Chapter 10 The Heartless and Unfeeling Top Scholar (Part 10) (Added)
After everyone left, Ji Huaizhi frowned as he looked at the man who had just given him the tip, seemingly not understanding why he had done so.
"Uh... this is a joyous occasion. According to custom, we should give the messenger a reward and treat them to tea."
Although Ji Huaizhi didn't understand, it seemed that they were going to give him money to pay back.
"No need, no need, we're all colleagues."
The others gritted their teeth in disbelief; this Lord Feng had actually gotten there before them.
Upon hearing that Ji Huaizhi didn't need it, he immediately withdrew his hand.
Lord Feng's lips twitched when he saw this.
The Ministry of Revenue suddenly changed its tune after Ji Huaizhi's sudden promotion, mainly because the Minister of Revenue was currently unable to perform his duties for unknown reasons.
If anything happens, then Ji Huaizhi will be the next Minister.
~
The next day, when Ji Huaizhi went to the palace to express his gratitude, it was also Eunuch Su who led the way.
His Majesty was alone in the study.
After Ji Huaizhi paid his respects to His Majesty, he was summoned to stand up: "Minister Ji, I summoned you here to ask you how you came up with the idea of making this Yellow Register?"
Ji Huaizhi raised his eyes: "Your Majesty... just thought it would be easier to understand this way, so I did it this way."
The emperor nodded after hearing his reply; it was a truly simple and unpretentious answer.
Unlike others who talk a lot but don't get to the point.
The emperor had a very good impression of him, mainly because he asked him many questions during the previous imperial examination.
Only what he said was closest to the truth and he genuinely cared about the people, without all the fancy talk.
The emperor offered him a seat.
The two men talked freely in the study, and even the emperor seemed reluctant to stop talking.
The person on the other end didn't seem to regard him as an emperor, but rather as an ordinary person, and didn't speak as cautiously as others.
This kind of temperament is quite rare for an emperor.
Unlike others who were afraid to speak up, Ji Huaizhi was very outspoken.
"I think it's a bit of a waste to put you in the Ministry of Revenue." He had initially planned to train you in the Ministry of Revenue.
But we discovered that he was actually quite good in other aspects as well.
"Your humble servant is your subject, and a brick in your hand."
"Hmm?" The emperor asked in confusion, "Shouldn't it be a knife in my hand? Why are you comparing yourself to a brick?"
"It can be compared to making knives."
"But I feel that a brick is more suitable. Wherever you need me, you can move me there."
Hahahaha~
The emperor laughed heartily: "Minister Ji is absolutely right."
"I have observed that what you have done is truly a blessing for the nation."
"Your heart is loyal and your conduct is virtuous, which makes me very pleased."
Ji Huaizhi cupped his hands in greeting: "Your Majesty is too kind."
"Oh~" His Majesty waved his hand with a smile: "How could that be?"
"If I hadn't already bestowed upon you the position of Vice Minister yesterday, I would have wanted to reward you with something else today."
Ji Huaizhi blinked: "Then this humble subject would like to shamelessly ask Your Majesty to borrow a cook."
The emperor was stunned: "The cook?"
They seemed surprised that he would ask for this.
"Yes, my wife is currently pregnant and has often lost her appetite since she came to the capital with me. It is truly out of desperation that I have brought this up with Your Majesty."
The emperor smiled: "I never expected that Minister Ji would be such a loving husband."
"I approve this!"
Upon hearing this, Ji Huaizhi's eyes lit up with a clear smile, and his voice rose slightly: "Thank you, Your Majesty!"
The emperor also noticed that he seemed even happier now than before.
"Ah, it's all thanks to your sincerity. Madam Ji is currently pregnant, and I will issue an imperial decree to send a senior imperial physician to your residence to take meticulous care of your family, so that you can have no worries."
Ji Huaizhi looked at him in surprise.
After realizing what had happened, he immediately expressed his gratitude.
The emperor was pleased to see him like this.
Only when you have your family in your heart can you have your country in your heart.
He may be far inferior to other scions of prominent families in his conduct and interpersonal skills, but he is willing to get things done.
When Eunuch Su was seeing Ji Huaizhi off from the Hall of Mental Cultivation, he happened to bump into Consort Jiang, who was delivering soup to the emperor.
Upon seeing the newcomers, Ji Huaizhi and Eunuch Su stood aside, keeping their eyes off them.
"Eunuch Su, is His Majesty still busy?"
Eunuch Su lowered his head further: "His Majesty has just finished his work, and the Imperial Concubine is here at the perfect time."
Consort Jiang smiled and glanced at Ji Huaizhi: "This gentleman looks unfamiliar."
Ji Huaizhi cupped his hands in greeting, but did not say anything more to avoid suspicion.
"This is Lord Ji," Eunuch Su said without further introduction.
"Oh~ I heard that this year's top scholar is favored by many noble ladies in the capital." Consort Jiang raised an eyebrow.
Eunuch Su chuckled and said, "Yes, this servant must see Lord Ji out of the palace before the locks are put on. This servant will take his leave now."
Ji Huaizhi cupped his hands in a respectful gesture and then left.
Consort Jiang looked at him for a while before turning her gaze away: "This is the man my little sister has her eye on? Good taste, what a pity~"
"Your Highness, please hurry up and leave. After all, Lord Ji is an outsider."
Consort Jiang's personal maid whispered a word of advice.
"So what? I am the apple of His Majesty's eye." Consort Jiang smiled and turned around, walking gracefully towards the palace.
Ji Huaizhi was sent back by someone arranged by Eunuch Su. When they arrived at the palace gate, they found that there was no carriage waiting outside.
He asked in confusion, "Hasn't Lord Ji's carriage arrived yet?"
Ji Huaizhi was taken aback for a moment: "I thought you would take me back."
"So I sent my servant ahead."
Eunuch Su seemed surprised as well, and after a moment of hesitation, he said, "I'll go find the carriage right away."
"In addition, the imperial physicians and chefs ordered by His Majesty will be sent to the Ji residence tomorrow."
Ji Huaizhi politely cupped his hands in thanks: "Thank you, Eunuch Su."
Eunuch Su felt that this Master Ji's temperament was quite different from the other masters, but the way he looked at him did not show the disdain he showed towards eunuchs.
It seems that everyone is equal in his eyes.
When they arrived home, Shen Zhiyi had been waiting for them for a long time. The two of them went together to pay their respects to Madam Ji.
Mrs. Ji preferred quiet, and the couple would only visit occasionally.
"I heard you went to see the Emperor today?" Madam Ji asked.
"Yes, His Majesty also bestowed upon my son a royal physician and a royal chef. It's just in time for him to come over tomorrow to check my mother's pulse to ensure her well-being."
"Have the imperial chef prepare some delicious food as well."
Madam Ji was surprised: "Rewards can be given to people?"
He glanced at Shen Zhiyi and nodded: "Then I can say that I've benefited from Zhiyi's influence."
Shen Zhiyi glanced at Ji Huaizhi, then lowered her eyes in embarrassment.
"Zhiyi is pregnant now, so she doesn't need to come here often. You two take care of yourselves, and I won't cause you any trouble."
Shen Zhiyi quickly said, "How could Mother be a trouble?"
Madam Ji smiled. With her son's success and her daughter-in-law's pregnancy, she felt relieved.
On their way back, the two strolled leisurely along the path.
Shen Zhiyi looked down at her belly, then looked at her husband and said, "Ji Lang."
"Um?"
The moonlight, like water, fell upon Ji Huaizhi, stretching his slender figure long and shrouding him in a faint silver hue.
His eyes seemed to hold a thousand thoughts, yet also seemed to be completely empty.
With just one glance, Chen Zhiyi was already captivated.
I don't want him to take a concubine.
This is what Shen Zhiyi thinks from the bottom of her heart; her current life feels like a dream.
"What's wrong?"
Ji Huaizhi pulled her clothes a little tighter.
“I am now several months pregnant, and the baby in my womb is doing well, but Ji Lang has few heirs. I have thought about it for a long time…”
Ji Huaizhi paused.
His eyes darkened, and he straightened his clothes, placing them in his hands: "What have you been thinking about?"
As autumn deepened, Chen Zhiyi suddenly felt a chill, but still forced herself to speak:
"After much deliberation... the continuation of the family line cannot be neglected."
"So what does Zhiyi want to do?" Ji Huaizhi, dressed in a black robe, had dark, deep eyes that gleamed like a cold pool under the moonlight.
My fingertips gently touched the strands of hair at Shen Zhiyi's temple, feeling a slight coolness.
"I……"
"Jiro."
Shen Zhiyi felt that she was a little drunk.
The rest of the words were stuck in my throat and I couldn't get them out.
"Um?"
Shen Zhiyi spoke haltingly: "The matter of taking a concubine... is related to the prosperity of the family."
"You want me to take a concubine?"
Ji Huaizhi's gaze locked onto her, and a bitter feeling welled up in Shen Zhiyi's heart: "But my wife is pregnant, and I am worried about having an heir, so I took a concubine to increase the number of descendants."
Do you want me to take a concubine?
Ji Huaizhi stared intently at her, and Shen Zhiyi's hands tightened:
"Women should not be jealous. I will always remind myself to uphold the virtues of womanhood and will not have the slightest jealousy."
In this era of strict feudal ethics, a woman's jealousy was a taboo. Once touched, she would be scorned by everyone and lose her place in society.
Ji Huaizhi sighed softly and gently took her slender wrist: "Go back and rest as soon as possible."
"Zhiyi, you can be jealous."
"It's okay to be unhappy; these are normal human emotions. Under imperial power, one may not be able to control many things."
"But with me, you can always say no."
Shen Zhiyi walked a step behind, and upon hearing Ji Huaizhi's words, her heart felt as if it had been struck by something.
Looking at his tied-up long hair, a few strands hanging down beside his face added to his coldness.
It inspires awe and fear.
Lying flat on the bed, Shen Zhiyi was still thinking about what Ji Huaizhi had just said: "Under this imperial power, many things are beyond one's control."
But with me, you can always say no.
~
The Prime Minister sat at home with a sullen face. He hadn't expected that Ji Huaizhi would have some ability.
It all caught the emperor's eye.
Most importantly, he actually dragged the Minister of Revenue into the mess. He remembered the message the Minister of Revenue had sent, saying that the Emperor was currently investigating the accounts.
This will lead to a lot of trouble later on.
All of this is because of Ji Huaizhi.
When Jiang Xinyue heard that her father had returned, she wanted to go and talk to him.
She mainly wanted to complain to him that none of the men her family had arranged for her to marry had been to her liking.
Before she could even get there, her mother stopped her, saying, "Your father has important business to attend to right now, so don't go and cause trouble."
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