Journey to the West: Starting from the Imperial Horse Stable

Upon hearing Wang Chen's words, Wu Gongcao's gaze deepened. Sometimes, not denying something is tantamount to acquiescence.

"The position of Supervisor is something I have never dared to dream of," Wang Chen continued, his voice lowering. "I have only been in the Heavenly Court for a short time, and I am already content to have received a Celestial Register and a place to stay in the Imperial Stables. I only wish to work diligently and live up to the kindness of the Registrar who bestowed the Register upon me."

He paused, a hint of bitterness in his voice.

"Given the current situation, Supervisor Sun sees me as an eyesore, and Feng An is also eyeing me covetously. Even if I am cautious and prudent, I fear I will find it difficult to gain a foothold in the Imperial Horse Administration in the future."

Wu Gongcao spoke slowly. "So, what do you intend to do?"

Wang Chen raised his head, his eyes filled with a kind of frankness that came from having no other choice.

"This junior doesn't understand those grand principles. I only know that if Supervisor Sun really becomes the Keeper of the Heavenly Horses in the future, Feng An will naturally succeed him as Supervisor. At that time, everyone in the Imperial Horse Administration will be Supervisor Sun's people."

Wang Chen said, without any intention of provoking, but simply stating a fact that he considered self-evident: "They already think I'm in their way. When they reach a higher rank and greater power, wouldn't it be easy for them to manipulate a mere celestial official like me? Even if I wanted to do my job honestly, I'm afraid I wouldn't have a choice."

He spoke only of his own predicament, every word filled with worry and self-doubt. But the words, "The entire Imperial Horse Stable is now under the control of Supervisor Sun," reached Wu Gongcao's ears with a subtle and clever touch.

Wu Gongcao's eyelids twitched almost imperceptibly. He looked at Wang Chen, whose face showed only bewilderment and helplessness about the future, seemingly unaware of the implications his words might have triggered.

"You certainly think long-term," Wu Gongcao said, his voice revealing neither joy nor anger.

"I was forced into this situation, which is why I'm having these wild thoughts," Wang Chen said with a wry smile. "Sometimes I can't sleep at night, so I think about these things. The more I think about it, the colder my heart feels. Supervisor Sun is only a supervisor now, and he's already so intolerant of me. What will he be like when he holds real power... Sigh."

He sighed again and lowered his head.

"So what do you think should be done to resolve this?" Wu Gongcao asked. "We can't keep you living in such fear and anxiety."

Wang Chen remained silent for a long while before slowly saying, "This junior is dull-witted and cannot think of a sound solution. I only feel that... if I were Supervisor Sun, I would probably act in the same way. Promoting confidants and consolidating power is common practice. This position of Supervisor of the Imperial Horse Administration will belong to Feng An sooner or later. That's obvious."

He spoke these words casually, as if he were discussing official business unrelated to himself. But the words "consolidate power" caused Wu Gongcao's eyebrows to twitch slightly.

"You mean you'll be at ease as long as Feng An doesn't become the supervisor?" Wu Gongcao asked, his tone tinged with inquiry.

Wang Chen quickly shook his head. "How dare I have such thoughts? Whether Feng An becomes the Supervisor or not is not something I can comment on. But if it were someone else, perhaps they would be a little more tolerant of a newcomer like me who has no one to rely on? At least, they wouldn't treat me like an enemy, as Supervisor Sun and Feng An have done."

His words were roundabout, but his meaning gradually became clear. He didn't want Feng An to be the supervisor; he hoped for someone else. He didn't say who this "someone else" was. But in the Imperial Horse Stables, besides Feng An, who else could be the supervisor?

Old Qian and Old Zheng were old and unambitious, Zhou Quan was arrogant and difficult to tame, and Zhao Deshun's abilities were mediocre. That left only him, the "newcomer".

Wang Chen never said, "I want to be the Supervisor." He simply kept recounting his predicament, emphasizing Sun Mingyuan and Feng An's hostility towards him, and subtly implying that replacing him with someone else would be more beneficial. And that possibility of "replacing him with someone else" was thus gently pushed in front of Wu Gongcao.

Wang Chen seemed to be simply following Wu Gongcao's words in his analysis, his tone even carrying a hint of concern for Wu Gongcao. But these points happened to hit upon things that Wu Gongcao might not have thought about deeply before.

It's true that Sun Mingyuan was someone he placed there, but lately Sun Mingyuan has indeed become somewhat impatient and restless, and not quite settled. If he were to truly gain complete control of the Imperial Horse Administration, with his confidants at every level, it's uncertain who would ultimately be in charge.

Wu Gongcao tapped his fingers lightly on the table, the rhythm slow.

Seeing Wu Gongcao remain silent, Wang Chen knew his words had had an effect. He said no more and waited quietly.

The room remained quiet for a long time.

Wu Gongcao's gaze fell on Wang Chen, scrutinizing him again. This young man was bold, quick-witted, knew how to leverage resources, and dared to take risks. Most importantly, he had a shallow foundation and no one to rely on. If he were truly placed in the position of Supervisor, the only person he could depend on would be Wu Gongcao himself, the one who had promoted him.

In order to secure his position, he would inevitably cling to Sun Mingyuan, which would also effectively restrain Sun Mingyuan and prevent the Imperial Horse Administration from becoming a monolithic entity and slipping out of his control.

Appointing a newcomer with no connections as the supervisor sounds absurd. But upon closer examination, it seems... more beneficial than harmful to me. At least, it's better than letting Sun Mingyuan have complete control.

As for qualifications? Rules? In Wu Gongcao's position, deciding who becomes the supervisor is often just a matter of his word. If he says Wang Chen is suitable, then Wang Chen is suitable.

Wu Gongcao's mind raced, but his expression remained unchanged. He couldn't show that he was persuaded by Wang Chen, much less agree immediately.

"I understand your difficulties," Wu Gongcao finally said, his voice regaining its usual calm. "This matter involves personnel matters within the Imperial Horse Administration, and is no ordinary affair. You should return first, focus on your duties, and do not overthink it. Furthermore, you must not clash with Supervisor Sun again. I have my own plans."

He made no promises, but the phrase "I have my own plans" was a departure from his initial firm rejection.

Wang Chen knew that the seed had been planted. He said no more, rose and bowed respectfully.

"Yes, junior will follow your instructions. Thank you for your consideration," Wang Chen said, and left the room.

Wu Gongcao sat alone in the room, his fingers silently tapping on the table.

Appoint Wang Chen as the supervisor? This idea no longer seemed so absurd; instead, it became something to ponder.

......

At Xuanzhuji, in the small shop that Bai Jian temporarily set up specifically to try selling Ninglutan (a type of ephemeral flower), the scene was quite different.

The shop wasn't large, but it was decorated quite elegantly. Several carefully arranged bouquets of flowers were placed in the most prominent position.

The bouquet was indeed carefully crafted, featuring three to five of the finest Epiphyllum oxypetalum blooms, gracefully standing tall, complemented by emerald green orchid leaves and delicate cloud-like grass, all tied with a pale, shimmering white ribbon. A short, elegant note with a fitting poem was also included. The morning light streaming through the window illuminated the bouquet, making it appear even more ethereal and refined.

However, in stark contrast to this meticulous preparation, the place was deserted and quiet.

Zhang Jinghe rubbed his hands together and paced back and forth in the shop.

It's been all morning, and not a single person has come in to ask.

These foliage, weigela, and jade vases were all bought with spirit stones, which are much more expensive than the flowers themselves. If this continues, we might not even be able to recoup our costs.

He kept thinking to himself, worried that Bai Jian might think the same way, but he kept smiling and saying that's how business is.

Bai Jian held his teacup, his expression calm, but a hint of disappointment and doubt flickered deep in his eyes.

Wang Chen's idea was certainly novel, but whether it would be accepted here was another matter entirely.

If the bouquet ultimately goes unsold, not only will the initial investment be wasted, but it will also mean that Wang Chen's theories of "imbuing meaning" and "approaching human emotions" are untenable.

The credibility of a person who makes a mistake in judgment on specific matters and whose ideas are out of touch with reality is likely to be greatly reduced, as are their bolder and more startling warnings and suggestions about "Li Jing's defeat".

He simply sipped his tea silently, his gaze lingering on the meticulously crafted bouquets that went unappreciated, and thought to himself:

Wang Chen, if all you're good at is empty talk, then I'm afraid I can only ignore what you're saying.

Just as the two were lost in their own thoughts and the atmosphere inside the shop grew increasingly somber, a figure stopped at the shop's entrance.

He was a young celestial official of low rank, dressed plainly, with a hint of unease and hesitation on his face. He first peeked around the doorway, his gaze quickly drawn to the most prominently displayed bouquet of "Dawn's Dew." The bouquet was small and exquisite, appearing exceptionally fresh and charming in the morning light.

The young celestial official hesitated for a moment, then finally stepped in, pointed to the bouquet of flowers, and asked in a voice that was not loud but clear enough, "Shopkeeper, how much is this bouquet?"