"What?" Gu Chengyu was shocked. Was the Emperor joking?
"Your Majesty! I am rely an Assistant Reader at the Hanlin Academy!"
The Emperor looked at Gu Chengyu’s face full of disbelief, secretly amused, and his mood significantly improved from before.
"Of course, I know you are an Assistant Reader at the Hanlin Academy. Do you think I’m so old that I can’t even rember that?"
The Emperor, his face stern, picked up the morial on the Imperial Desk that he had yet to finish reviewing and continued reading.
This isn’t right! Why wasn’t the Emperor following the usual routine? Why is a Hanlin Academy official getting involved?
Isn’t this the business of the Dali Temple? At least they could appoint so official from the Inspectorate!
When did such matters ever fall to the Hanlin Academy? Have other governnt offices beco re ornants?
"Your Majesty! You know I’m just a civil servant. It would be impossible for to go fighting and killing—it’s not sothing I can do!"
Gu Chengyu didn’t care if the Emperor knew about his martial arts skills. He had joined the civil service through imperial examinations with the aim of entering the Cabinet and becoming the Chief Minister—one person below the Emperor but above everyone else.
He definitely didn’t want to charge into battle; that’s a job for military generals, which had nothing to do with him.
"Who’s asking you to fight and kill?" The Emperor glanced at Gu Chengyu, and upon seeing Gu Chengyu’s distressed face, he inexplicably felt even more delighted.
"If there’s no fighting and killing, wouldn’t it be even harder to accomplish?" Gu Chengyu shook his head vehently, firmly disagreeing.
"Use your brains!" The Emperor chuckled, picking up the next morial.
"Your Majesty, brains alone won’t suffice! Just look at my frail body; I’d hardly be a snack for them in Hejian Prefecture!"
He’s not about to take on this troubleso task. Such matters are thankless; if the Princes find out he’s involved, wouldn’t they rip him apart?
This is like pulling a tiger’s tooth. There’s no benefit, so he resolutely disagrees. Ah, even if there were benefits, he couldn’t agree!
"Hmph! I used to think you were quite bold. Why are you acting scared now?" The Emperor tossed the morial onto the desk, then coldly snorted.
"Your Majesty! Knowing one’s own limits is valuable. I have the will but not the ability for this task. I’m just a Sixth Rank official; even if I go to Hejian Prefecture, who would give any face?"
Gu Chengyu forced a bitter smile and let out a deep sigh.
"My official rank is low, and I have no subordinates to command. Going would be futile."
Gu Chengyu smacked his lips, feeling his argunt to be earnest and heartfelt.
"But you have brains!" The Emperor picked up a teacup from the Imperial Desk and took a sip.
Gu Chengyu’s mouth twitched—couldn’t they have a proper conversation?
He took a deep breath, "Your Majesty, you also said just now that the Princes are already involved, not to ntion the aristocratic families. Didn’t you already send Mr. Ma from the Dali Temple? Wouldn’t handing this matter to him be just right?"
He wasn’t inclined to get involved. Since the treasure map was already known to the Emperor, there’s no staying under the radar.
If he acquired the treasure map, he’d have to hand it over to the Emperor, offending those aristocratic families and Princes. There’s simply no gain, only loss—why should he do it?
"If Ma Zhihong could accomplish this, would I still need to send you?"
Sending Ma Zhihong to Hejian Prefecture was an Illusion Technique by the Emperor.
Ma Zhihong would likely conceal the matter of the treasure map, let alone bring it back.
Gu Chengyu’s eyebrows twitched; it seed the Emperor was already quite dissatisfied with Ma Zhihong.
It depended on how Ma Zhihong chose. If he opted for concealnt, he would face demotion.
"Mr. Ma just arrived in Hejian Prefecture and Your Majesty already got wind of this. Didn’t you dispatch an imperial envoy to Hejian Prefecture early on? Why not let the envoy bring back the treasure map and make the knowledge public? Those people would obediently hand over the map."
The Emperor sneered, "Wealth moves hearts. If those people were willing to surrender it, would I need to send an imperial envoy?"
Gu Chengyu smiled faintly, "If you just ask them to hand it over, naturally they won’t be willing. But if you offer them enough benefits, they’d be so delighted that they’d find a way to obtain it, even if they don’t currently have it, and present it to you."
In essence, Gu Chengyu was just speaking tactfully; the aristocratic families were indeed manageable, but what about the Princes?
Could they be willingly convinced? What incentives could sway them? Unless it’s the position of Crown Prince, or even the throne itself.
But regardless if it’s the Crown Prince’s position or the throne, there’s only one. Granting it to one would leave the others dissatisfied.
Proclaiming whoever fetches the treasure map gets to be the Crown Prince would be far too simplistic, wouldn’t it?
"I appoint you as an imperial envoy and bestow a gold dal upon you, so you have nothing else to worry about, right?"
The Emperor felt slightly impatient, knowing full well that sending Gu Chengyu was unreasonable, as he was an official of the Hanlin Academy.
But he had his own reasons, aiming to test Gu Chengyu’s loyalty.
Though he planned to support Gu Chengyu’s rise, it was contingent upon Gu Chengyu being a Pure Minister.
If Gu Chengyu got greedy, taking this opportunity to stir things up and collude with the Princes, then the Emperor would need to seek soone else.
Moreover, who knows if Gu Chengyu might have previously conspired with a Prince? This was a perfect opportunity for a test.
"Your Majesty! I really can’t do it!"
Gu Chengyu wasn’t afraid of incurring the Emperor’s wrath. What was the worth of being nad an imperial envoy or being granted a gold dal?
Once this affair was over, the gold dal would be reclaid, and the title of imperial envoy would be useless, yielding him no benefits.
The Emperor realized that Gu Chengyu was soone who needed definite rewards before taking action.
"If you successfully bring back the treasure map, I will elevate your rank by one, how about that?"
The Emperor deed this offer generous. He understood that to make the horse run, it must be fed well.
Besides, he did intend to support Gu Chengyu, so promoting him by one rank was trivial.
Gu Chengyu’s heart skipped a beat; the offer was too tempting to ignore.
He recalled the previous day’s visit to Bao En Temple to et the Eldest Princess, and the desire within him felt like an uncontrollable beast.
But ultimately, he shook his head, "Your Majesty! I would be willing to accept a promotion, but just as you said, wealth moves hearts. So people care for money over power. I cannot guarantee accomplishing this task, only that I will ensure the treasure map doesn’t fall into any party’s hands."
"What does that an?" The Emperor’s deanor darkened further, now tinged with anger.
Gu Chengyu knew the Emperor was displeased, but he wasn’t omnipotent. He could not guarantee returning with the treasure map unscathed; he could only negotiate for his final interests.
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