"Your humble servant thanks the Emperor for granting a seat!" Gu Chengyu did not expect that the Emperor would grant him a seat today.
His superior was still kneeling outside, yet he was sitting in the Imperial Study Room; this feeling was truly odd!
Moreover, the Grand Secretary Xia Qing was about to arrive; when he ca, would the Emperor grant him a seat?
If not, then a re Secondary Sixth Rank official sitting while a First-Grade Official stands is sowhat unreasonable, isn’t it?
As soon as Gu Chengyu thought about this, he felt like he was sitting on pins and needles.
"Gu Aiqing, I have heard that you read especially many books on a daily basis; you indeed are widely knowledgeable. What’s more, you rember them all!"
The Emperor, looking at the mos with so distress, simply pushed them aside and began talking to Gu Chengyu.
Young people have vitality; while talking to Gu Chengyu, the Emperor felt rejuvenated, as if he had beco much younger.
"In response to the Emperor, my mory is quite good. Reading a couple more tis ensures I won’t forget."
Gu Chengyu was sowhat modest with these words; he only needed to read once to rember most things, and reading twice engraved them deeply into his mind.
Of course, if a few years pass without review, forgetting is likely. After one or two years, he would have to read twice again to consolidate.
"Oh? So you have a photographic mory?" The Emperor suddenly beca interested; Gu Chengyu was indeed exceptionally talented.
"In response to the Emperor! I wouldn’t dare claim photographic mory; I still need to read a few tis to rember." Gu Chengyu respectfully stood and answered.
He was sowhat uncertain; why did the Emperor call Xia Qing over and not let him leave, even granting him a seat? What does it an?
It seems there is nothing for him here; the mos naturally have the Emperor’s instructions without him needing to worry.
So, why was he still in the Imperial Study Room? But the Emperor did not speak up yet, granting him a seat and chatting with him.
He hesitated, debating whether to take leave or continue waiting for Xia Qing’s arrival.
The Emperor chatted with Gu Chengyu a few more tis, greatly lifting his spirits! He finally picked up the mos on the table again.
At a glance, they were trivial matters, and annoyingly, the Emperor felt a surge of frustration.
In recent days, the mos submitted by the Cabinet mostly consisted of minor affairs. Looking at the proposed decisions attached to them, he was tempted to disobey the Cabinet’s suggestions and issue his own imperial decree to dampen their zeal.
However, he had endured quite a lot these days. Already with poor health, competing with the Cabinet was sowhat punishing himself.
Seeing the Emperor’s tightly knitted brows, Gu Chengyu knew he was troubled by the mos. He wasn’t sure if it was trouble from a particular mo or simply the headache from the piled-up mos on the desk.
Gu Chengyu couldn’t help but feel a myriad of emotions; it seems the life of an Emperor is not easy.
From historical books, emperors were often depicted as exhausting themselves, reviewing mos late into the night, which often led to a short lifespan.
Of course, there were those who were rely figureheads, but such dynasties generally did not last long.
Not to ntion those who were indulgent and only sought pleasure—those were marks of dying regis.
"Gu Aiqing! Tell , aren’t those Ministers in the court always deceiving ?"
The Emperor leaned his back against the chair, closed his eyes, remaining expressionless on his face.
But what he said startled Gu Chengyu, who promptly stood and said, "In response to the Emperor, Dare those Ministers have the guts of wild beasts to deceive the Emperor? You are the ruler of a nation; how is there anything unknown to you about the world?"
Uncertain why the Emperor suddenly asked this, Gu Chengyu wondered, had the Emperor detected sothing the court officials were keeping from him?
Though Xia Qing was powerful, surely the Emperor had a few confidants? Else, Xia Qing would have long overtaken him.
Even now, constrained by the Cabinet, the Emperor was not entirely powerless!
"Hmm! I see those people want to abdicate for a worthy successor. Do they think I’ve grown old?"
Suddenly, the Emperor opened his eyes and looked directly at Gu Chengyu. The eyes full of unwillingness, anger, and deep-seated helplessness shocked Gu Chengyu.
He promptly stood and knelt, with Xiao Quanzi also startled, kneeling on the ground. The Emperor’s words showed the extent of his anger.
"Calm down, Emperor!" Gu Chengyu didn’t know how to console him; ultimately, the root cause was the Emperor’s advanced age, his vigor waned compared to past years, naturally leading the courtiers to make future plans.
"You do not dare, but they do! Gu Aiqing, tell , is there any way to discern their loyalty?"
The Emperor leaned forward and waved his hand to dismiss Xiao Quanzi from the Imperial Study Room, instructing him to guard the door without disturbance unless told otherwise, then looked at the kneeling Gu Chengyu.
Gui Chengyu’s mouth curled with a hint of bitterness—indeed, it was never good to be kept back.
Earlier, he was granted a seat; now he might have to answer on his knees. If he failed to satisfy or upset the Emperor, the consequences would depend on the Emperor’s mood.
But the circumstances were evident—the Emperor was in a particularly foul mood.
Gu Chengyu thought for a mont; the Emperor wanted nothing more than the inability to fully supervise the court officials. His question was rely to salvage so pride!
Moreover, who could guarantee that the mos from the Cabinet were comprehensive?
Many mos were returned daily. So entered the Cabinet and disappeared without a trace.
Ultimately, the Emperor wished only to understand every affair in the Capital and the provinces in detail, for better control of the court.
Gu Chengyu glanced at the mos on the table and suddenly conceived an idea.
Cautiously, he looked at the Emperor and found him staring back, waiting for a response.
Knowing this was a test, Gu Chengyu noted that the Emperor deed Min Feng’s incident trivial; this was the main act.
If he answered well today to satisfy the Emperor, then there were good days ahead; otherwise, after today, the Emperor would not care about his life or death.
"Your humble servant, along with other officials, is utterly loyal to the Emperor, yearning to share your burdens and ease your labor. In the future, we shall strive to serve you tirelessly until death."
Gu Chengyu naturally could not reveal the solution so quickly; if easily obtained, the Emperor might not value it. A display of loyalty was necessary first.
The Emperor listened and, as Gu Chengyu predicted, showed so impatience.
He furrowed his brows, then acknowledged that Gu Chengyu had just entered the officialdom and could not have anticipated a good solution.
Those veteran officials were old foxes; Gu Chengyu was yet a novice and could not contend with them. His expectations were too high.
"Actually, it’s not like there isn’t a way..." Gu Chengyu said hesitantly.
"Oh? Gu Aiqing, do you have a good strategy? Why not share it!" The Emperor was initially disappointed but perked up as he realized Gu Chengyu had a solution, his eyes gleaming with hope.
The Emperor’s previously drooping eyes suddenly widened, his body sitting upright, showing keen interest in Gu Chengyu’s words.
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