"Oh? Even you recomnd him like this, it seems Gu Xiu is truly talented. How about this! Gu Xiu was supposed to participate in compiling the canon, since you praise him so much, let him co to the Imperial Study Room now, the three of you can discuss the matter of compiling the canon together."
After the eunuch who was summoned left, the Emperor planned to call Gu Chengyu as well.
If Min Feng is truly talented, even if he is Xia Qing’s disciple, no matter how reluctant the Emperor may be, as long as Xia Qing asks, the Emperor will agree. After all, Xia Qing is the Grand Secretary. Although the Emperor wants to support another person to contend with Xia Qing, he also needs Xia Qing to restrain others.
Besides, Xia Qing could be considered a veteran. The Cabinet has already been controlled by Xia Qing, making it inconvenient for him to do things. If Xia Qing cos to soften, the Emperor will just take advantage and go along with it.
However, it’s too easy for Min Feng to obtain the position of Assistant Reader, it can’t be allowed.
He must support Gu Chengyu, whether Gu Chengyu can seize the opportunity depends on his own skills.
"De’an, ask Xiao Quanzi to go to the Hanlin Academy and invite Gu Xiu to discuss the matter of compiling the canon." The Emperor instructed De’an.
When Zhang Hai saw the Emperor’s instructions with a hint of a smile on his face, he couldn’t help but regret inwardly, realizing he was wrong; the Emperor had already made his stance clear by summoning Gu Chengyu.
The difference can be seen just from the eunuch who was sent.
Once Gu Chengyu arrives, if he discovers that his sequence was taken by soone else and exposes it, wouldn’t that be a cri of deceiving the monarch?
Zhang Hai pondered for a mont, cald himself, thinking he initially claid to have heard it from a lower official, he could always defend himself before the Emperor. Gu Chengyu still has to work at the Hanlin Academy later, so if he’s sensible, he shouldn’t expose Zhang Hai.
Min Feng looked at the Imperial Study Room in front of him, feeling a surge of emotions.
Min Feng followed the eunuch into the Imperial Study Room, not daring to look at the Emperor seated before the Imperial Desk, quickly kneeling and calling out, "Minister Min Feng wishes the Emperor good health!"
The Emperor looked at Min Feng kneeling before him without speaking. This young man of barely twenty years is quite handso to have beco the third-place scholar.
He might be talented too, but it’s a pity he allied himself too early with Xia Qing, which makes the Emperor quite displeased.
"Rise!" After a long pause, the Emperor’s face relaxed slightly, saying with a pleasant tone.
Min Feng did not hear the Emperor speak for a long ti, feeling increasingly nervous. It seems his teacher was right; the Emperor has a prejudice against him.
"Thank you, Emperor!"
When Gu Chengyu learned Min Feng was summoned by the Emperor, he knew it was because of the canon matter. Ren Ge said he went to Zhang Hai, but Zhang Hai was not there.
Zhang Hai went out for a long ti and didn’t return. He must have taken the sequence to present to the Emperor; the sequence surely needs to be shown to the Emperor.
The Emperor might summon him, but before the eunuch could arrive, the Emperor had already summoned Min Feng. This had nothing to do with Min Feng, Gu Chengyu hadn’t heard of Min Feng achieving anything noteworthy to be summoned by the Emperor.
Min Feng has care at the Hanlin Academy. Though he may have no achievents, he certainly has no failures either. The Emperor summoning him might be about the sequence of the canon.
Gu Chengyu thought of Chief Minister Xia Qing, Mr. Zhang said in the afternoon he would go to Xia Qing for review before presenting it to the Emperor.
Did Xia Qing intend to bla the sequence issue on Min Feng? The more Gu Chengyu thought, the more it seed possible, such actions are common in officialdom.
The achievents of lower officials are often taken by superiors, so conscientious ones offer compensations, leaving a bit of soup for the underlings; others leave nothing, leaving the underlings with nothing to say.
He flipped through the stack of books on the table, he is used to preparing backup plans, naturally made a more detailed copy, to facilitate future compilation of the canon, with ticulous records.
The other version was copied from this detailed version, it’s so detailed Gu Chengyu planned to keep it for his own use if the matter proceeded smoothly.
He wrote in regular script, the Emperor might not recognize the handwriting. Considering Xia Qing and others might present another copy to avoid attention, he had no advantage in handwriting.
If Min Feng receives the rit, as a secondary sixth rank official, it wouldn’t be easy for Gu Chengyu to see the Emperor, unless the Emperor summoned him.
If he waited for the Emperor to summon him again, wouldn’t the opportunity be long gone? Besides, even if he argued, the Emperor might not believe him.
If he dared to replace, he must have made thorough preparations. Unexpectedly, he just joined the Hanlin Academy and got hit unexpectedly.
Even if the Emperor dislikes it, but when Xia Qing uses this pretext to request a position for Min Feng, the Emperor might agree after weighing the options.
After all, as Chief Minister of the Cabinet, Xia Qing holds significant power. Also, there are many of Xia Qing’s followers in the court; if the Emperor displeases Xia Qing, his own situation becos unfavorable.
Moreover, Xia Qing has served the Emperor diligently for many years, with hardship even if lacking achievents, the Emperor might still hold onto so old sentints.
Gu Chengyu felt troubled analyzing this. Although he wasn’t overly keen on the sequence matter, not seeing it as an remarkable achievent, others might still fancy it.
Actually, Xia Qing is just using this as a pretext! Otherwise, directly aiming for the Assistant Reader position presents an ungracious intent.
Ren Ge was revising the Holy Teachings beside, glancing at Gu Chengyu with peripheral vision. Since Min Feng was summoned, Gu Chengyu seed unsettled, making Ren Ge secretly amused.
After all, he’s just a young lad, newly entered the officialdom, still sowhat impatient. Ren Ge felt amused thinking, even if he’s a prodigy, he can’t prevent the Emperor from summoning peers?
In the court, officials rely on their own skills; having abilities doesn’t an others are lacking.
Ren Ge shook his head, thinking they’re still youthful. Unlike older ministers with years of experience, feeling a sense of superiority sprouting within.
He then lowered his head, continuing his previous task, aiming to impress Mr. Zhang during this period. If successful, he might increase his chances to beco the Imperial Academy Attendant.
Ren Ge’s family background is ordinary, lacking connections in the court, making information scarce. Regardless if Xia Qing sent word to the Ministry of Personnel, or the Emperor ordered a position for Assistant Reader, without any leaks, how would Ren Ge know?
Not to ntion Gu Chengyu’s compilation of the canon sequence, Gu Chengyu hasn’t discussed it with Ren Ge, Zhang Hai wouldn’t ntion it before the Emperor confird, making Ren Ge’s sense of superiority rather laughable.
Gu Chengyu rubbed the corner of the book, then placed it back in his sleeve. He’s going to place a bet; bet the Emperor will summon him too.
If the Emperor doesn’t want Xia Qing to dominate again, he must bring Gu Chengyu out to share the pie, or perhaps it’s ti to test him.
In any case, summoning him is clearly beneficial.
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