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

Then, he picked up his brush, dipped it in vermilion ink, and his wrist moved swiftly.

The pen tip leaves rows of neat and rounded official script characters on the specially made roll of paper.

He copied at an astonishing speed, yet it exuded a calm and effortless ease.

In less than half an incense stick's time, a paper was copied and completed.

Not only were the handwriting flawless, but the paper itself was also exceptionally clean.

Not a single extra speck of ink remained.

In the stillness of the night, the sound of the clapper at the third watch of the night drifted from outside the examination hall.

The chief examiner, Yang Shiqi, was wearing a heavy crane cloak.

Escorted by two constables carrying lanterns, he slowly entered the copying office for inspection.

This was a renowned minister who served under both the Jianwen and Yongle emperors and would later become one of the "Three Yangs".

He had a thin face and a long beard.

Although his eyes showed signs of fatigue, they still shone with a wise insight into the ways of the world.

"My lord, the clerks have been working tirelessly for days and are suffering terribly."

The accompanying examiner lowered his voice and said.

Yang Shiqi sighed.

His gaze swept over the desks where people were dozing off or struggling to stay awake, and he shook his head slightly.

"The talent selection ceremony is a matter of national importance and cannot be taken lightly. Issue the order to provide the copying office with two extra meals of meat tomorrow, and to prepare plenty of strong tea to keep them alert."

As they were talking, Yang Shiqi's gaze suddenly stopped in the corner.

Among this group of exhausted and haggard clerks, Gu Yannian's presence seemed too conspicuous.

He stood upright, his breathing long and steady.

The vermilion brush in his hand moved like a butterfly flitting among flowers, producing characters so neat and precise that they seemed to be carved from the same mold.

What surprised Yang Shiqi the most was that Gu Yannian rarely looked at the original scroll while copying it.

Often, after just a quick glance, he can be writing hundreds of words without pausing.

Yang Shiqi, feeling curious, quietly walked behind Gu Yannian and stopped to observe.

At that moment, Gu Yannian picked up a new original scroll.

However, when the original scroll was delivered, it was accidentally spilled with tea by the servants in the previous process, staining a large area.

In particular, the key sentences that introduced and elaborated on the topic had become blurred and indistinct due to ink bleeding.

When ordinary clerks encounter such incomplete scrolls, they must report them to the chief examiners, who will then discuss and decide on a decision, which takes a lot of time.

But Gu Yannian only frowned slightly.

In an instant, he deduced the original handwriting from the edges of the blurred ink, the direction of the brushstrokes, and the context of the surrounding text.

He wrote with his wrist suspended, without a moment's hesitation.

He directly copied the entire article onto the transcription paper.

Yang Shiqi, watching from behind, gasped in shock.

Even a learned man like him had to ponder the blurred handwriting for a long time.

This young seventh-rank clerk was able to complete the task with just one glance?

Moreover, the added words and phrases are grammatically correct and the solution to the problem is ingenious, clearly reflecting the candidate's original meaning!

"Sir, is your surname Gu?"

Yang Shiqi couldn't help but speak up.

Gu Yannian stopped his wrist, turned around, and saw that it was the chief examiner. He quickly stood up and bowed respectfully.

"This humble official, Gu Yannian, the registrar of the Wenhua Hall, greets Scholar Yang."

"No need for formalities. I have heard of your great reputation from the Crown Prince."

Yang Shiqi offered a helping hand and pointed to the exam papers on the table, asking a question.

"Recorder Gu, the scroll was severely damaged just now. How did you manage to repair it instantly, word for word?"

Gu Yannian lowered his eyes, his expression still one of fear and trepidation, without a single flaw.

"In reply to Lord Yang, I have no supernatural powers. It is only when I was organizing the books in the Wenhua Hall that I read the obscure commentary by a Song Dynasty Confucian scholar that this candidate cited."

"In addition, these eight-legged essays have a fixed structure in their introduction, development, transition and conclusion. I have been copying documents for many years and am very familiar with this kind of writing style. So I dared to guess it by following the remaining ink marks."

Gu Yannian explained calmly, attributing his extraordinary achievements to skill and luck.

Yang Shiqi stroked his beard and pondered, looking intently at Gu Yannian.

As a seasoned veteran who had navigated the treacherous waters of the imperial court for many years, Yang Shiqi naturally understood that this was a pretext.

He was able to seamlessly blend the structure of the eight-legged essay with obscure ancient texts, instantly completing the incomplete scroll.

With such talent and memory, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say he'd be the top scorer in the next exam.

"You are too modest, Clerk Gu."

Yang Shiqi smiled slightly, his tone revealing a hint of recruitment.

"In my cabinet, I'm in dire need of a secretary with a good memory and reliable conduct. It would be a shame to waste your talent buried in piles of old documents, copying and writing."

"After the examination is over, I will ask His Highness the Crown Prince for a favor and have you transferred to the cabinet for training."

The Secretariat Secretary was the confidential secretary of the cabinet ministers, and could be considered a true close advisor to the emperor.

If you persevere for a few years, you'll be able to be appointed as a fourth-rank official when you're sent out to work elsewhere.

This would be a meteoric rise for any official in the Ming Dynasty.

But Gu Yannian was a hundred times unwilling.

What is the Grand Secretariat? It is the eye of the storm in the political struggles of the Ming Dynasty.

Yang Shiqi and Yang Rong argued with the emperor every day for matters of national importance.

The slightest mistake could cost you your head.

Why would an immortal being like him go to such a place and cause trouble?

Gu Yannian immediately bowed deeply again, bending his waist even lower.

"Lord Yang's kindness is something I could never repay, even if I were to die a thousand deaths! But..."

Gu Yannian deliberately made his voice tremble slightly and bitter.

"I have suffered from a heart ailment since childhood, and the doctor has advised me not to overwork myself. The cabinet is the linchpin of the nation, and its affairs are numerous and demanding. If I were to go to the cabinet with my poor health, I fear that I would not only be unable to share your burdens, but my illness would also cause me to make mistakes."

"Being able to serve as a leisurely clerk in the Wenhua Hall is already a blessing I have accumulated over several lifetimes; I dare not ask for anything more."

Yang Shiqi's smile gradually faded.

He stared at Gu Yannian for a long time, confirming that there was indeed no trace of desire for power in those clear eyes.

He shook his head with a hint of regret.

"Very well. Everyone has their own ambitions, and I will not force you. It's just a pity that you have so much knowledge."

Yang Shiqi turned and left, leaving Gu Yannian to continue copying the exam paper in the dim candlelight.

It wasn't until the sky began to lighten that the clerk, who was changing shifts, walked in yawning.

Gu Yannian tidied up the desk and handed over the neatly copied files.

He walked out of the examination hall with a calm and composed gait.

In the early morning in Shuntian Prefecture, breakfast stalls had already been set up on both sides of the street.

The aroma of steaming hot soy milk and fried dough rings filled the air.

Gu Yannian walked to a familiar stall, ordered a bowl of hot soy milk and two meat buns, and began to eat slowly and deliberately.

What's the point of passing the imperial examination and being a cabinet minister?

For him, nothing is as satisfying as a hot meal as winter turns to spring.

There's still plenty of time.

He had enough patience to sit on this bustling street.

Watching those powerful figures who wielded immense influence in the imperial court, appearing and disappearing like a revolving lantern.