Da Ming: The system granted me immortality; I clock in every day.

Gu Yannian was not angry, nor did he call out to his attendants.

He slowly stood up and walked steadily to Zhu Qizhen.

That invisible pressure, accumulated over countless years, instantly enveloped the entire Wenhua Hall.

Zhu Qizhen's crying stopped abruptly.

He felt as if the Grand Tutor before him had transformed into a god overlooking all living beings.

That indifferent gaze sent shivers down his spine.

"Does Your Highness wish to lead troops into battle?"

Gu Yannian looked down at him, his tone carrying a chilling gentleness.

Zhu Qizhen swallowed hard and nodded with a forced smile.

"Yes……"

"very good."

Gu Yannian turned around and walked towards a pair of decorative stone lions placed in the corner of the main hall.

This stone lion was carved from a single piece of white marble.

The base, which is connected to the lion's body, weighs a thousand pounds.

Even a dozen or so strong men couldn't budge it an inch with a lever.

Gu Yannian extended his right hand, which had distinct knuckles and appeared weak, and casually gripped the edge of the stone lion's base.

He didn't make any move.

Even the crimson sleeves of the robe didn't billow out at all.

"rise."

Gu Yannian uttered a single word and slightly raised his right hand.

That thousand-pound white marble lion looked like a pillow stuffed with cotton.

He lifted it lightly above his head with one hand.

He paced back and forth in the main hall a couple of times, his breathing even and his expression normal.

It was as if he were holding nothing more than a teacup.

The eunuchs serving in the main hall were terrified and covered their mouths.

He was terrified that crying out would bring about his death.

Zhu Qizhen was so frightened that he plopped down on a low rosewood stool.

His mouth was wide open, and his eyes were almost bulging out.

Gu Yannian gently placed the stone lion back in its original position, producing an extremely dull thud.

The vibrations caused the floor tiles of the Wenhua Hall to tremble slightly.

He walked up to Zhu Qizhen and dusted off non-existent dust from his sleeves.

He bent down and looked directly into the young prince's terrified eyes.

"Your Highness, leading troops into battle relies on physical strength and the ability to charge into battle."

"If Your Highness can lift this stone lion with one hand, I will grant you permission to smash this abacus and go to the training ground to practice martial arts today."

Zhu Qizhen looked at the stone lion that was two or three heads taller than him.

He looked at his chubby little hands again and shook his head repeatedly like a rattle-drum.

Even if he lived another twenty years, he still couldn't move that rock!

"Since we can't move it, we should give up the idea of ​​going to fight in the borderlands."

Gu Yannian straightened up, his tone returning to its usual cold calm.

"Pick up the yellow registers on the ground. Today, in addition to settling this summer grain account, copy the articles in the 'Great Ming Code - Household Law' concerning the embezzlement of military farms ten times."

"It is... the Grand Tutor..."

Zhu Qizhen was so aggrieved that tears welled up in his eyes.

But they dared not disobey in the slightest again.

He obediently climbed down from the stool.

He picked up the yellow book from the ground and then picked up the sandalwood abacus, which was heavier than him.

He continued fiddling with it, making a "tap tap" sound.

His pitiful dream of heroism was crushed by this terrifying stone lion.

Outside the hall, Wang Zhen, who had been hiding behind a pillar and peeking, was now covered in cold sweat.

He was acting on the orders of Consort Sun to secretly deliver some wooden swords and crickets to the Crown Prince to relieve his boredom.

To everyone's surprise, as soon as they arrived at the entrance of the hall, they witnessed the terrifying scene of this living Yama lifting a stone lion with one hand.

Wang Zhen recalled that a few years ago he had tried to stir up trouble for the Grand Secretary in front of the Emperor.

I couldn't help but feel a wave of fear.

Such divine power, if Gu Xiang wanted to crush him...

It's a hundred times easier than crushing an ant.

Just as Wang Zhen was about to slip away, Gu Yannian's unhurried voice came from inside the hall.

"Hey you outside, get in here."

Wang Zhen felt a jolt run through his body.

He scrambled into the Wenhua Hall and knelt down with a thud.

"This servant, Wang Zhen, greets Prime Minister Gu! May Your Majesty enjoy a long and healthy life!"

Wang Zhen kowtowed repeatedly, his obsequiousness overflowing.

Gu Yannian looked at him coldly, his gaze falling on the hilt of the wooden sword that was sticking out of his arms.

"Eunuch Wang, what are you carrying in your bosom?"

Wang Zhen was so frightened that he lost his mind.

He quickly took out the exquisitely carved wooden sword and a gourd containing a cricket.

He cupped his hands above his head, his voice trembling.

"Your Majesty...this...this was sent by the Imperial Noble Consort to help Your Highness relax after studying so hard..."

When Zhu Qizhen heard that it was a gift from his mother, his eyes lit up immediately.

Just as she was about to reach out to grab it, Gu Yannian's cold gaze froze her in place.

He had no choice but to reluctantly withdraw his hand and continue to scrutinize the account book.

Gu Yannian stepped forward, picked up the wooden sword, and casually snapped it in half.

With a "crack," the fine sandalwood sword was broken in two and thrown in front of Wang Zhen.

"Your Highness, as the foundation of the nation, is already overwhelmed with countless affairs of state; where would you find the leisure to indulge in such decadent pursuits?"

Gu Yannian sat back in his armchair and picked up the now-cold teacup.

"Wang Zhen, I think you, the chief steward of the inner court, are quite idle, having time to run errands at the Wenhua Hall."

Wang Zhen lay prone on the ground, barely daring to breathe.

"Since you're free, then share my burdens."

Gu Yannian pointed to the mountain of warehouse ledgers piled up to the side.

"Go and check the purchase accounts for the Imperial Kitchen this month that the Court of Imperial Sacrifices sent over. Within half an hour, find out the falsely reported weights and amounts of silver."

"If they can't find out, you'll have to spend a month washing chamber pots at the laundry department."

Upon hearing this, Wang Zhen's face turned ashen.

He couldn't recognize a whole basketful of characters, no matter how big they were.

Not to mention having to account for the complicated and tedious accounts of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices!

Those imperial chefs used all sorts of tricks to embezzle money; how could a mere eunuch understand them?

But he knew Gu Yannian's temperament well.

If you dare to say "no," this job of washing chamber pots can immediately become a capital offense.

"This servant...this servant obeys..."

Wang Zhen, on the verge of tears, crawled to the desk.

He picked up the abacus and squatted down next to the five-year-old Crown Prince.

Sweating profusely, he scratched his head and looked at the pile of dry account books.

Inside the Wenhua Hall, two souls, one old and one young, who had "suffered endless torment," trembled under the invisible pressure of Gu Yannian.

Half an hour later.

"The Emperor has arrived!"

A eunuch's loud shout came from outside the hall.

Emperor Xuande, Zhu Zhanji, strode into the Wenhua Hall.

He was in a great mood today.

Since Jiaozhi was incorporated into the Annam Military Commission, the Ming Dynasty not only got rid of a burden.

Every year, they can also bring back loads of copper ore from there.

The national treasury is full, and the world submits to its rule.

He was an emperor who lived a very comfortable life.

"Prime Minister Gu! I'd like to take a look at my son's studies!"

As soon as Zhu Zhanji entered the hall, he burst into hearty laughter.

Gu Yannian rose to greet the emperor.

Zhu Zhanji glanced at it.

In the center of the main hall, she saw her beloved son lying on the table, tears welling up in his eyes.

He held a purple-tipped brush in his hand, his hands covered in ink.

Beside him, the Grand Eunuch Wang Zhen was furrowing his brow as he fiddled with an abacus.

The abacus beads were all jumbled up.

Zhu Zhanji was taken aback, stepped forward, and bent down to look at the paper in front of Zhu Qizhen.

He had assumed his son was copying the Analects of Confucius or practicing Yan Zhenqing's calligraphy.

To everyone's surprise, the Xuan paper was covered with tiny characters written in tiny characters, and it turned out to be:

"Summer grain requisition in Jinan Prefecture, Shandong...compensated with 3,200 taels of silver...plus a 2% loss fee..."