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

Zhu Gaochi was stunned.

He had never seen anyone who would refuse an official position.

Looking into Gu Yannian's clear, bright eyes, Zhu Gaochi finally became convinced that this man was truly without desires or wants.

"That's enough, that's enough."

Zhu Gaochi shook his head helplessly, pointed at Gu Yannian, and laughed and scolded.

"You rascal, you are truly the most extraordinary person in our Great Ming Dynasty. You do not vie for power, nor are you greedy for wealth, you just stay here guarding your two-foot-square desk. I will not force you, you can just stay here and do your job as a clerk in peace."

"Thank you for your consideration, Your Highness."

After Zhu Gaochi left the side hall, Gu Yannian sat back down in his chair.

He opened the rosewood box, and a musty, old scent of ink wafted out.

Inside lay several yellowed, thread-bound books, truly rare and unique overseas editions.

Gu Yannian stroked the rough pages, his mind at peace.

Promotion? Upgrade?

In this feudal dynasty, the higher one's official rank, the closer one was to the dragon throne, and also the closer one was to death.

Why would someone with an endless lifespan risk his life for a mere few decades of power?

He was merely a bystander in history.

He was not involved in the game, yet he could clearly observe the joys and sorrows of those within it from the outside.

[Ding! Today's attendance complete. Attribute point gained +1.]

The familiar notification tone rang in my mind right on time.

Gu Yannian allocated his attribute points to "Agility".

He raised his hand, his gaze falling on a hard walnut on the table.

Without using any internal force or making any exertion gesture, he simply pinched the skin lightly with two fingers.

A very light, crisp "snap" sound.

The thick-shelled walnut, which even a hammer would have to crack open, instantly turned into even fragments between his two fingers.

Even the intact walnut kernels inside weren't damaged in the slightest.

With over 800 points in all attributes, Gu Yannian possesses terrifying strength similar to that of a "land immortal" in mythology.

But he simply picked out the walnut kernels, put them in his mouth, chewed them carefully, and then swept the broken shells into the wastepaper basket.

The late autumn sunlight streamed through the window, casting dappled patterns on the blue brick floor.

Gu Yannian turned to the first page of the rare travelogue and became immersed in the strange and wonderful legends of foreign lands.

The ever-changing winds and clouds outside the Wenhua Hall seem to never penetrate this tranquil little world.

……

Spring of the tenth year of the Yongle reign.

The willows in Nanjing are at their most lush during the year.

The painted boats on the Qinhuai River had long since been draped with brand-new gauze curtains.

Under Zhu Di's vigorous promotion, the national strength of the Ming Dynasty reached an unprecedented peak.

Inside the Wenhua Hall, Crown Prince Zhu Gaochi, who was overseeing the country, was taking advantage of a brief moment of leisure in the afternoon to chat casually with several officials from the Eastern Palace.

Gu Yannian sat behind his desk in the side hall.

While sorting through the lists of candidates for the imperial examinations sent from various places, he mentally completed his roll call for the day.

[Ding! Today's attendance complete. Attribute point gained +1.]

He skillfully allocated the attribute points to "Constitution," then picked up his teacup and moistened his throat.

"Speaking of which, I have discovered something strange while reviewing the resumes of officials from various departments these past few days."

Zhu Gaochi tapped his chubby fingers lightly on the table.

His gaze passed through the open lattice doors and landed on Gu Yannian in the side hall.

"Recorder Gu, I remember you entered the Hanlin Academy in the first year of the Jianwen reign. Counting the years, you've wasted fourteen years in this officialdom, haven't you?"

Upon hearing this, Gu Yannian put down his vermilion brush, stood up, walked to the main hall, and respectfully replied.

"Your Highness, it has been fourteen years."

Fourteen years have passed in the blink of an eye.

Zhu Gaochi looked Gu Yannian up and down, his brows furrowing slightly.

"How come I see you? Your appearance is exactly the same as when I first met you. Among all the civil and military officials, who hasn't aged with graying temples? Only you seem to have been forgotten by time."

"And you must be in your mid-thirties now, why is your resume still showing you as single? At this age, not having married or had children, is there some unspeakable hidden illness?"

"If there are truly difficulties, I will petition my father to arrange a marriage for you among the selected ladies-in-waiting from the palace. What do you say?"

Upon hearing this, alarm bells immediately went off in Gu Yannian's mind.

The appearance of an immortal does not age.

But in the eyes of ordinary people, this is an illogical and bizarre phenomenon.

Moreover, when the emperor bestows a marriage upon someone, the person being given the gift is very likely to be an informant of the Embroidered Uniform Guard or a spy for some other faction.

It would be a shame to let a woman of unknown origin into my yard.

His peaceful days were now completely over.

Gu Yannian's mind raced, but he quickly put on a look of fear and embarrassment and bowed deeply to the ground.

"Your Highness is too kind! I am only naturally young-looking. As for marriage, I would never dare to trouble Your Highness and His Majesty."

"To be honest, a marriage was arranged in my hometown a few years ago, but the bride's elders passed away one after another, and the mourning period delayed things. These past few days, I've been asking a matchmaker to prepare for the betrothal and the wedding."

"Oh? I see."

Seeing that he said that, Zhu Gaochi did not insist, but just smiled and joked.

"Since good things are approaching, don't forget to distribute some wedding candy to your colleagues in the Wenhua Hall on your wedding day."

"Of course, I will obey."

After returning to the side hall, Gu Yannian immediately realized that he had to put this "fabricated" marriage into practice right away.

An official in his thirties, with a youthful appearance and living alone, is too conspicuous in this era that emphasizes clan ethics.

He needs a wife, a shield to help him conceal his true intentions and protect him from outside prying eyes.

On his day off, Gu Yannian changed into casual clothes.

They found Wang, the most discreet and reliable matchmaker in Jinling City.

His request was strange:

He doesn't care about social status or physical appearance; he only wants a woman who is quiet and has no one to rely on.

Ideally, the woman should be older and in dire need of a place to stay.

Matchmaker Wang received a reward of ten taels of silver, demonstrating her exceptional efficiency.

Within three days, a suitable candidate was found for him.

The woman's surname was Shen, her given name was Wan, and she was twenty-five years old.

In the Ming Dynasty, being unmarried at twenty-five was considered an old maid.

Shen Wan's father was originally a ninth-rank inspector during the Jianwen reign. He died in the chaos of the Jingnan Rebellion, and his family fell into decline.

She struggled to raise her elderly, blind grandmother, and now that her grandmother has passed away, she is all alone.

All I ask for is a full meal and a roof over my head to shelter me from the wind and rain.

The two met in the presence of a matchmaker.

Gu Yannian, dressed in a blue robe, clearly stated his purpose for coming.

"Miss Shen, I am a cold and aloof person. This marriage is merely to comply with the rules of officialdom. Once you enter the household, you will be in charge of all matters within the family, and you will never lack anything in terms of food, clothing, or daily necessities."

"As long as you behave yourself and we treat each other with respect, I, Gu, will ensure your lifelong peace and stability."

Shen Wan was wearing a coarse cloth dress that was faded from washing but was clean and starched, and her face was delicate.

His eyes revealed a calmness born from hardship.

After hearing Gu Yannian's words, she simply gave a slight curtsy.

"It's entirely up to Lord Gu to decide."

Half a month later, an inconspicuous sedan chair was carried into Gu Yannian's courtyard through the side gate.

There was no grand banquet, no elaborate procession; only a few colleagues from the Wenhua Hall came to drink a cup of light wine.

In the stillness of the night, the red candles flickered.

Gu Yannian entered the bedroom and looked at Shen Wan, who was sitting upright on the bed.

He took a prepared brocade quilt from the cabinet and spread it out on the daybed under the window.

"This room is spacious; you can sleep on the bed, and I'll sleep on the couch."

Gu Yannian lay down fully clothed. "Get some rest. I have to go to the yamen to report for duty tomorrow."

Shen Wan quietly blew out the red candle.

The distant sound of the night watchman's gong drifted from outside the courtyard.

Gu Yannian closed his eyes and his breathing became steady.

His identity puzzle in the Ming Dynasty has finally been completed, with the most important piece of cover added.