Thrown out of the house, the wet nurse enters the noble household and becomes a person of high statu

Liu Wenying retorted, "Does disaster relief count as a harvest? They didn't receive any food, but they saved lives."

"Aren't human lives worth more in terms of political achievements than food? After all, food is essential for survival."

The simple words struck like a thunderclap, shattering the chaos in Pei Zeyu's mind.

Pei Zeyu stared at her, his eyes growing brighter.

"You have a point, but the officials in charge of performance evaluations need written evidence. How can human lives be converted into numbers? How can they be recorded in the performance evaluation book?"

Without hesitation, Liu Wenying replied, "How many people were saved? How many survived the disaster? Don't these count?"

Pei Zeyu nodded and then shook his head. "It can be calculated, but in previous years, these things were never considered in the assessments. If they are suddenly considered this year, people will say that I am showing favoritism and deliberately exonerating local officials."

Liu Wenying listened to his words without backing down. After thinking for a moment, she said, "Then why not just make watching these things a rule?"

"How to change?"

Liu Wenying carefully organized her thoughts, speaking each word deliberately:

"Let's start with a pilot program this year. In extraordinary times, extraordinary measures are needed."

Local floods are an extraordinary time, and saving people from floods and fires is an extraordinary achievement.

Since this is an extraordinary achievement, it cannot be measured by ordinary assessments and deserves extraordinary rewards.

Pei Zeyu's gaze deepened. "But what you're saying isn't in the law."

"The law does not state that disaster relief does not count as merit."

What the law doesn't say is debatable, and what is debatable should be discussed by capable people to come up with new rules.

As the second master served in the Ministry of Personnel, he naturally had the power to deliberate and weigh matters.

Now, at this critical time, why not take the lead in proposing new rules that not only recognize and reward officials for their hard work but also incentivize them to dedicate themselves to disaster relief in the future? It's a win-win situation.

After saying this, Liu Wenying immediately realized her mistake, lowered her eyes and bowed, saying, "This servant was just thinking wildly, please forgive me, Second Master."

She was quick-witted, intelligent, and articulate, and her sharp wit and sophisticated perspective impressed him.

"Where did you learn all this?"

"It's just... something I was just guessing." Liu Wenying pretended to be clueless.

How could I come up with these ideas just by wildly speculating?

The profound truths she spoke, and the eloquent words she uttered, were not something an ordinary peasant woman from a humble background could casually utter.

Even some well-read and talented young women might not be as quick-witted as her.

"Really not going to tell?" Pei Zeyu glanced at him, his calm demeanor radiating an invisible pressure.

As Liu Wenying was pressed for answers, she became increasingly guilty and pitifully cried out, "Second Master, please stop asking..."

Her voice was soft and gentle, with a hint of pleading, like a coquettish plea or a wronged expression, which softened Pei Zeyu's heart.

Looking into her watery eyes, he swallowed back the words he was about to ask.

Pei Zeyu refocused his attention on the case; the most pressing issue at the moment was resolving the performance evaluation problem for these forty officials.

"Even if I wanted to use the conversion method you suggested to take the lead in discussing the rules, I would still need the Minister of Personnel's approval. That person is not someone who can be easily fooled."

Upon hearing this, Liu Wenying's eyes were still glistening with tears, but she had already composed herself.

"What does the Minister value most?"

"Naturally, it's a political achievement."

Liu Wenying's eyes lit up. "That's easy. Just make the flood in Nanhuai his achievement. He'll definitely agree."

Pei Zeyu raised an eyebrow slightly, signaling her to continue.

Liu Wenying pondered seriously, "This servant is unfamiliar with official procedures, but I have heard that the Southern Huai River floods must have prompted the court to allocate a considerable amount of money and grain for disaster relief. And what about the number of people who died, were injured, or displaced? In previous years, wasn't this all compiled and reported by the Ministry of Revenue? And unrelated to the Ministry of Personnel?"

Pei Zeyu nodded: "That's right. The allocation of funds and grain, and the statistics of deaths and injuries among the people are all the responsibilities of the Ministry of Revenue."

The Performance Evaluation Office only manages the evaluation of officials and has never interfered in these matters, so naturally it wouldn't report them.

"That would make things easier. What if the Performance Evaluation Office also submits a memorial?"

The memorial stated that the southern Huai River region had suffered an unprecedented flood, and local officials had abandoned their duties of collecting grain taxes in favor of disaster relief.

Although the annual tax revenue target was not met, countless people were saved and much loss was averted. Therefore, we earnestly request Your Majesty to commend the officials of Nanhuai and exempt them from punishment.

As Liu Wenying spoke, she continued to add to the story.

"If the memorial can be submitted, His Majesty will be delighted to see that the Ministry of Personnel is considerate of capable officials and can handle extraordinary matters flexibly."

Since the Minister of Personnel was in charge of the Ministry of Personnel, this achievement would naturally be attributed to him.

"The people under his command are capable and efficient. They are flexible and considerate of the people in times of crisis. Isn't that a great achievement?"

The worries and difficulties vanished at the same time, and everything became clear.

Pei Zeyu never imagined that he could turn a thorny problem into a political achievement that the Minister valued most.

If what Liu Wenying said is true, not only would he persuade the Minister, but he would probably take the initiative to facilitate it.

Pei Zeyu no longer hesitated, picked up his brush and dipped it in thick ink.

The pen tip left neat and elegant characters on the paper, clearly describing the actual situation of the flood in the South China Sea, the merits of the officials in disaster relief, and the calculation method for extraordinary measures taken in extraordinary times.

Liu Wenying stood quietly to the side, not daring to disturb her.

The candlelight illuminated his profile, casting soft shadows under his long eyelashes, adding a touch of earnest focus and gentle warmth that made her momentarily lost in thought.

After about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, Pei Zeyu finished writing, told Afu to seal the document, and instructed him to send it to the Ministry of Personnel early the next morning.

Afu accepted it with both hands and stepped out.

In an instant, only Liu Wenying and Pei Zeyu remained in the study.

He looked at her, his gaze probing, as if he had finally finished what he was doing and had a moment to take care of her.

Liu Wenying felt a chill run down her spine and her scalp tingle; she dared not meet his gaze.

Silence filled the room, stretching on and on until she thought he wouldn't speak, when Pei Zeyu finally asked.

"Where did you learn those words just now?"

Oh no, why is he being so inquisitive?

Liu Wenying opened her mouth, about to make up a reason to get away with it.

Don't lie to me.

She swallowed back the words that were on the tip of her tongue.

To tell the truth? If she said she traveled from a time thousands of years in the future, she'd probably be burned as a monster.

He got up and walked from behind his desk to stand in front of her.

The three Pei brothers were all taller than the last, and their shadows completely enveloped her.

"Did your father teach you this? Who exactly are you?"

Only a family that produces officials could raise a girl like this.

Liu Wenying shook her head and answered honestly, "Second Master, this servant has no parents."

"When I was a child, there was a famine. My parents sold me to someone as a child bride, and then we never heard from each other again. I was just a country girl, and later I married into the Chen family..."

"Alright, let's not talk about this anymore."

Startled by the sudden interruption, Liu Wenying glanced at him discreetly.

He seemed to dislike hearing about her previous marriages. Liu Wenying paused, skipped that part, and continued.

"Perhaps there was an old scholar in the village who took the provincial examination his whole life but never passed. Later, he went mad and spent his days muttering nonsense in the village."

I often heard him talk about it when I was little; perhaps I picked it up from being around him all along.

…………