On this day, the sky was clear and the air was fresh, and flocks of birds chirped and twittered on the branches.

Inside a hall next to the Zichen Palace, several eunuchs were serving Yun Beiye his breakfast.

A table was laden with all sorts of dishes. Zhao Zhongquan and Xiao Xiazi stood on either side of Yun Beiye, serving him food.

"Zhao Zhongquan, go and bring me the 'Ten Thousand Miles of Rivers and Mountains' painting from the study." Yun Beiye took a sip of the thin porridge in his bowl, then picked up a piece of braised beef with his chopsticks and put it in his mouth.

"Yes, Your Majesty." Zhao Zhongquan winked at Xia Zi, signaling him to take good care of His Majesty while he went to retrieve the "Ten Thousand Miles of Rivers and Mountains" scroll.

Zhao Zhongquan thought with some suspicion, "His Majesty usually doesn't appreciate calligraphy and paintings so early in the morning. Why is he acting so unusually today?"

A moment later, Zhao Zhongquan came out of the study, holding the painting in both hands, and went to the Zichen Hall.

Yun Beiye had finished eating and was sitting in the Zichen Palace, where he often reviewed memorials.

Zhao Zhongquan walked up to Yun Beiye and carefully placed the painting on the table.

Looking at the painting, Yun Beiye praised it highly, "This 'Ten Thousand Miles of Rivers and Mountains' painting is powerful in its brushstrokes and grand in its style. Every time I admire this painting, I am amazed and think it is truly a masterpiece!"

"Look at these mountains and rivers, they are majestic and imposing."

"If one doesn't have a profound understanding of landscape, one absolutely cannot create such a painting!"

"Bring the seal." Yun Beiye's eyes did not leave the "Ten Thousand Miles of Rivers and Mountains" painting; he simply pointed at Zhao Zhongquan, indicating that he should fetch the seal and inkpad.

Zhao Zhongquan scratched his head, looking somewhat embarrassed. He didn't move, hesitating as if he had something to say, "Your Majesty, look, there are already about forty seals on this painting..."

Zhao Zhongquan leaned forward slightly, looking at the painting. There were more than twenty imperial seals on the left side, and several red seals on the right side, with the words "I have bestowed this upon you" written below.

When Yunbei appreciates calligraphy and paintings at night, he has a habit of stamping his seal on the artwork whenever he gets excited.

He admired this painting, "Ten Thousand Miles of Rivers and Mountains," the most times, and therefore stamped it with the most seals.

"Are you getting old? Why are you talking so much nonsense?!" Yun Beiye raised his head and glared at him, then kicked Zhao Zhongquan.

Yun Beiye stroked the painting on the table with a sense of pity and reluctance. "This is the last time I will look at it. I will stamp it one more time, and that will be my farewell to it. This painting has been with me for many years."

"In a little while, go to the Guan residence and present this painting to Grand Secretary Guan."

"Ah?! Your Majesty!" Zhao Zhongquan's heart tightened immediately. This was His Majesty's favorite painting!

"Your Majesty, please reconsider!"

Whenever Yunbei was furious with his ministers after the court session and they were spewing profanities, looking at this painting would make him feel much better.

Why is His Majesty now willing to part with this painting and give it to Grand Secretary Guan?

[Could it be that the Southern Study, the office of the Grand Secretaries, is about to be reorganized? Does His Majesty have something important that requires Grand Secretary Guan to come out of seclusion and assist him?]

The drafting of imperial edicts, the formulation of national policies for Nanyang, and the promulgation of government decrees were all closely related to the Southern Study.

Zhao Zhongquan couldn't help but wipe the cold sweat from his forehead. [Could it be that the civil service system of the imperial court is about to undergo a major upheaval?]

[If this painting is given away, he won't be able to handle the consequences when His Majesty gets angry!]

[Sigh, serving His Majesty is really difficult!]

"You go and deliver the painting yourself. Duoduo is about to start school. Go and ask Grand Secretary Guan to send his granddaughter over to be Duoduo's study companion. Also, the Guan family are all learned people. Please ask Grand Secretary Guan to send more talented people to the palace to accompany Duoduo in her studies."

So that's what it was about.

Zhao Zhongquan wiped the cold sweat from his forehead. "Your Majesty, you only need to say a word about the companion. As for the painting, Your Majesty likes it. Shall we still give it to you?"

Zhao Zhongquan felt that no subject would disobey His Majesty's orders. It was nothing more than sending his grandson into the palace to accompany the little princess in her studies, which was an immense honor!

"Have I been too lenient with you? You've even learned to read my mind?" Yun Beiye suddenly shot him a cold look.

"Why don't you become the emperor?!" Yun Beiye pretended to stand up and give up his seat.

"Oh dear, Your Majesty, this old servant deserves to die! Your Majesty, please forgive me!" Zhao Zhongquan was so frightened that his face turned green. His knees buckled, and he knelt down with a thud, kowtowing and begging for forgiveness.

"Your Majesty is wise! This old servant is utterly loyal to Your Majesty!" Zhao Zhongquan said, a tear welling up in his eye.

"Alright, get up. I know you well enough to know yourself."

"I was just teasing you. You're so old and have experienced so much, how come you're still so easily frightened?"

Zhao Zhongquan wiped the sweat from his forehead with his sleeve and cleaned the tears from the corners of his eyes as he looked at Yun Beiye.

"Grand Secretary Guan is a veteran figure, and he is stubborn. You must have heard that even when the late emperor was alive, he had to give Grand Secretary Guan some face. In front of Grand Secretary Guan, I am also a junior." Yun Beiye stood up and looked out the window. He suddenly remembered the first time he met Grand Secretary Guan when he was young. It was in the study, and his teacher was also there at the time.

"If you're asking for help, you should show sincerity."

This Grand Secretary Guan is a learned man and a respectable elder.

"Yes, this old servant understands."

"At your age, can your knees really take that kind of kneeling?" Yun Beiye looked at Zhao Zhongquan's knees; the way he knelt down just now was too forceful.

"Go to the Imperial Hospital and have someone take a look at you. If you become paralyzed or sick, who will take care of me?"

"Yes, yes, Your Majesty is right, this old servant will go right away." Zhao Zhongquan nodded repeatedly.

"This old servant will take a few capable men to the Guan residence and make sure this matter is settled."

"Bring me my seal first!"

"Yes, this old servant will go and fetch it right away."

...

After Zhao Zhongquan presented the seal, he left the Zichen Palace and then called Xia Xiazi and the others to prepare the things they would need for their visit to the Guan residence.

In addition to the imperial painting "Ten Thousand Miles of Rivers and Mountains," we also need to prepare some writing implements, paper, inkstones, musical instruments, chess sets, calligraphy, and paintings to send over together.

"Master, is your knee alright?" Xia Zi looked at Zhao Zhongquan's knee with concern and gently patted the dust off his robe.

"It's nothing." Zhao Zhongquan chuckled twice, walked to a secluded spot, gently rolled up his trouser leg, revealing a thick piece of cloth underneath.

The cloth was tied around the knee.

"Master, Master is still the best!" Xiazi exclaimed, her mouth agape in surprise.

"Master is indeed worthy of being called Master!"

"Tch, serving His Majesty requires a bit of wisdom. For us servants, kneeling is just a daily routine. As we get older, our knees will eventually give out. Putting on this thick cloth can alleviate the pain."

"Disciple understands." Xiazi nodded and bowed.

"Alright, go and get ready."

...?