Chapter 1313: You're Asking a Question (Part 2) [Requesting Monthly Tickets]
Who are you? Why are you here?
Xiang Zhao came over to work as usual.
Stepping into the tent, she keenly sensed something was amiss.
Before she could retreat, a dark shadow flashed past in her peripheral vision, and she instinctively reached for the sword hilt. In order to give Xiang Zhao some self-defense in the chaotic world, her great-grandfather had taught her martial arts. Her swordsmanship was not exquisite, but it was enough to deal with ordinary petty thieves. The moment her fingertips touched the decoration on the hilt, her wrist suddenly lost all feeling, replaced by a tingling sensation of electric current!
My right wrist was choked, and my waist was pinched.
Xiang Zhao felt goosebumps rise on his skin and broke out in a cold sweat on his back.
Luan Xin's camp was also heavily guarded, making it difficult for a stranger to sneak in unless they were highly skilled or had an inside accomplice. In an instant, countless guesses flashed through Xiang Zhao's mind, but his most pressing concern was ensuring his own safety.
The newcomer's voice was not as deep as a man's, but more like a woman's: "That's the question I should be asking you: Who are you?"
Upon hearing the response, Xiang Zhao breathed a sigh of relief.
The fact that the other party answered voluntarily instead of killing him basically rules out the possibility that he is a remnant of a destroyed southwestern state. There is no murderous intent in his words, so he is probably not a spy who infiltrated to steal secrets. He is most likely from the Kang Kingdom camp: "I am a civil official by Luan Shi's side."
Currently, he is cultivating under this identity, following Luan Xin's side.
"Never seen him before, a complete stranger."
The newcomer released the restraints, but still carefully drew Xiang Zhao's sword and tossed it aside, his eyes fixed on Xiang Zhao's movements.
"Also, why do you call him Master Luan?"
Xiang Zhao turned around and retreated, only then seeing the appearance of the person who had come.
This was a young man dressed in coarse linen clothes, with his hair styled in the simplest bun, dressed as a wandering knight. Perhaps because he didn't take good care of himself, his eyebrows were somewhat messy, unlike those of an ordinary woman who would have carefully groomed them. In addition, he was tall, and at first glance, it was easy to mistake him for a handsome man.
"Master Luan taught me, imparted knowledge, and resolved my doubts. What's wrong with addressing me like this? But what are you doing here, sneaking around like this?"
The woman said, "Come back and wait for your work report."
Xiang Zhao: "..."
Luan Xin was indeed the Minister of Personnel.
But Xiang Zhao couldn't help but recall the sky outside the tent; not even the first light of dawn had appeared on the horizon: "Reporting on duty? Now?"
The woman said, "If you don't come, I'll sleep in the wilderness for another night?"
She arrived half a day late, and the army had already broken camp and moved on to the next location. By the time they caught up, it was already the first half of the night. After going through the procedures and verifying their identities, it dragged on until the second half of the night. She had nowhere to sleep, so she simply came here to wait for others.
Luan Xin's daily routine is the same as that of a seventy- or eighty-year-old man.
I felt bad for arguing with him.
He had intended to find a straw mat to make do for half a day, but in his half-asleep state, he noticed someone sneaking around. His immediate reaction was that a thief had arrived. There were no enemies or fighting nearby, and everyone who was supposed to be asleep was already asleep. Luan Gongyi's schedule didn't allow him to wander around at night, much less send anyone to fetch something.
The woman then grabbed the man and demanded to know what had happened.
"You say you are a student of Luan Gong?"
Those unfamiliar with Luan Xin might perceive him as taciturn and seemingly mild-mannered, yet actually aloof and unapproachable, inspiring awe. However, those who spend more time with him discover that he is simply slow to react and treats everyone the same.
Oh, except for the Grand Censor of the Censorate.
Because of this flaw, it's almost impossible for him to take on apprentices on his own initiative.
Wouldn't he drive any student with a more impatient temperament crazy?
Miao Shu back then, and later she, were almost all forced to become his students. She was passive in accepting students, and the communication between teachers and students was as concise as possible. If they could take action, they would never use words—ineffective communication would waste a lot of his precious time.
result--
Another student has appeared?
She was also a female student.
The woman still harbored doubts, and Xiang Zhao also questioned her identity: "Why didn't you go to the Ministry of Personnel in the capital to report on your duties? Why did you come here?"
"The capital is too far away. Why go the long way when there is a shortcut?"
The woman sounded a little guilty when she said this.
She was supposed to meet Shen Tang as soon as her mission was accomplished, but on the way, she intervened in a few minor matters, killed a few foolish thieves, and took two detours. What should have been a journey in a few days was delayed by her for more than two months.
"If what you say is true, then I consider you half a fellow disciple."
"Are you also a student of Professor Luan?"
"Halfway." After the misunderstanding was cleared up, the woman found Xiang Zhao much more agreeable. Knowing that she had come early on purpose, her enthusiasm for learning made her even more likable. "If there is an opportunity, it would be best if you could stay at the academy for a couple of years in the future."
She was curious about how Xiang Zhao became Luan Xin's apprentice.
Becoming a disciple of Ning Shizhong would be more suitable.
Putting everything else aside, there's a natural advantage to transferring to a college. Attending college also allows you to meet many classmates, which will provide more connections and opportunities, whether you pursue a career in government or roam the world.
Xiang Zhao took note of the woman's advice.
"May I ask how the Lady is addressed?"
"Miao Ne, Miao Ximin, you probably haven't heard of me." She wasn't officially employed, and when she had duties, she reported directly to her superiors. While she enjoyed freedom, the disadvantages were quite obvious. She wondered how much reward she would receive for her achievements this time. If possible, she wanted to request an imperial decree for her mother. This was one of the reasons she had come specifically to report to Lord Luan—to privately gauge his opinion.
In Kangguo, the number of people who could receive a noble title could be counted on one hand, and more than half of them were former enemies of the emperor. Conferring titles was mostly a means of appeasement and reward, to stabilize the people's hearts. For this reason, Miao Ne hadn't even considered a formal imperial decree; a simple imperial edict would suffice.
If Luan Gong had spoken well of himself, his chances of success would have been much greater.
Xiang Zhao was unaware of the myriad thoughts swirling in her mind.
"You're Senior Sister Ximin?"
"You've heard of me?"
"Master Luan mentioned it by chance yesterday."
Miao Ne was carefree and unrestrained, even somewhat rough around the edges. She would shirk any task she could find, and was not the type of person who would settle down to serve as an official in the court. Xiang Zhao, on the other hand, was the opposite extreme. The only one who could strike a balance between the two was Miao Shu, who had passed away many years ago.
Unfortunately, Miao Shu has a fatal flaw: she is not kind-hearted.
If she were to enter officialdom, it would be a disaster for the region.
Luan Xin didn't say much to Xiang Zhao, only mentioning Miao Ne's talent and temperament, implying that she didn't need to be so pressured, and that she could do just as well as Miao Ne. Moreover, Miao Ne was Luan Shi's youngest daughter's first teacher. If they met, they would definitely get along well.
Xiang Zhao: "..."
Master Luan's judgment was wrong.
They only realized their personalities clashed when they actually met.
They looked at each other blankly, with absolutely no desire to communicate.
When Luan Xin arrived at his shift just in time, he saw this strange scene: two young people of similar age were sitting in opposite corners, their bodies almost completely separated.
After he joined, the three of them—teacher and student—remained silent.
Fortunately, Miao Ne had written her performance report in advance.
Ordinary officials' performance reports are usually described as "piles," but Miao Ne's was a small, palm-sized document with no more than a hundred words at most, concise and to the point, fully taking into account Luan Xin's shortcomings. Luan Xin read it quickly and closed it.
"You've worked hard these past few years. Is there anything you want?" For this job, she almost went from being single to married, making a considerable sacrifice.
"I want to request an imperial decree for my mother."
Xiang Zhao, who was standing to the side, almost thought he was hallucinating.
Isn't their communication a bit too direct?
Luan Xin pondered for a moment: "This matter shouldn't be difficult."
With Luan Xin's words, Miao Ne's anxious heart returned to normal. Luan Xin was in charge of the entire Ministry of Personnel; if he said there was no problem, then the matter was basically 90% certain. Luan Xin had to remind her of another matter: "Let's leave that aside for now, but there's something you need to be careful about. The former Qi State Cui clan has submitted to the royal court. Although their power is not what it used to be, with Shan Xiao and a few others around, they won't be completely forgotten. If you go to court this time, your identity will be exposed sooner or later..."
"What does Luan Gong mean?"
"I plan to send you to a lower-level post for a few years to gain experience." Kangguo has conquered vast territories by force, and right now they have no shortage of personnel. It won't be difficult to secure an official position for Miao Ne. "It would be best to place her far away from the Cui family's influence, for maximum safety. After a few years, either Cui Xiong will be settled down and have a family, or you will have risen through the ranks. Even if the Cui family knows it's you, they won't be able to do anything about it..."
This time can be shortened even further.
Kangguo is currently experiencing frequent wars.
With the war in the southwest over, there is an opportunity in the central region as well.
Miao Ne said awkwardly, "But... I don't really want to go to court."
Requesting an imperial decree does not mean she wants to enter officialdom.
“If you don’t enter the court, you’ll remain a commoner. What can you do if the Cui family puts pressure on you or your relatives and colleagues in the future? Entering the court and proving your own faith are not contradictory. You might as well reconsider.” Having a formal position won’t prevent you from continuing to work for the lord.
Miao Ne said, "Cui Xiong shouldn't be that bad."
It's better to part amicably. There's no need to be so petty.
"He won't, but what about Cui Zhishan? What about Cui Shanxiao? Cui Shanxiao is from the Censorate; if he has even the slightest problem with you, he can make you suffer." Official business is official business, and personal grudges are personal grudges. Who says working for someone means there won't be any conflicts?
Is Miao Ne more important, or is her own grandson more important?
Luan Xin's words might be an exaggeration, but they were indeed for Miao Ne's sake. Life is long; who knows what the political situation will be like in the future? Even those who share the same ideals may turn against each other, and even blood relatives may turn against each other. Miao Ne may not have the heart to kill, but he cannot be without the ability to protect himself. Luan Xin had discussed the matter of sending Miao Ne to court with Shen Tang long ago, and the emperor had also agreed.
Miao Ne scratched her disheveled hair.
He hesitated, then said, "Let me think about it some more."
They said they'd think about it some more, but they didn't really consider it for long.
She was curious about where Luan Xin wanted to send her.
Luan Xin gave her three options.
Xiang Zhao's heart pounded as he watched from the side. Could they even choose from this?
Miao Ne took it out of curiosity, but the moment she saw the location, the smile on her lips froze: "These three weird places?"
Calling it a ghost town is an exaggeration.
The difficulty level was set right from the start, making me suspect that someone was trying to sabotage her.
How can a good place produce political achievements?
Luan Xin could try to secure her a good position, but going there would only lead to wasted time and a uneventful term. It would be nearly impossible for her to achieve any outstanding results and receive a high evaluation from the Ministry of Personnel; she might even be downgraded for being too mediocre. On the other hand, in places with poor economies and populations, doing well could lead to remarkable success and a much more secure path to promotion.
Since Miao Ne had no interest in the Cui family, he could only pursue a distant career in officialdom.
Go further, have more freedom.
It's always better to choose someone than to be chosen by someone else.
Miao Ne thought for a moment and chose the one that was relatively advantageous to her.
"This place?" Luan Xin was not very satisfied.
This was the place he least favored out of the three options.
Miao Ne said, "We were classmates in Lin County."
When did your classmate take office?
"Four years ago?"
"He took office four years ago? He would have been transferred long ago."
Miao Ne smiled and said, "I know, but even if they are transferred, they will definitely leave behind some familiar people. I can ask someone to help make connections, saving me the trouble of choosing trustworthy people."
As I said before, the number of official personnel is limited.
Some clerks in the local government offices were not on the official payroll, and the royal court only covered part of their salaries, with the local officials having to make up the rest themselves.
Miao Ne went to her classmates to borrow people, which not only saved her money but also eliminated the talent assessment process, allowing the business to operate as soon as the people were in place.
"That being said, we shouldn't rely on it too much."
When officials are transferred, they usually take their trusted confidants with them to their next post. Those who don't take them are either locals, have already settled down in the area, or have other flaws in character or ability... With so many of these seasoned veterans, it's hard to say who's in charge in the entire government office.
If Miao Ne is going, she should bring her own people with her.
Luan Xin, as her teacher, promised her fifty private retainers.
Miao Ne almost choked on her saliva.
"Absolutely not, one should not accept rewards without merit."
"We also have a teacher-student relationship. What does it mean to say that one should not accept a reward without merit? Should a teacher expect the student to have done something in return for what they give to the student?"
Miao Ne knew that Luan Xin disliked refusing, so she had no choice but to accept it.
There is an embarrassing problem that urgently needs to be solved.
"I'm afraid we can't afford to support these fifty people..." Those wealthy wandering knights are mostly rich kids who follow the latest trends and are exceptions. Most wandering knights are penniless, poor for generations. Luan Xin gave them away; she could accept them, but she couldn't afford to support them.
"You're mine now that I'm giving you away, why should I support you?"
Luan Xin's quick response made Miao Ne wonder—was it because Luan Xin himself could barely afford to support her, that he was dumping her on him?
Probably not. The Minister of Personnel can lack anything but money.
Luan Xin was understanding of her: "Go ask the Lord for some later."
Miao Ne was almost moved to tears.
If we still can't afford to raise them—
Then we can only try to rob the rich to help the poor.
Xiang Zhao looked at the two of them and was filled with emotion.
Let alone a master and disciple, even a biological father and daughter wouldn't have arranged things so meticulously by Luan Xin. Having spent the last few days with him, she had assumed Master Luan was naturally taciturn, but now it seemed that wasn't entirely true. Just then, Miao Ne patted her shoulder, jolting her back to reality.
"Does Senior Sister have any instructions?"
"Would you like to come to me once you've cultivated your literary talent? You should read ten thousand books and travel ten thousand miles." She didn't know Xiang Zhao, but she knew Luan Xin and trusted his standards for accepting disciples. Xiang Zhao was also her fellow disciple, so wasn't she more trustworthy than an outsider?
That place is not in the southwest region.
It was an exclave of Kangguo in the central region.
Enclaves are difficult to manage, and with Kangguo fighting against the Southwest Allied Forces, the Central Region also wants to get rid of this thorn in its side.
Miao Ne chose this location, which was very difficult and risky.
Xiang Zhao hesitated for a moment and looked at Luan Xin.
She wanted to know if Miao Ne had instructed him to say those words.
To bring Xiang Zhao under one's wing is to essentially bring along a bound Gongyang Yongye. Even the nineteenth-rank Marquis of Guannei has passed through; no matter how much this powerful figure tries to slack off, this tiny enclave won't produce anyone capable of overthrowing him. This move is quite cunning.
As it turns out, Miao Ne was simply lucky.
Uェ*U
In the next chapter, the new ruler of the Qi Kingdom in the southwest will be taken offline, and the chaotic war in the central region will begin.
Some scholars in the central region have special abilities that can counter high-level martial artists (equivalent to forcibly lowering the upper limit of the strength of martial artists on the battlefield), but if Xiang Zhao is there, they can basically be rendered useless.
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