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

Spring goes and summer comes.

Life inside the library was regular and uneventful.

Gu Yannian relied on his immense mental strength and memory.

In less than three months, he had read through all the tens of thousands of rare and ancient books in the three-story building.

And a precise catalog index was created in my mind.

He would occasionally point out a few mistakes in the arrangement of the books.

Or remind Steward Wang that some bookshelves are damp and need their mothballs replaced.

This made Old Manager Wang admire him immensely, calling Lord Gu a celestial being descended from heaven.

Crown Prince Zhu Gaochi would occasionally come to the library to borrow books.

Or perhaps they simply want to escape the tedious politics of the previous dynasty and come here for a cup of tea to clear their heads.

"Yan Nian, I had a splitting headache today from all that commotion from those old fogies in the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of War. Your Bureau of Finance is much better; it's so peaceful here."

Zhu Gaochi slumped unceremoniously in the armchair, picked up the tea that Gu Yannian had brewed, and drank it all in one gulp.

"Your Highness oversees the country and governs, working tirelessly for the sake of the Ming Dynasty. It must be tiring for you. As a humble official, all I can do is look after your books in the pavilion and brew you a pot of tea to help you relax."

Gu Yannian spoke in a gentle tone, avoiding any discussion of official matters.

Just do your best to be an excellent librarian.

Zhu Gaochi looked at Gu Yannian's calm and composed face and felt satisfied.

That's exactly the kind of person he wanted: extremely intelligent but absolutely not power-hungry.

It allowed him to find a rare haven of peace in this treacherous imperial palace.

In the early winter of the sixteenth year of the Yongle reign, the first snow fell in Shuntian Prefecture.

On this day, Gu Yannian was copying Wang Xizhi's calligraphy in the pavilion.

A young eunuch rushed into the pavilion, his voice tinged with urgency.

"Master Gu, His Highness the Crown Prince has issued an imperial edict ordering you to immediately select the finest copy of the Avatamsaka Sutra and accompany him to the Great Bao'en Temple."

Gu Yannian put down his brush and frowned slightly.

The Great Bao'en Temple?

Why go to a temple at this time?

But a message flashed through his vast historical database in an instant:

In the sixteenth year of the Yongle reign, Junior Tutor Yao Guangxiao fell seriously ill and resided at the Great Bao'en Temple.

Emperor Yongle (Zhu Di) visited him in person on several occasions.

It seems that the most legendary black-clad prime minister of the Ming Dynasty has finally reached the end of his life.

Gu Yannian immediately turned around.

With his accurate memory, he retrieved a sandalwood box from the rare book section on the third floor.

Inside was a unique copy of the Avatamsaka Sutra, handwritten by a high-ranking monk from a previous dynasty.

He carried the wooden box and quickly followed the young eunuch out of the library.

Inside the Great Bao'en Temple, the sounds of chanting filled the air, yet could not conceal a heavy, sorrowful atmosphere.

Emperor Yongle (Zhu Di)'s imperial carriage stopped outside the temple.

Crown Prince Zhu Gaochi led Gu Yannian and others through numerous corridors to the abbot's meditation room.

The meditation room was filled with a strong smell of medicine and sandalwood.

Zhu Di sat beside the bed.

This decisive and ruthless emperor had slightly red eyes and was tightly holding the withered and thin hand on the bed.

Lying on the bed was Yao Guangxiao, who was already eighty-four years old.

This was a peerless strategist who once used the world as a chessboard to assist the King of Yan in seizing power.

He's now so thin he's just skin and bones.

His eyes were sunken, and he was barely breathing.

But those eyes still shone with a profound light.

"Grand Tutor, I've come to see you. I've replaced all the incompetent doctors in the Imperial Medical Academy. You must get well soon. My Forbidden City isn't finished yet; I still need you to decide on its feng shui..."

Zhu Di's voice trembled with a rare hint of reluctance.

Yao Guangxiao shook his head slightly, forcing a faint smile at the corners of his mouth.

"Your Majesty... my lifespan has come to an end. Having witnessed Your Majesty's creation of this prosperous Yongle era, I have no regrets in this life."

Zhu Gaochi stepped forward, knelt beside the bed, and wept uncontrollably.

Gu Yannian held the Avatamsaka Sutra and stood quietly in the shadows of the corner.

Yao Guangxiao's gaze slowly swept over the crowd.

In the end, it landed precisely on Gu Yannian, who was in the corner.

In that instant, Gu Yannian felt a strange gaze pierce through his disguise.

It was as if they were looking directly into the depths of his soul.

A strong light suddenly burst forth in Yao Guangxiao's previously cloudy eyes.

He stared at Gu Yannian's still young face, which showed no signs of aging, and his lips moved slightly.

No one heard what Yao Guangxiao said, except for Gu Yannian.

With his keen hearing, he clearly discerned the four words the old monk spoke, words that sounded only like the friction of air currents:

"Step...out...of...the...game..."

Gu Yannian felt a slight jolt in his heart.

This old man was an expert in feng shui and physiognomy, and his wisdom bordered on the supernatural.

In the final moments of his life, it seemed that the mystery surrounding him had finally been dispelled.

I vaguely guessed that he was no ordinary person.

But he didn't point it out.

These four words alone express a complex feeling.

Is it envy that he can enjoy immortality and escape the cycle of reincarnation?

Or is it a warning to him to always maintain this outsider's attitude?

Gu Yannian lowered his head slightly.

With a small gesture, we paid homage to this soon-to-be-deceased historical giant.

In March of the sixteenth year of the Yongle reign, Yao Guangxiao, the Junior Tutor to the Crown Prince, passed away.

Emperor Yongle (Zhu Di) suspended court for two days and buried him with grand rites.

He was posthumously awarded the titles of "Civil Minister Who Assisted the State with Sincerity and Diligence," "Grand Master of the Palace," "Pillar of the State," and "Duke of Rong."

His posthumous title was Gongjing.

Gu Yannian stood on the street in Xuanwufang.

Watching the massive funeral procession, with its white banners covering the sky, slowly pass by.

He didn't feel much sadness.

I just felt a profound sense of historical vicissitude.

As powerful as Zhu Di and as wise as Yao Guangxiao.

In the face of relentless time, we are nothing more than a handful of dust.

They burned themselves, illuminating the entire starry sky of the Ming Dynasty.

Gu Yannian, on the other hand, was a dim star that hung silently in the sky, coldly observing all of this unfolding.

Back home, Shen Wan had already prepared a pot of thick mutton soup.

"Sir, it's windy today. Have a bowl of hot soup to warm yourself up."

Shen Wan placed a steaming bowl of meat soup on the stone table.

They also thoughtfully placed a small dish of chopped green onions and cilantro on the side.

Gu Yannian sat down, picked up the soup bowl, and took a sip.

The warmth rising from my stomach instantly dispelled the autumn chill clinging to my body.

"There are many affairs at court these days, so I may have to stay at the Bureau of Justice for a while longer. If you feel bored at home, ask Aunt Li from the alley entrance to accompany you to the temple to burn incense and clear your mind."

Gu Yannian gave a word of advice.

Shen Wan nodded quietly: "I understand, my lord, you must take care of your health while you are out."

In the following two years, many significant historical events occurred in the Ming Dynasty.

In the eighteenth year of the Yongle reign, the Forbidden City was finally completed.

Emperor Yongle (Zhu Di) officially issued an edict renaming the capital as Nanjing and Beijing as the new capital.

The power center of the Ming Empire had completely moved north.

The grand ceremony of all nations paying tribute was solemnly held in the Fengtian Hall.

As a civil official of the fifth rank, Gu Yannian was also fortunate enough to stand in a position near the back of the square.

I witnessed the magnificent Forbidden City complex with my own eyes.

The golden glazed tiles gleamed in the sunlight, and the officials' shouts of "Long live the Emperor!" were deafening.

At this moment, even Gu Yannian, who had always maintained a detached mindset, couldn't help but feel a sense of shock.

This demonstrates the powerful cohesion and creativity of Chinese civilization.

However, behind this dazzling prosperity lies a profound hidden danger.

Less than 100 days after the completion of the Forbidden City, the three main halls were struck by lightning, causing a fire that instantly reduced the magnificent building to ashes.

Zhu Di was greatly shocked and issued an edict blaming himself.

The atmosphere in the court was oppressive, and officials submitted memorials one after another, with some even taking the opportunity to attack the move to relocate the capital.

Inside the Wenhua Hall, Zhu Gaochi was once again overwhelmed by the overwhelming workload of state affairs.

Gu Yannian remained calmly seated in the library of the Bureau of Justice, regularly clocking in and out every day.