Wen Mingyu stretched out his hands and wrapped them around Mu Zhan’s neck. He looked over his shoulders, towards the bottom of the steps, where it was empty. However, he was quickly reminded of the grand occasion that just took place. It had only been over an hour since then, and now he was sitting on the throne…His face was burning hot, and he couldn’t resist bowing his head and pressing his face against Mu Zhan’s neck.
Mu Zhan noticed his movements and slightly inclined his head, his eyes briefly sweeping over. Quickly realizing what was happening, he laughed softly and murmured something in his ear. Consequently, as if in retaliation, he had his face squarely bitten.
In this way, Mu Zhan would have to wear this tooth mark and go about handling state affairs for the next two days. Luckily, one was a rest day, and the other day there was no court attendance required. Not many people were able to catch a glimpse of the emperor’s face; otherwise, they wouldn’t have known what kind of rumors might have been propagated.
Wen Mingyu looked at the obvious, round toothmark on Mu Zhan’s cheek and felt a bit guilty and annoyed. But when it came to apologizing, he couldn’t bring himself to say it. After all, it was Mu Zhan who said that…
Wen Mingyu felt that Mu Zhan brought it upon himself.
He turned his head away in silence, acting as though he were blind.
Zhao Dequan was startled to see the bite marks on the face of the emperor, but he quickly feigned not to notice out of fear of upsetting him. But after some time, he realized that His Majesty’s attitude was odd. Despite being bitten and leaving such a noticeable mark, he didn’t express anger; instead, he seemed—quite happy?
The heart of an emperor was truly complicated and unpredictable…
The top three candidates in the first class would be appointed by the emperor as compilers and editors in theHanlin Academy. The other Jinshi graduates would not be directly assigned positions but had to participate in the imperial court exam. The young and outstanding talents who passed the said exam would be calledProbationary Scholarand sent toShuchang Hallfor further review. After three years, they would undergo assessment, and those with excellent results would be appointed as examiners at the Hanlin Academy, while the remainder would be distributed to various government ministries as officials or given priority appointments as county magistrates; this process was known as dispersing from the academy.
Shao Yan and Ye Xu became Probationary Scholars through the imperial court examination and were personally appointed to the Hanlin Academy by the Emperor himself. Although Shao Yan did not achieve the first-class rank, he did not become disheartened but rather maintained a steady mindset. He recognized his own weaknesses and worked even harder to improve. Furthermore, being a Probationary Scholar was equivalent to being in the preparatory stage of becoming an official. Many high-ranking officials had started their careers as trainees.
Wen Mingyu, Wei Chen, and Chu Shuli were appointed straight to the position of Hanlin officials, who were responsible for the drafting of imperial edicts, compiling of historical records, and serving as lecturers for imperial audiences. The official position may seem small, but the Hanlin Academy was by no means an ordinary department—it was a true training ground for future high-ranking officials.
The Hanlin officials were close vassals of the emperor and held prestigious positions. They often engaged with the emperor and influential ministers in court, accumulating exceptional resources and expertise, leading to rapid promotions. Every three years, a new rotation and selection process would occur, bringing in the next cohort of top-ranking scholars—all elites among the elites.
All things considered, Wei Chen was a Hanlin Compiler, while Wen Mingyu and Chu Shuli were Hanlin Editors, and Shao Yan and Ye Xu became Probationary Scholars. Despite their differing ranks, their work overlapped because they were all close aides of the emperor. And so they continued to occasionally cross paths and became departmental colleagues even after graduation from Imperial College.
After formally beginning work, there would undoubtedly be some discomfort at first, but with determination and effort, one could nevertheless blend in with the environment soon, and others would see their efforts.
Although Wen Mingyu and Mu Zhan have a special relationship, they were the type of people who could distinguish clearly between private and public affairs. When working, they would enter the work state and not bring private affairs out in the open.
There were some exceptions, though.
Wei Chen, as the Hanlin Compiler, had the duty of compiling imperial records and documenting the emperor’s words and deeds. His brain circuit was quite different from the others. He respected Mu Zhan yet was also very intensely dedicated to his duties, not as cautious as others might be.
In hisDaily Records, he candidly penned: “Within an hour, His Majesty glanced at Editor Wen thirty-seven times, smiled five times, wandered off into a daze twice, and as Editor Wen passed by, even attempted to grab his sleeve.”The last sentence—Wei Chen hesitated, unsure if he should omit it since it didn’t happen, just nearly did.
At the end of the day, Wei Chen handed over the notes of hisDaily Recordsto Mu Zhan to read. This material served as the foundation for the state history, written about the emperor’s daily behaviors, so he naturally let him get him through it so that he wouldn’t write anything inappropriate.
In a way, it was also useful for the emperor, as he could reflect on himself.
Mu Zhan received it and took a glance. He didn’t hold back and curve his lips into a smile, commenting, “You’ve written this in great detail.”
We Chen nodded his head, a little smug. “This is my duty as a minister.”
“Are all the numbers here true? Accurate?”
Wei Chen, of course, could not accept his precision being doubted. He quickly said, “Answering His Majesty, it is absolutely accurate. This subject has never forgotten anything since he was a child, so there couldn’t be any mistake about this kind of thing.”
Mu Zhan chuckled as he read, never having been so interested in theDaily Recordsas ever before.
Wei Chen asked, “Your Majesty, is there anything amiss or in need of revision?”
Mu Zhan shook his head and smiled. “There’s no problem; it’s very well written. You can record everything truthfully, but all of it must be submitted to this one for review first.”
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Because their duties weren’t the same, Wen Mingu didn’t notice it at first. But then he accidentally saw Wei Chen’sDaily Records…
Wen Mingyu: “…! ! !”
His expression abruptly changed as he swiftly went to confront Mu Zhan.
In a hidden, empty corner, the two stood extremely close to each other, completely different from the rusty superior-subordinate relationship in front of people. Wen Mingyu dared to converse casually with Mu Zhan, even lecturing the emperor.
“How can you let Wei Chen write… write those things?!”
“What’s the matter with that? It’s simply stating factual accounts.”
“How old do you think he is?”
“He’ll be old enough to marry in three years. He’s not a child anymore. Besides, there’s nothing inappropriate or unmentionable in theDaily Records, is there?”
Mu Zhan’s smile deepened. “Or in your opinion, there might be?”
Wen Mingyu’s teeth itched, wanting to hit a certain dog again.
Mu Zhan reached out to smooth his hair and rubbed his face, laughing, “If you say any more, there might really be.”
Wen Mingyu stiffened, following his line of sight. He found that behind the pillar, Wei Chen poked out his small head, still holding a writing brush and theDaily Recordsin his hand, asking expectantly, “Your Majesty, can this be recorded?”
Mu Zhan grinned and was about to open his mouth when Wen Mingyu interrupted him, saying firmly, “No!”
Wei Chen’s head immediately drooped like a wilted flower, feeling quite lost.
Wen Mingyu approached him and pressed his hand on his shoulder, saying in a solemn tone, “These are all unimportant details. You ought to be recording more significant national matters.”
Wei Chen earnestly replied, “But this is one of my current duties.”
Wen Mingyu shook his head without hesitation, continuing solemnly, “Don’t you still have to draft ceremonial manuscripts, imperial edicts, and confidential documents? Get going, time waits for no one. By the time you record these, someone else will have secretly worked hard and outdone you.”
Being the smartest one in the circle was Wei Chen’s most concern. He frowned upon hearing this: “That’s impossible.”
He said that, but he was obviously in a hurry, saluting and retiring in a flurry.
Looking back, Wen Mingyu saw Mu Zhan lazily leaning against a pillar, smiling slyly. After locking eyes with him, his expression transformed to one of regret as he sighed dramatically before speaking, “How regretful. This one has never seen anyone write theDaily Recordswith sucheloquence,accuracy, andorganization.”
Wen Mingyu naturally wasn’t fooled and easily heard his implication; he simply didn’t believe it even for a second.
Mu Zhan explained, “It’s a bit selfish of this one, but this is part of his duties as a compiler who is responsible for recording imperial records and important events. It helps him hone his skills and prepare him for future promotions.”
The explanation sounded reasonable, but Wen Mingyu wasn’t about to overlook the word “selfish.” Unmoved, he respectfully saluted and said, “Your Majesty, this subject will take his leave.”
Mu Zhan watched Wen Mingyu as he turned to go. Donned in a round-collared robe of jade-green silk, his hair secured with a cap, and a leather belt cinching his waist, Wen Mingyu’s figure appeared upright and graceful. He was the very image of a gentleman, warm and delicate as fine jade.
Mu Zhan didn’t hold back and lightly tapped the top of his cap.
Wen Mingyu seemed to sense something, raising his eyes and reminding him, “Your Majesty.”
He conveyed through eye contact: It’s time for you to start working.
Mu Zhan smiled and said, “My dear minister, let us go together.”
With that, they went back to their respective positions, working diligently and busily.
The workplace, even in ancient times, had similar scenarios.
For example, pressuring the newcomers.
The senior officials, relying on their experience, would often “guide” newcomers by assigning them all the tedious and unpleasant tasks they didn’t want to do. They called it mentoring, but in reality, it was just a way to pass some miscellaneous work to people.
Although not everyone behaved this way, such behaviors were not uncommon. This session of the new cohort of top-ranking scholars included three standouts: Aachild, a woman, and a man with a seemingly gentle and mild disposition. They all have the aura of being easily bullied, like soft persimmons wanting to be pinched. A few veteran officials wouldn’t pass up this excellent chance to slack off.
However, they soon discovered that reality was entirely different from what they had imagined. These newcomers were anything but easy to handle. The dumped tasks were flatly denied; they retorted sharply to unpleasant criticisms and wielded subtle yet needle-like words with eloquence, very capable of pushing people to the limit.
Engaged in scheming for half a day, the seniors failed to make things difficult for the newcomers. Feeling like they had lost face, they resorted to insinuate them under tea-words before the emperor. The words said were layered with indirect complaints, the surface in self-deprecating tones, but the message was apparent: the newcomers were overconfident, disdainful of their seniors’ advice, and very much haughty.
They tried to plant some negative impression of the newcomers in His Majesty’s mind. Yet, to their dismay, the emperor didn’t take their words to heart. Rather, not only did he disregard their complaints, but he also praised Wen Mingyu and the others for their hard work and devotion, even noting how their work ethic put his own to shame. “They even urge this one to focus on his duties,” Mu Zhan added with a wry smile.
Their plan backfired spectacularly. Not only did their plan to snitch on the boss be useless, they were also reprimanded for their own failings and given a warning of demotion. Having reached a dead end, the seniors depressingly returned to their desks, giving up their scheme to cause trouble to Wen Mingyu and his peers.
Aside from a few unpleasant personalities, most of his colleagues were quite easy to get along with. The age gap was not too big, the working environment was harmonious, and he learned a lot of new things from working with them.
Sometimes, some colleagues would bring some local specialty food. Today, they were sharing oranges.
Wen Mingyu thanked him, and then he slowly removed the skin. He neatly split the orange in half, the sections arranged like a blooming flower. It just so happened that Wei Chen was next to him, so he handed one half over.
Then he took half of the orange in his hand, broke off a section, sent it into his mouth, and bit it. The juiceness burst around, sweet and acidic. The flavor was very delicious.
As Wei Chen watched him eating contentedly, he likewise stuffed a section into his mouth, and as a result, his entire face crumpled into a ball, sour to the point where he began to doubt his life. If not for the sake of politeness, he would have definitely spit it out. After barely gulping it down, he cried out in shock, “Don’t you think it’s sour?!”
Wen Mingyu replied matter-of-factly, “A little bit, I guess. But the sourness is just right, very refreshing.”
A little? Where is it a little? It’s incredibly sour, okay?!
As Wen Mingyu put section by section into his mouth, smiling and stress-free, Wei Chen, incredulous, started to question whether there was something wrong with him. Undoubtedly, he popped another section into his mouth and once again tasted the sourness, transforming into a small elderly man with wrinkles on his face.
Wei Chen decided to give up, silently thinking in his heart that Wen Yuzhi probably wasn’t human.
Wen Mingyu then ate the few remaining sections in his hand, and Wei Chen couldn’t help but be a little impressed when he saw his face unchanging. He was clearly enjoying himself.
Just then, a senior who had an unfavorable opinion of them happened to walk by and, with a sarcastic tone, remark about their supposed laziness and habit of pretending to be diligent in front of His Majesty.
As a result, Wen Mingyu retched in the following second.
The senior almost jumped on the spot.What do you mean? Dry-heaving at him, does he think I’m disgusting? These newcomers really have no respect!
But Wei Chen excitedly turned to Wen Mingyu and said, “You were so sour that you vomited, weren’t you? You can’t handle it, right? Right?”
Wen Mingyu rubbed his stomach thoughtfully. “It’s not the oranges. I’ve been experiencing some stomach discomfort lately; I was feeling nauseous yesterday too.”
The senior:You’re probably hinting that I’m disgusting again, aren’t you? I’m making you stick to your stomach, aren’t I! Arrogant! Extremely arrogant!
“Don’t ignore it, you should visit a physician,” Wei Chen earnestly suggested.
Wen Mingyu felt that it made sense and nodded.
Senior was still fuming on the sidelines and was about to speak when Wen Mingyu turned to him with a look of genuine concern and said, “The weather has changed a lot in recent days. Senior, please remember to pay more attention to your physical well-being and peace.”
The senior’s sarcastic words were pushed back. The junior cared, while if they said harsh things, it would appear to be too narrow-minded, so he could only smile stiffly. “You as well, pay more attention to your health.”
“Thank you for your kind words, senior,” Wen Mingyu responded with a warm smile.
Gritting his teeth, the senior turned away in frustration.
After finishing the oranges, Wen Mingyu and the others rested for a while before getting to work again.
Wen Mingyu’s stomach felt surprisingly better once he ate the oranges, so he didn’t seek the imperial physician. However, he gradually discovered that the symptoms were in a familiar pattern: nausea, fatigue, and sensitivity to smells. It also happened once three years ago, and by now, he had even gained some experience in handling this situation.
Anyway, after a few days these symptoms would disappear and he would soon return to normal, so he didn’t really pay it mind.
When Wei Chen asked, he calmly replied that it was an old problem, completely unconcerned.
After all, he and Mu Zhan had discussed it before and believed that, at the very least, they would consider having a child once they were crowned. Mu Zhan wasn’t in a hurry at all either and liked the status of the two of them right now. He saw no need to hasten things.
So every time they did it, they would take contraception. Ancient people also had this method of protection.
But this time, ten days passed, and the symptoms were still there.
Wen Mingyu frowned in confusion. He finally asked the imperial physician to take his pulse.
But to his astonishment, the imperial physician smiled and said, “Congratulations, Your Highness! This is a happy pulse; you are already three months pregnant.”
Wen Mingyu: “…???”
The author has something to say:
During a false pregnancy:
Jade Cub: I’m pregnant.
During a real pregnancy:
Jade Cub: Definitely a false pregnancy, I have experience (serious and sure face.jpg).
PS: *Hanlin content from Wikipedia, with some changes.
ChiFu: OMG!!! I’ve been wanting to see some sweet and adorable cinnamon rolls in my life! kyaaa
I actually like adding extra notes, but my poor laptop can’t handle so many operations, so I had to make the text obvious in meaning or just let you readers do the searching. yiyiyi I was told I got a new laptop in December! It’s not a new one, but I don’t really mind; my only wish is that it can hold many tabs on one screen!!!
I actually kind of like this chapter except the part about searching every pinyin like… XD happy reading!