"Yes, all of this happened faster than I expected. Given the current situation, I have no choice but to accept the imperial decree."
"You...you really want to become an official for Da Gan?"
With a hint of pleading and resentment in her eyes, Zhou Wan'er bit her lip and asked Sun Jian.
Sun Jian remained silent, simply staring blankly at the girl, without rushing to reply.
Perhaps realizing she had misspoke, Zhou Wan'er quickly corrected herself, "What I meant was, is it really necessary for you to become an official? The imperial court is a den of dragons and tigers, I... I'm worried about your safety."
"Oh? Are you just worried about my safety?"
Sun Jian smiled and asked tentatively.
"Then...what else?"
Zhou Wan'er pouted.
Sun Jian understood what Zhou Wan'er was thinking. Her concern for him was genuine, but as a princess of the Great Zhou, she was probably more afraid that the Great Zhou would be threatened.
However, her identity has not yet been revealed, and there are some things Sun Jian cannot tell her directly.
Sun Jian tried to pat Zhou Wan'er's head, but Zhou Wan'er stepped back and dodged him.
Sun Jian sighed and said to Zhou Wan'er, "Wan'er, you should understand that there is no better choice right now. The road of defying the imperial decree and fleeing is too risky. I cannot joke with your lives."
"But……"
Zhou Wan'er wanted to say something more, but at that moment the honor guard had already stopped at the door of Sun Jian's house.
"They're here!"
Sun Jian's gaze sharpened, and he turned to look.
As the courtyard gate creaked open, the guards of honor entered and stood on both sides.
An old eunuch dressed in a purple dragon-patterned official robe, holding a whisk, strode in with a serious and dignified expression.
On either side of him followed a group of eunuchs, their backs hunched, heads bowed, and hands clasped over their abdomens.
The imperial envoy, accompanied by Magistrate Wang and officials including Wang Youren, entered from outside the door.
Sun Jian originally wanted to go up and greet Magistrate Wang and Wang Youren, and exchange a few pleasantries, but the old eunuch did not give him the opportunity.
"Is this Sun Jian's house? Are you Sun Jian?"
The old eunuch entered the gate, first looked around the courtyard wall, and then solemnly asked Sun Jian a question.
"That is indeed me."
Sun Jian also showed courtesy, bowing and clasping his hands in greeting.
After confirming Sun Jian's identity, the old eunuch first stared at him up and down with a smirk, a hint of malice flashing in his eyes, but he said nothing more.
"Since it is Sun Jian, then kneel down to receive the imperial decree."
The eunuch, acting impartially, was watched by everyone in the ceremonial guard. Not daring to delay, he raised his voice and announced loudly, "Imperial edict has arrived. Sun Jian, a commoner of Hongnong County, receives the edict."
Upon hearing this, everyone's expressions turned solemn, and both Magistrate Wang and the imperial envoy knelt down.
Chu Qingcheng and Gu Zijian also rushed out of the room one after another, stood behind Sun Jian, and knelt on the ground with their husband.
"This humble subject, Sun Jian, accepts the imperial decree."
Despite feeling extremely uncomfortable kneeling on the ground, Sun Jian had no choice but to follow the procedure.
"By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: Sun Jian, a commoner from Hongnong County, is quick-witted, studious, exceptionally intelligent, and highly talented. He has rendered meritorious service in protecting the Emperor and is capable of undertaking great responsibilities, which greatly pleases the Emperor. Therefore, Sun Jian is granted the title of Jinshi and hereby appointed as the Crown Prince's Tutor. This is the imperial decree! The tenth year of Qianwu, the month of Yiyou, the day of Wushen."
"ah?"
After the old eunuch finished reading the imperial edict, Sun Jian was stunned.
What is all this stuff?
He could understand any boast that he was quick-witted, eager to learn, exceptionally intelligent, and highly knowledgeable.
After all, it was an imperial edict, a reason to silence gossip, and since the news came from Governor Yao, it wasn't unreasonable for the Emperor to know some of his affairs.
But where the hell did the merit of protecting the emperor come from?
When have I ever protected someone? I did get into a fight once, though!
This is utterly baffling!
Moreover, if I were to become the Crown Prince's tutor, wouldn't that just mean I would be accompanying the Crown Prince in his studies?
Holy crap! This is a tough job, how can I refuse?
I originally thought I would at least be given a prefecture to govern, but instead I was asked to accompany the Crown Prince to study.
Judging from this, Emperor Ganwu wanted to cultivate a direct line of power for his son.
Seeing that Sun Jian was lost in thought and remained motionless for a long time, the old eunuch reminded him, "Congratulations, Reader Sun, receive the imperial decree."
Sun Jian immediately realized what was happening and hurriedly accepted the imperial edict with both hands, saying, "Sun Jian accepts the edict."
After the imperial edict was delivered, Sun Jian and his three wives stood up. Except for Zhou Wan'er, who looked displeased, the others were all beaming with joy.
Magistrate Wang and Wang Youren strode forward and patted Sun Jian on the shoulder. "Congratulations, sir, or rather, I should now address you as Reader Sun."
"That sounds too awful. Please just call me Sun Jian or Mr. Sun."
"Please don't make fun of me."
"This tutor to the crown prince is not even a rank nine, he doesn't even have an official position, what's there to congratulate him on?"
Wang Youren said, "Hey, sir, you can't say that. Although the Crown Prince's tutor is not a high-ranking official and has no official rank, his salary is comparable to that of a fourth-rank official."
"Moreover, no one has ever dared to offend the Crown Prince's tutor in any dynasty. After all, he is a trusted confidant of the future dynasty and a key minister in the prince's residence. The current emperor's arrangement shows that he intends to cultivate the Crown Prince's power. Your future is limitless."
"Indeed! With your wisdom and intelligence assisting the future ruler of our Great Gan, I'm afraid that in just a few years, Great Gan will become unprecedentedly powerful!"
Listening to the two people congratulating him one after the other, Sun Jian was not so optimistic.
He then sighed and complained, "Sigh, if the Crown Prince is well-behaved, it's fine, but if he's a spoiled brat with a bad temper, always making me take the blame and giving me attitude, then I'm in big trouble."
"Sir, please be careful with your words!"
Upon hearing Sun Jian's words, Magistrate Wang trembled in fright and quickly stepped forward to cover Sun Jian's mouth, looking around nervously.
Wang Youren was in no better shape; he was so frightened by Sun Jian's words that sweat beaded on his forehead.
He really dares to say that...
If someone with ulterior motives were to hear what I just said, it would be considered a grave crime of disobedience, at the very least.
Seeing how cautious and nervous the two old men were, Sun Jian shrugged indifferently and thought to himself.
What's wrong with that?
Look how scared you are.
I was just about to say that since I'm serving as the Crown Prince's tutor, if the Crown Prince becomes a spoiled brat and disobedient, I have plenty of ways to punish him.
"Sir, you must be careful in everything you do when you serve as an official in Kyoto. If someone with ulterior motives hears your words just now, you might lose your life."
Magistrate Wang whispered something in Sun Jian's ear.
"knew."
Sun Jian shook his head with a wry smile.
He's not stupid; he knows what he should and shouldn't say.
"Sir, we'll catch up later. Please take this..."
As he spoke, Magistrate Wang took out two large silver ingots from his pouch and stuffed them into Sun Jian's arms.
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