After the meal, Madam Lin first helped Xie Huiying onto the carriage.
Xie Huiying lifted the curtain, smiled, and waved to Shen Qingchen before the carriage gradually drove away. As evening approached, Qingchen also bid farewell to Madam Lin.
Lin was furious after being humiliated today, but worried that Shen Qian might see her coming home from work. So she said with disgust, "Don't even think about things you shouldn't. Who is my cousin, and who are you? Do you think that just because she said a few words for you today, a toad can eat swan meat? Let me tell you, you're not good enough for her!"
Qingchen had heard such harsh words before, and had no intention of arguing with her, so as not to cause trouble for her second uncle. She said, "Qingchen understands. Qingchen respects her aunt and will teach her diligently. She has never had any improper thoughts."
She's a woman, what improper thoughts could she possibly have? Her second aunt is really overthinking it.
"That's good. Don't think I don't know you scholars who think you're closest to fame and fortune, and that you'll do anything for it. If you're going to teach, then teach properly. Don't do anything out of line and disgrace the Lin family. If that happens, even your second uncle won't be able to protect you, and you can forget about ever seeing him again."
"Don't worry, Second Sister-in-law, Qingchen won't do that."
After Lin turned and went inside, the servant who was seeing her off took Shen Qian's sleeve censer from his sleeve and stuffed it into Qingchen's hand.
In a little over ten days, autumn will come to an end, and the days will begin to grow shorter and the nights longer.
Since being kicked out by Han Yuanshu that day, Qingchen and the others have never been summoned again, and the three of them have become neglected when they come to the Ministry of Works.
The clerks would simply bring them scrolls each day, saying that they should take a look and get a general understanding of the Ministry of Works' affairs. "These are just the projects for one province in a year; there's much more to come."
The three of them could only read the books and records inside the room. Since everyone has their own area of expertise, apart from Shen Qingchen, Gu Shaoheng and Xu Silin were completely confused by what they were reading.
Gu Shaoheng grumbled on this quite a bit, sometimes talking to himself, sometimes grabbing Shen Qingchen and asking him all sorts of questions. Xu Silin, on the other hand, remained quiet, only occasionally glancing at Qingchen's back out of the corner of his eye, otherwise just burying himself in his notes. The three of them had varying degrees of closeness; he could tell that Gu Shaoheng was deliberately ignoring him and not talking to him, so there was no need to make a fool of himself.
After finishing his shift that day, Xu Silin tidied up his desk and went out first.
Gu Shaoheng stretched and urged Qingchen to leave.
Qingchen looked at the pile of unfinished scrolls on the table, and then at the setting sun outside, he rubbed his eyes, put two of the scrolls into his bundle, and planned to read them when he got home that night.
Upon seeing this, Gu Shaoheng exclaimed in surprise, "You've been watching all day, and you still want to watch more when you get home? Aren't you afraid of getting sick of it? Qingchen, you can't get fat in one bite. Teacher Song didn't let us figure things out in just a few days. Take it slow, don't exhaust yourself."
No, it won't.
Han Yuanshu's words from that day still echoed in her ears—"Three thousand taels to build a dike? That's not even enough to buy cotton! It will collapse with a single ripple during a flood, inundating the people and rice paddies of an entire county... Every single one of your nonchalant words is costing the lives of hundreds of thousands of people in a county... If you're going to do anything, at least come up with a solution!"
Repairing the dike was an urgent matter for both the Ministry of Works and the people. She was there for an internship, and this was the best opportunity for her to gain firsthand experience. Therefore, she needed to quickly learn more.
As soon as Gu Shaoheng and Shen Qingchen left the Ministry of Works and entered the corridor, they saw several high-ranking officials in red robes walking towards them. Among the crowd was a tall figure surrounded by several people, who seemed to be discussing some political matters.
Qingchen's heart stirred slightly... That figure was Song Yue. She hadn't seen him for almost half a month since he had sent them to observe the government affairs of the Six Ministries.
Gu Shaoheng also saw Song Yue and nudged Qingchen with his elbow, "Look ahead, it looks like Teacher Song!"
"Mm." Qingchen nodded. Even from this distance, she recognized him at a glance.
As the people drew closer, Qingchen vaguely heard words like "Japan," "winter solstice," "tribute," and "sulfur," and amidst the cacophony of voices, he also heard the phrase "Grand Secretary."
In the Ming Dynasty, only officials of the fourth rank and above could wear vermilion robes. This was the first time Gu Shaoheng and Shen Qingchen had ever seen so many high-ranking officials of the fourth rank and above at once. Any one of them was dozens of times more powerful than them, these unranked commoners.
The two junior officials dared not look around or disturb the adults' discussion, so they obediently stepped aside, cleared the corridor, and bowed their heads to wait for them to pass.
As the group approached, a familiar voice drifted over, "Gu Shaoheng."
Gu Shaoheng suddenly looked up, his face beaming with smiles, and said, "Teacher Song. Gu Shaoheng, a junior official of the Hanlin Academy, greets you, Teacher and all the esteemed officials."
Qingchen followed suit and bowed. When she looked up, she saw a refined and noble face diagonally in front of her, with clear and gentle eyes. He was half a head taller than the others in the crowd, and his handsome appearance was dazzling.
The high-ranking officials were engaged in a heated discussion, pretending not to see the two junior officials, and were about to continue their discussion on the tribute matter when Song Yue said, "Gentlemen, please go ahead. I have something to say to my two students."
The high-ranking officials were talking enthusiastically when Song Yue suddenly turned to look at them because the two students wanted to break up.
Gu Shaoheng felt a little guilty, but he still kept smiling. He didn't know why the teacher had suddenly called on him.
Qingchen lowered his head slightly, not daring to look Song Yue in the eye in front of so many people.
The high-ranking officials eventually left somewhat reluctantly. Gu Shaoheng breathed a sigh of relief and said with a grin, "Teacher Song, we students haven't seen you for many days and have missed you dearly. We didn't expect to run into you today. Is there anything you would like to tell us?"
Qingchen kept her head slightly lowered, and Song Yue said indifferently, "It's nothing. I didn't like listening to their arguing. I just happened to see you, so I found an excuse to send them away."
As soon as he finished speaking, he asked again, "How have you felt about your visit to the Ministry of Works these past few days? Has everything gone smoothly?"
"I dare not hide it from you, teacher. The affairs of the Ministry of Works are very complicated and technical. All the Four Books and Five Classics I have studied for so many years are of no use. These days I have only been looking at the records of completed projects, and I am already feeling overwhelmed. I am learning for the first time about the types, origins, and uses of the timber and stone used in various civil engineering projects. I have to memorize them all... But I also know that you asked me to wait until the Sixth Ministry so that we can learn more. Therefore, I dare not slack off in the slightest." Gu Shaoheng was a bit long-winded. In addition, he was really overwhelmed by reading. Meeting his teacher felt like meeting a relative, so he said a lot in one go.
Song Yue nodded after listening, "Don't be impatient. The more specific the matter, the more you need to calm down. Only by not being afraid of these technicians can you learn them well. Read more books like 'The Nine Chapters on the Mathematical Art'... Which official is in charge of your political affairs?"
Hearing Teacher Song's gentle and clear voice, Gu Shaoheng was filled with confidence again regarding his observation of the government. He nodded and loudly replied, "Yes," and then said, "Teacher, the person in charge of our observation of the government is none other than Lord Han Yuanshu, who has shown you great favor... I heard that Lord Han was originally just a scholar, and he was promoted to a position in the Six Ministries by you. The day we first met Lord Han, he... scolded us all, and even used cats and dogs to subtly mock Xu Silin, and he still ignores us to this day."
"Is that so? It seems you've already experienced his temper." Song Yue's calm voice held a hint of amusement. "However, he is a talented person, and talented people inevitably have their own quirks. Just humbly learn from him, and don't blindly follow others, develop prejudices, or miss out on learning opportunities."
Gu Shaoheng nodded obediently, "This student will keep in mind the teacher's teachings."
Song Yue nodded and turned to the other side, "And you, Shen Qingchen?"
Qingchen had been listening to the two talking when her teacher suddenly called her name. She was slightly taken aback and said, "I am in the Ministry of Works... and I dare not slack off... I am currently reviewing the water conservancy projects in Beizhili over the past ten years, and I haven't finished yet." For a moment, she was at a loss for words.
Song Yue held her hands and looked at the student she hadn't seen for many days. She was still so thin, with beautiful features and clear eyes. Her cheeks were flushed slightly in the sunset.
He wasn't worried about her political acumen at all. She had read many books on the subject and was a diligent person, so she would pick things up much faster than Gu Shaoheng. He figured it wouldn't be long before she was able to showcase her talents.
“Gu Shaoheng.” Song Yue did not answer, but looked at the person beside her, “Go to the back hall of the Hanlin Academy and fetch that pot of purple bamboo for your teacher.”
Gu Shaoheng nodded obediently, "Yes, student will go and get it."
After saying that, he tossed his bundle into Qingchen's hands, waved his sleeve, and strode away.
The golden sunset spilled over the eaves, over the courtyard walls, and bathed the corridor in its golden light, spreading it far and wide. In this quiet corner, only the teacher and student remained. A cool breeze blew by, causing their robes to flutter.
"The scar on your forehead has faded a lot and is almost invisible," Song Yue said.
Qingchen touched her forehead; she hadn't paid attention to the scar for a long time. "Hmm. The ointment the teacher gave me is very effective. It feels cool when applied, and the scar fades quickly."
"These days, since I first arrived at the Ministry of Works, there have been more tasks than before. Are you able to handle it?" She looked slightly tired, her eyes were a little swollen, and the knuckles of her hands holding the books were protruding, clearly from overworking her pen for days.
Although the officials were visiting the Six Ministries to observe government affairs, they still spent two out of the five days at the Hanlin Academy, where they still had their own studies. In addition, Qingchen also had to draw comics, prepare lessons for Lin Yu and Xie Huiying, study the philosophy of mind, copy Yuefu poems, and review the records of the Ministry of Works... It was really quite exhausting. She had to stay up very late at night, and when she looked in the mirror early these past two days, she noticed dark circles under her eyes.
But given the current circumstances, these are things she should do. If she doesn't work hard to accumulate experience while she's young, how can her life change?
Looking at his teacher, Qingchen said, "I can handle it. The records from the Ministry of Works are very comprehensive and detailed, so it's not too difficult to read. As for the philosophy of mind, with your insights from when you studied it, I can easily understand it. I've already copied up to the tenth volume of the 'Collection of Yuefu Poems' that you asked me to copy."
Although she spoke of it lightly, Song Yue could imagine that all these things piled up together, especially some of which were new to her, would definitely consume a lot of her energy.
Under the solitary lamp, countless nights she toiled at her desk until the wee hours.
“In a few days,” Song Yue paused, then said, “there’s a gathering of the Wang family in Tongzhou. Would you like to go?”
Shen Qingchen sent letters to some followers of the School of Mind, but has not yet received any replies. She is eager to make contact with these people as soon as possible and to gain a deeper understanding of this school of thought that has changed the fate of the Ming Dynasty. She is getting anxious while waiting for their letters.
Hearing the teacher ask this, she felt a surge of excitement and blurted out, "Yes! Will you be going, teacher?"
The time for tribute missions from various countries is approaching, and Song Yue, as the Minister of Rites, has been very busy with official duties lately. If Qingchen doesn't go, he certainly won't go either. But if Qingchen does go, he will make time to accompany her.
"Then you should prepare yourself. You might have to stay overnight in Tongzhou. It will get cold in a few days, so wear more clothes. I'll go with you then."
Qingchen felt a long-lost joy in his heart and nodded with a little excitement.
A short while later, Gu Shaoheng returned carrying Song Yue's purple bamboo. Song Yue took the bamboo and asked, "Are you going out with Shen Qingchen?"
Gu Shaoheng nodded, not understanding what was going on. Then he saw the teacher take Qingchen's bundle and the bundle he had just thrown to her, and hand them all over to him.
"She's just recovered from her injury, you take this. I have other matters to attend to, you should all go back." With that, he waved his sleeve and headed towards the Ministry of Rites.
Gu Shaoheng looked at Teacher Song's back, then at the two bundles in his hands, and scratched his head.
Did he remember wrong? Qingchen has been better for a month already.
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