The number one sycophant of the Ming Dynasty

The group walked back along the route they had come from, passed Zhengyang Gate, and entered Qipan Street.

Chen Han walked in the middle of the group, his mind still preoccupied with the matter of the sacrificial ceremony.

Twenty days.

He must come up with a plan that will make Prince Yu shine within these twenty days.

But he doesn't even have a clue right now.

Yan Song's faction had Yan Song in charge, Luo Longwen to advise them, and connections throughout the Ministry of Works and the Ministry of Rites.

How could a low-ranking official of the eighth grade possibly compete with others?

Unless he can think of something that Yan's faction cannot.

What could the Yan Party possibly think of?

Chen Han thought about it the whole way, but couldn't come up with anything.

As the group arrived at the Guanglu Temple's office, they saw a blue-curtained carriage parked at the entrance.

A woman dressed in a pale yellow jacket stood beside the carriage, followed by a maidservant, who was none other than Cui'er.

Sun Yue was holding a handkerchief in her hand and looking into the yamen. When she saw the group of people returning, her eyes lit up, and she lifted her skirt to greet them.

"father!"

When Sun Sicheng saw his daughter, he frowned: "Why are you here? Why aren't you at home? What are you doing here?"

Sun Yue quickly walked up to him, first bowed to her father, then glanced at Chen Han before looking away.

She tugged at Sun Sicheng's sleeve, her voice low but still audible to those nearby: "Father, it's almost the Winter Solstice, and I want to go buy some offerings for our ancestors."

"In previous years I went by myself, but this year... this year I would like Supervisor Chen to accompany me."

Sun Sicheng was taken aback: "Should Supervisor Chen accompany him?"

Sun Yue's face flushed slightly, and her voice lowered even further: "He handles things properly. He arranged everything so thoughtfully last time at Fayuan Temple."

"I don't know the rules about buying offerings. What if I buy the wrong thing?"

What she said made perfect sense, but everyone present could see her face turning red to the roots of her ears.

Sun Sicheng glanced at his daughter, then at Chen Han, his expression shifting several times.

He originally sent Chen Han to Fayuan Temple to give this young man a warning.

As a result, when her daughter came home, she praised him for half the night, saying how capable and considerate Supervisor Chen was.

Today I came to the government office again, specifically requesting someone to accompany me to buy sacrificial offerings.

Having spent twenty-three years in officialdom, he still had some sense of propriety.

My daughter has taken a liking to someone.

Sun Sicheng began to make plans in his mind.

Although Chen Han was only a minor official of the eighth rank and a graduate of the imperial examination, this young man was indeed capable.

He was able to show his face in front of Prince Yu, register with the Emperor, and gain the approval of Xu Jie, Gao Gong, and Zhang Juzheng in just one meal.

Such a person will not just be a low-ranking official in the future.

Moreover, Luo Longwen also said that Grand Secretary Yan had taken a liking to this person.

How bad could the future be for someone who can win the favor of Grand Secretary Yan?

Rather than marrying their daughter off to those spoiled brats, it's better to find her a capable young man.

Although Chen Han's official rank is currently low, his future prospects are bright.

He glanced at his daughter, then at Chen Han, and his expression relaxed, even revealing a hint of a smile.

"Alright." Sun Sicheng nodded, his tone unusually amiable. "Supervisor Chen, then I'll trouble you to accompany my daughter to purchase the sacrificial offerings."

"There's nothing particularly important going on at the yamen today."

Upon hearing this, the expressions of everyone present changed.

Liu Shuzheng's smile froze on his face, and the eyes of the supervisors were even more complicated.

Some felt envy, some jealousy, and a touch of inexplicable sourness.

Chen Han was also taken aback, but he remained calm on the surface and bowed slightly: "This subordinate obeys."

Sun Yue lowered her head, but the corners of her mouth were turned up high. She pulled Cui'er and walked towards the carriage.

He took two steps and then looked back at Chen Han: "Supervisor Chen, hurry up."

Chen Han responded and followed.

Behind them, Sun Sicheng watched the two figures go, his smile deepening.

Liu Shuzheng approached, smiling obsequiously, and said, "Sir, are you... looking for a son-in-law?"

Sun, the Vice Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, glared at him: "What are you saying? I just think Supervisor Chen is competent in his work, and I wanted my daughter to learn etiquette from him. You're overthinking it."

After he finished speaking, he flicked his sleeves, turned around, and went into the yamen.

Liu Shuzheng stood there, his smile fading, his eyes turning gloomy.

……

Chen Han followed Sun Yue's carriage south along the main street.

Sun Yue sat in the car, Cui'er sat next to the driver, and Chen Han walked beside the car.

Along the way, the carriage curtain was lifted several times, and Sun Yue peeked out, asking all sorts of questions.

"Supervisor Chen, what items should we buy for the ancestral worship ceremony?"

"Miss, when offering sacrifices to ancestors on the Winter Solstice, people usually prepare incense, candles, paper money, and three kinds of sacrificial animals. The three sacrificial animals can be sheep's head, pig's head, and fish, or vegetarian sacrificial animals can be used."

"Every family has different rules, Miss, you can ask your elders."

"Oh..." Sun Yue nodded and lowered the carriage curtain again.

After a while, the carriage curtain was lifted again.

"Supervisor Chen, what kind of incense and candles do you think we should buy? I usually just buy whatever I want, and I don't know if they're good or bad."

"There's an old shop called 'Dexingcheng' south of Dongsi Archway. Their incense and candles are made with the finest sandalwood, producing a light and non-irritating smoke. Miss, you can go and have a look."

"Then lead the way."

"it is good."

Cui'er sat next to the coachman, listening to her mistress's questions one by one, and couldn't help but smile.

She had served Sun Yue since childhood and knew this young lady all too well. The young lady usually spoke to her servants with aloofness and indifference; she had never asked so many questions before.

This is a case of ulterior motives.

……

When the group arrived at Dongsi Archway, they had just turned into the south street corner when they saw a crowd gathered in front of them.

Several female officials dressed in blue robes were standing in front of a shop, directing several eunuchs to carry things inside.

The leader was a woman dressed in the robes of a sixth-rank official, with a tall and straight figure and a cool and aloof expression; she was none other than Shen Zhiyu.

Chen Han paused in his steps.

Shen Zhiyu also saw him.

Her gaze lingered on Chen Han for a moment before shifting to the carriage beside him.

Then the gaze shifted to the face of the young woman revealed after the carriage curtain was lifted.

Sun Yue also saw Shen Zhiyu.

The two women's eyes met in mid-air.

Shen Zhiyu was the first to look away, turning to Chen Han with a calm tone: "Supervisor Chen, what a coincidence?"

Chen Han stepped forward and bowed respectfully: "Chief Minister Shen, I have accompanied the daughter of Vice Minister Sun to purchase offerings for the ancestral worship. Chief Minister Shen, this is..."

"The palace is procuring offerings for the Winter Solstice sacrifices for the harem." Shen Zhiyu's tone remained calm. "The offerings must be accounted for through the Imperial Treasury, so the quality cannot be compromised. I'll come and take a look myself."

As she spoke, her gaze swept over Sun Yue in the carriage again.

Sun Yue had already gotten out of the car and was standing behind Chen Han, looking at Shen Zhiyu.

Although she didn't know who this woman was, seeing that she was wearing the official robes of a sixth-rank official and had an extraordinary demeanor, she immediately felt a bit wary.

……