My Husband is a Drama King [Book Transmigration] 75p2

Chapter 75 p2: Ministry of Personnel Daily Life

As General Xiao walked out of the Panlong Hall, he breathed a sigh of relief. He had already handed over the military tally to His Majesty. He was in his prime. Wouldn’t it be a joke if he were to go home to retire at this time? Their Xiao family was at the height of its power. He could still achieve something. In his hometown, in Jiangzhou, how could it be as prosperous as the capital?

Thinking of this, General Xiao’s heart trembled. He knew that what his eldest son had said was not false, but he still held a fantasy in his heart. His family had Empress Dowager Xiao and the Phoenix Lord. His Majesty had the blood of the Xiao family in him. How could he be so ruthless?

Implication of the nine clans was even more impossible. Did His Majesty also want to kill himself?

General Xiao looked back at the Panlong Hall and saw the upturned eaves and the swaying lanterns.

He turned his head and continued to walk down. A few young officials hurried past.

“Sir Song, the files here have been sorted. There’s still one that’s missing.”

General Xiao looked up and squinted at the young official in the green official robe. He remembered that he was the new top scorer. He had just returned from the disaster relief in Yongzhou and had entered the Ministry of Personnel.

He was so young and had already gained His Majesty’s favor.

He had no background and had not sought a backer. Why not rely on their Xiao family? It was always good to have a young minister. In the future, His Highness would also be able to use him.

Thinking of His Highness, General Xiao thought of Empress Dowager Xiao again. He had not yet paid his respects to his elder sister since he had returned to the capital. Today, he would find some treasures in the storage room and then go to pay his respects.

Ever since Empress Dowager Xiao had retired, she had hidden behind the scenes and had completely lost her ruthless methods. She just treated herself as a worshipped bodhisattva.

She did not get involved in the major affairs of the court. Some officials had once wanted to see her in the palace, but had not been able to. After their disappointment, they had all gone to the Xiao residence to complain to General Xiao.

What was wrong with their Xiao family? At least they were maternal relatives and had military merits. How could they not have people defecting to them?

That year, the new top scorer, Bie Yu, had defected to them and had abandoned His Majesty. At that time, His Majesty was too young and could not control the court ministers. There was nothing to be done.

How could a ten-year-old son of heaven govern the world?

General Xiao returned home and had someone send for some wine. He played with a night-luminescent pearl in his hand and drank and ate meat.

He had followed his eldest son’s advice and had gone to hand over the military tally. He still felt a sense of anger in his heart and could only drown his sorrows in wine.

While he was drinking in the pavilion, he saw Xiao Bang walking in unsteadily, with two beauties in his arms, his face red. He was clearly drunk.

General Xiao was quite disgusted with this younger son of his, who was always up to no good and did no proper business. Now, he was the only son left in the residence.

He didn’t find a good marriage and was always fooling around with these people. What could he achieve? Among those around him, only Xie Huaichuan was a promising person.

General Xiao thought of finding a marriage for Xiao Bang, so that he could settle down.

On the other side, after General Xiao had left, Emperor Pingjing sneered at the military tally. “Old thing.”

Emperor Pingjing put away the military tally, his expression inscrutable.

Laifu came in from outside with a memorial. “Your Majesty.”

Emperor Pingjing continued to review the memorials. He saw one from the Ministry of Personnel, a transfer of a county magistrate. He did not pay much attention to this official position and casually approved it.

He let the matter of retirement pass according to the Ministry of Personnel’s wishes. There were many military and state affairs in a day. Emperor Pingjing would not pay attention to small matters. As long as it was not out of line, he would generally go along with the various ministries’ wishes.

Zhao Jiang was still in the Hanlin Academy, tidying up the books. He was a second-class Jinshi of the second year of Ningxing. Logically, if he was not an official in the capital, he should have been sent out to be one. But he was unlucky. When he was about to be sent out, his mother had died, and he had to observe mourning for three years and could not hold an official position. After three years, when he was about to be appointed again, his father had died, and he had had to observe mourning for another three years.

After six years, two new batches of Jinshi had come out. He had no background. Where was there a position for him? He could only be a Hanlin academician in the Hanlin Academy.

“An imperial decree has arrived—”

Zhao Jiang followed the others to the front to hear the decree. When he heard that he was to be sent out to be an official, he was overjoyed.

Urged by his colleagues, he went forward to receive the imperial decree. He cupped his hands in the direction of the Panlong Hall with reverence.

“Thank you, eunuch.”

After seeing the eunuch off, Zhao Jiang was still in a daze, holding the imperial decree. A colleague patted his shoulder. “You’ve finally gotten a good end this time. In the future, in the county, you’ll be the head of a county. You’ll be your own master.”

Zhao Jiang held the imperial decree, his eyes filled with gratitude. “Thank you for your appreciation, Your Majesty.”

The colleague laughed. “You’re so silly. How could His Majesty care about a small county magistrate in a local place? It must have been some official in the Ministry of Personnel who recommended you. For an official position like a county magistrate, His Majesty can’t even remember.”

Zhao Jiang was a straightforward person. He murmured to himself, “Then should I go and thank him?”

The colleague: “Don’t be silly. You have no connection with the officials of the Ministry of Personnel. It was probably just a coincidence that they picked you out. It’s good that you don’t go and find him. Otherwise, it would be troublesome.”

Zhao Jiang was a little uneasy, as if he had been promoted but did not know who his benefactor was. But what his colleague had said also made sense.

After court, he walked home with a light step. Seeing his wife and children, he told them the news.

“I’ve been sent out to be an official. We’re going to Zidong County.”

His wife asked happily, “Are you going to be a county magistrate?”

Zhao Jiang nodded.

His wife: “This is a good thing, a great thing. To be the head of a county is better than in the capital. I’ll go and buy some good meat and wine to celebrate for you tonight.”

For those who had great ambitions, it was naturally a good thing to be in the capital. But Zhao Jiang was no longer young. He knew that he had no background and his knowledge was mediocre. He was just like an ordinary person in this bustling capital.

The housing prices were high, the expenses were large, and the salary was small. The family was struggling to live here. It would be different in a local place. As a county magistrate, he would have a yamen as his home, and his salary would be enough. He wouldn’t have to look at other people’s faces.

It was also good to be a county magistrate. It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Zhao Jiang held his son and teased him a few times. “I’ll take you to the county to study and learn to read. In the future, you’ll also take the imperial examination.”

His son was only one year old and didn’t really understand. He clapped his hands and wanted to be held.

When his wife came back with the meat and wine, the family had a happy meal.

.

After Song Changxu had become familiar with the affairs of the Ministry of Personnel, his speed increased, but every time there was a personnel transfer, he would stop and carefully look at it before making his own judgment. He would also slow down when he saw the requests for retirement, and would absolutely not let anyone who should retire be left behind, nor would he let anyone who shouldn’t retire be.

A clerk brought a person in.

“Sir Song, this is the soon-to-be-appointed county magistrate of Zidong County, Sir Zhao Jiang. He is here to receive his official seal, travel documents, and official robe.”

Zhao Jiang cautiously greeted Song Changxu. “I pay my respects to you, Sir Song.”

Song Changxu had been in the Hanlin Academy for a while, but he did not know Zhao Jiang at all. There were too many Hanlin academicians. He and Shen Liang were busy with the affairs of the National History Academy and did not know all of them.

Song Changxu saw that he was a man in his thirties, with a proper appearance.

He smiled and gave him the official seal, travel documents, and official robe. “Sir Zhao, these are for you. I wish you a bright future.”

Zhao Jiang knew of Song Changxu. After all, he was the new top scorer. This was his first time interacting with him. “Thank you, Sir Song.”

He took the official seal and walked out of the imperial palace. He suddenly looked back at it, let out a breath, and strode away.

The clerk said, “Sir Song, why didn’t you say that you were the one who had recommended him to Sir Jian?”

Song Changxu lowered his eyes and smiled. “To select the virtuous and promote the capable is what I should be doing in this position. It’s nothing worth mentioning.”

He put the matter of Zhao Jiang out of his mind and continued with his work. He was still very busy at the Ministry of Personnel.

While Song Changxu was busy, Xu Zhizhou was not idle either. He went to the market to buy two maids, one to wash the dishes in the shop, and the other to do the chores at home.

“We really have to buy a house. Otherwise, this small courtyard of ours can’t accommodate four people,” Xu Zhizhou thought, but he still suppressed it and went to the outskirts to choose a location first.

He had said that he would build the sugar workshop first and then talk about buying a house. He had made an appointment with three brokers. Only one of them had given him the bottom price, so he went to talk to him.

“How much is this piece of land?” Xu Zhizhou asked, drawing a large circle.

The broker: “If you rent it, it’s cheap. If you buy it, it’s about five hundred taels.”

Xu Zhizhou cut the price. “Four hundred and twenty taels, a fixed price. The land in the outskirts is not valuable. Besides, this land can’t be used to grow grain. At most, it can be used as a warehouse. I’m sincere about wanting it. Otherwise, I wouldn’t buy it. There aren’t many buyers like me. Go and ask the owner of this land if he’s willing to sell.”

The broker gritted his teeth and stomped his foot. “Alright, if you’re sincere, Furen, I’ll go and persuade him. I’ll give you an answer in a few days.”

Xu Zhizhou agreed. He knew that buying land was not a one-day affair.

He returned home and did not have to do the cleaning or cooking. He was much more relaxed. He had the mind to start fiddling with the things on his dressing table again.

“This box of fragrant balm is almost used up. I’ll try some pearl powder next time, and buy some good lipstick and bath pearls.”

“I see that my inner garments are also a bit old. This one was made for me when I got married to my husband. It’s old and a bit yellowed. I should go and buy a good one.”

Instead of buying too many clothes, it was better to buy a few good ones that were presentable and would last a long time. Xu Zhizhou was still used to living a frugal life. The family was not very rich, and there would be many expenses in the future. He couldn’t just spend all the time.

“I have to treat myself sometimes,” Xu Zhizhou said with satisfaction, and took out his old clothes.

He also found a robe of Song Changxu’s in the wardrobe that had been washed until it was a bit faded. It was too shabby.

“I’m not wearing this anymore. I’ll buy a new one when the time comes,” Xu Zhizhou said fiercely.

They were all going to live a good life.

Actually, Song Changxu just felt that old clothes were very comfortable. When he came back from work, he couldn’t see his old clothes.

Song Changxu: “Where are my clothes? Where is my big set of clothes?!”

Xu Zhizhou passed by from outside. He said, “You mean that faded set of clothes? I threw it away.”

Song Changxu was heartbroken. “Why?”

“Because it was too old. I wanted to buy you a good one.”

Was this Xu Zhizhou’s fault? Anyway, he couldn’t be blamed. Song Changxu could only blame heaven.

Song Changxu said with depression, “That was my favorite one to wear.”

Xu Zhizhou said with a matter-of-fact tone, “I could tell. It was already faded and you still hadn’t thrown it away. You have to throw away what you should. If the old doesn’t go, the new won’t come.”

Song Changxu was sad for a whole night. After dinner, Xu Zhizhou pulled him along to choose new clothes.

“Then I’ll have this one,” Song Changxu said, pointing to a set of clothes.

“Alright, bought.”

Song Changxu put on the new clothes and was happy again. If the old doesn’t go, the new won’t come. The material of the new clothes was really good.

Xu Zhizhou had bought some for Song Changxu, and also for himself. Then he went to the rouge shop to buy some rouge and pearl powder for himself, and a hand cream for Song Changxu, which moved him to death.

Song Changxu said in a low voice, “You’re so good, Zhizhou. You even know to buy me hand cream.”

Xu Zhizhou was not at all guilty. “Of course. Where would you find such a good husband? I have nothing to say to you.”

Song Changxu was happy. The two of them returned home. Xu Zhizhou placed the things on the dressing table. He looked around and wanted to change the dressing table too, and most of all, the house.

Song Changxu looked at him and said, “Why do you want to change everything?”

Xu Zhizhou: “I don’t want to change everything. I just don’t want to change you. I want to be with you for a lifetime.”

Song Changxu had to hurry and wash the new clothes and hang them up, and then he went to wash up.

“You have nothing to say?” Xu Zhizhou kicked the foot of the bed.

“I still have to go to work tomorrow. Didn’t you say you were going to the outskirts to look at the land? How was it?”

At this, Xu Zhizhou’s attention was diverted. “It’s a good piece of land. I’ve asked the broker to negotiate for me. There will be a result in a few days.”

***

Author’s Note:

Little Song: I’m so touched. [Crying]

Little Xu: A gentle word, and he’s completely in my grasp. [Sunglasses]