Chapter 25 The Ancient Scholar Used as Cannon Fodder (Part 25) The next day, ...
The following day, the 26th of the twelfth lunar month, the emperor, who had been busy all year, was finally able to take his annual leave. On this day, he would seal his brush and seal the imperial seal, and would not resume writing and sealing the seal again until the celebration on the first day of the Lunar New Year.
Royal affairs are matters of great importance to the entire nation, so the sealing of the imperial pen naturally required a sense of ceremony. The emperor would lead his ministers to the Temple of Heaven to burn incense and offer sacrifices, paying homage to the gods of heaven and earth.
In any world, there will always be people who like to join in the fun. The imperial procession is majestic, and naturally, some daring commoners will want to catch a glimpse of it so they can brag about it to others later.
They couldn't get close to the procession, but they could watch from a distance. When the procession passed by, they could even kowtow to the emperor from afar. Looking back, that was an experience they could boast about.
Chu Nanfeng had brought Lin You here to broaden his horizons, but the moment he saw the emperor, a system notification suddenly sounded.
[Ding! Main quest: Encounter the Emperor within three days and gain 2 points of favorability. Completed. Reward: 10 points.]
[Ding! Main quest: Obtain the Emperor's praise within ten days, gain 3 points of favorability. Success rewards 20 points; failure has no penalty.]
"This kind of random encounter, where we didn't even see each other clearly and had no interaction whatsoever, is considered a chance meeting? And affection level and chance meeting are two separate tasks? No wonder it's a beta version, this bug is just too much to bear!"
Lin You was so amazed by the magical operation of that cheat code that she was almost incoherent, uttering several words that Chu Nanfeng had never heard before.
Chu Nanfeng was also somewhat surprised, but quickly accepted it and comforted Lin You, saying, "It doesn't matter how you calculate it, as long as you can complete the task, that's good enough. Just write these down, sister."
During the sacrificial rites at the Temple of Heaven, not only the emperor and his ministers were present, but also Taoist priests who presided over the ceremonies, performed rituals, and chanted scriptures. Ordinary people were naturally not allowed to approach.
Lin You was also someone who loved to join in the fun. Looking at the various offerings and the Taoist priests dancing rhythmically, she wanted to get closer and watch.
But after taking only a few steps, she was called back. Even though he couldn't see Lin You's movements, Chu Nanfeng accurately guessed her plan.
"With you and Han Qige in this world, it's hard to predict whether heaven, earth, ghosts, and gods will exist. Sister, it's best not to get too close."
But Lin You always felt that what Chu Nanfeng really wanted to say was: Sister, your Taoist skills are not good enough. Stay away from Taoists, or you might end up being taken away by someone who thinks you're a female ghost.
Lin You reluctantly agreed. To prevent her from sneaking off, Chu Nanfeng led her away from there and found a teahouse, where he listened to storytelling while chatting with her.
"Sister, are the points for my 'golden finger' the same as the points you earned from buying things before?" Chu Nanfeng asked knowingly.
When asked about the scope of business, Lin You answered very seriously, "Your Golden Finger points can only be used to buy things in the Golden Finger Mall. My points are system points, which can be used to shop in the system mall or exchanged for Golden Finger points."
Lin You checked the exchange rate and added, "One system point can be exchanged for one hundred Golden Finger points."
Chu Nanfeng ordered a pot of tea and several servings of snacks, and even specially chose some desserts that are not commonly seen outside.
The waiter quickly brought over tea, and a little while later, he brought over a tray with four delicate porcelain dishes on it, all of which looked very exquisite.
Small and delicate butterfly pastries layered on top of each other, crystal clear water chestnut cake drizzled with honey, golden-fried red bean spring rolls, and milk skin jelly cut into small squares and coated with a layer of icing sugar.
Lin You looked at the pastries and instantly lost her interest in watching the excitement. The pastries here were much prettier than those at the food stalls outside, but the prices were double, which was a bit expensive.
Chu Nanfeng picked up a butterfly pastry and put it in his mouth. The butterfly pastry was not big, and he could eat it in one bite. With a gentle bite, the pastry crumbled in his mouth, filling it with a sweet and fragrant aroma.
He took another sip of tea before continuing to ask Lin You, "Can I exchange these points I've earned for system points?"
"If it's the official version, it should work. This is just a trial version of the cheat code, so it can't be redeemed," Lin You replied after checking the details of the points system.
Listening to her intermittent answers, Chu Nanfeng knew that she had just looked it up, and he couldn't help but feel a headache coming on.
My sister doesn't have much to do usually, and she doesn't even need to sleep, so why isn't she willing to read these rules more carefully?
To help Lin You better understand the rules, Chu Nanfeng continued, "If Han Qige hadn't died, would the mission have remained unfinished indefinitely?"
This question stumped Lin You. When she was recruited by the company, the interviewer had said that they were a civilized, harmonious, fair, and law-abiding company.
There shouldn't be a situation where you absolutely have to kill someone to complete the mission.
Lin You spent a long time studying the rules before she finally understood, "If Han Qige hadn't died, he would have been a variable and might have continued to frame you, which is why there was a mission progress notification after his death."
Lin You looked at the system's numerous detailed terms and conditions, frowned, and tried to summarize: "If he continues to live, as long as you are wary of him after you reach the first rank, and his position cannot threaten you, the mission can be considered complete."
Chu Nanfeng toyed with the teacup in his hand, his brows furrowed slightly, and asked in a seemingly calm tone, "After completing the mission, will Sister be leaving?"
Lin You was taken aback by the question. She had only been here for less than half a year and always felt that there was still a long time before the mission was completed. She hadn't really paid attention to this question before.
"I...I'll check it out." Lin You's tone was somewhat dazed, and it took her a while to open the system page again.
Chu Nanfeng's somewhat gloomy mood vanished instantly, replaced by a feeling of helplessness. Why did she need to check on the spot for something so important?
Shouldn't this crucial information have been figured out on the very first day?
After two different stories had been told, Lin You finally spoke up: "The system will leave after all missions are completed."
"All missions?" Chu Nanfeng suddenly looked up. "Does that include the favorability missions for this cheat system?"
"Yes, but the cheat system can abandon the quests, while the main quests only end after they are completed or failed," Lin You explained.
The "Golden Finger" quest is a one-time event. Whether you abandon it or fail, you cannot accept it again.
"Bravo!" Chu Nanfeng shouted along with the cheers for the storyteller, clapping his hands vigorously and laughing heartily.
This was the first time Lin You had ever seen him show his emotions like this, and she couldn't help but smile. It's always a good thing to have friends who care about you.
Chu Nanfeng, now in high spirits, has developed a new hobby: he asks questions related to the mission from various angles. Lin You frantically searches for answers in the system rules, her head spinning with frustration.
At first, she thought Chu Nanfeng genuinely wanted to understand the mission, but as the questions became increasingly absurd, Lin You realized that he was simply asking questions.
After all, the question of "whether the mission would be considered complete if Chu Nanfeng became a first-rank official in another country" would never happen in reality!
As a system, Lin You is clearly stipulated in the employee handbook to answer any questions raised by the task recipients regarding the task in a serious manner!
Chu Zaizai must be some kind of lotus root spirit reincarnated; he's got a mind of his own. I wonder how he figured out I had to answer every question.
Chu Nanfeng kept asking questions until late at night, when Lin You finally interrupted him in exasperation, "Chu Zai Zai, that's enough! Go to sleep now, we're moving tomorrow, be careful you won't be able to get out of bed!"
At this time, Xie Zian was still awake at the Marquis of Nanping's residence. He was squatting on the roof of his house, his mind full of worries. Tomorrow was the appointed day, so why hadn't Brother Chu sent me an invitation?
Xu Wuchen looked up and saw him squatting there motionless, seemingly planning to spend the night there, before calling out, "Young Master, is this what you've been waiting for?"
The young master Xie spotted the invitation in his hand, nimbly flipped down from the roof, and snatched it away.
He opened it and saw that it was indeed Brother Chu's handwriting. He couldn't help but ask, "How did this invitation end up in your hands?"
“Because I’m included too.” Xu Wuchen took out another invitation. “The document for organizing the invitations was sent to me yesterday.”
Xie Zian's eyes widened as he protested, "Why were my posts sent there too?"
Xu Wuchen clicked his tongue twice, "I already sent this to your study a long time ago. I saw you were waiting so long that you couldn't eat or drink, so I had to go and find it for you."
The study? Among that mess of invitations and visiting cards?
Xie Zian couldn't understand why Brother Chu would hand his invitation to the gatekeeper!
They chatted for so long yesterday afternoon, but Brother Chu didn't mention it once.
Xu Wuchen gestured with his lip, indicating that he should look at the invitation. The first sentence on it read, "I trouble my friend to select the date on my behalf."
Xie Zian slammed the invitation shut, turned around, and went back into the room: "Time to sleep!"
The Chu family didn't have much property to begin with; most of their belongings were acquired after arriving in the capital and were simply placed at their new residence. So, they didn't need to move anything on the day of their housewarming.
Xie Zian and Xu Wuchen arrived early, each bringing a gift that wasn't particularly expensive but had auspicious meanings. Qian Youcai was more practical, and it was rare for him to show any appreciation to Chu Nanfeng, so he directly gave a red envelope containing ninety-nine taels of silver.
Chu's mother led Chu Qing and Qian Duoduo to a table of food in the backyard. Chu Qing naturally added an extra stool and a set of chopsticks.
Qian Duoduo was familiar with her and knew of Lin You's existence, so she wasn't surprised. The little girl had been with Chu Qing for so long and could already eat by herself. The three of them ate happily.
Lin You smiled and sat with them for a while. To show that she had been there, she even placed a mint next to Chu Qing.
This was the first time Chu Qing had clearly sensed her presence. She happily put away the candy, her eyes crinkling with a smile.
The atmosphere among the four people in the outer courtyard was somewhat strange. Qian Youcai hadn't expected that the other two people invited by Prime Minister Chu were these two!
Leaving aside the identity of the young master Xie, this guard Xu is also a well-known figure in the capital. Although he is a guard of the Marquis of Nanping's mansion, he is also registered with the Emperor.
He was only twenty years old when he was promoted to the fourth rank just two days ago. If he hadn't been saved by Lord Xie and only wanted to hold a temporary post in the Marquis's mansion, his official position would probably be even higher.
Qian Youcai tried his best to keep a low profile, hoping that these two big shots wouldn't notice him. As a nobody, he would always be seated at the very end of the table when dining with the steward of the Marquis's mansion.
He ate a few bites without really tasting anything, and after seeing that everyone had put down their chopsticks, Boss Qian tactfully took his leave.
Chu Nanfeng saw him all the way to the door, saying, "I'll treat Brother Qian to drinks another day."
Qian Youcai bowed and said, "I will remember your kindness, Prime Minister Chu. With this experience, my Qian family can now stand firm in the capital."
Chu Nanfeng stepped forward to help him up and said kindly, "Brother Qian, if you have some free time, come and sit here with me. Duoduo was the first disciple I ever took on."
When Chu Nanfeng returned, the leftover food on the table had been replaced with tea. He smiled and returned to his seat, and Young Master Xie hurriedly reached out to pour him a cup of tea.
Xie Zian gave him an awkward smile, "Brother Chu, how did you know I chose this date?"
"I was just guessing. It really was you." Chu Nanfeng picked up his teacup, took a sip, and said nonchalantly.
"What are you two talking about? You both look so gloomy. Even Zi'an has a sour face."
"Why the long face? I was just thinking about it casually. It's not like I can change these things." Xie Zian said lightly, but couldn't help but sigh.
Xu Wuchen looked at him and suddenly spoke up, “Mr. Chu is resourceful and wise, perhaps he has some ideas. This matter is not exactly a secret, so it’s fine to tell him.”
It turned out that the current dynasty governed the country with benevolence and righteousness, and the laws were somewhat lenient and lenient. There were not many death row inmates, and the initial prisoners were mostly exiled to the army.
However, some people say that being exiled to the army is a life-or-death situation, not much different from the death penalty, and insist that only serious offenders should be exiled.
Emperor Taizu, the grandfather of the current emperor, must have been out of his mind to agree to it. It wouldn't be easy for subsequent emperors to change it back, for fear of being branded as ruthless and cruel.
"Now that so many people have been arrested, the prisons in the capital are overflowing. The court will have to support so many people for many years. Just thinking about it will cost a fortune."
Although it wasn't his money, Xie Zian still felt very distressed. It would have been so much better to use that money to repair bridges and roads and to provide relief to disaster victims.
Lin You listened for a while, then suddenly chimed in, "I know the answer to this question. We rarely have the death penalty where we're from. If someone commits a crime, they're locked up for a period of time, but those inside have to do labor reform. They can't just eat for free every day."
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Author's Note: t[cat head]
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