The number one sycophant of the Ming Dynasty

"Please sit down, please sit down." Prince Yu hurriedly asked Feng Bao to lead the way to seats. Two seats were set up on the side, one for Chen Han on the left and one for Shen Zhiyu on the right. "Feng Bao, serve tea to the two of you."

"This servant obeys the decree." Feng Bao bowed and personally poured hot tea for the two of them, his movements respectful and not daring to be negligent in the slightest.

Having spent so many years in the palace, he was adept at reading the political winds. The Emperor had specifically asked His Highness to thank him, so how could he dare to slight him?

Chen Han was slightly taken aback when he saw Feng Bao pour him tea.

This Feng Bao would later become the Grand Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial, a powerful figure who held immense influence in the court.

Now he pours tea and water for me, a treatment I would never have dared to dream of before.

The two thanked the staff again before sitting down properly. They sat upright but not stiffly, their eyes level, neither looking around nor hunching their shoulders, striking the perfect balance.

Wine and dishes were already laid out on the table, four cold and four hot dishes, not extravagant, but each one exquisite.

In the center is a white porcelain casserole, stewing the venison from Xiyuan Garden. It is bubbling and steaming, with a wonderful aroma.

It was both in line with the dignity of the royal family and avoided any criticism of overstepping the bounds, revealing the Yu Prince's Mansion's cautiousness in every aspect.

The warm room fell silent again, with only the soft simmering of the clay pot and the crackling of the charcoal fire.

Prince Yu raised his wine cup, looked at the two men, and said sincerely, "I would like to offer you both a toast first. I will remember this great kindness."

Chen Han and Shen Zhiyu quickly stood up, raised their wine cups with both hands, and bowed, saying, "We dare not accept Your Highness's toast."

"Yes, yes." Prince Yu waved his hand and took the lead in drinking half a cup.

The two of them drank the wine in their cups before sitting down again.

After a glass of wine, the atmosphere at the table finally relaxed a bit.

The first to speak was Gao Gong.

He was the most impatient and straightforward of them all. He put down his wine glass, looked at Chen Han, and asked bluntly, "Supervisor Chen, may I ask you one question? How did you come up with the idea of ​​splitting that list into two parts?"

"You know, several cabinet members have seen that list, and even Grand Secretary Xu found it troublesome. How dare you, a mere eighth-rank supervisor, open it like this? Aren't you afraid of causing trouble?"

The question was direct, even somewhat aggressive. The atmosphere in the warm room instantly became even more tense.

Prince Yu stiffened slightly, wanting to speak up to smooth things over, but not knowing what to say. He could only look at Gao Gong with a hint of dissuasion in his eyes.

But Gao Gong seemed not to see it, still staring intently at Chen Han, waiting for his answer.

Chen Han put down his wine glass, bowed slightly, and said in a calm tone, "Replying to Lord Gao, this humble servant would not dare to deceive you. When this humble servant received that list, I only had two thoughts in my mind."

"Oh? Which two thoughts?" Gao Gong pressed.

"First, Your Highness's filial piety cannot be compromised." Chen Han raised his eyes, his gaze open and honest. "Your Highness's offering of sacrifices to Emperor Taizu and Empress Xiaoci is a matter of filial piety as a descendant."

"Offering sacrifices to His Majesty is a matter of loyalty and respect for a subject. This loyalty and filial piety are fundamental and cannot be compromised in the slightest. If I were to reduce the number of offerings to save trouble and diminish His Highness's filial piety, that would be a dereliction of duty on my part."

Upon hearing this, Gao Gong's expression immediately softened.

In his life, the two things he valued most were loyalty and filial piety, and Chen Han's words struck a chord with him.

Prince Yu also breathed a sigh of relief, and his eyes showed more gratitude as he looked at Chen Han.

"Secondly, there are the rules set by the founding emperor, which cannot be broken," Chen Han continued. "The regulations for vassal kings to worship their ancestors and the regulations for offerings for His Majesty's fasting and prayers are clearly written in the Great Ming Code."

"What I need to do is not to change Your Highness's filial piety, but to integrate Your Highness's filial piety into the rules."

"Those who worship ancestors should worship ancestors, and those who pay respects to the emperor should pay respects to the emperor. One list has been split into two, not because I am being whimsical, but because there is a distinction in the rules."

"His Highness's filial piety has not diminished in the slightest, and he has not crossed the red line of the rules in the slightest."

"I was just doing a sorting job; I don't have any special skills, let alone the courage to do it."

After he finished speaking, the warm room fell silent.

Gao Gong stared at Chen Han for a long while, then suddenly slapped his thigh and exclaimed, "Well said! What a wonderful 'filial piety unwavering, rules unbroken'! Just based on that statement alone, you are a hundred times better than those Hanlin scholars who only know how to recite the classics and panic when faced with real problems!"

He genuinely admires it.

It sounds simple, but to truly understand this at that crucial juncture and take the right step is extremely difficult.

Many well-read officials, when faced with such a situation, would either rigidly adhere to the rules and defy Prince Yu, thus offending His Highness to the point of death;

Either you blindly follow Prince Yu's wishes, or you end up being beheaded.

One in ten thousand could do what Chen Han did—fulfill his superior's wishes, abide by the rules, and resolve a deadly situation.

Xu Jie's smile remained gentle, but his heart was filled with growing apprehension.

Chen Han is such a smooth talker.

His words, without mentioning his own contributions or abilities, perfectly showcased his mindset, vision, and composure.

He flattered Prince Yu, pleased Gao Gong, and didn't overstep any boundaries. Even Gao Gong, the second-in-command, couldn't find a single fault in him.

He twirled the beads, spoke slowly, his voice gentle and mellow, like that of an elder, yet every word was laced with hidden meaning:

"Supervisor Chen's words were very insightful."

"There is one thing I don't understand. The regulations in the 'Collected Statutes of the Ming Dynasty' are very complicated. Even veteran officials with more than ten years of experience in the Court of Imperial Sacrifices may not be able to recite every word. You have only been in office for three months. How can you have such a thorough understanding of the regulations and even have such a perfect grasp of the auspicious numbers for offerings in religious ceremonies?"

This sounds like praise, but it's actually a test.

They were testing whether he had someone guiding him, whether he had already done his homework on Jiajing's thoughts, and whether his decision was impromptu or premeditated.

The atmosphere in the warm room became heavy again. All eyes were on Chen Han.

Chen Han felt a chill run down his spine. Xu Jie, that old fox, was investigating him.

Perhaps he still suspects that he is backed by Yan Song's faction.

He remained expressionless, bowed slightly, and spoke in a steady tone: "In response to Grand Secretary Xu, this humble servant would not dare to deceive you. I have been working at the Court of Imperial Sacrifices for three months, and I have done nothing but study the 'Collected Statutes of the Ming Dynasty' every day."

"Oh?" Xu Jie raised an eyebrow.

"I am a Juren (a successful candidate in the imperial examinations) and to be appointed as an eighth-rank supervisor is already an immense favor," Chen Han said frankly, with the honesty that a young man should have. "The Court of Imperial Sacrifices is in charge of sacrifices, banquets, and palace meals. Every single matter is inseparable from the 'Collected Statutes of the Ming Dynasty.' If one is not careful, it is a capital offense for overstepping the bounds."

"I have no background or connections. The only way I can survive in the Court of Imperial Sacrifices is to keep the rules to myself."

"As for the auspicious number for Your Majesty's fasting and prayer, it is not something that I can accurately determine, but rather something that the whole world knows. Your Majesty reveres Heaven and cultivates purity, values ​​the number 'nine' the most, and respects Taoist rules the most."

"This humble servant merely followed His Majesty's wishes and arranged the offerings properly; I have no special skills to speak of."

In his statement, he attributed all his abilities to "diligence can make up for lack of talent" and "going with the flow".

He explained why he understood the rules without revealing his ambition in the slightest, and even flattered Jiajing Emperor without making a single mistake.

Gao Gong nodded repeatedly, his expression of appreciation growing stronger.

Xu Jie twirled the beaded string, smiled noncommittally, but in his heart, he held the young man in even higher regard.

To be able to speak so tactfully in front of him, without being obsequious or timid, demonstrates a composure that is even more valuable than his talent.

Zhang Juzheng, who had remained silent until now, finally put down his teacup...