Do you know: I should be fat and you should be thin!

"That's right! By the way, Xiao Ma and the others all wanted to renew their contracts, so I promoted them to head maids. Now that we're back in the capital's mansion, there are plenty of maids to do the rough work, so let's not make those three do it. Tomorrow, go to the market and buy ten more, send six to the eldest mistress's side, and keep four for yourself to serve her."

Wei Zhi helped Zhou Ning sit down, then wrapped her arms around his neck and asked, "Don't worry, Ning Lang, I've remembered everything. With Madam in charge, things won't fall into chaos. You'll have to attend court starting tomorrow, right?"

"Yes, I have to get up at four in the morning from now on, it's going to kill me!" Zhou Ning pounded his chest, in excruciating pain.

Hopefully, Zhao Zongquan won't be so abnormal after he succeeds to the throne...

The idea is nice, but reality...

"Then let me serve Ning Lang and let him rest for a while?" Wei Zhi gently loosened her silk robe, revealing half of her fragrant shoulder.

"Are you telling me to rest, or are you telling me to work?" Zhou Ning was on the verge of tears.

"Ning Lang, just make sure you're in the right place, I can take what I need!" Wei Zhi said considerately.

One incense stick later!

Zhou Ning left the Fangxiang Courtyard to look for Yu Yanran.

This was Yu Yanran's first time visiting the Zhou residence. After looking around, she chose the courtyard next to Zhou Ning's study and named it Yanxizhu.

"Xiao Qing, go arrange a feast!" Yu Yanran instructed when she saw Zhou Ning arrive.

Xiaoqing bowed and went to prepare.

Zhou Ning said, "My wife, I have something to tell you."

"Speak, my lord, I'm listening!" Yu Yanran said.

"If I stay at your Yanxi Pavilion from now on, I'll wake you up at four in the morning. Will you blame me?" Zhou Ning asked.

Yu Yanran recalled how her grandfather used to get up early every day and asked, "Is my husband going to court?"

"Well, I'll have to get up early for court every day from now on. If you'd like to sleep in a little longer, you can stay overnight at Fangxiang Courtyard," Zhou Ning suggested.

Yu Yanran was unwilling and said, "Four o'clock it is, my husband, I can do it."

"It's not a question of whether you can or can't, it's that I feel sorry for you not being able to rest properly. I'll stay here with you for the next few days and see how things go," Zhou Ning said.

People can't learn by being taught, but they can learn by doing!

People who have never woken up early will not understand the pain of waking up early!

Yu Yanran said with heartache, "It's my husband who works so hard. I can take turns with Madam Wei, but you can't get a break every day."

Zhou Ning suspected she was driving, but seeing the worry in her eyes, he knew he was overthinking it.

"It's okay, just get some rest early every day. Come here for a hug!" Zhou Ning said, opening his arms.

Yu Yanran sat sideways on Zhou Ning's lap, letting him caress her, and said softly, "My lord, I plan to visit my grandmother at the Yu residence tomorrow."

Zhou Ning asked, "Of course. Do you want to go by yourself, or would you like me to accompany you after court?"

Yu Yanran said, "I'll go first. My husband can go another day when he has time. Grandfather knows you're busy with official duties, so he won't blame you."

"Alright, remember to apologize for me," Zhou Ning said.

The two had dinner together, and because they were tired from the boat trip, they wandered around the mansion for a while before going to bed early.

The next day at four o'clock!

When Xiao Mei, who was on night duty, saw that it was time, she went into the room and shook the sleeping Zhou Ning.

"Ning-ge'er, get up. It's past four in the morning!"

Upon hearing the sound, Yu Yanran immediately got up, rubbed her sleepy eyes, and together they pushed Zhou Ning out of bed.

"My lord, it's time to rise!"

After a while, Zhou Ning sat up, her eyelids barely open, and opened her arms to let them dress her.

"Xiaomei, have someone fetch a basin of water. Go check if Litou has woken up yet!" Yu Yanran said.

Xiaomei went immediately, and soon Pear Head appeared; the master and servant were in exactly the same state.

Zhou Ning washed her face and, upon learning that Xiao Zhu hadn't returned from buying breakfast, said, "Li Tou and I will buy some food on the way. You can eat what Xiao Zhu bought, then go back to sleep. Li Tou, let's go, let's go out for breakfast!"

Pear responded and followed, feeling less excited about dinner for the first time.

At this time, the morning market in Bianjing had already opened, and the staple food was mainly noodles and pastries.

The master and servant weren't in the mood to slowly drink porridge and eat soup noodles, so they bought 20 coins each of common breakfast items such as glutinous rice cake, Chongyang cake, and stuffed lung.

Zhou Ning remembered that the court would provide a "meal in the corridor" after the morning court session, so he casually stuffed a few bites of glutinous rice cake and left the rest for his little foodie self.

Outside the Meridian Gate, one can see offices for officials on both the left and right side gates. (Civil officials on the left, military officials on the right)

When the two arrived, many officials were already waiting inside and outside the court.

There were also imperial censors patrolling the venue and recording those who were late.

"You've eaten, right? If you get hungry, go buy some more, but you must come back and wait for me, understand?" Zhou Ning said.

Pear Head nodded in agreement. Once Zhou Ning left, she found a place to park the carriage and leaned against it to sleep.

Zhou Ning entered the civil officials' office and found a corner to doze off, not talking to anyone!

The main problem is that I don't recognize any of them!

After all, only those of the fifth rank or above were allowed to enter the room, while those of lower rank had to wait in the corridor outside the side gate.

None of the Jinshi graduates from the same year as Zhou Ning were able to reach the fifth rank within three years.

"Peng Qi?"

When Zhou Ning heard someone calling him, he looked up and saw Sheng Hong!

"Lord Sheng, it's been a long time," Zhou Ning said, bowing.

"Is it really you? You've returned to the capital? You've been promoted to the fifth rank?" Sheng Hong returned the greeting and asked.

Zhou Ning nodded and said, "I just returned yesterday, and today is my first time attending the morning court session. I will definitely pay a visit in the next few days to inquire about Old Madam Sheng's well-being."

Sheng Hong laughed and said, "Excellent! The Emperor has mentioned you many times in court this year, saying that under your governance, Tianchang County has risen from a medium-sized county to a superior county! You've done a great job!"

Upon seeing acquaintances, Zhou Ning could only exchange pleasantries.

4:30 AM!

Start checking license plates!

The guards and eunuchs checked everyone's fish-shaped pouches, ivory tokens, and gate registers (official rosters).

Zhou Ning followed Sheng Hong through the left side gate, while the military officers went through the right side gate.

5am!

Let's begin the shift!

The crowd lined up in the Danchi (palace square) according to their rank.

Civil officials were placed in the east rank, and military officials in the west rank.

Those with higher official rank are arranged in the front row.

The censor was seen holding a register to maintain order, immediately noting down the names of those who coughed or whispered.

Soon Zhou Ning's position was corrected, and he was now ranked ahead of Sheng Hong!

Only then did Sheng Hong realize that Zhou Ning had been promoted to the position of Supervising Secretary of the Secretariat!

"Are you kidding me? Why am I being punished by standing so early?" Zhou Ning thought to himself.

5.30!

Three whip cracks!

The procession began to move. The officials crossed the Golden Water Bridge in turn, stood before the steps of the Fengtian Gate, performed the second bow, and then entered the Wende Hall to await the emperor's ascension to the throne.

When the old emperor arrived, all the officials bowed and kowtowed three times and nine times!

"The old emperor's health has deteriorated quite a bit..." Zhou Ning could tell just by looking at his condition.

"A few days ago, reports came from Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Hubei provinces that locusts had been found in scattered areas. If there really is a locust plague, then the land will be barren for thousands of miles, and there will be no harvest. Are there any people from Jiangsu and Zhejiang here?" the old emperor asked.

Should I step forward and report?

Does not going out constitute deceiving the emperor?

After hesitating for three breaths, Zhou Ning stepped forward, knelt, and then stood up, saying, "Your subject, Zhou Ning, is the Assistant Director of the Imperial Workshops and a newly appointed Supervising Secretary of the Secretariat. I just arrived in the capital from Yangzhou yesterday."

The old emperor laughed and said, "I remember you, you were just a child! The top scholar in the imperial examination of the fifth year of the Jiayou era! Tell me!"

"I believe..."

"I have witnessed several locust plagues. As long as we raise more ducks and herons to eat them while they are still larvae, they will not amount to much. Your Majesty! I have something else to report!" said Chancellor Han Zhang.

Zhou Ning was caught in the middle, unable to move forward or backward, and enjoyed the feeling of returning to Sheng Hong!

Sheng Hong recalled his return to the capital years ago and suppressed a laugh.

"Today we will only discuss the locust plague; do not create unnecessary complications!" the old emperor said, displeased.

It's been like this every year!

There's no peace and quiet every single day!

"Your Majesty, interrupting someone's memorial is a breach of court etiquette. I must impeach this official for this disrespectful conduct before the Emperor!"

......