Watching Yu Sheng's retreating figure, Jing Zhe was both amused and exasperated.
To be honest, although Yu Sheng was a bit rough around the edges, this seemed to be a common trait among military officers: they were straightforward and didn't have much cunning.
Compared to most civil servants, they are easier to get along with.
But Jing Zhe could not agree.
Next, Jing Zhe didn't go any further. Zhu Tong stopped him and told him to wait because several important figures had arrived.
Xiang Wang Su Mowu came over and greeted them, glancing at Jing Zhe a few more times. Since the two had never interacted before, he simply nodded, but Jing Zhe always felt that his gaze was very strange.
Then there was Crown Prince Su Moyan, since the two had met several times and even drunk wine together. Compared to Su Mowu, he was much more enthusiastic.
"Young Master Jing, I haven't had a chance to congratulate you yet!"
After the competition at the hunting grounds yesterday, Emperor An left Jing Zhe behind alone, so Su Moyan didn't have a chance to speak with him.
"Thank you, Your Highness!"
Jing Zhe bowed and thanked him.
Su Moyan smiled, patted him on the shoulder, glanced at Zhu Tongyi, and then said, "Do your best!"
He walked straight into the palace.
Behind him was an elderly man with white hair, who seemed to be in poor health and was being supported by someone. He was none other than Prefect Li Haoyun, whom he had met yesterday.
Jing Zhe immediately guessed who it was.
Grand Tutor, Hao Junguang.
"As expected, they are descendants of Minister Jing!"
Hao Junguang walked up and looked at Jing Zhe, saying, "I have read all of the poems that Young Master Jing wrote at the Mid-Autumn Poetry Gathering. The more I read, the more I felt that I had wasted several decades of my life. It is such a pity!"
Upon hearing this, Jing Zhe immediately cupped his hands in greeting: "Grand Tutor Hao flatters me. I have only read, understood, and written extensively!"
"Read more, understand more, and write more?"
Hao Junguang muttered a couple of words, then burst into laughter.
"What a wonderful phrase: 'Read more, understand more, and write more!' Just for these six simple words, I would be willing to call you 'teacher'!"
"..."
Holy crap, your neck's practically buried in the dirt, don't scare me like that.
Jing Zhe cupped his hands again, saying, "Grand Tutor Hao has flattered me to death."
Hao Junguang glanced at Jing Zhe a few more times, becoming more and more satisfied, but then, as if thinking of something, he shook his head repeatedly. Finally, with Li Haoyun's help, he entered the palace.
Seeing that there was no one else behind them, the group headed into the palace. As they walked, Zhu Tong sighed, "I thought the people who came to my house to deliver gifts yesterday were already quite shocking, but after seeing what just happened, I'm at peace with it!"
He then added solemnly, "But nephew, remember that with great power comes great responsibility!"
Jing Zhe nodded, "I will follow your teachings, Uncle."
Chen Jiannan had unknowingly fallen to the back, and the scene he had just witnessed had a greater impact on him.
Grand Tutor Bai, Grand Preceptor Hao, Duke of Protectorate...
Of the five powerful figures in the Anguo court, three seemed to be quite familiar with him. Adding Zhu Tong, four of the five powerful figures were now present…
It has to be said that Chen Jiannan was envious.
What I admired even more was Jing Zhe's poetic talent.
Because of yesterday's hunting ground competition, people at his level couldn't hear about it. They always thought that their high regard for Jing Zhe was only because of his performance at the Mid-Autumn Poetry Gathering!
But there was one thing he didn't envy: Jing Zhe's way of handling things. He didn't know how to be tactful at all. How dare you talk back to the Grand Tutor?
If it were him, he would definitely fawn over everyone and offend no one!
Influenced by his father, he felt that he was well-versed in the ways of officialdom and secretly vowed that with his smoothness, as long as he entered the officialdom, he would be able to thrive and leave Jing Zhe behind!
...
The group entered the palace, leaving Jing Zhe and Chen Jiannan outside the Golden Palace, while Zhu Tong, Zhu Xinning, and Liu Jinghong entered the palace.
After all, they did not hold any official positions at the time and could not attend court.
Since it wasn't his first time in the palace, Jing Zhe was quite composed, but Chen Jiannan was different. Just like when Jing Zhe first came, everything here was new and exciting to him. He kept turning his head to look around, as innocent as a... silly goose...
Perhaps because the two were waiting outside the court, the morning court session ended quickly. About half an hour later, Sui Shouren came out of the hall.
"Young masters, please follow me into the palace!"
Jing Zhe nodded to him and stepped forward, while Chen Jiannan stood tall with his head held high, looking righteous, and even cupped his hands in greeting to Sui Shouren.
"Thank you, General! I hope you will give me a good chance to serve as an official in the same court in the future!"
"..."
Sui Shouren glanced at him with some surprise, thinking to himself that at most he would become a minor official of the sixth rank, and he would hardly have the opportunity to enter the court again in the future. What kind of promotion was he talking about?
But I still nodded politely.
Chen Jiannan was even more smug upon seeing this, secretly laughing as he watched Jing Zhe's retreating figure.
Haha, that's what you call being "smooth"!
"..."
"This humble subject greets Your Majesty!"
After entering the hall, the two knelt down and paid their respects.
"Rise!"
Emperor An looked at them and smiled, "I am very pleased to see that talented young people emerge in An Kingdom every year!"
His gaze remained fixed on Jing Zhe.
Chen Jiannan quickly cupped his hands in thanks: "Your Majesty flatters me! I am fortunate to have achieved what I have today because of Your Majesty's blessings!"
Emperor An smiled and nodded. Chen Jiannan was overjoyed and glanced at Jing Zhe again.
Learn to be tactful!
"Chen Jiannan, right?"
"Yes, yes!"
Upon hearing that Emperor An could call him by his name, Chen Jiannan almost fell to the ground in excitement.
"Do you have a preferred official position?"
Hearing that the main topic had arrived, Chen Jiannan immediately focused his attention and solemnly said, "Your Majesty, yes."
"Oh? What?"
"Your Majesty may not know this, but my father also served as an official in the court, holding the rank of Grand Secretary of the Wenyuan Academy..."
"Oh? Is that so?"
Emperor An became interested after hearing this, but after thinking hard for a while, he still couldn't remember who it was. Of course, this can't be blamed on Emperor An. He was busy with many affairs every day, and the Grand Secretary Wenyuan was only a fourth-rank official. There were many such officials in the court. How could he remember them so clearly?
After thinking for a long time without finding an answer, I finally had to give up.
At this moment, Wang Zhutong immediately stepped forward to save the day: "Your Majesty, it is Grand Secretary Chen Guozhong of Wenyuan, who has been back in his hometown for many years!"
"Oh, it's Chen Guozhong!"
Andi nodded. "Your father—never mind, tell me your thoughts!"
"..."
Clearly, he still couldn't remember who Chen Guozhong was, so he simply didn't want to even bother with a perfunctory performance.
"Your Majesty, in the past, if you could grant me the title of Grand Secretary of the Baohe Academy, I would be content! And I assure Your Majesty, if I were to become Grand Secretary of the Baohe Academy, I would certainly—"
"Alright, then let's make him Grand Secretary of the Imperial Academy!"
Seemingly uninterested in listening to Chen Jiannan's lofty ambitions, Emperor An interrupted him at the opportune moment.
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
But Chen Jiannan was still very satisfied and quickly knelt down and kowtowed.
"Alright, since that's the case, then you may step down!"
"..."
Summoning Chen Jiannan was merely a formality; the main character today was Jing Zhe, as all the officials knew. Therefore, Emperor An made arrangements for Chen Jiannan as quickly as possible and then had him leave.
————
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