Let you play a corrupt official, are you saying you want to make progress?

Chapter 35: The Emperor’s Test

The stage scenes continued to shift, and now the nephew had reached Wang Zhi’s place, but Qin Xuan was nowhere to be found. The nephew shared all the details with Wang Zhi.

“Uncle, Brother Qin’s bottle wasn’t worth much, but Mr. Wang compensated with eighty thousand silver taels!” The nephew explained seriously.

He was a bit confused.

Well done, very well done. I didn’t expect that Qin Xuan is even more meticulous now.  With this method, as long as the Emperor didn’t investigate, there wouldn’t be any evidence on the other side!” Wang Zhi admired.

Despite his young age, Qin Xuan was exceptionally cautious and clean in his dealings.

“Oh, Mr. Wang also visited your art shop and bought several of your artworks!”

“It seems Mr. Wang is ambitious. Learn from Brother Qin in the future. Qin Xuan will be a great asset to you,” Wang Zhi advised.

Mr. Wang is quite astute too. Besides giving to Qin Xuan, he also showed me some goodwill.

“Go and call Brother Qin! I need to talk with him!” Wang Zhi remarked casually.

Wang Zhi summoned Qin Xuan.

“Qin Xuan, I’m aware of this matter. You’ve done an excellent job. I’ve reported your nautical chart to the Emperor. I’m sure His Majesty will…”

After a light knock, Wang Zhi saw Qin Xuan enter and wasted no time.

“Greetings, Your Majesty. You must express your attitude and capabilities clearly. The Emperor has been on the throne for three years, but his foundation is not solid. If you want to rise further, it will require your efforts,” Wang Zhi imparted his wisdom.

Although Qin Xuan excelled, he had never dealt with the Emperor. Some things needed to be explained to him personally.

“Please guide me, Mentor!” Qin Xuan bowed, displaying excellent manners.

His Majesty is eager to nurture his people. Scholars like you, without influential backgrounds, are the ones he wishes to bring closer. Furthermore, you’ve already achieved great feats and provided the nautical chart.

As long as your abilities and loyalty are unquestionable, His Majesty will naturally promote you. Wang Zhi stood up and walked to Qin Xuan’s side, sharing his experience.

Qin Xuan possessed all these qualities.

“Mentor, I understand,” Qin Xuan truly felt Wang Zhi’s wisdom as a loyal subject.

“Qin Xuan, do you know why, throughout history, so many emperors favored cunning ministers?” Seeing that Qin Xuan understood, Wang Zhi inquired.

Without loyal ministers, there can be no cunning ministers. I believe that in the Emperor’s heart, there are only a few types of key advisors:

Those who can get things done, those who can’t, those who can help the Emperor express his thoughts, and those who can’t, Qin Xuan replied thoughtfully.

“Expressing one’s thoughts openly is essential, and there is no clear distinction between loyalty and cunning in the Emperor’s mind,” Qin Xuan replied confidently, neither humble nor arrogant.

As an Emperor, certain words could not be spoken openly. It required someone who could step forward and present such opinions. This opinion might not be well-received by everyone, leading that person to be viewed as a cunning minister in the eyes of the court.

Wang Zhi nodded repeatedly, appreciating his student’s profound understanding of these matters.

“By the way, His Majesty greatly favors Empress Wan. Perhaps when he summons you this time, he will present a challenging situation related to her. Be cautious, very cautious!” Wang Zhi patted Qin Xuan’s shoulder with a meaningful look.

At that moment, he seemed like a teacher who eagerly anticipated his student’s success and rose to prominence.

“I will remember your teachings, Mentor.” When Qin Xuan finished speaking, a eunuch arrived outside and announced Qin Xuan’s summons to the palace.

Some of the viewers provided detailed explanations, aiding others in understanding the situation better. They were surprised by the intricacies of the events unfolding.

Qin Xuan’s performance impressed everyone in the broadcasting studio. The program director and his team were still processing what had just happened. The director, in particular, was relieved they hadn’t brought out the antique, fearing it might have been damaged. He remarked, “Brother Qin is truly suited for officialdom. None of us would have come out unscathed in this situation. There are things we can’t even fathom!”

He wasn’t exaggerating. The reality was just as he described. The show’s difficulty had increased daily since it began airing, and viewers could feel the mounting pressure. A single misstep could lead to irreparable consequences. Despite the apparent harmony, the political struggles in the imperial court were cruel, with people behind the scenes often wishing each other ill.

“Alright, Qin Xuan, stop sighing. The real challenge is ahead. Remember that Emperor Chenghua was a highly capable monarch in history, with many strategies. I’m curious how Qin Xuan will perform in Emperor Chenghua’s era!” Professor Yang was now fully focused on Qin Xuan.

The scene on the stage continued to shift, and Qin Xuan had already entered the imperial palace. This was his first solo audience with the Emperor.

“Subordinate Qin Xuan pays respects to Your Majesty,” Qin Xuan performed the proper etiquette upon seeing the Emperor.

“Alright, rise, my loyal minister,” Emperor Chenghua, Zhu Jian Shen, gestured for Qin Xuan to stand and maintained an inscrutable expression.

“Do you know why I called you here today, my loyal subject?” Emperor Chenghua asked, looking directly at Qin Xuan and speaking slowly.

“Your Majesty, I do not,” Qin Xuan replied, showing a puzzled expression.

[There’s no need to guess. It’s about the nautical chart.].

[Exactly, I agree. Qin Xuan should just come clean and say it’s about the nautical chart.].

[It’s not that simple. There must be a deeper meaning to why Qin Xuan acts this way.].

[I get it now. You can’t casually guess the Emperor’s intentions; you must act like you know but pretend to be clueless. How can you be smarter than the Emperor?].

The viewers were initially confused by Qin Xuan’s response, but some quickly grasped the subtlety. They realized it was unwise to second-guess the Emperor’s thoughts. As expected, Zhu Jian Shen seemed pleased with Qin Xuan’s answer.

“Very well, I won’t keep you in suspense. I have a challenging case to entrust to you. I’m testing you before granting you a position,” the Emperor continued.

“Your Majesty, I am willing to share your burdens and give my all,” Qin Xuan responded with determination.