Gu Chengyu waited for a while, but the Emperor didn’t call him to stand.
He knew the Emperor was still angry about the morning court affairs, so he didn’t dare make any moves.
Gu Chengyu bowed his head, waiting for the Emperor to call him up. After all, if he wanted to punish him by kneeling, there was no need to summon him to the Imperial Study Room.
He waited for a while longer, and Gu Chengyu’s knees started to go numb.
It seems the Emperor is quite angry! He wants to punish him physically, to give him a stern warning.
He pondered in his mind, thinking about how to face the Emperor’s wrath later.
De’an noticed the Emperor was resting with closed eyes and was also shocked in his heart by the Emperor’s indifference to Gu Chengyu’s salute.
About a quarter of an hour passed, and Gu Chengyu suddenly felt sothing was wrong.
Is the Emperor testing his patience? Is he really going to punish him by kneeling in the Imperial Study Room?
He quietly lifted his head a little and glanced, discovering the Emperor was actually resting with closed eyes.
Gu Chengyu was a bit surprised, the Emperor wasn’t even reviewing morials, wasn’t this resting period too long?
Gu Chengyu had no choice but to bow his head again and continue kneeling, though he was sowhat baffled. Suddenly, he thought of a possibility.
Then he raised his head to observe the Emperor carefully, finding the Emperor’s eyes tightly shut, breathing evenly, and his body not moving—what? Is he asleep?
De’an saw Gu Chengyu daring to look directly at the Emperor’s face despite his mistake, feeling Gu Chengyu was overly bold.
Gu Chengyu looked carefully again, confird his thoughts, and then signaled De’an with his eyes.
De’an was rather puzzled and didn’t quite understand Gu Chengyu’s aning.
It was strange to him, Mr. Gu kept moving, yet the Emperor made no sound?
Moreover, it’s been so long already, which was sowhat irregular.
De’an turned his head to glance at the Emperor leaning against the back of his chair and suddenly felt sothing was off.
He was shocked and instantly panicked, could it be that the Emperor had fainted again?
After all, he had fainted once before, how could De’an not be tense?
"Your Majesty?" De’an softly called out, seeing no response, feeling anxious and unsure what to do.
Gu Chengyu noticed De’an’s anxiety, understanding De’an’s thoughts.
After all, the Emperor was getting old and his health had not been robust, De’an feared sothing was amiss with the Emperor’s body.
Gu Chengyu gently said, "Speak louder!"
To him, the Emperor was likely asleep. Yet, it couldn’t be ruled out that there might be health issues.
Anyway, if he didn’t wake the Emperor, wouldn’t he have to keep kneeling for a long ti?
De’an hesitated for a mont, then raised his voice, "Your Majesty?"
Gu Chengyu stared intently, watching for any sign of awakening from the Emperor, quickly bowing his head upon witnessing signs of awakening.
The Emperor opened his bleary eyes, looking sowhat confused, probably still groggy at this mont.
"De’an, what hour is it?"
The Emperor realized he was still seated, quickly sat upright, his mind still not fully clear.
"In response to Your Majesty, it’s almost early noon, do you wish to rest a while? How about resting after lunch? Sleeping in the Imperial Study Room, you might catch cold!"
De’an was relieved to wake the Emperor finally. Recalling just now, he had indeed been quite worried.
The Emperor humd in acknowledgnt, and suddenly noticed soone still kneeling below.
Gu Chengyu had listened to the two’s conversation, feeling sowhat heavy-hearted, hoping it was just because the Emperor was overly tired and took a nap.
From the confused state post-awakening, the Emperor’s body condition was worrying!
Gu Chengyu felt it would be wise to establish the Crown Prince early, putting these thoughts aside. Since the Emperor was awake, he naturally needed to pay his respects again.
"Your minister Gu Chengyu respectfully wishes Your Majesty well-being!"
The Emperor squinted at Gu Chengyu, stared for a while, and then rembered calling De’an to summon Gu Chengyu to the Imperial Study Room after the morning court.
Judging by Gu Chengyu’s appearance, he must have been kneeling for quite a while.
"Rise!" The Emperor appeared sowhat weary.
Perhaps there had been so anger before, but after a nap, even the Emperor’s anger had dissipated sowhat.
"Your courage is indeed not small." The Emperor’s expression was calm, showing no trace of anger.
However, Gu Chengyu didn’t dare relax, fearing recalling previous matters might rekindle anger after the nap.
"Your Majesty, your humble servant was indeed unexpectedly favored, panicked for a while, not anticipating the Emperor would give your humble servant the position of Imperial Academy Attendant. After all, your humble servant’s experience is shallow, never dared to covet that position before, felt sowhat guilty."
Actually, Gu Chengyu was rely saying, claiming he never coveted the attendant’s position was impossible.
However, because he didn’t hold much hope for it, originally working in the Hanlin Academy, tenure was more important than in other governnt offices.
He was quite surprised by the sudden joyful news.
Of course, both understood the true reason; Gu Chengyu only needed to use this as an excuse to brush it off, the Emperor wouldn’t persist on this matter.
"Oh? Not dare to covet, yet I think your courage is quite big! You even dare to contradict my words, and feign ignorance before . Previously, concealed from , tell , how should I punish you?"
Gu Chengyu quickly knelt again, kowtowing to admit fault, "Your Majesty! How dare your humble servant deceive Your Majesty? Regarding the tea and horse exchange and the salt permit matter, your humble servant thought of it last night. Before this morning’s court, there wasn’t ti to report to Your Majesty, your humble servant is straightforward, having thought of it, naturally proposed it for related governnt offices’ consideration."
"Your Majesty! Your humble servant also wished to alleviate so burdens for Your Majesty, letting you suffer less fatigue! However, your humble servant indeed committed a fault, please punish ."
Gu Chengyu felt he had no choice even if truly punished, like a dead pig not fearing hot water.
His straightforward remark drew involuntary twitches at the mouths of both the Emperor and De’an.
De’an even felt Gu Chengyu had thick skin, to utter such words without hesitation.
"You, straightforward? I see you as glib, with plenty of little sches!"
The Emperor squinted slightly, aware of Gu Chengyu’s little sches. Despite verbally claiming he didn’t covet the attendant position, in his mind, he might be plotting hard to climb to that position!
If not, he wouldn’t have expended so much effort on tea tax.
Gu Chengyu hearing this knew the Emperor’s anger had dissipated quite a bit.
"Your Majesty, you wronged your humble servant; your humble servant is an honest person. Your humble servant’s mother often remarked your humble servant is too upright, may suffer losses in the future!"
Gu Chengyu suddenly had a notion, so he decided to bring up his mother to boost his presence.
As for whether Mrs. Lv had said such words, who knows?
The Emperor’s lips curled slightly, amused by Gu Chengyu. In his heart, he thought, that’s your mother blind.
However, having a son like Gu Chengyu, for an illiterate peasant woman, surely brought honor.
Gu Chengyu’s words stirred the Emperor’s interest.
Each ti conversing with Gu Chengyu, the Emperor always found himself relaxed.
"Your parents indeed taught you well, thinking when you beca an official, your parents shared the honor."
Gu Chengyu turned his thoughts, realizing the Emperor showed interest in chatting.
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