Chapter 1470: This is a BUG (Part 1) [Requesting Monthly Tickets]
“You can’t compare people to people, and you can’t compare temples to temples either,” Gu Chi sighed sincerely. Before the healers intervened, he hadn’t realized that something was off about the other temples’ indifferent behavior.
Looking at it now, nothing seems quite right.
"However, there are some things I just don't want to hear."
"You don't want to hear it?"
"I disagree with that statement about the high cost and energy required to train talent in the Temple of Medicine," Gu Chi said, pointing to himself. "I also studied hard for ten years. I won't go into details about studying diligently, but I still endured a lot of hardship. It's not like I was born knowing how to do it."
A physician is a treasure in the medical community, but he himself is just a weed?
He's had it tough too.
"...If Wangchao could also have a small exam every three days, a big exam every five days, a professional qualification exam every now and then, and be caught taking the college entrance exam in his dreams all the time...I think you would also be the darling of the temple."
Gu Chi's face turned green upon hearing this.
He waved his hand politely and declined, saying, "I would be very grateful."
It's hard to say that his colleagues were going to the front lines every day without the merit of the Ministry of Personnel's assessment, and that they received the benefit of being exempt from the exam when they went to the front lines to fight.
Gu Chi has been deeply involved in the Censorate for many years, partly because his scholarly way of life is a perfect fit for his profession. As a trusted minister of the emperor, he doesn't need anyone else's approval. Another reason is that the Ministry of Personnel cannot control the promotion and demotion of officials in the Censorate, which has its own internal evaluation standards.
Shen Tang was amused by his expression of being alive but barely alive.
"Is there some joyous occasion that makes the Lord so happy?" The voice first drifted in from outside the tent, followed by the sandalwood scent that seemed to permeate his very bones, and then Qin Li's handsome and mature face.
Ever since Kang Shi and Chu Yao both foretold the same bad news, the army's marching speed was as slow as a tortoise. Communication between the front and the rear was frequent, but no good news was received each time. After more than ten days of this stop-and-go marching, the army finally stepped out of the Yudi Mountains.
During this period, we encountered several small-scale probing ambushes, but fortunately, our side was well prepared and suffered no losses. However, the entire army was shrouded in an invisible pressure, like the dampness of being covered up in the rainy season, so heavy that it was hard to breathe.
It wasn't until he heard his lord's laughter that Qin Li felt as if the clouds had parted and the sun was shining through, a beam of golden sunlight shining directly in.
Shen Tang said, "Tu Nan's letter says that more than a thousand patients in Fengluo have recovered from their critical condition, and the Medical Bureau has made progress in understanding this epidemic."
Upon hearing this, Qin Li smiled and said, "This is indeed a joyous occasion."
Fengluo is one of the most populous and economically developed regions in Kang Kingdom, and countless efforts have been poured into its development since its founding. From the most basic urban construction to the defense of the city walls, nothing has been done with utmost care. It would be heartbreaking to see such a place devastated and abandoned.
Thankfully, God blesses Kangguo.
"Has the Lord conveyed any good news to Wu Hui?"
As long as it's not about praying for good, Qin Li still cares about his colleagues.
Chu Yao is under the most mental stress during this period.
That "a glimmer of hope" event was triggered passively again. It had been silent for several years, leading people to doubt its very existence. Now it was triggering daily, frequently displaying scenes of natural and man-made disasters in different regions. Chu Yao had lost a significant amount of weight in just over ten days.
His mental state visibly deteriorated.
No scholar could bear to use the ways of the literati every day.
If this continues, Chu Yao won't be able to hold on.
Shen Tang slapped his forehead and hurriedly dispatched a guard to run errands: "I just received the news here, and the heat hasn't even dissipated yet."
【A glimmer of hope after despair】was merely a glimpse into the future under the conditions of that time. Now, with Ning Yan overseeing the strict epidemic prevention measures in Kangguo and the medical department turning the tide, the future should have changed by now. Shen Tang looked on expectantly, but instead of Chu Yao, she saw her guards hurrying by.
"Where's Wu Hui? Why isn't he here?"
Shen Tang felt worried when she saw that the other person's expression was not right.
Uncharacteristically impatient, he couldn't wait for the guards' report and went to see Chu Yao himself. Upon arriving at Chu Yao's tent, he immediately smelled a strong, unpleasant medicinal odor: "What happened? Why did he drink medicine?"
I saw Chu Yao three days ago, and he didn't look this weak.
The medical team, who were packing their medicine kits, were trapped inside the tent. They couldn't hide it any longer and could only look to Chu Yao for help. Fortunately, Chu Yao came to their rescue, and Shen Tang forgot about everyone else as soon as he saw Chu Yao.
"Why are you getting up? Lie down now."
Chu Yao was halfway up the bed, supporting himself with both hands, when he was pressed down.
"Why are you so sick?"
Although they couldn't see each other every day in the camp, especially these past two days, with the army setting up camp and encampments, fearing that they might miss something and be caught off guard by the enemy, Shen Tang had only seen Chu Yao three or four days ago. The emperor and his minister had a brief meeting before going about their own business.
Chu Yao felt he wasn't ill enough to be impolite in front of the emperor, so he forced himself to sit up.
He said, "It's not an illness."
The frequent initiation of the scholar's way has merely depleted the literary spirit.
His intention was to appease Shen Tang, but he forgot that they had known each other for over a decade, and Shen Tang knew all too well whether he had lied or concealed anything from him. However, the young lord did not get angry; instead, his almond-shaped eyes drooped slightly, and his brows furrowed, revealing a hint of accusation.
It seems like he said nothing, but in reality, he said everything.
With Shen Tang's expression, who wouldn't feel uneasy?
Chu Yao couldn't help but say, "Alas, Yao doesn't want His Majesty to worry."
"If Wu Hui really didn't want me to worry, he should have told me instead of hiding it from me with the medical team. If I hadn't found out, would you still be so stubborn? Don't you know that seeing you like this suddenly scared my heart almost to stop?"
Chu Yao said, "Your Majesty, please be careful with your words."
Literary figures should speak with integrity and follow the law, and should also avoid prophecies.
Knowing he couldn't hide it any longer, Chu Yao had no choice but to confess.
"It's not necessarily a bad thing; it might even turn out to be a blessing in disguise."
"But you're so weak, how can you say you've turned misfortune into a blessing? You're not just trying to fool me." Shen Tang was still skeptical.
"It's not a lie, it's true."
Shen Tang vaguely guessed something: "Is it perfection?"
"Um."
Although only one in ten scholars can perfect the Way of the Scholar in their lifetime, having ten points of strength and talent is not enough, but also ninety points of luck is required. However, seeing his colleagues achieving perfection one by one, and even his two students—Lingde, who is cultivating two hundred thousand acres of land, having hope of crossing that threshold, and Yu Zi, who is even more determined to cross that threshold in one go—it is impossible for Chu Yao not to feel anxious at all.
He seizes any opportunity that comes his way.
"Why didn't you say so?" Shen Tang was no longer in a hurry, and was so happy she wanted to grin. "Is there anything I can do to help?"
If only it were like Tu Nan's.
She wouldn't feel at ease unless she kept a close eye on Chu Yao.
"The greatest help is that the Lord can rest assured."
The Lord is concerned about him, but how could he not be concerned about the Lord?
He hadn't told her beforehand because he didn't want Shen Tang to be distracted by his affairs. The Fengluo plague was already enough to trouble her; how could Chu Yao bear to make her worry about his perfect ceremony as well? After saying this, Chu Yao felt sleepy again, his eyelids feeling as heavy as if they were filled with lead.
An irresistible force pulled him toward unknown territory: "...The completion ceremony was in a dream...Forgive my rudeness..."
The more he spoke, the softer his voice became.
Finally, his head drooped, his upper body slumped forward, and he fell asleep immediately. Shen Tang didn't even have time to ask him a few more questions about the details.
"I wonder what kind of harsh ritual it was..."
Looking down at Chu Yao, whose eyes were bluish and who was half-resting on her lap, Shen Tang was worried and bent down to straighten his sleeping position.
“Since it’s a dream, then…”
She was considering whether to bring Gu Chi over.
"Has Gong Su not returned yet?"
He was so engrossed in his thoughts that he didn't notice Qin Li waiting for news outside the tent.
Qin Li did not answer, but instead turned his gaze toward Chu Yao's camp.
"Wu Hui said it was a completion ceremony assessment, but he fell asleep after only saying two words to me. I don't know how he is doing, or if it went smoothly." As she said this, Shen Tang's brows furrowed with worry.
Scholars possess varying abilities, and their rituals for achieving perfection differ greatly. Some are simple, while others may require a lifetime of effort without making any progress. Many more never even touch the threshold of perfection.
Chu Yao's long-cherished wish finally saw the light of day, and while Shen Tang was happy for him, she couldn't help but worry. The successful completion ceremony was fraught with immense risk; one wrong move could lead to utter ruin. There was only one Chu Wuhui in the world; if he were gone, where would Shen Tang find another?
Not everyone is like Mei Meng, who failed once but could try again, and even if she failed again, she could still survive. Most people are like Kang Shi and Yu Zi, where one defeat determines their fate. It's either a glorious end or a gruesome funeral.
"A completion ceremony? At this time?"
"Yes, it came suddenly."
As one of only two second-rank civil officials in the Kang Kingdom's court, and a model of early success, it's surprising that Chu Yao is only now beginning his completion ceremony. However, considering the more than ten years he wasted in between, it's understandable. It's just that the timing is not right; he's being held back by the ceremony at this particular moment.
The completion ceremony is too exhausting for scholars, and some scholars are even forcibly restricted in their strength during the assessment period, either weakened or reduced to ordinary people. In the midst of a chaotic battle between two armies, they are highly susceptible to friendly fire.
"I'm wondering if we should send Wu Hui back to China so he can focus on preparing for the final ceremony." Shen Tang fell asleep before she could discuss it with Chu Yao. "War can be fought anytime, but if he misses the ceremony, his life could be in danger..."
Chu Yao will be able to make it in time to complete the ceremony.
Qin Li: "Wu Hui will not agree."
Putting himself in his master's shoes, Qin Li would feel like he was deserting, betraying his lord's trust. Chu Yao seemed mild-mannered and emotionally stable, but thinking about his mastery of Word Magic, and his fierce, battle-hardened style... it was worse than killing him. Qin Li was certain of one thing: if his lord really did this, there was no way to appease him.
Shen Tang: "...It's because I'm worried that I've lost my composure."
She had the documents delivered directly to the adjacent tent.
She would stay here by herself so that she could react immediately if anything happened to Chu Yao. It would be more reassuring to keep an eye on him from nearby.
Gu Chi: "Doesn't the master look like a royal guard outside the delivery room?"
Waiting for Chu Yao's perfect birth ceremony.
Shen Tang retorted sarcastically: "If Wang Chao could also settle a score for justice, I would not only guard you, but also serve you for a full month."
"Why is it for him?"
Gu Chi looked disgusted. Although he had cleared up his misunderstanding with Luan Xin, the inertia of their years-long one-sided enmity had not disappeared. Luan Gongyi still disliked Gu Chi the most, and Gu Chi did not like to fawn over someone who was cold to him.
"Justice benefits."
As long as a colleague works hard to perfect a scholar's path, his completion ritual will progress by 1. Isn't that all for him?
Gu Chi feignedly wiped away non-existent tears with his sleeve, and said in a high-pitched, affected voice, "...I do want to live up to expectations, but unfortunately my body is crippled and damaged, and my relationship with justice is like a tragic mess. Rather than forcing myself, I should encourage my colleagues."
Shen Tang: "..."
She can't outwit Gu Chi's sharp tongue.
Gu Chi suddenly became serious: "It seems like it's going to be a difficult birth."
He said it with difficulty.
No one knew better than him how important Chu Yao was to Shen Tang. If anything happened to Chu Yao, even Qi Shan couldn't stop him.
"Wangchao, don't scare me." Shen Tang stared intently at Gu Chi, trying to find evidence that he was talking nonsense. She didn't even notice the ink-soaked pen tip spreading a black mark the size of a bean on the corner of the memorial. She seemed to be comforting herself, "I believe in Wu Hui's abilities."
Chu Yao has always been steady and reliable.
Over the years, I've been constantly researching the concept of "a glimmer of hope after despair," simulating various assessment questions for the successful completion ceremony. With so much preparation and countless predicted questions, surely one of them will be somewhat relevant?
“It is precisely because we believe in Wu Hui that we are certain that the birth will be difficult.” Gu Chi said this to prepare Shen Tang mentally. “Among the literary scholars of the second rank recorded in history, none were mediocre. Each scholar had their own strengths in the way of the scholar. Doesn’t Your Majesty think that [A Glimmer of Hope] is too mediocre and weak in this regard?”
A scholar's path that is not controlled by the scholar's subjective will and is passively triggered is rare, and the future it foretells is still vague, making it inferior even to Cui Mi. This might not be a problem for an ordinary scholar, but it seems quite inappropriate for Chu Yao.
The reputation is well-deserved, but the reality is often unworthy of it.
Even if Chu Yao didn't have the support of a powerful scholar, he could still reach the top, but compared to others, it would still be more difficult, wouldn't it?
Strength and weakness do have an impact on Chu Yao.
Shen Tang: "..."
He couldn't find a rebuttal for a moment.
Even though Shen Tang never cared, she had to admit that Chu Yao's scholarly ways were indeed somewhat lacking compared to his talent and strength. Gu Chi then reminded him, "Think about your virtue."
Lin Feng's completion ceremony is arguably the most difficult known, as the implicit condition behind it is the unification of the continent, making it even more challenging than Luan Xin's. Similarly, as a second-rank upper-level scholar, Chu Yao's completion ceremony will not be any less difficult.
Even if it's not difficult at the beginning, Chu Yao's obsession will increase the difficulty of the completion ceremony—because Chu Yao is so eager to help Shen Tang complete the great cause of unification, his subconscious yearning will amplify his desire.
The stronger this longing, the greater the variables it will bring.
"My lord, be prepared."
Shen Tang revealed a rare stern expression: "Wang Chao!"
She tried to calm herself down: "I believe him."
When it rains, it pours; when the boat is late, it gets caught in a headwind.
Before Shen Tang could fully calm down and gather her thoughts, a messenger arrived with news that Kang Jishou was requesting an audience. Shen Tang rubbed her temples and said, "Let him come. Hopefully, it's not bad news."
The messenger hesitated: "The strategist requests your presence."
Shen Tang: "..."
She could only leave the matter to Gu Chi for the time being.
"Why aren't you going over there?" Shen Tang thought Kang Shi was being mysterious and wanted her to see someone, but when she went over, she found that he was alone. Although the message he was reporting was important, it wasn't extremely urgent.
Kang Shi said sheepishly, "Isn't it because I'm afraid?"
He also worried that his luck would affect his colleagues.
Normally, it's fine if he's just a plague carrier; he hasn't really killed anyone over the years. But things are different now. What if he manages to cause something serious to Chu Yao? Our lord would skin him alive! Just to be on the safe side, it's best to stay away from Kang Shi.
Shen Tang: "..."
"...There's no need for that."
She was worried about Wu Hui, but she wouldn't take her anger out on the innocent.
Kangshi doesn't need to be so cautious.
"...Wu Hui's current situation is somewhat similar to mine back then. Has Wang Chao noticed anything amiss?"
(_)
After a nine-hour high-speed train journey, I feel like my butt is going to break.
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