealing with Zhang Hai in the future.

However, he wasn’t afraid. Once the Emperor made up his mind and implemented the strategy of secret memorials, if Zhang Hai didn’t know his place, he would catch Zhang Hai’s weakness and impeach him severely.

As for Min Feng, since even Zhang Hai hadn’t returned, there was no need to mention Min Feng. He must still be kneeling outside the Imperial Study Room!

He couldn’t help but feel a bit of secret satisfaction because Min Feng also needed to be disciplined. If the Emperor easily pardoned Min Feng, Min Feng might become even more brazen in the future.

"Jinyu! Aren’t you leaving? It’s the hour of dispersal!" Ren Ge and the others couldn’t help but remind when they saw Gu Chengyu still gazing blankly at the historical records in his hand.

Gu Chengyu quickly snapped back to reality, looked at Ren Ge and the others, saw that they had already packed up, and smiled apologetically, "So it’s already the hour of dispersal. Thanks for waiting, I’ll be ready right away!"

After hastily tidying up the things on the desk, Gu Chengyu left the Hanlin Academy with the three others.

Ye Zhiqiu would definitely go because they shared a carriage, and since they were all officials of the Hanlin Academy, dining together wouldn’t be awkward.

Last time he mentioned inviting Gan Dianji, and this time he extended the invitation again. He had already visited Wenhua Pavilion at noon, and Gan Dianji naturally agreed delightedly.

Despite Gan Dianji’s plain appearance, he was very smooth in dealing with people, somewhat similar to Ren Ge in temperament. Inviting him could liven up the meal.

Whether Gan Dianji felt uncomfortable or not wasn’t Gu Chengyu’s concern. If he had qualms, Gan Dianji wouldn’t have agreed and would’ve found an excuse to decline.

Though Liu Zonghan and Ren Ge’s families weren’t affluent, they had been officials for several years, and their families were equipped with carriages.

Even Jiang Kenan, whose family was strapped for cash, gritted his teeth and arranged for a carriage, having his family members drive it and handle miscellaneous tasks.

Such phenomena were not uncommon in the Dayan Dynasty, often seen in poor families with low origins.

Whoever in the clan became successful, they selected an agile one to run errands for educated or office-holding elders in the clan and handle trifling matters.

Those chosen to serve were quite willing, as following a successful elder promised assured benefits, and nobody was foolish.

The one chosen to serve Jiang Kenan was a relative within five generations, as Ren Ge just mentioned it briefly.

Then they each boarded the carriage and headed to Juxiang Building.

However, the listener took to heart what the speaker said offhandedly. Didn’t Ye Zhiqiu just need a driver? He truly paid attention to this matter.

When the carriage was halfway, Ye Zhiqiu spoke up, "Jinyu! Why did the Emperor summon you today?"

Ye Zhiqiu had heard about this many times from colleagues today, so upon seeing Gu Chengyu, he immediately asked.

He and Gu Chengyu had known each other for many years, so they had some casual familiarity.

Last time, when the Emperor summoned Gu Chengyu, Ye Zhiqiu knew too. Although he was quite envious, he wasn’t jealous or resentful. He had always admired Gu Chengyu’s abilities, not to mention the skill of remaining calm in adversity, which he respected greatly.

"It was still about that index issue last time..." Gu Chengyu recounted in detail the matter where Min Feng and Xia Qing tried to claim the credit, omitting the secret memorial.

Not only had the Emperor not decided on the secret memorial, even if he had, Gu Chengyu couldn’t disclose it.

Ye Zhiqiu realized that knowing these brought him no benefits, and in the future, it might breed suspicion and wariness.

Ye Zhiqiu was also aware of the index issue, as Gu Chengyu had shown it to him once.

"I never imagined that someone as proud as Min Feng would do such a disgraceful thing. It seems that entering the officialdom changes people’s character."

After listening to Gu Chengyu’s words, Ye Zhiqiu was filled with emotion.

Gu Chengyu snorted coldly; until a critical moment, how could one see a person’s true character? That Min Feng would do this was certainly influenced by Xia Qing’s instigation, yet there might have been a part of him tempted by Xia Qing’s proposal.

Then, Ye Zhiqiu recalled Xia Qing and was deeply resentful. He had been classmates and friends with Gu Chengyu for many years, naturally feeling injustice for him. Additionally, as a scholar, he disdained such behavior.

"That Chief Minister Xia is truly despicable, a First-Grade Official yet so shameless. However, this time Xia Qing didn’t succeed. Will he set people against you? He has followers all over the court. If they put you in a difficult position, won’t you have more troubles?"

Worriedly, Ye Zhiqiu brought this up.

Gu Chengyu felt a warmth in his heart at these words, "Worrying is no use for such matters. I’ll just have to be more cautious in the future."

"Such things are indeed hard to guard against; there are a thousand days for a thief to act, but no thousand days to prevent a thief. Yet there’s no good way to handle this. You must be wary in the future!"

Ye Zhiqiu knew that Xia Qing wielded great power while Gu Chengyu, like him, had a shallow foundation, even with three mentors; Gu Chengyu couldn’t keep incurring obligations, right?

Gu Chengyu was moved, seeing Ye Zhiqiu’s genuine concern for him.

"Alright, things haven’t happened yet! Let’s not overthink here. Perhaps we’re just viewing them too narrowly?"

Gu Chengyu had actually analyzed it: since the Emperor had Min Feng kneel endlessly without punishing him, he was likely pressuring Xia Qing to relent.

This matter had great operability. If the Emperor was astute, he would certainly make Xia Qing pay some price. If not now, when?

Therefore, Xia Qing might be at his wit’s end and wouldn’t trouble him in the short term.

At this moment, Gu Chengyu was unaware that Xia Qing had already slandered him before the Emperor and even intended to seize his family’s soap formula.

When Gu Chengyu later learned of this, he couldn’t help but curse vehemently, calling him a shameless person.

"Jinyu! Did Mr. Ren just say that Mr. Jiang’s follower is a relative from his clan?" Ye Zhiqiu only vaguely heard a bit just now, but it stirred thoughts in his heart.