Ba Liang suddenly realized what was going on and complained, "Why didn't you just say it directly!"
Shen Tangning cleared her throat, suppressing a smile: "No need to trouble yourself. Aci is about the same height as you, so you should be able to wear his clothes too."
Unexpectedly, she heard every word, and Chi Yan's face instantly turned red.
——
Upon learning that Chi Yan would be staying overnight at the Shen family's residence, Madam Shen naturally had no objections and immediately instructed the servants to prepare the room.
Shen Tangning's boudoir is always kept clean; you could move in right away.
She had originally planned to sleep with her mother, but since Chi Yan had arrived, she had to give up on that plan.
Upon entering the room, Chi Yan discreetly observed his surroundings. The thought that this was Shen Tangning's boudoir before her marriage made him feel somewhat uneasy, and he subconsciously slowed his steps considerably.
Her room was decorated very elegantly, unlike his, which was flashy and tasteful.
When Shen Tangning turned around, she saw him standing there, looking somewhat awkward and at a loss. She couldn't help but laugh and said, "What are you standing there for? Sit down."
Chi Yan sat down properly, and Shen Tangning sat down next to him, asking casually, "Tell me, what happened?"
From the moment she saw Chi Yan, he exuded a subtle sense of dejection, like a wilted eggplant.
He paused for a moment, somewhat surprised by her keen observation, and pursed his lips shyly: "It's nothing serious."
"It's nothing serious, why do you look so listless?" She looked over with a hint of amusement in her dark eyes.
Chi Yan pursed his lips slightly and hesitated before speaking: "Today is my first day in office, and I've found that some things aren't going as smoothly as I imagined."
Hearing him say this, Shen Tangning had some guesses in her mind, but she still listened patiently.
On his first day on duty, Chi Yan naturally wanted to build good relationships with his colleagues, but his enthusiasm was not reciprocated.
Of course, his colleagues did not treat him coldly; they were just respectful and polite, as if they were worshipping him. Whenever Chi Yan wanted to do something, someone would take over the task before he could.
As a result, he became the most idle one.
It sounds sentimental, but Chi Yan could definitely feel that he was being isolated.
The reason was something he himself knew. Every time His Majesty summoned him, he showed him unusual kindness, which made everyone think that he had a powerful background and a strong backer.
The officialdom is a place with complex and subtle interpersonal relationships. Those in high positions of power are often flattered, but before they can make a name for themselves, they have to be obedient to others.
Most of the old scholars in the Hanlin Academy were arrogant and conceited, so they naturally looked down on someone like Chi Yan, who had a bad reputation but suddenly became enlightened.
Those below him were opportunistic and showed no enthusiasm for Chi Yan.
After listening, Shen Tangning smiled thoughtfully: "Did you consider this possibility beforehand?"
Chi Yan looked listless and shook his head.
He knew that the officialdom was murky and corrupt, but he had never experienced it firsthand, so he always held onto a sliver of naiveté.
Her tone was calm and unhurried: "Then consider it your first lesson in entering officialdom; there will only be more of these kinds of things in the future."
Her eyes were gentle yet resolute, and her tone was calm: "Interpersonal relationships are important, but they shouldn't be taken too seriously, otherwise you'll put the cart before the horse. What others think of you is fleeting. You need to know what you want to do and who you are."
"Once you stand at the very top of power, you won't need to bow your head; those around you will greet you with smiles."
After listening, Chi Yan fell into deep thought for a long time.
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