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

After the execution, Zhu Di returned to the palace.

The oppressive atmosphere of terror that had been weighing on everyone's hearts finally dissipated somewhat.

Several minor officials who were watching could no longer hold back and began to vomit violently while leaning against the wall.

Gu Yannian stood up, closed the roster, and carefully put it into the wooden box he carried with him.

He glanced at the sky; the midday sun shone on the blood-soaked ground, giving off a nauseating, fishy smell.

"It's almost time; it's time to go back to the yamen and report."

He picked up the wooden box and walked calmly across the perimeter of the execution ground, which was already soaked in blood.

The soles of the shoes made a slight sound as they stepped on the sticky bluestone slabs.

Back at the Hanlin Academy, the water clock pointed exactly to the Shen hour (3-5 PM).

Gu Yannian walked to his desk and handed the completed list of names to the pale-faced Shangguan.

He then returned to his seat.

With a slight thought, a transparent panel appeared before my eyes.

[Ding! Today's roll call complete.]

[Gained 1 attribute point.]

"Add to the spirit."

A refreshing coolness washed over me, completely cleansing away the lingering smell of blood and the cacophony of the day's execution.

Gu Yannian picked up the tea that had long since gone cold from the table and drank it all in one gulp.

This major case from the early Yongle period has now come to a close.

The world will eventually be at peace for a while.

As the years go by, the seasons change.

In the blink of an eye, the Yongle reign has entered its third year.

The city of Jinling, once stained with blood, has long since regained its former glory under the passage of time.

The banks of the Qinhuai River are still filled with revelry every night, with talented men and beautiful women composing poems and exchanging verses.

It's as if the turmoil of the Jianwen era was just a distant dream.

Having secured his rule, Zhu Di began planning a northern expedition against the Mongols.

In terms of civil administration, he issued an imperial edict that was unprecedented in history.

He compiled the "Wenxian Dacheng", which later became the "Yongle Encyclopedia".

This massive project fell on the shoulders of Hanlin Academician Xie Jin.

For a time, the Hanlin Academy was bustling with activity, and scholars and writers from all over the country flocked there, all considering it an honor to participate in the compilation of books.

Gu Yannian was impressed by his steadiness, meticulousness, and thoroughness when he was organizing Jianwen's old files.

He was naturally selected by Xie Jin to join the book-editing team, responsible for classifying and collating ancient books in the vast library.

This was exactly what Gu Yannian wanted.

The library towers into the clouds, its contents vast and numerous.

This place is perpetually shrouded in darkness, permeated with the scent of aged ink and camphor wood.

For other officials, this place is a dull and tedious bench.

But for Gu Yannian, this was an excellent safe haven.

There's no need to get involved in court factional struggles or deal with red tape; all you have to do every day is immerse yourself in books and clock in on time.

It was late that day, and a light autumn rain began to fall outside the window.

The other clerks in the library had already left.

Only Gu Yannian was engrossed in reading a fragmented travelogue from the Song Dynasty, illuminated by a solitary lamp.

Suddenly, soft footsteps came from outside the door.

In the quiet night, the footsteps sounded exceptionally clear.

Gu Yannian's agility and spirit, which were nearly 200 points, allowed him to instantly judge that the person who came was light-footed and had a long breath, and was definitely not an ordinary Hanlin Academy clerk.

"Squeak."

The heavy wooden door was pushed open, and a cool breeze carrying raindrops blew into the room, causing the candlelight to flicker.

An old monk, dressed in black robes, with a gaunt face but sharp, eagle-like eyes, slowly walked in.

He held a string of sandalwood prayer beads in his hand, and his seemingly casual gaze seemed to pierce through people's hearts.

Yao Guangxiao.

Gu Yannian's heart skipped a beat, and he immediately recognized the person who had come.

This extraordinary man, later known as the "Black-Robed Prime Minister," was Zhu Di's chief strategist in seizing power.

He was well-versed in Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism, and was proficient in physiognomy and Qimen Dunjia. He was the most unfathomable figure in the Ming Dynasty.

Gu Yannian calmly put down the incomplete book in his hand, stood up, straightened his official robes, and bowed.

"This humble official, Gu Yannian, a compiler at the Hanlin Academy, greets Your Excellency, the Junior Tutor."

Yao Guangxiao stopped and, by the dim candlelight, looked Gu Yannian up and down.

"Is Editor Gu still working so late?"

Yao Guangxiao's voice was hoarse, conveying a sense of vicissitudes from having experienced the world.

"Your Excellency, I am dull-witted and my progress in collating ancient books during the day has been slow. I fear that I may misunderstand your grand plan for compiling books, so I am here to fill in the gaps."

Gu Yannian's answer was proper and respectful, without being obsequious.

He perfectly embodies the role of a diligent but talentless low-level official.

Yao Guangxiao walked to the desk, glanced at the book that Gu Yannian had just been reading, and suddenly chuckled.

"A fragment of the *Dongjing Menghualu*? This doesn't seem to be one of the classics, histories, philosophical works, and literary collections that are urgently needed for this book revision."

Gu Yannian remained calm, showing no sign of panic at being exposed.

"Your Excellency is wise. I was just tidying up the bookshelf when I noticed this book was slightly damaged. Fearing it would continue to decay, I casually flipped through it, thinking I would find some paste tomorrow to repair it."

Yao Guangxiao fiddled with the prayer beads in his hand, but did not delve any further into the matter.

He turned around, looked at the forest of bookshelves in the library, and slowly said:

"I happened to pass by the Hanlin Academy today and heard Xie Jin praise your meticulous organization of documents, so I came in to take a look. Now it seems you've been born with the temperament to sit on the sidelines."

"This humble official is of limited talent and learning, and does not deserve the praise of Scholar Xie. I am simply accustomed to the quiet of this pile of books."

Yao Guangxiao turned his head, his deep eyes fixed on Gu Yannian's face.

It was as if they could see through his past and present lives.

A moment later, Yao Guangxiao's brows furrowed slightly.

He was an expert in physiognomy, had seen countless people, and could tell a person's fate and destiny at a glance.

But he saw nothing in the young official in front of him.

Gu Yannian's appearance was unremarkable, and his fortune was even more gloomy and unclear.

He was like a stagnant pool, without ripples, without a past, and seemingly without a future.

Completely detached from the principles of destiny and fate.

"strangeness."

Yao Guangxiao thought to himself, but showed no emotion on his face.

"The world is bustling, all for profit; the world is in turmoil, all for gain. Which of these officials isn't scrambling to climb the ranks?"

"At your age, you intend to waste your entire life in this library?"

Yao Guangxiao asked calmly.

Gu Yannian lowered his head slightly.

"I have no great ambitions, I only wish for three meals a day and the safety of my family. The ever-changing political landscape of the court is beyond my comprehension. To remain in the library, with books as my companions, is already a great fortune for me."

Yao Guangxiao gave him a deep look.

After a long pause, he nodded.

"Great wisdom appears as foolishness, and it's rare to be muddleheaded. With your temperament, you might live longer than anyone else in the Yongle era."

After saying that, Yao Guangxiao turned and walked out the door.

As he reached the door, he paused, leaving behind a casual remark.

"We should change to a brighter lamp tomorrow, otherwise my eyes will be hurt and I won't be able to read."

The black monk's robe disappeared into the night rain.

Gu Yannian sat back down at his desk, looking at the flickering lamp, a faint smile playing on his lips.

"To live longer than anyone else?"

He silently repeated the sentence to himself.

"Your Excellency, I appreciate your kind words. I not only wish to live a long life, but I also want to witness the rise and fall of the Ming Dynasty."

He turned to the next page of the tattered manuscript, continuing to immerse himself in the prosperous dreams of a thousand years ago.

As for Yao Guangxiao's probing, he did not take it to heart.

As long as he doesn't reveal the slightest flaw, no matter how intelligent this black-clad prime minister is, he won't be able to find out about a daily attendance system that only knows how to clock in on time.