My Husband is a Drama King [Book Transmigration] 74

Chapter 74: Promotion

Xu Zhizhou was happy to see Song Changxu return. He walked out of the house. “You’re good with your words. I’ll let you off for now. What do you want to eat? Let’s go out and buy it together.”

Song Changxu followed Xu Zhizhou to the courtyard. He said, “Can’t we just eat out?”

“I see you’ve had a lot of banquets in Yongzhou Prefecture. You’re being lazy at home, not wanting to cook. Are you disliking your own cooking?”

Song Changxu couldn’t answer that.

Xu Zhizhou went to the kitchen and washed a plate of plums. The plums were plump and made one’s mouth water after they were washed. Besides the plums, there was also a bunch of purple grapes, which he also washed and placed on the table to eat together.

He was in the middle of washing when there was a knock on the door. He didn’t bother with it. His husband was in the courtyard. He would go and open it.

“Zhizhou, come and receive the decree together.”

Xu Zhizhou came out of the kitchen, looking a bit dazed, and knelt next to Song Changxu. A person in a dark blue eunuch’s uniform opened the imperial decree.

“By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor proclaims: Minister Song is loyal to the state and diligent in his duties. During the famine in Yongzhou, he did not shirk from hardship, planned the disaster relief, and saved the people from fire and water. I am very pleased. I hereby order Song Changxu to be promoted to the position of Director of the Ministry of Personnel, to take up his post immediately. By imperial decree.”

Song Changxu: “Thank you for your appreciation, Your Majesty.”

The young eunuch helped Song Changxu up and said with a smile, “Sir Song, please rise. Please take the imperial decree.”

Song Changxu took out his purse and handed it to the young eunuch. The young eunuch smiled, finished his errand, exchanged a few pleasantries with Song Changxu, and then left.

After seeing the young eunuch off, Xu Zhizhou took the imperial decree and looked at it. “I’m also a person who has held an imperial decree.”

He held the imperial decree happily.

Seeing this, Song Changxu laughed. “The person who was praised in the imperial decree is right in front of you, and yet you have to hold on to it.”

“This is His Majesty’s imperial decree. Oh my god, I can actually touch it. Husband, you’ve been promoted. Is the Director of the Ministry of Personnel very impressive?” Xu Zhizhou asked with confusion.

“The Director of the Ministry of Personnel is a junior sixth-rank official, half a rank higher than my compiler. But this department is the most powerful of the six ministries. Many people would break their heads to get in.”

Song Changxu: “Once an official is appointed, there is a preliminary examination after three years, and another after six, and a general examination after nine. Then, their rank will be evaluated according to their political achievements. The promotion and evaluation of officials are in the Ministry of Personnel. In addition, retirement is also evaluated by the Ministry of Personnel. Any official whose parents are over seventy and has no brothers can retire and go home to support them.”

There were many other regulations in the Ministry of Personnel. Song Changxu was not very familiar with them. He would only know after he went to the new department.

Xu Zhizhou suddenly lowered his voice. “Then after three years, you can give yourself a top rating and then be promoted.”

Before Xu Zhizhou could react, he was flicked on the forehead. He covered his forehead and glared at Song Changxu.

“You’re so clever. I have to avoid suspicion in my own matters,” Song Changxu almost fell over, both amused and angry.

“I’m just saying. You came back today, and you’ve been promoted. How about we go out to eat?” Xu Zhizhou said, holding the imperial decree with a look of reverence.

“Forget it. I was going to go out and buy vegetables when I came back. I’ve been promoted, and I’m eating out. What can I say about you?” Song Changxu said, watching as Xu Zhizhou took the imperial decree to the bedroom and put it away.

“It’s fine that you’re back. A promotion is different. This is to celebrate your promotion,” Xu Zhizhou said, holding Song Changxu’s arm and pulling him out.

When they reached the bustling Chang’an Street, Song Changxu recalled everything that had happened in Yongzhou Prefecture as if it were a lifetime ago. Xu Zhizhou found a restaurant and pulled him in.

The two of them enjoyed a delicious meal. Although it was to celebrate for Song Changxu, Xu Zhizhou also ate until his stomach was round.

When they came out, the lanterns were lit. Following Xu Zhizhou, they looked at the flower lanterns on the moat. Song Changxu could see Xu Zhizhou’s smiling face when he turned his head.

His heart relaxed.

.

Xiao Ding had received the decree to go to Yongzhou Prefecture. He looked at General Xiao, and at his younger brother, who had taken a few bites of his food and was in a hurry to go out. He said, “Xiao Bang, sit down. Wait until I’ve finished before you go out.”

Xiao Bang met Xiao Ding’s gaze and nodded timidly. He sat down and waited to be lectured.

“Father, you’ve been recalled to the capital for several months. Have you handed over the military tally to His Majesty? My second brother needs it to lead the troops at the border, but you don’t. Why are you keeping it?”

General Xiao: “You’re being disrespectful. Are you questioning your old man? His Majesty hasn’t even said anything, and you’re here to lecture me. His Majesty trusts me, that’s why he didn’t ask for it back.”

“Father, ask yourself honestly, does His Majesty really trust you? You’d better hand over the military tally on your own initiative. Otherwise, the Xiao family will face a disaster. Do you think His Majesty is still a ten-year-old child? Have you forgotten the caning I took for you in the Jinluan Hall, Father?”

“You want your wealth and honor, but you have to drag your children down with you. It’s fine if Xiao Bang is not promising. At least he’s obsessed with men and hasn’t caused any trouble. You’re so old, Father. What haven’t you enjoyed? How come you’ve become so muddle-headed at the end, holding on to power and not letting go, and becoming arrogant?”

General Xiao slammed the table. “Xiao Ding, you’re being presumptuous! Is this how you talk to your father? You rebellious son!”

Xiao Ding’s expression did not change. “You’d better resign, Father. And donate two-thirds of the treasures in the residence to His Majesty. Never get involved with the military again and go back to your hometown to enjoy your old age.”

Hearing this, Xiao Bang felt that something was wrong. He looked at his elder brother, and then at his father. “Father, Elder Brother is also doing this for the good of the family. Don’t be angry with him. I think what he said makes sense. Our family has my aunt and Yurong. We won’t have to be afraid of anything in the future. It’s just a little something. My second brother is at the border. It’s good for you to retire, Father.”

Xiao Ding said, “You don’t have to be afraid that you won’t have a son to support you in your hometown, Father. Third Brother will go back with you. There are also beauties in the prefectural city. It won’t hinder Third Brother from seeking pleasure.”

Xiao Bang was stunned. “Wait, I…”

General Xiao was half-dead with anger from Xiao Ding’s words. Meeting his eldest son’s gaze, he was a little speechless.

The meal ended unhappily. His father had left, and so had his elder brother and sister-in-law.

Xiao Bang’s attendant said in a fawning manner, “Are you still going to the brothel today, Third Young Master?”

Xiao Bang kicked his bottom. “Go to hell. I’m about to be sent back to my hometown. What’s the point?”

“The general is still in charge of the family. He might not listen to the eldest young master. You can go to the brothel with peace of mind, Third Young Master. The ge’ers there all miss you.”

Xiao Bang cursed, “You dog slave. My father doesn’t listen to my elder brother, and you’re still happy. You ungrateful wolf. You’re still trying to trick me into going to the brothel, deliberately making me feel bad. Get out of my sight, and don’t make me slap you!”

Xiao Bang went to find his elder brother, who ignored him. He then went to find his father, who told him to get lost.

Xiao Bang had no choice but to go back to his room. He slapped his thigh. “I only have one beauty in my residence, and she’s been sent away by Yurong. How am I supposed to pass the long night? In the future, I’ll have to go out and hunt for more beauties to take back to my hometown to enjoy.”

.

The next day, Song Changxu went to the Ministry of Rites to get his official robe. When he went to the Ministry of Personnel to report, Assistant Minister Su led him in.

In the past, Song Changxu was a compiler, and Assistant Minister Su was a director of the Ministry of Personnel. The two of them had a pleasant conversation. This time, Song Changxu was under him.

“Sir Song, this is your position. You are to assist in the affairs of the Ministry of Personnel. You can check the books inside for the specifics. There’s nothing to do today. You can be at ease in the Ministry of Personnel.”

“Yes, Sir Su.”

After Assistant Minister Su had left, Song Changxu placed his books and tea set on the table.

The other clerks all had things to do. Song Changxu familiarized himself with the procedures. A clerk took him to see the archives of the Ministry of Personnel.

“Sir Song, this is it.”

“No one is allowed to enter or leave without the orders of Sir Jian and Sir Xu.”

Song Changxu nodded.

The archives of the Ministry of Personnel reminded Song Changxu of the shock he had felt when he had first seen the Yellow Registers at the Ministry of Revenue. In ancient times, when transportation was not developed and there was no technology, they still recorded the common people in registers. It was truly amazing.

The archives of the Ministry of Personnel had the life stories of all the officials. They would only be taken out when it was time for the performance evaluation.

When Song Changxu returned to his seat, a clerk sent over some files. “Sir Su said that you can have a look first, Sir Song.”

Song Changxu answered.

The Ministry of Personnel felt different from the Hanlin Academy. It was a bit similar to the Ministry of Revenue, in that it was very quiet and busy.

The Hanlin Academy was more relaxed.

Thinking of this, Song Changxu started to look at the files. They were all the performance evaluations of the officials who had been promoted last year. He liked to look at other people’s files. That way, he could get a general idea of their lives.

His first day at the Ministry of Personnel was not bad. When he went to the dining hall, he ran into Shen Liang and Pei Shengrong and had a meal with them.

Shen Liang had gone to the Imperial College. After he had accumulated some experience there, he would be transferred to the six ministries and would not have to start from the bottom.

“I’m still seconded to the Ministry of Works. My superior said that he will ask for me then,” Pei Shengrong had already accepted his fate. It was not bad in the Ministry of Works. Sometimes it was very leisurely, and when it was busy, there were also political achievements to be made.

He would work there first and accumulate experience before he was promoted.

Pei Shengrong: “I haven’t congratulated you on your promotion yet.”

Song Changxu had gone to the Ministry of Personnel, which was a good position. The Ministry of Works was a lucrative one, and the Imperial College was a prestigious place, which was conducive to building connections. As expected, the first class were all in important departments in the court, and their future was boundless.

In the afternoon, after he had looked at the files in the Ministry of Personnel, he had a better understanding of it. In the future, he would not be a blind man.

Evaluating merits and conducting assessments, appointing and dismissing officials. Firmly holding on to “power.”

When he returned home, Xu Zhizhou was not there. Song Changxu changed his official robe and felt much more relaxed. He saw that the clothes he had taken off had already been hung up to dry.

“Has the sun risen from the west? He’s also washing my clothes?”

Xu Zhizhou had sold the sugar, had also gone to look at the accounts, and had come back with Xiang Lan.

***

Author’s Note:

Little Song: Hahaha, in the future, I’ll be in charge of evaluations. I’m an evaluation officer.

Little Xu: What evaluation? Can you give yourself a top rating? [Pats head]