The Prodigal Son

Is calligraphy good? Should one learn calligraphy?

Zhao Luan narrowed her eyes, deep in thought.

You want to learn calligraphy, right?

simple!

"Go sit over there!"

Zhao Luan stopped dwelling on the matter and pointed to the pavilion beside her.

Qin breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing this.

Luckily, I was quick-witted, otherwise this female devil would have found an excuse to punish me!

After sitting down in the pavilion, Zhao Luan immediately asked Qin Yu about the outcome of his negotiations with Yan Li.

Qin Yu forced himself to suppress his restless gaze and told Zhao Luan the results of the negotiation.

"And you also got 3,600 warhorses and 1.2 million taels of silver?"

Zhao Luantuo's flushed face suddenly lit up with surprise.

She had thought that after devising that treacherous plan, Qin Yu would at most symbolically ask the Yan Kingdom for some benefits, but she never expected that Qin Yu would give her such a huge surprise.

Although they offered five thousand warhorses and five million taels of silver, everyone knew that the Yan Kingdom would never agree to that.

The current negotiation results have far exceeded her expectations.

Qin Yu shook his head and replied, "It won't be given all at once; it will be paid in installments!"

"Installment payment?"

Zhao Luan was puzzled.

Qin Yu explained, "I will give you three hundred warhorses and one hundred thousand taels of silver each month, to be paid in twelve installments."

Yan Li isn't stupid.

Yan Li wouldn't agree to it if it weren't for installments!

Is this a payment plan?

The look of surprise on Zhao Luan's face faded. "If that's the case, we must control the quantity of grain we sell to Yan. We can't feed Yan all at once!"

"That's for sure."

Qin Yu nodded. "Anyway, that's the general idea. As for the specific terms and details, please have Your Majesty have them drafted. I'm really not good at that."

"no problem!"

Zhao Luan nodded. "You've done a good job! Although we won't know for sure whether your plan will succeed until next year, I won't hesitate to reward you! You'll be appointed as the Palace Attendant for now, and I'll reward you even more handsomely once your plan succeeds!"

what?

To appoint oneself to an official position?

I didn't want an official position!

You could just give me a few hundred thousand taels of silver!

No, no!

I'm financially independent now, what do I need so much money for?

More money isn't always better!

Hearing Zhao Luan's words, Yun Ying and Shangguan Youyi were also dumbfounded.

It's a real lockdown!

no……

Is it inappropriate for Qin Yu, a man full of vigor and passion, to serve as a palace attendant?

"Your Majesty, I'm not cut out to be an official!"

Qin Yu immediately refused, "I don't even know what kind of official this Palace Attendant is, how could I possibly do such a thing!"

Zhao Luan looked at Shangguan Youyi and said, "Tell him what the position of the Palace Attendant is."

Shangguan Youyi snapped out of her reverie and softly opened her mouth: "The Inner Attendant Gentleman of our dynasty is a fourth-rank official. His duties are to protect and accompany His Majesty, to offer advice at any time, to be available for consultation and to be dispatched..."

Qin Yu no longer cared about what happened next.

The only words in his mind were "to protect and accompany His Majesty".

You're insane!

I'm a complete weakling, what the hell am I supposed to protect?!

And me, a grown man, it's not appropriate for me to be following you around all the time, is it?

This eunuch should belong to the eunuch category...

and many more!

eunuch?

Qin Yu suddenly jolted awake and quickly asked, "This Palace Attendant should be a eunuch, right?"

"yes!"

Shangguan Youyi nodded. "However, His Majesty has not appointed any new Inner Attendants since four years ago. Previously, Yunying and I each took on some of the duties of Inner Attendants."

The former palace attendant was a person of the Empress Dowager.

Zhao Luan never liked employing eunuchs, and the position of Inner Attendant has been vacant ever since he regained power.

"Then I absolutely cannot accept the reward!"

Qin Yu shook his head vigorously, "I'm not a eunuch. If His Majesty were to appoint me as the Palace Attendant, it would surely cause controversy throughout the court!"

Spending all day by this female demon's side is like being in prison, isn't it?

If you're not careful and anger this female demon, you might lose your head.

"It's alright!"

A faint smile appeared on Zhao Luan's lips, but she quickly suppressed it. "Anyway, everyone in the court knows that your body has been ruined by wine and women, you're practically a eunuch!"

I……

fart!

Qin Yu roared inwardly.

What does it mean to be almost like a eunuch?

I'm fully healthy and have incredibly high firepower!

I can pee ten feet deep even against the wind!

"Your Majesty, please rescind your order!"

Qin Yu took a deep breath and said with righteous indignation, "I, Qin Yu, am just an ignorant and incompetent playboy. I may not care about my reputation, but I absolutely cannot let His Majesty's reputation be damaged!"

Zhao Luan lowered her head and pondered for a moment, then praised, "Hmm, you do know how to consider my feelings!"

"That's right!"

Qin Yu straightened his back and said, "Although I, Qin Yu, am a playboy, I have always been loyal to the emperor and patriotic."

"You like calligraphy, right?"

Zhao Luan thought for a moment, then smiled and said, "How about this? Starting today, you will be appointed as an editor in the Academy of Literature! Most people in the Academy of Literature are quite knowledgeable about calligraphy, so you can learn calligraphy from them!"

Qin Yu's face turned green upon hearing Zhao Luan's words.

Isn't this Academy of Literature just like the Hanlin Academy?

Liberal Arts Department Editor?

What the hell am I supposed to do as an editor at the Faculty of Arts?!

Seeing Qin Yu's expression, the two generals couldn't help but exchange a silent glance.

So this is where His Majesty was waiting for him!

Hmm, an editor in the Faculty of Arts would be quite suitable for Qin Yu!

After much deliberation, Qin Yu looked at Zhao Luan with a bitter expression and said, "Your Majesty, I am an ignorant and incompetent person. I can't even write properly. How could I possibly be qualified to be an editor in the Academy of Literature?"

"It's precisely because you can't even write properly that you were made an editor in the Faculty of Arts!"

Zhao Luan's eyes flickered slightly, mimicking Qin Yu's earlier tone: "Good calligraphy, calligraphy must be learned!"

"I……"

Qin Yu's face twitched violently.

Nima!

The boomerang ultimately hit itself!

"Young Master Qin, His Majesty is testing you!"

Shangguan Youyi smiled and said, "Although the editor of the Academy of Literature is only a seventh-rank official, nearly half of the civil officials of our dynasty above the fourth rank have served in the Academy! Young Master Qin, if you hone your skills in the Academy, His Majesty will surely give you an important position in the future!"

"Yes, Shangguan is right!"

Zhao Luan nodded slightly, then stared at Qin Yu with a half-smile: "Someone as loyal and patriotic as you wouldn't refuse my rewards twice in one day, would you? Wouldn't that leave me with a reputation for not rewarding those who have rendered meritorious service?"

Although Zhao Luan appeared to be asking for Qin Yu's opinion, her unspoken meaning was quite clear.

Try refusing one!

Meeting Zhao Luan's gaze, Qin Yu couldn't help but feel secretly annoyed.

This is truly digging their own grave!

That's it!

Being a compiler in the Academy of Literature is better than serving as a eunuch in the inner palace by the side of a female demon.

Anyway, I just want to be an official and collect a salary, but I don't do any work!

Thinking this, Qin Yu was forced to bow and say, "Thank you for your reward, Your Majesty!"

Seeing Qin Yu agree, Zhao Luan smiled with satisfaction. "Someone will deliver your official robes and other items to the Duke of Wei's residence later! You must study calligraphy diligently at the Academy of Arts. I will check your progress another day when I have time!"

After saying that, Zhao Luan walked away, feeling a sense of joy in her heart.

Don't you want to learn calligraphy?

I'll let you learn to your heart's content!

Okay, I'll remind the College of Arts to give him more things to do!

This keeps him so busy all day that he has no time to cause trouble!

Qin Yu stood there dumbfounded, inwardly groaning.

And how do we assess learning outcomes?

It's obvious that this is just an excuse to prepare for getting ready to tidy up!