Ming Dynasty: I, Yan Maoqing, am truly radiating auspicious energy!

Chapter 156 Officialdom is all about interpersonal relationships~ Waaah~ No~ Ugh! [Requesting monthly votes]

Looking at the three golden melon seeds in Yan Maoqing's hand, Granny Li's eyes were filled with envy.

She had served Consort Wang for many years and had taken meticulous care of the Crown Prince. Over the years, she had worked hard and made great contributions, but she had never received such a reward before.

On the other hand, what about Yan Maoqing?

He had only been serving as the Crown Prince's tutor for a few days.

First, she lured the prince to go fishing, which resulted in the prince being punished with a cane three times.

Today, he went back on his word again, causing the Crown Prince to feel heartbroken and aggrieved, and to weep bitterly.

Throughout history, it is probably impossible to find a Crown Prince's Chamberlain who is more disrespectful to his country than him, yet he received such a generous reward from Consort Wang.
This incident almost completely overturned Granny Li's worldview.

She felt as if she had returned to the time decades ago when she first entered the palace, so naive, so ignorant, so inexperienced, so at a loss...

then.

Then Yan Maoqing took one of the three golden melon seeds and tossed it to her.

"Minister Yan?"

Granny Li was startled and instinctively caught it, her face full of confusion.

Yan Maoqing said with a smile:

"Congratulations. Although the Crown Prince failed my test this time, Granny Li dared to stand up and confront me to protect the Crown Prince that day. She has already passed my test, and this is the reward you deserve."

"This...this was a gift from the Imperial Concubine to Minister Yan. How dare this servant lay a finger on it?"

Granny Li was flattered and quickly declined.

"Since Consort Wang has already bestowed it upon me, then it belongs to me. Do I not have the right to dispose of it?"

Yan Maoqing remained all smiles.
"Take it. If Consort Wang asks, just tell her the truth. I think Consort Wang will still give me this much face."

"As long as you remember one thing, I will not mistreat you if you serve the Crown Prince diligently."

"This……"

Looking at the golden melon seeds in her hand, and then at the smile on Yan Maoqing's face, Granny Li's eyes flickered slightly.

This Crown Prince's tutor is not as unruly and frivolous as he appears on the surface; beneath his youthful appearance lies a deep and unfathomable cunning.

By testing the Crown Prince with a single failed attempt to catch a fish, he was also testing the old servant at the same time.

Thinking of this, Li Mama broke out in a cold sweat. Fortunately, she had always been loyal to the Imperial Concubine and the Crown Prince, and thus passed the test smoothly; otherwise…

Even if it was just a hypothetical scenario, she didn't dare to think about it any further.

If someone is so generous in rewarding an unrelated servant like her in private, then surely they would be even more ruthless in punishing those who fail their tests.

She couldn't help but recall what she had seen and heard at the Imperial Household Department.

This Crown Prince's Chamberlain was a high-ranking official of the third rank who would condescend to personally carry out executions with a cane.

Although those officials from the Court of Imperial Sacrifices eventually emerged unharmed, they had probably passed his "test," otherwise she had no doubt that Yan Maoqing would have dared to personally beat them to death!
At that moment, she felt that Yan Maoqing's warm smile was actually a trap.

The only thing to be thankful for now is that this tutor is wholeheartedly dedicated to guiding the Crown Prince, and she shares the same stance as him.

Her loyalty to the Crown Prince, even though the Imperial Concubine had taken it for granted, was also noticed by the Crown Prince's tutor...

"Pfft!"

Granny Li immediately avoided Yan Maoqing's gaze and knelt down on the ground:

"This servant kneels to thank the superior for the reward!"

"No need for formalities, go back and serve Consort Wang and the Crown Prince."

Yan Maoqing did not step forward to help her up, but simply smiled and nodded slightly before turning around and striding away.

The Yan Party has now gained another key member!
The next goal is to quickly infiltrate Zhongcui Palace like a sieve.

In this way, Zhu Zai Rui was surrounded by his spies from top to bottom, which not only further expanded the influence of the "Yan Party," but also prevented, to the greatest extent possible, those with ulterior motives from framing him through conspiracies to harm him...

……

Hanlin Academy.

"...If a country follows this principle, it will be well-governed; if it loses it, it will be in chaos. It is truly beneficial for transforming the people and shaping customs, and for self-cultivation and governing others..." As usual, Chen Yingda stood behind the lecture table and read his understanding and interpretation of Cheng-Zhu Neo-Confucianism to the group of junior scholars below the hall.

The junior scholars all knew that this Imperial Reader not only had a bad temper but also had very strict requirements, so they all sat upright and were meticulous.

at this time.

"Da da da da..."

Suddenly, footsteps came from outside the door.

Chen Yingda immediately frowned and stared wide-eyed out of the living room.

Seeing this, the other junior scholars also turned around, wanting to see who dared to provoke Chen Yingda.

It should be noted that within the Hanlin Academy, Chen Yingda was an official whose rank was second only to that of a Hanlin Academician. When his bad temper flared up, he often didn't even give face to a Hanlin Academician.

Therefore, no one in the Hanlin Academy would dare to provoke him, especially in the classroom, which he regarded as his second life.

However, when Chen Yingda and the other scholars saw who it was, they realized...

A hint of suspicion immediately surfaced in his eyes:
"Why is Yan Maoqing back?"

The promotion of Yan Maoqing to the position of Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince, a third-rank official, was a major event for the Hanlin Academy.

After all, the Court of Imperial Sacrifices was the most important stepping stone for advancement in the Hanlin Academy, and even a ladder to get close to the crown prince in advance, so that one could rise to the top and realize one's ambitions. Naturally, everyone already knew about it.

"Brother Jingqing?"

Gao Gong was also stunned for a moment.

Ever since Yan Maoqing stepped out of the North Garrison Command with his left foot and immediately stepped into the Court of Imperial Sacrifices with his right, I have not yet paid him a visit and do not know how Yan Maoqing is doing.

Could it be...? Gao Gong suddenly had a bad feeling.

After all, Yan Maoqing always acted decisively and boldly, and it was only natural that he offended the emperor and was demoted within a few days, forcing him to return to the Hanlin Academy to teach...

Then Yan Maoqing stepped confidently across the threshold into the classroom and bowed to everyone:
"Commander Chen, fellow students, it's been a long time."

"Greetings, sir... I am currently teaching a class. May I ask you to excuse me for the time being? We can discuss this after class."

Chen Yingda hesitated for a moment, and while raising his hand to bow, he still didn't give Yan Maoqing much face.

It should be noted that while he was still being disrespectful, this was already a relatively polite way of putting it.

If it were a familiar Hanlin Academy official, this stubborn old man would usually just coldly utter two words: "Get out!"

"Still having class?"

Yan Maoqing laughed again, raising his eyebrows and saying,
"Commander Chen probably doesn't know this yet, but you've now been promoted to Junior Chamberlain of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices. Even if you were to teach, it would be to the Crown Prince. How could you still stay in the Hanlin Academy to teach the junior scholars?"

"Eh?"

Chen Yingda was taken aback; his tongue even seemed a little slurred.
"Shangguan, when did this happen? Why am I completely unaware of it?"

He rose from a fifth-rank Hanlin Academy Reader to a fourth-rank Junior Chamberlain, and from then on became a promising official under the Crown Prince.

Isn't this something that only happens in dreams?!
And it was a dream from decades ago!

After all, he had already toiled away at the Hanlin Academy for decades, and at this age he no longer dared to have such extravagant desires. Naturally, he had rarely indulged in such daydreams in recent years.

"It's about what's happening now."

Yan Maoqing said with a smile,

"Previously, Commander Chen not only praised me lavishly in the Hanlin Academy, but also, when I was imprisoned a few days ago, he strongly appealed to Hanlin officials and students to rescue me... No, no, no!"

"Most importantly, I was inspired by Commander Chen's meticulous approach to academics and his serious and dedicated teaching style. He is exactly the kind of mentor the Crown Prince needs right now."

"Therefore, the position of Junior Grand Master of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices is none other than Commander Chen. Please come with me to the Court of Imperial Sacrifices to assume your post immediately!"

Oops, I accidentally blurted out the truth just now. I hope it won't affect everyone's mood.

"???"

The assembled scholars were dumbfounded.

You accidentally blurted out the truth, didn't you? Your intention to return the favor couldn't be more obvious!
But what can they say besides envy?

The officialdom isn't about fighting and killing; it's about human relationships and social interactions. (Sigh)
Given the current atmosphere in officialdom, an official like Yan Maoqing, who can reciprocate kindness instead of betraying his benefactors or kicking someone when they're down, can already be considered a model colleague, right?
(End of this chapter)