Phi-Fic Chapter 8: I became the emperor's secretary...
Chapter 8: I became the emperor's secretary...
Soon, the team passed through the busy streets.
Gu Jingzhi and the other two rode on tall horses, feeling as if they had "seen all the flowers in Chang'an in one day".
There were flags and drums leading the way in front, and imperial guards following behind, with people coming and going in all directions, it was an extraordinary sight.
The streets were crowded with people, and there was a constant stream of people going up and down the stairs.
It's true that ancient society was strict in etiquette and laws, but it's also true that women in the boudoirs were not allowed to leave the house. Look, the girls and their families in the buildings on the street were pointing at the procession, whispering to each other, and sometimes shyly covering their faces.
Of course, not everyone was so friendly. At least, Gu Heng, who was walking in the team, was accompanied by a group of maids and servants, along with Song Yu, the wife of Ning Houfu.
They looked at Gu Jingzhi, who was riding a tall horse, and they felt displeased.
Especially Song Yu, she came here because of Gu Heng, but when she saw Gu Jingzhi riding on a tall horse, looking so proud, she was so angry that she gritted her teeth.
A pair of eyes stared at Gu Jingzhi viciously, as if he had cursed him eight hundred times in his heart.
Gu Jingzhi naturally noticed Song Yu in the crowd, not because he deliberately paid attention to her, but because the marquise acted in a rather grand manner, accompanied by a group of women who looked like they were from a noble family, with maids and servants beside them separating them from the others.
People on the same street seem to be from two different worlds.
Gu Jingzhi glanced at Song Yu, a smile appeared on the corner of his mouth, and then turned his head.
Seeing him like this, Song Yu no longer had the heart to look for her son in the team. She stared at Gu Jingzhi with cold eyes and cursed in her heart: "Little beast, no matter how glorious you are today, I will make you miserable in the future..."
……
After the parade, the team returned to the palace. The crowd dispersed, leaving only Gu Jingzhi, Cheng Yu and Li Yi.
Under the guidance of the palace eunuchs, he walked towards the palace.
Cheng Yu and Li Yi were a little uneasy. They kept winking at Gu Jingzhi. Seeing this, Gu Jingzhi smiled, then looked at the eunuch and asked softly:
"Sir, this is our first time meeting your Majesty, and we don't know what to pay attention to. Please advise us."
The young eunuch smiled and said, "Don't worry, Mr. Number One Scholar. Your Majesty loves talents, so there's no need to be restrained! Listen more, watch less, and answer whatever Your Majesty asks..."
Upon hearing this, the three of them bowed slightly to the eunuch.
Soon, the three of them arrived at the Imperial Study. After seeing Emperor Xia, they bowed and saluted. Emperor Xia raised his hand slightly and said, "Stand up! I have read your articles. You are all pillars of our Great Xia. There is no need to be formal."
Then he gave him a few simple compliments and then gave him an official title.
According to convention, Gu Jingzhi, the top scholar, was a compiler in the Hanlin Academy, a sixth-rank official, while Cheng Yu and Li Yi were editors in the Hanlin Academy, a seventh-rank official.
Emperor Xia smiled and said, "After ten years of hard study, I've earned a place in the top three. I'm going to ask you to copy and write in the Hanlin Academy. What are your thoughts?"
Upon hearing this, Cheng Yu and Li Yi both looked at Gu Jingzhi. As the top scholar, he was naturally the first to answer. Gu Jingzhi bowed and said:
"Although these are just copying tasks, we are new officials. Although we only have to copy and write in the Hanlin Academy, we can quickly improve. We can understand the rise and fall of dynasties, know the finances and laws of Daxia, and understand the customs of various places in Daxia. This is the essence of being an official!"
"Well!"
Emperor Xia nodded with satisfaction, then said with a smile, "My Great Xia has held imperial examinations seven times, but today I would like to make an exception!"
"what?"
The three of them were startled and looked up at Emperor Xia, only to see him looking at them with a smile.
Gu Jingzhi and the others hurriedly lowered their heads, and then heard Emperor Xia say, "Cheng Yu, Li Yi, when you two go to the Hanlin Academy, please take into account what Gu Qing just said! As for Gu Jingzhi, you..."
Emperor Xia stared at Gu Jingzhi, and Gu Jingzhi's heart skipped a beat.
Could it be that there was something about me that displeased Emperor Xia?
Just as he was feeling anxious, he heard Emperor Xia say with a smile, "You are the top scholar this time. I must give you another official position, namely Secretary!"
Gu Jingzhi was shocked when he heard this and immediately bowed and thanked him, "Your Majesty, thank you for your grace!"
The Secretary Lang didn't sound like a high-ranking official, and indeed he wasn't, still a sixth-rank official. However, the Secretary Lang often had to walk before the emperor, which was quite a big deal!
In the twenty years since the founding of the Great Xia Kingdom, no top scholar has ever been able to walk directly before the emperor. This shows that the essay he wrote in the palace examination was deeply favored by the Xia Emperor.
As a result, Cheng Yu and Li Yi showed a hint of envy.
Upon seeing this, Emperor Xia encouraged them again, then said, "Cheng Yu, Li Yi, you two should step back first..."
"..."
Cheng Yu and Li Yi's mouths twitched. Not only was he given an official title as an exception, but he was also left alone when they first met. This honor and favor on Gu Jingzhi was extraordinary!
However, the two were also open-minded people. Apart from being envious, they were not extremely concerned. They just bowed calmly and then left.
Only Emperor Xia and Gu Jingzhi were left in the imperial study.
"Gu Qing, your article is very well written. I have read it over and over again these days, and the more I read, the more I like it. I want to leave you alone today because I want to discuss this article with you in more detail."
"According to the order!"
Gu Jingzhi's mind raced, and the essays from the palace examination that day came to his mind.
Emperor Xia then inquired about some local governance issues one by one, and Gu Jingzhi answered fluently. When talking about the Enfeoffment Order, Emperor Xia said meaningfully:
"These past few days, I've been thinking about this Enfeoffment Order over and over again. The more I think about it, the more I feel that this Enfeoffment Order is quite good. However, it seems... to be targeting my sons."
Uh……
Gu Jingzhi was stunned. He didn't expect that Emperor Xia would say that.
He mentally sorted out his words and was about to answer when Emperor Xia asked casually, "I heard that you are the eldest son of the Ning Marquis's mansion, but the Ning Marquis chose to appoint the second son instead of you as his heir. I wonder if this is the reason?"
"His Majesty!"
Gu Jingzhi was horrified, his mind racing as he said, "In today's world, only the princes have real titles, but this minister is acting out of public interest, without any selfish motives!"
"Oh? You really don't have any selfish motives at all?"
"Your Majesty, history is a mirror that reveals the rise and fall of dynasties. In previous dynasties, and even before that... every dynasty, at a certain stage in its development, inevitably saw the rebellion of princes, leading to internal strife and chaos throughout the country."
"There are also too many vassal kings in the world, forcing the court to spend a lot of money and food to support the royal family. Although this move can maintain the orthodoxy of our Great Xia, in the long run, even if the court gathers all the money and food in the world, I am afraid it will not be able to support them!"
Gu Jingzhi lowered his head, not daring to look into Emperor Xia's eyes.
Emperor Xia listened, nodded thoughtfully, and said, "That does make some sense, but I particularly like the saying 'Using history as a mirror to understand the rise and fall of nations'!"
He glanced at Gu Jingzhi and said, "Forget it! Raise your head and talk!"