Xie Lang was still a little unwilling to give up: "Why?"
Wen Hemian smiled and said, "You know you've never seen this before. It's called sweet potato. It was found overseas. The rest will be kept for seed. The next batch will probably be planted in August or September."
Upon hearing this, Xie Lang realized something was amiss: "Could this be the high-yield crop that the Grand Tutor once spoke of?"
Xie Lang often heard some novel words from Wen Hemian. He had a good memory and could suddenly recall a few.
"Hmm." Wen Hemian said with a smile, "These two are what I managed to snatch from Uncle Liu. Eat them quickly, they won't taste good if they get cold."
"The Grand Tutor also eats."
After hearing this, Xie Lang took the sweet potato he had bitten into, put it down for the time being, turned around to peel another one, and then diligently placed it in Wen Hemian's hand.
Wen Hemian teased, "If you like it so much, why don't you give it back to me?"
What hadn't Wen Hemian eaten in modern times? She mainly wanted Xie Lang to try it; whether she ate it herself didn't matter. There would be more in the future, it would just take some time.
Xie Lang's expression was serious: "We should share the good times. The Grand Tutor has treated me so well. How can our friendship be measured by a mere sweet potato?"
Xie Lang can speak.
The two of them each ate a sweet potato. The sweet potatoes here had not been cultivated in later generations, so they were not very big. They were just like having an afternoon dessert and didn't fill them up much.
After finishing the sweet potatoes, the two sat on the small couch, reading the memorials and chatting.
Xie Lang: "I heard that the Grand Tutor has thoroughly reformed the Ministry of Personnel?"
"More or less." Wen Hemian gave his opinion. "If the Ministry of Personnel is in such a state, the other five ministries are not much better off. Let's deal with it slowly in the future."
Xie Lang narrowed his eyes and scoffed, "They just need to be disciplined. They even have memorials to submit. I'll make them change sooner or later."
From the moment Xie Lang first encountered memorials to the throne, he loathed these long and tedious articles, and years later, his original aversion remained unchanged.
Wen Heming strongly agreed: "It definitely needs to be changed."
These few words foreshadowed the arduous and unforgettable reform life that would follow for the officials of the Great Zhao Dynasty.
But that's all in the future.
As they chatted, Xie Lang subtly steered the conversation toward Wen Hemian: "Grand Tutor, do you think it's fun outside the capital?"
Wen Heming asked in confusion, "Hmm? Why did you suddenly think of asking this?"
Xie Lang sighed softly, looking up at the window: "I just regret that I don't have the chance to go out for a walk."
Fighting with Ning Hechu is tantamount to trapping oneself in the capital.
What Xie Lang saw was only what his subordinates wanted him to see: the bustling city below. He had no idea what the more distant places were like.
Therefore, he enjoyed listening to Wen Hemian recount his novel experiences.
Wen Hemian saw the desolation in the boy's eyes. She felt sorry for him but also chuckled. She softened her voice and began to coax the child: "You're so young, what's there to regret? Once the court is stable, Your Majesty can go wherever you want."
Xie Lang added, "I want the Grand Tutor to accompany me."
"You clingy brat!" she scolded with a laugh. "Okay, okay, I promise you."
Xie Lang is too good at acting cute. Wen Hemian is really worried that if she refuses him, the boy will cry in front of her. As long as it's not in front of outsiders, he never cares about saving face.
I don't know who spoiled them.
Xie Lang beamed, "I knew the Grand Tutor was the best to me."
Wen Heming remained noncommittal.
After transmigrating into the book, besides the people serving her and the secret guards, the person she spent the most time with was Xie Lang. From missions to attachments, over the years, Xie Lang has long become one of her anchors.
Many times, she could use this to feel that she truly existed—that she was really living again.
She had many concerns about her identity, but seeing Xie Lang's current state, she figured that being honest wouldn't be a big problem.
-
As it turns out, almost no one dislikes doing less work for the same amount of money. Apart from Min Rong occasionally giving him a cold look, everyone was happy with their work, and his little tricks couldn't cause any ripples.
He did want to report this matter to the censors, but Ye Zhaoxuan had already successfully infiltrated the ranks of the censors, so this trivial matter was simply blocked, and there was no chance of it getting to the court.
When he met with Ye Zhaoxuan, he made no attempt to hide his contempt for the man: "He thinks he is vying for power and profit, and assumes that everyone is like him. Little does he know that everyone just wants to focus on their work and manage their own little plot of land."
"But Han Shuang, I must say, your position is rather hateful."
Ye Zhaoxuan leaned back lazily, curled his lips and raised his eyebrows. Having been in officialdom for a long time, he had become slick and cunning.
He and Wen Hemian took the imperial examination in the same batch. Ever since their brief conversation outside the mansion six years ago, he has firmly stood on the side of the royalists. He and Wen Hemian can be considered close friends, and he has helped them a lot, both openly and secretly.
Wen Hemian disguised herself as a man because the Prince of Huailing and his wife were unable to return. Her coming-of-age ceremony at the age of twenty was presided over by a familiar cabinet minister, while the young emperor attended the ceremony. However, the couple had chosen the name for her and sent it back from afar.
If the name implies their wish for their child to be safe and sound, then the courtesy name is how they hope their child will grow up to be.
They hoped that Wen Hemin would always maintain his integrity and be a virtuous minister.
Of course, the premise is that the young emperor must have that ability; otherwise, like the late emperor, it would be better not to assist him at all.
Wen Hemian shrugged: "There's nothing I can do about it. I chose this path myself, and I have to see it through to the end."
“It’s only because Ning Hechu is still around. If he, the biggest threat, were gone, those old censors might not be as lenient with you as they are now.” Ye Zhaoxuan told him what he knew. “Fortunately, the people who have come in in the last two years are all quite convinced of you, so it’s not too difficult for me to blend in.”
Those who have been in the imperial court for a long time are all seasoned veterans. Ye Zhaoxuan suffered a lot because of his lack of seniority, but because he was stubborn, thick-skinned, and eloquent, he eventually gained a foothold.
Wen Hemian smiled broadly: "When the court is completely renewed, it will be His Majesty's world."
A new emperor brings a new court; those who like to stick together should be let go.
Ye Zhaoxuan clapped his hands and said with emotion, "It's not easy at all. In the blink of an eye, His Majesty has grown up. To be honest, I didn't really believe that the young Emperor could shoulder such a heavy responsibility."
"Playing dumb to fool the enemy is just a convenient tactic."
"Your Majesty... uh." Ye Zhaoxuan finally managed to come up with an adjective after a long pause, "You're quite the actor."
This trick fooled so many people; even Ning Hechu was fooled.
Wen Heming nodded in agreement.
If this were modern times, Xie Lang would definitely have earned the title of child star. Unfortunately, this is ancient times fraught with danger. Look how this child has been forced to learn how to survive at such a young age.
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