Chapter 12 012 I can still be saved.

The imperial gift should be carefully stored away.

Xie Lanzhao knew Zhao Jialing well and knew that when she submitted a memorial to express her gratitude to the emperor, Zhao Jialing would definitely ask her about the jade pillow.

If it were just an ordinary pillow, she could easily brush it off with some excuse. But this pillow was produced by that strange system, so it must have special effects. If she couldn't give a reason, Zhao Jialing would get annoyed again.

Xie Lanzhao's guess was correct. The next day, after the court assembly, Zhao Jialing couldn't wait to summon Xie Lanzhao alone and ask her how the pillow was.

[System products are always good.] The Wise Ruler System spoke for itself. It didn't know whether Xie Lanzhao had actually used it or not, so in order to avoid trouble, it simply changed the subject. Anyway, even if the pillow was put away, Prime Minister Xie, who could hear Zhao Jialing's thoughts, could still give a reasoned explanation.

"That pillow has a refreshing effect. Xie Lanzhao is usually preoccupied with court affairs, and I've heard she often stays up all night. This pillow allows her to get a little sleep, but her mind remains clear. It's a good thing, provided you're not lying to me," Zhao Jialing replied in his mind.

She doesn't need a good pillow.

Xie Lanzhao slept soundly without dreams after using the pillow, but since she usually had plenty of energy, she hadn't had any direct experience with it. However, after hearing Zhao Jialing's thoughts, she said, "This morning, I felt much better than usual. Thank you, Your Majesty, for bestowing this pillow upon me."

Zhao Jialing tried hard to suppress the corners of his lips that were about to turn up: "You are my right arm. If you age prematurely due to excessive thinking, it is not what I want to see."

[The pillow is only truly useful if it falls into Xie Lanzao's hands. With me, even after a good night's sleep, I'd still want to lie there. Some people grow old at thirty, and I don't want to see Xie Lanzao's charm fade.] Zhao Jialing thought to himself with smug satisfaction, wishing he could applaud his own clever arrangement.

Xie Lanzhao lowered her eyelashes and remained silent for a moment.

Is this His Majesty's way of showing concern for her? She used to think that His Majesty would love for her to fall ill so that he could take back his power.

Her mind was filled with mixed thoughts. Her feelings for Zhao Jialing had always been complicated. Their childhood friendship was just that—childhood. As they drifted apart, all that remained was a sigh of regret for what had become of them.

Half a month later.

The turmoil caused by Huan Qi and Yu Shen gradually subsided.

During this period, Emperor Jialing issued an edict appointing Xie Lanzao as Minister of Personnel concurrently.

The practice of the Grand Secretary concurrently serving as the head of the Ministry of Personnel has existed since ancient times, effectively giving the prime minister a legitimate right to directly intervene in the affairs of the Ministry of Personnel. Many court officials were surprised, as they had assumed, based on His Majesty's past actions, that he had somewhat restrained the Grand Secretary.

Those who could hear each other's true feelings were not surprised. Given their relationship, what was so remarkable about appointing someone as Minister of Personnel? Although some court officials were dissatisfied, the imperial edict was sent to the Hall of State Affairs, which was Xie Lanzhao's sphere of influence. Even if a few ministers had objections, they could not stop it.

July's heat fades, August brings reeds and rushes. A cool breeze caresses the face, the cicadas' song gradually subsides.

Although it hasn't completely entered the desolate and dilapidated state of "listening to the rain on withered lotus leaves," it's not far from the chill of autumn.

There were no troublesome government affairs, nor were there any remonstrating officials who wanted to make a name for themselves by criticizing the emperor, but Zhao Jialing still had a headache.

Despite her reluctance, the autumn feast arrived, but she found herself unable to taste the delicious food on the table.

She asked Xie Lanzhao to lecture her on poetry, but it was impossible for them to be sitting face-to-face. The founding emperor of the dynasty attached great importance to lectures on Confucian classics, and while the scholars were lecturing, the chief ministers were also required to listen in.

Zhao Jialing had little expectation for the lectures on classical studies. She had also read the Book of Poetry. Rather than lecturing on poetry, it was more like she was making veiled accusations against her, bringing up "gentleman" and "benevolence" in everything.

No matter how much Zhao Jialing disliked the lectures on classical studies, they were still going to come.

She also has a mission for which she doesn't know what the reward will be.

but--

What does it mean to make the ministers feel that I can still be saved? How can I accomplish this task?

Zhao Jialing has no idea what the criteria for judgment are.

The Wise Ruler System begins to play it safe: "[That's hard to say.]"

Zhao Jialing's inner thoughts suddenly rang out in the hall, but the lecturer sitting there did not react and continued to interpret the poem for Zhao Jialing.

Among the ministers who were allowed to listen in, there was something slightly off.

Xie Lanzhao's expression was also unusual, not because she was startled by the sudden voice in her mind, but because the content was different from what she had imagined.

Her gaze fell on the middle-aged Confucian scholar on the lecture platform, her eyes darkening. She had deliberately left this man behind. The system hadn't responded; was it because the time wasn't right, or because it couldn't identify all the treacherous officials and demand His Majesty eliminate them? Or perhaps the standards for evil differed from her own?

[What is Xie Lanzhao looking at? Why is she listening so intently? How can those lecturers compare to her talent?] Zhao Jialing continued to grumble.

The courtiers sitting in the audience were holding their breath.

His Majesty appeared drowsy and lethargic, and no matter what the matter was, he always managed to steer the conversation towards Xie Zhongshu.

This level of attention is truly extraordinary.

If I hadn't been able to hear His Majesty's thoughts, I would have thought that His Majesty was most wary and resentful of Xie Zhongshu, wishing he could get rid of him as soon as possible.

The voice of the student lecturer echoed in the hall. His voice was loud and clear, and he was lecturing on "July" from the Book of Odes of Bin.

Zhao Jialing suddenly spoke up: "Tell me about the oriole." There is a line in the poem "July": "In July, the fire star moves westward; in September, clothes are given out. In the spring, the sun shines brightly, and the oriole sings." Zhao Jialing did not want to hear about such benevolence and righteousness, so he simply asked the attendant to talk about "birds."

Upon hearing Zhao Jialing's words, the lecturer's face went blank.

While he remained silent, Zhao Jialing chuckled: "The poem 'Sanghu' in the Book of Odes of the Kingdom of Zhou has the line 'The mulberry trees are swaying, and the orioles have their feathers,' and the poem 'Dongshan' in the Book of Odes of Bin has the line 'The oriole flies, its feathers gleaming.' Can't you recite them?"

The lecturer, bewildered, felt a chill run down his spine. He bowed to Zhao Jialing and began to pronounce "Cang Geng" (a type of oriole).

But Zhao Jialing's mind was not on lecturing.

She thought to herself: [I used to never speak during lectures, but now I've shown that I haven't completely forgotten what the scholar taught me. Isn't that enough to save me?]

The courtiers who overheard the heartfelt words were still completely bewildered.

However—who dares to say that the saint is beyond saving?

During the breaks between lectures by the academicians, they all began to praise Zhao Jialing.

Zhao Jialing has some bad habits, such as liking to hear flattering words.

But this time she was not very happy. She noticed Xie Lanzhao, whose back was straight, as sturdy as a pine tree, unafraid of wind and frost.

She didn't say anything!

Why doesn't Xie Lanzhao praise me?

The Minister of Revenue glanced at Xie Lanzhao and thought to himself, "His Majesty has already hinted so obviously, what harm would it do to praise her a couple of times?"

The Wise Ruler System has no time to deal with Zhao Jialing.

It dutifully completed the task: [Congratulations, host, for completing "Main Quest: Self-Cultivation I: Lecture on Classical Studies," achieving the "Playing the Lute to a Cow" achievement. The task reward is "Cow Quality."]

Zhao Jialing: "?" What does this thing mean?

She was unhappy.

She needed to vent.

He glared angrily at the scholars, pointed at one of them, and said, "You come and lecture me on 'The Rat'."

Her eyes were shining; Xie Lanzhao had just been looking at this person.

She drafted the list; could this be one of the most talented people she's set her sights on? He has a shifty, beggar-like appearance!

Wise Ruler System: [Congratulations, host, you have triggered a new mission. Please complete "Main Mission: Governing the Country, Eliminating Traitors III: The Case of Academician Ma Yuanliang's Impersonation."]

Zhao Jialing blinked.

Oh, so he's a scoundrel.

But who was Ma Yuanliang? She had no recollection of him.

On the side of the table.

Xie Lanzhao's eyes were as cold as an abyss in winter, filled with a chilling aura.

It really can recognize it.

The scholar-lecturer Ma Yuanliang smiled slightly; this was an opportunity to show his face in front of His Majesty.

Before he could even receive the decree, he heard a crisp snap, as Zhao Jialing placed the jade ruyi on the table.

Ma Yuanliang's heart skipped a beat, and he involuntarily shrank back.