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

Gu Yannian bent his knees and knelt down with a thud, his forehead pressed against the cold blue brick.

His voice carried a hint of fear and trembling.

"Your humble servant kowtows to express his gratitude for Your Majesty's divine grace! However... however, your humble servant would rather die than obey the imperial edict."

Zhu Di's smile froze instantly, his brows furrowed sharply, and a murderous aura returned.

"You dare defy the imperial decree? Surely my bestowal of honors cannot sway this great figure like you?"

"Your humble servant would not dare!"

Gu Yannian trembled slightly and explained in a very fast voice.

"Your Majesty, I am naturally timid and faint at the sight of blood. Moreover, I am not skilled in riding. If I were to accompany the army on a campaign, I would not only be unable to share Your Majesty's burdens, but I would also slow down the army's journey due to my horse sickness. Furthermore, I have a frail and sickly wife at home. If I were to go to the desert, I fear her life would be in danger."

"This lowly subject is utterly useless, fit only to guard these inanimate objects for Your Majesty in the capital. If I were to go to the front lines and miscount the amount of military rations, I would be guilty of a crime deserving of death!"

These words were pathetic, lacking any scholarly integrity or masculine spirit.

Zhu Di looked down at Gu Yannian, his admiration gradually turning into undisguised contempt.

What he despises most is this kind of spineless coward who is afraid of death and only cares about his wife and children.

In his view, a true man should die on the battlefield and make a name for himself.

The clerk in front of me has a photographic memory.

Ultimately, he was just a pedantic and uncouth clerk who couldn't be considered refined enough for a proper social occasion.

"Father, please calm your anger."

Crown Prince Zhu Gaochi, who had remained silent until now, quickly stepped forward and pleaded with his hands clasped in supplication.

"Gu Yannian is someone I'm used to working with. He's dull-witted and really doesn't know anything about military affairs; he'd be terrified at the sight of a dead chicken. But he's quite competent at managing the accounts at Tianyuan Pavilion."

"While the soldiers are fighting at the front, people are needed at home to sort out these military supply accounts one by one. I beg Your Majesty to keep him in the capital and let him continue to serve me as a servant."

Zhu Gaochi knew Gu Yannian's temperament well, and by stepping forward at this time, he was both protecting this capable subordinate.

This was also following Zhu Di's lead.

Zhu Di snorted coldly and flicked the wide sleeves of his dragon robe.

"Enough! My camp will not tolerate such useless trash!"

Zhu Di looked away with a disgusted expression.

"Since you enjoy these old papers, then stay in Tianyuan Pavilion until you die! Here are two bolts of imperial Hangzhou silk for you to take back and have made clothes for your ailing wife. Departure!"

"Your humble servant kowtows in gratitude for Your Majesty's boundless grace! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"

Gu Yannian let out a long sigh of relief and kowtowed heavily.

The atmosphere inside the Tianyuan Pavilion only eased again after Zhu Di's entourage had completely left.

The ministers wiped the cold sweat from their foreheads, and their eyes, in addition to disdain, held a hint of mockery as they looked at Gu Yannian.

He dares not accept such immense wealth; he is truly a hopeless case.

Gu Yannian stood up, dusted off his knees, and remained calm as if nothing had happened.

He walked to the table and held the two bolts of Hangzhou silk that Zhu Di had bestowed upon him in his arms.

A fifth-rank physician? He didn't care at all.

These two bolts of Hangzhou silk, suitable for making winter clothes, are truly excellent items.

After the court session ended, Gu Yannian returned to the small courtyard carrying two bolts of silk.

Shen Wan was washing vegetables in the yard when she saw him bring back something, so she quickly got up to take it.

"This is the silk that the palace bestowed upon us today; the material is of excellent quality and very thick."

Gu Yannian casually gave his instructions.

"The winds are cold in the north, so take this fabric and make yourself two sets of winter clothes. Use the remaining fabric to sew me a pair of knee pads as well."

"Yes, sir."

Shen Wan touched the smooth silk, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes.

But he didn't ask any more questions, turned around, and carried the fabric into the house.

Gu Yannian washed his hands and walked to the vegetable patch in the corner of the yard.

He planted a small patch of pickled mustard greens there, which he had brought from the south.

Winters in the north are long, so pickling vegetables is an essential part of food reserves.

Several days later, in the spring of the twelfth year of the Yongle reign.

Outside Shuntian Prefecture, bugles sounded and war drums beat.

Emperor Yongle, Zhu Di, led an army of 500,000 men on a grand expedition to conquer the Oirat Mongols in the north.

Gu Yannian stood in front of a teahouse on Xuanwu Street, holding a bowl of coarse tea in his hand.

He gazed at the distant banners that blotted out the sky and the billowing yellow dust, and watched quietly for a while.

Zhu Di's expedition this time will encounter fierce resistance from the Oirat Mongols at Hulan Hushiwen.

Although they ultimately achieved a Pyrrhic victory, the Ming cavalry paid a heavy price.

The world continues to burn fiercely under the will of this powerful emperor.

Gu Yannian withdrew his gaze and drank the tea in the bowl in one gulp.

"Boss, check please. And give me two more pounds of the finest salt."

He carried the salt he had bought and turned to walk towards his quiet little courtyard.

The roar of the army marching out of the pass was gradually left behind in his mind.

The weather is nice today, perfect for pickling that jar of pickled mustard greens.

The wheels of time keep turning.

And he continues to walk his own endless road.

……

Summer of the twelfth year of the Yongle reign.

The solar terms of Shuntian Prefecture are quite different from those of the gentle and humid Jiangnan region.

The sandstorms of spring had just subsided when the sweltering heat of summer arrived in the blink of an eye.

The northern sun was scorching, casting a white halo over the bluestone-paved streets of Xuanwufang.

Even the mules and horses pulling the cart were so hot that they were foaming at the mouth and refused to take another step forward.

In Gu Yannian's courtyard, however, there was a well-ordered and cool scene.

The old jujube tree in the center of the courtyard has lush foliage, like a giant green umbrella that blocks most of the scorching sun.

Under the shade of the tree, there were two large water vats, each about half a person's height.

Shen Wan, dressed in a simple coarse cloth summer shirt, was layering the washed and chopped pickled mustard greens into the vat.

Each layer was then evenly sprinkled with a handful of salt.

She performed these rough tasks with skill and efficiency, never spilling a single drop of salt water from the vat.

Gu Yannian was holding a cup of cooled plum juice.

Sitting on a bamboo chair under the eaves, I quietly watched Shen Wan busy at work.

Ever since the two became husband and wife in name, Gu Yannian felt that this "deal" was more and more worthwhile.

Shen Wanke kept the original contract and kept the courtyard spotless.

What's even more remarkable is her inherent tranquility.

She never inquired about Gu Yannian's official affairs, nor did she show the slightest curiosity about Gu Yannian's unusual lifestyle.

"The pickled mustard greens from the north have thick leaves, and the taste after pickling is probably even crisper than those from the south."

Gu Yannian put down his teacup and said something casually.

Shen Wan stopped what she was doing, picked up a cloth beside her to wipe the fine sweat from her forehead, and answered softly:

"If you like it, my lord, I will go to the market in a few days and buy several dozen more catties. Seal this jar well and store it in a cool place. When it snows in winter, it will be an excellent dish to stew with tofu."

"Very well, you shall take charge of matters concerning the inner quarters."

Gu Yannian nodded slightly, stood up, and smoothed out the wrinkles on his blue official robe.

"It's almost time; I should go to Tianyuan Pavilion to take up my post."