My Wife is Unbeatable in the Whole World, Touch Me If You Dare!-Chapter 68 - Shocking News [Subscribe please]

Li Nuo had not expected that the Assistant Minister Zheng, who had perished tragically at home, was actually an Advanced Scholar from the eighteenth year of the Zhisheng era.

Though his ranking wasn't high, he could have at least secured a Ninth Grade official position. How could he have fallen to become a merchant?

This instantly piqued his curiosity.

In Daxia, the status of merchants was not high, while officials, even if just at the Ninth Grade, were significantly esteemed. It was hard to imagine someone giving up their reputation and commission to become a merchant.

He looked at Song Zhe and said, "Lord Father-in-law, please let me take a look at this Zheng Tianxing's file as well..."

Ministry of Personnel, Archives.

The chess game between them remained unfinished when Lingshi Feng returned, somewhat helplessly saying, "Zhanggu Fang, I will have to trouble you once more to find an official file for someone named Zheng Tianxing..."

Zhanggu Fang murmured in surprise, "What's going on today? Why does Lord Song suddenly need so many archived files..."

Lingshi Feng said, "It's not Lord Song, but his son-in-law who wants to see it. I saw him once at Old Lady Song's birthday banquet, and it seems that Lord Li, the Minister of Justice's son, isn't really foolish anymore..."

Without further questions, Zhanggu Fang took out the keys again and walked into the archive room.

Meanwhile, the young zhanggu slowly stood up and said toward the archive room, "Lord Fang, I need to step out for a bit. I'll be back shortly, I'll leave this place in your care..."

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From the empty Archives, a somewhat ethereal voice responded, "Go ahead, I'm here..."

The young zhanggu glanced back and hurriedly left the room.

At this moment, in a room at the Ministry of Personnel, Li Nuo was perusing a new file.

It was precisely Zheng Tianxing's file.

Zheng Tianxing, like Gu Wenhan, was an Advanced Scholar from the eighteenth year of the Zhisheng era, both ranking at the bottom of the list, and even starting their first jobs in the same place.

Gu Wenhan was a Book Corrector at the Crown Prince's Inner Straight Bureau, while Zheng Tianxing was a clerk there, both civil servants responsible for the Crown Prince's education, and it was very likely they knew each other, perhaps even friends.

Yet, since the Crown Prince's death and the dissolution of the Eastern Palace, their lives followed different paths.

Gu Wenhan chose to stay in the officialdom, working his way up from a Ninth-rank County Captain in a remote country to a seventh-rank County Magistrate in the wealthy and prosperous Jiangnan. His journey was considered inspirational.

Regrettably, he gradually deteriorated in the world of officialdom and met a tragic end with his family broken and life lost.

Zheng Tianxing was different from him; perhaps lacking the inclination for officialdom or perceiving no hope for promotion, he thoroughly abandoned his commission for business after leaving the Eastern Palace.

Once he stopped being an official, the Ministry of Personnel's records on him also ended there.

Having personally handled his case, Li Nuo was rather aware of the events that occurred after Zheng Tianxing became a merchant.

One who could stand out through the fiercely competitive Imperial Examinations to become an Advanced Scholar, even if at the bottom, was a rarity.

Zheng Tianxing's business acumen was equally extraordinary. In just a few short years, he amassed a great fortune and became a famed rich merchant in Chang'an.

Li Nuo felt that his swift accumulation of capital in such a short time must have been assisted by the connections from his time as an official.

He vividly remembered that when Assistant Minister Zheng celebrated his fiftieth birthday, many court officials were present at his home.

These connections might not have allowed him to accomplish much in officialdom, but if he merely wanted to make money, it was a breeze.

Zheng Tianxing's choice was undeniably wiser than Gu Wenhan's.

The waters of officialdom ran far deeper than those of the commercial world.

In high-end business conflicts, often the simplest strategies are used.

But in high-stakes political strife, it's possible to be swallowed whole without a trace.

Losing in the commercial world might merely result in financial loss.

Losing in officialdom could commonly lead to the decimation of one's entire family.

Even though Zheng Tianxing's final fate was not too favorable, even pitiful in his death, at least the Zheng Family survived. This was indisputably much better than the Gu Family, who had been utterly destroyed.

Regarding Zheng Tianxing, Li Nuo had just happened to see a familiar name and, on a whim, learned a bit about him. After reading the files, he returned them and bade farewell to Lord Father-in-law and left the Ministry of Personnel with his wife.

Housekeeper Wu's carriage was waiting outside. He asked, "Young master, young mistress, where to now?"

Li Nuo thought for a moment and said, "Let's go home first, I need to take some books to the Song Residence."

Song Jiaren gave Li Nuo an extra glance. It seemed like he was planning to stay at the Song Residence for a while?

She moved her lips as if to speak but ultimately just silently got on the carriage.

While the carriage was heading towards the Li Mansion, a young figure had already arrived at the front of a government office in Chang'an.

After being announced by the gatekeeper, Zhao He, a young Zhanggu from the Ministry of Personnel, walked slowly into the grand office, curiously looking around.

Even though he was part of the most prestigious of the Six Departments, he was merely a low-ranking official in charge of a storehouse, wondering when he'd be able to wield real power...

Passing through Yi Gate and walking along several corridors, he arrived in front of a grand and majestic office.

An official led him into the office then left and closed the door.

Zhao He stood in front of a screen, where he could vaguely see the figure of a person sitting at a desk beyond it.

He glanced at it once before lowering his head, not daring to look again.

Not long after, a faint voice came from behind the screen, "What is it?"

Zhao He looked up and quickly said, "Reporting to Lord, half a year ago, you instructed this subordinate that if anyone inquired about the archives of Qinghe County Magistrate Gu Wenhan, I should come to report to you immediately..."

The sound of chairs and desks scraping against each other came from behind the screen, as if the person had stood up from the chair and asked, "Someone has looked up Gu Wenhan's archives?"

Zhao He said, "The son of Minister of Justice Lord Li just went to the Ministry of Personnel and took out Gu Wenhan's archives."

He glanced at the screen, his curiosity piqued. What was the status of this Lord, and why did they care so much about a little seventh-rank County Magistrate who had died?

The figure behind the screen sat down again.

At today's morning court session, because of the incident involving Li Xuanjing's son being assassinated, the case of Gu Wenhan from a year ago was also brought up again.

It was not unusual for someone to be looking through the files since the assassin was related to Gu Wenhan's case.

However, if it was just a matter of looking through files, there was nothing to worry about.

Gu Wenhan had died with unresolved guilt, and it was with Li Xuanjing's "blade" that he had died. Nobody could trace it back to him, and perhaps even Li Xuanjing did not know he had been used.

At this time, Zhao He hesitated for a moment before he couldn't help but say, "Lord, I've always kept your instructions in mind. May I be so bold as to ask when you will transfer me out of the Ministry of Personnel..."

"What's the rush?"

The voice from behind the screen calmly said, "Though Zhanggu is a minor position, it's also a good place to hone yourself. Given how complicated the Daxia officialdom is now, filled with dangers at every turn, how will you survive in the officialdom without settling down and refining yourself for a few years?

"You are my fellow townsman, and I need to use you in the future. I don't want you to perish unclearly so soon, becoming a steppingstone for others to get promoted..."

"But..."

"No more buts. Do you think it's easy for a bottom-ranked Advanced Scholar to stay in Chang'an? Normally, at best, you'd be appointed as a County Captain somewhere remote. Being a Zhanggu of the Ministry of Personnel is small indeed, but you're in the heart of the court's core, which will make promotions and transfers much more convenient in the future...

"It's rare to have a fellow townsman in the court. Just do your job well for me, and in a few more years, once you've honed your temperament, I will naturally help you. I guarantee you'll be promoted by at least five ranks within ten years. Without being my fellow townsman, you wouldn't even have this opportunity..."

Zhao He counted on his fingers. He was Ninth Grade now; promotion by five grades would make him sixth-rank. Although it was still some way from his dream of ascending the court ranks, there was a long way to go. With someone to rely on, rising to great heights would be just a matter of time...

He seemed to already see that day coming as he knelt down with a thud and kowtowed several times, excitedly saying, "Thank you, my Lord, thank you!"

The figure behind the screen shook its head and said, "You see, what did I just tell you? You've already forgotten. Remember this, to remain unperturbed even if Tai Mountain collapses before you, that is the foundation of being an official. No matter what grand events occur, you must not let others see through..."

"Yes, yes, this subordinate will keep the Lord's teachings to heart..."

Zhao He got up from the ground, nodding repeatedly. Recalling something else, he added, "Oh right, Lord, and besides Gu Wenhan's archives, that person also took out files on several other counties in Xuan State and an official named Zheng Tianxing..."

"What!"

From behind the screen, there first came a shocked voice, followed by the sound of a teacup falling and breaking, furniture being knocked over, and the painful cries of someone scalded by hot tea. The room was thrown into chaos...